Monday, May 31, 2010

Gardening weekend


Along with spending some quality time with both sides of my family this Memorial Day weekend, I was able to finally spend some quality time in my new garden.  I've had flats of plants sitting on my kitchen table for the last few weeks that had outstayed their welcome.  I delayed hardening them off outside because of a recent tent worm infestation in our yard.  The pests are finally gone (I'm going to be prepared for them next year and stop it before things get out of hand) and the weather cooperated, so I made some progress outside.
Charlie and I constructed two 4'X8' raised beds out of some 2X10's.  Instead of pulling out the grass underneath, I placed some half-composted leaves in the bottom of the beds to cover the grass.  I then placed some bags of topsoil on top of the leaves.  The topsoil stays in the bags -- I just cut a hole out of the bag to plant in and poked holes through the bottom for drainage.  This fall when the season is over, I'm going to remove the plastic and place another layer of leaves/compost on top.  Next year I'll blend it all together and hopefully have a nice rich soil.  I'll keep adding to it until the 10 inch tall beds are full.  This is my first time I've worked with raised beds, so it will be an adventure.  I like the idea of planting things closer together and not having to weed between rows.  I'll add pictures later this week as it is raining now.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Perennials


I have some gorgeous iris that came up this Spring.  It is interesting to see what is already planted around our new house.  I'm steadily trying to plant my own perennials as well.  I've got a lot to blog about but have been short on time lately.  Hopefully I can catch up this weekend.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

What's new?

I am feeling the need to leave a blog post just because I haven't done one for a while.  It's not that I don't have anything to blog about, I just don't feel like I have much time.  We have a bunch of projects going on that are half completed that I wanted to blog about when they are done.
Spring is progressing nicely here although the weather has been a little peculiar this year.  The weather has been all wrong for morel mushrooms.  Apparently it has been right for tent caterpillars though.  We have a multitude of them and they are driving me over the edge.  I am plotting ways to kill them (usually I leave other creatures alone).  I wish I just had a bunch of free ranging chickens or even a pair of guinea fowl to munch on them.
Charlie and I are working on building some raised bed gardens this year.  We have the lumber and have it cut -- we just have to get it all assembled.  We also are making a "salad garden" for the back patio that is also in the works.  We bought a Cub Cadet tractor last weekend and finally mowed the lawn (looking for a small mower or a weed whacker to take care of the small areas the riding mower can't reach).
I saw a new bird at our feeder this morning.  It is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Recently we have also been getting Blue Jays, Nuthatches, and Gold Finches.
This weekend my good friends, Rich and Jen came over from Grand Rapids.  We went out to eat at the Frankenmuth Brewery and went to a few stores as well.  Mostly, we have just been sitting around enjoying each other's company.
Once I get a project complete, I will blog more.  Until then, I hope you are enjoying your Spring.