Steps to a rhubarb pie

Step 1. Find a nice big rhubarb plant. Oh - here's one. Victoria, a mostly green variety, so the pie will be green too, like a 'grasshopper pie'. Green, the color of Spring! (I'm protesting attempts to make it red by adding red fruits like strawberries, although there might be a strawberry-rhubarb pie in June).

Step 2. Pull off a bunch of leaves with stems. Cut off the leaf part, just leaving the celery-like stalks. The leaves go to the compost bin.

Step 3. Chop up the rhubarb stems, about 1/2 to 1 inch cubes. One big stalk gives about 1 cup, a smaller stalk about 1/2 cup. This pie requires 4 cups. I froze the other 4 cups for some future treat.

All Dressed Up.

Undated, unlabeled.

Back home.

Returned last night.

Tulips are in full bloom. Many have been multiplying, more than I realized. Amazing, extravagant color.

Apples are in full bloom.

First irises (miniature) in bloom.

Weeds are becoming more plentiful.

Ning moved seedling zucchinis into his garden plot. The roots were growing through the paper cups.

We had the first of the Chinese Chives in dumplings last night.

The straberries and raspberries are blooming.

Travel Plans

Heading for Quincy Illinois for 4 days. I hope to have some photos to download on return.

Flight is at 6am.

Probably won't post from there. Return late Sunday.

Gardening Challenges: Anigozanthos ink leaf disease, peach leaf curl, frost damage, weeds.

Again the title says it all.

This Anigozanthos (Kanga red-green) looks like it's about to bite the dust. The dreaded "ink disease" would be the culprit. After taking the photo, I gave this plant a 'butch haircut" even though I just sprayed it with neem. It is moved to a dry location under the eages, but I have strong doubts about it's prognosis. The other anigozanthos, a yellow one and a burgandy one, are doing well (the burgandy plant is indoors at the office).

Frost damage: a few roses, a magnolia seiboldei that has only had one flower in 5 years, and the petite negri fig.

Weeds may be getting ahead of me. Some coming up in the leaf compost - not surprising, and probably not much of a problem. Dandelions are bloming. Should I spray the dandelions with vinegar? Maybe next week.