First sprouts and blossoms in veggie garden

A pleasant surprise

A friend stopped by for a short visit on Saturday and snapped this photo for me. Of course, I had never seen these flowers in my garden before, and it definitely was something fun to gaze at.

I'm just totally bummed...because the leaves of this Columbine flower are similar to clover, and I think I pulled a whole bunch of it out beneath my patio deck. I just kept pulling up "weeds" and didn't spend too much time examining it, since it wasn't in any designated spot that made sense to me.

I think I also pulled up some kind of vine - that looks a lot like ground cover that I have in the perennial garden in the front. So. I assumed it was spreading where it wasn't supposed to be. After all, it's all over the back yard in sections and around the large rock in our backyard. Because the lawn goes right up to it, I'm not sure if they intended the vine and ferns to be around the rock or if they just landed there from some birdfeeder or something.

Anyhow...what a treat to show my friend the gardens, and both of us got a lovely surprise. Now, I have to be a bit more careful as I survey the new sprouts that I've been too hastily pulling away.

Spittlebugs

There’re some new tiny neighbors residing in my perennials, and even a little on the still unknown mamma plant in the center of my veggie garden. I haven’t seen them on the veggies yet, thank goodness, but watching closely. A little online research about a weird white foam that’s appearing on my plants is known as spittlebug – or leafhopper nymphs. http://www.hillgardens.com/spittlebugs.htm

 

Oh my, I need to spray for weeds again. The lawn looks green, but only because it needs to be cut, and the weeds (knotty weed, clover, and crabgrass) are so full and growing well that perhaps I should be proud of it. I mean, really, we’ve fertilized, watered, and it’s growing such beautiful yellow and white flowers all over the lawn. I’m not sure if I’m ready to cave in, or get out the weed-b-gone one more time. I hate to go too much more powerful, but maybe we can use fertilizer and weed killer all-in-one on the grass by end of June. Any suggestions, fellow gardeners?

 

 

 

My first compliment

I came out to finish the last of the major weeding of the front garden the other night. I prepared a special solution of rose fertilizer/insect & disease protector for my rose bushes, and watered them deeply. We bought a weed edger/trimmer and I used it around the house and gardens. Then, I got down on my hands and knees and plucked the crabgrass and maple seedlings from around the perennials. Now that the plants are filling in, I can actually see what's supposed to be there and what's a weed. I did add a little bit of woodchips, but will purchase some more this evening and put the finishing touches on it.

We have a walking path right in front of my home, and neighbors from all over walk regularly up and down the path. As I came out of my garage with gloves on, bucket and shovel in hand...I made a comment to a passer-by that it was a nice evening for a walk. She said, "You've done a nice job with the garden." I said, "Well, I really didn't do much, all these plants were here when we moved in." She said, "Yes, but it was really overgrown with weeds, and you've done a lot of work. It looks really very nice." I said, "thank you," sheepishly - and was really surprized by her lovely comments. My thoughts took it in for about a moment, when I realized how she must think of the other corner garden that has 6" dandelions popping all over it. Yuck. I'm trying to appreciate the compliment for what it is, and feel some sense of accomplishment. It does feel good to be done with this section for now, and just maintain it weekly. I am really pleased with the way it's turning out.

In fact, the following afternoon - I noticed some tiny coral-pink rose buds popping up from the tips of my bushes in the front yard garden. I forgot the name of them...royal something, and they're very cute.

Can't wait to post photos.

Lavender

Lavender? Very early May, 2009.

Veggie Garden Photos, April/May 2009

In the beginning...there were weeds, and the garden was without form.
BEFORE:...(tons of overgrown weeds). Early May '09...2/3 tilled and planted.















AFTER:















See the container of veggies on the right in this last photo. Those are the tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and peppers yet to be planted.


























P.S. - I got the section next to the lavender plant tilled last night and table lace squash and zucchini went into the ground with lots of water. I hope they survive.

Vine veggies - maybe not this year

I weeded and spread wood chips over some of the front perennial garden yesterday while my husband mowed the back and sides of the yard. I hope I can finish that, and be excited about lower maintenance of that section of yard once it’s done. I mean, I’m okay with a little weeding…but hate the deep digging up of grasses that have invaded the rose bushes, corabells, hostas, stonecrop, hydrangeas, and lamium. Most of the maple seeds in the back yard were picked up, but I guess we’re bringing out the rake soon, or we’ll be weeding back there, too.

The midwest area of Minnesota is experiencing a dry spell in what is usually a very wet season. My veggies are doing okay, even though I haven’t spent much time in the garden in the past week. But, I still haven’t gotten those vine plants into the ground.

I turned on the sprinkler this morning for about an hour, but noticed the small pint-sized containers with the vine plants are looking pretty sad. I don’t know whether to try to plant them, start over with new ones, or let them go completely – since I’ll most likely be over my head in tomatoes anyhow. Oh, and I was so looking forward to grilled zucchini and letting the kids pick out some pumpkins and watermelon for themselves. I guess I’ll sleep on it and make a decision. Maybe I’ll get the zucchini into the ground tonight if it’s worth it. Bummer if it’s not.

.