Ah...the Weeds

Okay, it's not all weeds, but there are plenty.

First up on the docket is the bluebirds. They have taken up residence in one of the boxes in my yard - hooray! They eat lots of insects and help keep pests under control.

Blue-eyed grass - there are more than one! I will have to head out with the field guide to see which species I have, but here's a nice close-up of the flower. It's not a weed, although many folks treat it is as such because it will grow in lawns that are left "untended." This is a native wildflower and one I am always thrilled to see in my yard.

The lupines have started to bloom. Ah, the luminous lupine!

And here it is, the 2010 Veg Garden, weeds and all:

As you can see, the spaces between the beds have really started to grow. Back in the garden's first year, these spaces had been killed off, sort of, by being under black plastic for months. The garden was beautiful in that first year. But now the paths have had 3-4 years to recover and recover they have. I had a wonderous crop of gigantic dandelions lining each path.

These trellises, in case you were wondering, are the ones I spent the last week erecting for my peas, and already the peas have begun to climb! The British Wonder are living up to their name by being the most vigorous growers so far.

Ah, chives. Love 'em in all sorts of foods, but boy can they take over if you don't keep an eye on them. The flowers have only just started to open in this patch. The great thing about chives is that the whole plant is edible. The next time you make a salad (green salad or potato salad), or whip up a batch of mashed potatoes, toss a few chive flowers on top for an attrative edible decoration.

I also have a love-hate relationship with buttercups. I love the flowers, they are quite beautiful, but they are extremely aggressive weeds in the garden. Unlike clover, sheep sorrel, plantain, chickweed and even dandelions, buttercups resist uprooting with a tenacity that would put shrews to shame. And they send out tendrils that sneak in everywhere, forming a thick carpet that is well-nigh impossible to remove. They are also indicators of poor soil. I suspect that their presence is a big clue as to why the soils in this section of the garden smell "sour" - like an anaerobic compost pile. I've added all sorts of ammendments over the years, but I still get whiffs of sour soil. Maybe some day, if I'm still here, I will finally get the soil improved and healthy.

The lilacs have started to blossom!

And the azaleas around the house are in full swing. Lovely.

Too Busy to Photograph!

Hard to believe, when it seems my camera has been surgically attached sometimes, but these last few days I've just been too busy in the garden to take photos!

The peas are finally trellised - ten rows. I ran out of twin about half way through and the whole project had to be put on hold until I got more.

And now the greens are planted. Truthfully, these really could've gone in weeks ago, but that whole snow/frost thing keeps me conservative when it comes to planting. The packages may say the plants are cold tolerent, but what if that's only in Florida, where cold is 70 degrees?

The spuds are in, too. Only a little over two beds this year - no where near as many as last year. This is probably just as well...just in case I get a job offer and have to move!

The beds are slowly filling back up with weeds, though. The paths in between the beds are overgrown with dandelions. Where did they all come from! some are trying to reach knee-height, but so far have been unsuccessful. I mowed some of them down yesterday, but the rest remain, thumbing their proverbial noses at me.

Meanwhile, the drip irrigation system is on the fritz. I bought new batteries for the timer, but after working for about two minutes, it went on the blink. I finally took the whole thing apart and found the inside full of corrosion! One bit even fell off - its wires completely corroded through. I've called Dripworks (twice) to ask them if the thing was under any kind of warrenty (I've only had it two years, and didn't use it hardly at all last year), but so far they have not had the courtesy to call back. Beware the power of the internet, Dripworks - an unsatisfied customer can wreak havoc on your reputation!

So, in the meantime, I've got the hose hooked up and every evening am out there watering.

HHH weather is here (Hazy, Hot, Humid). The exhaust fan is on at night. The dog and I lie there unable to sleep in the heat trapped in the house. And it's only May.