I thought I’d do an update on the progress of my veggie garden and the compost tumbler but I have to throw a few flower pictures in here just because they’re so pretty! The hydrangeas (my FAVORITE shrub) are starting to bloom!
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Update on the Compost Tumbler I made in the middle of April (How To Make A Garbage Can Compost Tumbler). It’s looking pretty good. It’s not as fast as I imagined but we’ve had unseasonable cool and rainy days. I think if it had been as hot as it was today (sweltering already) for the past month, it would have “cooked” faster. I also forgot to tumble it for a few weeks!
The peas are doing great! I should have started them earlier (note to self). They’re going to come out soon and squash will go in their place.
It’s been so hot the past few days the romaine lettuce has started to bolt!
Soon I’ll have to net the blueberries. As soon as they start turning blue they become very attractive to all the birds! So the only way to actually get any is to net all the bushes!
Blackberry cobbler made with fresh organic blackberries with a nice hot cup of coffee – heaven!
My experimental crop for this year -oats! It’s going to be fun watching this grow! Hopefully I’ll be able to harvest my own oats this year!
Unfortunately not everything is rosey in orchard. My nectarine is full of nectarines but once again they’ve become infected with some sort of fungus. I tried spraying my trees this year but it didn’t seem to help. I have one apple tree which needs to come down as it’s got something and I’m giving up on the nectarine. Which is such a shame because it’s a beautiful tree in spring with hot pink blossoms. I don’t’ have time to baby things and since it obviously is prone to this disease it’s got to go. Maybe I’ll plant a fig or persimmon instead.
When the wind blows the yard is filled with the scent of this Jasmine!
The potatoes (Yukon Gold) seem to be doing well this year. I just need to cover the green tops one more time and then I think I can just let them do their thing.
Soon there will be tomatoes! I planted 4 red bell pepper plants and one hot pepper plant. I still have basil (for pesto), carrots and lots of other things to plant. I planted corn yesterday. We started a few pumpkins from seed and Katharine Lady Katharine Tea Parlor (she has sheep btw and knows how to do everything) gave me loofah seeds which I’m anxiously waiting to plant!
All the roses have loved all the rain we’ve been having! I just wonder what they’re going to do for the next few months. Everything seems to have bloomed so early this year!
So that’s how my garden is growing right now! Have a great weekend everyone!
Wow! That’s quite a garden and things are growing so well. Looks like some good eating at your house soon! I learned a few garden tips as I read your post.
My square foot gardens are on auto pilot at the moment as I prepare to speak at a conference next weekend. They seem to be doing well even through neglect.
Don’t you just love seeing the fruit of your labors?
Beautiful garden! I am missing mine from our old house and too much to do to think about one for this year in our new house. So, I am living vicariously through yours and others! Thanks for sharing!
My garden is looking kind of sad. Yellow and all. My cherry tomatoes are growing like crazy. Think I will have tomatoes on those before anything else and I planned those late.
Ally
Wonderful Garden!
I still don’t even have a shrub. This house is dreadful. If we ever finish the inside (fingers crossed) I hope to have things alive and beautiful outside next year (I swear I said that this time last year too).
Enjoy a beautiful Saturday!
Everything looks wonderful, Manuela! We have a fig tree and I love it – I bet you’d enjoy one. My parents have a parsimmon and we’re talking about planting one soon. Enjoy your gardens!
It’s all so beautiful in your garden, Manuela. I’m sorry that the fruit trees are not cooperating. Have you been in touch with your local cooperative extension? Perhaps they can help…
http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/
Manuela, your garden looks great! I know that you are so excited. You have spent so much time workins on it and it’ll pay off for you later this summer without a doubt. We have not had a lot of luck with our fruit trees either this year. I wonder how much the excessive amounts of rain we have had this year has affected them? Anyhow, I look forward to seeing how it is all progressing. I hope to post on our gardens in the next week or so. This weekend I am making strawberry jam….
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer
Your garden is doing so well! My peas are just starting to flower. I planted the seed March 17. I think I started them too late too.
You have a great garden. All your hard work is paying off. Thanks for stopping by. Went back to HL and got a few rub ons on sale. They were not exactly what I was looking for but will do. Still did not get any letters.
Have a great weekend.
Glenda
Manuela, I’m jealous of your vegetable gardens. I just don’t have enough sun to put one in. We used to have a large compost bin at the back of our yard. It did take longer than you would expect but was well worth the effort. We would put in yard waste, grass clippings, occasional fruits and veggie scraps, and beer! We read somewhere that the beer would activate the decomposition. We do not have the compost bin anymore but the wonderful dirt that came out of it is still in my happy flower beds.
Hi Manuela
Your garden looks great and that composter is amazing.
I’ve added your blog to the list for my porch party and if you find that you aren’t ready when the time comes just let me know.
Hugs, Rhondi
Very nice Manuela. We have pretty much of the same thing except that we plant a lot more so that we can give most of it away. I have red potatoes and already I’ve had a couple and I ate them:) I’m looking forward to reap the benefits of our garden. Have a great weekend. I love your jasmine, mine is doing the same and the roses are awesome.
your garden looks so delightful! I’m not much into gardening…yet…but you are inspiring me. thanks. and thanks also for the supportive comment on my procrastinator project…it helped a lot.
Good morning Manuela 🙂
Your garden grows very well indeed! The flowers are gorgeous too 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
xo,
rue
Wow! You’ve got a lot of good stuff growing there, Manuela! I haven’t tried growing blueberries…my favorite fruit. I have a fungus problem in one of my crepe myrtles every year. We just have such high humidity and a lot of rain lately….thank goodness! Can’t wait to see how the loofah turns out! Have a great weekend…Debbie
Manuela, your garden looks wonderful…so green and healthy.
Isn’t it such a pleasure to watch things growing?!
Barb
I really love hydrangeas too, but they sure don’t grow here in Alaska… too cold! I am envious of all the things that that are blooming and growing in your garden. We are just now beginning to put out hanging baskets, and won’t begin to actually garden for another two weeks. We have such a short, intense growing seson here in Alaska. The good news is that its been a really warm spring – in the 70’s for the last several weeks!
Blessings ~ Eileen@Star’s Fault
Hi, I just contacted my mtg. co. yesterday, still giving me the runaround, i have to wait to see if the manager looks at my file for the millionth time. I hope you vote for Adam he needs votes, he should win, he deserves it. Kris is fine, but Adam is in a different league. Vote, vote. Do you know your blog is the top one I love to look at ? it is true. mishelle
Manuela,
Your garden looks wonderful 🙂 I just love the Hydrangeas! I haven’t gotten around to making the compost tumbler yet, but will let you know when I do and follow-up on it 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing on your blog. I truly enjoy your creativity and inspiration 🙂
Have a great weekend 🙂
Manuela,
Your garden looks great! Hydrangea are a favorite of mine also! I think I could say that about alot of flowers though!
Everything looks lovely! My peas are later than yours and are just now vining. The heat is on here, too!
Your garden is sure doing well! Love the hydrangea blooms! The buffet came out beautiful!! I love the moasic top. I’ve been thinking of giving it a try. Maybe I’ll do the top of my dresser on the deck. Great project! Jean
Beautiful! I can not wait to start a veggie garden! Someday…my composter is done, worms are at work, so we will see how it goes! Love your roses!!!
Beautiful! I’ve been reading your blog for awhile, and I admire your kind and generous spirit. Somehow, your garden reminds me of that. It appears to be a real reflection of you. Thank you very much for sharing yourself. God bless you.
Thanks for the update on the compost tumbler. I think I may have to start to make one.
Everything else looks lovely as well!
Keep on growing!
Your garden is fabulous! You have things growing at least a month and a half ahead of us.
Beautiful, beautiful garden.
We won’t be gardening for another couple of weeks. Our weather just isn’t co-operating.
What a beautiful garden! I love everything. It is soo fulfilling to watch your veggies and fruit grow. I love working in my gardens.
Blessings,
Sandra
Hi Manuela, Your garden is looking real nice! I wish I had the green thumb; unfortunately I can only grow tomato worms and no tomatoes!! Your family will be so lucky to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Hugs, Sue
Your garden looks awesome! Mine isn’t even in yet, we had frost last night! jen
Nice pictures of your garden. It looks like you are doing raised beds? Thanks for sharing your garden with us,
Susan in SC
What a beautiful garden!
What a nice post – your infected fruit trees makes me sad — can you still use the fruit even if it isn’t pretty – as in dried fruit leather? My apple tree always looks less then lovely on the outsides of the apples – I don’t spray the tree or do anything with it – just let it grow each year – but I quarter the ugly apples and they are never ugly on the outside and after steaming them and running them through my food mill they make great applesauce… anyway, for being an infected tree, it sure looks lovely in the picture – I would keep it. Your rest of hte yard/garden is amazing – you are inspiring for sure!
Your garden is growing beautifully! Poor fruit trees! My compost tumbler is still in the process of being filled. We don’t have any garden waste yet…we haven’t even mowed the lawn this year! Mine will probably take longer to cook than yours did too, since it’s colder here.
I have been a silent reader of your blog for a few months now. What a treat, a treasure and a joy!
So sorry about your fig tree – had to think of a sign I’ve seen in the local greenhouses…”BLOOM or else”. =)
Oops – I meant nectarine tree.
What a great garden. I would love to have a vegetable garden, but I can barely keep up with the small flower gardens I have. We have a lot of deer, though, so I think I’d be fighting a losing battle. And your own compost bin even. I’m impressed.
Wow, your garden looks soo good. I can not even plant zucchini yet, it is to cold. I can not wait to hear what you think about the oats. Clarice
The berry vine are so pretty …… wow the mulch looks great….. Maxie didn’t get to play chase with mulch can…. lol
You really have a nice looking garden…
HUgs
Linda
Oh Manuela-
It is all so lush and pretty.
Laura
You have such an amazing garden, and everything looks so healthy and beautiful! 🙂 We are a little behind in our growing season here, I think, as it is colder here…I am trying (again) to grow tomatoes. It is a more difficult thing to do here than when we were in Maryland, because of our weather. But maybe this will be the year I succeed! 🙂 I so much enjoyed seeing your garden, and hope you had a great weekend! 🙂
Your garden looks terrific! I just love your Hydrangeas!
Thank you so much for stopping my blog. As a baby blogger, it’s a real encouragement to get comments from someone experienced. I check your blog often and so enjoy reading your posts. I’d love for you to visit again, and I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have for me!
Love,
Richella
The garden is beautiful!
what a wonderful garden….I wish I had a green thumb like you. I have been tempted to buy a blueberry bush since I saw one at my local nursery..are they hard to grow? we so love blueberries over here and they are so expensive. I got a strawberry hanging basket last year and it’s produce some fruit here and there. Love your bird prints ..so pretty.
Your garden is gorgeous!
oh my goodness -what an amazing garden you have! I am so jealous! I bet you will have a wonderful tasty bounty this year!