Pookie Goes to a Mariner Game -

Hi Finn, Pookie likes the Mariners!

Pookie meets the Mariner Moose! GO MARINERS!

Grandma Daisy helps Pookie catch a fly ball at the Mariner game. Pookie keeps the ball in the mitt!

Pookie visits Scottie and looks at Finn's wedding outfit.

Pookie and Scottie look at Finn's wedding pants and shirt.

Scottie and Pookie visit Auntie Jen , the bride to be and Uncle Eliot, the groom to be.

Pookie sees and Airplane and meets a friend at the airport.

Pookie sees a Coca Ccola Truck and his airplane.

Pookie meets Bumble Bunnie.

Pookie takes a trip with Bubba and Grandma Daisy

Pookie Travels.

Pookie Takes a Trip with Bubba and Grandma Daisy.

Soil

Even at my ripe old age, I learn something new about gardening every year. Sometimes old information dormant in my head comes back to my attention. The importance of good soil has been revived in my plans for my garden this year. I thought if I just used compost my soil health and ability to support intense vegetable and flower gardening would eliminate my need for fertilizers. I have learned from the reduced development of fruit and flowers that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the soil must be in balance at the right time with the right weather and the consistent watering. However compost will not provide this balance without help.

From an article I read which pointed out that while the compost breaks down it uses the nitrogen from the soil as well as other nutrients and may not have the phosphorus or potassium needed for roots, fruits and flowers. Therefore this year I have applied bone meal or organic root starter fertilizer to the soil as I did transplants. I will switch to fish emulsion as the leaves appear and then either a balanced fertilizer or fertilizer to stimulate blossoms as the buds appear. I will apply compost in mid summer and fall to the top of the soil to improve the soil over time, rather than think that tilling in my golden compost will create the perfect garden!

Arbor Day

Arbor Day - April 26,- Never paid too much attention to this day, the annual plant a tree day. We have lots of trees in the Pacific Northwest. Then this winter we heard Wangari Maathai speak. Wangari is the First Environmentlaist to Win the Nobel Prize for Peace. She won the prize because she has changed the lives of thousands of people by her efforts to plant trees in Africa, rural Kenya. She wrote a book called Unbowed ,which I have bought and not read yet. However hearing her speak was inspirational. So while thinking trees and planting is part of spring this year for Arbor Day I will start reading this book. Two weeks ago I planted or replanted six Ponderosa Pines that were growing in the road right-away. These grand native trees would have been chopped down because they would have grown into the power lines and hung over over the road. I couldn't wait until Arbor Day because the weather becomes too dry. Trees on the East side of the Cascade must be planted late fall or late winter to take advantage of the cool days and the rain fall. This isn't a concern where you are because you get summer rain. So bless the long cool days of spring. The bundle up days of gardening allow us to slowly wake from winter and stretch gradually to seeds and transplants.

Think Spring

A little seed lay in the ground

and soon began to sprout.

" Now which of all the fowers around,"

It mused, " shall I come Out?"

"The lily's face is fair and proud,

But just a trifle cold.

The rose, I think, is rather loud,

And then its fashion's old.

The violet is all very well

But not a flower I'd choose,

Nor yet a canterbury bell, I never cared for blues."

And so it critized each flower,

This supercilious seed,

Until it woke one summer morn

And found itself a weed.

Auther unknown