A Month's Time Passing

"Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade."  ~Rudyard Kipling


Over a month has passed - my apologies for the radio silence.  We've had some family members ill and it takes time to get back into the things we want to do.  But you're here for the garden.  :)

The Herb Bed - May 2015

Everything is really starting to take off and take shape.  The Herb bed is filling up - I had to make some adjustments to the original plans, but I think I have all the spaces filled but one. We've planted lavender, curly parsley, savory, leeks, delphiniums, common sage, purple basil, genovese basil, purple sage, chives, rosemary, french tarragon, tricolor sage, lupine, spicy globe basil, cilantro, plain leaf parsley, nasturtium, lemon thyme, english thyme, morning glory, evening glory, lemon balm, mint, lemon verbena, bay laurel, and chamomile.  *whew!* 

May's Herbal Failures:  

1. We lost the horseradish - I think we waited to long to plant it, then kept it too moist.  It molded.
2. The spicy globe basil from Richter's didn't make it - either of them. I replaced with ones from Allisonville Nursery.  Note for next year's order.
3. We've lost a few of the lemon and english thymes but I think the others will fill in those spaces just fine.  They were put in from plug packs relatively close together so I don't think it will be a problem.
4. Chamomile seeds did NOT germinate.  I filled that spot with 3 plants from Allisonville Nursery as well.
5. I'm not sure I'll call it a failure, per se, but the genovese basil from Richters has hardened off well and is growing - it's just leggy and spindly looking.  We are pinching the tops as it tries to flower, so they're starting to produce more growth, but this is something to think about for next year.  Shipping from Canada may not be the best idea.  These were also plug packs, and the price can't be beat:  1.00/plant and we got 36.  So far have only lost 4.  

Vegetable Garden:

Bean Bed May 2015

Finally, everything is planted.  it finally warmed up enough for the corn and squash to go in, and that was the last of it.  I've gone back through and re-seeded some bare spots, but overall everything is lush and growing well.  

However - we have a bunny.  The little bastard.  And he's a hoity-toity picky bunny to boot.  He only eats the snap bean leaves (not the french filet or lima beans - not even the peas!), the parsley leaves, pepper leaves (the pepper plants are beginning to look like small trees with bare trunks), he ate all of the beet greens right up - right down to the ground - he must have really liked them!  But he left the turnip greens, radish greens, and TWO kinds of salad alone!  So far that's all he's messing with - though I've a suspicion he was eating my morning glory vines too.  I've tried the repellant sprinkles and my husband has put out live traps (humane ones) so maybe we can catch him, but he's basically giving us the finger as he eats our garden. :)

I've already picked two quart bags full of dill when I thinned out the plants - they're freezing until I find a use for them.  Mr. S also made a killer wilted spinach salad with spinach from the garden the other night - we'll have to eat a lot more of that, it's ready to be picked!

Cukes, Dill, Romaine,,
and Spinach bed May 2015

I realize this is a long post, but it HAS been a month and in the life of a springtime garden that's a TON of activity time!  Hopefully the next one will be a little more timely!