A Girl and Her Garden

A Volunteer

Keith — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:17:46 +0000

It’s been over a month since my last post. I’d like to say I’ve been busy working in the yard and gardens, but I haven’t. It’s been hot and humid, and we have had very little rain all month.

However, I did get out yesterday morning and mark the flower beds with spray paint. I will call 811 on Monday and have them mark the utilities so I can dig things up. I did purchase an electric tiller, so I’m excited to try it out!

While I was out watering this morning, I found this little guy growing in the yard, aka crabgrass:

Since he’s the only pretty thing out there, I’ll let him live. For now.

Rain Barrel

Keith — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:26:03 +0000

Here it is! Our first rain barrel. It’s so exciting. Keith picked this up for me last week AND installed it. Yay! I really like the place to plant on the top. Gives me a place to have some annuals, which I picked up at Sullivan’s at 71st and Keystone. Kinda pricey, but they have a really nice selection. I got an ornamental purple pepper this year. Woot!

It’s rained twice since it was installed, and this thing is full! 55 gallons! Time to do some watering. I think we will connect a soaker hose for the vegetable garden next year. As for this year, not sure what we will do with all the water……bathe the dog?

What I’m working with

Keith — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:58:11 +0000

Here are some pics of the yard, as is:

This is the front yard. I would like to remove the plants put in by the ‘landscapers’ and make the bed bigger, probably to contain the lamp post.

This is the back of the house. We will put a concrete patio off the sliding doors at the far end, along with some simple landscaping and a few trees. The raised vegetable garden will most likely be near the double window.

This is the east side of the house. Great morning sun! This will be the English cottage garden. I can hardly wait!

This is the west side of the house. Gets lots of nice afternoon sun. This will be the place for warm toned native plants, and maybe a few shrubs/bushes near the A/C unit to help cool the air before it enters the unit. Maybe compost area, too? Who knows!

And this is the back yard and easement area. The easement is the only place we have anything green growing right now. I plan on reseeding the lawn this fall. Anyhoo, just need to grow some grass in the back, and I’d like to put tall native grasses in the easement. You’ll notice the little canyon there on the left. Our house only has three downspouts, and one is on this corner. When it rains, we have a river. Not to worry-we have a solution.

As you can see, lots of work to be done. I’m really looking forward to the hard work and getting dirty! My goals for the end of the year are to have the landscaping beds marked, dug, improved, and mulched. I’d like to get bulbs in the ground this fall, too. And of course, the back yard needs to be seeded properly. I’d really like to get the patio poured, but not sure if that’s in the budget. It may have to wait until the spring. Hopefully I’ll have some progress reports soon!