FLOWERS, ONE VERY, VERY SPECIAL
Finally, my decades-long quest has ended; I have seen the blue poppy. Now I'll try again to grow this plant, which collapses in hot summer weather.
TOTIPOTENT — NOT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE
I take a few cells (actually, short lengths of stem) from some pear trees for cloning into whole new trees. And then, on the other side of the farmden. Arnold's Promise surprises me with blossoms -- again!
GREENING UP
Early spring greens are coming out in full force -- in the greenhouse -- without any help from me. Most abundant is claytonia but there's plenty of mâche, my favorite, and too much chickweed, which I don't eat, but could.
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT (MICRO)CLIMATE CHANGE
I decide to do something about the climate, the microclimate, to prevent fruit plants from blossoming too early. In the cool basement, a potted 'Pakistan' mulberry is the first of the subtropicals to act like winter's over.
LITTLE ITALY IN THE HUDSON VALLEY
Once cured, my New York olive harvest was delectable, spurring me on to prepare the potted tree for a bigger harvest this year. Figs, in basement, still sleep, thankfully so.
MYSTERY OF THE UNDEAD ROSE
I come to appreciate death as a sign of life -- in flower longevity. Not so happy with aging in the greenhouse, though; new seedings will, with spring-like weather in there, soon offer fresh, young lettuce, arugula, and other salad greenery.
