Saturday, April 25, 2009

Garden Report

The weather is gray but things are starting to get going in the garden...mostly in my husband's garden, actually. (We maintain separate gardens for marital haromony's sake....like cowboys don't ride each other's horses. You just don't mess with another's way of doing things.)

Let's take a little tour...

First, the setting. There's our '70's daylight basement abode, taken with a zoom lens from across the valley of the Little Washougal River.
On my way back up the driveway, I took this shot...

Yup, that corner room is my sewing room, the best room in the house.
That boarded up door, "The Door to Nowhere" is awaiting a deck. It's been waiting for 15 years but that's o.k. We always have the option!

So up behind the house....


...is where the garden action is.
You are looking through part of my garden and over to the top or Robert's. That portable greenhouse behind him is one of his plywood triumphs. He is the King of Plywood, and this little portable has been used in the spring and broken down by June for at least the last 10 years. Just plywood, PVC, a plastic tarp, and the occasional portable heater turned on...

But when it is sunny, the the tarp gets peeled back.
Here is (part of) this year's tomato crop. The mirror that the tomatoes are placed on is from an old remodel when I had it removed from my closet. I don't need to see myself that much!
Behind this on the left is the old vanity from the bathroom remodel which serves as another place for plants to soak up some sun; those are onions back there.

But the brand new little guys live in the house and get put out on the front porch for a little sunbath when the sun deigns to come out.

Next fall's pesto!!!

Robert started the peas awhile ago, and they got pretty leggy in the greenhouse waiting for the soil in the garden to dry up enough to till so he could plant them out. This he finally did Thursday, only to discover that the birds just love those sweet, succulent young pea leaves.
What to do?

He came up with this.
The shorts he is finally retiring as they are too ragged even for him; the shirt is from his old pilot stash. The upside down pothead has big eyes painted all the way around, and actually bobbles in the breeze.
I think it is quite wonderfully scary.

So here is his "blank slate".
There is going to be an amazing amount of wonderful food coming out of this ground.....

Believe it or not, I am even looking forward to canning next fall. ;-)

16 comments :

Vicki W said...

What a beautiful setting - you live in paradise!

Judy S. said...

Thanks for the garden tour, Allie, I loved it! Finally it looks like spring has arrived in the PNW....still a bit chilly though!

Debra Dixon said...

Well, that was fun!

FredaB said...

Hi Allie

I saw all those tomato plants and right away I thought Allie will be so busy canning tomatoes she won't be able to stitch. My days of canning are gone except I still get the urge and make strawberry jam and raspberry if I can get them on sale. Our backyard is so shaded with just a bit of sun on the deck that I can't grow tomato plants so dear daughter grows them and brings them over to us.

I bet Robert is in heaven now that he has the time to do all this. Like us he probably wonders how he ever worked.

Hugs

FredaB

Esther Gregory said...

love the scarecrow, that's hilarious!

Susan Elliott said...

LOVE the Washougal bobble head! Does it have a name? I noticed that Robert seemed to be talking to him in that picture....I'm sure he gets lonely sometimes way over there in his separate garden -- or because his honey is stitching all day in that corner room with the door to nowhere/everywhere....I kind of like that idea... a jumping-off place just off your sewing room...

Also, loved Robert in the wellies -- how dashing!

Possibilities, Etc. said...

What a wonderful tour of your life!! Love the greenhouse - will pass that on to my SIL. I want one.

Raspberry said...

That's such a funny scare crow! Your tomato plants look like they're doing well. I'm waiting for my husband to decide to plant mine - I'm hoping to can salsa. :)

Cathy said...

What a beautiful plot of heaven you live on. And I admire your energy to work with it so well! I showed Bruce the portable greenhouse that Robert has, and he LOVED it. So, he wants to try that next year. This year we're experimenting moving our garden around; shade has invaded from neighbor's trees necessitating some creative thinking. Big hugs, Cathy

Anonymous said...

Wow! Green with garden envy! Your climate is so garden nurturing. Love the greenhouse and the bobble headed scare crow/bird. As much as I admire the lush green of the Northwest, I am a desert rat and require lots of sunshine.
Granny Fran

gaylenona said...

I sure do understand the separate garden thing! When we got married 9 years ago, we quickly found that we have totally different gardening styles. So the front yard is his, and the back yard is mine, but I am "allowed" to pull weeds in his, and he is "allowed" to prune trees in mine.

Kay said...

What a wonderful tour, Allie. Thank you. I admire that garden, especially since it's something I would never do. I sound like a non-quilter looking at a quilt don't I? I bet it's "a lot of work"!

Marty52 said...

Fun toys and playground you guys have there, Allie! Color me green with envy! ;0)

Jacqueline Davis said...

Allison,
Wow, our gardening situations couldn't be different! We are trying a small garden for the first time, and the seeds are sitting inside, most still not peeking out. Our issues are freezing, as we will invariably get a good freeze right after Mom's Day. We are trying unconventional methods due to our hungry gophers though, and the only plants I'll actually put in the ground are pumpkins. The moisture issues you deal with are so foreign to us here! Great posting!
Jackie Davis

Conni said...

Your surroundings are positively idyllic!

Lawn Mowing Brisbane North said...

Thanks for your wonderful garden tour Allie.They look perfect.You have created a great garden at your backyard.Keep up your good work.I wish i could visit your garden sometimes.