A few days of warm weather, and most everything that can bloom is blooming.  Pictured here is rapini, and the rest of the October-planted fall/winter vegetables – broccoli, mustards, collards, cabbage – are throwing flowers like crazy as well.  They’re pretty much done for the year.

The nectarine and peach trees (planted last spring) have blossomed, and it looks like the nectarine might even fruit this year. The newly-planted Nanking cherries, beach plums, and 4-in-1 Asian pear are all leafing out. I’ve been anxiously checking the jujube and the walnut each morning, and it looks as if they are finally going to break dormancy.  This is a huge relief – whenever I plant bare root trees, I get nervous that they won’t take.  I know, I know…I’m working on it.

In other news, the various rhubarb plants in the forest garden are growing beautifully – I’m going to let them go this year and not harvest any, in an effort to let them really find their roots.

I realize that I’ve never let the rhubarb flower – I usually cut the flower stalks when they emerge in order to encourage leafy growth.  This year, however, I’m letting this one flower, as I’ve never held a rhubarb seed.