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.

 

[Phaedra]

Before the thunderstorm arrives, I made a bit more progress on the container garden. Different shape containers makes it easy to recognize what's growing inside. I also transplanted many young plants for my cut flowers.

After the first rain front, plants look happy.

Same for the border bed - we will have rain for coming few days, and this is helpful for the plants to adapt better than fully dry condition.

As many plants moved out, I will prick out some seedlings and sow different beans today.

Cut flowers for today

 

[Phaedra]

All rain barrels were fully replenished, and the rain stopped.

The residents of this container garden all checked in. I might make some minor changes tomorrow, but basically, the final version won't go too far from this.

I enjoy corners where plants are growing nicely.

A well established blueberry - I will arrange remove two old canes later this year for rejuvenation.

Tomorrow, I will transplant another batch of seedlings to the hoop tunnel and some mowing.

 

[Phaedra]

A heavily rainy day again - it will rain a bit tomorrow, and then we should have at least 10 dry days, huuuu. It rained so much that even the lawn becomes like a huge sponge.

I didn't do anything in the garden, just quickly removed a bit weeds in the morning when I opened the chicken coops.

I updated a bit the record of the perennials I divided last year - Shasta daisy, Sedum, and Daylily - these three are doing very well and become 3-5 times larger than last April.

For example, this little clump Shasta Daisy is now five times larger? Next February, part of them will move to another side of the garden.

The harvest from yesterday, some veggies, some tulips

Well, how about some mixed lettuce roll?

When you have a cut flower garden, and everything blossoms so brightly - to cut or not to cut becomes the new struggle easily.

Asparagus on the way - for the crowns that I transplanted to the new locations, I won't eat them but let them grow for one more year. So, my main crop will be those purple asparagus.

Homemade jam - fresh strawberries from the local farmers and some kiwis that are too sour....

The first flower bud of the splendid bearded Irises I bought last year - 70% of the rhizomes are growing vigrously, so, I am optimistic about seeing some lovely flowers this summer.

Got very good deal in Lidl today - one 4-kg package pork - I quickly process them into different cuts and with different seasonings. Most of the them are now in the freezer.

 

[Phaedra]

A pretty big Lilac basal shoot (with roots), after 13 months - it is an independent and healthy plant now.

The tine basal shoot is also much bigger now, I will share the photos tomorrow.

Rainy day, nothing too special in the garden - but I repotted some seedlings to bigger pots. Then, DH and I have a lovely dinner. DD will be back this Sunday, so we keep eating things she didn't like, for example, onions, haha.

A lot of onions!

I also made some fried dumplings - pork, cabbage, scallion, mushroom, and corns.

A great balance between salty caramel ice cream and fresh strawberries