New Garden

Few things exemplify spring and the promise of summer like planting a garden. 

Two tiny rows, lettuce and beets, to begin the anticipation of sprouting.

A nice gentleman at Rick's Garden Center gave us some information on planting times here:

• May 15 - Average last killing frost in Colorado Springs
• June 3, 1951 - latest recorded spring frost
• October 10 - Average first killing fall frost
• September 3, 1961 - Earliest recorded fall frost
• Average growing season is 148 days
• Average annual rainfall is 15.42 inches

The sheet indicates that lettuce, peas, turnips, and squash can be sown outside after April 1. Beets, chard, and radishes are good after April 15. Everything else we should wait until May 15 for.

I actually have no idea how this compares to back home, since I've never looked up this information for Winnipeg before, not even dreaming of ever planting anything before Victoria Day. This is my first 'real in the ground' garden since moving out of my parents house, and Mr. Prairie's first 'real in the ground' garden ever!

10 Things I Learned in Utah

Double Arch at Arches National Park near Moab

10. A sleeping bag rated to -7 degrees Celsius may not actually keep you warm at that temperature without other precautions.
9. Mainly, the yummiest I.P.A.s are from Colorado.
8. The fine red dust that helps to form the beautiful stone formations throughout the state also exists in campgrounds and will blow into your tent if you give it the opportunity.
7. "Jeep Weekend" is one of the busiest events of the year in Moab. Reservations are advised. (Who knew?)
6. You can fit 5 people, their hiking and day packs, a cooler, a large water jug, a small guitar, a ukelele, and a mandolin into 1 Honda CRV and still drive said vehicle down Hole in the Rock Road.
5. The canyons along Hole in the Rock Road are well worth the trip. We visited Spooky, Peek-a-boo, Zebra, and Tunnel.
4. Spaghetti and tomato sauce is a wonderful change from bean burritos, even when consumed at top-speed at 10 pm.
3. "Harumph Harumph" band names have many possibilities.
2. Time spent with good friends is always valuable. Loved ones not along on an adventure are always missed.
1. I will always be a prairie-girl when it comes to heights, drops, and twirly roads.