Systems and hubris.

The photos below are of two systems I use to support my garden efforts- rain barrels and composting.  This blog, however,is for me and myself, so I'm going to say a few words to myself about hubris.  One of the things I enjoy most about gardening is the process of it (planning and work are both pleasureable) but I also enjoy the lessons I learn.  If, someday in the future, I'm looking at this blog, I need to remember how quickly humbling a garden can be.  The beds I'm so proud of can sprout a million weed seedlings from my compost that didn't get hot enough (this is happening now, cucumbers and tomatoes are weeds when you don't plan for them and they come up by the dozens.)  The plants that look great one weekend can be destroyed by a pest the next.  Remember these lessons, learn from them, and understand they are part of the growing. 

Anyway...Here's the rain barrels.  Daisy chain of 1/2 of my carport, into a three way junction that goes into all of vegetable gardens via soaker hoses. 

And the compost system...The black plastic commercial composter  is where all kitchen waste goes for about one year, added to the spring compost pile in March.  The large wooden bin is where garden waste, leaves, and most everything else goes.  The wire fence cylinder next to the black plastic composter is where overflow goes- sometimes, I might have something that's compostable but not right for the wooden bin at that time, so it goes in the cylinder.  I turn the wooden bin stuff about once a month most of the year, from March-May 1-2x week to ensure it finishes.  I'm trying to add a second cycle for the fall, using leaves from last year and cover crops (buckwheat) and early garden waste.  We'll see how that works.

First spring bouqet!

Sage, flame azalea, peony.

First strawberries!

I'll have about 100-plus more of these if things work out right.

2013 Deck

I have a very sunny deck.  It's enjoyable and useful.  I use it for bright colors and kitchen herbs.



From left to right...1) zinnias, snapdragons, 2) Thyme, tarragon, chives, 3) zinnias and snapdragons, 4)(front) a garlic chive that was not doing well in main garden, 5) oregano and parsley, and 6) Basil. 



Pansies in some boxes that did not work on front windows, work great here!

A great idea of Kassi;s, these are a lime and a lemon tree.  They will be brought inside during winter. 

Front perennial bed update

Most of my garden time is focussed on vegetables right now, but the perennial garden requires attention this time of year too.  I'd say I spend about 80% of my time in the vegetable garden, which includes managing compost- this takes about one hour a week from March to now to ensure plenty of finished product.  Anyway, this is what the perennial bed is doing right now....

Flame Azalea, this and all my azaleas are going to get a serious pruning soon. 

Pretty hostas arrangement at the base of the azalea- obviously, it's pretty shady right there.

This is front garden looking out from the house.   It's designed to look good from the window/ when I go out to my car.

I need to research what kind of flower this is, I have forgotten.  It flowers very well this time of year.

This will be daisies, butterfly bush, and random blue flowers I don't know the name, should be very full when grown in.

I will trim the heck out of the lamb's ear, it's out of control.  Dwarf hydrangea front right, don't really like it but it's there.  Phlox are the two green tall things behind it; elephant ears are below the pot and a little bit behind not covered.  I covered all the elephant ears last night just in case, they're the most delicate thing I have growing and it was about 41 degrees when I woke up this morning.

Peony bush.

Covered with buds, very pleased with this- I moved it from a too shady spot.

Irises are looking good.

Lots of echincea.

Firewitch or dianthus.

This lavendar really filled in this spring..

Daylilies rocking out.

Nice little laundry tub with zinnias, snapdragons, and whatever those other things are.

ALERT FIRE PLAGUE FAMINE- NO IT'S PESTILENCE!

Around or about Mother's Day, I have to look for these pests on broccoli and other brassicas, evidently. 



This is an imported cabbage worm.

  I smashed between 20-30 of these today.  On Saturday (just two days ago!!) the damage was not as progressed ( I didn't notice when walking past the bed).  It was non-existent a week ago.

 That is a very damaged plant.

On a good note, there's about...more than I can count of these beautiful green strawberries.
Perennial garden is looking good, I hope to post photos today or tommorrow.

Last week's garden shots.

These photos show how quick a spring garden can grow in two weeks.  We had a great mix of rain, warmth and coolness, and sunshine.  I'll get current garden photos up some time this week. Also, I'm trying the add caption feature on blogger...it puts captions below the photos.  I'll have to figure out if there's a way to re-set that, I prefer the words above the pictures usually. 



Pea trellis, lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard...look at that growth!



The lettuce in the cold frame is full size. I have more lettuce than we can eat!

The baby's are growing....kale, lettuce, arugula, onions.

Bigger onions.

I'm verry happy with this bed of napa and broccoli.

Garlic is getting substanial.

Strawberris, growing.

 

Strong flowers with baby fruit.

This box is full of carrot seedlings.

This is great picture of them, it's going to be my header image for a little while.

Two weeks ago...

we went to the beach.  It was awesome, I rented a Naish paddleboard similar to one I may buy, it was fun but challenging...very windy.  The dogs had a great time!  We are so lucky to have a beach we go to that they have this much freedom.

Max getting ready to...

get the ball!!

He's a great swimmer.

Do you think he likes it?

Macy had a good time too.

Her goofy self is harder to photgraph in action.

We love Harbor Island!

Massive rainy day poststravaganzoplois

or whatever...

It's a rainy post-PMBAR Sunday.  I had a great time riding PMBAR with Kris Kjellquist yesterday.  Second best route choice- but the route worked for my (relatively) low fitness- by relative, I mean, I rode my bike or hiked for 12 hours under very challenging conditions on 50 or so miles of tough trail/ gravel road (mostly trail).  Only very fit people can do that.   Finishing was my goal and it was achieved with a pretty low amount of discomfort.  We beat the deluge by 10 minutes!

Anyway, this is going to be a 3 week update of posts.  First post below is the garden, three weeks ago.

Pea trellis, baby lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard.

More substanial lettuce, I think the cold frame has been a huge success.

There's lettuce, chard, and onions planted in this bed.

Onions in their bed on the fenced in garden inside the big fence.

Napa, broccoli, the slug grass is working OK.

Garlic.

Strawberries...

Flowering nicely!