Update: I revamped my garden webpage to a blog page, so the blog date is newer than the original content.
Wow! Feast your eyes on this photo. Such a difference from April, right? A lot has happened since then. Oh. There's Gerkins the cat. She is making a rare appearance just for you today. Usually she is hides from strangers. And us. She only likes her boy, Timothy. Hi Gerkins!
Wow! Feast your eyes on this photo. Such a difference from April, right? A lot has happened since then. Oh. There's Gerkins the cat. She is making a rare appearance just for you today. Usually she is hides from strangers. And us. She only likes her boy, Timothy. Hi Gerkins!
Okay. Let me back track a little. I have a lot of photos and I don't remember when I took them, because I'm just as good at labeling photos, as I am at taking them! So. Please, bear with me.
Here are some photos of our cottage garden flower beds in their early stage of planting. When was that you may be wondering? Sorry, I have no clue.
Anyway, when looking out into our back yard, this is the nearest quadrant on the left, surrounding the center apricot tree. This is where I planted our herb garden. This quadrant doesn't get as much sun, so the herbs won't fry. I realize that many herbs like full sun, but I have not had much success with them planted this way. Since the herbs seem to be thriving here, then this is where they will stay. Thrive little herbs. Thrive! Look. A blue lobelia is struggling for its life in the nearest corner. I hope you make it lobelia!
Walking down the lawn path to the right, this is the next flower bed quadrant, and it borders the future espalier apricot trees and will meet with the Dorset apple path. This quadrant also gets the most sun all day. I finally decided to plant more apricot trees in our orchard, nearest the walking lawn. I L.O.V.E. apricots! But, I'll probably change my mind a billion times before we plant any trees. Truly, I obsess much!
Moving on down the grass path, to the right, this quadrant at the far right corner of our back yard grass path, it is nearest to where the raised vegetable beds will go and the chicken coop. It features a hollyhock, daisies, and a few other wild wispy type flowers.
This final quadrant is nearest the Meyer lemon tree, which is behind our garage, and where I hope to be the site of our Secret Garden some day. I look forward to when Robert calls for me and I can answer back to my love: "I'm in the gaaarrrden! " I don't think there's enough room back there for a rope swing though.
June Already?
Wow! Our cottage garden is well on its way! The sunflower hedge has given me an idea on what to put as a barrier between the walking lawn and the future orchard. A fence! Not a huge fence mind you, just a picket type. We acquired a huge dog house this May, that someone cast to the curb. Whenever I look at it, I see a LOT of free lumber.
Yet another stellar photo. That tree that looks like it is a growth from our garage is our amazing Meyer lemon tree. We scored big time on this house when we bought it, if not for that tree alone. Just imagine some sort of fence with greenery on it, that is tall enough to give you a peek of the lemon tree. A fence hiding a secret. A secret garden that is! So exciting! Moving on....
The grass is looking okay, but since I didn't really condition the soil before I transplanted the sod, it is doing the best it can to grow. Sorry grass. We have CLAY soil here in Whittier. And the worst thing you can do is walk on it after you water it, or after it rains. The soil gets more compacted and it is very hard for the grass, or anything else to grow. Except for weeds. Weeds have no problem growing in compacted clay soil.
I really don't know what to do to remedy this sad situation. I worked so hard to transplant this sod, and now it isn't looking very attractive. I will have to research for the solution.
But as the saying goes: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Next time I really need to prepare my soil better, before I plant. Did I mention that I'm not very patient?
But as the saying goes: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Next time I really need to prepare my soil better, before I plant. Did I mention that I'm not very patient?
The Fence Goes Up
Considering how much I HATE CONSTRUCTION, I sure am doing a lot of it! My guys helped me construct and set up the carcass of the fence that will be separating the walking lawn from the orchard. You can just see the branches of the kumquat tree on the left of the picture. They are the original SweeTart! Focus Heather....focus. Getting back to the fence...
Truth be told, I had the boys remove the fence from its holes after seeing it was very crooked. I'm sorta anal that way. I like my fences to be straight. Sorry guys. After they re-positioned it for me, and it was mostly where I wanted it, they filled in the dirt and that is where it is stayin'. Then I arranged the pickets into a Mission flavored pattern and Robert helped me screw them into place.
Truth be told, I had the boys remove the fence from its holes after seeing it was very crooked. I'm sorta anal that way. I like my fences to be straight. Sorry guys. After they re-positioned it for me, and it was mostly where I wanted it, they filled in the dirt and that is where it is stayin'. Then I arranged the pickets into a Mission flavored pattern and Robert helped me screw them into place.
Next item on the list.... finish the chicken coop! (you might be noticing that our beloved apricot tree is no longer in the garden. That is because it had gotten sick with canker. So it had to be removed. (Sniff )
Finishing The Chicken Coop!
For more details on this construction adventure, see I HATE CONSTRUCTION!
September. Time To Get Our Birds!
All done! We put the chicken coop and run in this spot, near the back wall of our yard, until I can get the HUGE fig tree stump out and the weed tree removed. They currently occupy the space where the chicken coop's permanent home will be. Then, I will be moving the raised veggie beds over in this spot because it gets A LOT of sun. I hope our birds don't bake until then; it is super HOT today! For the rest of the story on bringing the girls home, read: They're Here! They'll only be in this local until the end of the month, when I get the huge chicken palace I ordered. So I urgently need to get rid of those stumps. PRONTO!
Le Poulet Chalet Is Here!
AT last! Le Poulet Chalet is up and ready for business. Well....come spring. You see, I decided that it is much too large for the girls to winter in. So, they will be spending the harsh California winter in their little coop that I built. Come spring, then they will be moving into their summer cottage. They are spoiled little birds aren't they? Oh, I did eventually get rid of the excess coop wire that is dangling between the coop and the run. And I looks so much better now!
Happy Gardening!