Frugal Yard and Gardening

Last years unexpected sunflower.

     Remember this lady from last year? Two years ago I planted a single sunflower seed that was part of a tiny grow kit from the Target dollar section then replanted in a big pot and it took off. Then last year, unexpectedly, a new plant sprouted in the place, but in the ground, where old plant had been. I took those dried flowers and shook the seeds out in the same area, plus in a rectangular planter. Maybe just maybe I'll have gifts this year. 

    The free from my local Buy Nothing peony from last spring is sprouting. It's small, so not sure how long before it grows enough to flower, but I didn't kill it! The chive clumps from the same woman are starting to sprout again in one of the pots, but the other is bone dry. I'm not sure yet if the hostas she also gave will flourish...there's early signs that are promising but I have to carefully weed/ mow around them so as not to clip. My SIL's hosta gifts from 2020 are coming up with gusto. I probably should split them.

     The rhubarb plant, one of the purchases from my work colleagues gifted garden center shopping spree, is flourishing. This one I'm very happy about as it reminds me of childhood. I've tried before to get rhubarb to grow without success. It's still small so I'll gladly accept gifts of surplus stalks this year, but now am hopeful next year I'll have quite a bit of my own.

     I bought a well rated but store brand weed and feed for the front yard. The back yard won't have any weed barrier put down because thats dog domain, but I put shade based seed down. Both weed and feed and seed distribution were aided by borrowing my neighbors easy to use spreader. He also passed on a meals worth of asparagus. Yum!

      I know little to nothing about any of this, but it's giving me great joy. Now, if only I could have good luck getting grass to grow in the shade and vegetables to harvest, I'll truly feel like I've turned a green thumb corner. Brrr, we've had a return to early spring late winter again, so need to wait to get vegetables in. Seeds are ready when the cold finally decides to stay away.