Shoots of Hope

Why am I nervous about my first post to the Garden blog? Perhaps because the quality of the gardening and photography has been set so high by the well established posters. Or perhaps the Shitty Basil is just looking at me funny...

Mills Manor is blessed with a beautiful outdoor space, surrounded by mature landscape, planted many decades ago when this Stucco clad building was first constructed. Combined with our northwest ground floor orientation, I was quite concerned about the amount of sunlight that might reach my new veggies.

Layering of soil and compost

I decided on some hearty, shade friendly species: Swiss Chard (Silverado & Pink Flamingo), Scallions, Bush Beans and herbs.

On May 1, the Scallions and Swiss Chard were deposited into planters with soil from a local nursery and compost from our food scraps.

Meager beginnings

After two weeks, shoots of hope have emerged!

Leggy Pink Flamingos all in a row

Scallions push past eggshell trap doors

So far the dainty sounding Pink Flamingo is proving it is far superior in growing capacity than the rock-like performance of the heavy Silverado.

Stay tuned for Bush Bean planting in the next post...

Rise of the Peas

The future of the peas had been uncertain. Not long after I planted the plump little orbs did the magpie and crow onslaught begin. Many a pea was cruelly plucked from the earth on a daily basis, leaving doubt as to whether any remained.
Luckily it appears as though the casualty count may have been overestimated: this morning numerous sprouts appeared in the pea patch.

Could these be peas?

SHITTY BASIL UPDATE: It has become even shittier. Water has been applied. Odds of survival have dropped.

even shittier basil

The gnarly leaves of a young horseradish

The Prefect hOpportunity

Torill purchased some hop rhizomes (roots) from Crannog but unfortunately she was shipped off to Nelson for the summer before we were able to plant them. So it was all on me to prove my green thumb. I bought a number a new planters from the crazy kitchen place on 4th and got to work planting the hops as well as repotting a number of our other plants in roomier digs.

So far things seem to be coming along very fast; the recent hot sunny weather providing the boost we needed. The Maple we potted last year is looking really nice. Might be wanting a much bigger pot soon. The herbs are also coming along nicely.

 

A new year....an unplanted garden

Here is the garden, all ready to go. This year we are trying garden boxes withs at his between them.

The boxes should be a bit more aesthetic. We'll see if they're better. Boxes are currently a work in progress.

A new season!

Having purchased the "Slanty Shanty" in November 2011, we spent most of last summer removing a back deck that was built entirely out of garbage and excavating the rear of the building to put another hundred years of life into the foundation. We capped off the season by putting in a new stone patio on the now dirt lot which was completed right when the snow came.
So this summer we can finally pay attention to the garden, which previously held an impressive collection of native Alberta weeds. Some prep work was done last winter: Kowski provided some horseradish and garlic which was tenderly placed in the ground and then forgotten about, and we planted tulip bulbs.

This years collection includes:
Peas, Romaine lettuce and dill(planted as seeds this weekend)
2 blueberry bushes, rhubarb, and chives (purchased pre-sprouted and planted yesterday)
Green onions and shallots (planted yesterday)

The rhubard basks in his new home, while the blueberry bushes look slightly confused. A mighty steel tower marks the promise of horseradish.

We heard rabbits don't like yellow flowers, so we bought some to guard the peas and lettuce. Under the shadow of the lilac tree, the mighty pansies keep a watchful eye.
We also transplanted shitty basil from the kitchen window to a new outdoor home (bottom center). Will he survive the harsh Alberta summer? Who cares.. He's shitty.

The tulip bulbs planted last year are about to bloom. We added some lavender to really "gay it up"

Stormflower

It's late September and many great garden moments have come and gone unblogged. While there's a backlog of a few of them captured on film which i hope to put up soon, for now all I offer is news that a tremendous haul of tomoatos and jalapenos has happened, and the prized sunflower actually turned into a hideous mangled and disgusting freak of a plant.

Here's a picture of one of the smaller, and more well proportioned beauties.

Mutiny from the GC

As some may already know there was an "incident" a couple weeks ago when I employed some family members, who will remain anonymous for their own protection, to water my plants while away on vacation for twelve days....lets just say their contract has been terminated.




Some of the members of the "GC" now rest in peace (aka worm compost)

Chlorophytum (aka spider)

Pilea (aka Artillery)

Another member was brought to her knees but with a little TLC and luck I may be able to rise her withered branches from the hungry critters inhabiting the compost who are already eyeing up their next meal......

 Myrocladus (aka west coast)

 Withered West Coast

I'd like to wrap up this post on a POSITIVE note as there was a significant development on team GC over the past 4 days. Upon the usual post midnight return from a long weekend away i routinely inspect the team before hitting the sack and especially my first production addition "Mr. Tomato Head". He is one thirsty beast and keeps me on my toes at the best of times. He was almost a victim of the above mentioned offence but survived with only a few losses. I didn't expect this after weeks of nurturing he seemed to be at home in the GC with all the other single hue members. Upon close inspection and to extreme joy he has left the GC and starting his own clan yet to be named. With 21 tomatoes in various sizes bursting from his tired branches 3 have made the transition to COLOR.

"It makes no sense at all, I saw red. I saw red. I saw red." quoted from our friends Sublime. It was an awe inspiring sight (well maybe not that crazy) that i could actually produce fruits from my labor which is sporadic at best with my schedule. Now i look forward to my first tomato salad (tomato head tomatoes, red onion, chives, xv olive oil, sea salt, white pepper and balsamic paste) grown on the patio and spare bedroom of my home. Look out 2012 as the garden blog has the sky as the limit.....Hawk