.overwintering.

rather than doing the traditional sewing of a cover crop this winter, i left most of the garden as-is over the winter to see what would make it and what this maritime growing season was all about . . . well, here's how my experiment played out.

BED #1

full of leeks, beets, onions, rosemary, garlic, lavendar, arugula, lettuces, broccoli, brussels sprouts, chard, and several kinds of kale!  (no carrots, thanks to the dog who raided the garden and ATE THEM ALL)

BED #2

the big empty patch was where my tomatoes had been - i guess i could have sewn a cover crop there, but i never got around to it.  i have a few onions, a little kale and chard, happy sage, sad radishes and not so great broccoli/kale hybrid (this plant didn't fare well in my plot from the beginning - i let it go as a sacrifice to the predatory bugs as long as they stayed away from the rest of my plants).

for now, i am starting seeds indoors (see posts below), put in peas (some from seed saved from my sister's garden and some from territorial seed co, and am working on building a garden map based on companion planting and crop rotation.  it's like a big math problem and i am not good at math problems, so we'll see how it goes!!

.pity party.

my friends are starting seeds for their gardens . . . being in the PNW means that we have a longer growing season than when i used to live in RI . . . but . . . my house only grows mold (this means no window hydroponics - not that there are any windows that have sun hitting them anyway) and my yard only grown mushrooms and mold (no sun hitting the ground there either) and all the community garden have 3 year waitlists.



uuuuugggghhhhhh......


feeling sad today.

here's a few shots of the former glory of my gardens from the past:

getting started with our first cold frame.  built by the man-friend.

heirloom lettuce.

lavender, rhubarb, peas, chamomile, basil, lettuce, raspberries.

my raspberry bush always produced early and then had a flush in late summer/early autumn.

carrots!

the bees loved our echinasea.

peppers!

tomatoes and basil. best combo on earth.

the miracle of pollination.

the most delicious arugula i've grown to date.

chamomile and tomatoes = good companion planting.

the rhubarb got so big!  but i don't mind because it shaded my lettuce from the hot new england summer sun.

oh i miss it so much.

.garden may 2011.

.garden april 2011.

(our gnomes were stolen)  sad face

     

.garden march 2011.

.busy bee.

i took this photo recently in my garden - this big, fat, happy bee was buzzing around my marigolds. there's not a ton left in my garden - just root veggies (beets, carrots), leeks, and onions. i've mulched it all over and pulled up the dead tomatoes and peppers. left to overwinter is my raspberry bush, rhubarb and echinasea . . . as well as the potted mint. i planted some garlic and still have daffodil bulbs from last year. i've got high hopes for next year too - as long as i keep doing a little better each year, i'll be happy!

.berry picking.

last week after a delicious breakfast at our favorite restaurant, the man-friend and i went down to sweet berry farm to pick raspberries and blueberries . . . the rasp season was almost done so it took a while to get a full basket, but the BLUEBERRIES . . . OMG, the blueberries are PERFECT.



after the picking, it started POURING and we drove home in the rain to make raspberry/blueberry jam. also, the man-friend went out to the garden and picked some rhubarb, and while he made the crust, i mixed up the filling for a blueberry/rhubarb pie.

we shared pie, coffee and ice cream with our roommates and a few friends. there is ONE LAST PIECE left. and i think that since the man-friend is off camping without me (he even took the DOG!) i think i'll help myself to the pie!

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don't forget, tomorrow is the LAST DAY to enter to win the GIVEAWAY - a winner will be chosen on monday!

.how does your garden grow? v6.

.how does your garden grow? v5.

.how does your garden grow? v4.