What have you done today in the Garden?

Hiya Growing--Gad, you have been busy! Your stuff is coming along very nicely. I am curious to hear your container carrots will do. Are you growing them for show or consumption?
I hope that you can keep the aphids off your brassica's. Do you have any "enviromesh"?

It was a rainy day here today as well; however, I did do some work.
It was about a strip of land on the side of our flat building that is maintained by the council. They came by a while back and chopped all the bushed down as they do every 4-5 years. The trouble was that they did not clean up afterwards and under the bushes were broken bricks, paving tiles, broken glass and cement.

Where did all that stuff come from?! I think that it came from when the workers were repairing the sidewalks, bike paths and streets. Instead of taking it all away, the workers just tossed the debris into the bushes.

The neighbour lady called them and tried to get the council to clean it up, but to no avail. We tried and had a conversation with a woman. That was yesterday. Today a bloke appeared at the door and wanted to talk about the refuse removal.

The man said that he would send someone around to take the stuff away. We had already said that since the council wasn't taking it away, that we would gather it up, place it on a pile and all they had to do would be to take it away.

That all went well, but the ground also had a lot of broken twigs and ivy plants as well as saplings from a nearby tree. We all cleaned that up and the guys came back a second time (after the rain shower) and took that away as well. There were four huge piles of plant material.

We further said that we would be willing to "adopt" this strip of land and take care of it . All they would have to do would be to remove the bushes and roots. The neighbour lady wants them gone because teeners come in behind the bushes and P sometimes. When the bushes are there and grown up, it would be easy for an in-breaker to break the window in the night and not be seen by neighbours. My bride and I could understand that...so our proposal for a different sort of bush that we would plant was what we all agreed upon. All the council has to do is remove the bushes and till the soil., as well as supply the bushes---for our part: we would plant the new plants and maintain the strip. The council then would never have to pay workers to take care of the strip again.

We are waiting to hear what their decision will be. The ball is in their court.

 

Good luck with the Council agreeing to your wishes. As residents, shouldn't that be demands?

The sun has decided to grace us with a game of Peek A Boo.

 

I watched rain fall on it again. The grass seed we put out is sure happy about it though.

 

Pianolady, we have enough rainwater to last awhile. Warm air and damp rising is creating fog.
No garden work due to wet ground.

 

Sounds like the council is getting a great deal.

I planted impatiens and coleus today in the old wheel barrow. I had a flat of Lantana from seeds I collected last fall. Transplanted 24 in to pots. Now I have to find a place to put the pots. Planted another 8 baskets for Mother's Day at the market. Planted a white bleeding heart and a peony. Rich is going to plant 2 hibiscus for me this afternoon as they are to big for me to handle or dig the holes. His retirement is beginning to show promise.

 

That sounds unique, Donna. The wheelbarrow with flowers.
I put some Marigolds in porch rail planters.

 

I planted 128 bean seeds today. I am about a week late, but the weather here just hasn't been right. Now they MUST be planted.
French climbing beans: 'Rakker' and 'Cobra'.
Runnerbeans: 'Lady Di', 'Moonlight' and 'Enorma'.
Then the spekboon: 'Necktarköningin'

Let the summer come.

 

That's quite a variety of beans, Sjoerd.

I did nothing in the garden today. I'm resting from a long day
yesterday which was spent on a bus ride across the state to
Holland, MI. to view the Tulip hardens, visit a Dutch Village,
lunch at Boatwerks on the banks of the Macatawa River,
then to a paddleboat cruise on the Kalamazoo River out to
the beautiful Lake Michigan. Topping off the day with dune
buggy riding up and down the sand dunes. The highlight of
the day. Then a long bus ride back home. The most fascinating
thing I learned was about Singapore City which lies buried
beneath sand.

My best garden news is this. Potatoes are above ground.

 

Like Growingpains, I took the day off. My husband and I went to the Waco Zoo for Migratory Bird Day--a mini-festival celebrating all the birds who pass through in the spring. We enjoyed it thoroughly, and learned quite a bit about birds and their habits. We strolled around, admired the animals, and were told that our honey was a favorite treat of the orangutans (used as a reward during training). We left just as it began to rain, so we came home, had a late lunch, and are "vegging out" this afternoon!

 

I had a very productive day in the yard today. I was out bright and early planting the Bush Blue Lake and Burgundy beans that I had soaking, then I decided on a few Scarlet Runners and put them in too. Planted some Kale and watered the garden, then I refilled my tanker from the rain barrel. Cut grass, weeded the back beds of the big weeds and uncovered the Roses. Divided a few perennials and potted them up for a future plant sale. Planted 2 of the containers on the front porch. Then I got my boys to help prune the old Apple tree in the back yard of all the dead wood and planted a new plum tree. Put up a little fence around the back of the compost and then turned compost. Cleaned the bird bath and re-filled the Hummingbird and Oriole feeders too. Carried all by plants outside to harden off. All this and still managed to wash and hang out 3 loads of laundry!

 

And Netty, what did you do in the afternoon?

 

Nettie, your day sounds quite pleasant.

Marlingardener, so does your's.

 

What an interesting day you had, Growing--I have been to Holland, Michigan too. It was nice to see and all the familiar Dutch names on shop windows. The large, imported windmill was also a familiar sight.
Marling had a great day too, I see. Birds are always interesting.
But Netty--What got into you?! hahaha. Is today your rest day then?

I shall be spending a whole day birding and one bee hive has to have the swarm cells broken out.

It doesn't look like I shall have to cover my spud leaves again this spring if the weather forecast can be believed. We are in for some summer-like weather. Allez!

 

There is no time to rest during the growing season Sjoerd! I'll rest inside, by the fire, in the winter

 

Sjoerd, Netty, I hope your day is as pleasant as mine is being.
Son number three, his wife, mom in law and brother in law
took me to breakfast.
There are more afternoon invitations, so no gardening today.
Happily my potatoes are above ground.