Somewhere around the 6th year of The Pickleman Family Garden on #hive. What started as a reclamation of lawn and repurposing to a simple garden veggie box has become and expanding and perpetual yearly tradition of exploration.

This edition, The garden is watering itself so I have to find some other things to do.

Last Update

We were into the intermittent rain 8 days ago and my peonies were about to bloom.



Since then, they have soaked in good amounts of sun & rain and are languishing in the afternoon sun. They don't last very long but they bloom big and early in the season.

Rain

When it rains almost daily, the garden waters itself so that saves some time. When the sun is enough to get the sprouts growing roots and leaves, there is not much to prune or pick. Perfect time to get into some of the other garden projects.

Weeding

One of those projects is the section of garden with the lilacs. They grow so incessantly with their new sprouts they can really take over.I don't mind it so much as it is lush green but does look a little scruffy and need of some trimming.



I went to war on this damn things with 3 kinds of trimmers. There was a sale at the hardware store for ground cover plastic and I scooped up 50 feet for less than $10 because this is the last I want to do that!

Next, I found bags of red cedar on sale as well 3 bags for $12. I am being extra frugal this year to see how inexpensively I can get this place growing and keep it presentable. They are not flowering this year but perhaps no more little ones to suck all the resources and next year might be a full crop that makes the house smell great.



While finishing up here, I noticed the little wild strawberries were even fruiting up! Jerry the neighbour hates them as they choke out grass and creep but that is exactly why I like them. Neat to see them doing well enough to throw out some rough little berries. Maybe some of the furry critters or birds will snack on those.

Hostas

As another stroke of luck, I found someone had discarded a bunch of hostas on the curb. They do spread well when they get established and fancier gardens than mine prune them so there is room for other plants. I have been trying a few years to get hostas to spread in this bed. The variety in the foreground with the white on the inside of the leaf has finally managed to do alright this year. The all green ones in the background were planted last summer and are doing very well too. The newly rescued ones are in the middle with the white on the outside of the leaf. With any luck, I can keep the dam dog out of them so that they take over this section of the yard next year with the lush green I enjoy in them.

Early Blooms

I have always enjoyed this shrub for the thousands of early flowers it throws out as a splash of colour and food for the pollinators.



Just now, I learned that it is a Weigela It was here when I moved in so thanks to the original family who planted it!



Another variety grows right beside it but I never knew they were the same general species. Lighter pink but equally as vibrant and plentiful.



Another flower I have the previous owner to thank for is the roses scattered through the garden. I can't recall them coming up this early or being this light pink but the garden is full of surprises.

Pickle Update

I will save the full bloom update til the next round of planting and blooming happens. I will update the masses on the pickle progress however. Near the top corner, I thought I detected a couple little pickle cucumber leaves sprouting. They look now like morning glories but the good news is the English cucumbers seem to have sprouted a little closer to the bottom! I have a few cucumber seeds that have not shown any signs of life but I think it may be because the soil simply hasn't warmed up in this recently cool mid spring season. I still have faith in the pickle plants and have a plan B in case they don't turn out again this year.

Thus ends this chapter of the garden update. Next will hopefully be after a period of solid growing sun and perhaps the huge sales where I can scoop up a raft of annuals for a song.

Mom started me along my path of growing stuff when I was a kid. Motivated by so many blockchain blogging gardeners, I figured I would plant and share and learn as I reclaim as much grass space as I can. It has turned out to be a fruitful experience and I hope to inspire you to sow and grow no matter what your location or experience level is.

Wherever you are...JUST GROW!

I am honoured to curate for:

Has your rain been as wonderfully intermittent?