Quite a crazy spring in the Tetons. Bears are emerging from their dens a month early and Teton Gardening makes its earliest spring post ever. The arguments of environmentalists and climate change deniers echo through the valley, but no matter what you believe, this is one crazy spring. When neighbors rake grass instead of shovel snow in February, it makes you wonder.
Last spring was a hard one, as I lost my first gardening partner. My mom was flawed and sometimes difficult, like us all, but my memories of spending time with her in our flower beds growing up are some of my favorites. I have always thought of her when I planted pansies in the spring. She was fun and colorful and will be greatly missed by many people. I am grateful she gave me a love of digging in the dirt.
We also lost our canine gardening companion, Alida, shortly after. She loved being in the garden all day and made sure I always could find a tennis ball nearby. She lived a good, long life and we were lucky to be her people.
In a fog, and really just wanting to be on the river, I didn't garden as much as usual last summer. I have amazing people in my life who did all they could to bring some joy back to me and make me realize that there is still so much to be grateful for. Mom and Alida lived out loud and made fun their first priority and I am listening to that lesson.
I grew only what would thrive on neglect: raspberries, garlic, chard, and salad greens mostly. Potatoes were a fun first experience for me. I planted them in a raised bed in the spring, threw some compost on, and forgot about them all summer. Digging up shovels full of fresh potatoes was a gardening nerd's dream, just ask my husband, who rolled his eyes at my enthusiasm. I'll definitely plant more this year.
I'll end with a little February 2015 documentation, since my main purpose of having this blog is being able to look back and see what was going on at that same time in previous years. Who knows, next week we could be under a foot of snow, but for now it's spring in February!
Crocus
Tulips
Daffodils
Rhubarb
Free moose poop fertilizer
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