Re: Glad to be back. OT.

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Dear Friends-  I want to say hello! to all my old friends here and to the newer members who bring new ideas and questions exciting and new. There seems to be some changes since last winter like a new host web site and so on. This is still a great #1 sqfter's site (I am a little biased I admit) on the web. I mean, the nicest most knowledgeable gardeners hide amongst the veggies here. We have Farmer John too! And 'official' links to our gardening style's inventor/mentor Mel.

 

This year Vera and I have been very busy.  Our bathrooms upstairs and downstairs are rebuilt and we have painted most of the upstairs in our small bilevel here in Sherwood Park, Alberta (zone 3). I think Vera feels better about the house too. I understand a lady's home reflects her life and values in a special way.

 

Our garden grew well and we actually got tomatoes, corn, beans, and cucs! And lettuce, you never seen so much variety and color! lol. Certain lettuce look so nice I am going to use them as annuals in the flower/perennial beds next year. Have you ever done that? The corn is smaller but very nice and an early variety too. The carrots were not as robust as last year. Spotty germination may have had something to do with a very wet spring.

 

How did your gardens do this year?

 

Outside we constructed a large trellis/screen to partially block the immediate view of visitors who enter the backyard. (I read that this may kindle the interest of visitors to see the rest of the garden). A medium sized arbor constructed in the yard holds a loveseat swing ( for my bride and me to swing on, lol). Six new clematis and a exciting new hardy grape vine adorn the trellis/screen and arbor. The trellis's on the square foot beds will be altered to resemble the arbor and trellis/screen design.

 

In the front yard a new sidewalk is being constructed along side our parking pad out of charcoal colored sidewalk-blocks. (The parking pad is on a slope just steep enough that in the winter it is a bit steep to walk up. The new sidewalk is small  steps to allow stable footing.)

 

A strip of flower bed is accompanying the sidewalk blocks as they reach up to the level ground near the house. A new amur cherry tree adorns the lower front yard complete with bugleweed ground cover, and tulips for spring color.

 

Have you added to your garden this year?

Have a great day,

bill missen.