Let the spring planting begin?

In a climate like ours in the Texas Hill Country the only season that stands alone is summer. Fall morphs into winter which mixes freely with spring. I still have some of my fall garden going - carrots, broccoli, fennel and parsley. Then I have some garden constituents that should really be considered winter residents (in Texas, at least) - garlic, shallots, cilantro. And now I've started planting for the spring. I might be two or three weeks ahead of schedule but some Red LasSoda potatoes went in the ground last Sunday. I heard our local radio organic garden guru (think of a braided ponytail with a voice like Garrison Keillor with a smoking habit) say today I should have waited, but it was too late, the spuds are in. If I can find some good starts onions are going in soon, too. I have been reading instructions to slightly over-plant the onions (one start every 2-3 inches) and then you can harvest green ones as a way of thinning. And who does not like green onions? My first fall of planting shows that I have little faith in seeds sprouting and therefore I over-plant everything. It is nice to find a vegetable that rewards doubt.

Success, new idea, open call for vegetables

You saw the rain totals for Dripping Springs. 3-4 inches, at least. Well, my stream bed held up, diverted water and looks better than ever. I think I like it. I wish to increase the height of the soil on the bridge at the end to accentuate it's bridgeness. Otherwise, I declare success.
All my Artemesia "Powis Castle" are looking ragged. While checking on the safety of trimming them at this time of year I came across instructions for propagation. Apparently, if you trim them you can plant the stems you remove and with minimal attention (water) in 6 months, voila, a new artemesia. I am going to try it and will report back in June.
If you have vegetables you want planted or varieties to recommend - call, email or comment now while garden space is still available.

Winter Chores

I spent yesterday morning alternating between gathering rocks for the dry stream bed and trimming back perennials. Switching back and forth between two mundane task made it easier to keep plowing on.
I never would have believed how long it is taking to gather the rocks for the stream bed. I am trying to get a variation in size, focusing on fist sized and smaller, to give a natural look you can walk on with out twisting your ankles. I have a never ending supply of rocks, but getting them in the wheel barrow is a tedious business. I believe everyone will be impressed when they see it, or least pretend to be, or risk having their head cracked by one of the larger rocks. I have also found this out - in a relatively small space (within an acre), I have two very distinct types of limestone. I like the one I have less of.
Trimming was fun because I received a new set of Felco pruners for Christmas from my parents. They are great - very sleek and professional. I promise to take care of them, unlike every other piece of equipment I've ever owned for any use. These will be different, hide and watch.
Plant propagation news -
1) When I was trimming I noticed that two of my plant varieties, the Trailing Lantana and Beach Vitex, had put down roots along various parts of the their trailing stems. I devised and implemented an ingenious plan whereas I trimmed the main plants back to 3" or so (like normal) but when I came to a rooted stem, I left it in place and trimmed it back to 3" as well. In the spring, my rooted stems should function autonomously and I will then dig them up and plant them in a new location of my choosing. I am an evil genius.
2) I have collected a large number of seeds from my Lindheimer Sennas and I am conducting a scientific experiment with them. Albeit a very low level and basic experiment. Last year I collected seeds from the sennas, planted them and grew jack all. This year, I collected seeds and have divided them into four groups a) to be planted now b) the be planted after soaking in water for 24 hours c) to be planted in the spring d) to be planted in the spring after soaking in water for 24 hours. I am planting all four groups in my new raised bed, hopefully negating variables like soil, exposure and watering. By early this summer I will have found out how and when to plant Lindheimer Senna seeds for maximum plant production! (for me, this year, excluding any other variables I failed to consider).

I've been busy, OK?

Long time without a post and not a single complaint from you, dear reader? You are very patient. I appreciate that.
A whirlwind update of the last 45 days -
The first frost has come and gone - about November 30th. I harvested pumpkins, gourds, some green beans and lots of squash before they died. I never harvested any Lima beans, black eyed peas or cucumbers. Too late a start and not enough fertilizer, I think.
I still have most of my beets, although every now and then I pull one and they are nowhere near ready. I believe I should have thinned them more aggressively. The Detroit red seemed really susceptible to frost - I lost most of them - while the cylindra and yellow are still going strong. Shouldn't something named Detroit be cold tolerant? They are further north in the bed than the other two, maybe just less protected. Micro-climates are very interesting to me.
My Chard froze back a bit but is coming on again. The fennel, parsley, dill, broccoli, rocket and cilantro are all doing well. I harvested the first bunch of carrots, they were good and easy. The next planting, parisian carrots, is coming on well. My garlic and shallots are doing well, too. On garlic - last spring a client gave some elephant garlic bulbs that I planted in my cottage garden beds. They promptly died, or so I thought, because now they are back. I am going to watch and see how they do with the deer and neglect - if they do well out there I'm not waisting valuable vegetable garden space on them again. On deer, they got in my new bed and pulled up my new winter savory, ate most of my yaupon and old blush rose, left some hoof prints and manure and then did not even leave a thank you. They did mow down some grass next to the bed that needed it, however.
Next up - some pictures. Time to trim back all my perennials, put out more drip irrigation and re-mulch. My dry stream bed nears completion and during an easy test rain this week, seemed very functional.