09 May 2008
What a week we've had! Actual sunshine and everything. Rain and health issues had kept me from doing several projects in my garden, but things are finally getting in shape now. The back garden needed some leveling out before I could do any planting, so I took care of that and put in a border of pansies and some herbs.
The dill and chives are still in shock after being transplanted this morning; the parsley just lacks the will to stand up straight. Lazy.
One of these days soon, I'm going to measure everything in my backyard and make a little map. I've got several plots now, and it might be helpful to know where things are. The 'back garden' used to be just the corner of perennials that the last owner planted, but I've expanded it and am putting in herbs and a grape vine. And the pansies.
The main garden is, of course, the big(-ish) vegetable garden. I've got it about half-planted at the moment: radishes, onion sets, carrots (take two -- the first lot of seeds never came up; the soil is too dense), snow peas, broccoli, lettuce, chard, kale, brussels sprouts, and Yukon Gold potatoes. The remaining plants will wait a little longer to go in: bush beans, tomatoes, hot and bell peppers, eggplant.
There's also the 'hose garden', which (logically) is situated right by the spigot, and that's where my zucchini and squash will go. I think I'll go with two zucchini plants again (but be MUCH better about grating and freezing the extras this year) and a butternut. Those plants get pretty big, so just the three alone will probably wind up overgrowing the (approximately) 4' x 6' plot.
The last proper garden is the sun garden, which is just the other side of the back door from the hose garden, but which gets a brutal amount of sunlight from about noon to sundown. It's going to be my flower garden: an assortment of annuals and some of the perennials from the back garden which should be divided.
The LAST last garden is the little area around my compost bin. Loads of garden waste got thrown right BY the bin last fall (I have no idea who would do that. . . ), so the grass is dead. I've got to get a few more bricks to border it in, and then I'm going to plant some Irish moss and maybe a few other shady-time goodies. The corner is overhung by lilacs, so it's one of the only areas of shade in the entire yard.
Whew! My brain still isn't convinced that it won't be below freezing in a few days; this winter was a brutal one It's hard to believe it's over a week into May already!
It looks wonderful so far. I just love seeing the little buds show up, it's so promising. :)
posted by Secrets & Tea at May 10, 2008 02:07 AM
Of course, the midwestern U.S. last frost date is always the day after one plants out the tomatoes. ;-)
posted by anne at May 11, 2008 12:35 AM
it snowed the day I was born, may 13, 76 years ago!
posted by grama at May 11, 2008 02:08 PM
I hope you're feeling ok!
posted by Katie at May 11, 2008 09:00 PM