Hot ass July

John and I both prefer summer weather but I really like hot summers.  This week I've been home and enjoying (so far) the hottest week of the year.  Don't get me wrong, it is HOT out there and the humidity is a complete drag but this is perfect summer weather in my book.  I'd choose a 97 degree Fahrenheit day (the current temperature) over any that's below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

While inside taking a break from the heat to re-hydrate and refuel, I thought it would be the perfect time to make a new blog post.  The garlic was harvested last weekend!  It looks and smells fabulous.

It is exciting to see the plants that made it to the garden growing like mad.  After moving the hill of delivered top soil to the new raised bed frame, vegetables got planted about a month later than I would have liked.  Still, there are plenty of green maters on the vine, several yellow squash that have already been harvested (and eaten!), serrano and jalapeno peppers, string beans, cucumber and a nice variety of herbs growing.  Oh, a butternut squash plant that's small yet but doing well.

I'm heading back outside now to cut the front lawn and move a few more wheelbarrow loads of soil that remains on the driveway.  I'm dirty and sweaty and kind of smell like a man right now, but I don't mind.  When I shower later I'll be squeaky clean and grime free.

{sizzle}

Raising the bed

Three weeks after 8 yards of top soil was delivered, the raised bed is finally full of soil!  In the mix is a generous helping of peat moss, mushroom compost and compost from our own backyard bin.

The tomatoes are a little stressed being in full sun for the first time. 

Viola!

The last wheelbarrow of soil was added this past Sunday.  It felt so good to finally be transplanting seedlings in the garden!  To date, the garden is home to tomato plants (1 Ponderosa, 3 Black from Tula, 1 Green Zebra, 1 Sweet 100 and 2 Celebrity), a row of purple carrot seeds, a poblano pepper plant, 1 Georgia Flame pepper plant, and a yellow squash plant.  We plan to add much more to the garden this weekend including Detroit Red beets, string beans, bell peppers, cucumbers, butternut squash, leeks and, well, whatever else strikes our fancy.

The garlic is looking good and should be ready to harvest by this time next month.

In the herb garden we have sage, oregano, tarragon, dill, basil and chives. This coming weekend we will add rosemary, parsley, marjoram, thyme and chervil.  Also growing in the herb garden is a patch of red bergamot flowers.  Only a couple flowered last year but this year the stems are loaded with flower heads.  When they bloom, hopefully the hummingbirds will return!

Chet caught in the act of grooming his belly.

More to come as the blooming continues!

L&J

Everything is coming up irises!

Last year our irises were busy establishing themselves so only a couple of the plants actually produced a flower or two.  The plants weren't very big or strong but this year is a different story.  The plants are large and producing several flowers per stalk. We're pretty pleased with how our flower beds are transforming and how lush everything is looking.

This is our Root Beer Iris.  It smells like root beer!  No joke.

The garden is under going an upgrade this year.   8 yards of soil was delivered Friday afternoon and a frame for a raised bed was built today (Memorial Day).  I wish that more could have been accomplished but Mother Nature put the kibosh on using power tools Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday was spent shopping for the lumber to build the raised bed frame as well as to purchase a new circular saw.  Yes!  The saw is my first power tool purchase.  It's completely geeky but I was giddy driving home in Hank (my F150 pick-up truck) with the bed full of lumber, a new wheelbarrow and a circular saw.

Originally, the plan was to rent a mini bobcat to move the mound of soil from the driveway to the garden bed, but with the rainy weather it was uncertain whether the soil was going to be delivered on Friday.  With the materials being wet, less than 8 yards would have been delivered.  We'd have been paying for water weight.  In any event, with the soil delivery up in the air I didn't want to rent the mini bobcat, and once I knew the delivery was a go, I learned that the rental store didn't have a mini-cat to rent.  It was being used by some other lucky person.  I've been moving soil with the wheelbarrow and have scarcely made a dent in the pile.  Depending on the price, this weekend there may be a mini bobcat helping me to move the soil to the garden.  The soil can be moved in a fraction of the time and save my lower back from strain.  Plus, the mini-cat would be so cool to operate!

Here's the progress thus far...



Chet really wants to join me outside.
Both cats peek out the back door regularly when I'm outside.

Mama Robin.
She was very patient with all of the noise and activity today.

Mr. Spencer.  He enjoys supervised time outside in his collar and leash.

It was a beautiful day today and as much as I worked my butt off, I enjoyed the day and the work that got done.  Hopefully your weekend was relaxing and a safe one.

L&J

Curb Appeal!

Spring seems to be officially here.  Our lawn was cut for the first time this season on Saturday, we spotted our first super-plump bumblebee that day too, and flowers are blooming all over the place.  Plus, there is evidence of leaves on trees all over the place.  This is such an exciting time of year!

The front yard is looking very cheery with all of the new blooms.  We can't stop taking pictures as there seems to be something new blooming each day.

We plan to concentrate effort on the backyard this year and softening it's edges with lush floral and edible landscape.  I'm looking forward to getting dirty and sweaty and transforming our backyard into one that is beautiful and relaxing.

Spring 2011

Spring blooms!

Spring is near

The first day of spring is one month away!  Surely helebores and crocus are beginning to awake in their earthen bed and will possibly be blooming by this time next month.  John and I are especially excited about the arrival of spring since we planted one hundred or so various flower bulbs and tubers in the fall.  The bulbs were added to existing flower beds as well as a newly established flower bed on the north side of our front porch.  The new flower bed wraps around to the front of the porch and connects to another flower bed there.  The bed in front of the porch doubled in size and is filled with all sorts of bulbs and tubers.  If the squirrels don't disrupt the bulbs while digging to bury their own treasures, the three flower beds that flank the front porch will be ever-blooming spring through fall.  We're so excited to see the display!

It is nearly time to begin planting seeds in flats for all of the vegetables that will be transplanted in the garden.  John and I have big plans for the backyard and hope to establish several new flowerbeds back there this year.    Until we have photos to share with you of this year's blooms, keep warm and be safe.