Gardening in Alberta is just like Gardening in California (but totally different)

Today was the day to finish the installation of the garden boxes for Michelle. We have been tempting fate by waiting so long, and since the snow has been nice enough to hold off for a few weeks, we figured it was now or never. First we needed to dress for success. Please notice how Real Meximos dress to go out into the fall weather. You need to know the temperature outside today was plus 1 C. (34 or 35 F)

Ninja Gardener 1.

Ninja Gardener 2. Remember how, in the book The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 ran amok in the house and pretty much made a mess of everything? Well, NG1 and NG2 are a close second. They figured out how to slide all over the yard,in the mud, and avoid work until I showed up to reign in the boys, rain on the parade, throw water on the fire, etc. (pick a saying to denote quash all fun and drive the boys until the testosterone laden attitude dripped off every word.)

So, this is the last box. The other five are complete, and the big mound of dirt is pretty much where the last box needs to be. Unfortunately with the recent weather (read cold) the top 12 to 16 inches of the mound are completely frozen. NG1 and NG2 thought the whole thing was frozen solid. I broke through the frozen part, and then the boys shoveled the softer stuff into the boxes to get ready for the bulbs, Tulips and Lillies.

During the excavation, we found a nice little red worm. We rescued him to the local compost bin with table scraps and old plants, and other misc refuse. It will be interesting to see how the compost performs over a real winter.

Here is the annual bulb allotment. We planted about 300 bulbs this fall, and we expect them all to come up in the spring. When we told people about the planting later in the afternoon, they could not believe we would plant so many flowers. We could not bring ourselves to tell them about the bulbs we planted in CA.

Jacob thinks it is fun to hold on to his brothers and pass gas. I know he is my son, but I must admit, I think he could chase away a skunk.

Planting for the spring.

After the work was done, it was time to play a little football. We were playing in the street in front of the house, and almost every car that passed honked or yelled at us. They will get over it. We played old vs young, and youth beat out experience on a fluke. And bad QB skills by the younger old.

"You are not coming into my house with those muddy boots."

Michell made us hot chocolate to warm us up after the gardening and the football game. Take a close look at what Samuel is eating. You can also read into that, dipping, as if the chips were cookies.

Hot Chocolate, and Abuelita Chocolate at that!

It was a good time. And now we are ready for the winter, at least we think we are.

We will see.

Hugs and Kisses,

Alan