We've about finished planting for spring.  Our new tries this year are kohlrabi, fava beans and artichokes.  Garden includes 5 varieties of tomato, summer squash, zucchini, 4 varieties of onion, garlic, 4 varieties of potatoes, zipper cream peas, sweet corn, 2 varieties of winter squash, pumpkin, mustard, turnips, broccoli, green beans, lima beans, 2 varieities of carrots, beats, kale, snow peas, English peas, lettuce, spinach, leeks, Chinese cabbage, pok choi, cilantro, 2 varieities of cabbage, cucumbers, cantaloupes, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, sweet peppers, and asparagus.  Only thing left to add are sweet potatoes.

New fruit trees this year were two varieities of heritage apples and two elderberries joining our peach, pear, Asian pear, Satsuma, Meyer lemon, blueberries, fig and muscadine grapes.  Also planted some Alpine strawberries for next year.  Herbs include rosemary, sage, thyme, lemongrass, 3 varieties of basil, oregano, spearmint, chocolate mint, ginger, pineapple sage, peppermint, feverfew, comfrey, lemon verbena and lemon balm.

Improvements to the garden are laying a good layer of pine needles between the beds (we have a lovely stand of long-leaf pine on about 2 of the 5 acres) and covering that with a good layer of pine bark flakes (used for chicken bedding).  Looks great and I'm already celebrating less volunteers in the walkways that tend to spread seed into the beds!  The front beds are getting bigger and the yard that needs mowing is getting smaller.