Staring August in the face...

Where did the summer go?

Andy built me raised garden beds - they're very lovely, and my tomatoes are LOVING them! However, they're planted too close together, and are just one giant tomato jungle. Even overshadowing to some extent, the peppers in front of them. The first cherry tomatoes are just starting to blush orange, so even though they got a late start, I'm hopeful to see some fruit this year!

I'm toying with the idea of planting some seeds even now, to see what will grow. The garden is in a sheltered spot, so I think it may work out. Even if it doesn't, seeds are cheap!

The rest of the gardens are wickedly neglected. I *need* to get out and weed, but it's been so melty this past week or so, who wants to sweat like crazy instead of lounging in the pool?

I came, I saw, I mulched

The woodland garden is completely mulched. No new plants have become bunny victims. They either don't like primrose, or they haven't found it yet...

The lupine look very very poor. I know they don't like to be transplanted, but I picked very small clumps, and thought I got the whole root system. Maybe they'll perk up, but I'm not holding my breath! I guess if they don't take, I'll start some from seed - it seemed to work in the garden by the house.

Tonight's mission is to tackle the spot for the new vegetable garden. Fear me.

Weekend Warrior

The sadly neglected woodland garden (aka poorly planned vegetable garden) got some TLC this weekend. I took out all the weeds, dug in 200 lbs of compost, and added 150 lbs of mulch. I'm a little short on mulch, so have to add a bit more at some point. I also added a few plants - two foxgloves (one is supposed to be chocolate colored!), several primrose, lamium, lupines I dug up from the woods out back, and violets dug up from the lawn. We'll see what takes. I also noticed what I think is a trillium growing! I planted 3 last fall - I think this is one of them! I'll be royally pissed if it's just a weed...

I also moved my strawberry plant closer to the house. It was just getting mercilessly chomped by the damn rabbits where it was. The woods are flush with new growth and fun stuff to eat. WHY do they insist on taking down my crocus and strawberry plants??

May is here!

And with it comes snow...wait, snow? Yep, what miserable weather. The weatherman is practically shooting off in his pants about the crap weather. He gleefully says "This is the latest we've had snow since 1978!" Well, who the fuck cares? Tell me when the good weather is coming!

It looks like it may be on the way. Today is sunny skies with a possible high at 65. Still not much rain. Last May was almost the wettest on record. This one is not shaping up to be a repeat. I'm going to be brave, and get some annuals this weekend. I know, tempting fate. Guaranteed for at least one more snow event, I bet. Just you wait and see.

Little Lupines!

Late last summer I put in a new garden bed. I put some annuals in it, as well as a few perennials. I decided to throw some seeds in, too, just to see what they'd do. It appears most of them did nothing. Except for the lupine - while weeding the bed on Sunday, I found four little lupine plants. They're still very tiny, but they have their first set of true leaves, which is how I knew they're lupines. I'm so excited - success!

I have some other mystery seedlings. I have to let them grow to see if they're friend or foe.

Water water...nowhere

Well, so far we've had a whopping 0.01" of rain for the month. Which means I spent at least an hour on Sunday watering my lovely plants. The beds close to the house are no trouble - my biggest worry is not smooshing any plants with the hose. The woodland garden, however, is another story. The hose won't reach, so I have to lug watering cans of water across the yard. Not a big deal, but I always end up sloshing a little water down my leg. This causes my pants to get wet, and makes my flip-flops dangerously slippery. No broken ankles - this time.

Some of my bulbs are perplexing me. The tete-a-tete daffodil and Thalia narcissus are being very tempermental. Their performance is very spotty, and I'm pretty disappointed! The tulips are growing like mad, but the supposed "easily naturalized" bulbs are punking out, it seems. Teaches me for planting 75 of them!

Finally, I managed to get some seeds started. It's a little late in the season, but I'm hoping the beautiful weather we're having will make up for it. Besides, my raised beds are still a pipe dream, so even if I had seedlings, I have nowhere to grow them! The F.E. exam really put a cramp in my gardening plans!

Planty goodness

The weather was wonderful all weekend - sunny and 70's. Did I garden? Nope.

I did manage to empty out some of the deck pots - pulled last year's dried plants out to get them ready for this year's crop. I also planted some peas. If they go according to plan, they'll grow up the tomato cage, and we'll have a small crop of sugar snap peas.

Meanwhile, the plans for the raised beds are still that - plans. This spring is just flying by - I need a button to press to stop time so I can feel like I'm accomplishing something...anything!

Spring!

Well, the snow has melted.

The crocus are coming up gangbusters in the back and in the lawn. The damn rabbits have eaten all the crocus and grape hyacinth in the driveway bed. Even after I covered the leaves in a garlic and cayenne pepper spray. Have I mentioned I hate the rabbits?

My first daffodils are in bloom! Now, if only I can keep the dogs out of the flower bed, they'll be safe!

Out of 173 bulbs planted last fall, 10 are blooming. 163 more to go!