This Saturday began with pounding rain and whistling winds here in central Indiana. Surprisingly, a break in the clouds allowed the sun to shine so I hurried out with my camera. First stop was to see if the potted arborvitae that was decked out in lights yesterday was still upright. It was, but the wind had shaken many of the lights loose from the branches. It’s too muddy to fix them now, but maybe later on today I can do it, plus add the timer that I finally found!
Knowing that the rain would probably return, the next task was to harvest some veggies from the potager. There’s still another entire bed of “Tom Thumb” lettuces, but this is the last of a bed whose flimsy row cover blew off. We are eating the turnips raw as an early “appetizer” because they are so sweet, having survived several frosts and freezes so I only harvest one at a time. The carrots are being dug as needed, and are also wonderfully sweet and crisp.
December has been so mild that many things are popping up here and there. This self-seeded purple mustard is getting a red tinge as the temperatures fall. Under the shelter of its leaves lots of tiny chamomile seedlings have emerged.
This patch of volunteer “Red Deer Tongue” lettuces made me smile, looking so fresh with rain droplets and so colorful. I’ve been nibbling a leaf here and there as I finished up berry boxes this week. Here’s the final one!
Berry box number 3 has its plastic cover and is sheltering another batch of spinach seedlings. However, plans for #4 have been altered to require no plastic for its purpose, so it’s officially finished as well. More on that in another post. And finally, as the snowmen and garlanding were hung on the potager’s front fence, this patch of emerging bulbs was spotted!
If I had some mulch, I’d toss some on top of these early risers, because the cold, cold weather is still to come. But, I’ve learned that even if they get their tops frozen, they will usually bloom come what may. I view them as a sign of hope, that things will indeed get brighter and better, and that spring will come to cheer us!
That’s my Six for this mid-December. For lots more “Sixes” from other gardeners across the globe, visit The Propagator, who hosts this meme.
herbalblessingsblog 
You must have good soil in central Indiana. Root crops don’t do well here because of the soil’s clay-like texture, except on the farms in the Lower Valley. We have enjoyed shopping for produce at Imperial’s Farm Market owned by Mexicans who immigrated decades ago. In my potager I grow herbs and a few tomatoes, although I tried a few squash and cucumbers.
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The berry boxes that are covered???How do they get water. Is it enough seep from the edges?
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the soil was rain-soaked when the covers went on. Plants can access water when their roots go deep. In fact, I have to be careful with some beds at the south end that often sit in water too long and that can rot crops (like garlic that’s in the ground all winter) Too dry has never been an issue in winter/spring.
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Amazing to still be enjoying a few garden fresh veggies! We’ve had kale and collards still 🙂
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Yes, it’s great fun to still go out and harvest on pretty days. I’m interested to see how well the berry box/coldframes, and how long the crops actually hold in them. Certainly it will depend upon the weather, and we can’t expect this to last for much longer. I’m feeling like I’m living in Zone 6, rather than 5a or 4b!
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I am enjoying signs of spring too. The few crops I can pick at the moment are a real treat.
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Enjoy them while you can. Mother Nature will send Old Man Winter along soon!
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