A Garden Update

I recently wrote about my neighbour's instant garden.  I'm not kidding, it went from barren to lush growth!  We left on May 8 for our spring vacation to Florida, a side trip to Aruba, then back to Florida arriving home side in the early morning hours of May 30.  Gearing up for the vacation, I put what plants I could outdoors but really didn't do much in the garden.  I was envious of my neighbours here (Ontario, Canada) who were busy little beavers in their yards.  Then our neighbours in Florida were busy planting but there was little to do in the way of gardening at our vacation home as we have a gardener there.  I have been itching to get out and start my new garden beds!

Our neighbours here are very much into instant gardens though.  I was amazed to see porches in full bloom, a multitude of hanging baskets and potted plants brightening their homes!  The nice thing is a lot of the plants in our garden beds are in full bloom so now I have a better idea of what needs to be cleaned out and what doesn't.  I bought two 4' x 4' raised PVC garden beds (will post pictures in a day or two) but still have to pick up wood for more raised beds.  I started working on the small garden beds on both sides of the garage.  I'm digging them out completely to start fresh.  I bought 4 red cedar trellises, two will go on the east side of the garage, one on the west side of the garage and I'm not sure where I will put the last one yet.  I want to put clematis on the trellises even though we have four nice looking clematis in the back yard.  Clematis is rather problem free and the vines don't damage the siding.  I have red cedar mulch to finish off these beds but now I'm considering a low growing ground cover.

I lost a few potted herbs and almost a full flat of vegetable plants while away.  Apparently it turned quite warm which caused them to burn on the deck even though some were in self watering planters.  The sun must have been quite strong.  Although I was not happy with the loss, there is nothing I can do about it.  Yesterday, I stopped a nursery and picked up ten various cell packs of vegetables, dill, and two larger tomato plants.  A family member picked up ever bearing strawberry plants, asparagus roots and rhubarb from the greenhouse she works at.  It's been raining quite heavily today so I won't get much done in my gardens or my new project (community garden).

On the community garden front, things are progressing nicely.  We now have a huge water storage tank and a few 50 gal plastic drums with a pump to get water to the back of the property.  Strawberries, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers and beans are planted.  We still have to plant asparagus roots and potatoes.  We are working on getting items like a garden shed, gardening tools, and fruit trees.  Between my own garden and the community garden, I am going to be a very busy gardener!

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
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