Even before my sons could make forts and such in the new pile of mulch, the squirrels did their own excavation works. They created this little trench running from the ladder of the tree house into the main part of the yard. When the squirrels aren't guarding their trench works, the rabbits run through. It's adorable.
The tomato plants, started indoors in canning jars, have moved outdoors into their new home.
But much of the rest of the backyard looks like a graveyard. We have the basil grave, the cucumber grave, the corn grave, the melon grave, and a cilantro grave. Oh, and a grave for peas.
But fortunately, resurrection seems to be happening; there are little green stirrings in the basil pit, and I think a cucumber vine might have poked its little head through the mulch. Yes!
Even better yet, I'm learning more and more about moving live plants around. For example, look at this oregano that I planted two years ago, just taking over this section of the garden. Oregano is such a garden bully!
I love this transition to summer. Ahhhhh!
The tomato plants, started indoors in canning jars, have moved outdoors into their new home.
But much of the rest of the backyard looks like a graveyard. We have the basil grave, the cucumber grave, the corn grave, the melon grave, and a cilantro grave. Oh, and a grave for peas.
But fortunately, resurrection seems to be happening; there are little green stirrings in the basil pit, and I think a cucumber vine might have poked its little head through the mulch. Yes!
Even better yet, I'm learning more and more about moving live plants around. For example, look at this oregano that I planted two years ago, just taking over this section of the garden. Oregano is such a garden bully!
I'm going to dig up a bunch of it and move it to an area where I want ground cover, an area that's now being taken over by weeds. We'll have an oregano/weed battle to the death, with me cheating and helping the oregano gain the upper hand (upper land?).
Oohh! And look who visited the window screen right by my peach tree! A pair of bright yellow birds stopped by to look into my living room the other day.
I love this transition to summer. Ahhhhh!
Is there a reason for having raised garden beds?
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely post, very serene. :)
Lots of gardening books (for example, the classic "Square Foot Gardening" recommend raised beds for a host of reasons. For me these serve several purposes:
ReplyDeletefirst, I didn't have to dig up the grass and prepare the soil: I just put the frames on the ground, plopped down cardboard, then dirt and compost,and I had good soil ready to go.
second, these frames make it clear to my very active sons and also to random guests where the grass ends and the vegetables begin. No accidentally cutting down "weeds" that happen to be sunflowers, no soccer balls getting sent again and again into the cilantro, and (just as important) no one tramping down the dirt around the veggies. Loose dirt is easier for young (or old) plants to grow in.