Ma jardinière en toutes saisons

Slow and Steady Progress

2009-05-31T22:59:00.002-04:00

Our steadfast Honda rear-tine rototiller finally bit the dust, after 30 odd years of faithful service. Fortunately, our friend Jan loaned us her tiller, and I soon experienced a workout like I've never had before - but the little guy did his job. And it was a BIG job tilling in most of my flower garden and all of the vegetable garden. It was a year ago that I promised myself a garden makeover, and it's finally happening. We have been lucky, in a way, to have a cool spring. It has given me time to get this heavy work done before the heat comes on.

Below, half of the vegetable garden is planted with spinach (loving this cool weather), peppers (not loving the cool weather) carrots, radish, leeks, onions, swiss chard, with a sprinkling of companion zinnias and marigolds to help keep the bugs at bay. The other half (not visible to the left) is now ready for planting later this week.

I can't remember when I have been this far ahead in my garden. Another reason why it's great to be retired from a day job - and my artwork is steadily growing, too!

Time to Get Digging

2009-04-10T19:04:00.002-04:00

It's April in our zone 5 (the northern one) and normally, I would have merely walked about in the garden at this time of year, bemoaning the fact that there's lots of work to do, lots of ideas, and very little time. But this gardening year is different, or so it should be: I've left full-time teaching. So let the games begin!

On this cool, sunny late afternoon, I actually found myself with rake in hand, helping some little daffodils to find the sun. Just a small start, but encouraging for me. Things actually began last Sunday when I planted some baby spinach seed. Then the snow came on Monday.

The promise I made last Spring has a chance of actually happening this year. Lots more artwork is being produced, and many more art-related commitments are in place for this year, so I'm making a commitment to my garden also...again. What a great feeling.

Checking Out the Job Ahead

2008-04-07T19:14:00.000-04:00

As the snow recedes, I can see how badly my garden needs attention. Even Harry the Heron is wondering what happened to his surroundings. The lavender looks like it might do alright this spring, and that will really cheer me up. Maybe by this weekend I will be able to do some digging - it's very wet and soft where the snow has melted. Isn't it supposed to be April? Patience.

Green Thumb Sunday

2008-04-06T12:48:00.001-04:00

Thanks to the Crafty Gardener, I found out that today is Green Thumb Sunday. To celebrate, I would like to share two indoor garden photos. The amaryllis has been blooming for 2 weeks and is beginning its adieu, and the jasmine is filling the kitchen with sweet scent.

It Still Seems Like Winter

2008-04-03T19:06:00.000-04:00

These photos were taken on March 24 and 25. We have had a long winter, and even though I enjoy skiing and skating, I have to agree with the robin that made his visit during our last snow storm - that's enough. Bring on Spring.

I hang my head in shame because I have not looked after my garden for over a year. The purpose of this blog is to motivate me to start rebuilding it this year. If I document it, and if I can see some growth over the weeks/months that the reconstruction will take, then maybe I will see the project through.

So, bring on the sunshine and rain and warmer temperatures, gradually, so that we don't get flooded out. That's a big order for Mother Nature, and I've got my fingers crossed.