#gardenupdate

Two years later, our low-maintenance garden is flourishing! 🌿
See which plants are thriving, what worked (and what didn’t), and get practical tips for creating a garden that mostly looks after itself.

Over on the blog, there’s a new post featuring the latest installment of The Greenhouse Diaries. See how the plants fared in the freezing temperatures over Christmas break and discover which plant has us now believing in the mythical powers of the Greek gods. 🪴
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#greenhouse #newblogpost #gardenupdate #wntergarden #greenhousegardening #greekmythology
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnF3FdtupOZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The begonias seem to be thriving (as are the never ending slab weeds)
#victorianterrace #gardenupdate
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfi2B2srmQs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gardenupdate
Sunflowers🌻
Watermelons 🍉
Eggplants 🍆
Cantelope 🍈
Tomato 🍅🍅
Peppers 🌶🫑🌶🫑
Cucumbers 🥒🥒
Potatoes 🥔🍠
Okra 🥬
Basil & Herbs 🌿🧄🪴
Oh MY!!!

#tymihoward #tymihowardyoga #tymibender #chefinthemaking #charlestonfoodie #foodie #yogaandfood #tymibenderyoga #benderyoga #gardening101 #woodlandshores #woodlandshoresgardenclub
(at Manifest Yoga with Tymi Howard)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfcf1aUuvTW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gartenupdate #gardenupdate #biogarten #organicgardening #veggiegarden #gemüsegarten #flowerstagram #bauerngarten #herbgarden #kitchengarden #blumen #kräutergarten
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfZmdSBKroK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This weekend was supposed to be about inside house things like picking out ceiling roses and pax wardrobes but thanks to the good weather I was distracted with the back garden. It’s looking less like a bog witch’s house and more like a witch’s cottage garden which is always the goal to work toward.
#victorianterrace #gardenbeforeandafter #gardenupdate #honeysuckle
https://www.instagram.com/p/CeJnHE-r_Nf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Garden bed update: the potato plant has gone absolutely bananas since being planted out there, and we’re starting to get some cukes!cakes! #gardenupdate
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTR2tBHnyc0/?utm_medium=tumblr

#gardenupdate por el #jardinero #achorao…
Creciendo mi #huerto mini de #vegetales….
#raisedgardenbeds #veggies #vegetables #growyourownfood #yummy #diy #elKallpa #rabanitos #lechuga #beterraga #zanahoria #fresh #greens #homesweethome (at Monterey, California)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSxnXBOFEbu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Garden bed is looking good this year, and I’ll be able to eat at least 1 thing out of it lol. Also had a little visitor, but I don’t know what kind of bird she is, got a video of her taking a dust bath tho #gardenupdate #birdwatching
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#gardenupdate the raised beds are settling in. Love the color resonance btw tomato and flower in amber #goldenhour sun
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Garden update. Beat by @bruceybeats
#gardenupdate #FreshRewind
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#GardenUpdate #GefjonsGarden #rhubarb #chives #YellowBidens #petunias #thyme #mulberrytree #MayGrowth (at Rockford, Illinois)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5aBgPp3eL/?igshid=1poo1oooj39hg

Here at Seaside Garden a rainy day update on the North Side of the house.
Lots of life springing up and chores to match. I’m weeding out beds and so anxious to work in compost for this very special week #InternationalCompostAwarenessWeek in full effect. Yet my garden chores are giving the very materials I need to get that pile heated so perhaps I’ll complete the circle as long as I keep my busy bee self going!

#GardenFam #gardenupdate #mothersday #anxious #todolist #gardenchores #grass #gardenaddicted #plants #buyingplants #lawncare #green #grow #gardenhelp #healthy #soil #wood #spring2021 #hotgirlsummer #love #love2garden
https://www.instagram.com/p/COgwcOMnQNr/?igshid=i8u64ydg5qzc

Do We Welcome Visitors?

From Monday next there is to be further relaxation of the Covid 19 pandemic restrictions in England. We haven’t taken advantage of being able to socialise with another household outdoors as yet and don’t have any plans in the near future either. When we opened the curtains this morning there was a very heavy hoar frost Brrrrr, not at all hospitable for gatherings.

It made me think more about garden visitors and who’s welcome, who’s not and who we’re conflicted about.  To be fair, I think it’s a pretty open house policy here, except for anything with a tail that scuttles. Sparrowhawks, however, leave me very conflicted.

I especially didn’t like it when this one had taken to lurking in the shrubbery. I call foul play! Crow just mocked that slight play on words there by the way and I’d thought I might slip it past him.

Usually when there’s one about, the feeders are deserted. We know then to go and have a look around.

Alert and poised on the fence

They’re undeniably quite a magnificent bird and pose beautifully for photographs. I marvel at how still they are and for such a long time. Of course, they hunt to eat, I fully understand that - we all have to eat and feed our families. I don’t care to see it at our feeding station though and always feel like it’s rather an ambush situation. I don’t want to feel like an accessory to that.

By sharp contrast, and these are not my own photographs, I saw on a local message board that someone else has spotted Goldcrest in their garden.

This photo really does show how tiny a bird the Goldcrest is. Fortunately they also managed to capture a much better shot than I’ve been able to take.

They’ve also got a Laurel, just like ours. Photo credits for the Goldcrest to nearby resident by the name of Underwood.

When it does come to smaller birds at the feeders, of course, sometimes they’re very harmonious 

Robin and House Sparrow

Robin and Blue Tit

But sometimes they’re not all that kind to each other

Face Off! House Sparrow and female Great Spotted Woodpecker

This Stock Dove really wanted the ‘table’ to itself, but after several tussles eventually condescended to share nicely.

I did also witness some bullying as a Wood Pigeon followed a Stock Dove, not physically attacking it, but making agitated pecking motions until it drove the Dove away from the feeding area. There were plenty of other birds around, including more Doves, but it just seemed to pick on one. I would’ve taken a quick video snapshot of it, but it was supper time and the light was poor (and I was hungry too, the bass and lemon potatoes were lovely)

GARDEN UPDATE:

Instead of a bird on the roof we had a bird clinging to the wall on the corner upstairs - a Long Tailed Tit and just now, about 6.15pm, TWO Goldfinch came to the feeding area. They only perched very briefly on the top and didn’t stay to feed that time.

The bird boxes have been extremely quiet and neglected but I think the side one may have some interest from either Great or Blue Tits.

A couple of the half coconut shells which were pecked clean and so been repurposed as seed containers, have been located at the very bottom of the garden. Enquiries are ongoing as to the perpetrator(s) 

And finally, huge news - first baby bunny of the year spotted down at the bottom of the garden too (not to be confused with the coconut shells)

The current state of my garden.

Believe it or not I still have things growing in it though.

I have kale, beets, fennel, carrots, kohlrabi, bokchoy and broccoli.

I just have to shake the snow off of them before I can harvest.

There’s garlic planted, two different kinds.

Plus all my perennials such as rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, lovage, Welsh onions, sorrel, and herbs too.

I miss my summer garden and I’m looking forward to spring but I still walk through my garden every day.

There’s always something different.

What will you be growing next year?

Because I have to tell you I have PLANS.

Big plans.

I need a bigger garden.

Growing a garden is soothing and makes my heart happy.

#poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #garden #gardenupdate #gardenplanning #wintergarden #dowhatyoucanwithwhatyouhave #winterdays #dreamingofspring #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #mykindafun #doingmyownthing #slowliving #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIZT7YfA5Rj/?igshid=13deyxr4jsr51

The papaya trees are growing so fast these days I can barely photograph them. I’m so happy to announce that all nine of the seedlings from earlier this spring transplanted just fine into their new containers. 🌱 Since then, they’ve been growing growing growing all summer long. The tallest in the batch so far measures 33” inches ( just under 3 feet!) which means if this exuberance continues they will turn the indoor orchard into a veritable jungle this winter. Its amazing to think that these now very present fruit trees all grew from the tiny seeds of one everyday ordinary grocery store papaya. Guess there really is no such thing as ordinary when it comes to nature:) 🌱 Included here are some closeups of their leaves (all now as big as my hand), their trunks (about four times the size of a pencil) and the rest of the seeds left over from their mighty mama fruit. 📷 The last two photos are from May and June back when they were sprouts and seedlings:)
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#papayatrees #gardenupdate #seedlings #fruittrees #plants #papayas #plantlover #containergardening #fromseed #nature #plantsofinstagram #growingfood #growingfruit #fallgarden
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE-BGGyA82l/?igshid=zlscvbf47gn1

Garden Update

The garden continues to surpass my expectations and I’m here to tell you I’m not one bit mad about it.

The nasturtium is blooming and beautiful.

The noodle beans are only halfway up the trellis but I’ve already filled a gallon bag with beans waiting to be canned.

The cucamelons have escaped into the chicken run and are fruiting there as well. I’ve gotten a full pint of these adorable things so far and there are many more coming.

Yes I’m aware I need to paint my garage. I’m busy, but I’d welcome volunteers.

The parsnips have gorgeous glossy leaves that I hope are indicative of what is going on below the surface.

The kale, oh the kale. This picture is after I harvested an entire sinkful and l will probably harvest just as much tomorrow. It just keeps on giving.

The pumpkins, being unsatisfied with mearly pulling down the fence and unleashing the deer on my pole beans, have now broken out of the garden entirely and are heading up the hill towards the house. I’m not worried though because they haven’t killed off the corn yet so I should be safe. They’ve only made it 15 ft anyway.

The holy basil has escaped the herb bed in the kitchen garden and is currently thriving in the middle of the path. This is one of the most gorgeously fragrant herbs I’ve ever grown and I will be growing it next year if only for it’s scent.

Oh and I just sent the neighbor home with a big bag of cucumbers and four dozen eggs. It was nice of them to take some because I’m drowning in them, so that’s a win. I have great neighbors.

#poverty_hill
#homestead #homesteading #gardening #gardenupdate #gardnersofinstagram
#recalcitrantpumpkins #rouguecucamellons #gardenabundance #gardenharvest #sharingiscaring #sharingtheharvest #ihavegreatneighbors #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEaa89DA438/?igshid=1ag12hpxge083

#gardenupdate two potatoes and an onion went bad and I’m sticking them in the ground to see how things turn out. (at Denver, Colorado)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJlcDPlE8u/?igshid=1t2xwir9hx0eq

Yesterday was a garden day.

We harvested kale, green onions, cucumbers, summer squash and of course the ever present eggs.

John attempted to tame our rogue cucumber plants, they’re trying to sprawl all over the northwest corner of the kitchen garden. It’s better but it’s still not really civilized. When I say plants I mean three, this is only three plants.

I think next year the cucumbers might need to go on the cattle panel trellis because the little one they’re on this year is clearly struggling to hold up that monster.

I’m getting so much kale now that I’m both freezing and dehydrating just to keep pace. It’s going to be so good in soups this winter.

The pok choy and radish seedpods have been pulled and are in the back porch dryer that John risked life and limb to hang for me this past spring. I should have plenty of seed from that. I didn’t plan it that way but since it bolted anyway I took the opportunity to harvest my own seed that has been acclimated to my particular area.

The cleared beds have been replanted with mustard greens, lettuce, bok choy, snow peas, fennel, broccoli, and beets for the greens.

We’re just waiting for some decently dry weather to harvest the garlic and shallots.

Lots of plants have not only blossoms but quite a few little green veggie babies. Including the pumpkins. Y'all I’ve got adorable little pumpkin babies. I’m stupid happy about that.

Every year I see all the beautiful pictures and videos of other people’s gardens and I forget that they are in much warmer areas. I start thinking that my poor little garden isn’t doing well but the reality is that I’m just a month behind them and I’ve over planted and mine is about to explode.

I’m trying to keep that in mind this year but I may have still over planted. I’m not bothered too much though because I tend to favor intensive organic planting and good soil health over conventional methods anyway.

Happy Thursday my friends, I hope you’re all safe and well and happy.

#poverty_hill #homestead #garden #gardening #gardenupdate #gardenharvest #planningforabundance #playwithyourfood #plantbabies #explotionoflife #countryliving #ruralpa #slowliving #myhappylife #myhappyplace (at Pennsylvania)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_ZSpYAWOW/?igshid=19fu7gu7nyla9

#gardening #garten #gardenupdate #homegrownveggies #biogarten #gemüseausdemeigenengarten #organicgardening
Beans,soybeans,brussel’s sprouts,corn,zucchini and eggplant

Bohnen,Sojabohnen,Mais,Risenkohl,Zucchini Aubergine
https://www.instagram.com/p/CB2C5qMDDap/?igshid=j0ump4x84b5k