Today in the Garden

Today I did my first round of seedling thinning. I must have aggressively sprinkled my cleome seeds, because they have made their way into trays in which they do not belong.

Ratatouille Garden

Last year, for the first time ever, i had wonderful tomatoes: heirlooms, Romas, grapes, and sungold Mmmmmm......

If i have wonderful tomatoes, why not grow eggplant, zucchini, and peppers for Ratatouille? I know that I planned to grow tomatoes as my only veggie so that I can patronize the Lewes farmer's market on Saturdays, but the anticipation of warm, round, sunfilled eggplants was too difficult a force to resist.

I built a raised bed adjacent to the South tomato garden, and included it in my anti-giant-rodent (aka deer) fence scheme (more on this later). 16 bags of BioComp 1+ later, and my bed is ready for the plants that are starting in the greenhouse. In the meantime, while waiting until May to plant the seedlings, I'm using the bed for Arugula and micro salad greens.

The Last Chapter

I was watching the Peonies bloom today and remembered this blog.  It's been many years since I've posted an entry, and probably just as long since I've truly enjoyed gardening.  Older age and infirmity have made gardening very difficult; it's just not so much fun to be reminded that one can't participate in one's beloved hobby with every painful motion.  Although the purpose of building the garden was to prolong my ability to play in the dirt, this is no longer possible.  This fact has been a primary consideration in our decision to sell our house and move into the city.

Happily, I will still be able to enjoy my very manageable beach garden, in which I happily plant ratatouille (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and zucchini).  Beach plums, rosa rugosa, perovskia and many other plants grow like weeds (in a good way).  I might even add a greenhouse one of these years.  In fact, I will definitely do this because it will make Mark happy to see me puttering.

How ironic that I've been trying to get my beloved hespiris (Dame's Rocket) to grow for the 19 years in which I've lived here.  Just this year it finally took hold.  It's a sign.  One of the potential buyer families for my house is a pair of gardeners.  If they end up with the house I'm sure they will appreciate the delightful heavenly smell of this phlox look-alike.  The garden looks bare this year, as I didn't plant seedlings at all, for the first time.  I'm separating, and it's hard.

We are moving to Philadelphia into a wonderful, sumptuous house where we will have window boxes, a sunny South yard, and a large roof deck.  I will not, however, fall in love with my planting.  City dirt does not smell like the country and I won't be able to hear Bailey's cows or the horses down the street as I dig holes.  I will not enjoy planting, although I will still love flowers.  Fortunately, the weekly farmers market sells Amish flowers.  I will be very happy to think about a new family enjoying my garden, planting seeds, smelling a newly mowed lawn, and listening to the birds at dusk and dawn.  I will miss twilight dinners and wine on the deck counting the bats flying high above, but I smile when I think of a new family learning about the delights that this little piece of nature has in store for them.  I think about young boys exploring the woods and playing on a zip line over the stream.  I think about toddlers on a swing set and dogs running in the back yard.  I think about parents unwinding after a long day with a glass of wine in the walled garden.  This house has been my home and the garden has been my delight.  I cared for four wonderful dogs and two happy and healthy children here.  I wish much happiness and love for the next inhabitants.

What's new in my garden?

Good intentions notwithstanding, I've been away from this garden communication for way too long. My New Year's resolution (Rosh Hashonah is around the corner) is to regularly share my garden escapades with the one or two people who remain interested (mom, husband...). Here are my topic promises for the next few days:

• Why did I pull out all the flowers from my raised beds?
• How did this year's Ratatouille garden grow?
• What's up with Beach Plum jam/jelly?
• Current greenhouse events
• My dreams of a rooftop garden...

Rufus and Zeke

If you've followed my blog you know that Ari had gotten into grapes, which are very toxic to dogs. Sadly, unrelated to the grapes, Ari passed away over a year ago due to complications from diabetes and liver disease. We had him for only 9 months, and had just begun to bond like crazy glue. It was devastating.

Soon after, we adopted 2-year-old Zeke (short for Ezekiel, the prophet who had visions of bones...get it?). Zeke is a big, sweet, brute who looks like he rides a motorcycle and has a "mom" tatoo on his arm. Not the brightest dog we've had - especially compared to Professor Rufus - but definitely the sweetest. Training didn't go so well, but he's making slow progress and now often actually listens to us.

We have come to realize that Rufus and Ari didn't actually like each other, but not so with Rufus and Zeke. When they aren't moving around they usually have some body part in contact with the other. Zeke's favorite place is right next to his brother, and Rufus licks Zeke everywhere (yuck). Brotherly love.

She's back...

It has been nearly two years without a post. I confess. I've had ambivalent feelings about my garden, so I've lost some of my previous joy. Garden chores...weeding...my raised beds filled to the brim with perennials that are interesting only for a short duration...competing priorities...etc., etc.

Last week I was on vacation. In the pouring rain, I pulled every last perennial out of my beds. Nothing left! Now I will have plenty of room for the wonderful annuals I start from seed every year for which, recently, I have had no room. I readied my greenhouse (OK, three weeks later than usual), started my seeds, and added a South garden raised bed in which to grow Ratatouille. I also figured out a design a slick anti-giant-rodent (a.k.a. DEER) fence post system that is certain to work on the South garden in which I plant my tomatoes, and now eggplant, peppers, and zucchini. Overall, I had a lot of fun.

Best of all, I have found a garden assistant. OK, it's actually a property management service, but they will come regularly to pull out weeds, and otherwise address the objectionable chores for which I have no time, no patience, and no muscle tone. Even better, it's a chic addition to my garden - Terrain at Styers! Imagine my delight when, the day after a delightful gentleman came to my house to sign me up for the service, the giant tree that had fallen at the beginning of the Winter was removed. I now have a single point of contact for lawn, irrigation, cleanup, and general stuff-that-needs-to-be-done, and what is promised actually happens without a million reminder phone calls. I arrived home yesterday to discover that my Spring clean-up complete with new mulch, trimming, and general tidiness had been completed in time for a big family event this weekend. What fun I had yesterday evening before dusk bringing out my garden follies, including Gertrude, and my last-year's mother's day present: a moss Labrador who stands guard at the garden gate. Zeke and Rufus were, as usual, great companions but no help at all.

I just received a delivery of soil for my new raised bed from trusty WH Milokowski. Fun! My seeds are growing in the greenhouse. My beds have been readied. An anti-deer plan is in place. Life is good. Look for more posts this year.

Silly Garden Ornaments

I admit to aweakness for silly garden ornaments: solar powered globes, wooden flowers, funny looking birds, ... almost anything that is silly can find a place in my garden. Here are some of my favorites. I'd like to point out that the funny bird was a birthday present from my daughter Rebecca, who certainly knows my taste very well!