Random Garden Happenings

 We worked in the garden for much of the weekend, not because the weather was glorious and we were all panting to be out there grubbing in the soil, no no no. We were out there because:

a) everything in the greenhouse was rootbound because I'd left it, waiting for the warmer weather.

b) everything on the deck was rootbound because I'd left it, waiting for the warmer weather.

c) the soil was wondering where the hell all the plants were, not realizing that we were waiting for the warmer weather.

d) I bribed the kids to get out there and slave away with help me. I used freezies (for the twins) and cold hard cash (for the teenager). Easy, relatively cheap, and extremely effective.

This is what the teenager did. He turned over all three of my compost bins (which is why he got cold hard cash and not a mere freezie for his efforts). After we sieved it that compost was a thing of beauty. Methinks even Martha would have used it in her (extensive and heart-rendingly fabulous) gardens.

We had about 8 wheelbarrow loads. The rhubarb got the first load, because it was suffering from a lack of attention. Then the fruit trees, the tomatoes, the empty beds, and the peas, in that order.

When we had the first barrow load sieved I made Dominic come and admire, because he and FDPG had recently done a Compost Presentation for 4-H. They put in a lot of time studying the mechanics of making compost and making up a very lively demonstration, complete with costumes and signs and models, for the competition. Amazingly, they won the District Demos with this presentation. Their presentation rocked the big one, if I may say so, so I figured he would be interested in seeing how our compost changed so drastically over the winter.

"Wow!" he said. "I didn't think it would really do that."

Yes, he really did say that. Fortunately there was a big screened window in between us, or that barrow load of compost might have winged its way onto his head.

FDPG took a lot of photos, when she wasn't slaving away with her freezie. Oops, I meant working in the garden. It's hard to know sometimes just what she's getting up in the garden.

I like this shot. In case you're wondering what it's a shot OF, well, I'll tell you: that wheel is part of a pulley system that lets a bucket go up and down from our deck to the back yard. It's a very handy way of getting produce into the kitchen, stat.

Another in the fabulous line of David Austen roses. This one is Evelyn, of Crabtree fame. It's very delicately apricot.

My new cucumber trellis. I'm thinking of painting it a very unusual blue. Any thoughts on this? Don't hold back now, although I should say that I have nixed yellow, black, white, and red at this point. I'm leaning towards an unusual blue or some kind of glow-in-the-dark green.

A Maltese Cross. Not many people grow them but they are an exceptional plant for the herbaceous border.

Yes, I really DID just say herbaceous border. I must be hitting my dotage or something, because that term is starting to roll off my tongue rather easily of late.












Finally, a Westerland rose. I've had this rose for three years and this year it's been positively spectacular. As in shocking amounts of bloom. As in intoxicating scents wafting across the yard. As in healthy green leaves waving about in the breeze, framing those indecently gorgeous blooms so perfectly.