I'm in the Garden

Wet, Wet, Wet!

Things are growing because we have one nice day, then two rainy days, then maybe another fairly nice day. Leaves are big and full, and the broccoli has the tiniest suggestion of a head down there. The strawberries, raspberries and marionberries all have lots of flowers and perhaps with a few more sunny days we’ll actually see fruit.

 

The carrots are more than fringed. Hopefully the soil hasn’t been packed down by the rain to make stubby little carrots. The herbs all look great.

My biggest fear: We will have more than two nice days in a row and I’ll forget to water!

Nature Walk

 

Just for fun today I took a few of the children from the Montessori Preschool on a nature walk. We took a clipboard, paper, crayons, and a bag and headed to the nearby park. We collected a few pinecones and flowers.

I wanted them to be sure to see the community gardens. There wasn’t much going on; a few beds were planted, but not much growing yet. There were piles of compost ready to share.

We wandered over to the dog park and noticed how the dogs play just like the kids; running, chasing, keeping the ball. One dog was bossy, another was shy. They all got a kick out of the dogs.

We stopped and took notes and drew pictures of what we had seen. Lots of drawings of flowers. There were a lot of little field daisies. We even saw park rangers. So funny, right here in the city.

After we’d decided we’d seen enough and didn’t want to miss out on snack, we headed back.  Simple fun!

                                                                                                                                                        

If you’re interested in vintage quilts, you might enjoy my other blog    http://janetshouse.typepad.com/. I’ve written about my grandmother’s lovely old quilts. It’s a special post.

Favorite Garden Tools

I’ve been thinking about my favorite garden tools; you know, the ones you reach for each time you head to the yard. Also, the ones you feel a little panic if you can’t find them as you flash an accusatory eye towards family members who might not appreciate how important the proper tool for the job is.

My shed is full of tools, but like clothes in a closet, there are just a few that are just right. I probably have 5 trowels but there’s one I reach for every time. This year I’m especially fond of my weeding tools as I have made a determined promise to not use anything other than a hand tool to remove weeds, grasses and other undesirables.

I love my old pruners too. They were the first rather expensive tool I purchase after taking a Master Gardener course 17 years ago. I constantly reach for them to trim back a rose, deadheading, and nipping at the Japanese Maples. All I’ve ever done for them is add a drop of light oil

My old wheelbarrow has logged many miles delivering soils, composts and wood chips to various locations in my yard. It originally belonged to my parents until they moved to a new place with almost no yard. I happily brought it home. It’s dinged up, rusty and occasionally suffers a flat tire but I still have a fondness for it.

This spring I found a tool I’ve had for years but had lost and forgotten about. It’s a compost pick. It’s quite simple, yet clever. As I shove it downward on my compost heap the pointy ends cut right through. As I pull it back out, the pointy ends flare out, bringing the under layers of the compost pile up to the surface. I can stab and pull about 20 times and completely churn up the heap.      

This year one of my absolute favorite tools is my camera. I’m taking lots of pictures; marking progress of plants, documenting weather and reminding myself what I need and want to accomplish. A camera has proved so helpful in helping me keep track of everything. Digital cameras record the date the photo was taken so it’s easier than ever to keep order among my pictures. 

In the olden days of film I still took pictures but there was always confusion after getting the photos back from the store. Storing photographs is so easy these days; just make a folder on the computer and everything is in order. I even take pictures of other peoples yards, gardens, and outdoor structures. You never know where an idea will come from.

As I make plans to tidy my shed and pare down the extras, I now know which tools I’ll be keeping. Ridding the tool shed of all the extras, I’ll be able to quickly find what I need and get right back out in the garden. The right tool for each job, nothing more.

Front Porch Tomatoes

I’ve planted a couple of tomato plants in pots on my front porch this year. It’s not that I’ve run out of room in the back yard, I just want to bring the focus of home vegetable gardening out front. Kind of a shout out to the neighbors that landscaping and gardening don’t just have to be about foundation plants and perennials versus annuals. Pop a vegetable in between your shrubs. Put a tomato on the porch.

Last year I had a pot planted with rainbow chard. It couldn’t have been more beautiful. This year I plan on lots of herbs at my doorstep, as I love the textures, smells and convenience to the kitchen. This one has rainbow chard, cilantro, Italian parsley, chives and arugula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I planted my favorite, Sungold and another tasty one, Sweet 100. I think it will be such fun to have a little snack on the way in and out of the house. Our kitchen is right inside the front door so these tomatoes will be in every salad we enjoy this summer. Just the smell of the leaves as I transplanted them took my senses to late July. I can’t wait! I’ll keep you posted with pictures.

Weekend update

Lots of hard work hauling chips this weekend brings a tidy garden. Thanks fellas! It was a good Mother’s day.

I still have a pretty sizable pile in my driveway, but it’s been fun to let the neighbors in on the bonanza.  Nothing brings neighbors together like free stuff. I’ve got a bit more space to stash some leftovers, knowing if I give them all away I’ll have regrets.

I need to point out my tomato babies. I purchased them at the farmers market this weekend and planted them in the bit too cool ground. I used my ‘water walls’ to treat them to a little warmth until we see more consistent springtime weather. The poor little Roma on the left was crushed when the water wall collapsed on it. I decided to wait and see; there’s plenty of roots and good soil to bring it into all its delicious glory.

Peas continue to grow. Asparagus has produced a few yummy spears. All the berries are showing their blossoms as we earnestly await their scrumptious fruit. Despite our wet spring, the garden shows complete dedication. Yay nature!!

Opening Day Farmers Market

 
I love the first day of Beaverton's Farmers Market. It was a bit drizzly out but that doesn’t keep people away. It’s uplifting to see everyone in the spirit of buying local, fresh grown, farmed and caught food. Nature has given the Northwest has such an abundance of food. There are farmers, ranchers and fishermen all bringing food to our community.

On our first day at the market we brought home a dozen beautiful farm fresh eggs that we’ll enjoy tomorrow for breakfast. We got a pound of buffalo meat that we had as delicious burgers tonight.

 

We enjoyed strawberries this evening from a local farm and we purchased skirt steaks to enjoy for my birthday dinner next week.

 

Our biggest purchase was three gorgeous hanging baskets for my mothers day present. It’s become our tradition to go early on opening day and take our pick from the beautiful selection.

I look forward to every Saturday throughout the summer and I enjoy the ever evolving harvest of all kinds of foods. How wonderful that our community supports our local growers with such enthusiasm. I’m proud of us!

Free Chips

         

I’m quite excited, as I finally made contact with the tree trimming folks, Asplundh. They’ve been in the neighborhood for several weeks and I’d yet been able to set up getting free wood chips from them. The other day, as I approached, they were not only at their truck chipping, but another truck drove up and a supervisor got out to check their progress. Perfect timing to ask for freebies.

I gave them my name, address, etc. and now will wait for a big (I’ve been warned), big pile of somewhat dirty, random wood chips. It’s the perfect material to inhibit the weed and grass growth between my raised beds.

I am impressed that a company that works on a contract with cities is also working with the public. Most everyone likes free stuff and this is such a win/win situation. Asplundh can dump their refuse in my driveway rather than driving to a dump site and I am able to take advantage of waste and use it as a natural barrier against the weeds.

Hey! I got my delivery!   Now I’ve got my work cut out for me. I think the delivery time is perfect. Mothers Day Weekend. How can any of the family resist helping me?? Next time I’ll show off the garden paths. Stay tuned!

In the Garden on the First of May

Beautiful sunny day! April ended being the third wettest on record. I guess it leaves everything green.  The weeds were abundant.

We altered the bed on the back left. It was two narrow beds and we dismantled it and made one larger one. It will be so much roomier for the tomatoes.  I removed the black plastic from the large center bed and it proved to work well. The leaves were crumbled and I churned the soil with the little tiller and it looks great and ready for planting.

I cleaned up the strawberry bed a couple of weeks ago and they are beginning to blossom. Our funny little apple tree, just to the right of the gate is also blossoming.  The carrots are showing a little fringe. The rhubarb is ready to eat. Sounds like I need to make a crisp.

                                                             

I weeded the paths by hand; no spray!  I’m not quite finished, hopefully the weather will hold and I’ll get out and finish this week. I planted sunflowers across the back fence just for fun.

Plan: Dig a narrow trench on each side of the fence, line the trench with a weed/grass barrier, then with gravel.

Plan: Try to get bark chips from the guys trimming trees in the neighborhood. They say ‘free wood chips’ but I can’t find them near their truck; they’re always up in the trees. The chips would be great for the pathways.