I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BROKEN THIS INTO 2 POSTS

But since I haven't posted much lately, you're going to get it all.  VPH had promised our neighbor (whose fence is the one that figures so prominently in our garden) that he would move the huge leaf pile in the bastard garden off of the fence.  Said neighbor thought the weight of the leaves was pushing his fence over.  VPH and I disagreed about the weight issue, but I agreed that the leaves should be moved away from the fence.  In addition to moving the leaves about a foot away from the fence, VPH cleared the area next to the shed where we're planning to build a leaf bin with chicken wire and wood posts:

Along with the trunks of 4 Christmas trees past, VPH dug out this pile of trash including a jump rope, and yes, he thought it was a snake too:

Still protecting VPH's anonymity, but I was impressed with how dirty and sweaty he got back there: 

I wasn't sitting around on my hands while he worked.  I started off the day by taking down the greenhouse.  VPH has since weeded this whole area so it looks even nicer now than when I took this photo:

Then I went to work on the wildflower patch.  I just found out that Dame's Rocket has been deemed an invasive plant in CT and is banned.  Didn't know that when I scattered the mixed seed it was in over a year ago.  And I've seen it growing along the road around the corner, so I'm not too worried about it, but the blooms had faded, so I chopped them down (and left VPH a nice pile to shred for the compost):

I'm happy to report that some other flowers are blooming in the wildflower patch and it doesn't look that bad from the right angle:

When I started gardening that day this bud in the wildflower patch looked like this:

And by the time I finished it looked like this:

I love how this same flower looked next to it when I started:

And at the end of the day -- it almost looks like a different flower:

Then I attacked the herb barrel with my Felco pruners and scalped the chives, parsley, and thyme:

Did you know that if you stick freshly cut cilantro in a glass of water, it will stay fresh?  Did you know that you can freeze freshly cut chives and thyme without any prep and they'll come out of their freezer bags practically fresh?  Well that's what I read anyway, I'll let you know if it actually works:

The zinnias have buds at last:

The morning glories are finally taking off:

The hydrangea is showing definite signs of blue flowers:

Now we can turn our attention to the veggie garden.  I've got teeny tiny little tomatoes forming on the Sweet 100 cherry tomato:

And the Husky cherry tomato (or did I confuse the photos?): 

The Kentucky Wonder beans are doing great despite being nearly hidden from view by the zucchini.  I guess I'm doing the 3 sisters, but substituting the fence for corn:

This little guy startled me as I was trying to photograph pea blossoms:

I did manage to photograph the snow pea blossoms too: 

The peas are taking their sweet time and the Brandywine Pink tomatoes are making a break from their temporary containers, so I had to come up with a different plan:

These pea containers will instead be home to our second planting of carrots and I went out and bought 2 more containers for the tomatoes and I swear I will transplant them tomorrow or Friday at the very latest.  They'll all live together here on the sunny edge of the gravel patio:

Speaking of the carrots...they're out of control:

They got so big so fast that I couldn't resist pulling one out to see if they were actually carrots yet.  They are!  Little tiny carrots, but oh so tasty:

The whole veggie garden on Tuesday:

I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but we've been getting lots of downpours lately and after the last one, the cucumber and the Royal Purple Bush beans were a little on the floppy side.  I will use the wooden trellis from the peas for the cucumber and the bush beans weren't supposed to need staking, but bamboo and Velcro garden ties to the rescue:

And here's a handy little tip for you.  If you're using your very sharp Felco pruners to cut Velcro strips and you suddenly meet resistance, that's your hand.  At least my blood matched the handle (and in case you were worried, it was a minor cut that isn't even showing signs of infection despite my dirty hands when it happened and the fact that I kept working):

Along with the 2 new plastic containers I picked up for the tomatoes, I bought this gorgeous astilbe.  And it was begging for a new pot, so why not buy 3?  The plant was only $6 and all 3 glazed pots came to $41 -- how could I not buy them:

I don't have specific plans for the other 2, but I do still have this whole tray of seedlings to plant up:

And a potting table of other random plants needing a home:

We also rescued these purple rhododendrons from the red dot shelf at Home Depot -- 50% off of $6.99 each.  One will go next to the shed in front of the leaf bin, maybe 2.  The other might be squeezed into the rock-bordered bed of hosta and 1 pink rhododendron near the patio:

So there is my ridiculously long post on everything we've been up to so far this week.  If it ever stops raining long enough to let the seedling tray dry out enough for me to work with the plants I will be able to do some actual gardening.  Weeding is so boring!

Comments

[Nancy Bond]

Wow, your garden is coming along nicely, and your backyard looks cozy and lived in. As it should be. :)

[Heather's Garden]

Nancy -- Thanks! We do love our garden and patios. I just wish the weather was a little nicer. Considering it's supposed to be summer on Saturday, today's weather of 60 degrees and rainy is not what I was expecting!

[Layanee]

I am tired now just from reading about all your hard work. VPH looks dirty but his pose suggests it was worthwhile work! Great veggies! I am so impressed with your container veggie gardens. I think it is more work to grow them in containers with all that watering and fertilizing. Also, your herbs look delicious. What did you make with them?

[Genie]

Wow -- that's an epic post! I particularly loved the pics of the bud and flower at beginning and end of day...very cool! Everything's looking great and I'm so jealous of your tomatoes...

[Heather's Garden]

Layanee -- the containers are big enough that I don't really have to water much more than I would if they were in the ground. I haven't had to water in weeks with all the rain that we've been getting. As to fertilizer. I mixed in that organic stuff when I planted, so I think I'm good until late July, then I'll side dress. The cilantro is intended for guacamole, and the chives and thyme went into the freezer.

Genie -- Epic indeed, I'm impressed you got the end and had enough energy to comment! You can be jealous of my tomatoes, but I'm jealous that you can go to a farmer's market and get some now. We have another month or so before the markets even open here.

[Kim]

Ouch! The Felcos got me last year, and I learned that "if you meet some resistence" lesson the hard way then. :(

What a great post,Heather, and the veggie garden is looking SO good! (And your VPH SO dirty! lol.) I'm loving those new ceramic pots--and at $41 for all three, you really couldn't not buy them.

[Heather's Garden]

Kim -- Thank you so much! If I can manage not to go back to that particular store I won't come home with more glazed pots. I've purchased at least 9 pots there this year -- I have to stop because I've run out of room and money!

[chigiy]

Hey, I've almost lost a finger to my Felcos too. Ah, gardening so much work, so much fun.I love the pics of the coreopsis. Your ceramic pots are beautiful too. I would have bought them.

[Heather's Garden]

Chigiy -- I had no idea those were coreopsis. I was just calling them those pretty yellow flowers in the wildflower patch. What would I do without knowledgeable readers like you?!