March 13, 2014

roses for my new arbor

I’d like to grow climbing roses up an arbor over my garden gate. Pale pink ones. Its fun to think about variety. I think my favorite is Eden (also known as Pierre de Ronsard). A modern French rose with an old fashioned look. “The flowers are huge and cup-shaped and very heavy. The buds are light green and develop into creamy white almost cabbage looking and later cup-shaped flowers with a delightful blush pink center. As the flower ages they turn almost white.” ‘Eden’ rose Other nice roses are ‘New…

February 27, 2014

building raised beds

Raised beds serve several functions. They warm the soil by allowing the sun to warm the edges as well as the surface. They define areas for walking and planting so that planting areas don’t get compacted by walking. And they define separate areas for different crops, allowing easier and more efficient preparation of soils for specific crops. I’m thinking about raised beds now, and am cheered by seeing the big pile of boards for my new beds in my front yard (getting covered by snow soon I hear). I thought…

February 26, 2014

wood for my new raised beds!

We bought a bunch of 2 x 6’s for my new raised beds. 15 and 12′ lengths for the long sides of the beds. With all this snow, it’ll be a while before we can use them, but we’re ready. Skippy loves to pose!

February 20, 2014

snow covered garden chairs

January 31, 2014

watching how the snow thaws

I like to watch how the snow thaws. It melts away from the edges of the raised beds in my community plot where the sun hits and warms the soil. My plot, with its raised beds, melts faster than plots with flat ground. I’m also in a location that’s just a little bit sloped and facing south. The flat plots at the base of the small slope always take longer to thaw. And I’ve been watching the snow melt on the spot where I’d like to put my new home…

December 4, 2013

late fall is a perfect time for new raised beds

I was walking my dogs this afternoon and noticed my neighbor has built a couple new raised garden beds. And she has a nice big delivery of dirt waiting to fill them. This made me think – why I am waiting ’til spring to build my new garden beds? This is a perfect time of year to start a new garden! Any fresh soil, manure or compost added now above tired or compact soil will help to refresh it over the winter. (Judy noted this in a recent comment.) The…

November 17, 2013

new chicken coop

Since I’m waiting to start my vegetable garden – I’m getting some chickens! Today we set our new chicken coop into place in our new back yard. Its a small (3 x 4 feet), sturdy coop with an attached run. I’ve ordered 3 pullets for arrival midweek from McMurray Hatchery. Exciting! I hope I can figure out how to care for them. The 3 pullets (hens 18-22 weeks old) I ordered are three different varieties: Black Australorp, Araucana/Ameraucana, and light brahma. I did a lot of reading on different varieties…

October 13, 2013

starting up my new garden – finally ….

It’s been a lot of work to move! Finally I am making some progress on my new garden. I think fall is a good time to be starting it, so I’m pleased with our timing. Using string and stakes, today I marked out a space that I think would be good for my new garden. Then I moved the stakes. Then I asked my husband’s opinion and we moved the stakes yet again. Its a big mowed grassy area and I want to maximize sunlight for the garden and still…

June 1, 2013

trellising tomatoes

This year I am trellising my tomatoes. I planted the seedlings very deep, then added 1-2 inch collars (for cutworm protection). The trellis stem is made up of two upright posts set into the ground 6 feet apart. Each post has a hole at the top. Through the two holes, I thread an 8 foot metal pole. Twine provides the support for the tomato plants. To set up the twine, I cut a length twice the height of the pole from the ground and laid this over the metal pole…

March 10, 2013

Our 6 inch snow storm turned into 16 inches! I’ll have to go clear off my cold frame tomorrow. Fortunately it was reinforced very well and is holding good up so far.

weeks and counting until my last spring frost