Hillside Rose

The wild rose brambles in our hillside are just starting to bloom. They were lovely with raindrops on them last night. These are from the nice evening tonight.

New "Old" Garden Plan

Next stage garden planning! But I only did a lumber order for 6 beds.  However, I like the idea of the center herb/flower/lilac bed.  My colleagues gave me a Korean lilac that is quite fragrant.  Ha - sabbatical Excel work!  This is the space of the garden-past.  Too much improved soil there to let go unused.

Getting Started Resources

When I started vegetable gardening in the cool NW (Kent WA),  these become my go-to books on growing and using vegetables.  Then I added the seed starter book to help know which seeds needed light or dark or warm bottoms etc.  The first book is from Seattle Tilth, a great resource of classes and demo garden, now part of the Tilth Alliance. http://www.tilthalliance.org/ 

I also discovered UK vegetable blogs (and created this garden journal blog). I appreciated seeing others' garden and allotment plans, tips and stories. Then met up with the Seattle Area Garden Bloggers United to Talk (SAGBUTT).   So if you are starting out, a little reading, some climate-similar friends online or in person and diving (digging) in is a great start.  Let’s stay in contact too!   

Petunia and the Bees

Had a Petunia (the snake(s)) siting today, in the old garden space!  I hope she finds the new garden just past the old spot.  

I’m watching mason bee behavior as I’m trying to switch out of old lodgings to more maintainable habitats that can help prevent harmful bee parasites/predators.   It helps to have this wonderful covered area off the barn. 

Garden progress

The tomatoes have been pleased with the little coverings, have reached the top and are flowering.  However, they may have preferred if I flipped the top of the cover back over them for these past few cool days.  For certain seedlings, I’ve added anti-slug wire fences as recommended by my neighbor. Sunflower seedlings are planted in the flower/herb/perennial bed. The rain was helpful and now some sunnier days would be most welcome!

Bird Business

We repaired the broken arm on the bird feeder pole.  It now has an anti-squirrel slinky addition.  The pole has a big round base which makes it movable.  It was a stand I found at Boeing Surplus years ago and had been excellent for this bird purpose.  Check that off the long fix-it list!   The birds seem to like using the old birdbath base as one of their social distancing waiting spots for busy times at the feeder. 

Wait!

Okay, realizing I was weeks to a month ahead of usual tomato and zucchini planting, I located some cloches and made other protection. The blue sky was only for a moment.  Otherwise, today was rainy, overcast, windy and cool. We will see if the plants will forgive me. 

Into the Ground

The tomatoes were looking good and strong enough time move to the garden. The warm morning encouraged me but then it cooled off so I hope they don’t protest. The zucchini starts and the remaining broccoli and chard went into the ground outside the cloche too.  All four beds are weeded and mulched. Happy to see the tadpoles in the pond, too. 

Springtime at Home

It has been a treat to be home and see the flower progression stages more than I usually have a chance to notice. 

Garden Visitor

I walked out to the garden today and noticed signs of a visitor in the old Petunia's Garden and all the way out to the new Petunia's Garden. Fortunately, I recruited a garden watchman who will be on duty starting today.  Introductions soon.

He walked right through the half I dug on Friday. I'll finish digging today.  Fortunately, he found nothing to eat!