Sunday, April 29, 2012

Garden Update: Before and After


One of the great things about gardens is that the plants keep on doing their thing, regardless of whether you’re there to coach them along.  (Of course, this goes for weeds, too, but let’s not think about them for the moment.)

Remember this?



Let’s see how close we are to that in reality.



Holy cow, I had no idea how much the garlic had grown, there in the back!  So the peas are being less than enthusiastic, and the carrots and beets are a bit spotty…but things are coming along.  There are also some tomato and pepper plants in there.  The cucumber on this side never germinated (old seeds), but there’s a small one on the other side which is even less enthusiastic than the peas.

 I learned an important lesson this spring about jumping the gun.  I had to re-seed everything because obviously the ground was too cold when I first put the garden in.  We also got hit by a no-fair frost a couple weeks ago.  Miss Chef and I had covered everything carefully, but we had to replace several tomatoes, and I’m not sure if the peppers will recover sufficiently to produce.  Still, I will leave them to their own devices, ‘cause I’m sure they know what to do.

 Now, let’s check out those snapdragons putting on a show way in the back!




They make great cut flowers, too, lasting for weeks.

 Remember this story?



How’s this for transformations?



It’s like a whole field of wildflowers stuffed into a bed.  Sure, they sort of dangle over half the sidewalk, making it a little difficult to walk down it.  I supposed I could cut them all back and stash them in a vase.  But I kind of enjoy walking through a wildflower patch on my way home from work.








Now you get to picture me lying on my back on that sidewalk, in full view of the street.  Anything for my art.




But of course, my favorite picture of all is the one I took without even looking:



See?  They know how to take care of themselves, even with a camera.

13 comments:

  1. Wow, look at those snapdragons! Gorgeous!
    Your garden looks great. We are still having freezing nights, so we're a wee bit behind, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry, I'll be sure to complain about the beastly humidity and bloodthirsty mosquitoes in another month or so.

      Delete
  2. I was just thinking I should have taken some 'before' shots of my gardens. I love yours and seeing the progress. That's fun!
    Snapdragons are one of my favorites - and anything red floats my boat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you like the before-and-afters. I often go back to previous years' posts too, to see when things were happening in the garden. It's surprising how inaccurate my memory is!

      You can thank Miss Chef for the snapdragons. :)

      Delete
  3. The Professor's tomoter plants are about 50/50. We, I mean HE, container gardens because we have too much lead in our soil, so he has plants in the back yard and on the side of the house. The back yard plants are doing better than those on the side yard and he can't figure out why.

    I'm afraid to look too closely at them in case they whither and die from my gaze.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I think it's best you stay indoors, lest birds fall from the sky and trees topple at your approach.

      I bet the Professor's tomato plants in one area are a bit more protected--whether from sun, rain or wind I wouldn't know.

      Delete
  4. "Still, I will leave them to their own devices, ‘cause I’m sure they know what to do."

    My favorite line in this post. I've taken some great photos blindly just cause I'm too old, out of shape and pudgy to be laying down for a photo. Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm not sure Garret, but I suspect you are a tad younger than I. As for the rest, I notice the words "weight" and "watchers" haven't shown up together in your posts lately... (I only say this b/c I've actually been working out this week, so I'm feeling all righteous. I'm pudgy, too, but I try not to let that stop me.)

    Btw, my computer at work won't let me comment on your blog, but I was happy to see you loosened your wallet for Mom. :) Do you think she'd enjoy some delicious crunchy deer bait, too?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm 41. Weight Watchers? What's that? I have the same commenting problem at work too. I hate that. Mmmmmmm, deer bait, all for me. No.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like we're the same age. Damn, you are old!

      Delete
    2. The good news is that you thought I was younger so perhaps I look better. =)

      Delete
  7. Beautiful pictures of what we won't have in our area for another month or so ... I love that last one; that must be what an ant sees when it is marching around and happens to look up :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for dropping by--please share your thoughts!

"Every time we get comment mail, Rosie wags her tail!" (Seriously, you should see that puffy thing go.)