Potato Update & much more

It’s hard to know where to begin this time of year – everything is absolutely bursting into life.  The first thing I do in the morning is sneak outside and walk around to see what’s happened overnight.  The potatoes are just breaking through the ground – wow, that seems fast!

When the rest of the newer tulips started opening, I remembered the color palette I chose last year. 

 

 

I’m beginning work on a major project, probably better photographed from the roof, which I’ll do another time.  We have a narrow strip on the back edge of our property that was once an alleyway, abandoned by the city and turned over to the homeowners.  It never had real “grass” back there, and is kind of an unused area behind our garden.  Basically, a weed patch, which probably doesn’t amuse the neighbors.  We’re removing the sod, making trails, which will be kind of winding “figure 8’s” so that the kids can still run and play and hide back there.  In fact, they’ve been helping with the weed and sod removal. 

The paths will be sort of meandering and curvy – I have room for probably 5-6 large beds across the back of the property line.  The plantings will be mainly native perennials, for birds, butterflies, etc.  The bed farther back is covered in half-decomposed leaf mulch to try to kill the grass and weeds before planting.  It doesn’t look like much yet; we have a long ways to go.

My shady rock garden, just beginning to show some blooms.  This was a weedy undeveloped area under these old lilacs when we moved in.  The new shade beds are just behind this rock garden.  I left access to the lilacs because my kids like to CLIMB in them.  I can’t keep them out – if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

Mmmmm, just beginning to harvest some greens.

First green salad of the spring!