Finally some time in the garden!

This week the kids are out for mid-winter break.  It seems like they've been home from school more than in school this year between winter break, teacher days off, snow days and now another break.  Anyway, we've been having fun, but I've been hoping to spend some time outside this week in between all of their social outings.  The weather up until today has been pretty miserable so I guess it worked out for the best.  During this break last year we spent it out front ripping up our grass, building raised beds and putting in a picket fence.  This time I just got to go out and have fun.

 The Littlest Gardener decided to move her fairy garden out front under a Lavatera bush.  I think it looks very cute.  Soon I will be planting a small David Austin rose that I ordered in that open spot.  The fairies will have to be careful not to get poked.

 Along the opposite part of the yard I planted a new bare root David Austin rose 'Benjamin Britten'.  This is where the Delphiniums are returning and I think it should look very pretty together, not to mention when the Clematis on the trellis is blooming too.

 A couple of weeks ago my husband and I transplanted all of what was already there after we added some nice new compost.  If you remember we found that the soil delivered last year when we built this was the wrong kind and the plants really struggled.  Today I direct sowed some lettuce, radishes, snow peas and tons of sweet peas after seeing that Jenni was having luck with her seeds already.

 I think this might be the prettiest Primula I've ever seen.  The picture does not do it justice.  It is called 'Victoriana Gold Lace'.

 Hellebore 'Pink Frost' which was added last year is covered in flowers.  The Hellebore 'Pink Marble' that was planted at the same time looks terrible, no new growth and no flowers.  They are in the same area, not sure what's going on.

 The birdhouse on this potting bench on the front porch seems to be the chosen home for a pair of Bewicks Wrens.  They've been working on it for about a week now.  In the backyard I saw a pair of Chickadees checking out a birdhouse.

 In the backyard the Pink Flowering Currants (Ribes sanguineum) are getting closer to blooming.

 Clematis 'Nelly Moser' has lots of new growth as do most of the Clematises.

 Old-fashioned Bleeding Hearts are coming up.  If you look closely you will see the whitish looking flowerbuds already forming.

 Last year after Sweet Pea's other rabbit Cookie died we made a small garden for him.  She chose this pretty Hellebore off the clearance rack, it's called 'Cotton Candy'.

 While checking on the blueberries I found that the Littlest Gardener has turned this bed into a play area.  She likes to make pies, etc.  It can be planted next year I guess.

 Plants in the pond are beginning to send up new growth.  They need some cleaning up but I'm not brave enough to stick my hands in that cold water yet to prune them.

The roses also got pruned today.  I usually prune them after President's Day.  It felt so good to spend some time outside!

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.

Edible front garden raised beds update.

Somehow we ended up with another nice day today!  It was fairly cloudy, but they were big puffy cumulus clouds with blue sky behind them and plenty of space for the sun to shine through.  I think it got into the mid 50's and it was probably the first day I've felt like spring might really be coming.  I've been having so much fun buying and planting seeds for our new raised beds in which we plan to grow all edible plants.  Anything from vegetables to fruits to herbs to flowers.  This has probably been the most exciting planting project I've had in years. 
I thought I would share what I've got planted so far, although it doesn't look like much now it should look great in another month or so.  Then I should be able to plant some of what I've got started indoors as well.

Looking down the biggest of the two raised beds.  So far in here there are three types of lettuce, mustard greens, two types of beets, bush sugar snap peas, garlic and onions as well as herbs, Dahlias, blueberries and Violas.

I never thought about growing Mustard Greens until the Littlest Gardener handed me a seed packet of 'Ruby Streaks'.  What a pretty color they are already.

Rosemary, garlic and you can just see the Sugar snaps sprouting.

Pretty Violas add lots of color now (and they are edible).

Lettuce sprouting!

Looking down the smaller of the two beds.  Not much happening... yet.  I've got radishes, Swiss Chard and carrots planted as well as herbs, blueberries, dahlias and Violas so far.

After looking at lots of pictures of edible front gardens I've decided to plant most of my greens and root vegetables along the front of the beds and will plant taller things like tomatoes and eggplants in the middle.  I should be able to grow greens for much of the year and they will add some interest when the tomato plants are looking ugly at the end of summer.  I'm also following advice I read about planting colorful varieties of what I plant such as the Mustard Greens 'Ruby Streaks' and the Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights'.

I'm going to try to take at least monthly pictures of how these beds are looking and keep track of what is doing well.  I want it to look pretty as well as grow yummy food since it's our front garden.  What is your most colorful variety of edible plant that you grow?

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.

A good gardening weekend.

An unplanned and sport free weekend turned into a very fun one with friend and family time.  The weather was okay, at least Sunday was dry although breezy, cloudy and cold; I still managed to spend several hours outside doing some gardening.  Saturday a friend and I went to a talk at our local nursery on culinary herbs.  It was so interesting and I learned quite a bit.  Did you know that oregano (Origanum vulgare) is the culinary herb highest in antioxidants?  Many times higher than blueberries?  Or that Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) tea is helpful with anxiety or insomnia?  Or how about that Sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves can substitute for a toothbrush if you're without one?  Needless to say my friend and I went herb shopping right after the talk ended.
It seems that more and more nurseries are offering free seminars and now that I've been to one I can't wait to attend more.  Most nurseries have email newsletters that are free and let you know about upcoming classes.
When I returned home my husband and I decided to take our girls on the ferry to Whidbey Island to the town of Langley.  If you live around here and haven't taken a trip there yet it's definitely worth the drive, just over an hour from Seattle.  

I took one picture of Mukilteo from the ferry as we were leaving, and then forgot to take anymore pictures.  Next time I visit I'll share more.  There are several very nice nurseries there and we had time to stop at one called Bayview Farm and Garden.  We found a lot of nice plants with really great prices.  I expected it to be pricey since it's on the island, but found it to be cheaper than the nursery by us.

Sunday was spent planting the plants that have been accumulating in the front yard.  I've been reading books and blogs for ideas on how to plant our new front raised beds.  I don't really want rows of vegetables since it's our front yard, but more of a cottage looking garden with all edibles growing in it.  It's difficult to see what's going on in this big bed but so far there are several herbs, bush sugar snap peas and beets (neither sprouted yet), two types of lettuce and mustard greens (all sprouted this weekend), dahlia tubers are in the ground (I read that dahlias are edible!), garlic, onions, Violas, a blueberry bush, and more.  Lots more will be planted as the weather warms.

I planted Hyssop, Purple Sage and Pineapple Sage together.

We already have 6 Blueberry bushes, but why not have more?  The berries freeze very well.  We added one 'Sunshine Blue' in each raised bed.  They only get to about 3 feet tall, are evergreen, are self fertile, have pretty fall color and are supposed to bear quite a bit of fruit.

I'm using terra cotta pots for herbs like mint and lemon balm which like to take over a garden if given a chance.

In this bed are more herbs, dahlias, Violas and a Blueberry Bush.  I've also planted Sweet Peas (not edible) on the trellis but will replace them with Scarlet Runner Beans when the weather warms.

I've planted an artichoke plant in the container on the right.  It will eventually need a bigger space.

Things are beginning to fill in around the rest of the front yard.  Every day I find more surprises, today I found poppy seeds finally sprouting!

We had hoped to make Mason Bee homes today, but ran out of time.  That will be something to do on one of the rainy days coming up.  It sounds like we will have lots more rain this week.   I can't wait for a sunny warm week, but at least we were able to get out for awhile today.  I'm hoping that sometime this month we'll be able to get the fence painted.

Hope you all have some time to garden this weekend.

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.