55 Beautiful Degrees on the Central Illinois Prairie

Yesterday, February 18, 2011 was the kind of pre-spring day all gardeners look forward to, the first day warm enough to spend time outside to take stock of shrub and tree buds and to leisurely wander through the gardens to see what needs cleaned up and what has already reseeded, easy to spot because of the healthy shade of bright green.  

Asparagus Ferns about 10 feet tall

We have a sizable asparagus patch of 'Jersey Knight'  in its 6th year of sending up green shoots so delicious we eat them raw.  The productivity of the patch lets us present friends bundles of this coveted spring crop known as a super food because it carries high amounts of antioxidants.  After about a month and a half of harvesting, thin asparagus continues to grow which remains unpicked and over the summer, this chlorophyll laden growth feeds the roots for the following season.  The ferns grow as high as 10 feet, and because we live on the windy prairie we stake the ferns using old panty-hose as ties.  

Dead asparagus stalks

In past years, we've cut the ferns back in early winter when they've turned brown, but this year we waited until now.  Most of the dead stalks pulled out easily awaiting for Ed to take them to the pit where they make excellent kindling when it's time to burn.