Garden Pic Spam

[botias]

After all that painting, sawing, digging and brick-laying I did last summer, this year I got to do the fun part. On the down side, I'm pretty sure I am not nearly as buff. *starts doing push-ups*

These pictures are from the opposite side of the yard from my pictures of last year. Today or tomorrow I would like to take some from the same angle for comparison.





Click here to see a hayooge version. You can play find the feral cat!!



I had no idea it would turn into a jungle like this. I certainly didn't know the bachelor buttons would get so tall; granted the seed packet said they will get 30 inches tall, but I swear these are more like 42 inches. Neither did I expect the borage to do the same. Also, I had no idea that the shy, retiring purple aster I got from the side of the road would turn into a giant bush in more friendly circumstances.

Plants: Sunflowers, Bachelor Buttons, Thyme, Mexican Hyssop (Agastache) 4 or 5 varieties, globe thistle, Yarrow (Achillea), society garlic, ornamental oregano, artichoke, red-leafed rose, pincushion flower, rue, california poppy, perennial marigold, rose campion, purple coneflower, borage, blue dianthus, aster.

The raised beds have vegetables and marigolds.

I really like Mexican Hyssop because of the fragrant leaves. They smell like bubble gum.

Most all the plants were chosen because they were a) attractive to bees and butterflies b) had fragrant foliage c) were edible or d) did not produce white flowers. What makes me sad and concerned is that I saw much fewer bees and butterflies compared to last year. :( I hope it's an annual variation and not a sign of things to come. I didn't see a single skipper butterfly this season, and the hummingbirds that staked out my yard last year were absent too.

Comments

[beanbeans.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie! It's gorgeous! Wow! You did an amazing job!

Man, time flies, doesn't it? It seems like such a short time ago when you were hefting those bricks and talking to me on YIM about your plans for the flower beds. :D

I love how it turned out, B. I hope you're happy with it, and proud of yourself, too, because you did a fantastic job. ♥

Will you share some more photos when you are ready to harvest your veggies? I'd like that, very much. :)

[botias.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much beans. I'm a little bewildered at what drive possesses me to garden with such vigor, but \o/ I do enjoy the results. :)

I will do what I can on the veggies. :) I've been kind of doing the 'square foot' gardening thing where I plant a small area at a time with carrots or one row of lettuce. So I harvest one salad/carrot/radish at a time. I did plant some corn that seemed to be doing well, but some animal chewed them off close to the ground one night. >:( Perhaps the stalks taste sweet?

Hopefully, I will have some tomatoes I can take proud pics of. :)

[louise39.livejournal.com]

Lush garden. Congratulations!

Butterflies do seem to have variations in visiting. Maybe the next generation just get lost.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so re: the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. :)

[copykween.livejournal.com]

That's really gorgeous. I keep intending to do something similar in the back yard. These pics are very inspirational. :)

[botias.livejournal.com]

I hope you will. :D

This is the first real yard I've had in 6 or 7 years. I guess I was a bit pent up.

[wolff-slaven.livejournal.com]

Wow that is stunning. Sure as hell beats my brown and dry backyard here in the desert.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is the opposite here on the North Coast, very much. Still, I miss some things about a hot, arid climate. You could grow awesome peppers, basil and tomatoes!

[seductivembrace.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! Wish I had 1/10 of your green thumb abilities.

Aww.... lookit the cute white feral!kitty. Does he/she like to gnaw on the foilage?

[botias.livejournal.com]

We have a winner! :D I have a few catmint plants that the ferals like to nibble. I have a proverbial cat lady living next door. Fortunately they seem to leave the rest of the plants alone, and more important they prefer to hide in my jungle rather than poop in it. \o/

[earth-vexer.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that looks fantastic! I love the brick border. And heheh, I found the cat. :D

[botias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I <3 my little brick wall.

Hee! I didn't notice the kitty when I was taking the pictures.

[mere-ubu.livejournal.com]

Byoo-tiful! And so colorful. I can see why someone would actually want to spend time in such a lovely yard. (My back yard is a mosquito-infested bog, and every year there is wistful talk of paving it.) Is the kitty gnoshing? 'Cause it looks like she's having a little snack there.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! No paving! I'm sure there is something that could be done? Maybe? Still, mosquitoes are bad.

The kitties not noshing I don't think, at least not on those plants. They will mow the catmint periodically.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

The bed looks fantastic! Is the feral kitty enamored of something in the catnip family?

Your brick border is wonderful and the plants look beautifully happy.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D If I plant catnip I think I will do it on the opposite side of the yard. Not a bad plan actually.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

You did an amazing job, especially since you can see the before & after photos. Lovely and lush.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D