Even with all the whining and moaning and groaning, I still felt pretty good this morning when I surveyed the garden. I felt even better when I awoke to the sound of rain. It was a light shower, but I'll take it. The forecast for the rest of the week is chance of rain/thunderstorm/showers every day and night. My lettuce will be happy.
The previous owners of my house apparently were into collecting tires of all sizes and sorts (among other flotsam and jetsam that I am still unearthing). I have adapted the old adage - "When handed tires, make planters". The Hillbilly Garden Grows! Since my original 'tires' for flowers are now filled with potatoes, I built on another section (read: less lawn) and planted Cosmos, Zinnias and the empty planter is now filled with sunflowers, as of this morning. And, since I was on a roll, I seeded Nasturtiums and more Cosmos around the plants.
New in the greens bed this year is a beautiful, peppery mustard green. Since the snails, slugs and creepy-crawlies seem to have a leg(less) up on me this spring, I have dusted the bed liberally with DE. I hope to eat more of my greens than they do.
My horseradish flourishes - and I discovered that the leaves smell faintly of horseradish, too.
The weekend wasn't all planting. I also hauled out my treasured tobacco cloth and draped it over my currants - there is plenty of fruit, but the goshdarn birds are even eating the green ones this spring! A PVC frame is in the works to hold the cloth further off the bushes and to incorporate the blueberries to the right.
10 comments:
Basil....oooohhhh! We need an intervention too! We have Cinnamon Basil, Lime basil, Holy Basil, Genovese Basil and my New favorite Bolloso Neopolitano Basil! Oops I forgot Mrs Burns Lemon Basil! Oh then there's the Orange Mint! Sigh. I am so enjoying following your planting adventures! It will be so worth it though when you use those wonderful fresh herbs when you cook your wonderful fresh vegetables!
Wow, that's a lot of planting! I'm going to the one really high end nursery today, as they have lots of unusual plants. I still have some space to fill!
Have I mentioned lately how much I like you? ;-)
Nancy - I was very surprised that her plants were not pricier than the other nurserys around - PLUS there's the dogs!
Michelle - The feeling is mutual... :)
Fiona - I asked at the nursery about orange mint, but she didn't have it. However, she wrote it down and will have it next year! Oooh, those basils sound wonderful!
Doesn't everyone need another garden bed? That would be fun though - a Chinese medicinal bed.
Geesh, your plants all look so healthy! Maybe I need to find some old tires. I know they supposedly hold the heat and, heaven knows, I could use some of that in my garden! If my opinion matters, I say you should go ahead and plant any and all things your little heart desires. What other creative endeavor do you know of that provides you with food? GOOD food!
Daphne - Yes - the more, the merrier! I just have to figure out where to put another bed, although it can be small. I am fascinated by herbal medicine, so this will be a great way to do some hands-on research.
Mama Pea - I do know that they retain heat, which helps when it gets cloudy and cool (often, here). Now that I have your permission, ahem, there will be no stopping me!
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