But before we go out into the garden, here are pictures of a couple of our landscaping berm boxes.
Those gargantuan plants are hollyhocks (oh, how I do love hollyhocks) which look as though they will burst into bloom shortly. I'm going to wait a year to decide what paint or stain to use on the berm boxes. At the moment, I'm thinking I'll stain them a medium-dark brown. In the picture you can also see the one and only window trim that I've gotten done so far this summer. Sigh. Oh boy, do I need a crew!
These boxes span the front width of the deck. The one on the right is in position and leveled but not filled with dirt yet. The lefthand one still needs leveling. Those plants in pots in front are ones that will go in the berm boxes when they're ready. The construction of the boxes has been done completely by our daughter.
Here's the much neglected weeding of part of the blueberry patch. Even with my continuing fight with the invasive Witch's Broom, we're getting more blueberries than we did last year. And there are lots more on the bushes to come. Thank you, tough blueberry plants.
This is my tepee trellis with Scarlet Runner Beans climbing up it. Doesn't it look like Mother Nature's Christmas tree?
The Brussels sprouts are doing . . . just okay. Not many of them are forming nice look sprouts. Why? Wish I knew.
I'm always amazed at how lovely the potato plant flowers are. Who knew the lowly potato would produce such delicate blossoms.
The row of potatoes on the left (the Carola white tater variety) is much bushier and taller than the two rows of Red Norlands on the right. I just went out an hour or so ago to see if I could find some "new" potatoes for dinner tonight under one of the plants of the Red Norlands. They bloomed first so I thought they'd have bigger potatoes.
Wowzer! Will you look at these that I took from under one plant? The four of them weigh in at just over 2-1/2 pounds. Methinks we're gonna have a mighty good potato harvest this year.
Nice red potatoes! I planted red and white this year. I can’t believe how healthy your hollyhocks look. My leaves always eventually get that rust ( is that even correct?). - Jenn
ReplyDeleteJenn - I was almost shocked to find these big red potatoes! They are from "new" eyes I ordered this year because the potatoes I've kept going for a few years had seemed to have lost their oomph and we were getting all smallish spuds. If these prove out, I will be pickled tink to have eyes from them for as many years to come as I can! The hollyhocks are new this year, of course, but they do look healthy, that's for sure. I can hardly wait for all their buds to open! Hugs to you, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteLove your "Mother Nature's Christmas tree"!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely been a great year for potatoes. We always grow the red ones, and are rarely disappointed. I love those hollyhocks--the blasted deer ate mine. Again.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot to keep up with the gardens and the canning/preserving too, but your gardens look beautiful.
Michelle - The opposite of the tepee is even more loaded with blossoms (red lights?) but the sun wouldn't cooperate for a shot from that direction.
ReplyDeleteGranny Sue - My husband much prefers "reds", too, but I do like a white potato for baking every now and then. ;o) All of our yard (where we have anything planted) is fenced in so the hungry deer don't get to dine on our plantings. Otherwise, we'd have next to nothing growing! Thanks for your kind words regarding the garden. I'm having more trouble with chewing insects this year for some reason but I don't think they've succeeded in destroying anything. Yet.
Lovely, lovely spuds, plants and tubers! What fun it is to dig under and find the buried treasure. There is just something about growing potatoes...perhaps it is in the genes of northern residents, as our ancestors survived on those. Love those scarlet runners. My love of growing was started by a kindergarten teacher who gave us each a cup of soil and a scarlet runner bean. Mine made it to the top of a two story house. Lucky you, to have blueberries and those holly hocks are truly stupendous. Hope to see pics of the blooms? Your daughter is very skilled. I am noticing that the boxes are nicely angled to compliment the front of the deck. Very interested in what is in the pots across the front...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful everything and everywhere! I especially love the berm boxes They are well done may I borrow your daughter?
ReplyDeleteFor a lady who by her own admission has done "almost nothing this summer" you sure have a lot done! Yummy on the taters. I totally lost my crop this year. I am at a loss as to the reason. They had a great planting, all the greens came up and flowered and I proceeded on as the last two plantings both with nice yields. Purchased seed from a very reputable source whom I have used for other needs before with great results. HUH???
I will think of you enjoying those Hollyhocks!
Rosalea - The early settlers of this part of northern Minnesota did rely on their potato crop to act as a staple throughout the winter months. My grandmother's family came here from Scotland when she was 15 years old after having survived two winters with nothing to eat but potatoes. So, yes, they have always played a big part in the sustaining diet of many of our forefathers.
ReplyDeleteIt was our daughter's idea to put that angle (following the angle of the deck) on the berm boxes in front. So much more pleasing to the eye that coming straight out in a rectangle shape.
The plants that will go in those berm boxes are Dogwoods and the smaller ones are Thujas which will grow bigger with age.
Goatldi - Daughter loves to travel so don't extend your invitation to her until we're done with her! Can you contact the potato seed company, explain the problem you've had and ask for their advice? It would be good just to know what happened. One hollyhock blossoms came out today . . . a BLACK one! So special. I will post pictures when we have more to show.
Your potatoes look fantastic! I wish I could grow them like that. And I'm really happy for your blueberries.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving your berm boxes! I'm thinking I might put something together for next year out here at the farm. This year, I've really enjoyed growing hybrid tea roses again - in 10 gallon grow bags. They love it!!! So, maybe I'll just build my boxes so I can set grow bags in them. We're always planning for 'next year', us gardeners. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteLeigh - Not every year (or variety of potato yields as well as these seem they might! We'll be very thankful, for this coming year especially, if we get a good crop to take us through the winter. I never thought our blueberries would bear as well as they have this year because of the curse of the Witch's Broom! You just can never tell, can you!
ReplyDeleteTim - Oh, to learn how to grow roses! I've always been drawn to the old-fashioned climbing roses. I'd love, someday, to have a yellow one. Not only are we gardeners always planning for "next year" but always thinking of something new we'd like to try. Will we ever live long enough to do all we want to do? ;o)
Thanks for the compliment on the berm boxes. I can hardly wait to see how they look when all the plants grow big and flower.
Hybrid Tea's should be fantastic for you. They (like me) do not like heat. They do like cool, regular, wettish weather. They don't like to have their hair blowing in the wind. Your only negative is that they also don't really like extra cold winters. However! Now with grow bags, I think you're in for a treat. Tea's are easy to grow and enjoy. With the bags, you could simply put them in a shelter for the winter (maybe hay bales, maybe bunched up together like shivering sheep, maybe actually up against or inside a building). Or, like me, you could just buy the cheapies at Menards early in the spring and treat them as if they were annuals. I'd say go for it!
ReplyDeleteTim - Nice guy. You've just given me great ideas for something else to add to the list that I will want to pursue next gardening season! ;o) I'm thinking I'll start by purchasing the cheapies at Menards . . . and probably be hooked for life. As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us out here in Blogland, Tim!
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