Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Around the Garden

Front raised beds, view from the fence

Front raised beds, view from the front porch

Back raised beds

Shhhh... the garlic is still sleeping

View of the back from the front porch

View of the front and back yard from the little cottage in the backyard

Garlic chives

Comfrey

Motherwort

Stinging nettles

Wild ramps

View of our home from the driveway

We were finally blessed with spring this past weekend, and we raced outside to the garden to start cleaning and preparing for the growing season ahead. We managed to get the whole front area raked and cleaned, we turned over the soil in the beds and peeked in to see how the strawberries were doing. I worked to contain the potato bed from last year, which will become another raised bed soon, but the chickens kept running over and making a mess. I finally gave up and let them at it.

Snow was actually still covering the back beds on Saturday, so Justin chipped away at it and finally uncovered them. By Monday afternoon when I took these photos all the snow had finally melted away, only to come again on Tuesday. I am not sharing photos of the snow from yesterday, I am pretending it didn't happen.

On Monday evening I took a little walk around the garden, did a little peeking under the leaves and found many lovely surprises. My herb garden is full of life and growing strong, there are little shoots popping up from the soil in the flower beds...soon to be daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses, and tulips, and out in the forested area of our property I found the wild ramps peeking up from the earth.

Things are happening around the garden, and finally being able to get out there and do a little work, get my hands dirty and breathe in the fresh spring air was wonderful. The next few weeks will be busy. We still have to rake and clean up the back raised beds and the flower beds, the new raised bed needs to be prepared, all the beds need some compost, seeds will be planted, and the new potato bed needs to be sorted out. Not to mention there are thoughts floating around about a new treehouse for a certain little man. Yes, lots of things happening around these parts, and I am looking forward to sharing all of it with you over the next few months.

How are things around your garden?

28 comments:

  1. Things are going well here, but a little slow. We have had so much rain, more yesterday, and now cooler temperatures so my major plants are not in the ground yet. I hope to have everything planted by Saturday since the rule is to have the garden ready by Easter.
    I am looking forward to seeing what grows in your garden. I have never had ramps, but will have to look into them.

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    1. I hope it warms up enough that you can get your planting done Tracey. We don't usually plant til after May 24, but I think in the next few weeks I will plant some hardy, cold weather seeds and then cover them up with a row cover for some extra warmth. Other than that everything will wait til the end of May when the chance of frost is over.

      Ramps are wonderful. I was surprised to find just a small patch in our backyard last year, I only harvested a little bit and left the rest to self seed, which they did. I will do the same for the next few years so we keep building up a nice stash :)

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  2. Nothing going on here yet, still to much snow!! Love your house, so cute. Do you have a metal roof on it with gutters? We want gutters on our shed but didn't know we could do it with metal roof.

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    1. Thank you. Yes we have a metal roof with gutters. The metal roof over the brick part of the house was put on last summer and this winter with all the snow the gutters fell off. They will need to be put back up soon. And if we have this much snow again we will have to figure something out, it was the snow sliding off the roof that took them off. We don't seem to have the same problem with the larger section of roof...we need to figure out why :)

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  3. I knew you would be posting about your garden one day soon and now here it is. You have a lovely property and I bet you cannot wait for spring to be in full swing! We are waiting until after memorial day to do our planting.

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    1. You know me so well Karen :) Thank you, and yes, we can't wait for spring and all of its glory. Soon. We will only plant a few cold hardy seeds, the rest will wait til the end of May when the chance of frost is over.

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  4. The snow is gone! Things are looking good over there. I will post about my garden soon-- things are starting to happen....;)

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    1. Well it was, we currently have a little dusting, but it should be gone by tomorrow. Can't wait to have a peek at yours :)

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  5. How wonderful... Our gardens? Ask me again next week. :-) Big plans ahead. Th week-end will be a busy one!

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    1. It will be, but you will get so much done. Can't wait to see it!

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  6. Your home is so adorable and peaceful! Looks like your home is on schedule for spring. Here it is a rule to not plant anything until mothers day. But I do have asparagus and lettuce growing quite nicely. Yeah! Warmer weather is close!

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    1. Thank you! We are a little behind, but if we get some good weather over the next week or so we should be able to get back on track. We only plant some cold hardy seeds right now and they will be covered with row covers. Everything else waits til after May 24 :)

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  7. Your patch is looking lovely, what a wonderful place for Reece to run around and explore in as well as all the growing. And sounds like you got loads done at the weekend now Spring is finally there for you.

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    1. Thanks, and yes, we loves this space as much as I do :) We did get a lot done, still more to do as soon as it warms up again and the snow melts.

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  8. Oh, I love your yard so much! It looks so serene... xo

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    1. Thank you. Serene is a good word to describe it. It is of one the reasons I love our home and the outdoor space. xo

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  9. See your garden is already growing and you didn't have to do a thing! I'd love to see a picture of the crocuses when they come up. We just read a book about a garden with crocuses. I just love your garden. :) Makes me so happy.

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    1. Gotta love it! Although there was a lot of previous work to make that happen :) I will be sure to share.

      Thanks KC!

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  10. your yard is so beautiful! Here the spring has begun so early! Flowers everywhere and strawberries already (oh yellow still of course!)

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  11. These pictures make me feel warm and fuzzy inside!

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    1. Awe, thanks Carrie. You know you still have an open invitation to stop by anytime. The kids can run around and play, and we can chat on the back deck and enjoy some good food. Just let me know when you want to come :)

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  12. what lovely pictures of your home. I love the front porch, it looks like a great spot to relax and enjoy the gardens.

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    1. Thank you. I love the front porch, perfect for an early morning cup of tea and to watch the rain :)

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  13. Peeks at your garden always make me smile. I was wondering why there was still straw on one bed.. Garlic! You have such a beautiful home. Be well.

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    1. Happy to make you smile. Yes, garlic, and the other bed with straw is strawberries. Have to keep them warm over the winter. Thank you!

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  14. Lovely garden beds waiting in anticipation. Love your home! xxoo

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    1. Thanks Julie! I am waiting in anticipation too :)

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