Project #2 - In Which I Enter the Home Stretch

 An additional pound of crimson clover seed has been sown and I'm beginning to see signs of germination!  I really hope this cover crop has enough time to mature, but only time will tell.  I just noticed this morning that 5:00 am isn't nearly as bright, but it's still light at 8:00 pm.  Hopefully that's enough daylight to help the seed along. 

I've moved my new perennials into the middle bed and set up the old bird cage that was part of my water feature at my last house.  Instead of planting directly into the cage, I set up an old galvanized tub at the base to plant in. I'm only planning on annual vines inside the cage, so this should do nicely.  Unfortunately, until the plants have a chance to really take hold and bush out, the warped shape of the center and path really stands out.  

I planted a couple of deeper rooted perennials along the rock edging of the gravel patio, which is not over the actual leach field.  The next step is to set my concrete pavers for the soaking tub to set on.  I'm not sure if I'll build the trellis over it this year yet - there's still fencing to be done and the pond to finish.  With the recent humid weather followed by thunderstorms, weeds and lawns have become absolute jungles.  I've already had a handful of encounters with hornets and yellow jackets and disturbing underground nests, so I'm kind of terrified to mow at this point. I'm almost praying for an early frost!

Project #2 - Mostly Done

 I've spread nearly all the loam and have sown my first round of crimson clover seed.

There's about 2 yards of loam left and we're going to lose that on mom's front lawn, I think.  It's getting there.  I didn't plant any clover in the middle section because we went to a local plant sale last weekend, and I was able to cross reference all the plants I purchased with a toxic-or-not-to-cats database as well as research the depth of their roots beforehand.  I have a bevvy of shallow rooted, cat safe perennials to plant inside the circle.

We just came out of a brutal heat wave and my garden isn't faring well.  Tender cool weather crops bolted in the heat, and much of my garden was mowed down by a woodchuck.  I cannot get over how much devastation that little bugger managed to do in such a short amount of time!  I've been using home-made garlic spray and some store-bought stinky granules, and they seem to work.  As soon as we get a thunderstorm or I water the garden, it's washed away and I need to re-apply.  

There are some success stories, though.  Once again my onions and shallots are doing great.  My tomatoes have green fruit, and my cucumbers are flowering like crazy.  The carrots I planted in the stock tank are simply amazing - I'd forgotten how good a carrot just pulled from the earth smells.  The mules are very happy to have these tasty treats.  And I'm very happy to say the ornamental corn I'm growing in pots is doing fantastic!  I'm just hoping the raccoons don't ransack it if it actually produces some ears of corn.

My perennial beds are loaded with color.  I've been mapping the beds, numbering the plants, and photographing the flowers.  I'm determined to have every plant in my care properly identified...which is more difficult than it sounds.  

elecampane

liatris

pink tiger lily

straw foxglove

delphinium

back to front - bitterroot, veronica, English daisy

bee balm

filipendula

so. many. daylilies!

    

stargazer lily

My tractor guy was out here last week and reset the posts that the tree company pulled, so that's done.  He dug the preliminary hole for my pond, too.  It's going to be somewhat smaller than I anticipated, but I can always add another down the road.  I need to get that started, and finish the gravel patio ends.  I feel the pressure of mid-summer, when daylight begins to wane sooner and the threat of winter seems to haunt my every waking hour.  Every moment is precious right now, and I'm trying to get at least a portion of my to-do list taken care of.  Rush, rush, rush, tick-tock, tick-tock.

Project # 2 - In Which Another Project is Started Before the Last Project is Finished

 I sincerely don't know what my problem is.

I ordered 10 yards of loam for the wildflower meadow, which is insane because I was not ready for it.  But there it is.

I started moving it by the wheelbarrow full and in two nights this was as much as I could accomplish, which included re-weeding quite a bit of the area.

Brutal hot weather has set in, and I'm not having it.  I've completely missed my window of opportunity to get any sort of annual wildflowers in at this point.  Having a short growing season is definitely a challenge; time is of the essence.  Instead I'm working toward using a cover crop.  I had bought a quantity of field peas to sow, then realized they were better suited to autumn sowing.  I've now redirected my attention to red clover, which is supposed to grow quickly, provide decent flowers for pollinators, and the first hard frost should do it in.  If it ever cools down enough that my ample derrière can manage a decent day's work, I might actually get this done.

Backyard Project #1.5 - The Gravel Path

 After much sketching and staring at the dirt, I finally decided upon a path shape that will meander from the gravel patio, through the wildflower meadow, and down to the deck.  Since the pond and the deck are still just pipe dreams, and knowing the land upon which I stand to be a veritable rock quarry, I'm not sure where the exit path will be.  I know where I want the pond and the deck, but that doesn't mean they'll actually be where I want them.  For now I've laid the entrance path and the loop, and edged the area I want to be my meadow (vs. the area beyond it, which is whatever happens to grow in craptastic soil).

I've used the no-dig edging that wouldn't work for the patio, and while it's fairly easy to create circular patterns with that, it's a little more difficult to curve the straight landscape fabric.  I did the best I could, and tried to keep the path equal in width the entire way.  Unfortunately - see the above description of my property - pins don't always pound in where you want them, even on ground that's been excavated heavily. 

Close enough.  I'm hoping once the dirt is down and plants are growing, the path won't be such a focal point.

I must have miscalculated for my pea stone, because it's very thick on the patio and makes walking a little tricky.  Since I obviously had some to spare, I skimmed a layer off the patio and used it for the path.  This section is thinner, and I didn't need to use the base gravel. 

I used the remaining edging to define the perimeter of the meadow, which isn't an exact geometric shape, either.  Perfectionists will lose their minds if they enter my back yard.

Before my loam arrives, I need to dig up that last bit of stubborn stuff invading my meadow, and I need to finish the edging on the patio ends.  

I'm debating whether to hire a fence company to install the short bit of privacy fence that will run from the house to just beyond the bathtub (still covered for winter...I knew I wouldn't be using it this year!) or to do it myself.  I've done so much fencing in the last six or seven years that I'm pretty much over it, but I need to save my pennies, too.  I have a feeling I'll end up doing it myself, and my back will hate me even more.