Frugal Yard and Gardening
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| 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.
Sam, getting grass to grow in shady areas is tough. Good luck! Gardening of any kind can be a crap shoot! Not Bossy
ReplyDeleteI know it'll be a battle. Ill settle for crab grass as it's so bare in spots.
DeleteThere are shade ground cover mixes you can spread, but based on where the shady parts are you may not like the look. We’re conditioned to want to see a uniform, green lawn. If it was me, (again, based on where they’re located) and I had the energy, I would create shade beds in those areas and plant shade tolerant perennials wood violets (which makes a pretty ground cover with its foliage when it’s finished blooming) Foxgloves, Forget-Me-Nots and Shasta daisies (Becky variety.) There’s also hardy Fuchsia, which despises sun. It grows as a shrub, dies to the ground in winter, and comes back. Hummingbirds love it. But I am not sure if it is suited to your zone.
ReplyDeleteMy yard is not coming together this year. I gave up on vegetables. The vegetable garden is now just pumpkin hills and strawberries!
-Meg B
I just know so little and have very little patience to figure it out. Hiring someone to clear out, not trees, but whats left of the yard, and started fresh has an appeal. I don't need green, but hates the dirt I atvhrs which are more and more each year. I'll look at your suggestions and head to the garden center.
DeleteWe are still waiting for warmer weather before planting. If we lived closer I would gladly share rhubarb with you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
My sil has a neighbor that has Xander huge patch and doesnt use it, so gave us lots last year. I'm hoping she's inclined again. Im pleased with how my bunch is coming in. Yes, it looks lije it'll ve at least another 10-14 days before I get things in the ground.
DeleteI'm an enthusiastic spring gardener too but then seem to run out of steam quite quickly, probably when I start having to lug water around. They say over here not to plant before the last frost (les Saints de Glace) in mid-May but of course my tomato plants have been in for three weeks now because I never learn. Then the other day we had hail but so far my veggies are holding up. It's so exciting isn't it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to treat this as my job this summer! The excitement probably will wane with me too.
DeleteIt’s been such a dry couple of weeks here in the UK that I’m already feeling a bit fed up with watering the young plants, hopefully we’ll get enough rain soon to fill the water butts and refresh the thirsty shrubs. That sunflower is very pretty, they are such cheerful flowers.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Not something you hear often from the UK in the spring- now rain. We need showers too and perhaps in Saturday's forecast. Sunflowers just are a burst of joy.
DeleteI love sunflowers and plan to plant them this weekend along with basil, arugula, more lettuce, peppers and a few other things. I'm so happy that all of the oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary came back so well after the winter. The garlic I planted in the fall looks awesome and should be ready in a month or two. Our farmers market started this week, and I am excited to go tomorrow for strawberries and flowers for the back patio. As much as I love winter, I do love this time of year also. I hope you enjoy your gardening this year.
ReplyDeleteI didn't buy herb seeds but should have. My daughter has built-in planters across her deck and dies a mix of flowers and herbs. I am not a hige spring person, but trying to lean in and just enjoy the season's and the unique attributes to each one.
DeleteI do not have a green thumb and, even so, our side yard seems to be perfect for growing green beans and tomatoes. This year, there are no green beans planted since the stupid groundhog ate all of them last year anyway. Hopefully the tomatoes will do well this year.
ReplyDeleteAs we've been obsessed with Asian inspired green beans I thought I'd give them a try. I might use the side of my house for a few containers that might actually get better sun.
DeleteThe sunflowers are beautiful! I hope you thoroughly enjoy and have great success in your gardening adventures this summer.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a fun surprise last year so hopeful. A neighbor on the dar side of the park grew those giant ones last year and were amazing. I hope they do this year as well.
DeleteI grew sunflower seeds during lockdown andwas told that they made many a lockdown walk a lot more pleasureable. Our rhubarb seems to thrive on neglect so I'm sure yours will be fine - we have a Spring and an Autumn variety so if yours doesn't appear in the next few weeks maybe its the latter.
ReplyDeleteHostas are pretty hardy, too - ours are in pots, I rub Vaseline around the rims to keep the slugs at bay. xxx
The dogs used the rhubarb as target practice last fall and it is coming back so I guess mine likes neglect too. Since writing this, Im seeing all 7 clumps of lastvyears new hostas poke through the grass. I bet your sunflowers were a big hit. As I said to Belinda, the ones across the park last year were amazing.
DeleteI'm smiling looking and reading about your gardening. I'm still on the couch: seeds, plants to go in the ground. We are warmer down here in central Ohio than you up in the St. Paul area (I have a close friend in Minneapolis who keeps me posted); I just need to get moving!
ReplyDeleteI am new to gardening; only took it up when I retired over 3 years ago. I get great pleasure when things do grow, but it is hit and miss! My beans and tomatoes did so well last year. But other things I planted just never went anywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like I'm following your path. My dad had a huge garden. We weeded, occasionally picked but never in charge.
DeleteI am terrible at gardening. I can't seem to keep anything alive. Having a lot of deer visit the garden doesn't help either! Good luck
ReplyDeleteI battle shade, and don't want to give up the trees. No deer to wirry about in back...the rabbits though.
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