Yesterday was spent working on finishing the beds in the new garden and a spur of the moment arbor building with twigs. We put in the posts to anchor a gate (which still needs to be completed) and at the last minute decided to plant grapes on either side. After I had put the grapes in I had an idea for giving support for them to grow and at the same time add some whimsy to the garden.
We had a birch tree which needed pruning and as I was doing so I figured I'd put the branches and twigs to good use. It may look a little sparse at the moment, but, once the grapes grow, it will make a lovely entrance into the garden.
We still have the fencing to put up and to mulch all the pathways. The greenhouse will probably be put in late summer for use this fall. A few other odds and ends and we should be totally enclosed and fully functional, including the rain barrel for watering and some portable compost bins. I have to say, this has been a fun project.
And, as y'all as my witness, I have finally, FINALLY gotten lavender to germinate!
This is the first time in all my years of trying to get it to do so.
While we were working, the dogs were playing. Nuala is flying! I knew Shelties had wings, but, this is a first hand witness! She looks so ferocious, but, she is really playing. She really likes to pick on Finnegan.
But, I don't think she had too much of a happy ending here! Looks like Finnegan is telling her to "watch it". Bad place to end up, little Nuala....pun fully intended.All in all, it was a wonderful day after an extremely busy Friday and Saturday doing things that took us away from the homestead.
And just a reminder - don't forget to enter the giveaway here.
Have a wonderful week!
I like your arbor! I love rustic stuff like that. For instance, although I have many, perfectly good tomato baskets that the last owner left us that would make perfectly good tuteurs if I turned them upside down and lashed their prongs together (Not my idea- I've seen it done), I have some wonderful, long apple wood cuttings from my neighbor's apple trees, which combined with the grape cuttings I hope to have one day, will make really pretty, rustic tuteurs that would look a whole lot better. I may do some sort of bendy baskety thing with them to support the peonies if they ever decide to come up.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the lavender starts! I'm going to attempt it for the first time, probably later today.
If I haven't entered, consider me in (which is kind of scary, since I don't remember the contest!)
I also love what you've done with your garden entrance, and you've given me an idea on what to do with some the smaller trees we've been cutting down on our property!
ReplyDeleteI also love lavendar--It's one of my favorites!!! Hope your week is off to a good start!!
I'm sure that arbor would look awesome once the grapes start growing. LAVENDER! I've tried twice to germinate them but failed miserably. How did you get it to germinate? Any tips you can share?
ReplyDeleteYour arbor is so cute and so are you Shelties.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words about my arbor. I thought it was pretty cool myself, but then, I'm just a little biased ;-)
ReplyDeletePaula - there is a blog called the Unusually unusual farm chick that just posted video's from a willow furniture guy making garden obelisks - you might want to check the video's out. He gives you step by step instructions on making them.
Kim - we had to start getting resourceful with all the branches around here - we've taken out a huge dumpster full of snow damaged trees to be chipped... ugh - it's been sooo labor intensive. And lavender is one of my favorites and also one of my most frustrating plants to try and grow!
Chandramouli - thanks for stopping by and your kind words. Unfortunately I am probably the worst person to ask advice about germinating lavender. This is the first time in over 12 years that it has actually germinated! I think I just got plain lucky!
Becky - I think my spinning shelties are cute, too, but then I'm their dog "mom" so I have to say that! You've got some sweetie pies, too!
Thanks again everyone!
Found you through the Chicken Boys blog. :) You have lovely shelties! I've not seen Nuala's color before. Definitely pretty. :)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say, that our fig tree did well here in North Carolina while we had it, and was fairly prolific once I realized what not to prune, lol. Even though we only had it a short while, the figs were pretty good (when the birds would let them ripen. They delighted in taking *one* bite out of each of them). I think the only type we could find here was the brown fig.
I like your raised beds. I am thinking we may do that as it is getting harder to bend over for long periods.
Nice to meet you, Toni. :)
I like this idea very much Toni and making use of the cut-offs from your birch trees is inspired, the vine will look great twining itself up and around . Good luck with your lavender, one of my favourite herbs which does very well in my garden.
ReplyDeleteJeanne x
I love your grape arbor. Beautiful even without the grape vines covering it.
ReplyDelete