Have you ever bitten your nails over garden decisions? In addition to the renovation of the vegetable garden I have been working hard in the front yard. I’ve had wildflowers on the brain for a month or two. Last Monday I flame weeded the large bare spots in the front yard, limed them, dug 2 large beds, fertilized the path areas that would be grass, spread a paltry layer of bagged topsoil, spread grass seed, spread a light hay mulch then spread wildflower seed in the 2 large beds. I’m not sure that my attempt to plant what could amount to meadow flowers in the 2 beds will be a successful design. I keep reminding myself that it can all be undone. The seed mix is the "cool tones mix" from Vermont Wildflower Farm and it contains both annuals and perennials. What I’m realizing is that I am trying to cram too many designs into my small front yard. Sigh. Too bad I couldn’t expand my land holdings in a puff of smoke, place the neighbors closer to the horizon.

OK - so I also ordered seed from American Meadows. Some has already been planted in the back garden (wher the neighbors will get the best view. I have their short mix and a BIG bag of all annuals. Tell me how the heck I'll fit all of that in! I could go guerilla and plant it stealthily somehwere else but I think not. Update to come. I do like their customer photos, particularly this one

As for the vegetable garden, I’m getting there. Planted mustard greens, sweet corn, carrots, zucchini and winter squash. The potatoes in the back garden seem to be doing well. The peppers are holding on. We are eating the lettuce from the greenhouse and I have started 2 grow bags with cantaloupe seedlings. That should prove an interesting experiment!

Picture of the "Cool Tones" wildflower seed I ordered.

building progress

I am farther along than these pictures show but here they are! The garden is 13 feet wide and 25 feet long. Not nearly big enough for real veggie growing (potatoes, winter squash, a walk in hoop greenhouse)....it will do for now until I win the lottery and can buy my land by the sea and build my large walled garden.


Much left to do. Need to build gate #2, finish installing the last 2 rails and staple the green plastic fence to the inside. I wonder if that will be a mistake. Wrestling with wire does'nt sound like fun. The green plastic fencing can be trimmed with scissors and, well it's green. But it will probably look like heck after a year or two. It must do for now.


There is also a plan for a lavender garden in front. I'll be seeding annual wildflowers too. Already put a New England annual/perennial mix in a small patch in the back garden. I'll be breaking out the flame weeder (maybe tonight) to torch the crab grass in that bare spot in the front yard. It needs liming methinks, big strange pines grew there. I really want to partake of the bounty of summer. With this dreary economy I know we can all use bounty. Wildflowers can help!


In looking after my karma I gave away 8 big tomato starts (extra). Found out a neighbor down the road had a baby so planning on bringing down a (used but LOVELY) baby sweater. I don't want to have a soul the size of a nut (Anyone read The Education of Little Tree?). Blessings to all!