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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 17, 2011 18:43:46 GMT
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 17, 2011 19:08:54 GMT
Moving the vegetable patch.... I've started planting up now.... the potatoes are in pots this year...along the side of the veg patch cucumber and tomato plants in the greenhouse border strawberries in a huge polystyrene box I got from work.... in the border I have a dwarf apple tree...it's smothered in fruit this year herbs....I have a small area planted up with oregano, rosemary, thymes, hyssop, lavender and chives...we also have mints in pots... I have a taken some cuttings from a sweet potato....plan to grow them on in a large pot in the conservatory a few flowers are starting to appear even tho it's quite early in the season... allium sweet rocket saguisorba delphinium zinnia red spider
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 17, 2011 19:17:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2011 19:18:22 GMT
That is not small at all, and I think it is spectacular. Were you comparing the size to the Kew Gardens?
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 17, 2011 19:26:13 GMT
Thanks Kerouac...the back garden's only about 7m x 7m, which is quite small compared to most gardens around here. I could do with about half an acre... ;D
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Post by mich64 on May 17, 2011 21:24:31 GMT
Really Cheery, your gardens are very lovely. So much variety and colour. I can only hope and pray mine will eventually be as beautiful. Tomorrow is the day! We will start planting. We have been out to the Nurseries purchasing annuals and perrenials and have them out in the day and put back into the garage for the night to keep them warm. I have three large rectangle boxes about 5 feet by 2 feet each where I will plant some of the annuals. For these I have chosen wave petunias in white, pink and purple. The boxes are brown sitting on the deck which is painted a deep sage so I thought this colour combination would be nice this time. I have 3 rock gardens to add perrenials too, I have 3 new types to add this year to the gardens, about 15 plants, so far. I am off to the Nursery again tomorrow to find some bushes. I will take some pictures in the upcoming weeks when they fill out somewhat. I love this time of year, except for the black flies I seem to attract, but I have to get through it. Happy Gardening Cheery! Cheers, Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on May 17, 2011 21:41:22 GMT
I hope that you don't object to this rather self indulgent thread....feel free to look away.... I couldn't tear my eyes away! Cheery, this isn't self-indulgent, this is exactly the reason this forum was created. Thank you for this. It's beautiful and inspiring. I went back & forth to see exactly what you all are doing. Boy, you didn't fool around when you expanded the vegetable area, did you?! What you're doing makes so much sense. I know you'll be happy with that extra space. I just love befores&afters, so am thrilled with this sequence. You take the most wonderful pictures -- that mixed group of herbs with the flowering chives, the just-opening allium, that red zinnia in its field of green, the fiddlehead -- ack, all of them! And I absolutely adore your combinations. You're really an artist with colors and textures. Can't wait to see more!
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Post by rikita on May 18, 2011 11:46:56 GMT
jealous... i want a garden too... one like yours...
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 18, 2011 13:22:48 GMT
You are all very kind, I know that it's not very nice to brag...nobody likes a bighead do they? I just like sharing the thrill (I know....thrill seems a strange word to use in this context! but if you love gardening then it really is just that) of growing plants. Bixa, the vegetable area is restricted to the raised beds, GH, pots and GH (greenhouse). The large area we've prepared this year is mostly for flowers, with a little dwarf apple tree and a tiny area for herbs. The back garden itself started out as mostly grass when we moved here in 1984...it was primarily a football pitch for years, with a climbing frame for the children. When we got a dog in 1994 OH paved the lot (eek)..but when the dog died and my youngest son left home I started wanting to garden, inspired largely by a dear friend (remember Myrt) who has always loved gardening. 2005 Until a few years ago the only veg I'd grown were tomatoes...but over the past couple of years I find that I'm growing more and more ;D Maybe this thread should be renamed 'Our Gardens' so more people could put on their pics? I wouldn't mind and would love to see other peoples' images... ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on May 18, 2011 19:00:48 GMT
Thanks for the clarification, Cheery. Looking back, I see what you mean. It will be lovely.
There is absolutely nothing like ones own vegetables, not to mention how much sense it makes to be able to have one or two of things like tomatoes or peppers directly from the plant, rather than letting several languish in the fridge until you're ready for them.
Cheery, my vote would be for each person to make his/her own garden thread. That would make it easier to go back in the thread to see "befores", and also to search things later. Agree?
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Post by mich64 on May 18, 2011 22:48:47 GMT
We spent a couple of hours at the Nursery today and came home with 9 annuals (3 different kinds in red and yellow) for the the other 3 planter boxes that hang off the front of our deck. We also bought some more perrenials, 6, 4 different types.
I cannot wait for the weekend when we put everything together. I even bought 2 cacti plants that I will call Micks! Now I just have to read up on them to see where I can put them.
Happy Gardening Everyone! Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2011 0:28:49 GMT
What a lovely garden, cheery. I wish I had one like that. Does it take a lot of work?
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Post by bjd on May 19, 2011 6:13:20 GMT
What a lovely garden, cheery. I wish I had one like that. Does it take a lot of work? Do you even have to ask, Deyana? My first thought on seeing CPB's garden was, "Wow, she must spend hours on it. Everything is so neat and perfect!" As much as I like eating tomatoes from the garden, I mostly prefer having flowers and bushes that look nice rather than spending my time on vegetables. It's already a problem with heat and lack of water in the summer, so having to worry about leaving for a few days or weeks is too much for me.
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Post by tod2 on May 19, 2011 11:29:51 GMT
Absolutely charming Cheery - My but you have packed a lot of lovely colours into a very rewarding space! It may be a small garden but I see tons of hard work there.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2011 13:14:43 GMT
What a lovely garden, cheery. I wish I had one like that. Does it take a lot of work? Do you even have to ask, Deyana? My first thought on seeing CPB's garden was, "Wow, she must spend hours on it. Everything is so neat and perfect!" Must admit that was my first thought too. And the second one was - now how can I get my gardener and maintenance people (my kids ) to make one like that for me!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 20, 2011 18:48:31 GMT
It isn't hard work...I love it. Anyway I get my OH and son to do all the back-breaking stuff ;D It isn't particularly tidy BJD...I am fairly selective about the bits I show you ;D but it HAS to be reasonably well organised so that I can fit as much as possible into a very small space...I just wish that my OH could part with a few more paving slabs.....
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2011 19:48:25 GMT
cheery, great minds think alike. Get others to do the digging! Good idea.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 21, 2011 14:47:26 GMT
I just wish that my OH could part with a few more paving slabs..... Hmmmmm. I think I can see the ones you want moved. I am using mind control from my end to convince him that he reeeeeally wants to take those up, so start planning what you'll put there!
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2011 18:09:59 GMT
As much as I like the garden, I can think of all of the changes that I would like to make as well.
I must admit that as much I abstractly like the idea of growing my own potatoes, the knowledge that I can buy a 10kg bag of perfect potatoes next door for only 2.50€ would stop me from "wasting" my time. Where on earth can they make a profit from growing potatoes for such a price?
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Post by mich64 on May 21, 2011 20:18:06 GMT
This weekend every year when I was a child, we planted a large vegetable garden. But that was because we were a family of seven. I would not find it reasonable to plant one at this point in life as there is only the two of us. However, it would be beneficial to still do it and donate the produce to the local Food Bank or our Soup Kitchen. That is a thought. Cheers, Mich
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 22, 2011 14:41:57 GMT
As much as I like the garden, I can think of all of the changes that I would like to make as well. I must admit that as much I abstractly like the idea of growing my own potatoes, the knowledge that I can buy a 10kg bag of perfect potatoes next door for only 2.50€ would stop me from "wasting" my time. Where on earth can they make a profit from growing potatoes for such a price? Completely understand...veg growing isn't for everybody I have 6 pots with potatoes in. When they're ready we'll just harvest one pot at a time as the rest will be fine left in their pots until we are ready to eat them. I don't expect a huge crop but it will vary (grown 4 different varieties)..I've harvested 5-6 kg of potatoes from one tub before now.... We don't grow them to save money Kerouac...we grow them because home grown vegetables picked and cooked straight away imo taste better than anything you can buy elsewhere. I grow them without chemicals or insecticides...there's also the pleasure I get from growing them myself of course....
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Post by bixaorellana on May 22, 2011 15:29:18 GMT
Mich, what a lovely person you are, to think of such a thing!
You say "this weekend every year when I was a child ...." -- what is the significance of this weekend? Is the earliest when you could feel safe from frosts?
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2011 16:33:58 GMT
I agree that it is absolutely wonderful to think of others rather than one's own personal benefit when planting a garden. Obviously, there are certain items that will grow easily in profusion, and it is completely normal to donate the extra items. At the same time, if I were growing something super difficult and rare -- saffron perhaps, which I love -- I might need to keep it all for myself.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 22, 2011 17:05:41 GMT
Brilliant idea Mich...if you enjoy growing veg and you have the space, why not?
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Post by mich64 on May 22, 2011 17:10:08 GMT
Yes Bixa, this is the earliest safe weekend to plant for my region. My husband just finished planting the newest perennials this morning! So all of our new baby plants are planted and the annuals are all in their boxes becoming familiar with their new surroundings. I plan to take pictures on Monday and once my husband uploads them to my laptop, I will show you all what we have been working on.
I truly wish that my property was conducive to growing vegetables, but unfortunately we lay at the bottom of the Canadian Shield where I say all the rubble landed and my property is full of rock. You cannot dig anywhere without hitting huge and small rocks that added with being on a hillside enables me to plant. I have unsuccessfully tried in pots, but had no luck with that.
Each year my dad and mom would till the garden and the dig out rows and each child got a row at a time to place there seeds, cover up and water. I really enjoyed it. Cheers, Mich
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Post by mich64 on May 22, 2011 17:22:52 GMT
Our little city has been given a piece of property by a kindly citizen so that our Social Assistance programs can plant vegetables beginning next summer to provide people on city assistance knowledge and if they volunteer they will receive some of the benefits of the gardens planted. Also our Soup Kitchen and Food Bank will receive donations from the garden as well. I am so excited about this. I want to volunteer to help plant next year to fulfill my planting urges, I will donate the produce, I just want to get dirty and have fun watching them grow. Cheers, Mich
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 22, 2011 17:36:09 GMT
Brilliant! our garden is coming along...despite it being very windy I managed to get a bit done out there today. Here are some snaps taken today. Scabious Astrantia Roma...it has to be the most photogenic plant in the garden ;D Delphinium 'bright blue' Potentilla Flamenco and the almost identical geum (it's much smaller) Jacobs Ladder First French Marigolds to open alpine strawberries...tiny flavour bombs! runner beans have germinated holly-leaved epimedium...new growth is really pretty and the 'lime' heuchera is very zingy today...
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 3, 2011 20:53:43 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jun 4, 2011 3:20:13 GMT
Cheery your garden is looking magnificent! You are so fortunate to have a longer growing season. My mother-in-law tells me that where she grew up in France, their long season allowed them to plant their vegetables twice. Her father used to sell to the markets from their backyard garden, it was kind of like a second job for him (her mother had passed away when she was nine) and it bought them their treats in life.
Everything seems to be flourishing so well, you must be getting the perfect sun and watering just right!
I will post some of mine after the weekend to show how my gardens have grown.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 4, 2011 4:27:19 GMT
Gosh, Cheery, gosh! Everything is just burgeoning. And since I came to this thread from the "growing from seed" one, it's obvious your garden will keep producing right up to frost.
Your pictures are fabulous. I think anyone who'd never gardened would be inspired to start, just from looking at your pictures.
I notice a couple of big water containers plus a jug discreetly placed in the foliage. Are the big ones for rain water? And are the small jugs to keep from dragging the hose all over, or for some other reason?
Thanks for this!
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