Tag Archives: garden planning

When inspiration hits dirt

22 Apr

Back ground: Winter 2021. When will pandemic end? Seed catalogs: Shumway and Jung. Delightful dreams of spring planting. Adventure! For the first time I ordered strawberry, raspberry and asparagus roots.

The good news (maybe) is that I reconsidered where to plant strawberries and asparagus to prevent them from becoming snacks for wildlife. These are my trials/experiments…what’s my vision?

Veg in One Bed by Huw Richards, Wales

The Family Garden Plan by Melissa Norris, Oregon

Both are excellent! Great photos.

Several years ago, I followed the Instagram account (grandoakfarmtn) of Grand Oak Farm’s launch of a three season three acre project to supply farmer’s market with fruit, vegetables and flowers. I could see what they were doing, but I did not comprehend how it was orchestrated. Some areas of the field were planted with three different crops. What? How did they go together? Veg in One Bed (with photos) discusses three season gardening plan. However, as helpful as the plan is, it did not include examples with my favorite produce.

I turned to The Family Garden Plan which focuses on “likes” and growing quantities to supply the home kitchen year round. Very well done. Bible verses introduce each chapter. Illustrations and planning charts are outstanding.

My long term memory (40 years ago) of the kitchen gardens of Colonial Williamsburg Virginia kicked in. Ah! Ha! Charming. Fruits. Vegetables. Herbs. Flowers. Right out the back door. Narrow paths. Three season. Less than 1/2 acre.

Hmmmmm. There’s a future post on this subject. 😉

2019 Garden Expansion: May Update

8 May

 

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https://www.rhshumway.com

  1. Gourds (future crafty bird houses and dippers) started in egg cartons on the kitchen counter…they started sprouting I moved them to larger biodegradable containers.
  2. Hummingbird plant and zinnia seeds have been in an outdoor container for a couple of weeks
  3. Trial for fruit trees started with 1 persimmon, then 2 apples and 2 pears, 1 peach and 1 fig.
  4.  More Annual flowers:  Snapdragon, Bells of Ireland, Cockscomb to be planted

Expect future posts on my garden expansion project.

 

Joy=February Garden Planning

8 Feb

149th Year:  R. H. Shumway Seedsman

https://www.rhshumway.com

What may be better than Valentines Day?  Receiving the BIG, beautiful RHShumway seed catalog in February when the outside temperature is 20 degrees F.

I normally buy local herb/tomato/vegetable nursery plants in May.  This year, as well as plants I am ordering seed.  Three categories of plants have my attention.

  1. Gourds and Luffa Sponge:  future crafty bird houses, dippers and sponges
  2. Persimmon root-stock:  Regional fruit
  3. Annual flowers:  Zinnias, Snapdragon, Bells of Ireland, Cockscomb

Expect future posts on my garden expansion project.

 

From Houzz, Evolving garden

15 Sep

 

My Evolving garden…

I observed this year the abundance of large, long blooming flowers which had above average rainfall.  Two dozen varieties of daylilies and hostas never looked so good!

It will be tempting to water more in dry spells.

Originally, (15 years ago) my garden was primarily full sun…then transitioned more to shade as the surrounding trees grew.  This year we are transitioning back to full sun due to the lost of ash trees infected by a boring insect.

Some plants will be moved.

My third observation on evolving garden is the nature of perennial plant root systems which over time choke themselves.  Division required!

More plants will be moved.

 

 

Glad tidings

5 Feb

The Breck’s sale catalog for bulbs direct from Holland and perennials has arrived!  It is well received after Polar Vortex Part 1 & 2.  Fun fact:  we have 23 days to receive 6.9 more inches of snow to tie the seasonal record set in the winter of 1981-2.  That is likely!

In the meantime, let’s order bulbs and plants.  The lower seasonal temperatures may have killed off plant material.

My shopping list:

Frosty Morn Sedum and Goatsbeard for the Moon Garden

Red border lilies and Crocosmia for the center island bed

Rainbow Yarrow for the southeast corner bed

Deluxe gladioli Mixture Super Sak

White Swan coneflower (note my signature icon)

It is deep

It is deep

It is deep. 2