Saturday, October 1, 2016

The Mouse Surprise Garden Row





The Mouse Surprise Garden Row 12 days after planting. Even the beans sprouted! www.NatureLovesAppreciation.Blogspot.com


"Is is too late for a garden?" I thought to myself. Digging the soil and making rows in late September sounded like a fun experiment to see how it would do in the cold weather.  I had a nice big garden box that my husband Paul made me and this year he added a lid to make it what they call a cold frame. It worked really well before the last frost keeping the plants protected and warm. 


I grabbed the hoe and shovel and began to open the soil and turn it over. I made nice rows with the hoe and watered the freshened soil till it was damp through and through. Next came a generous dose of fertilizer to replenish the soil. I searched in the shed for my seeds and found them on a table inside a green bucket. 


I brought my bucket in to the house and sat on the couch and began sifting and sorting through the seed packets with visions of my autumnal garden when a mouse appeared inside a Ziploc bag!!! "HELP" I yelled. I quickly ran out the front door with the bucket in hand and swiftly scooted as far out towards the garden as I could to release the mouse. As I rounded the brick borders of the carport, the mouse sprang upwards into the air, out of the green bucket, and landed like an acrobat on the soft dirt then scampered off. Whew* I was so relieved I made it out of the house before he leaped out of the bucket. I have had quite a few experiences with the acrobatic mice leaping from grain bins and buckets. 


While inspecting the rest of the seed packets outdoors I saw that a good share of the packets had been chewed through and the seeds had fallen out into the bottom of the bucket. I had no idea what seed went to what packet. That is when I got the idea to plant a row of these mixed surprise seeds and call it The Mouse Surprise Garden Row. 


I giggled to myself as I planted that row. I had no idea what would come up. I did recognize the green bush beans, though. I finished planting the other rows with seeds of lettuce, spinach, bok choy, parsley, beets and kale. Those seed packets had not been chewed on.


 All the chewed seed packet edges were repaired with tape and put into a Ziploc bag and into the fridge till next spring.


Six days later I opened the lid of the garden box and my seeds were beginning to sprout. The back row, which I dubbed The Mouse Surprise Garden Row,  had the most sprouts. I laughed and smiled and so much appreciated what fun it is to have a mystery garden row. 

What comes to mind now are spring bulbs. Never have I planted spring bulbs at the right time so before winter comes I shall search for narcissus, daffodils, hyacinth bulbs to plant before the ground hardens. Can you recall the fragrances of those flowers? 


Thank you friends, for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation
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Did you know that when you appreciate nature there is more nature to appreciate. The benefits are accumulative!

Deborah MOON Moen
Nature Lover, Scout, Writer, Photographer, Recorder/Chronicle

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