transplanting/planting

Hardened-off 'maters went in today. One each of three types (Principe Borghese, Roma Rio Grande, Tigerella — despite my faith, the Black Princes were duds) in three locations: back raised bed; side flower bed; backyard bed.

Last year, the tomatoes in the middle-of-the-backyard bed never took off. We thought, maybe not warm enough? It gets the lots of sun, but friends of ours have had better luck with less sun, but warmer locations (since the nights are often be cool, even in July and August), like up against walls and houses. So, this year, I'm experimenting with putting some tomatoes up against the wall in the side flower bed (south-facing), and up against the house (east-facing), in the raised bed where the herbs are.





Raised bed:



Side bed:



Backyard bed:



Also direct-sowed the cukes, black beans, pumpkin, and squashes. My fingers are crossed.

Had some leftover little leggy tomatoes, so Bram and I walked the dog over to Dave and Shelby's and gave 'em to them. I'm so jealous of her raised beds!

what's blooming

From top: penstemon; culinary sage; Texas red yucca;
Golden-spurred columbine.

weeding, watering, mulching

Oh, the bindweed — we're pretty much screwed. But Bram, bless his heart, ripped out the stuff growing up through the patio cracks. Maybe we'll carefully paint what grows back with some Roundup in the fall... blegh.



While he was doing that, I weeded the back bed, side bed, and the main garden — in preparation for planting the tomatoes, squashes, and beans. Then I hit all the freshly-weeded areas with the spading fork to loosen things up, watered, and mulched everything with straw. Then it was 5:30, and I was too tired after today's hike to keep going. I'll try to plug the seeds and 'maters in this week.







Tomatoes have been hardening off in a shady corner of the patio for the past couple of days.



Fennel and sage in the herb garden



Radishes (the carrots and beets were no-shows... bummer)

rescued hens+chicks

Found these on this morning's dog walk. Scattered on the sidewalk, couldn't tell where they were from, they were next to a chain-link gate to a driveway. I don't know if these were dug up by critters or by people — they do look a little scruffy. Popped 'em into an empty pot that's been sitting on the back steps.

last known photo?

My tomatoes are leggier than Naomi Campbell!



Well, I transplanted the tomatoes into bigger pots today. Note for future reference: lots of trouble getting the fragile little buggers out of the seed-starting contraption thingus. Dirt would KNOT come out! I hope the 'maters survive.

Flowers (mystery marigolds + cosmos) went into the front bed, and were then mulched heavily with straw, in another half-assed attempt to keep the stupid neighbor cats from digging them up (also for water retention and weed suppression).



In other garden news: radish sprouting action!



And a new rain barrel.

Maryland trip

Everything was so green at my parents' house! Below: Oma + Howie Meowie; doublefile viburnum; dogwood; helleborus; lilly-of-the-valley; brunnera.