I need to apologize for not writing a “Roundup’ in March.  Since then, the class tree, a Quercus canbyii was planted on a very drizzly day.  It was a 15 gallon-size container which made the planting process go much more smoothly than planting the typical 30-gallon size.  

The freeze of February caused extensive damage in the gardens.  Our citrus trees, except for the kumquat trees are still hanging in limbo.  Since 2020 was such a good citrus harvest year, we will be missing the fruit this coming fall and winter even if the trees do survive.  Most of the citrus is over ten years old. The pears, figs and Mexican plums on the other hand are fine!  Grapes are showing good growth as well and we anticipate a good harvest there.

Of our vegetable crops, the onions (these were covered with a triple layer of frost

cloth), potatoes, and many of the cole crops survived.  The sugar pod peas, much of the lettuce, broccoli, dill, cilantro, and Tuscan Blue rosemary succumbed to the freeze.  Spinach came through it like a champ!  Radish and carrot tops froze.  Carrot roots were fine and were harvested later.  On a new carrot planting the leaves froze and regrew, however, since carrots are biennials, they are now starting to flower.

Since then, we have a new crop of lettuce and spinach galore.  We have planted cucumber, squash, and long beans from seed.  They all show good growth.  The tomato transplants are looking good, and some are flowering, and there are a few little tomatoes on a few of the plants.  Peppers and eggplants were planted this past week.  Potatoes have been hilled-up.  It is looking like spring in the gardens if you avoid looking at the citrus in the orchard.

Bluebirds have eggs in the nest box and the purple martins have returned to claim their apartments.  Whistling ducks, the Carolina wrens, cardinals, and chickadees, to name a few species that make the school grounds their home, are nesting as well.  The bee tree is humming along nicely as well.                         Spring is definitely in the air!