Johnny West
Well-known member
Nancy started her tomato and other seeds the past few days. Some olde heirloom seeds from late DIL have already sprouted.
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Garden 2026
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Johnny West
Well-known member
Peas are ready to plant but cold weather predicted for next week.
I went to the Philly Flower Show yesterday. One of the things I saw was how to make a border or even a slightly raised bed using cement blocks. Now I really want to make them to go across the back of the house in front of the wall. Maybe even increase my growing area back there.
Johnny West
Well-known member
Fig starts Nancy started from branch cuttings... she's moving all her starts outside. The boy that mows our yard will water while we are gone.
I'm unsure whether I will get to creating the border. Weeding my yard has been exhausting this year. I did get to clearing my perennial pollinator bed. Several lavender plants did not survive winter so I replaced them. I also added columbine, cosmos, and beebalm. Would like to add a large black-eyed susan and a milkweed.
I bought a semi-dwarf fruit tree that has five kinds of fruit grafted on it. I'm happy that all five branches are developing leaves.
In memory of my mother, I put red geraniums and dusty miller in to her grandmother's planter. It's a combination she favored.
I weeded that fence line less than two weeks ago near the little Frankenfruit Tree. I am hating weeds at the moment.
I bought a semi-dwarf fruit tree that has five kinds of fruit grafted on it. I'm happy that all five branches are developing leaves.
In memory of my mother, I put red geraniums and dusty miller in to her grandmother's planter. It's a combination she favored.
I weeded that fence line less than two weeks ago near the little Frankenfruit Tree. I am hating weeds at the moment.
It is not yet May and I am so darn tired of weeding. Truly, I do not remember this much weeding in past years. Hopefully, I can lay paper and a layer of straw down soon to block some weeds.
I had to weed the mushroom baskets....no mushrooms yet, but it seems that the lion's mane is trying!
My hanging basket has happy, little lettuce, but the edible flowers on top have yet to emerge.
Although it has been cold, some of my seed starts were growing out of their milk jug green houses.....
So I stuck them in the ground and placed a guard over them in hopes that they make it until it is warmer.
The pollinator garden seems to be taking off. Please ignore the darn weeds!
Weeded the garlic and strawberries. The potatoes in baskets are also taking off. I am trying to think what I might plant behind these raised beds. It really gets little sunlight there....
I put two sweet potatoes...in baskets. If this basket thing does not work out, I will be having a yard sale on Dollar Tree baskets.
I cannot wait to plant beans.
How does your garden grow?
I had to weed the mushroom baskets....no mushrooms yet, but it seems that the lion's mane is trying!
My hanging basket has happy, little lettuce, but the edible flowers on top have yet to emerge.
Although it has been cold, some of my seed starts were growing out of their milk jug green houses.....
So I stuck them in the ground and placed a guard over them in hopes that they make it until it is warmer.
The pollinator garden seems to be taking off. Please ignore the darn weeds!
Weeded the garlic and strawberries. The potatoes in baskets are also taking off. I am trying to think what I might plant behind these raised beds. It really gets little sunlight there....
I put two sweet potatoes...in baskets. If this basket thing does not work out, I will be having a yard sale on Dollar Tree baskets.
I cannot wait to plant beans.
How does your garden grow?
Wow, Kathleen, you've got a lot going on there! I'm particularly interested in how the mushrooms do, so please keep us posted!
Lee
I will, @QSis. Right now, they are just there considering what they should do in those baskets. I was busy this weekend on other parts of the yard.
I have a spot on a hill that grows weeds and dirt. Found some plants that supposedly tolerate neglect and partial sun. For each one that I placed in the ground, I said, "May the odds forever be in your favor." We will see how they do.
Momma's iris are blooming!!!
My Victory Garden sign is up!
I have little sprouts of flowers that supposedly attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. I placed them in grow bags and hung them on the metal leaves that I bought at the Philly Flower Show. I really hope they grow and fluff out beautifully!!!
Beets and radish are coming up. Also, I am trying to cover the weeds in the back on the hill with weed-blocking paper and straw. Sadly, I ran out of straw and paper, so I need to pick up more tomorrow. I've been a bit MIA, but am hoping it pays off in the garden this summer.
I have a spot on a hill that grows weeds and dirt. Found some plants that supposedly tolerate neglect and partial sun. For each one that I placed in the ground, I said, "May the odds forever be in your favor." We will see how they do.
Momma's iris are blooming!!!
My Victory Garden sign is up!
I have little sprouts of flowers that supposedly attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. I placed them in grow bags and hung them on the metal leaves that I bought at the Philly Flower Show. I really hope they grow and fluff out beautifully!!!
Beets and radish are coming up. Also, I am trying to cover the weeds in the back on the hill with weed-blocking paper and straw. Sadly, I ran out of straw and paper, so I need to pick up more tomorrow. I've been a bit MIA, but am hoping it pays off in the garden this summer.
I will, @QSis. Right now, they are just there considering what they should do in those baskets. I was busy this weekend on other parts of the yard.
I have a spot on a hill that grows weeds and dirt. Found some plants that supposedly tolerate neglect and partial sun. For each one that I placed in the ground, I said, "May the odds forever be in your favor." We will see how they do.
Momma's iris are blooming!!!
My Victory Garden sign is up!
I have little sprouts of flowers that supposedly attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. I placed them in grow bags and hung them on the metal leaves that I bought at the Philly Flower Show. I really hope they grow and fluff out beautifully!!!
Beets and radish are coming up. Also, I am trying to cover the weeds in the back on the hill with weed-blocking paper and straw. Sadly, I ran out of straw and paper, so I need to pick up more tomorrow. I've been a bit MIA, but am hoping it pays off in the garden this summer.
Your garden is so cool! What are the flowers in the bags that attract hummingbirds?
Lee
Honestly, I am not sure. I bought the kit from this website. Since it was on-sale, and I have two metal leaves, AND I had a free shipping coupon, I also bought the one to attract more butterflies. Both kits come with seed packs that I sprinkled over little plant-starting cells. They emerged fairly fast and instructions said to stick them in the bags shortly after they emerge.
I hope they come out even a bit like the photos!!!
Today, I completed the perennial pollinator garden. As long as it grows and survives winter, I do not intend to add anything more to it.
Also, I finished putting down paper and straw all over my hill top garden area to cut down weeds. And because I am a fool, I ordered a third raised bed to frame the fruit tree.
You really cannot see the straw area in the last two photos unless you go up the steps to the upper level of the back yard.
From below, the backyard looks like this during the day:
And this at night:
Thank you for your kind words, Lee. I have been trying hard to make my yard pretty as well as productive with veggies and fruits.
Doesn't really belong here, but my son's friend Jon sent me some bird pictures from a small area of his yard.
He put grape jelly in the feeder and has been attracting all kinds of birds.
A woodpecker and an oriole lol
He put grape jelly in the feeder and has been attracting all kinds of birds.
A woodpecker and an oriole lol
Wow, great photos! I would love orioles to come and stay, but I usually see one in early Spring and that's it.
Lee
I'm sure he'll be sending me more of any different birds who visit.
I have a hummingbird feeder that I faithfully change each week so any guest would have fresh food....and have yet to see one. 
I also keep a dish of mealworms to strive to attract bluebirds....and have yet to see one. However the cardinals, robins, sparrows, and starlings seem appreciative.
I also keep a dish of mealworms to strive to attract bluebirds....and have yet to see one. However the cardinals, robins, sparrows, and starlings seem appreciative.
I have a hummingbird feeder that I faithfully change each week so any guest would have fresh food....and have yet to see one.
It took me 25 years of planting hummingbird-loving flowers and a nectar feeder before they came. Now they've come back for the last 12 years.
They love my hanging vermillionaire aka Firecracker plant.
Lee
I moved one raised bed to a location near the new fruit tree and put in an L-shaped bed in the original location. My fella suggested I use a broken patio umbrella frame for a trellis in the new bed. Today, I planted pickling cucumbers and bush bean seeds in the L-shaped bed. The other near the fruit tree currently has melons planted.
Beans and pickling cukes.
Melons and....unsure what else yet.
An addition to the shade garden: This really unusual-colored corabell! I've never seen one that is this shade of red! I caught it during the 2 hours of sun it will receive!
Beans and pickling cukes.
Melons and....unsure what else yet.
An addition to the shade garden: This really unusual-colored corabell! I've never seen one that is this shade of red! I caught it during the 2 hours of sun it will receive!
Ironman
🍺
Thank you
I've still not seen a single hummingbird. How long should I keep swapping out food in the hummingbird feeder? Should I swap it each week in hopes that one will show up?
On the plus side, my mini-cucumbers are forming and radishes are great. I have blueberries coming in. Other things are plugging along nicely. A few photos of updates.
Walkway to the house.
Victory Garden in the front.
Bean Teepees with squash growing in the center. Hanging planter is full of lettuce and edible flowers. Beans are starting to climb and the squash are flowering.
Metal Leaves that I got at the Philly Flower Show has hanging planters with flowers to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. They are starting to flowe
I could not endure any more wide-scale weeding, so I covered the tip-top of the garden with heavy paper and straw. Blueberries are ripening. Blackberries are starting to form. Peppers are growing. Rhubarb is done for the season. Asparagus is thriving. Melons are in a raised bed off to a slow start. Bush beans and okra are growing slowly too.
I've been fortunate to harvest radishes and a few mini-cucumbers. Mance takes his role as home agriculture inspector very seriously.
How long should I keep swapping out food in the hummingbird feeder? Should I swap it each week in hopes that one will show up? On the plus side, my mini-cucumbers are forming and radishes are great. I have blueberries coming in. Other things are plugging along nicely. A few photos of updates.
Walkway to the house.
Victory Garden in the front.
Bean Teepees with squash growing in the center. Hanging planter is full of lettuce and edible flowers. Beans are starting to climb and the squash are flowering.
Metal Leaves that I got at the Philly Flower Show has hanging planters with flowers to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. They are starting to flowe
I could not endure any more wide-scale weeding, so I covered the tip-top of the garden with heavy paper and straw. Blueberries are ripening. Blackberries are starting to form. Peppers are growing. Rhubarb is done for the season. Asparagus is thriving. Melons are in a raised bed off to a slow start. Bush beans and okra are growing slowly too.
I've been fortunate to harvest radishes and a few mini-cucumbers. Mance takes his role as home agriculture inspector very seriously.
Johnny West
Well-known member
Nancy went out in the even heat and cut her garlic scapes. I’ll not grill any till it cools off.
TexasGem
Well-known member
@Kathleen , do you suppose the hummingbirds are busy on the flowers and not bothering with the feeders?? That's been the case here in north Texas. It's a wetter than usual year so I have flowers longer than usual. The hummers here haven't touched my feeders so I took them down. I am seeing them in abundance.
I've still not seen a single hummingbird.
Great use of space, Kathleen!
I may have asked this before, is this the first year that you've tried to attract hummingbirds? Do your neighbors have feeders?
If you know that they are in the area, you should keep changing the nectar in the feeder. If not, you've missed the migration window (end of April, beginning of May) and they've most likely passed you by. You will still have the flowers you've planted and can try again next Spring. It may take several years, as has been my experience.
Lee
Thanks, QSis! It is the first time I have tried to attract hummingbirds and neighbors have bird feeders for seed birds (which only attracts rats.) I do have a planter that is supposed to contain flowers for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds....so I will keep the feeder out there. I know they are in the area, but have not seen them in my yard before.
I have to be conservative with my use of space. It looks larger, but is a very small yard. My yard is roughly 1/10th of an acre.
I have to be conservative with my use of space. It looks larger, but is a very small yard. My yard is roughly 1/10th of an acre.