Memorial Day

Today I remembered nearly 30 years of gardening on this land by spreading two cans of composted kitchen garbage on the part of the garden where tomatoes and edamame soybeans will grow this year. I moved the heavy garbage cans with a hand cart meant to move barrels, then shoveled out the compost, partly liquified, and spread it around and tilled in in, twice over. Impossible to avoid getting the stuff on shoes, splattered a little on pant cuffs, to the point where the old shoes and pants have to stay outdoors tonight. The stand of peas is spotty but luckily I planted enough in case that happened. Spent a couple of hours weeding, in the spinach, greens, onions, and peas. The garden is predictably slow at this time of the year, temps in the low 40s at night, 50s and low 60s during the day. Is there anything more pleasant than the smell of apple blossoms? The trees are in full bloom now. The Dutchess is not as full as I'd hoped, but many of the others are much better than average. Last year was an excellent blossom and apple year in this area, but as it was an off-year for many of the better-producing trees on this land, the overall yield wasn't as good here as elsewhere. This year it should be better, if all else goes well. It's unusual to have two good years in a row. I saw some goldfinches today; they are in their brightest gold and black plumage.

The apple blossom

I returned to the island yesterday after about ten days in Providence. "The Apple Blossom" is the name of a grand old fiddle tune from Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau. Source musicians include Isham Monday of Cloyd's Ridge, near Tompkinsville, recorded in 1959 at home by John Newport and D.K. Wilgus; and Jim Bowles, recorded by Wilgus and a dozen years later by Bruce Greene. And here on the island the blossoms are far enough advanced for me to tell that it will be an above average blossom year. Among the trees that are covered with bloom are the Red Astrichan (or Astrachan), an early apple that ripens around September 1, or rather falls from the tree around then not fully ripe. It's excellent for sauce but it'll be gone by come cider time around Columbus Day. Another is the large, unnamed, 50- to 75-year-old tree in the cluster behind the house; the apples are medium sized, round to oblate, green with a red blush, come in at cider pressing time, and although the flavor is not outstanding it is good and mild, blending well with the acidic, flavorful apples. Many other trees will have a good blossom: the Prima, the Dutchess, the unnamed tree at the rear of the orchard that is Marta's favorite, the Liberty, the Winesap. Even the Golden Russet and the Baldwin have more than usual--though that's not saying much. Pollination and blossom-set is next. Bees are endangered these days due to a virus, a tragic story, but in this location they have been sufficient over the years--so far, so good. A stretch of rainy weather at blossom time would be troublesome, and lessen pollination; but although rain is predicted for the next two days, the long weekend is forecast to be sunny, warm, and dry, which should be perfect for pollination. I noted that the blossoms are about five to seven days earlier than usual this year, perhaps due to global warming. 

Warbling

The warblers have arrived. On my afternoon walk I heard the yellow-rump's fizzle and the "I'm black-throated green." Yesterday morning I planted potatoes: the reliable Kennebecs, the smooth Satinas, and the delicious early Rote Erstlings. Trying Red Gold this year, supposedly a very early variety that doesn't store well. Arugula and lettuce just coming up. Apple trees leafing out; some blossoms, so the year won't be a bust. How many is still hard to tell, but it doesn't look like a boom either. 

Birds without puddles

I left the island for a couple of days to take care of some business in Providence. Upon returning I noted that although the soil hadn't puddled, the hard rain had compacted the soil some. Several days of warm sun would bake it, so a bit of watering is in order now. There may even be time to plant peas in the parts of the rows where mysteriously they didn't emerge. The birds around the house so far this spring are only the usual chickadees, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatches. Phoebes will appear; so will the white-throated sparrows. Soon the warblers will come in, especially the black-throated green. I did hear the hermit thrush, whose song is the most beautiful of all.