Garden Drivel - Part Two

Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my Friday post.

It meant so much to me.

It was a bittersweet day.

I work hard at carrying my mother's spirit with me daily.

She taught me more by example than anything.

Those are the lessons that aren't easily forgotten.

Obligatory chicken photo.

Disclaimer:

More garden drivel ahead.

This is the stinkin' window box that I've planted twice.

Third time's a charm I hope.

Tomorrow it's back to the garden center to get a few more annuals.

Glen's fashioned a little screen to protect it until the Walk.

12 more days.

I take pictures of this angle alot. I like it.

I'm planning on making a garden that will ensconce the camper with shrubs and flowers, so that it doesn't look so alone over there, but more nestled in. The challenge will be to make it accessible to pull it out without running over all the plants!

Here's a photo looking north from the chicken coop.

That's a big patch of mint.

I'm always making iced tea with mint in it, and it's nice to have the mint to garnish desserts.

It gets out of hand quickly.

Every time I go to check on the birds, I'm surrounded by the smell of mint when I brush by it.

This area needs some tweaking in my mind - could be better.

This is where you'll find me in the evenings.

Watching the bees.

I love it that there is nothing north of me for miles.

Breathing space indeed.

This is also the area that is giving me an ulcer.

It's a low lying area, and supposed to be my veggie garden.

The Garden Walk description reads:

An organic vegetable garden brimming with heirloom veggies.

Um.

Well.

It's been so wet that I can barely get out there to work.

I have pumpkins, squashes, tomatoes and some pitiful beans.

I've replanted twice.

I plugged in four flats of zinnias, and all have rotted for the most part.

I think I'm just going to put caution tape around it.

Here's a couple of pics of the Squirrel dining table staged.

Cute dishes, no? Thanks Donna!

A couple of comments were left asking more about The Squirrel.

If you look under my labels, and find 'Vintage Camping in The Squirrel' you'll see the before and after pics and read the story of how we acquired this dollhouse.

Everyone should have one.

It's the equivalent of a grown up fort, treehouse, dollhouse, playhouse.

I heart The Squirrel.

Here's a photo looking north - the mint patch is in front of the bike - to help you get a perspective of things.

I'm not in love with this area.

The hat that I just bought at a yard sale a month ago has almost disintegrated.

Must be all the rain we've had.

Time to go to the thrift store and get her a new outfit in time for the Walk.

I wish the walk were at 5am, or at 7pm, cause that is when the garden truly looks lovely.

Here's a nice little spot in the yard.

I made pillows for the chairs yesterday, and I spray painted half a chair green.

I'm having a hard time finding a color that I really like.

I wanted them a tomato soup color.

I have a lot of yellow flowers, and have to constantly remind myself not to buy anything yellow.

Ok - let's talk about this blue pool.

I'll spare you all the drivel of why we even have such an eyesore, but it has to do with Aaron being a little fella, and it getting to 100 blazing degrees one day.

An impulse purchase.

A 'we'll use it for this summer' kind of thing, and it's just stayed.

I have to tell you that I hate the way it looks, but I love the way it feels.

It's just so - blue.

I thought of painting it, and in fact planned on painting it this summer.

Then I thought - what if it looks worse?

The chore of painting it overwhelmed me a bit.

I thought of building a lattice 'box' around it - but how cheesy would that be?

I don't like butt splinters either.

So I've decided to embrace it, and it's blueness.

When it gives up the ghost (cause you know ya gotta 'use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without') I'd love to build a brick oven there, and have another garden, OR get a more natural looking pool.

I'm really beginning to enjoy the garden, and relax about the whole darned thing.

I'm only working out there about an hour or so a day now.

It's in the 'fine tuning' stages.

When the Garden Walk is over, it will take me about an hour a day to maintain it.

The reason it was so much work this year is because I'd let it go for the last few years.

I'd really hate all my complaining to discourage someone from planting a large garden.

Some areas are truly maintenance free.

Here's a shot looking south from the veggie garden.

All the stuff that Glenco hides behind the garage is going to have to go somewhere.

One of the things I wanted to do for the Walk, and for myself was to make an 'Outpost'.

We have an acre and a half in the back that we just let grow up wild.

It's full of blackberries, Queen Anne's Lace, Goldenrod and other native grasses and plants.

We really encourage the Milkweed to grow, and in fact spread the seeds around.

Butterflies love it. It's a main food source of the Monarch butterfly.

I want to mow a meandering path through this meadow, and mow out a small area where I would make a tent out of quilts, and have my old binoculars, a picnic basket, and some books staged. Think Mary Jane's Farm.

I hope I can pull it off.

There are 12 days left, and still a lot left to do.

Power wash the back of the garage.

Paint the patio set and get new cushions.

Paint the plastic chairs.

Scrub the outside of The Squirrel.

Weed.

Edge.

Deadhead.

RoundUp the driveway.

Replant the windowbox. )@#)$(@#$)(

Shampoo and blowdry the chickens.

Polish their beaks.

Ok - those last two are jokes - just seeing if you are still with me!

It's all a labor of love.

I seriously can't imagine a day without flowers.

I don't think I'd be able to breathe.