All filled up!

After some hardwork by husband and son, the garden expansion has been filled with dirt!

We went with a 3-way mix of topsoil, compost, and sand.

 

So next is the fun part: planting our warm weather veggies!

I apologize that some of the pictures are of bare ground--the pictures help me remember what I planted where, and I need to get the varieties down before I forget completely!

 

Bottom Terrace

 

 Between the peas and oregano:

Tenderpick green beans (in back along wall)

Royal Burgundy beans (filling in middle)

Basil 'Purple Ruffles' (left front, can barely see it in this photo)

Sweet Basil (right front, next to peas)

 

 



2 new rosemary plants (since the last one bit the dust over the winter):

Left: 'Madalene Hill'

Right: 'Salem'

Yes, they are probably way too close together.

We'll see how they do this winter.

If they're still alive next spring, I'll space them out further.

Tomatoes x 9

Okay, time for True Confessions. You ready?

Confession #1: We had a frost last week, while these were still not planted, and I did not get them covered up.

 

Surprisingly, they may pull through yet. The cherry tomatoes seem to be the strongest, as of right now.

 

Confession #2: They are planted a bit haphazardly. For some reason I was having a hard time keeping track of them all. Just when I thought I had planted all of a certain variety, I would find another, with no space to put it next to its fellows. 

I know, it's only 9 plants. Good thing there weren't any more than that!

 

Without further ado, here are the varieties, starting at bottom left and going around clockwise:

Cougar Red

Cougar Red

[tomatillo, see below]

Sun Sugar

Sun Sugar

Cougar Red

roma (middle)

Oregon Spring

Oregon Spring

Cougar Red

 

The great thing about raised beds with imported soil?

Most of these are planted at least a foot deep, so they should have awesome root systems!

 

Tomatillo

It's my first attempt at growing these, but since I make my own salsa, I thought why not?

This variety is Ground Cherry 'Little Lanterns.'

"Round, golden-orange fruit encased in papery ecru husks. Matures in 70 days."

 

Middle Terrace

Whoa, do you feel like you're tilting sideways when you see this picture? I do. Try not to get seasick.

Far left: Zucchini 'Fordhook', 1 hill: 3 seeds

 

Between zucchini and broccoli: 2 hills cucumbers

'Diva' (in back): 58 days, cukes 6-8"

'Bush Pickle' (front): 48 days, 4" long fruit

 

I hope they actually grow this year!

 

I filled in the rest of the berry patch on the top terrace, too, but that needs its own post.

 

Something that should be fun: our neighbors who share the super long retaining walls along the east side of our house have decided to plant a garden all along their bottom terrace. It's a good amount of space.

So we were out there today helping them, too.

They had enough room for 50 corn plants on one end, and a pumpkin/squash patch on the other end (with a variety of stuff in between.) They also planted 4 cantaloupe.  They have said they expect us to share the harvest with them!

They are the best neighbors ever. Seriously.

We are especially excited for the pumpkin patch. They planted white and orange mini pumpkins, a pie variety, plus a jack-o-lantern variety.  The kids are going to love picking out their own pumpkins this fall! (Assuming we can keep the bunnies away while they sprout.)

Spring Veggies Update

Spring vegetables are all up (for the most part) and doing great!

When I went to upload these pictures, I was surprised to see quite a few of the garden that I didn't recognize--many of them quite good.

Yup, my 5 year old had borrowed my camera.

I was impressed, actually, at how well they turned out.

I especially like the closeup of the onions and the in-your-face broccoli leaf.

So the pictures that are from a sunny day are his, the ones from the rainy day are mine.

 

Just for future comparisons, these were taken about a week ago (May 20/21).

 

Onions, indestructible onions.

 Onions, up close.

 

Peas

Only 3 or 4 came up over on the onion side of the trellis, so I bought some new seed and replanted a bunch. It looks like most are coming up this time. Hooray!

It won't hurt to extend our harvest a bit.

Those sad little plants laying on their sides are tomatoes: blown over in a crazy wind storm.

Peas climbing the trellis. 

 

My oregano has doubled in size!

It's gigantic and I'm loving it!

I don't know how much space I can let it take over, though, so I may start slicing off starts to share.

 Plus, 2 lonely garlic moved from the top terrace.

 

Potatoes coming up full and bushy. 

 

 I've hilled them up now a couple of times, so the dirt is almost even now.

(Remember, I started off with holes.)

The ones in back are very slowly peeking up.

They'd better hurry, otherwise they'll be shaded by the ones in front.

 



L-R: Broccoli, carrots, spinach/beets (sharing a row)

 

We've picked the spinach several times, now.

I'd like to plant more of it next year. 

 

Looks like it may be about time to thin the beets.

The broccoli is all very healthy-looking so far.

I was given the starts by a friend: 3 left out of a homegrown 4-pack.

Each cell had 2 plants growing in it.

I separated most of them out before I planted them in the garden, but the two sharing the last cell looked a bit weaker than the rest, so I just planted them together and let them be for awhile.

I just recently separated out those last two, giving me 6 plants altogether.

They seem to be doing fine, with no transplant shock. Hooray!



Flower Pots Planted

I did some experimenting last year with my flower pots, and for the most part, it was unsucessful. I wasn't very happy with any of the pots, really.

So...back to the drawing board this time around.

 

Also, I bought 2 new pots this spring. Yippee!

 

Hi, my name is Linnae and I'm addicted to blue pots.

I'm kind of wishing I had a few more, actually, but I'm trying to pace myself.

I do have one green pot that was given to me, but every one I've purchased is blue.

 

Cool or warm flower colors look great against the blue. 

They bring a little pop of color on the porch or deck.

Blue pots + me = BFF's

 

Anyway, yes.

Here's what I came up with:

 

Tall Blue Pot

Dusty miller (never used this before, but I'm liking how it plays off the pinks)

Pale pink petunias

Pink carnations

mixed purple/white lobelia

 

side view

This pot will end up on our front porch.

 

Green Pot

Tall dianthus, purple verbena, purple wave petunias, and vinca

 

 I like how tall those dianthus are.

Plus, some of the stems have started leaning over the edge of the pot in a charming way.

 

I've actually never tried perennials in my pots before.

Don't know why.

I'm sure I can find someplace to tuck them into my flowerbeds this fall.

 

Blue Boat

Hen and chicks (2 varieties), purple wave petunias, and Wee Willie dianthus.

The dianthus have since died. Already!

I haven't replaced them with anything yet.

 

I had envisioned this one chock full of sedums, but I couldn't help tucking in the petunias as well.

This will probably be moved up to the front, as well.

 

Round Blue Pot

Dusty miller, surrounded by purple wave petunias, and purple/white wave petunias. 

 

I didn't even wash off the edges or the leaves before I took these photos.

There was a wild and crazy windstorm going on at the time.

I was hustling just to get everything planted before the rain started.

You can see how wet the deck was already!

Literally minutes afer I came inside it was pouring rain.

 

I already enjoy these pots, just planted, more than I did last year's.

Every time I look out our back door they bring a smile to my face.

I'm hoping in another month they will be all filled in and look even better!

 

Purple Glory

Irises are so stately, with an exquisite fragrance to match.

 

My grandmother loved irises. I remember how she used to have a couple of long garden rows dedicated just to irises, of all kinds and colors.

When they bloom I think of her.

 

 

I need to find some new homes for all or most of these.

I inherited them from the previous owners of the house (not that I'm complaining!)

They used to be all there was planted in the bed, pretty much.

I'm trying for a bit more diversity--and honestly, a little bit different color scheme back here.

I think they would look great up in front of our wall, though. Maybe even scattered in several sections along the front and side. (It's a long wall!)

 

So this fall, the plan is to start some serious transplanting.

Here's hoping they take to their new homes just as well as they have to this one.

 



Irises, Roses, Tulips

Week 2 of Garden Appreciation Society, hosted by Erin at The Impatient Gardener :

 

Basically, it's an effort to actually cut some of those beautiful blooms and bring them into a new space to enjoy.

 

My irises are in full swing right now, so that was an obvious choice.

Plus, I thought they would look good with the leftover Mother's Day roses.

The pink tulips and lavender were to round it out.

 

Obviously, I'm an amateur!

This turned out nothing like I had envisioned it.

Also, I came to the realization that there's not a good place in my kitchen for photographing flower arrangements. At least I managed to crop the trash can out of this photo! :)

 

All that being said, I was excited to give it a try again this week.

And if I'm standing right next to the flowers, I can smell the irises and lavender.

It makes me smile.

So, mission accomplished!

 

Maybe as I practice each week I'll figure out a few things about flower arranging.

Either way, it should be fun.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

You have to look closely to spot this guy amongst the cattails.

I'm still learning how to zoom in without making everything blurry!

We have lots of the red-winged blackbirds around, but this was the first time I had seen this kind. Of course, I went home and tried to find it in my favorite bird book:

 

"The Backyard Bird Lover's Field Guide" by Sally Roth.

 

[Quick plug for this book: I have found it so useful! It includes a section of the most common backyard birds, followed by separate sections for different regions of the country. Best thing about it though, are the descriptions, including a "first impression," call or sounds, telltale traits, and where to find it. Also, ideas for how to lure each type of bird into your yard, including plant picks, feeder pleasers and tricks and treats.

No I am not getting a kickback for this review! I just use this book all the time!]

 

I knew I had the right one when it said you could find this bird "In marshes with cattails or other reeds."

Check.

 

It's so handy when the bird's name reflects its most obvious characteristic.

Makes it easy to remember and to point out to the kiddos.

Garden Expansion Project: More is Better

Before

 

The first spring we moved here, as my birthday present, my husband built this beautiful terraced garden for me on our back slope.

 

Then he decided to expand it on around by several feet.

I was not complaining!

I just planted all my spring veggies on the right side so they wouldn't get smashed in the process.

No problem!

 

We had the blocks delivered last fall.

 

With our clay soil, figuring out the best time to dig is a bit tricky.

If you dig too early in the spring, you get mud that sticks to your shovel, and your shoes, and your pants, and doesn't come off.

On the other hand, if you wait too long for it all to dry out, then it's baked hard and you either need a pickaxe (backbreaking slow way) or a tractor (fast but expensive way) to get it done.

So he started digging here after roughly equal amounts of rain and dry last month.

It was just about right. 

The ground was soft enough for a shovel, but as you can see, it filled in with water the deeper he dug.

Can you see why we like our raised beds?



forming the base of the wall

 

looking down from the middle terrace

Filling it up with gravel for the base takes care of the extra water.

 

April 28

Bottom terrace complete, except for a few cap blocks.

Working on middle and top terraces.

The green clump of oregano in the middle of the bottom terrace is where the garden used to end.

 

After

May 21

Expansion complete...for now.

We're getting dirt delivered to fill it up this weekend!

I've got tomatoes ready and waiting to go in.

 

This man of mine just can't get enough wall-building!

He had a tractor back there helping our neighbor build a retaining wall.

He decided that rest of the hillside was an eyesore anyway, so he went ahead and scooped out dirt for the garden beds to be expanded all the way to our fence line.

 

It is truly the never-ending wall project!

Phase 3 will probably not take place until fall, at the earliest, though.

 

I can think of all kinds of things to grow in it.

We may actually have room for pumpkins! Winter squash! Corn!

 

When it comes to garden space, more is better.

That's all.

 

It bloomed!

Our Golden Delicious apple tree actually bloomed this year!

Hooray!

This will be the 3rd spring since we planted it.

The first spring it bloomed and set apples, which all fell off mid-summer.

Last year it didn't bloom at all.

So I was especially delighted to see those creamy white blossoms this year.

 

Unfortunately, the McIntosh did not bloom. Even a little bit.

Fortunately, our neighbors have an apple tree (undetermined type) which was blooming at roughly the same time as ours.

 

Here's hoping the 2 trees were close enough (in proximity and bloom time) to pollinate each other.

 

Also, since I know nothing about apple tree spraying schedules (or are there organic, non-spraying methods...? or organic sprays?) I guess I'd better get busy and find out.

Otherwise it will be a feast for the bugs and no-one else.



Irises, Dandelions, & Forget-me-nots: May GBBD

After about 10 days of pretend summer, we're back to the usual May temps in the 60's.

I'm not complaining!

It's perfect weather for working and playing outside.

 

What's blooming this month in my garden?

Let's take a look...

 

Front Flowerbed

A shy forget-me-not peeking out from behind the daisies.

I thought I had moved all of these to the back.

Oops!

 

Candytuft

 

Back Flowerbed

Irises

I always forget how tall these are in bloom.

Long-range plan is to move them out of this bed and plant them in front. I can just picture how elegant their long-stemmed blooms will look against the retaining wall up there.

 

Dwarf flowering almond

Just planted last fall. It's supposed to grow 4-6 feet tall and wide.

These blooms look like tiny pom-poms.

 

 

Back slope

 

Although tulips are done in the back flowerbed, these ones on the slope are still looking vibrant and beautiful.

Nice crop of dandelions this year.

 

Shade Bed

 

Violas still blooming, along with a few mini daffodils and another forget-me-not.

And of course, more dandelions.

 This little forget-me-not has my vote for favorite blooms of the moment.

 



Very glad I didn't kill off this Brunnera last summer.

I am charmed by the airy, diminuitive blooms on this plant.

The foliage really stands out, as well.

I would like to add another if I can find the space for it.

To Chop or Not to Chop

Oh, the trees on our property!

 

 

So far, we have taken out nearly all of the trees and shrubs that were here when we bought the place.

We are not tree haters, I promise!

In fact, we both really appreciate healthy trees, in the right places.

Unfortunately, there have not been many that met those basic criteria.

From the wasp haven evergreen next to the deck, to the 3 half-dead scraggly pine trees on the west side, to the maple tree that was planted--no kidding--3 feet from the house, they have all gotten the axe (or the Big Bite from the front end loader.)

The entire front and east sides of the home were covered with junipers and cottoneasters.

Also gone, replaced by 3 long retaining walls.

(Part of the plan this spring/summer is to get the spaces between the walls landscaped.)

In the past 2 years we have put in trees and shrubs, as well, so it's not completely a barren wasteland out there.

 

However, back to the subject at hand: 

the ornamental plum.

 

Er...it got bumped by the tractor a couple of times.

Our fault.

But that's not the worst of it.

 

 

It's actually 2 trees growing side by side.

Ack! How did it come to this?

Surely they were not planted this way on purpose.

 

Neither are doing great, as you can probably imagine. The smaller one was the healthier of the two, until the little tractor incident.

 The problem is, if we chop down just one of the two, it will make the remaining tree very lopsided.

 

What to do?

 

Other than the aspens and apple trees on our back slope, this is our last remaining tree in the back yard. We could chop it down, to make room for something else, but whatever we get to replace it would be small and take several years to grow this big.

Or we just leave it and see if it dies off on its own later.

Maybe some judicious pruning would correct the overlapping branches?

 

It must perform well under scrutiny.

I don't ever remember it being this pretty.

In the past 2 years that we've lived here, this is really the first time I've even noticed the blossoms. I wonder if taking out the maple last year gave this one enough energy to finally bloom.
Another plus: it's a decent distance from the house and doesn't shade the garden.
 

Even so. Is that enough reason to save it?