How did that happen?

Promises promises..... all good intentions of posting frequently and it all went down the ... well, no. I've been out in the garden most of the time... I just need to get caught up.... ands so much of it!

Deconstructing the fence to repurpose into the next fence!

Deconstructing the fence to repurpose into the next fence!, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

3 panels down this afternoon... Very productive day.... beer awaits...

Where the gate will be

Where the gate will be, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

We decided to open up the smaller panel for better access to the wood pile in the drive... this will be where the new gate will be. It made much more sense here than further down the garden.
I'm still a bit torn up about taking this fence down but I really have no choice.... Be warned future fence builders... get your construction right... or you'll end up with a lovely fence with a very short life span!!!

New raised herb bed

P1010621, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Our new herb bed is now in place... about twice the length and a bit wider than the last. Can't wait to fill it with dill, thyme, parsley cilantro and basil. Have to get the older soil weeded and the new soil mix in soon.

Steph's cool ankle 'wellies'

Steph's cool ankle 'wellies', originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

I want some! Every gardener should have cool wellies!

Breaking down old raised beds

Breaking down old raised beds, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Two down... the soil will be raked level to fill in low spots. These beds had been there for about 4 years and are nutritionally exhausted... time to shake things up!

It's sunny and 50 degrees... where else would we be?

hauling the huge pile of gravel, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Saturday was our first real sunny and temperate day to work out in the garden, and boy did we take advantage of it! We raked, we turned compost, we hauled a giant pile of gravel out of old paths and pulled up the raised bed surrounds to repair and reuse. It felt so good to have the sun on our backs and the Cardinals singing in the trees!

Chives!

Chives!, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

The chives are alive!

Oregano peeping out from under the dead plants

Oregano peeping out from under the dead plants, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Oregano survived the bitter cold and looks really healthy too.

Waiting...

Waiting..., originally uploaded by scootergirl66.


Our future brick patio... All the bricks were salvaged from around the garden and what were once the front and back yard paths. Also our future (hopefully) 100% recycled fence... wood pile from Steph's sister's old deck and whatever we can salvage from the existing fence. Have an extra rain barrel to hook up aswell. 

Basil!

Basil!, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Doing well in the south facing window.

Hello Basil!

Hello Basil!, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Found a sunny warm spot in my studio for the seedlings.

Grover and Cilantro

Grover and Cilantro, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

Grover enjoying the Cilantro sprouts

Basil just beginning to sprout

Basil just beginning to sprout, originally uploaded by scootergirl66.

How time flies... Spring is coming around again...

It's been about 18 months since my last posting.... obviously I was'nt ready to keep up with a blog... the work around the garden had to go on the back burner....  much more pressing events took priority... I had my sculpture show to get ready for, conferences, family visit... which including my sister's wedding, my Father's funeral, for which I had to travel back to the UK and of course, my full time work making sculpure left me with little energy and less time to make any significant progress in 2008 or 2009.
It's now february of 2010, so far this year does'nt look half as hectic as the last two.
This year, it's not just me trying to keep the wild and weedy surrounds in check... Steph, my girlfriend and accomplice in all things domestically creative, moved in last July and life around this house is a lot calmer, more settled and plans are now in place for spring planting... not to mention rebuilding the fence.

 Ah, yes... the fence. Which 4 years ago was my pride and joy, now it's missing 3 panels (damaged by ice storms) and coming apart at the seems because my engineering was not up to par.  The panels were too heavy to be attached between the posts... hence, sagging and twisting ensued. We are now waiting for spring to arrive,  ready to dismantle the panels, recycle what we can and rebuild with better skills and a donated pile of good lumber... thanks to a trade with Steph's sister. Labor = all the wood you can load on a trailer!