Utah Native Linum lewisii, Blue Flax

Linum lewisii, a short lived perennial, was documented and named after Meriwether Lewis. It is often planted for erosion control and reclamation and is useful as a foraging plant for wildlife. Birds are especially attracted to the seeds and forage on them in the fall and winter.

Cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum) is grown for fiber (flax) and seed oil (linseed).

Linum lewisii--Blue Flax

Timpanogos Wild Flowers

I took an early morning hike up Timpanogos. Crossed a glacier or two and enjoyed all the glorious wild flowers.

Geranium viscosissimum, sticky geranium

Eriogonum umbellatum, sulfur buckwheat

Castilleja rhexifolia var. sulphurea, Pale yellow Indian paintbrush

Lupinus argenteus; Lupine

Helianthella uniflora, Oneflower Sunflower

School Garden

We finished our midscale worm bin early December. The kids did a fantastic job with the construction and we are excited to introduce the worms to their home early spring. I know the worms can survive the winter but I am worried about user error and figure I can use the winter to iron out the kinks.  For example, I'm going to approach some local restaurants about composting their food scraps during the summer months.

Working those carpentry skills

Almost done, just need the lid

While looking through photos, I came across these gems from last spring

Planting herb bed

Watering in the new plants

Caging those tomatoes 

Worm Composting

The kids in my gardening class are building a medium scale worm bin for the school. Here are some great links that have helped us along the way:


Creating a Worm Bin

Worm Composting Basics
How to Build a Worm Farm
Compost Bin made with Nursery Trays
Mid Scale Worm Bin

Science Behind Vermicompost

"Vermicompost--A Living Soil Amendment" Video


Worm Anatomy

http://extension.illinois.edu/worms/anatomy/

Soil Biology

Soil Microbiology

Digitalis "Illumination Flame"

Nothing that lives, or can be, rigidly perfect; part of it decaying, part nascent. The foxglove blossom;--a third part bud, a third part past, a third part in bloom,--is a type of the life of this world. 

--John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice

More Spring Blooms

Fritillaria imperialis

Grape hyacinths in a quick April snowstorm

Spirea x cinerea

Pearlbush--Exochorda x marcantha

Viburnum

Weeping Siberian Pea-- Caragana arboresens 'Pendula'

Carol Mackie Burkwood Daphne

Flowering Quince

Spring Bloomers

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” 
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Hellebore

Hellebore

Flowering Quince

Magnolia