Welcoming spring in the Rio Grande Valley
Spring is a force of nature, but it is also a season of careful guidance. Our farmers and gardeners work in rhythm with the land, tending soil, sowing seeds and shaping the landscape to ensure the health and beauty of Los Poblanos in the months ahead.
In the greenhouse and fields
March is full of promise. In the greenhouse, trays are filling with cabbage, parsley, peppers, basil, tomatoes and cilantro. Each seed is tucked into warm soil and monitored closely as it pushes upward. Parsley seedlings, started earlier in the season, are now ready for transplanting, their roots strong enough to settle into prepared beds outdoors.
Our flower program is taking shape as well. We are seeding amaranth, ammi, asters, bee balm, calendula, celosia, centaurea, cosmos, echinops, gomphrena, marigold, nigella, safflower, scabiosa, statice and strawflower. These blooms will shape the visual rhythm of the farm in the months ahead, drawing pollinators and bringing color to garden beds, pathways. We are looking forward to abundant bouquets for gathering spaces and the Farm Shop.
Beyond the greenhouse, much of the work happens at ground level. Early spring is devoted to bed preparation and compost making. Soil is amended and enriched with organic matter created right here on the property. This quiet, foundational work shapes everything that follows.
Lavender and roses
This time of year, you will see our team carefully pruning the lavender fields. Pruning encourages strong, balanced growth and helps each plant maintain its structure. We are also installing irrigation lines and refreshing mulch, ensuring the fields are supported as temperatures rise.
Across the property, bare-root roses are being planted, especially around Greely Garden, replacing any plants affected by age or blight. Their roots are set deeply into prepared soil, and established roses are fertilized to encourage healthy new growth.
Garden tip: March is an ideal time to feed your roses with a slow-release fertilizer. As new growth begins, steady nutrients help support vibrant leaves and abundant blooms.
Craft and preservation
Winter’s materials continue to inspire our craft. Coyote willow gathered from the pond is being used for weaving projects, and this season we are attempting baskets, building on the tradition of working with natural materials grown on the land.
Inside the greenhouse and hoop house, parsley, Sicilian oregano and lemon verbena are drying in small bundles. Their fragrance fills the space as they cure. Drying herbs now allows us to preserve the flavor and character of early spring for use in the kitchen and apothecary throughout the year.
The apiary awakens
As plants begin to leaf out and bloom, the bees respond. Hives that were quiet through winter are stirring. Queens have been laying brood for several weeks, and new generations of worker bees are emerging. With populations increasing, some hives may even begin to swarm, a natural sign of strength and growth.
The return of the bees is one of the clearest markers of the season. Their movement among the first blossoms reminds us that spring is not a single moment but a steady unfolding.
Early spring at Los Poblanos is both preparation and promise. Beneath every bloom is careful stewardship and patient work. As the landscape shifts from winter quiet to spring abundance, we are grateful to tend the process and to witness the farm coming back to life once again