Spring Gardening

I've mentioned our gardening efforts in posts past, but now its time for a whole gardening post of its own!  Our garden isn't quite as extensive as it was last year.  One reason is because after going through so much extra effort last year and then losing most of it in one torrential downpour, I decided that the "extras" were just not going to happen this year.  The second reason is because I just plain vetoed a few things because I don't think they're worth the effort it takes to grow.  We're not planting carrots this year because they never grow nor taste as good as the ones I can buy at the store.  (Besides, in the summer, carrots are cheap and since they last a while, I can buy massive amounts of them and they'll last!  We eat lots of carrots, so its not unusual for me to walk out of the store with a few pounds of them every other week or so!)  Also, no cantaloupe or watermelons: if I get them in early enough to actually mature by fall, the bugs get them...but if  I wait past bug time, they don't mature.  So, no melons!  No squash either!  Last year we planted four hills of crook-neck yellow squash (which I love) and my dear husband miracle-growed them until they become monstrous plants bearing hundreds (literally) of squash... so, I'm making this a squash-free year since we had more than our fair share last year (even after sharing).  No peas... even though the kids and I like fresh garden peas,  Josh is allergic to them... I suppose I'll save his life by method of prevention.  I really wanted to establish a strawberry bed this year since last year's attempt was the most significant thing that got washed away in the downpour, but Josh's field work and haying season got started super early this year, meaning he was busy there and couldn't help me do the initial ground and base work it would have taken to make the bed the way I want it to be... so, no berries.

That's all the "stuff" we're not growing, now on to the things we are growing: onions, lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips (for their greens), green peppers, tomatoes, green beans,cabbage, cucumbers, pumpkins, Indian corn (or rather, to be political correct, its now called Ornamental Corn), a couple variety of gourds, and zucchini.  The corn, zucchini and gourds are new this year: the zucchini at the request of Josh and the gourds and corn for fun.

The beginnings; seeds just planted.

My (occasional) helpers!

Not quite two weeks later, the onions, lettuce, turnips, radishes and spinach are up.

Three weeks into growing, everything is thriving.  I, however, am having to water everything.

A view from the other end of the garden.  It is really quite big.  I requested it to be of good size because I hate having things all squished together.  I like having lots of room to work and let everything grow... especially the viney things.

I also did a little more flower gardening than I usually do.

This is around the flagpole.  In the early spring, daffodils came up.  Then I laid a weed cover down and planted vincas.  I love vincas because they grow to be really bushy, are hardy, cheap and beautiful.  The downside... they are only annuals.  But with their cheapness and beauty, I can live with that.

This is a vinca that will eventually bush out and be covered in flowers.

For the past seven years, I have struggled with creating a flower bed around the front and sides of the house.  This year, I decided to try something different in the corner to finally be able to stop fighting so much with the weeds and yard trying to creep in.  The large rock is the one my dad brought down from Tama.  The smaller rocks surrounding it are rocks that Caleb and Josh dug out of the creek for me.  I laid down black netted weed control before I planted the perennials.  It still needs the finishing touch of pea gravel or some other decorative smaller rock in between, but I think it turned out pretty good!

A view from the side.  All the plants are suppose to grow to fill out nicely with flowers, so I hope it takes off soon and does really well!

I don't remember off hand all the flowers I planted, but there are Lamb's Ear by the big rock (they are taller and will fill in the back), two types of Forget-Me-Nots in the middle (average size) and then smaller flowers of which I don't remember what kind in front.  I really, really hope that its a success!