Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Overview Photos & New Garden Additions

After getting the lawn cut, the patio swept and the gardens some what weeded I decided it was perfect timing to take some overview photos. It has been a long time since I have posted overview photos, in fact the last time was when the garden was under a foot of snow. Lots has changed since then like the addition of three new raised beds, a potato bin, two new native soil gardens that I will show today and a new hose setup. Lets start at the base of the garden, photographed from the patio:

*I left the two overview photo's full sized so you can click to enlarge then if you would like*

Here is a shot of my 163sf of garden space, not included the pots or native soil gardens. Things have really filled in already but all the trellises are still very much vacant. Now that the warm weather is here I hope the cucumbers, squash, beans & melons get climbing.

Here is a shot from the front yard looking down. The big mass half way down is peas & broad beans. They will soon make way for the uncovered poly tunnel and the start of some crops to be harvest this fall. You may also notice that the potato bin is almost filled to the top.

Here is one of the native soil gardens I put in and it is an extension of a perennial border that goes around the back steps. I had planned on grow a few things in pots so I decide to dig a bed from them. With the added soil area I have planted herbs, rhubarb, green onions & the lemon queen sunflowers form the The Great Sunflower Project in this area. Potted plants in this bed are jersey devil tomatoes, red fingerling potatoes, the compost bag potatoes, sugar snap peas & herbs.

This is the last new bed for the garden and is very tiny. I put this in to house the potted radicchio, sport peppers and the soon to be sungold tomatoes in the empty pot. It is also a good spot to plant some marigolds from Skeeter who contributes at In The Garden. By placing the pots on or inside of the rock edge it makes cutting/trimming the lawn much easier.

The last new thing to update on is the new hose setup, You may recall that I posted about this in May. It has been completed for a few weeks now and is working great. Previously the hose was in the back garden and I was constantly smashing plants with the hose. Now it is way out of the way and is easy to roll up.

To end things on a high note, Mister Early tomato is finally starting to turn and in this heat it should be ready any day now. The plant is 'Siletz' and was started way back in February around Valentines day. I was hoping for a red tomato during the first week of June or sooner but with our cold spring this year that was not to be. Still can't complain about a red tomato even in late June I guess.

17 comments:

  1. wow. your garden looks wonderful! So much to look at.

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  2. Dan - things are filling in very well! I wish I had a hose reel like that - it sure looks handy.

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  3. I love how you have used the available space so well. It is inviting to look at and obviously very lush and healthy.

    Mister Early is blushing up nicely!

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  4. Great photos. Your reddening Early tomato is giving me hope.

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  5. I love seeing a little color on a tomato - congrats! I certainly can hardly wait.

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  6. What a lovely garden! I particularly like the native soil gardens. The pots and rock edgings give them so much personality.

    Wish I had your hose reel ;-)

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  7. Everything looks so pretty! I especially like the garden area with the pots.

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  8. WOW, I don't think I understood how sloped your garden are was, very impressive. I'm going to have to share this blog with my brother to show him he didn't need to level that area, hehe.

    Glad your potatoes are doing better than mine. I will definitely install the back wall ahead of time next year. Great idea.

    Again, your garden is far more attractive than my utilitarian version, hehe. Well done Dan!

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  9. Wow you're going to get a tomato before July. I cheated and bought one from the farmers market. They had brandywines that were grown in a hoop house. I keep telling myself that someday I need a greenhouse.

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  10. Your garden looks great. I love how you use every inch of space you can get.

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  11. Mister Early is true to his name-he is way early! Looks nice and big too. I will tell Skeeter you planted her marigolds. She is on vacation this week so might not be on the blogs. Did you know Spring Fling for garden bloggers is supposed to be in Buffalo next year? This is what I've heard thru the grapevine. Have you heard this?

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  12. P.S. Thanks for identifying my gentian.

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  13. Excellent use of your space for sure. I don't think you could improve. Everything looks so big and lush.

    I always thought you were zone 5, now I notice 6a. Did you update that or am I imagining things ?

    That would explain why I'm so far behind ! lol.

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  14. You really packed it in there. I hope it gives back what you have put into it for how good it looks.

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  15. I am constantly amazed by the amount of vegetables you are able to grow. Just think what you'd produce if you lived in the country!

    I am thrilled that I have 4 tomato plants and three hills of squash. Just harvested the last of the Swiss chard. I'm letting volunteer squash plants grow in the perennial beds. Don't know what variety they are. We'll see if I get anything or if the groundhog snacks on them.

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  16. It just amazes me how much you can get into such small spots! The base of the house on a slope is working perfect for you! Thanks for the link to In the Garden. I am happy to see the marigolds in bloom for you :-) Funny thing, I had tons of seeds and forgot to plant any in my gardens! Duh, too late now as it is hot and no rain falling. Hum, wonder if they will be okay for next years plantings....

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