one fine day

sitting in the garden is not something gardeners often do...once we do sit...we
see some weed that needs to be pulled or a branch that needs pruning or a nearby
flower that needs deadheading...sitting is not very often done.


however, i have many sitting venues throughout the lawn and garden.
i have a little bit of a chair fetish...inside and outside.


with the help of david, jesse, dh and moi...we were able to create another place in which to
observe wildlife...even when that includes watching our children and grands.

the blueberries are blooming...so beautiful.

mother mocking bird is very attentive...to her babies...she is

always keeping a watchful eye out.

every thursday we have a wonderful little gardening helper.

she loves her g-pa and marmee.

we are putting in some raised beds in the fenced vegetable garden patch.

we had a huge weed problem last year and we have gone to great lengths

of preparation this year to avoid them by tilling...weeding...pulling...having other plantings

as barriers on the outside of the fence...amending the soiling with peat...top soil...potting soil...

sheep/cow manure & compost...another mixture called...soil amendment(finely ground pine bark)... also using a method of overcrowding with intercropping flowers/vegetables.

ellery was right on the spot...aiding her g-pa.

we were able to get one of the raised beds filled with...

heirloom chantaenay red core carrots...beets(early wonder)... small

yellow onions...poppies(beauty of livermere)...cleome.

this raised bed was placed on top of the well tilled amended soil with no bottom.

in another area...in same veggie patch...we planted through the top of black

weed-bloc...6 tomato plants...3 mr. stripey...3 firey orange...with shallots and green/red

peppers placed in between...then mulched with pine bark mini nuggets.

newly planted soprano light purple asters on the side and the angelonia just

outside the fence help insure beneficial insects will come and eat the pests.

blooming angelonia...so pretty and helpful.

i think i said rose breasted grosbeak more than a dozen times on thursday

while ellery was here...she is very curious about our new visitor.

we talk about the pairing of birds and what happens when they do...

birds and bees are common topics of conversation...and lots of questions.

another hummingbird feeder has been placed near the

wildflower garden...2 starla red pentas...2 northern lights

lavender pentas were added also.

both g-pa and i are trying to teach ellery all we can

about loving nature...and all things wild...including buzzing insects.

she can identify the american gold finch...and loves watching them feed.

this year we are trying new ways of doing old things...these tepee poles were planted with blue lake green beans at the bottom...they should make their way up the poles to shade the

mesclun gourmet greens...planted underneath...with cherry zinnias planted in the center.

heirloom purple along with pink lady tomatoes were planted just outside of the tepee with easter egg radishes in between those tomatoes....seeded along the fence line inside and outside were giant violet queen & envy zinnias as well as true lavender.

just to the right of this we placed strawberry ornamental corn

in a triangular pattern with papaya cream nasturtium interspersed.

the last two honeyhill joy hellebores are in the ground...the other potted

up with pinto white geranium & white lobelia.

velvet queen sunflower and silver petunia rastrera seeds are in the ground.

lemon basil growing within the herb hutch.

our garden angel has been doused with rain for two days now...so have

all the new plants and seeds...i am hoping they didn't wash away...

i love rainy days...but enough is enough...rain, rain, go away...come

again another day...but such as it is...upon us is another happy may.

happiest of may gardening to all!