Since this a brand new blog for me, I thought that I would take the time to post a link here to my gardening photo gallery on Flickr that shows some of the highlights from my most recent 2022 Garden Project.
The photo album shows the progression from my first big garden project beginning the fall of 2021 where I was presented with an opportunity to help my best friend landscape his new yard. It was very heavily weeded and the fencing was old and needed to be rebuilt. Not having a yard of my own and my desire to help, I happily volunteered for this garden project.
To save money I would grow everything from seed. I was familiar with starting seeds outdoors but this is the first time that I started everything under grow lights. I am very proud to have been able to create this new space for both of us to enjoy. I have learned so much from this and also found along the way that I am very passionate and driven with this type of work. I find gardening to be very therapeutic and this opportunity was a real blessing that came to me at a time in my life when I needed it the most. Because the front section of the garden has been so successful I am now planning for the design of the back of the property with new vegetable beds and plan on building several boxes along the fence for more flowers.
I am also including a link to another Flickr photo gallery that shows my background and history in Art that is posted below. There may be photos of gardening here as well but there are mostly photos of my sewing and other projects. I use to spend most of my time sewing and making custom handbags but recently my new focus is on flowers. This is where I will be spending most of my time for now.
Please also see the link below to my ArtAlbum ART and SEWING ALBUM Art Photos Link
One week ago I set up the grow lights and started my first seeds. I am starting with some Alpine strawberries, some Lisianthus and 3 colors of giant allium and 2 types of eucalyptus. To my surprise my strawberries are already sprouting! I’m super excited about these. This variety is suppose to do well in my cold climate and I like that they don’t have runners and are a more compact plant. I plan on growing extra to give away to a few friends. The package says to start growing these about 16 weeks before the last frost which is somewhere in late May, early June for me. Last year I planted on June 18.
For the new spring garden I have been collecting some new varieties of
flower seeds and vegetables to try. Varieties that I have never grown before
and also some seeds that we love from last years garden.
I spent a lot
of time last summer pulling the weeds that were here in this area and
leveling it out in preparation for the new garden in the back section of the property for 2023. There was a ton of
trash that had to be removed. Old carpeting that was buried and some
concrete and metal posts and fencing. The fence will also be getting a coat of stain to brighten up the color of the wood and protect the boards from weather. It’s feels like sort of a large project but I am excited!
Below are pictures of some of the junk that was removed. When I first started this project it was overwhelming because I didn’t have any help and I had this vision of what I wanted. I made a few trips to the chiropractor during this project as I tend to think that I can lift more than I really should. The little wagon I bought saved me and was amazing to be able to lift the junk and move it to an area to be hauled off. The previous owners used a lot of concrete and there was a wood burning stove just dumped into the area that I wanted to make a garden.
So far I've got the garden beds all put together and placed roughly in the area that I want them. Once the weather gets better I will be adding the soil to the beds and pulling weeds around the perimeter. I am not wanting to use any chemicals and prefer to pull the weeds over using anything harmful to the environment.
I plan on making small garden beds along the fence using old weathered fencing boards that I pulled o Ifrom the front of the yard last spring. I made some flower beds using old boards along the fence in the front last year and it turned out really nice so I will do it again to the back portion
It saved a lot of money that I would have had to spend on lumber and prefer to reuse and be resourceful if I can. Along the fence I am planning for sunflowers and cosmos and also some vertical climbers like sweet peas and also some sugar snaps and cucumbers.
The beds will contain some lettuce and mixture of vegetables and flowers that will help to attract the beneficials and also help with pollination. I found that with planning a new garden it works best for me to first draw out a paper map that I can edit with pencil to make changes as I am still in the beginning stages and will more than likely be making a lot of changes as I learn more. I also have a photo album(below) so I can reference back to color and see at a glance what I will be working with. I love to be able to see the color, as it helps me to design the final layout. Ive also been studying the planting dates and learning about my growing zone as it will be important to the placement of each variety and timing. That way when spring gets here, I can get right to work. I have several varieties that will need to be started inside under grow lights, like Lisianthus which needs about 18-22 weeks to bloom in the summer. Never grown it, but giving it a try because I absolutely love roses and I've heard that these are easier than roses but I wont know until I try it.
This is an example below of the photos that I keep to reference back to color and what I am planning on growing and seeds I’ve purchased with my ideas and videos of my before and after. It helps to keep me motivated and keep organized.
To view the updated garden that I was working on above, I did a quick video walk around of the perimeter in summer of 2023 of this area and working my way to the front perennial garden that I completed in 2022. Pictured Below from my Youtube Channel.
