new obligation

We made our deadline.  On Thursday before work I planted the corn and the last of tomatoes. Also Hubby went up in the afternoon to seed the last of the perennials.

Then yesterday the Ppatch office called to say that someone had opted out their box - did we want to use it since it was already paid for?

So today I bought yellow and red onion sets, 3 paste tomatoes and some nasturtium.

We plan to have the 4x8 box planted before the girls get up in the morning.

Deadlines

 Well one deadline - Friday.  Everything needs to be planted and marked in both the Ppatch and at home by then.

As a result the last couple days have been a rush when I get home from work to get something ANYTHING done.

I was sidetracked by the home front yesterday, but today the Ppatch got some love.

The bales, as you can see, have been placed.  The plan is Mammoth Sunflowers along the fence with Greek amaranth on the top tier.  Strawberry Popcorn on the lower, with (already planted) nasturtiums cascading over the straw.

Most of the bell peppers are planted (I still need to acquire a mild chili) as are a majority of the tomatoes.  The straw paths are to help Hubby wheel through the rows (and show the children where the rows are)  I brought the cucumber plants to the garden but had just started setting up the climbing dome over a trench for irrigation when Juju reminded us they had gymnastics.

While we were gone, Hubby planted his flower garden - he wants to attract pollinators he says.  He left the right side by the metal fence for irises and the top of the hill for me to continue the sunflower theme and the left side for us to dig in some steps (the final thing on our to do list.

On our last visit the girls planted their boxes, a bewildering mix of flowers, herbs, and begrudgingly carrots and radishes and a tomato.

 

 

The trellis is a dismantled plant shelf that the neighbors offered to us.  It was either us or the trash man.  I planted trombetta squash(this was not their idea either) on it and we will connect the top somehow to make an arbor.

But now it is dark and I need to start the indoor work that the weather did not allow me to take care of before.

A manly clothspin holder

We have been using my Grandma Lundborg's holder - it was made to look like a toddler dress, but I had not yet had a chance to patch the holes in it so Hubby improvised.

This is more appropriate for a stay at home Dad/homemaker/blacksmith/builder/handyman/landscape designer and all around Lone Rooster of Urban Chicks Farm.

Everybody has a job

Mesha painting 2x2s we got for free to make garden markers for the gardens.

Wonders of spring

The yard is full of surprises this year.

This peach colored iris is a nice change from the usual purple and yellow we have seen so far.

There is also now a red rose by the old apple tree that I had found smothered under the vinca.

We have a white rose on the fence.  The bush has never bloomed in the 2 years we have been here.  I started singing "Painting the roses red" from Disney's Alice in Wonderland as soon as I saw it.

 But by a landslide this is the best surprise so far: 

We didn't even know we had a peach tree.  This is the first year it bloomed.  I guess clearing out the weeds and pruning most of the dead branches was a good idea.  Now we just have to get a ladder up and thin the small fruit.

Quail

This is my favorite sound - narrowly beating out the contented clucks of the hens.

Mourning

The female quail did not make it.

The dominant male has been calling all day.  Often enough that the roofers across the alley started calling back.  It seems to me like he is calling for the lost member of his flock.