Memorial Day

Memorial Day is so much more than barbecues, beaches and a 3 (or sometimes 4) day weekend. Memorial Day is much more than the unofficial start to summer. On Memorial Day we should pause for a good long time and reflect on the many men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue to live the way that we do.

When I woke up this morning it was to the sound of rain. My first thought was "Too bad for the outdoor parties today". Then I stopped myself. Too many families today are not celebrating the beginning of summer. Too many families today are mourning the loss of a loved one. Someone who died far too young. Someone who gave their today for our tomorrow.

Memorial Day should be the day when we stop, think and thank all of those who have given their lives for our freedom.

Thank you.

Dirt and Dreams

This morning at 7 AM I was in my car and on the way to Home Depot. I still needed 12 more tomato cages, 6 more concrete blocks and yes, I can't even bring myself to say it...more dirt.

I have hauled more dirt in bags this year than I care to remember. This is it though - I have hauled my last bag of dirt for the summer. 10 more bags of dirt went in to my car. I found the 42 inch tomato cages (wow they are expensive but I'll have 25 from this year on). The 6 blocks were a bargain.

I replanted some hosta into pots and put them on my front steps and then put my Adirondack chair near the door. It looks like a comfy place to sit. Maybe when I get a second I will check it out.

My watermelon, cantaloupes and pineapple mint were all planted. I even picked up two pepper plants because what is the summer without a pepper plant.

As I was digging through my greenhouse I found two wayward eggplant plants so into the ground they went also. Everything got a dose of root blaster. Everything got my talking to about growing straight and giving me some veggies! LOL - ask around - I actually do hold conversations with my plants.

The best part of the day was the very cool shower I took. Then SJ and I ran over to Ocean Grove to pick up our beach badges. People were already in the water! I can't wait to plunk myself down in a beach chair and relax.

I have also posted another picture of a dream potting shed/greenhouse. I am getting so many ideas surfing the web. And I am still biding my time....

A Day in the Life of a Garden

My garden is really coming to life! The drenching rain last week and the sunshine this week have really had things sprouting and growing. (PS a little root blaster doesn't hurt either - thanks mom!)

I finally picked up some more dirt today so I was able to fill the abandoned tire and put my strawberry plant in - I think it looks great - free planter! My peas are climbing up the trellis and the green beans are filling in the tee pees. I also have a picture of the sunflowers and melons on the side of the house. Cucumbers are in their own little raised bed - growing big and tasty waiting for dad to come back to NJ!

I love my garden. I could spend the whole day in it!

My Disgusting Shed

This is a picture of my disgusting shed. Why is it disgusting you may ask? Let me tell you. First of all everytime it rains it gets flooded by at least a foot of water. That area is one of the low points in the yard and I do not know what possessed the people before us to put the shed there. There are animals living under it and in it. This winter must have been a wing dingy for them. It is filled with animal poop. (And the occasional dead animal be it bird, squirrel, possum, you name it). It wasn't made very well there are huge gaps in all kinds of places in it - the doors are two decaying inside cheapo closet doors that don't even shut properly. Anyone need bat guano? Because they roost in there sometimes too. Is everyone feeling the filth and general yuckiness? I think I have to go take a shower after just looking at it.

Now - I think the outside wood is salvageable. I just want to tear that puppy down, salvage what I can and build a potting shed/mini greenhouse somewhere else on the property. Somewhere where it won't get flooded or tunneled under or whatever.

So I am continuing my perusal of the web for great looking potting sheds and I will just bide my time.

Still Dreaming of Potting Sheds....

Yes! I am still dreaming of potting sheds. I like this one out of the UK. It is a quasi-greenhouse. I think I could be very content to sit in there and potter around with my plants.

Garden is Blooming

Finally - a day with some sunshine. I was so excited this morning I ran out to Lowe's and bought a few things - tomato cages, landscaping pins and green plant supports.

I came home and laid down the biodegradable weed barrier. then I planted my tomato plants from the greenhouse. Put the cages around them and voila! Last bed planted!

Then I looked around and added support to my sugar pea trellis netting. As I was looking at them I noticed that the green beans needed some support. I used the green plant supports and rigged up some tee pees. I noticed that I had some metal bars that were headed for the garbage and took them out- I have some ideas for making more tee pees. I just have to figure out how to keep them from falling. Easy with wood - not so easy with metal.

I also found an abandoned tire in the Lowe's parking lot. I put it in my car and I think I will fill it with soil this weekend and use it to plant some strawberries. I am really trying to use things that would otherwise be thrown into a dump in my garden. I am getting some great ideas from the ladies on the MJF chat room as well as on the net.

It was a beautiful day today and I got quite a bit accomplished. That makes me a happy camper.

Wishing...

Now that vacation is over I have time to go out to my garden and begin my daydreaming.

One thing I would love to build for myself is a small potting shed. I spent last night surfing the net looking at all kinds of potting shed images and saving some of my favorites. From time to time I'll post them here.

I dream of all the grassy, muddy areas around my raised beds covered with pea gravel. It would just make things so much neater. And who doesn't love the crunch crunch sound?

While I'm daydreaming what about a picket fence around my garden? With two nice gates and an arbor - or even better a pergola? I love a good daydream!