The first of the seedlings are getting big and ready to go outside! Gardeners are so impatient to get their flowers going…

New England weather is unpredictable this time of year and we could still have temps below freezing. I’m planting out cool annuals though, which can withstand a little chill. Plus if it looks like lows below 30°F I will use a floating row cover to keep the seedlings cozy.

First this week I needed to scrape off the old mulch, then fluff up the dirt with a garden fork. Some of the beds needed a topping of new soil, then all of them were covered with fresh mulch. They look so tidy!

Now I’m in my second year of flower farming, Mr. Bee and I will be adding more raised beds. Three are planned for the next few weeks, and I think we’ll need at least three more by June. I put in a no-till row last fall and I’m planning another, but I have a concern about bunnies getting to the seedings.

I planted out Costa Snapdragons, Ranunculus, and Dara. It went down to 32°F the first night but everyone survived no problem.

Daucus Carota ‘Dara’ is a sister to Queen Anne’s Lace, and they are in the carrot family. Don’t the leaves look just like carrots? Dara blooms /white/pink/maroon and is supposed to be better behaved in the garden than Queen Anne’s Lace.

At the last minute I decided to set out some Black Swan Poppy seedlings. Poppies don’t like to be transplanted but these are looking okay so far. I’m going to direct seed more along this row and compare how they fare.I’ve never had luck with poppies but hope springs eternal in the gardener’s heart. LOL.