Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Coaxing Some Warmth In The Garden

So far this spring has been a fizzle.  Not to say that I'm disappointed with so many people's lives torn apart from horrific weather in the mid-west and southern parts of the United States and elsewhere around the world ... but our damp, cloudy, rainy cool weather in the Pacific and Inland Northwest has given gardeners a run for their money.  Hubby and I are just about finished with the newly installed raised bed garden; we are adding fine bark on the ground to suppress weeds.  Fencing has been put up around the center section of the garden.  As you can see from the photo, I have some beds sitting outside the fence.  These are my deeper beds with fine wire mesh installed in the bottoms that are a foot deep to be used for root veggies.  Hoops or wire surrounds will eventually be installed to keep the deer and moose from lunching on the plants.  The mesh wire is to keep the pesky voles from stealing whole crops from underground tunnels.  This interior/exterior fence planting has worked for us in the past as it keeps the large animals from attempting to leap over the fence .. and I really didn't want the expense nor view of an 8 foot garden fence.

The white fabric is covering our tomato, pepper and eggplants.  It's breathable and lets in some rain .. but traps heat during our cold spell this spring.  On sunny warm days (which are few) the coverings are peeled back.  A few heirloom tomato plants and peppers have been mingled in with our plants started from seed .. just as an extra measure of success.  This year I have done some companion planting .. and have left room for planting in succession. 

How is your garden growing?

5 comments:

Dani said...

Wow Mrs Mac - lot of work, but it's looking stunning :-)

We're also drowning in rain, but it's most welcome after the summer LOL. Need to get more mulch on my beds...if only the rain would let up long enough for me to do so!

Trish said...

I see that you and Mr. Mac have been very busy... I agree with Dani it looks great!!!
We too have had lots of rain! Here it is, almost June and Tom turned on the furnace yesterday morning...good grief.
We, are just getting our plants in the garden today...the rain has put lots of things on hold.
Thankfully, it has held off so far today!
Blessings my friend.

Felisol said...

Mrs. Mac versus mother nature. My money is on you, dear Cathy.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Love what you have created there and I hope you will get a plentiful harvest even if it is a late start with your gardens. We are bone dry down here with no rain in the forecast. Any rain we have had predicted has gone south or north of us.

Love and hugs to you and yours. Have a great holiday weekend ~ FlowerLady

Mr. H. said...

Your beds look great, can't wait to seem them overflowing with green. I think the sun is supposed to shine for most of the day today, what a treat.:)