Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome to Garden Friday,

where we share what's growing in our Zone 7b garden.

You know it's full-on spring 

when the apple blossoms come out.

Our tree is usually loaded with fruit,

which the squirrels promptly enjoy.

 

 

Several projects were undertaken this past week,

as we had the glorious weather to accommodate our plans.

One thing on my list was to straighten out the edging on both

the mailbox bed and the adjacent butterfly bed.

As you can see, the bricks got all askew and were just a mess.

In about a half an hour, it looked much better.

Hopefully, the mail carrier will be able to 

keep his tires on the road.

 

 

The butterfly bed was akimbo as well.

I blame the squirrels.

 

 

It felt good to get this tidied up

and looking like a proper bed.

Alright, squirrels, keep off the brick!

 

Another task was to get the flower beds in the front of the house

set up with irrigation.

My original plan entailed digging underneath the sidewalk

to place the poly, so that the water line would be seamless under the ground.

Well, I got this far in digging and gave up.

It was so difficult to get under there,

even with my auger to help me.

I went to Plan B.

(It's always handy to have a Plan B.  And Plan C.

Just in case.)

drip holes are every 12 inches

Well, Plan B meant that I scrapped the idea of all that digging.

(Who's gonna argue with that?)

I simply tucked the irrigation line underneath our welcome mat

and connected it to drip on the other side of the sidewalk.

Not professional, but it works.

All of our front flower beds are now fully irrigated.

Can't wait to see all of our lovelies enjoying their hydration.
 

 

I dug up and transplanted some clematis

on the outside of the chicken run.

A piece of welded wire was added as protection

from curious beaks.

The hope is that this vine covers the welded wire run.

 

 

Can I just tell you how magical these California poppies are?

There are more blooms each day

and they are like a pop of sunshine on even the most 

dreary of days.

Gotta plant more of these.

 

This week, I spied the beautyberries coming back.

We've had lovely 70 degree days

and they are lovin' it!

All of the gardeners are too!

 The rosemary I took cuttings from and planted in a pot

didn't fare so well.

I had moved both the rosemary and the lavender

so that they could get more sun

and took these cuttings in case the rosemary didn't survive the transplant.

Ah well, it's the chance you take.

I've heard it's difficult to grow from seed,

but I'm up to the challenge.

 Our potatoes didn't much like the last frost we had.

Well, some of them will have to bounce back.

 

 Others did just fine in the same bed.

Go figure...

 

The sweet potatoes are lined up facing south

and have begun forming slips.

We still have a ways to go before things will be warm enough

to put them in the garden beds.

Sweet potatoes love the heat!

At least someone does.

Roots on the bottom, slips on the top!

 

 

A few strawberries are teasing me whenever I venture out.

The blueberries are getting closer too,

and I can't wait to get enough to fill my belly!

 

I've been enjoying the asparagus in salads

and in my scrambled eggs too.

It's such a blessing to have this delicious and nutritious crop

growing right in our back side yard.

 

The area over the septic tank got a little sprucing up.

You may think that's kind of a waste of time,

but I am working on disguising the area as much as possible.

Here, there are spider wort lining the curve near the chicken run.

A healthy patch of oregano is growing,

thanks to the last owners of the property.

We won't be eating that.

 

The balloon flowers are coming up in the butterfly bed

and they look so healthy.

These will take partial shade,

which is exactly what they'll have

once the crepe myrtles leaf out completely.

 

The first iris bloomed this week,

and it is still such a thrill to witness.

The mailbox bed will soon be filled with these beauties.

Queenie and a friend

Most of my main projects have now been completed,

including several chook ventures,

which I hope to share sometime next week.

Until then,

here's hoping that you get to spend lots of time outdoors.

It really does a body (and spirit) good.

Be Blissed!