Yet another garden.

We put in another garden, just a little one. There were some leftover flowers that needed something doing with, so… 

I also did up some more pots… These are all just pretty not edible or medicinal as far as I know, although I will check - with t(e exception of the first one which is a 12-18” variety of cherry tomato called Red Robin.

The view from my kitchen window.

Outdoors update

Front Yard

Brad's 'finger' garden

Herbs/Flowers left side

Front Porch

Herbs/Flowers right side

Back Yard

Back deck 

(still have plants to pot up)

Back Yard herbs/flowers

Strawberries/Tomatoes, Basil, Stevia and Marigolds

Tomatoes, Stevia, Basil, Peppers and Marigolds

Under tree shaded seating/hammock area

Potatoes/Willow area

In ground garden

Garlic, Onions, Tomatoes, Scarlet Runner Beans, Eggplant, Cucumber, Kidney Beans, Zucchini, Amish Peas and Celery

Berry Orchard

Elderberry, Blueberry, Raspberry and Cherry

Planters on side of garage

We plan to add a 2' wide garden area along this side of the garage also.

But thats another post.

Rain, TruLocal and Google Chrome

You may have heard... we got a bit of rain in parts of Alberta...

My 6 deck planters were overflowing and my poor flowers were drowning so I moved the planters into the garage and drilled holes in the sides for drainage. The next day I reset the plants and they appear to be holding their own now.

The first 1.5 days... this pic shows just under 4" but Brad took this pic, I went out about 20 min later to empty it because we were going out for the evening and I didn't want to miss any. It was exactly 4" at that time.

After emptying the rain gauge at 4" we then received another 1.5" for a total of 5.5" of rain! Wowzers. Several people around town had water in their basements we have heard but we were fortunate and our walls held up.

The front right flower bed where I put the pansies not long ago was overflowing with water and Brad went out to drill some holes on the driveway side to relieve the water pressure on them. They are now doing well once again.

From wildfire evacuations to flooding evacuations now in Alberta.

I'm sure I mentioned it but can't seem to find a label... anyway, we order our meats from TruLocal and its amazing. (Not a plug for them, just saying, and its products are local to your province) The normal bacon you get from TruLocal is as thick as the thick cut you can get in the stores but their thick bacon??! Wowzers...

Alberta Natural Thick Cut Bacon

from TruLocal

Its thick!!!

So a while back I was having trouble with my internet and I thought I had fixed it, perhaps you recall... Anyway it went wonky on me again. This morning while trying to write this post I got so frustrated with it (Norton was a previous solution) that I uninstalled Google Chrome and reinstalled it. Now it works at lightning speed. It even keeps up with my typing! Night and Day. 

Yay!

PS We have some new flowers and hanging baskets in the backyard now so I will endeavor to take some new pics of the backyard for my next post.

Friends, Functions and Pickleball

We have just been enjoying spending time with friends the last couple of weeks. 

A few couples got together over here last week for a game of cards, I didn't take any pictures. 3 couples and we seem to be on a rotation. It started with the 1st couple and this weekend we will be at the home of the 3rd couple. Great fun. Of course, regular card nights are still available and I do go to those also but the 3 couples enjoy each others company without any community drama.

I also got involved in our local community beautification group (Communities in Bloom) a couple of weeks ago and we planted some flowers around, there is an updated park that is just being finished that will be a wonderful addition to the community. Communities in Bloom is an international group found all over the world beautifying communities.

With summer gearing up the activities at the club will slow to a crawl but community events perk up so there is always something to do. Not to mention our gardens which are doing great. My red basil didn't survive but a neighbour friend brought me an extra basil plant she had so while not red - the space was filled once again with basil.

Our local club has a bit of pocket change left over for the year and asked for ideas. I suggested starting a Pickleball club... we will be meeting with the town to discuss a few location options shortly and hope to get Pickleball going in short order. WooHoo!!!

Yet more planting

Brad finally managed to get his 'finger' garden planted. 

The 'finger' garden

...and I found a spot for the pansies in the front of the right side garden. The daisies struggled for a day or two but now appear to be pepping up again (not in this pic though).

One of the Elderberries I planted in the berry orchard does not appear to be recovering and I have decided to attempt to root a comfrey leaf and hope it takes in that spot. Comfrey roots dig deep up to 10 ft and draws nutrients up to the surface, which I hope will help the orchard as a whole.

It is unclear if this is a good time to do this with comfrey, as its meant to be done in spring but I'm doing it anyway and if it doesn't take.... I'll find something else or do it again next spring (maybe both).

Our gardening is definitely behind this year as so much infrastructure had to be built before we could do any real planting. Other than that one Elderberry plant, everything is doing really well. Not a lot of growth yet but they are no doubt recovering from the transplant and focusing on their roots before reaching for the skies.

The watering system needs to be added still, that will be this weeks project.

Overall though, I am finally able to wear some decent clothes now that the dirty work is finished... its a nice change.

PS I have decided to put Kidney beans in that Elderberry spot. I will put comfrey there in the fall.

All gardens are planted except...

By the way, we were allowed back home a while ago I just forgot to mention it. Our community was saved by the many firefighters and other responders. Much love to them all.

We have finally planted our gardens, and there are a lot of them...

Backyard herb/flower garden

Zinnia, Hollyhock, Marigold, Lemon Balm, Oregano, Dill, Thyme, Tarragon, Rosemary, Calendula, Cilantro, Nasturtium and Red Basil

There may be more.

Raised Bed #1 

Strawberries and Grapes

Raised Bed #2

Amish Paste Tomatoes, Stevia and Basil

Raised Bed #3

Amish Paste Tomatoes, Stevia and Basil

Raised Bed #4

Montana Slicing Tomatoes, Stevia and Basil

Raised Bed #5

Romaine, Kale and Chives

Raised Bed #6

Bell, Jalapeno and Chili Peppers

Bee Balm

There are 4 Elderberry bushes (one not doing so well)

Crimson Sweet Watermelon

Fruit orchard

Raspberry

Blueberry

Cherry

In ground garden

Celery

Zucchini

Garlic and Onions

Cucumbers

Potatoes

Still have to find a place for the pansies

The 'finger' garden, this is Brad's flower bed, yet to be planted

Front yard, Left Garden: Comfrey, Borage, Yarrow, Echinacea, Peppermint, Beets, Thyme, and other stuff I don't remember

Front yard, Right garden: Asparagus, Lavender, Yarrow, Daisies, Sage, and other stuff I don't remember

No sooner had we finished when a threatening storm began spitting large droplets... we got inside the house and the skies opened up as the door was closing....

It came down in buckets! 

And then it hailed... 

When the storm had passed we checked everything... fortunately, we had left the smaller tomato and pepper plants until after the storm. All the plants survived the downpour except perhaps the Daisies... if they don't pull through then I will have found my spot for the Pansies... Not a lot of room left for the Pansies but I'll find a spot or create a new patch for them.