Beans and Greens

It's hot today but I HAD to plant because I've waited to long already!
I tore out my green onions and mustard greens. They were getting too big and funky and I was getting tired of looking at them. In place of the green onions I planted tri-color pole beens around tomato cages. Heat-tolerant, summer European Red and Green Lettuce replaced the mustard. If everything works according to plan, the Dutch Redina, Batavian Nevada, and French Cardinale will provide us with some nice salads through the summer into the fall. I should see some signs of life in the next week or two.

While I messed around in the garden Slim made this fantastic bat chateau for our friends Annie and Marc. Ideally, it will encourage bats to hang around by having a cozy pad to sleep in and, in turn, the bats will eat the bugs that would otherwise be irritating us as we dine in the moonlight. Perfect.

2008 - Two thousand Great

It's been over a year since I last posted anything and that is changing right now.
The purpose of this post is to document the fact that I just planted some lettuce so that I don't forget. Photos and other information will follow but this is going to be a real nuts-and-bolts post.

Renee's Garden
Baby Mesclun Salad
Paris Market Mix
Days to Germinate 7-14
Days to Harvest approx. 40

Renee's Garden
Baby Mesclun Lettuces
Cut and Come Again
Days to Germinate 5-17
Days to Harvest approx. 35

Renee's Garden
California Spicy Greens
Days to Germinate 7-10
Days to Harvest approx. 40

***Planted Last Week***
Renee's Garden
Rainbow Chard
Bright Lights
Days to Germinate 5-7
Days to Harvest approx 50 (if the cat's don't completely destroy them all first)

Over and Out.

The last time I visited Mom and Dad's, Dad suggested we all take a drive to an area near Maiden Rock to check out some ice formations he had recently read about in the Pierce County Herald. Despite the intense cold (-10˚F), we made the trek and it was well worth it.
At night the ice formations are illuminated by the shop lights seen in one or two of the photos. We left well before dark so I didn't get to see the night glow.

A couple more photos.

Secret Garden - Eden Reflected August

Looking back at the photos I took in May I'm even more impressed with the way the Secret Garden has come along than I was upon seeing it today for the first time in a month.

Eden Reflected almost finished. After last weekend's windy heatwave I'm pretty happy with the conditions the plants were in. George at the Arboretum assured me he was diligent about watering and I believe him. The benches are still missing and I think some sod is necessary in areas to cover some bare spots but aside from that it's pretty much finished.

I can't find my seedlings under all these elm seeds! Jeez.
Eden Reflected is planted but I forgot the camera so no photos yet. I'll take some when I head out next week to add mulch.

Rainy day, car broke down, didn't get to the secret garden. Some of the canary grass I planted last week is coming up, right on schedule. I planted some dianthus by my little lotus statue and some irish moss by the rocks to match the irish moss I'm giving mom for mother's day (late). The shooting stars between the rocks and the lotus statue are about to bloom.

Since Thursday the weather has sucked. I purchaed the plants on Thursday and Friday but they have yet to be planted. Some of the plants are at the site and the rest, the ones I bought on Friday shown here, are sitting in my windows.
Thursday was cold and windy causing one of the plexi panels to break at the base and the another to form a big crack. The two panels at the greatest risk of breaking I propped with my shovels. No photos because I didn't bring the camera.
Today was supposed to be the day I was finished with the installation and I've barely begun!

I just planted a bunch of seeds. In the past, starting plants from seed hasn't been too sucessful for me (except for some poppies). I can't resist the prospect of getting a bunch of plants for cheap by starting them from seed. I think these I just planted will work.
So in 5-14 days I should be looking for my Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis) and my Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata), and no sooner than 14 days my Salvia aka Blue Bedder (Sage) will be making an appearance.
The photos show where the Salvia is so I don't forget. The Thunbergia and Canary Grass are in areas where they will be obvious so I didn't take pictures of those areas.

Four years ago I moved into my present home. My first two summers were spent cleaning all of the garbage out of the backyard and planting a few perennials given to me by friends and purchased annuals. Since then haven't done much back here except for adding plants here and there but all along I've had great plans in my head. This summer I think I'm going to make at least some of those plans a reality.
Here is what I'm beginning with.
Right now the ugly black plastic compost bin is the focal point of my garden. The back yard is pretty small and I don't want the bin any closer to the house so it stays where it is. One of my plans is to create a screen in front of the bin. I moved all those Rudebekia Something (Green Headed Cone Flower) a couple weeks ago so ideally as they grow the bin will disappear, however, I'd like create a focal point near those Green Headed Cone Flowers to serve as a replacement focal point for the vanishing bin.
The Bleeding Heart in the second photo is the first planting I ever did at this house. I got it from Mrs. Bemis, heir to the paper bag empire. The rest of this stuff I planted either last week (the Green Headed Cone Flowers, Physestesia, Rudebekia trilobum, and Wood Poppies) or last year. I'm trying to get this area to mimic the larger garden in the first picture but might abandon that idea for something more dramatic. I'm not yet sure what, something attractive in winter. Maybe a bunch of variegated dogwood. I'm considering pulling out the flagstone and putting in a kidney shaped pond I found in the garbage last fall. The water will reflect nicely on the stainless steel siding.
Plans, plans, plans, if I can accomplish the screen, pond, and improvement of the ugly corner against the house this summer, I'll be satisfied.

Eden Reflected

I'm lucky enough to be involved in a secret garden project called 'Eden Reflected'. Having seen photos of the site did not prepare me for the physical experience of this space. The weeping pines provide a solemn enclosure while framing the vista - a broad, grassy field with a gentle slope and trees in the distance. I can't wait to go back. This weekend the installation begins.

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One of my favorite places - the cactus garden at Huntington Gardens.