Happy TGP everyone! If any of you happened to read the Monday update/menu yesterday, you will know that we spent this last weekend working around the acre. We were able to check a lot of things off the to-do list – yeah!
Thanks to Shannan’s lesson from the last TGP, the blueberries were given a topping of peat moss before being freshly mulched with straw.
This flower bed edging our new gravel patio had been an afterthought last year as we were working on the backyard transformation.
After widening it (digging sod is probably one of the reasons I was so sore!), and moving some of the existing plants around, I planted a couple of boxwoods and a “Little Lime” hydrangea I’m excited about. As soon as we get a load of compost, this will be mulched with newspaper and the compost.
The tomatoes have been planted! And covered, ’cause we still have another month or so before the weather is good for tomatoes here in Western Oregon – no matter that the last two weeks have been beautiful and dry.
Monday, the rains came back, of course.
Do you think “third time’s the charm” with the raspberries? This time we used timbers from the old deck to make narrow raised beds before adding good soil and peat moss. The starts came from a friend and my sister – both who’ve given me starts before that died.
Hopefully, I won’t have to ask again.
I just had to share this photo with you – don’t the purple iris look fabulous against the yellow house? So much nicer than the previous gray – now they stand out instead of blending in.
A year and a half later and I’m still LOVING our yellow cottage!
Lastly, I’ve had some of you ask what happened to the clematis that got “clematis wilt” last year – dying right before all the buds had a chance to bloom. After doing some research and realizing that no one really knows what causes it, I decided to leave it in the ground and see if it would come back.
And it did! I noticed the new shoot last fall and wondered if the foot-long tendril would make it through the winter. It’s now about 5′ tall and blooming it’s head off – with no sign of the wilt, wa-hoo!
There’s only the one vine, though, growing from the root. I do hope it produces more, ’cause it does look a little fragile. Oh well – I’m certainly enjoying the view from my kitchen window now.
So, what do you have for us this week?
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
Wow – you have been busy!I really love the purple irises against the yellow cottage!
Love your irises! I have been wanting to get some of those started for years now but have not had time to make a flower bed. Maybe next year… or this fall yet. Hehe…
Be careful where you put the raspberries! I have not had a problem growing them or starting them from roots but they do not stay where I want them. They are rouge and spread underground like thistle! Grrr….
Happy Gardening! I am awaiting our lovely praying mantis to hatch to join my plants outside. Can’t WAIT!
Yes, Dee, I agree – raspberries can go rouge.
I planted a special variety on our city lot that was supposed to not spread as much – um, they came up everywhere – grass, gravel, brick, you name it!
That’s why it’s so hard for me to understand why the raspberries here just died after a couple of years and I haven’t been able to get them to grow again. Sigh.
You gardens are so pretty and I love the irises next to your pretty yellow house! I’m joining today for the first time with my Knock Out Rose Parade… # 9 in the garden party entries!
Yeah- welcome Deborah! I’ll be sure to check out your rose parade (I’ve been eying knock-out roses for awhile now – maybe your post will encourage me to buy one!).
The irises do look pretty against the yellow background. At our cottage, I had a vision of buttercream yellow for the interior walls and have just loved it since we changed from green.
I’m glad your clematis came back, I’ve never encountered wilt on any of mine but my ideals are the same with other issues – cut back and hope for the best the following year.
Thanks for hosting.
I like your curved flower bed! Extra nice with the height to it by the bird bath. Your vegetable garden has been slow. I’ve just planted in my cold frame. I wish you a wonderful week! Zinnia
The irises are so pretty. I love them. Thanks again for hosting. I have my blueberry bushes in giant pots just waiting for the day we can plant them in our new house but they are doing fine for now.
Did you see the pots in Shannan’s garden last week? She says hers to better in the pots than in the ground – with her mix of peat moss, compost, and coffee grounds.
Your beautiful Clematis is right on schedule.
I’m a Florida gardener and was told they do
nothing the first year.. the second year they
bloom. Great Shots of your garden.
Sandy
All your hard work has paid off – you ‘acre’ looks great! Now you can relax – do gardeners ever relax?
It looks like you got a ton done this week. Fingers are crossed for the raspberries and tomatoes!
Thank you, Becky!
Wow-you got so much done! (Dry weather is a good motivator around here, isn’t it?) I love the purple irises against the lovely shade of yellow on the house wall–perfect. And you have your tomatoes in–great! I have a few that’s I’m hardening off, but just didn’t have a chance to plant over the weekend–probably next weekend until this rain lets up, so that will be one of my garden projects. And so glad that your clematis came back–it looks gorgeous in bloom!
Yes, we were especially motivated to get the majority of the planting done specifically because we knew this week was going to be rainy. Just what newly planted things need (and I wouldn’t have to worry about watering!).
Love your iris and your clematis. We had one with clematis wilt last year and it had some brown leaves this year too, but seems to be growing. I use a copper fungicide for the wilt. Always be sure to use an alcohol wipe on your pruners between plants to prevent spread of disease, too. Good luck on the raspberries!
Just found you through BlogHer. I love to garden. In fact I just got home from the doctor because a few weeks ago I dug up a bunch of sod to create a garden space and I’ve about done my poor hands in. I love your clematis. I want one, but they’re kind of pricey.
Brenda
So glad you found us, Brenda! Be careful gardening – I can certainly understand how easy it is to forget our bodies when we get out there and involved in a project.
And I encourage you to look for clematis at the season-ending sales! I’ve gotten some of mine for under $10 that way. They don’t look so great, but with good care the next season they thrive.
Oh, your Irises are stunning! Mine have just begun to open. So glad to hear your clematis has come back to life. The blooms are wonderful.
I love your irises! So pretty. A friend just emailed my yesterday with extras from her garden to share. I can’t wait to add them to my mix! I linked up my update. We have lots growing here in Eastern Iowa – despite pretty dry weather. Send some of that rain on out East, ok?
Taking out sod is THE WORST!!! The new area looks nice though.
My clematis that died without warning last year came back too! We must have held our mouths just right.
Yeah, Mindy! But…our mouths? Is that an idiom I haven’t heard of?
Jami- I am guessing that your lower back feels like mine does. I way over did it last weekend, but it was impossible not to with all of that wonderful – if not strange- May warm weather. I love your new flowerbed. It looks right at homw next to the deck.
Those irises are gorgeous and I am swooning over the clematis. I MUST figure out a spot in our garden where we can put one of those. Thanks for sharing!
Love your Clematis! So pretty! My iris are just about to start blooming here in Vermont!