Elderberry Buds

Sunday, the garden was not quite dry enough yet to till up the strawberry bed. I tilled it anyway. Today was a perfect, blue-sky day with the high temperature reaching about 60 degrees.

The picture is a bud on an elderberry tree that came up in the back yard. It’s an odd-looking thing, don’t you think? Reminds me of a parrot. I had been looking for an elderberry tree at a nursery, but could only find ornamentals. I wanted one that bears fruit that is safe to eat. Then a couple of years ago this one flew in from who-knows-where and planted itself by the back fence. Okay, it probably had some help with transportation from a bird or critter of some kind. Maybe this year I’ll get some berries.

This evening, I finally got the strawberry runners planted – about 40 plants in two rows 4 feet apart. My plan is to cut off the new runners that grow toward the outside and let those that grow toward the middle form a third row of new plants.

They have minds of their own though, and no matter my intentions by late summer when I am busy with all the produce of the garden they like to go wild, because I’m not paying attention, laughing and sending runners in all directions. Does anybody want to adopt some runners next fall?

While planting the strawberries, I checked on the short row of peas I planted a couple of weeks ago. Last year it took about 5 weeks for them to sprout. To my delight, they are poking their little noses up through the dirt already! Every one a little miracle, I am amazed yet again.

I’ll need some twine soon.