At this point in spring, my body is racing back and forth in a frantic fury trying to get all the garden chores done before it gets too hot.  And there is so much I want to show you!

Right now my flower beds can be described in one word.

Pitiful.  I really didn’t want to show you this but, you have to take the good with the bad, and this will motivate me to get this bed cleaned out.

I have never seen so many weeds in my flower beds this year.  We’ve  had a cool, wet spring and that must be what they love.  This is the site of my butterfly garden.  I have 4 different varieties of milkweed in this bed for the monarchs.   I am slowly eradicating this weedy bed  by hand (well, mostly by shovel).  This does create a bit more work for me but, by not using herbicides, I am creating a  pollinator friendly home for the bees and butterflies that feast in my garden.

My vegetable garden is looking pretty good right now.  I am off work this week, so I should have time to get it planted.  That is if it ever warms up!  Our low tonight is going to be 30. Grrr…..

Instead of a no-till garden I do more of a minimum-till garden.  I use the big tiller to break up the winter wheat I plant for a cover crop and then use a smaller tiller at planting time.

This year my smaller tiller would not start.  Allen diagnosed it as a clogged carburetor, so now it is sitting in the barn waiting to be fixed.  In the meantime, I must have something to loosen the soil so I can plant.  I remembered a tool my grandmother used years ago to help with this chore.  The great thing about this plow (now they are called high wheel cultivators) is that if I’m able to push it, it works!  I forgot what a work-out these things are.

no clogged carburetor here

works every time

After I plant, I like to mulch well because I don’t till my garden again until the fall.  My office shreds paper daily and they are nice enough to bag it for me.  I spread the shredded paper next to where I plant

and then cover up the paper with straw.

Next, I went to the greenhouse to plant some pots.  Daisy was waiting for me.   Actually, I’m sure she was hoping I wouldn’t see her.

I found this rusty teapot at our recycling center for $3.  I planted it with a sedum and some hen and chicks.

This is one of my favorite pots.

It is a Down Under Pot and this is how it works.

First, place something to cover the hole in the top.  I used a worn out piece of coco liner.

Next, turn the pot over and start filling with potting soil

Plant with flowers like begonias or impatiens or foliage plants such as coleus.  I have always planted mine with white impatiens.

Keep in this position for 2 weeks to allow the roots to develop.  Then flip it over and hang.  The flowers will gradually climb up the pot creating a very unique display.

The chickens are growing quickly and are slowly adapting to their new house.  They are not so sure about the outside world yet.

Have a good day!

Brenda

p.s.  My aunt and I are headed south to a crazy, mish mash nursery today to see how many plants will fit in my SUV.  Good times!