new perennials in b4

I pulled out some daylilies (relocated to the daylily bed) and paired these sedum and speedwell with the black eyed susans, hydrangea, asters, echinacea, and salvia. 

My Latest Vegetable Garden Fantasy

Our current front yard - not bad, but could use some improvement

Maybe some day:fenced veg garden with arbor, new driveway with block edging, house facelift

Saving the Berries

I bought some bird netting to put over our raspberry bushes.  I have heard some reports of birds getting caught in them.  I really hope that doesn't happen.  I also only partially covered the bush since it is so huge (well over 7' tall x 5' deep x 20' long).  I'll have to keep an eye on it.  But since we only got about two berries last year, it is worth a try.  If it doesn't work, I'm whacking down the bushes and planting something more tame.

Second Vegetable Garden Planted!

There are just too many vegetables that I want to grow!  I had to expand!  I started with a meager 4'X8' plot, but today June helped me add another plot 4'X7'.  I removed the grass, then added 3 bags of Vigoro Organic Garden Soil. 

In it we planted:
Burpee Organic Garden Bean - Provider seeds (55 days to maturity)
Bonnie Straight Eight Cucumber- plant (50-75 days to maturity)
Bonnie Straight Neck Yellow Squash- plant (46-52 days to maturity)
Bonnie Japanese eggplant - plant (50-60 days to maturity)
Bonnie Jalapeno Pepper- plant (72 days to maturity)
Bonnie Yellow tomatoes- plant (72 days to maturity)

New Veg Garden (fig tree behind and original veg plot to the right)

Now we just need to keep the bunnies and deer away and prevent the little kids from trampling the little plants - always a challenge!  Time for another round of Liquid Fence!

First Harvest

We planted six cloves of garlic last fall.  They all popped up and grew into great big bulbs!  I had never tried garlic before, but I'll definitely do it again this fall.  I'm not exactly sure what to do next.  I think I need to dry it somehow....?
We also ate a bunch of the romaine.  I am completely amazed that the bunnies and deer didn't get to it yet.  I guess the "Liquid Fence" actually works.  Either that or the foxes ate all the bunnies. 

Today June and I planted some red potatoes.  They were just 4 little potatoes from the super market that were growing little eyes.  So I threw them in the ground.  We'll see.   We also put in some bush peas.  They are an heirloom variety that don't need staking.  I need to expand the garden plot.  We have run out of room, and I didn't even get our orange cherry tomatoes in yet!

Front L to R:  oregano, parsley, basil, romaine, potatoes, peas, thyme.  Back: Sweet peppers & Tomatoes

Garden Shed complete

After a weekend of digging, drilling, and nailing, my husband has completed my garden shed!  I am so excited to fill it with all my garden junk!  We bought a shed kit from Home Depot, and I must say I am very impressed with the quality of the shed.  It is made in Canada and was shipped quickly.  All the pieces are red cedar and it came with all the hardware and VERY thorough instructions.  If you are in the market for a garden shed:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Outdoor-Living-Today-Spacesaver-8-ft-x-4-ft-Western-Red-Cedar-Double-Doors-Shed-SS84DD/100655549#.UbDXkJywVW4

SPRING IS HERE!

Daffodils and tulips by the family room

Helleborus outside the kitchen window

Woodland hyacinths everywhere

Vinca on the north side of the house

Star magnolia in bloom

I move the daffodils under the magnolia last week

Also blooming now: Forsythia, Pear Tree, Cherry Blossoms (the neighbor's), hyacinths.
Crocuses and snowdrops have finished up. 
I'm also happy to see that my oregano came back this year.  I moved the rosemary bush out of the vegetable garden plot.  It was just getting too big!

Bed by the street with rosemary bush and relocated sedum

Veggie Planting Schedule - Zone 7

Spring Cleaning!

Spring cleaning has begun.  I cut the fountain grass down to size, deheaded the hydrangea tree, and pruned back the butterfly bushes.  Next, rake the beds and add fresh mulch.  It is a perfect day today to work outside and the kids were equally happy entertaining themselves in the sandbox.  Hooray!