Let’s go for a little morning walk in the garden. The sun’s out, but clouds are forming, with the prospect of some timely rain. It’s been about a week or so without – nothing too urgent just yet, a few things are in need of watering without rain today. But all in all, if I do say so myself, the garden is looking pretty good.

The cool garden is looking good

Have I mentioned how much I love growing potatoes? I have? Oh, well, here I go again then. Those now-blooming Irish Cobbler potato plants are currently my pride and joy, after my three daughters and many grandchildren, of course. I am in awe at how well they’re doing, plants and family.

The snow is long gone, but the several rows of edible-pod, snow peas I planted in early April are looking good, and the onion sets over there by the Yukon Gold potato plants.

You’ll perhaps note all the straw mulch in the rows of potatoes. It is, in my opinion, an absolute must if you’re growing potatoes: helps keep down the weeds and keep in moisture but most of all it deters that major pest of potato plants, potato beetles.

That’s the “cool” garden.

As I check it out, and pull a few weeds, I hear the precious background hum of bees and other insect pollinators. They may be in trouble elsewhere as a result of pesticide overuse. But there are no neonicotinoids here at Cathedral Drive Farm, and far enough away from such use, threatening much of the world’s food supply.

The “hot” garden is coming along, but not so profusely yet, as you can see. That wonderful little patch of “volunteer” pumpkins is amazingly healthy: mother nature taking care of her own, I imagine.

“Volunteer” pumpkins

The corn’s up, but the earliest planting didn’t germinate as well as I hoped because of cool weather after planting. Soil temperature is vital for corn germination.

The many robins who live among the nearby trees appear to be feasting on the first row of strawberry plants I put in this spring. But that’s okay. I can live with them.

I was worried about the bush beans for the same reason, but they’ve done surprisingly well. I have green and yellow beans planted, and my favourite old stand-by Royal Burgundy. There will be beans aplenty this summer after all. So that’s good, regarding a source of protein and fibre.

So, let it rain; and all shall be well.

Rows of beans came up well despite cool weather after planting. Straw mulch coming soon, my brave little plants.