How Does Your Garden Grow? {April 17, 2012}

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This was one of those weeks where I thought we wouldn't complete anything in the garden and we ended up getting quite a bit done. 

For starters, a friend offered us her artichoke plant so the Good Apple created a new spot for it in the yard. We (that is the Royal "we") just removed a California Lilac from this part of the yard and the new addition fit perfectly. Now keep your fingers crossed that it lives. It is off to a rocky start, but we are hoping for the best so we can gift her some artichokes. There is so much pressure with gifted plants!

Mystery Squash

On that same note, another gardening buddy brought over some beautiful squash starts that are HUGE! I had not planned space for them, but I also haven't really planted much yet. Well, I ended up finding a nice spot and planted all 6. They weren't labelled, so it will be squash surprises!

Asparagus - we actually get to harvest
it this year!

We also transplanted the Lil Man's starts that he planted in preschool. I was having one of those moments where I wanted to make sure everything was done just so, yet he was so excited and going 100 million miles an hour. He kept grabbing the tiny little things by their tops and I am afraid they will all die. Perhaps I will go plant some seeds next to his plantings so something does come up. He and I were also having watering issues and we were working really hard to not drown the little seedlings, but, well, there was a 4 year old in charge of the hose. What can I say? These little seedlings were not in the original plan either, but I do want the Lil Man to love the garden and giving him front row, center stage helps.
The feeling of Spring is really starting to grab hold in our little garden (beyond the infinite growth of weeds). The spirea is showing off it's beautiful shower of white flowers. The asparagus is sending it's lovely stalks upward at an incredible rate. The peas are starting to show signs of those delicate, little tendrils that grab everything in sight. The strawberries...oh, the strawberries. They were looking so good and when I checked on them on Sunday, they were eaten eaten eaten. Nip nip nip.

Design #1

Design #2 (Ignore those dandelions!)

These are the times that I really feel for the Good Apple. I get irate and something (very specific) must be done (by him usually) immediately. In this case, we had to design something to protect the strawberries. We came up with two designs based on materials we had on hand. The first was to wrap chicken wire around the barrels with bamboo sticks in place for rigidity. Over the top, we covered it with bird netting.
The second design was to use some garden edging around the edges of the barrel and netting over the top that was stretched down and hooked under the edging. We will see. After looking at our handy work, we came to the conclusion that we will have to uncover them during the day if we ever want them to be pollinated.

Spinach

I also had a chance to put some of my Kentucky Pole Beans in and some of my Hidatsa Red Beans. The KPB's are in one of the wine barrels and the HRB's are in a front planter where we can create some string trellises. It is all an experiment, isn't it? In addition to the beans, I added some more spinach to another bed for some friends who are in search of fresh spinach. No problem.
As I am writing this, I am starting to feel a glimpse of pride because I also started 8 mason jars full of herb seeds for my kitchen window. The GA pointed out that they will probably mold on the bottom. Awesome. Again. Experimenting. In hind site, I realize that, at a bare minimum, I should have made the bottom 1/3 sand. Oh well. They are already starting to germinate and I just planted them on Friday, so not bad. Basil, Camomile, Cilantro, Chives, Oregano, Dill, Rosemary and Parsley. We will see what happens. I am just going to spray the soil with water at this point to attempt to avoid the mold issue. Meh.
AND in honor of Earth Day, Sunday April 22 (which Lil Man says, "Mom, every day is Earth Day!" Yes indeed.) Kristina from Icing and Crumbs (on of my FAVORITE blogs) and I planted terrariums. As a result there will be an extra post this week, on Wednesday, sharing our experiences and oh so lovely creations. I know you are waiting with baited breath. Cool.

Our main garden beds

Well, I am off. Time to go wrestle the weeds. I know I promised to do a "Name this Weed" this week, but there was just too much gardening to be done and the weeds were too overwhelming. I did take a few weedy photos, but I am in an optimistic-celebrate-the-growth kind of mood and that is where I hope to leave you.
How is YOUR garden growing?