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.

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.

Backyard antics

Rapid growth has slowed but it seems to be doing well.

Garden beds were loaded

We had 8 totes of compost delivered

The driver was kind enough to place them in position for us with his forklift

Loaded

Took me 4 days to remove the grass from this new herb/flower garden area ( I was doing other stuff too, and it was HOT out).

We topped it up with some fresh compost

Spring yard work

Our backyard is a little barren ...

...and the in-ground area just won't be enough...

Through a friend, we were able to get some wood at half the price - which is regular pre-Trudeau pricing. (sorry, but true).....

... and its time to make our raised beds, which will be our primary vegetable growing area at this property. Needless to say, my back is a wee bit tender today.

... And its time to begin hardening off my much prized growings for the season.

FYI, I grew all our edible/medicinal flowers and herbs along with a few tomatoes and peppers but we plan to purchase our veg starts this year.

Finally able to put out our chairs and enjoy the sunshine...

... the raised beds are built and levelled. We will be putting white rocks or some such along the front to block/hide the gaps where the beds were levelled, as our yard is 60 years old and has a few wrinkles. :D

Its windy again today and so I opted to put the plants on the front deck today, so that I could tie it on to ensure the safety of the plants and my sanity.

We have never done raised beds before but I know many people who have and they swear by them. Extra bonus is that they thaw much earlier than the ground in spring allowing for earlier planting next year.

With no access to rabbit manure this year, we are curious how this goes and super excited to get stuff in the ground.

We will also be putting all the flowers/herbs I grew in-ground at the front and rear of the property and that grass needs to be removed and soil added. That will be in an upcoming post.

See you then.