Adventure in Gardening - Post #2 War Against Nature

Before Fences

The day after my kids and I planted the first set of starts in the garden we had a cold snap.  It was windy and the temperatures went down into the high 30s.  Needless to say about a quarter of my starts did not make it through the week.  The other issue I had the first week was a big ol bunny.  We got a fence up around the lower garden but did not get one up on the raised beds and this bunny was snacking well.

So I made a trip to Lowes for a bit more fencing to protect the gardens from scavengers.  I've never had a bunny problem in the past.  I guess my dogs are getting too old.  :)  In the fading hours of the night I got the fences up around the two main beds.  The third bed is mostly strawberries with a couple of rows of bean and peas on the end.  

I also made a trip to Holubs our local plant shop to pick up a few more plant starts to replace the ones that died in the cold or were eaten.  The kids and I planted many of these by flashlight that night.

 I had to come back during the light of day a few days later to reinforce the fencing but it appears to be keeping the bunny and the dogs out.  I also mixed up a homemade fertilizer of coffee grounds and eggs shells I had been saving through the winter.  I haven't tried this with regularity in the past so will see how it goes.  It was stinky stuff so wasn't sure if that would attract animals or run them off.

So far everything seems to be growing so hoping with a few more warm and sunny days mixed with rain things will really start to produce.  The one thing we are seeing rapid production of right now is strawberries so I try to go poke around in the bushes for berries every couple of days.  The strawberry bed has been growing back there four or five years now.  The peas and beans that are in there are also growing very quickly so looking forward to them maturing over the coming weeks.

Tomatoes, Kohlrabi and Broccoli freshly fertilized

Here are a few pictures of things post fencing and fertilizing.  I am rather a forgetful gardener.  I don't always remember what I planted where, and I don't always remember to water or pick the vegetables and fruits I grow, but this year I am trying to leave myself reminder notes and seem to be keeping up with things so far.

I may still need to bring in some peat or something to put in the beds.  I tried mixing in some straw I had with several of the beds to see if that makes much of a difference but really it just makes it harder to weed so may try doing straw in the fall when I put the garden to bed rather than in the spring.

Kale, Kohlrabi, Spinach, Carrots, and Chard

Sweet Potato, Squash, and Peppers

Beautiful bleeding hart that reminds me
of the wonderful people we left behind
in Washington state.

 The last thing I thought I would share is an update on some of the fun we are having in the perennial beds around the house.  The new plantings I mentioned in the first garden post in the front year they are doing well.  Stay tuned... blogging about the garden may just keep me attentive this year.

The oldest perennial bed in the back yard.

Beautiful Irises in the front of the house.

Lavender and ladies in the front yard

Gorgeous Chocolate Columbine in the side yard
These were a great sale find last year and are
flourishing.

Peonies from mother's day
 last year blooming brightly.

Herbs in the herb garden on the front porch.
parsley, cilantro, basil, oregano and mint

A few fun plants the kids and I picked up
at the ISU Reiman Garden plan sale.
Fushia is another PNW reminder.