Finally, it happened! My cucumber seedlings have grown their second leaves! Yes, the second ones — the real ones! I think in about a month I’ll be able to transplant them into the soil. This year I’m planning to plant 16 cucumber seedlings, but just in case, I sowed 25. You know how it is — I’ll pick the best-looking ones, and the rest, well, straight to the compost. That’s life!

And speaking of compost — I have to brag a little — I finally bought my own composter! Not too big, only 300 liters, but for a family of four it should be enough. At least I hope so! Now every potato peel, wilted lettuce leaf, or used coffee grounds will have a noble new purpose — to turn into black gold for the garden. We’ll see how it goes. For now, it looks like a pile of kitchen scraps, but I’m optimistic!

As for the rest of the veggies in the garden — spring is in full swing! The carrots I sowed over a month ago are already showing their second leaves. Carrots are a safe bet anyway — every year I grow so many I could easily open a stall at the farmers’ market. Parsley, onions, garlic, radishes, and chives are also growing like crazy! The lettuce went wild — we eat it every day, and there’s still plenty left!

I can’t forget my strawberries either. Both the Florence variety and the gorgeous pink Toscana are already in bloom! I’m hoping the first fruits will show up soon. Maybe I’ll even manage to taste a few before my wife freezes them for Christmas Eve, like she does every year!

And what’s going on with my feathered guests? Oh, plenty!

The tits raid the feeder every single day. They swoop in, grab two or three seeds, and fly off to take care of their birdy business. Little bundles of energy! A male and female blackbird visit my water bowl daily. First, it’s a full-on spa bath, then rummaging in the mulch for worms. Of course, they scatter soil all around the garden beds — just to make sure I don’t get bored and always have something to clean up! And then, as if nothing happened, they sing their hearts out while perched on the roof of the tallest shed around.

The pair of wood pigeons is still extremely skittish. A single falling leaf is enough to send them on high alert! But they do have a clever system: one keeps watch from the fence while the other searches for the seeds dropped by the tits. Too bad they’re so wary, because I’d gladly toss them a few seeds or nuts myself.

Sadly, my winter guest — the robin — stopped showing up. That makes me a little sad, but who knows — maybe he found a lovely partner, and now they’re busy looking for worms together in the forest? I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him!

And the garden also has a permanent resident — a shrew! Sometimes it scurries through the soil in search of food, not noticing me at all. Tiny, fast, and adorable. I know shrews hunt my beloved earthworms, but hey — that’s the law of nature. Besides, it’s hard to stay mad at a creature that pokes around the dirt with its nose so stubbornly. Did you know shrews are venomous? A little fun fact to wrap things up!

Until next time, my fellow gardeners!