How Does My Garden Grow?

[RubyJeansMom]

Wow Brenda, You've got a nice BIG garden!

Linda, All your Mother's Day flowers are so nice.
How sweet of Sadie to get you a very special gift.

Deb, Your Mum sounds like such a sweetheart, now I know were you get it from.

[lucky&babesmom]

Probale way more than we'll need if it grows. But it give Dad something to do. I hope I'll be giving away all sorts of things.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

RJM, you are so sweet!

Brenda, you do have a large garden. I love melons and fresh tomatoes from the vine. I wanted to buy a few potted tomato plants for my deck, but I worry that Oliver & Henry will feel the need to "mark" the pots and I don't want that. I need to put on my thinking cap.

One of my brothers (Rob) would tell me to use my head for more than a "hat rack". I would then offer him a half a cup of shut your yap, and we'd be off.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone's progress pictures.

Ben and I have a plan for the lawn since Pesticides have been banned in London. We are going to dig up as many of the dandelions and weeds that we can, put down topsoil with good seed and feed and go from there. Fortunately, my front lawn is small. The back lawn is fine as there was decent topsoil down when they laid that sod. I so wish someone had said something to me about topsoil first as I thought that was part of the deal when I purchased this house.

I also want to plant some annuals along the one wall of the garage leading to the front door. I did that two years ago, and despite my lawn looking frightful, the flowers at least looked as though someone was trying. Fortunately, Ben likes to do "house" things so he is willing and wanting to help.

[Sadie G]

Brenda when my garden space grows up it wants to be just like yours You have a lot of garden!! My daughter and SIL have a huge one like yours. It will keep your dad busy, and thats a good thing!

Deb, you have the best sons! I think its great that Ben likes to do things like that. Your lawn will be the pride of the neighborhood when you get done!
(I love your family stories, they always make me smile!)

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Linda, you are so sweet!

As a matter of fact, Ben and I found ourselves in the local "Rona" to buy an outdoor extension cord for the mower. I thought an electric one would be safer for the boys to use when I bought it several years ago.

While Ben and I were standing near the soil and seeds discussing our options, a lovely fellow asked if I would mind some advice. I said that of course i was open to any and all suggestions. He was a customer who happened to overhear the "debate" Ben and I were having over seed & feed.

Although missing most of his front teeth, he graciously directed us to the Herbicides, that are acceptable in London, to help kill the weeds, and not the grass. We discussed a basic plan of attack. Initially he thought we would be alright without any extra soil until we explained that just beneath the weeds is rock and pebbles, no dirt at all.

Ben and I now have a summer project and that is to beautify our front lawn. He did all the shoveling in the winter and now we're working on the rest of the front of the House. Elliot just can't stand to not be involved and before you know it, he'll be begging me to let him weed!

It was so refreshing today to have someone offer to help me without wanting something in return. I received a Random Act of Kindness. It turns out that this fellow has his own lawn cutting business, and didn't even have a business card to give me but told me how I could find him. Meanwhile, the other so called "expert" I paid, didn't have any answers or solutions for me. He's called me many times looking for repeat business. I have been unavailable to take his calls. We discussed it already.

I should take some before pictures as my front lawn is hideous! We'll see.

[lucky&babesmom]

Deb, have you thought of corner shelves for your patio garden.If I remember right ,from your snow pictures ,your have a few corners you could build shelves for or even buy some. Its just a thought.
Short little Cav. legs could reach them up there

[Margie-Rex's Mom]

Brenda, the photos of your garden space reminded me of our garden when I was a kid. If any of you remember the photos of my back yard...almost all of that was garden. My father's relaxation in summertime was hilling potatoes and tending to his corn. I remember one year we had 4 dozen tomato plants! My mother canned enough veggies to last almost a year.

Deb - what a wonderful encounter in the garden center! That guy is the guy you want to hire to do any future work. I love having tradesmen offer their advice without expecting anything in return. It means they really love what they do and like to help others.

And yes, we need before photos of your lawn!

I am going to the nursery to get my annuals for the summer. I'm thinking of creating a raised bed around the stump in my front yard. The last time I was at Lowes they had a great sale on garden soil...and I can't turn down a sale!!

[kian]

The daff and tulips are very pretty, love the pink RJM.

Linda what nice gifts, I too have the blue solar powered, only my is a dog. I saw the butterfly, it is very cute.

Brenda I love, love your garden space!

Marge garden sales get me everytime!!

Deb how nice of that man to help you out and give you herbicides ideas, that will be a great help. You must dig down and put good soil, compost and peat moss amendments would make a nice lawn. Don't over do the any compost you can burn young grass blades. The grass seed must be rake a inch into the soil, covering it with peat moss help retain the mosture.

I am finally winning the war on dandelions, I have several brown spots where I spayed them and dug them up. I ended up to two large garbage bags full of dandelions. My garden is nearly done and I have some things coming up already. I rotoliller a spot for corn and that is planted now. I just need to build my compost box, which I am making from free pallets and plant some seed potatoes.

Here is the work in progress, I did most of it myself including cementing the post in the ground. OH helped me wrap the netting around the box. To the left is Banjos pen being built, I will post a pic. Pasture grass will be planted as well.


Here it is with the water insulators which are now planted with tomatoes. The corn is now planted where the tiller is sitting. Next year I want to expand the box.(the far end is where the kennel is planned)

Banjos pen being built. There is a reason ot my insanity for everything close together. I have a master plan in my head.

[Sadie G]

Deb you should take before and after photos. I always appreciate free advice like you got. You know if the person took the time to stop and talk to you about your problem, they almost always have good advice.

Kian, your garden looks good! Great job doing it all yourself!! I had to have help from my OH with our boards, he used long spike nails to connect the four corners. That garden box is not going to move!
I can't wait to see the finished pen for Banjo!
What exactly are those bags over your tomato plants, and what do they do?

My mom, my daughter and I did our annual flower shopping today. I also got the dirt, plants and seeds for the garden. Everything is done in the veggie garden now, I definitely need another section for next year!! I also planted two spots of zuccini up by the house.

I got a few flowers planted, but have lots still to plant tomorrow. We found some great bargains. I bought a few annuals, but most of what I bought today was perennials. I want lots of things that will come back every year. I bought a chocolate plant!!! The leaves are an almost chocolate brown, I can't wait until it flowers. I didn't take any photos of the completed garden or any of the flowers yet. I was pretty tired after doing all of that and we just laid around here watching movies after dinner. Tomorrow I'll get photos. I can't remember everything I bought either, but I did find a great deal on miniature rose bushes and bought 6 of them! I want some out front too.

I was tempted to buy some iris's today, but Brenda is sending me some so I will gladly add hers to my garden. Brenda is a sweetheart!! I will send you some columbine as soon as it seeds Brenda!

[lucky&babesmom]

Linda, I'm trying to get a few of each color ,they will be small at first but will grow fast and mutliple. Put bone meal on your bulbs spring and fall ,it really does help. You should have your package sometime this week.All I have to do is type up little things about the seeds I've found that helps.
Would you want spiders seed I can't find the real name of this silly things but they say outting them around your garden helps with bugs,it should they stink.
Can't wait to see pictures of what you have .

Kian ,I can't wait till you get your stuff done. I wondered like Linda about your water things around the tomatoes.

[Sadie G]

Do the spider seeds flower? And how bad do they stink????

Here's a few photos of the garden planted and flowers I bought yesterday. I don't have pictures of everything because some of them didn't turn out that great. I planted some viola's at the base of the clematis, and they are so pretty but very hard to photograph where I planted them.

My garden planted! There are 6 tomato plants (I only wanted 2 and a cherry, but no such luck) It was 6 or none at all.
Two rows of red radishes, green beans, cucumbers and a row of yellow bell peppers. (I can eat those like they are candy)



Now to the flowers!!!!

This is most of what I bought, I had already planted the clematis and torenias (which look like miniature viola's) so none of those are in the photo.



Clematis



Clematis not quite open



Dwarf Garden Phlox



Eupatorium - Chocolate Plant!



Viola and a miniature trailing petunia



Harebell



Miniature rose "Blushing Mate"



Miniature rose "Cupcake"



I can't find the tag for this and I forget what it is!!!



And this last photo was taken with my macro tubes. This ant is one of the tiny ones. Teeny tiny ones. Look whats beside it!! I'm not sure what that little creature is, but its on my peony bud!! This bud is about the size of a nickel or quarter. I couldn't see it just looking at the bud. (I hope this doesn't gross anyone out, posting this photo)



Other flowers I planted and will take photos as they grow and bloom......

Miniature Rose - "Teddy Bear" (2 of these)
Miniature Rose - "Crimson Treasure"
Asiatic Lilly in a really bright orange color
Viola
Dianthus
Mexican Evening Primrose
Daylilly "Little Missy" (Deep dark pink color)
Daylilly "Halls Pink" (Very light pink)
6 Wave Petunias
A lavender colored miniature rose
And some flowers that I don't remember the name, but they look like they have colored bristles as flowers, but the bristly part is soft. (I'll get some photos)

I planted in the rain today, but it is done!!!

[RubyJeansMom]

I can't find the tag for this and I forget what it is!!!

I know this one! I have a few of them in my garden.
It's called Speedwell, the botanical name is Veronica.

All your flowers are beautiful Linda!

[RubyJeansMom]

This might be a good link to check out:
http://www.doberdogs.com/Toxic.html

It has listed some of the garden plants that could be toxic to pets.
And since many of us are getting our gardens up and growing, I thought it would be appropriate for this thread.
I know we all want to keep our fur-kids safe.

[lucky&babesmom]

Linda ,your garden looks nice.I also planted the yellow peppers,have you tried the orange ones? I like them ,too.
You have seeds for the one flower I don't have.I'm not why just haven't gotten around to them . The flowers are beautiful.

You said that one plant was a chocolate plant,Does it smell like chocolate? I have something that looks like that ,some sort of spice, it smells like licores(SP?) when you rub the leaves .It's all over my yard, when you mow it smells nice.

The spiders have the same sort of scent as marigolds .I'm allergic,I just take zertac and go one,I still don't plant them close to the house. The bloom looks like a light prurple spider on top a green stem .I'll look for a picture. I'll send some if you don't want them give them to someone who might or toss.I have bunches or will have this fall.

Rox I just saw your post you are so right we need to make sure our babies cant chew bad things . I know Autumn will chew anything she can get ahold of.Thats why we put fences around things so it would make it hard to eat. If anyone remembers last year Autumn brought my OH his watermelon a little early. Well i can't blame her they sort of look like balls LOL OH didn't see the humour.

[kian]

Linda love your garden and choice of flowers, very pretty!! The ant is really good!
I think I have a Clematis outside the back door, I should know very soon. RJM thanks for the link, that will be helpful.

The water things around my plants are called "Wall of Water" aka water insulators. They are tubed all the way around and you fill with water. They warm the soil before you plant and will protect your veggie plants against a late season frost. I once put a Zucchini plant in one and one just outside to see which would grow faster, the one in the insulator grew quick!
They are like a mini greenhouse. very good for any veggie.

They are reusable if you treat them good and very popular in Utah, though I have seen a some here. Since that photograph they have been re-adjusted and look great. Very high winds are a concern here, something I will have to watch.