Sunday, May 23, 2010

The May Garden



The garden has officially overtaken our front yard.  This is not a bad thing, just that we are currently coming to grips with this as the mowing and weed whacking chores are done.  Less mowing, more whacking.


Husband is now insisting we buy a "real weed-whacker" since the job has taken on a life of it's own.  I agree, we need to kick it up a notch.  The stakes went into tomato alley this week, just in time too (well, really quite a bit too late since I was chopping roots to get them in)- many of the varieties are flowering.  Sungold, Polbig, Juliet, and Cherokee Chocolate were the first to flower.   All but a remaining few have joined in.

The peas are also finally profusely blooming, though we were eating peas by this time last year.  Then again, I also had tomatoes fruiting so things are just behind in general comparatively speaking.  The two pea varieties are very different colored greens.  I don't know if it is a variety trait or a difference in soil make-up between the two beds.  Hmm,


The spinach has bolted, so half of it has been removed, and Diva cuke seedlings put in it's place.  I got creative for the cucumber trellis, some wire trellises from last year with bamboo and a stick laid across should make a sturdy structure for the vines to climb.  Shade cloth went over the remaining greens in the bed.


We let some of the Painted Lady butterflies we have been raising go today, here is one showing my little boy how a butterfly uses it's probiscus to harvest nectar.....



Time to get back to work, we are fencing and bird-netting, and trellising today.  Happy Gardening!!

5 comments:

Ribbit said...

The picture with the boy and the butterfly is just priceless!

Erin said...

We were battling the yard infiltrating on the garden all morning! Just got chased in by thunder and dark skies, at least I won't have to water for a few days! Got a lot done this morning though, and great shot of your son & butterfly!

Thomas said...

Your tomatoes are looking excellent! I think next year I'll follow your lead and set them under row cover. It seems as though they've enjoyed the extra heat. Have you been cutting down trees to add more sunlight to the garden?

Kelly said...

No, we are truly running out of lawn Thomas. I took care of what was left with the fruit trees & berries this Spring, and we still need to sow our wildflower garden.

Thanks on the tomatoes, I just hope they are healthy all Summer long, fighting diseases last year with the wet, cool weather was such a bummer.

Ruth Trowbridge said...

Awesome butterfly shots, should be able to win some money with them too. And hubby working in the garden, splendid. Peace