4 July 2017

Mid-June Yard and Garden Pictures

I'm not going to take the time to write in detail, it's taken enough time uploading and posting the pictures.  Here's what I said earlier today over on my regular site:

We lost one plant that I really like in a storm, but my wife brought in the flowering stalk and we've had it inside for almost a week now.  Something, either squirrels or rabbits, has been nibbling on some potted plants.  I moved one into the area between the gardens and it is still getting eaten so it must be squirrels there as rabbits can't get in.  And I've missed the full bloom of the lilies as all the petals have now fallen, same for the peonies.  But the day lilies are blooming now and the garden is looking very well. 



















As usual, full picture tour after the break:

More Plants

More plants have been added to the yard and garden.






















Another picture tour after the break.

Full Spring Yard Tour

The fun part of taking pictures each year (and collecting them in one easy spot) is seeing the growth.  The year to year evolution of our whole yard, of course, but here just week to week or month to month and over the whole season, watching all these plants grow and bloom and provide a little color and happiness in our lives.

The strawberry plants have really taken to the compost-enriched soil of the west garden.  I haven't seen the plants look so robust in some time.  The garlic and herbs are coming along as well.




Shortly before these pictures Kate planted a bunch of seed rows in the east garden.  And the raspberry plants are still there.  The east garden never got much of the compost soil because it was hard to add in between the plants.  Moving the strawberry plants gives us a chance to enrich the cheap soil I started with.  I hope the seeds do well, but they may do better next year.  Also, after uploading pictures we remembered to cover the area where seed rows are planted to help keep them from being dug up so I had to go out again to get an updated picture.  Just two chicken wire covers I slapped together a few years ago that we've used off and on in the garden and they seem to work well.

Now, the tour starts after the break.  This time I thought I'd add a little caption commentary, just for kicks!

Before the Hostas Fall

Another back yard tour to show the growth since last time.  Spring is a wonderful time of year.  I like it when the hostas are bursting forth yet have not fallen, like here, but the ones on the side of the house have already started to fall.
Next weekend - Mother's Day weekend - will probably be plant shopping time.  Time to pick out all sorts of colorful fun plants and fill the pots and plant beds.

Garden Redo

Last weekend Kate weeded the area around the stump and this weekend it was time for the garden.  She spent hours out there weeding, trimming raspberry plants, and moving ALL the strawberry plants from the east garden to the west garden.  This way we can add compost to the east garden this year.  Most all the hay has been put into the center path for weed control there and netting has been placed over the west garden to keep critters from un-planting that which has just been planted.  The garlic is on top and there are herbs on the bottom with strawberry plants planted wherever they fit.






There's another yard tour after the break.  She also spread mulch in the flowerbeds which makes it look much nicer until I get some plants in there.  Hostas and lily of the valley are coming up.  And in front, where my wife put tulips a few years ago, they finally have a few flowers!  Too little too late, though.  They go downhill after spring and then is empty for the rest of the summer.  The last picture, I plan to replant that area with new plants in a couple weeks.

Hello Spring 2017

It finally dried out enough and the sun showed up so I got to take a picture tour of the yard and gardens for Spring!  These pics are from Saturday, as of yet I see no blooms (but some are getting close).  It was officially spring a week ago, but I've done nothing outside yet other than dig up a few rocks that became exposed over winter around the stump.  I think I'll use them in the corner under the lilac to define that corner some more.

Full tour after the break:

Garden and Yard, Winterized

This may be the last post on the garden site, at least for this year.  I've barely kept this site updated this year.  I was hoping that my wife would enjoy posting here, she did a few posts, but that has not happened.  I guess I'll just have to see what happens here next year.

The east garden got the last of our straw a week or so after the last post.  I had to get more so we could add some to the west garden.








We have more than enough garden space and have not been utilizing it to its fullest.  Time is a big factor, so is laziness.  No berries for us this year.

All leaves have been raked, mulched  for the flowerbeds or mowed into the lawn.  Gutters are clean, composted dirt emptied and deterrent spread for whatever has been shitting in my yard.  Only the gnome and a few decorative stakes have yet to be put away.  Some dead plants will have to be removed in spring, this fall has been so mild I let them continue on.

The last yard tour of 2016 after the break.

Late October

Yesterday, Kate planted the garlic for spring.  Covered so it stays planted.

We already mixed in lots of home made compost soil.  There are herbs still near the bottom.















The east garden is the same mess of non-raspberries and strawberries for the squirrels.







The stump flowers show the wear of summer and a frost.  The big one in back was uprooted and it's roots eaten.  The yellow ones died after the frost.  Others have been stunted by always being dug in by animals and being in pots.  Yard tour after the break.

Early September Checking In

I've been neglecting my sites lately.  Not on purpose, though.  I guess I haven't had anything to say.  Not much has been happening with the garden, except we have been drying basil all week in the dehydrator.  The plants in the yard are doing well but some are showing the wear of late summer.


















A tour of the yard is after the break.