Thursday, June 11, 2015

Around the Garden































We had rain this week, and lots of it. After a very dry spring, I can’t tell you how happy I have been the last few days to see the rain drops falling from the sky. So very sweet!

Before all the rain began to fall Sunday evening, I managed to get a ton of gravel moved. I know, I said it would be a summer long project, but once I got started, well, I got a little excited about how great it looked, and I couldn’t stop. Honestly. I completed the area where our bee hives will go in the spring, it just needs to be edged off with larger rocks or tree branches, we haven’t decided which to use yet. To the right of the gravel area is where our hugelkultur bed is going, and that will be filled with bee and butterfly loving plants. The garden area in front of the chicken coop has also been completed, and I really can’t tell you how pleased I am with it. It makes me happy every time I walk out there. That garden also got mulched, the raspberries with straw, and the blueberries with pine needles. I left a little room for three more blueberry bushes, which will go in next spring, and I also created another small garden, I will plant more strawberries there next spring. The other good news in this garden, the asparagus is up...finally! I was beginning to get a little worried, but towards the end of last week it started to pop up from the ground. We all got a little excited about that.

I started moving gravel into the garden behind the garage later Saturday afternoon, and managed to get about a quarter of it done, before I was done. With the rain, I haven’t moved any gravel this week, but with sunshine ahead for the next few days, you can bet I will be back at it.

Everything is growing well in the garden. The first strawberries are appearing, a few tomato flowers are blooming, the carrots are up, the pole beans and peas are reaching for the sky, the squashes, pumpkins and cucumbers are putting out leaves, and the leafy greens are producing really well. We are eating kale, Swiss chard, chives, basil, parsley, salad greens, mustard greens, and baby beet greens. I enjoyed the last of the spinach on the weekend, and it has now bolted.

Reece is pretty pleased with his garden, and with the rain this week, he hasn’t had to water. He has a few strawberries starting to appear, and the marigold seeds he planted are coming up, which makes him pretty happy. He can’t wait for the pole beans to start growing up, and thinks it will only be a few weeks before he is picking some. It will definitely be a lesson in patience for him.

The perennial beds are blooming, and the bees and butterflies are daily visitors. We have had a few swallowtails fluttering around the yard, and I managed to capture one with the camera while it was on my calendula. I could sit and watch butterflies all day, they are so beautiful.

We moved the chicks into their new coop. The old coop, and the new coop are side by side, but as of right now, are separate. Once the two flocks are use to each other we will remove the tempory wall between the coops and make one big one. We have also created a small run for the chicks inside the large chicken run, for two reasons. The first, so they begin to know where home is, and where they are suppose to go once the sun starts to go down. The second, so the older hens can get use to the chicks being in their space. Hopefully in the next week or two we will do a full integration, and fingers crossed, they will all be living as one big happy flock.

So far this gardening season is off to a great start, and that makes me one happy homesteader.

How are things around your garden this week?

41 comments:

  1. Oh Kim, watching your garden grow is such a delight! It really is looking lush this week and full of the promise of many many good things to come!

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  2. Goodness you are so busy! Gardening can be a full-time job and you are amazing at it! I saw the wee bits of asparagus coming up in your pic - exciting! I also saw the garbage bags on the ground and the first thing I thought of it that awful Goutweed, and then I saw your pic of it. Ugh! I battle with it every year and when I first started our little garden I spend hours outside digging and getting rid of roots. Then I laid down garbage bags. Well, the yard next to us is full of them and again, they are spreading to us. On my to-do list and not happy about it.

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    1. Yes, but in a good way, doing things I love doing :) So excited about the asparagus!!!

      Hmmm...goutweed, never heard of it. I looked it up, and can't say we have it. Which photo do you see it in? The garbage bags are what we are using under the gravel for weed control, and the one you see in the photo is a new garden, just using the plastic to kill the grass, and next spring will plant strawberries there.

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    2. Oh my bad, maybe since I was dreading dealing with the goutweed and had just bought black garbage bags it was on my mind when I saw yours. The pic after the garbage bag is the one I saw but on closer inspection it's berries, isn't it? Oh how much nice that is! I am sure goutweed is the official flower of Hell.

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    3. No worries :) Yes, they are berries, white raspberries to be exact. I am wondering now if we have it here, I will have to look around a little more and see.

      Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. Wow! Everything looks amazing Kim. What an impact the gravel pathways make. We are hoping to add more stepping stones and pathways as the years progress. Those peas. So jealous! Our peas are about 8-12 inches high tops. I'm hoping the heat over the next few days will help with that!

    Wishing you a wonderful day!

    xo

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    1. Thanks Yanic! It is quite an impact, isn't it? I finished the garden behind the garage today, and goodness I am so pleased. Saturday, I will get to work on the front garden, and hopefully have it done for my garden post next week. I honestly can't believe how quickly it all came together.

      The peas in the photo are the first planting I did, so happy I went ahead and planted early. We should be eating some pretty soon.

      Thanks, had a good day, hope you guys did too!

      xo

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  4. WOW, the gravel makes such a huge difference!! It looks amazing, all that backbreaking work is definitely worth it! Your garden looks awesome, I really love all the different beds, fencing... Great place to be!

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    1. I know, it is amazing, and I love it! So worth it, and honestly I just think of it as a workout, and get to it :)

      Thanks you, I have to admit, I love being in our yard, it really feels like home, and I feel deeply rooted to this land.

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  5. You've been hard at work. It looks so good already, I'm loving all that greenness! The bunting on your house and shed is so pretty. I'd like to hang some on the back porch but it gets so windy here I've been afraid to try. Maybe I just need to do it. Around here, everything is growing better than normal because we've had an unusually rainy spring and early summer. I'm not complaining at all. I love rain. I hope you have a good weekend, Kim.

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    1. I have Jennifer ,and thank you! Ha, so glad you like the buntings, I would have them hanging everywhere, but my hubby isn't too keen on them. I actually made a square one for the garden, and he likes that one, so there may be a few popping up here and there with squares instead of triangles :) You should definitely try, we do get quite a bit of wind here, and they last well. I just need to unwind them sometimes.

      So happy you guys are getting some rain, and that things are growing well. I hope it keeps up. Wishing you a lovely weekend too. xo

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  6. You have such a pretty home Kim. We were dry for awhile, but with the violent summer storms we have been having every evening I know have standing water. Let's not even mention the humidity!
    I love Reece's garden and please tell him I love pole beans too. I will have my beans planted for the fall garden since they do better, and I can't wait either.

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    1. Thank you Tracey. I can imagine the humidity, and I hope you are finding ways to stay cool my friend.

      I will pass that one, he will be happy to hear that :)

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  7. Your garden is looking fabulous! We had lots of rain last week as well, and it looks like more is headed our way next week.

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  8. Oh, your house is so cute! And your garden's putting out amazing things. We're still in radish/spinach mode right now, but soon will be looking for swiss chard recipes. ;)

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    1. Thanks Andrea, and I feel that same way about yours :) Yes, we got started early this year with the tunnels and cold frame, so happy we took the leap and got ourselves set up last fall.

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  9. I'm glad you and your beautiful garden are getting rain...because everything here is dry dry dry. Everything is looking wonderful and GREEN !!! Hope you are having a nice day.

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    1. Thanks Erica, we really needed it. I do hope you guys get some soon too.

      Yes, green is the colour of the day around here, and believe it or not, my favourite colour :)

      We had a wonderful day, and I hope you did too!

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  10. Everything looks so good Kim. You're making me excited for Spring and we've only just started Winter. Enjoy my friend. xxoo

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    1. Thanks Julie. I am enjoying my time in the garden so much. I didn't think it could bring my more joy than it already has, but this year, goodness, so much joy.

      xo

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  11. Girl, that gravel looks mighty fine! :) I love how vibrant your house looks against all the green that surrounds it. Just wonderful. Such a happy place. :)

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    1. Aw, thank you my friend, I think so too! You are so sweet...one day you need to get yourself up here for a visit :)

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  12. I wouldn't be surprised if you did move a ton of gravel. Nice work.
    Wow,your garden seems miles ahead of mine. We are still in the tiny seedling stages for the few things we have planted. That heavy rain and wind caused a minor disaster with my pride and joy raspberry bushes http://theplaceunderthepine.blogspot.ca/2015/06/garden-2015-update-3.html

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    1. Thanks Matt. We did quite a bit of early planting this year, more than usual. The tunnels and cold frames helped with that. Sorry about those raspberry bushes, glad the damage wasn't too bad.

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  13. I had a feeling you would tackle your gravel pile faster than you said. I love seeing your porch and the side of the house. Your place is just so homey looking, warm and inviting :) Lovely garden!

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    1. You know me so well Karen :) Thank you, I really love our home, and feeling deeply rooted here.

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  14. Good grief you garden looks absolutely amazing. I hope one day ill have your skills x

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  15. Oh my, looking so lush! I love the pic of the chickens on the porch. And I love your welcoming flags!

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    1. Aw, thank you. The chickens were enjoying some bird seed that Reece dropped when he was topping up the bird feeders :)

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  16. Wow you have been busy! And Mother Nature appears to be playing her part too :)
    Our garden is starting to sprout...it's so exciting seeing the green shoots emerge and dreaming of what is to come...
    I am hoping to get out for a bit more weeding today but the rain is back and thunder storms are forecast so it might have to wait and I'll knit inside instead!
    Hope you are having a good weekend, big hugs Em x

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    1. Busy, yes, but in a way I love :) Mother Nature is definitely playing her part, perfectly.

      I love this time of year when things are sprouting and there are hopes and dreams of the summer ahead. Such a lovely time of year.

      Knitting is perfect, it is what I was doing a little earlier...it is raining here today.

      We are having a great weekend Em, hope you guys are too. xo

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  17. What changes since last week!! Looks great Kim!

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  18. Being a little behind and catching up I've just read your last 2 garden posts back to back, and it's incredible to see how much has changed in just a week! Obviously the gravel for starters, that looks amazing. But also the plants, I think they must have loved your rain this week and shot up extra fast.

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    1. It is pretty amazing what a week means in the garden this time of year, especially after a bit of rain...things change quickly.

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  19. wow!!!! i've been gone for just a bit and look at how much it's all changed! i am in total and complete aww of your lovely garden. soooo inspired. everything you have done is so beautiful! can't wait to watch it grow more over the summer!

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    1. Haha, yes, I have been a little busy in the garden the last few weeks. Thank you for your kind words, I have to admit being pretty happy about how it all has come together. So very pleased.

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