The General Gardening Thread

[Willmark]

Very impressed with all your work. By the way, I like your light brown wooden fence around your yard. You live in such a pretty, country area of NY.

Many thanks, built the fence myself.

 

[Figgy1]

Many thanks, built the fence myself.

Nice work

 

[John park hopper]

Gardens looking good

 

[John park hopper]

@TINKWINGS request.

Indeed, I was off from work today and did a crap ton of work in the front flower beds. Since Mrs Willmark likes polka dots as much as you guys I gave that one to her and we’re going to put it in front, possibly this weekend. For the vegetable garden I plan on making two more, I’m thinking one will be a toad tower, not sure what it will look like yet.

After the work in the front I started on the back and moved about 4 cubic yards out of 5 that I had delivered today. My back is feeling it. I bought a bit more than I needed but I still have a pumpkin patch and strawberry barrels to fill so I should use it all up.

It may not look like much but this was a fair amount of work. The stone borders will come later and I anticipate fully planting this weekend.
View attachment 471529

As you can see they are now all filled up and I planted flowers and transplanted the garlic from the old garden (behind the 4x4 posts). To the left you can see a stick in the ground, that’s a dwarf honey crisp apple tree.

All this hard work once done for years to come all you will have to do is till the soil and plant wait for it to grow and eat healthy.

 

[Tinkwings]

WOW WOW WOW I can really envision your garden now, thanks so much for the update!!!! The amount of work you have done is very impressive, and I love that the function is not the sole object but the plan to make it something special, including a seating tiled area is awesome!!!

I just got notice they cancelled Country Gardens magazine, and I am soooo bummed, so now that I do not get to see glossy photos of others creations, I will look forward to seeing your blooms and greens.....and creative efforts in creating your Eden. Yes, too, your outer fence is wonderful!!! Are you planning to create an inner fence as the inspiration pic? Not sure how many critters you have about, but those deer can easily jump 6 foot fencing anyhow....pleased do keep the updates coming, even if I have to beg?!!

 

[Willmark]

WOW WOW WOW I can really envision your garden now, thanks so much for the update!!!! The amount of work you have done is very impressive, and I love that the function is not the sole object but the plan to make it something special, including a seating tiled area is awesome!!!

Thank you for the praise, weather looks good this weekend so I will be planting tomorrow. I've got a line on the wine barrels that I'll using for strawberries (sorry ladies they dont come with wine... Mrs Willmark already asked...) but man are they expensive, close to $200 each, ouch!

We have a few improvements in mind from the asthetics angle but are still hashing that out. Once the seeds are in I can really focus on the look of it. Still need to dig out the pumpkin area and possible area for the strawberries.

I just got notice they cancelled Country Gardens magazine, and I am soooo bummed, so now that I do not get to see glossy photos of others creations,

That's a bummer.

I will look forward to seeing your blooms and greens.....and creative efforts in creating your Eden. Yes, too, your outer fence is wonderful!!! Are you planning to create an inner fence as the inspiration pic? Not sure how many critters you have about, but those deer can easily jump 6 foot fencing anyhow....pleased do keep the updates coming, even if I have to beg?!!

No begging required, I'll be keeping everyone updated here.

Also- the bee oasis arrived! read bee feeder.

Bee Oasis

Learn more about Bee Oasis hydration, feeding and medication stations for honey bees.

www.infusionwa.com

I've got it set up and now the waiting begins... there are bees back there and they are ignorigng it! I'm like guys, FREE SUGAR WATER RIGHT THERE!

 

[Tinkwings]

I have never seen a Bee Oasis....will check that out! Thanks!!! Neat!! Happy to see a few bumble bees buzzing about....
…..was not supposed to rain here today but was sprinkling this morning when I was back at outdoor flower place and once home began light raining for hours and now is misting again. Might be headed your way but maybe will dissipate or come at night.

I raise monarch caterpillars and have a modest milkweed patch on safe side of my home where noone sprays chemicals which plants drink up and kills caterpillars and nectaring critters. It helps contain my milkweed too and I only use, swamp and purple, as the common will take over your entire yard in a few short years and like snow on the mountain, otherwise known as devil's bane, one little root section will begin a whole new underground network. I honestly cannot believe they sell it at nurseries.....don't get me started!!!

Here is a nice spot for checking on monarchs and other seasonal critters, where people report their sightings and locals..... and you can too.....Journey North.

https://journeynorth.org/ Very nice sight for kids....er adults too.....

 

[Tinkwings]

Maybe Willmark needs to advertise more to the local bee population.....

And I laughed when I saw this sign which I am tempted to put in a few neighbors front yards...… I hand address my dandelions but its becoming a losing battle....

 

[21stamps]

I planted blueberries and blackberries next to each other... and in a separate area put lavender with strawberries. I keep reading conflicting info online.

Is the planting ok, or no?

 

[Willmark]

I planted blueberries and blackberries next to each other... and in a separate area put lavender with strawberries. I keep reading conflicting info online.

Is the planting ok, or no?

Not sure, John Park Hopper is the authority.

 

[Willmark]

So no photos today, but got a lot of work done; work in the front flower beds keeps me from fully working on the vegetable garden, but I’m about 95% done up there now.

In the back? I moved more earth, added more river stone and leveled off the old garden. I also made the old garden narrower and leveled it to the height of the new garden. I needed to narrow it so I could get the lawn tractor back there: between the fence and the garden.

Didn’t get to plant today, but tomorrow AM everything looks to be lining to to get the seeds in the ground, Finally!

ETA: Mrs Willmark bought a metal “wind sail” (it spins) and we got two 40” tall wine barrels for our strawberries today. Lots of work to go on those, but I have all the materials to construct them now.

 

[John park hopper]

You can plant blackberries next to blueberries just don't plant blackberries next to raspberries they will cross. Not sure about lavender and strawberries. I have my first tomato turning red should be ready in a day or two. We had 2 1/2 inches of ran over the last two days everything sure has greened up. Been picking snow peas every other day

 

[21stamps]

You can plant blackberries next to blueberries just don't plant blackberries next to raspberries they will cross. Not sure about lavender and strawberries. I have my first tomato turning red should be ready in a day or two. We had 2 1/2 inches of ran over the last two days everything sure has greened up. Been picking snow peas every other day

Thank you! Enjoy your tomatoes !

 

[MinnieM123]

So no photos today, but got a lot of work done; work in the front flower beds keeps me from fully working on the vegetable garden, but I’m about 95% done up there now.

In the back? I moved more earth, added more river stone and leveled off the old garden. I also made the old garden narrower and leveled it to the height of the new garden. I needed to narrow it so I could get the lawn tractor back there: between the fence and the garden.

Didn’t get to plant today, but tomorrow AM everything looks to be lining to to get the seeds in the ground, Finally!

ETA: Mrs Willmark bought a metal “wind sail” (it spins) and we got two 40” tall wine barrels for our strawberries today. Lots of work to go on those, but I have all the materials to construct them now.

Wow, you even have a tractor? (That sounds like very advanced gardening to me! )

 

[Willmark]

Wow, you even have a tractor? (That sounds like very advanced gardening to me! )

Lawn tractor, aka known as a riding lawn mower.

 

[John park hopper]

I have a 1954 John Deere tractor I have been working on for a while, Wife asks all the time so what are you going to do with a tractor? Just something I always wanted a tractor--- frustrated farmer at heart

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I have a 1954 John Deere tractor I have been working on for a while, Wife asks all the time so what are you going to do with a tractor? Just something I always wanted a tractor--- frustrated farmer at heart

I live in a rural area so there are many farms around here but several people we know like to fix up old tractors just like people do with cars. One of the events at our yearly town festival is a tractor show and parade. It is fun to see all the old tractors all spiffed up and chugging down the street. We also have a car show too. I can imagine if one had the skill to work on that stuff (I don't have that type of intelligence) it would be a fun hobby.

 

[Willmark]

I live in a rural area so there are many farms around here but several people we know like to fix up old tractors just like people do with cars. One of the events at our yearly town festival is a tractor show and parade. It is fun to see all the old tractors all spiffed up and chugging down the street. We also have a car show too. I can imagine if one had the skill to work on that stuff (I don't have that type of intelligence) it would be a fun hobby.

I’ve got a 2014 John Deere.

And a 1967 John Deere I’m restoring, can’t wait to use that.

 

[Willmark]

FINALLY!

Farmer Willmark’s crops are planted!
Weather cooperated this AM and I got everything into the ground.

With that hurdle I can now focus on the layout, but I do need to get the pumpkins in as well as the strawberry barrels, I’m targeting end of next week at the latest.

As you can see the blue spinning thing is Mrs Willmark’s wind sail.

The fence for the beans to climb?
Two things; it’s not even as I added a walk path to the backside of the garden. Two, I need to adjust the top rail as it’s a bit off, but you get the idea.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

View attachment 472194

View attachment 472196
FINALLY!

Farmer Willmark’s crops are planted!
Weather cooperated this AM and I got everything into the ground.

With that hurdle I can now focus on the layout, but I do need to get the pumpkins in as well as the strawberry barrels, I’m targeting end of next week at the latest.

As you can see the blue spinning thing is Mrs Willmark’s wind sail.

The fence for the beans to climb?
Two things; it’s not even as I added a walk path to the backside of the garden. Two, I need to adjust the top rail as it’s a bit off, but you get the idea.

Looks good!