Rain, rain go away! It's raining again today, last night, yesterday, Thursday...
Wednesday I moved everything out of the garage bed that didn't belong there, with the exception of the Korean lilac. I'm not sure where it's headed, yet. The japanese irises got divided in half and moved to the front bed. The burning bushes got potted. I planted the two little coreopsis I picked up a month or so ago, too. Supposedly they're dwarf, but I ringed them anyway.
Tomatoes are coming on, as are the pole beans. Bush beans don't look healthy - too much water I think. Tori's been eating raspberries just about every day. When they finish, I'm going to cut them way back in prep for moving to the orchard. The strawberries need to go too.
The brush clearing is stalled - the back is sooooooo muddy. We've pulled out hundreds of stumps, and there's hundreds more.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 27, 2008
It's not raining! We've had 9" of rain in the past week. Thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon, in fact every afternoon this week.
The front corner bed is cleaned. I pulled a lot of the coreopsis and put rings around the clumps I left. I think I'll leave the rings over the winter even, then pull any that grow other spots.
Moved 5 azaleas (2 salmon, 3 double crimson) to the back of the bed, they have settled nicely. I'm going to pot up the little spruces to give them a head start then next spring start working on a hedgerow/fence between our field and the Jerrys'.
The front corner bed is cleaned. I pulled a lot of the coreopsis and put rings around the clumps I left. I think I'll leave the rings over the winter even, then pull any that grow other spots.
Moved 5 azaleas (2 salmon, 3 double crimson) to the back of the bed, they have settled nicely. I'm going to pot up the little spruces to give them a head start then next spring start working on a hedgerow/fence between our field and the Jerrys'.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
July 23, 2008
Today it rained, yesterday it rained, Sunday it rained. Everything is lush and green and swarming with mosquitoes.
Friday, July 18, 2008
July 18, 2008
Oh, it's been humid. And hot! Thunderstorms threatened just about every day, today we had a doozy. No damage here, but lots of branches down on Main Street I heard someone at the store say he had a 60' willow hit by lightening.
Corn is about 7' tall, starting to tassel. Masses of green tomatoes. Bell peppers are about pingpong ball size, many, MANY jalapeños. Onions are good. Had a meal of green beans yesterday. They're about 6" long, ready to pick. The bean tent blew over in the storm, I'll have to fix that tomorrow.
Thinned the carrots and covered the bed with the strawberry screen to keep birds and bunnies off the lettuce. So far so good.
Raspberries are about a week or two off, and very plentiful. Can't wait. I'm going to move them over to the orchard next spring - will prepare a bed this fall. Strawberries will move too, fall or spring? I'll find out.
Corn is about 7' tall, starting to tassel. Masses of green tomatoes. Bell peppers are about pingpong ball size, many, MANY jalapeños. Onions are good. Had a meal of green beans yesterday. They're about 6" long, ready to pick. The bean tent blew over in the storm, I'll have to fix that tomorrow.
Thinned the carrots and covered the bed with the strawberry screen to keep birds and bunnies off the lettuce. So far so good.
Raspberries are about a week or two off, and very plentiful. Can't wait. I'm going to move them over to the orchard next spring - will prepare a bed this fall. Strawberries will move too, fall or spring? I'll find out.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
July 1, 2007
Garden is going gangbusters. The brush clearing continues. Uncovered a bumblebee nest at the end of the driveway - it's temporarily covered with a gallon milk container so the bees are protected from us, and we from them. Sprayed for ants again today. I think I did it last May 1, might have been June. I'll do again August 1 and Sept 1. I think we've stirred up a nest or two dragging crap out of the brush. Tough.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
June 22, 2008
Nice day, mid 70s, rain and thunder this evening. Hail was threatened, but we didn't get it.
We've started clearing the brush at the end of the driveway. Slow going, but going it is. Looks great! Something has been eating my garden - the beans (runner and bush) and the broccoli. I'm going to pick up some Irish Spring, try that first.
We've started clearing the brush at the end of the driveway. Slow going, but going it is. Looks great! Something has been eating my garden - the beans (runner and bush) and the broccoli. I'm going to pick up some Irish Spring, try that first.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
June 17, 2008
Cool today, 65º and rainign on and off. Thunderstorms rumble up, drop some rain, blow out. This weather is supposed to continue for the rest of the week.
Got the screen on the berry frame. Hopefully it will keep the birds off the berries. Last year we trapped a red squirrel too. Paid Simon $10 to cut the body loose.
Got the screen on the berry frame. Hopefully it will keep the birds off the berries. Last year we trapped a red squirrel too. Paid Simon $10 to cut the body loose.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
June 14, 2008
Warm and humid again today. Now (10 pm) we're having thunderstorms and downpours. I can hear the gutters on the back of the house overflowing.
I discovered today that Miss Canada (lilac) bloomed and I missed it. Single bunch, but still... :o( White irises continue to bloom, seven sisters is a riot of scent and colour. Gorgeous!
I think I have to rebuild the bean house. Tori was far too elaborate and it won't stand. Beans are all up so my chance to get it right is limited.
I discovered today that Miss Canada (lilac) bloomed and I missed it. Single bunch, but still... :o( White irises continue to bloom, seven sisters is a riot of scent and colour. Gorgeous!
I think I have to rebuild the bean house. Tori was far too elaborate and it won't stand. Beans are all up so my chance to get it right is limited.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
June 12, 2008
Sunny, warm, ,pleasantly not humid. We had some serious thunderstorms the past few days that cleared out the 95º humidity.
Planted 4 Potentilla "Pink Beauty" (bought at 1st Season) and 36 wax begonias (Lowes clearance) in the garage bed. I'll sprinkle some poppy seeds and consider that bed finished.
Picked up another 16 belgian blocks ($2.97 at Lowes, plus $10 coupon discount) so I can continue on the front bed. I think I can use cinder blocks for the lower terraces (the below ground part anyway) to save some money.
Everything's up in the vegetable garden, but it needs to be weeded. The soils soft though, so I can use the hoe. :o)
Planted 4 Potentilla "Pink Beauty" (bought at 1st Season) and 36 wax begonias (Lowes clearance) in the garage bed. I'll sprinkle some poppy seeds and consider that bed finished.
Picked up another 16 belgian blocks ($2.97 at Lowes, plus $10 coupon discount) so I can continue on the front bed. I think I can use cinder blocks for the lower terraces (the below ground part anyway) to save some money.
Everything's up in the vegetable garden, but it needs to be weeded. The soils soft though, so I can use the hoe. :o)
Friday, June 6, 2008
June 6, 2008
Pulled 2 buckets of weeds yesterday from the garage bed. I think I'm going to get 4 potentillas and call it done.
All the beans are up, corn too. Need to stake the trees, both apples are listing starboard. Today it is raining. Forecast high is 77, but I don't believe we'll make it. Tomorrow, and the rest of next week - hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms. The plants will be happy, at least.
All the beans are up, corn too. Need to stake the trees, both apples are listing starboard. Today it is raining. Forecast high is 77, but I don't believe we'll make it. Tomorrow, and the rest of next week - hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms. The plants will be happy, at least.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
May 31, 2008
Warmish, rain last night, clear this afternoon. Thunderstorms predicted overnight, clearing tomorrow.
Planted the whole garden - Peaches and Cream Corn, pumpkins (pie and midget), watermelons, cucumbers in the first bed.
-8 tomatoes, 6 sweet peppers, 3 jalapeno. CILANTRO, onions, green beans in the second bed. Scarlet runner beans in the small 3rd bed.
Friday I planted 4 trees - Montmorency cherry, ___ hardy peach, Mac apple, Cortland apple. Keeping an eye open for a sweet cherry (Bing?) and a Gala apple or maybe a 4 in one.
Planted the whole garden - Peaches and Cream Corn, pumpkins (pie and midget), watermelons, cucumbers in the first bed.
-8 tomatoes, 6 sweet peppers, 3 jalapeno. CILANTRO, onions, green beans in the second bed. Scarlet runner beans in the small 3rd bed.
Friday I planted 4 trees - Montmorency cherry, ___ hardy peach, Mac apple, Cortland apple. Keeping an eye open for a sweet cherry (Bing?) and a Gala apple or maybe a 4 in one.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
May 24, 2008
Sunny after rain and wind last night. 70s, breezy.
In:
-8 tomato plants: Better Boy, Keepsake, Sweet 100, Roma Gold, Red Cherry, Cluster, Early Girl, Pink Girl
-6 Sweet Pepper
-3 Jalapeno
Cilantro
Assembled and filled 6x6 box for a runner bean teepee.
I've decided to plant corn with the vining plants. I've never had luck with sweet corn, but what the heck -it was <$2 for the seed.
Todd brought another 1/2 yard of soil. After filling the bean house bed, I'll use the rest for the front garden.
Oh! Scott cut down one of the big awful pear trees behind the house. I'm so happy to see it go, even if it does mean the end of the "ugly" viburnum.
In:
-8 tomato plants: Better Boy, Keepsake, Sweet 100, Roma Gold, Red Cherry, Cluster, Early Girl, Pink Girl
-6 Sweet Pepper
-3 Jalapeno
Cilantro
Assembled and filled 6x6 box for a runner bean teepee.
I've decided to plant corn with the vining plants. I've never had luck with sweet corn, but what the heck -it was <$2 for the seed.
Todd brought another 1/2 yard of soil. After filling the bean house bed, I'll use the rest for the front garden.
Oh! Scott cut down one of the big awful pear trees behind the house. I'm so happy to see it go, even if it does mean the end of the "ugly" viburnum.
Friday, May 23, 2008
May 23, 2008
Cool, on and off drizzle, mostly cloudy.
-Pumpkins: 1 small ornamental, 1 medium pie/carving
-2 Burpless cucumbers
-2 sugarbaby watermelons
so the first bed is planted. That was quick. ;o)
have 8 tomato starts
4 sweet pepper
4 jalapeno (might only plant 2?)
broccoli
need carrot seeds, green beans, maybe some onion starts
try to get those in this weekend.
I think I'll get some more 2x6 6 foot lengths and make a 1/2 sized bed to put a bean teepee in.
-Pumpkins: 1 small ornamental, 1 medium pie/carving
-2 Burpless cucumbers
-2 sugarbaby watermelons
so the first bed is planted. That was quick. ;o)
have 8 tomato starts
4 sweet pepper
4 jalapeno (might only plant 2?)
broccoli
need carrot seeds, green beans, maybe some onion starts
try to get those in this weekend.
I think I'll get some more 2x6 6 foot lengths and make a 1/2 sized bed to put a bean teepee in.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
May 21, 2008
The beds are built! Laura brought 2 yards of soil yesterday, 1 1/2 are spread, the other will be done before it rains this evening. Yeah!
1st Season has fruit trees for $21. I'm going this afternoon. Wahoo!
1st Season has fruit trees for $21. I'm going this afternoon. Wahoo!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
May 17th, 2008
Sunny and warm, 70º Beautiful day
Scott cleared more brush, Simon got to use the chainsaw. :o) Started throwing dead stuff down the hill. Why not? Velco left all their crap there.
Assembled one raised bed. I need WAY more newspaper. Laura Sturtevant can get me garden soil at cost (and she has a pickup truck!) I think I need 3 yards to get them filled and get started on the front.
Scott cleared more brush, Simon got to use the chainsaw. :o) Started throwing dead stuff down the hill. Why not? Velco left all their crap there.
Assembled one raised bed. I need WAY more newspaper. Laura Sturtevant can get me garden soil at cost (and she has a pickup truck!) I think I need 3 yards to get them filled and get started on the front.
Friday, May 16, 2008
May 16, 2008
Scott's cutting the grass. Roses are fertilized, and I've bought the lumber for 2 raised beds.
It's coolish, mid 60s, few clouds. Drizzled much of yesterday, rain is expected again tomorrow.
Peas are up, both snow peas and regular. Salad bed is doing nicely.
It's coolish, mid 60s, few clouds. Drizzled much of yesterday, rain is expected again tomorrow.
Peas are up, both snow peas and regular. Salad bed is doing nicely.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
May 11, 2008
Done. The front corner bed is cleaned, the tulip bed is weeded, the daffodil hosta/astilbe bed is done, the peas are in the rest is grassed (coming up nicely.) The front of the house needs some work, but I have to figure out how to build a retaining wall and incorporate the downspout drainage.
I haven't bought the wood for the raised beds yet. Picked up some azaleas (yuck) for $2 each that will work in the property line border. I'm going to dig some saplings out of the hedgerow and woods to add to that line. Maples, oaks if I can find them. Maybe hickory. I wonder what hickory leaves look like? And how to determine sugar maples from others. Homework...
Oh, 1st Season's open!
I haven't bought the wood for the raised beds yet. Picked up some azaleas (yuck) for $2 each that will work in the property line border. I'm going to dig some saplings out of the hedgerow and woods to add to that line. Maples, oaks if I can find them. Maybe hickory. I wonder what hickory leaves look like? And how to determine sugar maples from others. Homework...
Oh, 1st Season's open!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
April 27, 2007
Mostly sunny, 70º Rain is expected tomorrow (but we'll see.)
Front corner bed is clean and edged. Cut down some dead branches from the Box Elder. Comon lilac has lots of leaves, but no sin of blooms. I need to look into a fertilizer to push some flowers next year. Potash, I think. All three shrub roses are in great shape. Bleeding Heart blooming, loads of flower buds on the Flowering Almond. I pruned, weeded and edged - no mulch, no fertilizer.
Turned the sprinkler on the old garden/new lawn. Left a window down on the truck, too. That'll make it rain for sure. Strawberries have had a great growth spurt over the past few days. They like the straw, guess that's why they're called straw berries, huh? First spinach sprouts.
Nothing else new. I need to get the screening on the strawberry house and the plow off the tractor.
Front corner bed is clean and edged. Cut down some dead branches from the Box Elder. Comon lilac has lots of leaves, but no sin of blooms. I need to look into a fertilizer to push some flowers next year. Potash, I think. All three shrub roses are in great shape. Bleeding Heart blooming, loads of flower buds on the Flowering Almond. I pruned, weeded and edged - no mulch, no fertilizer.
Turned the sprinkler on the old garden/new lawn. Left a window down on the truck, too. That'll make it rain for sure. Strawberries have had a great growth spurt over the past few days. They like the straw, guess that's why they're called straw berries, huh? First spinach sprouts.
Nothing else new. I need to get the screening on the strawberry house and the plow off the tractor.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
April 26, 2008
Low 60s, overcast today. It will likely rain this afternoon. Spring sprung early this year. We've already had several 80º days, though that seems to be past now.
We purchased Matt's land in March (14th) and spent last weekend beginning to clear the hedgerow. Messy business - lots of grapevine and Virginia Creeper in there. I've decided to move the vegetable beds over to that area - a tiny little piece of it anyway. Eventually there will be 4 raised beds, each 6' x 12'. The strawberries will remain where they are right now, and the rhubarb. I'll move all that in the fall, I think. Most of the bed has been plowed under and grass seeded. I've got peas and snow peas at the furthest part of it.
Planted raised bed - buttercrunch, mesclun, danvers carrots.
Picked up 5 Col. Blue Spruce ($2.99 each!) and have heeled them in. Missed the Midd Garden Club's lilac giveaway today. Oh well.
Driveway bed - Daffs are blooming, astilbes are sprouting. No sign of the hostas yet. Grape hyacinths are coming along, but will bloom after the daffs fade.
Garage bed - Chiondoxa and crocuses are done. Tulips are budding, but no blooms yet. Hyacinths are gorgeous. pink, dark pink, purple. No white. Both burning bushes (destined elsewhere) are leafing out well, as is the rescue lilac (also for elsewhere.) What was the mystery iris from Mark last year? Need a name. No apparent problems with the patio or the roof drainage project. It was nice to have a dry walk this winter.
Front corner - lots of sprouts. Autumn Joy is running rampant. Daffs in bloom. Lilac, HB Cran, Miss Canada all leafing. Same with all three shrub roses. Nothing from the spirea? Loads of buds on the Flowering Almond. Peopnies (2?) are up, irises are everywhere but not blooming yet. Soon.
Grass is green, trees are leafing out. No more snow, please?
We purchased Matt's land in March (14th) and spent last weekend beginning to clear the hedgerow. Messy business - lots of grapevine and Virginia Creeper in there. I've decided to move the vegetable beds over to that area - a tiny little piece of it anyway. Eventually there will be 4 raised beds, each 6' x 12'. The strawberries will remain where they are right now, and the rhubarb. I'll move all that in the fall, I think. Most of the bed has been plowed under and grass seeded. I've got peas and snow peas at the furthest part of it.
Planted raised bed - buttercrunch, mesclun, danvers carrots.
Picked up 5 Col. Blue Spruce ($2.99 each!) and have heeled them in. Missed the Midd Garden Club's lilac giveaway today. Oh well.
Driveway bed - Daffs are blooming, astilbes are sprouting. No sign of the hostas yet. Grape hyacinths are coming along, but will bloom after the daffs fade.
Garage bed - Chiondoxa and crocuses are done. Tulips are budding, but no blooms yet. Hyacinths are gorgeous. pink, dark pink, purple. No white. Both burning bushes (destined elsewhere) are leafing out well, as is the rescue lilac (also for elsewhere.) What was the mystery iris from Mark last year? Need a name. No apparent problems with the patio or the roof drainage project. It was nice to have a dry walk this winter.
Front corner - lots of sprouts. Autumn Joy is running rampant. Daffs in bloom. Lilac, HB Cran, Miss Canada all leafing. Same with all three shrub roses. Nothing from the spirea? Loads of buds on the Flowering Almond. Peopnies (2?) are up, irises are everywhere but not blooming yet. Soon.
Grass is green, trees are leafing out. No more snow, please?
Monday, February 11, 2008
February 11, 2008
Brrr! 3º overnight, I thin it's up to 10 or so now. Very few clouds so there's nothing to trap the heat in.
We've had about 20 inches of snow so far this month, and more predicted for tomorrow night.
Salad bowl is up about an inch. I'll need to thin a little this week, I think
Planted 12 Oriental Poppies (seed - Burpee Brilliant Red) and 6 head lettuce (Burpee - Iceburg A) for Tori.
We went to 4 Seasons yesterday - how nice to breathe all that free oxygen surrounded by green while the snow blew and fell (hard) outside. We'll do that again, I'm sure.
Daniel chose a "nice cactus, no spikes" (Jade plant - Crassula though it's too small to even hazard a guess at the variety. Arborescens maybe?) I picked up a leaf from a c. argentea (what it said on the pot) and stuck it in the soil with Daniel's plant. Maybe it'll root, maybe it'll rot.
We've had about 20 inches of snow so far this month, and more predicted for tomorrow night.
Salad bowl is up about an inch. I'll need to thin a little this week, I think
Planted 12 Oriental Poppies (seed - Burpee Brilliant Red) and 6 head lettuce (Burpee - Iceburg A) for Tori.
We went to 4 Seasons yesterday - how nice to breathe all that free oxygen surrounded by green while the snow blew and fell (hard) outside. We'll do that again, I'm sure.
Daniel chose a "nice cactus, no spikes" (Jade plant - Crassula though it's too small to even hazard a guess at the variety. Arborescens maybe?) I picked up a leaf from a c. argentea (what it said on the pot) and stuck it in the soil with Daniel's plant. Maybe it'll root, maybe it'll rot.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
January 29, 2008
Started indoor crop of Mesclun - 35 days to harvest. I'll likely start another in two weeks, and then plant a crop outside under the glass early March. Can't wait!
Still no appreciable snow. It's been cold, down into high teens overnight, and colder some nights, but the snowcover has remained minimal since Christmas.
Still no appreciable snow. It's been cold, down into high teens overnight, and colder some nights, but the snowcover has remained minimal since Christmas.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
January 8, 2008
We had snow before Christmas (Dec 16 - 14" on top of the 8 we had), we had MORE snow at New Years (+6"). It's almost gone. It was 50º yesterday and should hit higher than that today. With rain. There will undoubtedly be more snow before it's really spring, but it sure feels nice out there right now. Last week it was -4º.
Still no action on Matt's property. I can't imagine what his hold up is, but that man is the slowest thing I've ever seen. He keeps complaining about how broke he's going, but there's an opportunity here, RIGHT HERE for him to make a little money, he's already accepted the offer, and he's still dragging his feet.
Still no action on Matt's property. I can't imagine what his hold up is, but that man is the slowest thing I've ever seen. He keeps complaining about how broke he's going, but there's an opportunity here, RIGHT HERE for him to make a little money, he's already accepted the offer, and he's still dragging his feet.
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