Gardening on Crumbly Acres

This rock is a beauty. It came from the area where the miniFreds are digging out burrow # 5, under the flag pole. The Freds are in there, renovating. I stole the rock.

 

I've been moving rocks to the daffodil garden. It'll keep the moisture in some, and stop some weeds. That's the theory. 🤷  Then there is my trusty whipper snipper!

I dug it out, strapped it to the dolly, and rolled it here.

I did a panoramic photo of the back yard. It's a modest little bungalow. Perfect for the two of us, 2 cats, 7 goldfish.

Outside we've 4 groundhogs, several raccoons ambling through, 2 bears, Barry Beaver, and barred owls.

Out in the front, I noticed the doe chomping on my hostas on the camera footage. 

It was time to put the deer fence up. Joe assisted me. Basically, 2" square stakes, with netting attached. It is wonderful. Removable in the fall for clean up, and hardly seen. This is what I used on the front garden to keep Fred from eating my milkweed plants. (More on that later!)

My Itoh peony, is visible through the fence netting. The doe isn't getting that one!

The hawkweed is looking wonderful. I don't want to mow the lawn until it is done. I don't want to frighten the groundhogs, either. They are moving around the various burrows.

Our miniFreds are managing. They stick together until they don't. Saturday they were avoiding the shed burrow. I am certain Momma Fred is gone. I think last year's miniFred, who is now adult-sized, is back. 

June is looking promising

 It is a new week. It is June. We've enjoyed 🎾 tennis being played in Paris, although half the battle with the rainouts is to figure out when, where, or if they are being broadcast. 

I am happy to start a new month. The Mother's Day basket from Caitlin is so beautiful. This is a glorious season, when we have enough rain and sun. 

Those of you in our latitude will appreciate how much the spring means to have the brilliant colours. All we need now is a balance of sun and rain for the summer. 

As discussed with a couple of bloggers, you put on bug spray (or netting), do your work, and shower. It is necessary. JB uses a anti-bug hat.

I have to remove the moss and encroaching twitch grass and weeds. It's tricky with the phoebes coming and going. I don't want to disturb them too much. There are various methods, other than hand pulling them. If I can't get the roots I'll use vinegar water from dill pickles, etc., or sprinkle salt. 

Our growing season is relatively short. The Hops Vine is growing very fast. Here is May 17. Growing like mad underneath, and not up to the railing. I took this photo to show Fred on the lower deck, but it shows my rain gauge, and the railing.

May 31st I figured I ought to put up the green twine supports. The vine is up over the top of the railing, kind of swinging in the breeze as it searches for something to wind around.

Out front, the clematis is blossoming. I reached up over my deer fence to grab this. Now, at 5'4", it is tricky!

After working on the lawn tractor I finally managed to have a full tank and a full battery. I worked on Oliver's Lot. I just create a path for walking. The wildflowers can grow on either side. The Field Hawkweed is wonderful. Mind you, this is a spot where the soil is less than shallow!