Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

[Ben E Lou]

Mainly for my reference when I'm down at the garden

View attachment 31607
Flower-only section, taken this morning. Starting at the fence, the sections are sunflowers, a “bee feed” mix, a “butterfly/hummingbird” mix, calendula, and California poppies.


BEE FEED MIX--purchased from Johnny's selected seeds
• Agastash foeniculum - Anise Hyssop (P)
• Aster novae-angliae - New England Aster (P)
• Callistephus chinensis - China Aster (A)
• Cheiranthus allionii - Siberian Wallflower (P)
• Coreopsis lanceolata - Lanceleaf Coreopsis (P)
• Coreopsis tinctoria - Plains Coreopsis (A)
• Cynoglossum amabile - Chinese Forget-Me-Not (B)
• Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower (P)
• Erigeron speciosus - Fleabane (P)
• Eschscholzia californica - California Poppy (A)
• Gaillardia pulchella - Indian Blanket (A)
• Gilia capitata - Globe Gilia (A)
• Layia platyglossa - Tidy Tips (A)
• Linum perenne - Blue Flax (P)
• Lobularia maritima - Sweet Alyssum (A)
• Monarda fistulosa - Bergamot (P)
• Nemophila menziesii - Baby Blue-Eyes (A)
• Papaver rhoeas - Corn Poppy (A)

BUTTERFLY/HUMMINGBIRD MIX--purchased from Johnny's Selected Seeds
• Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Milkweed (P)
• Callistephus chinensis - China Aster (A)
• Centaurea cyanus - Bachelor's Button (A)
• Cheiranthus allionii - Siberian Wallflower (P)
• Clarkia amoena - Godetia (A)
• Coreopsis lanceolata - Lanceleaf Coreopsis (P)
• Coreopsis tinctoria - Plains Coreopsis (P)
• Delphinium consolida - Larkspur, Rocket (A)
• Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower (P)
• Eschscholzia californica - California Poppy (A)
• Gaillardia aristata - Blanket Flower (P)
• Gaillardia pulchella - Indian Blanket (A)
• Iberis umbellate - Candytuft (A)
• Liatris spicata - Blazing Star (P)
• Lobularia maritima - Sweet Alyssum (A)
• Lupinus perennis - Perennial Lupine (P)
• Monarda citriodora - Lemon Mint (A)
• Ratibida columnifera - Prairie Coneflower (P)
• Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan (P)
• Salvia coccinea - Scarlet Sage (A)

Also, the lower part of the garden by the compost pile has zinnas (for cutting) closest to the fence, and the Beneficial Insect Attractant Mix from Johnny's Selected Seeds

• Alyssum saxatile - Basket of Gold (A)
• Ammi majus - False Queen Anne's Lace (A)
• Anethum graveolens - Dill (A)
• Cheiranthus allionii - Siberian Wallflower (P)
• Chrysanthemum paludosum - Creeping Daisy (P)
• Coreopsis lanceolata - Lanceleaf Coreopsis (P)
• Coriandrum sativum - Cilantro (A)
• Cosmos bipinnatus - Dwarf Cosmos (A)
• Dalea purpurea - Purple Prairie Clover (P)
• Eschscholzia californica - California Poppy (A)
• Foeniculum vulgare - Leaf Fennel (A)
• Gilia capitata - Globe Gilia (A)
• Iberis umbellata - Candytuft (A)
• Liatris spicata - Blazing Star (P)
• Leucanthemum X superbum - Shasta Daisy (P)
• Lobularia maritima - Sweet Alyssum (A)
• Monarda fistulosa - Bergamot (P)
• Nemophila menziesii - Baby Blue-Eyes (A)
• Rudbeckia hirta - Black-Eyed Susan (P)

 

[Ben E Lou]

• It does feel like all the work I did on composting is paying off. The plants pretty much all look quite healthy and I'm pleased with how they're growing.

it happens that I took a picture on this day last year. The difference is amazing.

Top: my squash plants on May 17, 2018.

Bottom: my squash plants on May 17, 2019.

Evidently I’ve learned a thing or two...

 

[Ben E Lou]

Also took a pic of the whole veggie garden on that day. The comparisok to now is...wow.

 

[Ben E Lou]

First broccoli harvest was this evening. She was soooooo excited.

EDIT: To revisit my comments on the soil, we transplanted the broccoli into her garden and mine literally minutes apart. They were the same size and the seeds had been sown on the same day. No heads have even started to form in my garden yet, meanwhile we’ve already harvested one in hers. And the other three in hers all have florets.

 

[baymule]

You need to frame that picture! Your daughter is beautiful.

 

[Ben E Lou]

First summer vegetable harvest was this morning!

 

[baymule]

Zucchini bread, zucchini lasagna, sautéed in butter zucchini, YUM!

 

[ninnymary]

What a beautiful picture. I’m glad it is hers that is flourishing.

Mary

 

[Ben E Lou]

Biggest strawberry to date from her garden . She was, uh, a bit excited.

 

[ninnymary]

Those girls are just having a ball with their gardens. You are instilling such a wonderful gift. Love to see their happy expressions.

Mary