Perennials, Veggies, And Questionable Self-Control

 

I've been working my way around the yard, cleaning out one bed at a time.  One a day is my goal, though I may have already botched that plan.

Our schedules finally fell into place.  Our annual trip to get plants and lots of other stuff.   

It was so hot and even hotter in the greenhouses. We found jsut about everything we wanted at Grant's (the big one).

Then, of course, we had lunch, and then headed to Lowe's for the good stuff.

We stopped by the Tomato Tree guy and ended up with a few more tomato plants and some canna and elephant ears.

Yesterday, in between the raindrops, I laid out all the plants, and we actually need more.  But don't tell Murph!

I've been out this morning planting flower seeds in between the raindrops, which is nice.  God is watering for me today.  Maybe this evening I can get some in the ground.

Morning Wonders In The Berry Patch

 

Two of these don't look like the others.

This is what strawberries look like before they turn red.

I wonder what creature ate that one.  Drat!

Now that's a beauty!

I see blackberries in my future if I can beat the birds to them.

There are a ton of raspberries.

This strawberry is almost as big as one of the eggs in the basket!

A Garden Report From Avery

I'm excited about the blackberries.

Strawberries are going crazy.  And so early!

potatoes

Avery's favorite garden.

Ollie is keeping a close eye on the picking process.

All Creatures Great and Small

 

Carolina Wren nest
 

She likes marshmallows.

He was a big one.

Another nest of wren eggs.

One of our many seed snatchers.

Mason bee is doing his thing.

Happy to see a goldfinch.

Ladybug eggs and I am so excited about them.  Aphids will be running for their lives.

Our little squirrel with no tail.

A midnight seed snatcher.

Sleeping soundly until I picked up the cage, and then he growled at me and scared the life out of me.

He's a big one, alright!

bluebird pair

Garden Wake-Up Calls s Officially In Progress

 

New asparagus bed cleaned out, planted, and covered for warmth.

Two kinds of potatoes are planted.

 Good compost for the compost bin covering the seed potatoes.  Might need some repair on this old raised bed.

In a few days, we are already seeing some growth.

Some blooms on last year's strawberry plants.

Three beds in the Pumpkin Patch have been 'restocked' with new strawberry plants.

The bottom tier had five strawberry plants, and the top tier had chives on the ends and lavender in the middle.

The clawfoot cast iron bathtub has all-new strawberry plants.

And more in the rusty tub.

I think we are off to a great start.  Now, if the weather would just cooperate.

Sowing The Seeds Of A New Adventure

 

Indoor seed starting adventure.  I grew fodder in the thasemtn when we had chickens, so this can't be too different.

Trays are ready for soil.

Trying to figure out the heat mats and the timer for the grow lights.

Sowing the seeds.

The end of day two.

These might be a little too moist.  I'm going to need to use some cinnamon to kill the mold.

Basil on day 4.

It looks like we will have enough Sweet Basil to share with all of Ohio.

Tonight, we moved two trays up and began working on the bottom, adding two trays of flower seeds.

So far so good.  Now it is a waiting and watching game for the last frost of the season and for the ground to warm up.