Garden 2026

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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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.

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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.

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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.

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In memory of my mother, I put red geraniums and dusty miller in to her grandmother's planter. It's a combination she favored.

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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!

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My hanging basket has happy, little lettuce, but the edible flowers on top have yet to emerge.

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Although it has been cold, some of my seed starts were growing out of their milk jug green houses.....

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So I stuck them in the ground and placed a guard over them in hopes that they make it until it is warmer.

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The pollinator garden seems to be taking off. Please ignore the darn weeds!

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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....

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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.

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I cannot wait to plant beans.

How does your garden grow?
 
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!

View attachment 82793

My hanging basket has happy, little lettuce, but the edible flowers on top have yet to emerge.

View attachment 82794

Although it has been cold, some of my seed starts were growing out of their milk jug green houses.....

View attachment 82795

So I stuck them in the ground and placed a guard over them in hopes that they make it until it is warmer.

View attachment 82796

The pollinator garden seems to be taking off. Please ignore the darn weeds!

View attachment 82797

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....

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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.

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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.

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Momma's iris are blooming!!!

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My Victory Garden sign is up!

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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!!!

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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.

20260501_172317.jpg


Momma's iris are blooming!!!

20260503_110102.jpg


My Victory Garden sign is up!

20260503_152159 (1).jpg


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!!!

20260503_164601.jpg


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
 
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.

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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.

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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:

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And this at night:

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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.
 
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.

View attachment 82956

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.

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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:

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And this at night:

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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.

Lotta work! Looks beautiful!

Lee
 
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

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Wow, great photos! I would love orioles to come and stay, but I usually see one in early Spring and that's it.

Lee
 
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