Phaedra's Adventure

[Phaedra]

Two days ago, the border was in fact much cleaner after some hours of efforts.

After another couples of hours spent yesterday and today, this area is ready for the new growing season. I mixed the old soil from the raised beds we knocked down and compost to make a thick layer of cover. Last night, it looked like this.

I transplanted many plants this afternoon, and it might take another 5-6 weeks to see them fill the place.

As hostas can tolerate more shade, I put them under the bird bath.

Somehow funny, the bricks were dug out from the same area. Maybe a long time ago, the garden had a much different layout.

I also transplanted some potatoes in the containers - those were sprouted in the pantry and then stayed in the greenhouse for a while.

Three Japanese plum trees, four blueberry bushes, rose and black elderberry propagated from cuttings, Lilac from a rooted basal shoot, lavender from seed, strawberry plants from runners, sedum and aster divided from crown/clump - those are the first residents since last year. Based on this, I added more perennials and annuals this year.

New residents: overwintered Lisianthus, celeries regrowing from the store-bought ones, young Echinacea, cornflowers, sea lavenders, hosta, mallow, MUM, lupine - I will add more after mid May.

One more area is ready, yay!

 

[Phaedra]

Harvest day - I'm very satisfied with the current level of self-sufficiency.

Tulip 'Peptalk' - my favorite!

I picked a lot of salad greens and transplanted scallions and leek. Salad leaves were rinsed and dried before storing into the fridge.

The seedlings are doing very well, and it seems the warm weather is arriving soon. All warmth-loving plants are showing a robust and healthy growth.

Dahlias from seeds - time to pinch their tips and encourage the side shoots

Lovely ones - they always make me smile.

The flower bed near the border is ready, and I added a temporary fence to stop our dogs to step inside, especially all transplanted ones are still fragile.

A nice photo for today, kind of express the life I like.

 

[Phaedra]

Time to deadhead early tulips and bring them to a corner to die back.

Tulip 'Silver Stream' - a Darwin Tulip that is irregularly striped with various combinations from soft yellow to intense red and white to pink and white. The leaves have and yellow edge.

Just move potted bulbs to a still bright corner to gradually die down - no eye sore, and they can keep growing till dormant. This corner is pretty close to the rainwater collection spots (from both chicken run roofs), easy to water/feed them.

I also removed the tulips in a raised bed completely - like onions, I keep them in a darker spot for curing - let all rest energy go back to the bulbs, then, I will start a rough cleaning and store the bulbs for autumn.

Meanwhile, I potted some young plants on, like snapdragons. I grew two new varieties this year.

And I put each variety together in 7cm pots.

Today's harvest, I love leafy greens.

night-mode for the flower bed on the border

 

[Phaedra]

I saw a healthy potted Delphinium (dark purple) in Aldi yesterday, and it costs just 6 Euros. Of course, I brought one back and immediately gave it some water and a few drops of seaweed extract. It's pretty tall, but the pot is relatively small.

To examine it closely, I removed all lower and spent leaves.

Rootbound, not surprised at all

At the end, I cut it into two parts - each with sufficient roots. I also removed about 1" soil on the surface and loosed the roots a bit.

According to the propagating experience from last year, now is the time Delphinium would send out many new shoots. This can be also seen on the bases of both divided parts.

I quickly made my potting mix, replanted them into much bigger pots, added simple supports, and gave them a good soak again. I am sure that they will soon recover from the shock, keep growing, and give us a lot of pretty flowers, and chances to multiply more in the coming years.

 

[Phaedra]

Once we have closed a small spot for quails, unfortunately, some weasels came and killed half of them. The spot became a sickbay for hens later, until we built the runs with roof and better predator protections. This year, we will build a sickbay between two runs.

The old sickbay was knocked down, and I keep thinking how to use it with minimum efforts. It's between tall trees, so there are countless roots underneath. However, it can receive good sunlight in the morning and late afternoon. The decision was made today - it will be turned into a container garden.

After another one hour working with DH, this area is ready to accommodate more plants.

The young plants in the greenhouse are growing nicely as the temperature is very ideal.

Sunflowers - ProCut White Lite, Red, and Plum - still difficult to imagine how tiny they are at this stage.

I used some leftover wire to make a mobile cage so quails can help some mowing, too.

Very easy to move, and it seems they also enjoy. This mobile cage is only for good weather and daytime. They will go back to their house in the evening. In fact, I am not sure if I will have quails in the future, they are simply too fragile.

Well, gardening is about change and balance - too much to learn, I admit.

 

[Phaedra]

Today's dinner with DH - our harvest contributes to the omelet (eggs, chives, parsley) and stir-fried greens

Home food is the best.