Red Maple

I was walking around our yard this afternoon and noticed our Red Maple tree shining a brilliant green in the afternoon sunlight. The pictures don't do it justice, but I had to share anyway. :)

Dilemma

Remember last weekend when I spilled all my seed pods? Well, I should have just thrown all of it out right then and there, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Now, the tomatoes have sprouted. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing which varieties they are. Hmmm, what to do, what to do...

Ack! Snake!

I was walking in my yard today and almost stepped on this guy. He was sunning himself in the grass by my Green Ash. I know they are harmless, but he really startled me. We had just laid down weed killer and much of the dandelion stems look like little snakes so he blended right in.

First Signs of Life

Last week, when I re-planted my tomatoes and cabbage seeds, I also planted some lettuce seeds in my 3x3 raised bed I have on our patio. I am now just beginning to see the first signs of life. This should be a head of lettuce just starting the growing journey.

Starting Seeds Again!

After a little scream of frustration, I got out my spare seed tray and started over. This tray is much smaller so it'll be easier to handle. I'm thinking I may just have to give up on the seeds this year and just go buy plants at the right time, but I'll see how far I get. I should be able to use some of them, I hope.

Disaster!

I went to set out my seed pods this morning so they could get some sunshine.  I apparently didn't grab them properly because the middle gave out and just slipped out of my hand!  Now, I don't know what is what seed!  I guess I'll have to start over.  Another week delay in seed germination.  Ugh!

Raised Beds - Assembly Complete!

You're looking at thirty-two cubic feet of potting mix for the two 4x4x8 raised beds!  I actually wound up not need this much for the two beds.  So, I put the two raised bed kits that I had initially purchased around our Purple and Green Ash trees and I used what was left of the potting mix for one of them.

The Purple Ash already had some strawberries growing around it so we'll put the box up and train the strawberries to grow up and out of the box.  For the Green Ash, I planted some Irises that were transferred from my grandmother's garden.  After I planted them, however, I am now wondering if they will get enough sunlight as the Ash is pretty large and provides quite a bit of shade.  I guess time will tell.

Later in the day, I went to Home Depot to get the two other rubber pavers for the walk way.  I made the mistake of looking at their potting mix and found that the same brand and it was several times cheaper than what I purchased it for at the local nursery!  That was rather an expensive hull too!  Here I was thinking I was saving a bit of money by purchasing the already mixed stuff instead of purchasing the compost, peat moss and vermiculite individually and mixing it myself.  I could have saved myself about a quarter of what I spent!  I should've checked the big box stores first.  Oh well, at least I gave it to a local company so that should make me feel better, right?  Oh, and if you're wondering, I wouldn't really recommend this brand.  It stinks like manure!  Hopefully the smell will dissipate after a few days.  Phew!

The finished product!