Monthly Garden Photos - August 2013

The Perennial Border

Outside Wisteria Studios

no flowers on the Morning Glories yet. The Wisteria has sprouted a new plant to the left of the bench where the bamboo pole is. I'm wondering if it is an attempt to grow in more sunlight so that it can flower next year. 

The Vegetable Garden

potatoes harvested from this square bed. Hops in foreground. Broccoli, winter squashes and more in the background.

The grapes produced lots of fruit but the birds ate them all way before they were ripe. 

The Family Pond & Wetlands

Compare these photos with those taken in June. Amazing!

Carouby de Maussane Snow Pea and More from the Garden

Earlier this year, one of the seed packets I ordered from Pinetree Garden Seeds was Carouby de Maussane Snow Pea. The distinction with this variety is its two-tone purple flowers. I planted them in early April and they are beginning to flower.

Also in the garden today:

Monthly Garden Photos - June

The Perennial Border

it is difficult to see the birdbath now!

Pink Peony

The Family Pond and Wetlands

Outside Wisteria Studios

The window box and pots have been planted, the wisteria is growing well. Still no flowers on it yet.

Hortus Conclusus

Cut Flower/Hummingbird/Butterfly area of the Garden

 Roses and Herbs

Dye plants on the right. Winter squash & pumpkins, 

still small on the left side of the bed. These will trail over

 Garlic, potatoes, peas, bok choy and more

 Lettuces and Broccoli

Red Mizuna and Bok Choy

May 31, 2013 in the Garden

Here is how the garden looks today

garlic, potatoes, peas, red mizuna, bok choy, broccoli

Chives

Bronze Fennel

Perennials Blooming Now

Bearded Irises

Salvia, Nepita, Allium (in bud), Peony, Petunia, Foxgloves, Verbascum, Oriental Poppy (in bud)

Glorious Peonies began opening today

Last Frost Should Be Past - Time to Plant the Tomatoes!

Spent most of today planting, sowing, transplanting, weeding and watering. Here's a summary:

• transplanted mustard seedling "volunteers" from the asparagus bed to the iris/cut flower bed. I like the contrast of leaf colors.

• planted snapdragons in the cut flower bed.
• planted orange marigolds in the natural dyes section of the hortus conclusus as well as around the broccoli/brussels sprouts and lettuce seedlings.

• transplanted 18 tomato plants (3 of 6 varieties) I started from seed. Covered them with my homemade "cloches" to keep them warm and growing (they had been in a cold frame). 

         

The lettuces and broccoli plants are maturing nicely.

I really like how there are plants ready to bloom as others begin to fade. Here the tulips are waning, the alpine strawberries are in bloom and chive blossoms are about to burst. The butterflies and bees appreciate this succession planting too!

Spring Planting Underway

I've spent a few afternoons working outdoors this past week and a half. Today I planted 225 WallaWalla onion plants, a half dozen Viola tricolors, sowed two varieties each of snap and snow peas. Already planted are broccoli, lettuces, parsley and spinach seeds which haven't come up yet. Indoors are a dozen or so more vegetables in various stages of germination and growth.

I also sprinkled raw flax seeds in one of the garden beds. I had read in Sally Roth's book Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season that she does this to provide nesting material to the birds. I do know that flax yields long fibers used to make linen fabric. It is also used to make paper. (I have purchased raw flax fiber and have cooked, beat and turned it into paper.) What I did not know was that birds like to weave it into their nests, along with the fibers from butterfly weed (another great fiber for papermaking, and which I had just gathered and stored away the day before I read Sally's note in the book!) So Sally writes that she buys raw flax seed at the grocery store (sold in the baking or cereal/grains aisle), sows it outdoors where some of it is eaten by the the birds, but most of it sprouts and grows. I decided to give it a try. Not only will the pretty blue flowers  be attractive to my eye, swaying in the breeze, but will attract native pollinators and butterflies to the garden as well. Hopefully more than enough of these seeds will sprout and grow producing usable fiber for the birds to build their nests and for me to turn into paper as well. I will keep you posted on the progress of this.

Still to do: 
- transplant the newly sprouted hollyhocks from the perennial border into the Hortus Conclusus before they
   are discovered by the deer.
- divide the bearded irises and move them to their new bed
- sow carrot, beet and turnip seeds
- mulch perennial border
- rake out and mulch beds around the house

I doubt I will get all of that done this week because there is art "work" to do as well. This and next month will be filled with much activity and I hope to get here to post regularly about it.  Let me know what gardening pursuits you are up to!