Garden Progress

Yeah I know it has been awhile, but seriously it is summer. I have been keeping busy, however. Primarily I built a new raised bed behind the house for flowers. I made it 12'x 8' with a 4' inset cut into one side giving it a "C" shape. This was finished a few weeks ago and was built entirely from free/recycled wood, but I have not had a load of dirt brought in to fill it. This weekend I plan on running some PVC out to it and installing a primary water line that I can attach some micro-sprinklers and drippers to later on.

Large Raised Bed Behind House

I also cut in a new foundation bed behind the house. This bed is north facing and has the benefit of getting a good bit of shade for the first 3/4 of the day. In it I planted a row of Purple Irises ups front as a border, Those are also four or five clumps of a really pretty red Canna that I was able to get from a gardener down in Groves, TX. In between those are several varieties of day lilies that I was able to get from my neighbor before they moved out. You can also see the new irrigation system made out of some scrap PVC. It is just a series of micro-umbrella sprayers, you can also see the old soaker hose I haven't picked up yet. For this bed I really wanted that manicured look, so I took the time to mark and cut out the sod surrounding the bed. That is why the PVC is a little too long now.

A good shot showing the cut edge of the foundation bed.

How it looks from the front right now.

 Down in the backyard, under one of the only shade trees I have (an invasive Tallow but what can you do?) I planted the excess of the Purple Irises and Caladiums that I had on hand. It is still a pretty dirty bed, and the grass really needs to be ripped out again. I am also planning on cutting in that manicured border like I did on the foundation bed. However, I am not certain how that will really look with the large root systems that are present. But either way it needs a lot more work.

Man that looks terrible right now! 

With my neighbors, and gardening buddies, Don and Dene moving away I was able to get Don's nice homemade starter box. This is the box he has been starting all of his plants in for the last year or so since he built it. It is roughly 4' wide and 2 1/2' tall and about 1 1/2' deep. He wired in a 100v lizard warmer and some old PC fans into the small box on the side. It is not being used right now because it is so damn hot really, but will be a life-saver this winter when coupled with my heating mats and 4' grow light.

Grow box, sorry for the crappy pic on this one. 

The biggest deal for me personally, however, is the seed that is currently growing inside. I received the Park Seed Bio-Dome system a few weeks back and had been waiting on a grow light before I started anything. Here it is fully loaded with 120 seeds. Everything has sprouted, or is about to at least, with the exception of the row on the far left hand side. That is Rudibeckia Green Wizard, and for some reason is either not growing at all or is taking it ever-loving time with it. I will add a list of what is in the seed starter at the bottom of the post.

The Park Seed Bio-Dome illuminated by a T5 grow lamp.

I was also able to get a number of red, white, and pink Geraniums from my neighbor before they moved and a huge double potted Hosta. They are all doing well now after one was decimated by some white fungus. I sprayed the others and they perked up significantly. Dene also gave me her ornamental pepper plant which produces small grape like peppers of all sorts of colors.

Some Giant Hostas and a small herb pot.

Moss Roses are doing fantastic! The empty pot actually has some mystery bulbs sitting until late winter.

Some of the Geraniums.

The ornamental pepper.

Sorry for the image quality on these, it is bloody bright here until 9pm so I take what I can get. And I knew if I didn't do it now I would just put it off longer and longer.

I will provide some more updates on the seedlings as they progress.

The Seeds Planted

• Stokes Blue Astor - 20
• Butterfly Bush - 10
• Arizona Blanket Flower - 20
• Rudibeckia Green Wizard - 10
• Miscanthus Sinesus - 20
• Lavendar Munstead - 20
• Cornflower Magnus (Echinacea) - 10
• Salvia Superba Blue Queen - 10