It's been a crazy summer, and I'm only now feeling like adding a post. Hurrah, first snow!
I didn't manage to get a lot done this year - Reputa was down for the count due to a steering issue, and L'il Red was a learning experience. I did manage to move quite a bit of manure by loading it into my truck with Red, but she's so short I had to shovel it out by hand. My back wasn't really into that.
The garden was a 50/50 success. Perennials loved the abundant rain at the start of the season, followed by intense heat and humidity.
The veg didn't fare so well. The garlic did great, so I've already planted three varieties for next year based on how easy they were to grow. My onions and shallots were terrible; the cold, wet spring stunted them and some of them never got much past pebble sized. My tomatoes pretty much rotted in place, hot peppers did nothing at all, bell peppers were small but tasty, and the cukes did well. My pumpkins yielded about a dozen miniature gourds and the summer squash failed miserably. Potatoes did well, but they were mostly small. For my first try I was happy enough, and will probably plant them again next year, but in fabric bags. I planted carrots far too late in the season but I do have a harvest now. They're small, but the taste is phenomenal.
One garden that surprised me was the wildflower meadow. It was absolutely beautiful once it started to flower! Wide shots never quite captured the frenzy of colors, but closer shots did somewhat.
The pond did well but developed an algae bloom late in the summer. The bog garden did exceptionally well thanks to the deluge of rain early on. And miracle of miracles, I finally found some part-time help for the larger chores, like finally getting the fencing started on the mule track!
Breakdowns in equipment and lack of time stalled the project, but I'm hoping to get it done before too much snow is on the ground. I'd like to be able to let the mules into this new section next spring, if all goes well. It's not exactly how I wanted it - I didn't plan to use the corral panels - but the no-climb horse fence has doubled in price over the last few years. Use what you have, finesse it later! 😉
I did manage to get a large number of perennials moved out of the holding beds in the last few months, too. Some cat safe plants were moved to the wildflower meadow out back, other plants were moved to the front of the hillside garden fence, where I'm trying to create a cottage-style garden.
Red, yellow, and orange flowered plants have been moved to the small square of lawn in front of the mule barn, where I've struggled to have a lush green carpet. I've split this "hot" garden in two with the path. Most of the plants moved there do well in poor soil, so that's a bonus.
I didn't worry about prepping these areas too much, just planted right into the grass. I'm not looking for formal garden beds, just something I don't have to mow.
I did create a formal lasagna bed in front of my house, though.
I finally found some Midwinter's Fire dogwood shrubs, so two are planted in there, along with a white forsythia and some spring bulbs. I'm really looking forward to seeing these new spaces next year, and I'm very happy to have the extra space to plant some additional vegetables in the hillside garden.
And now...time to rest.
Until the next nice day to work on a project comes along!
