Garden Friday

 Welcome to Garden Friday,

where we share our Zone 7b Piedmont garden.

This clematis was found near our back porch steps

when we bought the place.

It never did anything until just recently

when I moved it closer to the back entry of the garden.

I think I've found the right spot!

 

This week, the rest of the blueberries

were planted in pots and relocated to offer them a bit more sunshine.

For the past two years, although I amended the soil,

we got very few berries and the soil's pH was not balanced.

I used Holly Tone and a good organic potting mix

to foster the chances of success.

Time will tell.

 

Next to the blueberries are the extra strawberry

plants I was gifted.

These are mostly for giving away,

once they have some size to them.

The wire mesh is to dissuade squirrels from 

digging up the soil to bury their treasures.

The Birdie's bed is filled with more strawberries,

some which were transplanted from a washtub,

and a few more that were added this year.

Soil was collected from all of the berry pots,

so that it can be tested by our local Cooperative Extension.

 

 

Most of the smaller beds are filling up with 

containers from the winter sowing project.

It will soon be time to get them planted,

as soon as I come up with a solution to keep the chooks 

from eating all the kale and lettuce they see.

Insect netting may be my best option,

as it will also protect the brassicas from cabbage moths.

Beans, broccoli, cabbage,

leeks, tat soi and some flowers are also growing

in the repurposed salad containers.

 

 

It was a busy week, but with spring moving forward,

I don't expect things to slow down anytime soon.

I've been enjoying my umbrella as I sit at my makeshift workbench

and pot up seedlings and commune with the chooks.

If you notice the two blue grow bags hanging on the bamboo uprights,

there are more strawberries in them.

This is the first time I've used grow bags,

but it's a nice option for so many uses.

 

The potatoes that were planted in February

are finally starting to pop up.

This is unusually slow,

but I'm using a new technique called

"The Ruth Stout Method", 

so I'm not really sure what to expect.

 

There is lettuce volunteering in some of the small beds.

I want to say it may have been sown in the fall,

but I honestly don't remember.

In any case, it is more than welcome!

 

I'm trying my hand again with the chook composting method.

I used welded wire to make a ring right in the chicken run,

and have been throwing all sorts of scraps into it.

Since I shortened the wire to about a foot and a half,

they have been climbing right in there,

scratching, pooping and moving the pile around.

We'll see what comes of it.

 

I put up some flexible fencing around the wooded area

near the garden.

We have a dog who is not too friendly who lives

across the street and this gives me a bit more confidence

that the chooks will be safer.

They are only allowed to roam in the woods

when I am working outside, so I can keep an eye on things.

They have been enjoying the cool shade

and ample dust baths!

 

 

 

 

Cooler weather lies ahead for us next week,

after a good dousing of rainfall over the weekend.

I embrace it all!

Here's hoping your weekend is just how you like it.