Sunny Saturday

SO - it's beautiful outside. I have indoor chores and schoolwork to do but I've watered the the garden and set up my crockpot outside. My house will not smell like slow cooker food or absorb any heat from it. Brilliant! Now I'm too busy for blogging. Schoolwork awaits me as do various chores. Onward!

July 4th "yarden" report slide show.

Oh the babies!!

The sun has been shining and we went from barely spring to full-blown summer. I have sprouts emerging. They are cute. The pictures aren't great but they are evidence of new life! Also - the succulent plant has gotten enough sun to be bright with flowers. The lady told me it would take the sunny spot just fine.


Poor picture but it is an ELF (sunflower) baby!


These are the morning glory infants.


And these are basil sprouts!

Done or just starting?

You can click on the above picture to see it larger. What has changed since yesterday? I have a yellow hummingbird feeder. I made a crazy form out of chicken wire for runner beans and crimson climber. I planted more sunflowers, and an array of other flowers and herbs. We'll see what comes up. Because - I am done. Yes - needs sweeping and I spilled a small pot over (grrrr...) but really - I think this is all I'm going to do. We'll see if by August 1 there is a wilderness of red flowers, sun flowers, basil, and buzzing birds. I think the coleus is getting too much sun - hmmm Meanwhile - I look at the picture of my scruffy little back yard and am a little disappointed it doesn't reflect my hoeing and hard work. I will be delighted if things grow!

Grow you plants! GROW!

So today I planted things and spray painted more pots. Click on the above picture to see it larger. I have planted bouquet dill, enough basil to start an Italian restaurant, lavender, ELF sunflowers in pots, marigolds, marigolds in pots, poppies, day lilies, red morning glories (along trellises - not in this pic - they are barely sprouting), pant... pant... Also, there's pineapple sage, chives, and salvia. There is a succulent in a hanging basket. Tomorrow I finish, a few more sunflowers, some ground covering flowers, one more hanging basket, and that big brown pot behind the bluish one? It will have a chicken wire form and plant scarlet runner beans. Around front there are three hanging baskets with "weeds" - Bolivian Jew, Wandering Jew, and some other cute fast growing basket filler. There is an iron stand with more Bolivian Jew. I love that stuff. I think that is all I can handle. I don't think I can haul another 60 lb. bag of dirt from my vehicle. Well, maybe one more bag... I actually need it. BUT - that's it. This stuff just needs to start growing! I saw the first hummingbird of the season and will put out the hummingbird feeder tomorrow but then - I'm serious - that's IT.

Wildlife

I live in town - I cross the street and I'm downtown. There should be an occasional stray cat, some mosquitoes, and perhaps a squirrel. I was looking out the back window at my solar globes before going to bed and a big nasty looking raccoon walked past. Last year there was a woodchuck or gopher and my neighbor reports it is back. Animal control won't capture (thereby actually controlling) animals but they will pick up the ones you capture. They will even loan you a trap with the warning, "if anyone takes it from your yard, it'll be about $36 to replace it." She really didn't seem excited to deal with it. Alrighty then! Perhaps I'll get my havahart trap out and set it. I would feel heroic in capturing these destructive invaders. My coworkers who live in the country find it hilarious -my alarm at these trash-eating essentially giant rats. I reiterate, "I live in town. There should be an occasional stray cat, some mosquitoes, and perhaps a squirrel - a well-behaved one at that - clean, cute and with a fluffy tail."

Work in Progress

Work is the word! I am so lucky to have had some help Saturday to get some of the yard cleaned up. Today I got a few plants. I've been painting old pots with that spray paint that adheres well to plastic. I noticed as I got worn out, my painting went downhill.

I'm not done - not at all - but I got a good start! FINALLY.

I planted marigolds and pineapple sage and bush basil seeds. I planted coleus where there was shade and some red flowers - salvia? I'll have to look. I have so much more to do with the yard but a paper to work on and a call to mom are also in order so that is it for now!