As I am planting the vegetable garden my eyes begin to burn and sting then I remember: pollen!
The North Carolina State tree is the Loblolly Pine. They are the most common tree and in the past they made the British colonies wealthy with the production of tar, pitch, and timber.
They also produce pollen in abundance. They are wind pollinated and the Spring breezes blow the pollen from the male to the female cone. The cones mature in two seasons producing the nuts the wildlife depend on to make it through the winter.
Unfortunately, the yellow clouds of pollen are very messy and I like to blame my allergies on it but the scientist say oak pollen is probably worse! It covers everything!
With any case, everything is yellow for a week or two. Keep the windows closed!
Each spring I add a fresh bag of soil to each of the vegetable garden raised beds.
I then rake it out even and attempt to remove twigs and refuse.
The tomatoes and cucumbers are grown on A-frame trellises so I plant them very close.
The A-frames are placed on the raised beds. They create a great shady place to grow heat sensitive vegetables during the summer. Although, the high humidity here in The South doesn’t help you with lettuce or radishes! I do have to add that I love how the radishes become hot and spicy when I attempt to grow a crop during hot weather!
I am on staycation this week so you’ll probably hear from me again!
Arthur in the Garden! 