There was a misty rain this morning and then the sun came out and so did I. I've been working on the side yard, which was a narrow strip between the cottage and my neighbours' fence. The idea to transform it into tomato alley was small to begin with, but today, I took down a fence bit that divided it in half, laid more landscape carpet and covered it with cedar mulch. Now I have twice the space to grow tomatoes, patty pan squash and zucchini, with hopes that the deer don't discover it.
My neighbours found a pile of enormous tea tins behind a restaurant in Vancouver and gave me two of them. I hammered about 20 holes in the bottom of each, filled them with soil and they'll be recycled as plant pots for more tomatoes.
The hop vines seem to love the climbing rig I made for them and are working their way skyward.
The potatoes that I planted in three huge black pots are just peeking through. I know I won't get a bumper crop, but just the thought of a meal with my own spuds is good enough for me.
When I open the back door, I'm greeted with the heady scent of sweet cicely blossoms. The plants are shoulder height and I'm always amazed at how quickly they grow...like Jack in the Beanstalk quick. The little bleeding heart plant is one that I discovered under drooping cedar branches, dug up and transplanted. It's only ever managed the strength to produce one or two hearts, but this spring, it put on a surge of energy and looks like it just might survive as a real bush after all.
Even on a dull day, this shines like the sun...
And at the bottom of the driveway, this greets me when I pull in...
I had fun playing in the garden today and the forecast is for warm and sunny days ahead, so there will be more of the same in store for me tomorrow.
Yayyy!! I popped in this morning and got greeted by not ONE new entry but THREE lovely entries! It's been so wonderful catching up with all of your goings on Barbara. You have been having a busy time and I have loved reading about every minute of it and all the photos as well!! I love those tea caddies! They're beautiful planters! How ingenious!!!
Posted by: Marie | May 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM
this coming weekend is our big gardenning beginnings...while everyone else is out camping at overfull campgrounds, trying to get around a million and one screaming(not all bad screams, they scream when they're having fun, too!) kids and bikes and boats and people drinking too many beers around the campfire, etc, we'll be laying in rows of potatos, tomatoes, parsnips, beets,pumpkins, zuchs and brussel sprouts...
Posted by: dilling | May 15, 2008 at 07:36 PM
The tea tins are so cool! What a great use for them.
Posted by: gwensmom | May 15, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Oh goody! Three lovely posts with lots of spring photos! Glad to see you're back on board Barb :)
That paneer seems relatively easy to make, doesn't it...might give it a try.
Posted by: Fi | May 21, 2008 at 07:53 PM
That's a lovely post. I promise to stop by more often.You do write about interesting things.
Posted by: Just Plain Jane | June 01, 2008 at 09:20 PM
haven't been over in a while barb...way busy here. but the new photos here are just so beautiful, truly a feast for the eyes.
Posted by: Papernest | September 11, 2008 at 12:35 AM
I wish I had some space to plant... I do plant anyway in small containers :) Could you tel me a good variety of tomatoes that grows well in a container or small vase?
Posted by: sara | October 01, 2008 at 01:43 AM
nice garden you got
Posted by: Kaylovesvintage | July 13, 2009 at 12:05 AM