Baby steps...

Last year I surgery this time of the year and was out of commission for that critical part of spring/summer where you reign in the jungles and get things done. So I just let everything go.... so this year, it is quite clear I have my work cut out for me!! And I should mention how INCREDIBLY thankful I am to not be having surgery right now! I'm thankful for the time (ish) and energy to do a lot of work in my gardens. Whew. God is good! Back to the gardens...

First I tilled and planted the vegetable garden. So far I've got: lettuce, sugar snap peas, beans, cilantro, rosemary, basil, cucumbers, tomatoes (lots), peppers (lots), onions... and probably something else I'm forgetting. Still need to add mulch to this whole area and get some more compost in and do some grading.

And then I planted some snapdragons and weeded the front flower bed and the side of the garage bed. And then weeded and fixed up the lilac hedge (too many weeds and sunflowers in there and a lilac bush that needed to move).

Next was the berry corner, I had my handymen (Emmet and Joe P) rip ot the falling apart garden edging boards and put in new ones. Much better. Then I ripped out everything except the raspberry bushes and the rhubarb, rototilled, and replanted what I wanted. I know it was a little late in the season to do it, so my strawberries will probably suffer, but there were soooo many weeds and so much to do, it was easier to dig it up and start fresh. It looks great now and all I need to do now is add mulch! The berry corner includes: 4 raspberry bushes, strawberries, rhubarb, and some flowers. Some day I want my own little mini u-pick farm... but for now I'll settle for the berry corner. Note to self: put out netting so the birds don't get all the berries!

Then there's that middle jungle... good heavens. A few years ago I planted these cool looking sunflower flowers, that, while pretty, literally TAKE OVER everything in sight. Last year it was simply the middle of the yard jungle. (Note Maggie sitting in her castle just to see over the jungle... or maybe she's just up there exercising her superiority complex)

The few things still alive after years of neglect weren't doing well and it was time! I started the project and then my awesome homie Jenny needed a project and spent a day ripping it all out (except the peony bush and the unidentifiable bush). Now I'm slowly moving, splitting other plants, and adding plants to make this area. Still need to do some new edging and add more plants, but it is progress and already looks SOOO much better already. (Stay tuned for done photos of that in a week or two...)

I got a load of mulch delivered on Tuesday and have begun the arduous task of hauling it to all the garden areas to spread it. So far I managed to mulch the lilac hedge and the side of the garage garden. Such an improvement. And a great comfort to know having the mulch will cut down on the watering and the weeding. Clearly a win win (if only I can find the time to haul it).

So that's what is happening at the homestead lately... lots of playing in the dirt, appreciating the June color explosion, filling vase upon vase in the house with flowers, and hauling mulch. Happy gardening!