There are two reasons for transplanting today. First, it's a cloudy, overcast day where highs are expected to reach the mid 60s. No direct sunlight means I can take my time planting and watering. Second, the moon today is in Pisces, a water sign. According to this site, Pisces is the second best sign for transplanting. You can figure the sign of any day using this handy calculator. Or, you can do like I do and just ask Farmers Almanac. These sites are also listed in the "Helpful Links" section on the right hand side of the blog.
My grandmother was a stickler for planting based on the moon. She would be the one telling my dad or uncles that they're wasting seed by planting on so-called 'barren days'. It's been too long for me to remember if she was always right, but I do remember days of hoeing and picking beans and tomatoes in rows so long you could barely see the other end. The way I see it, these old-timers know a lot more about gardening and farming than I ever will. If they say don't plant, you don't plant.
Cloudy and 39 degrees. Rain expected all weekend beginning Friday evening.
11:52am - Planting out is done.
In the perennial bed:
■ bee balm 'lemon mint'
■ red coreopsis
■ rudbeckia
■ mountain bluet
■ Virginia stock
■ linaria 'flaming passion' - toadflax
■ hollyhocks (yellow, double yellow, and Indian summer)
■ sea holly
■ salvia 'blue bedder'
In the moon garden:
■ Shasta Daisy mix
■ Lunaria (money plant)
In the potager:
■ Borage
While digging around in the perennial bed, I found some of the direct sown poppies have begun to sprout. Oh, and lots of acorns with 6" tap roots.
Everything got a bit of fertilizer and watered. It's 50 degrees and overcast but the sun is trying its best to make it through the haze.
3:53pm - 63 degrees. Mostly sunny. I've got the windows open.
