About the potager...

Katie ~ I would LOVE to look at the site, but where might it be? Or did the faeries tinker with your post?

Laurie ~ Potager is coming along slowly but progressing (slowly because I am not supposed to be doing physical labor for a few more weeks, but what the heck...can't sit around all the time!). At any rate, boxes are complete and in their assigned spaces. Weeds have been removed from the pathways and weedblock laid on the ground. Cardboard has been placed in all the boxes. Soil will be delivered week after next ~ it was going to be Friday but that's the day of the NW Flower & Garden Show, so won't be home. Bark for the pathways will be picked up at the same time. Many plants have been indoor sown and are currently underway, though I have a number of others still to sow. I will post pix at the end of this week, since it's back to workwork today and I leave home while it's still dark and don't return until dark, so can't take pix until Friday. Thanks for asking ~

Sheri

Sheri - take a hint. Go easy until they say you are okay. Otherwise they make you stay out of the games even longer. Not fun. Get robust girl - we are going to need you this summer to fill those potagers we're cheerleading.

Well, and, clearly it was a little late for me to be up. here's the site:

http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/teuchamaedrys.htm

Don't want to blame anything on the fairies. They know where I live. :-)

Just an update. The potager foundation is nearly complete. We didn't get quite enough bark for the pathways and have to wait until this coming week to finish, but you certainly can get the idea. Here it is, from origin to near completion ~

Then, after lots of input and ideas from you WONDERFUL women ~ the boxes were built by DH and placed in their assigned new homes. Of course, once we got started it HAD to snow, just to make sure it took a very, VERY long time to get this thing going.

Once the snow melted, the lasagna bed idea was utilized (though no pix are here of that...forgot ~ oops). Shredded papers was laid down, cardboard as well, then weed block placed on the intended pathways. 3-way mix was delivered yesterday and the boxes were filled.

Then the bark. All the seeds have been purchased and many have been sown and are seedlings now (maybe I did it a little too soon! = S ) and more will be sown this week, after the arrival of my 450 3-1/2" pots. So...progress has been made and we are VERY excited! Now, if this weather will just hold...

Good morning,
You two have been busy and boy does it look great! What a nice diary of pictures to have for future reference, I cant wait to see everything growing!
Thanks for sharing,
Carla

Outta, that just looks terrific!! Well done to both of you - tell DH, approved, stamp!! (I put my crown back on just to give it the royal hmmmpf! Crown off and up for grabs). Boy, I can hardly wait to see all the growing.

Nothing I do EVER looks that organized! Not ever. Not once. That's going to look great when it's all planted.

Good job Outta!!! Looks great. So neat and tidy.

The planter boxes look really great, big enough to grow some good sized vegetables, but easy to reach across to plant, weed and harvest. that soil is lovely, just makes me want to run my finger through it.

It's only organized because it's really the first big project here. Everything from here on out I'm sure will be significantly more haphazard. I fear the bulb bed (the rock one posted somewhere else) will have to be moved due to being on the north side and not getting enough sun. Tragic. Everyone else's bulbs (including my mom's) are springing up like crazy. Mine are making a very sluggish appearance and I fear it's because they are not in good sun. Plant and learn. At least I know I have something to do later in digging up and relocating all the kids!

But Outta - just move the bulbs that need more sun, or have your's come up later - there are tons of partial/full shade bulbs. Lilies for one want some shade protection! Excellent start. Soldanella Alpina, a gorgeous, small summer bulb that does well in shade. For spring blossom how about English Blue Bells, snow drops, snow flakes (you can get both spring and autumn flowering ones), and crocus, narcissus and daffodils. All do very well in shadey cool settings.

The other thing to consider - when did you get your bulbs in? Was it a late planting? Makes a difference - you may, as I keep telling my dear friend Tils who wants all of her seeds to come up NOW - just have to have patience.

Hey I hear that.

thought you went to bed!

I am normally a very patient person, but when it comes to my plants, NOT! I planted the bed about a month ago, when we built the rock border. The bulbs I planted last year (narcissus, daffs, tulips, I think) are almost all up. I potted some ranunculus last year and stuck them in the bed. They're expanding. But all the stuff I put in last month (narcissus, amaryllis, daffs, hyacinth, crocus, some iris from my uncle, and ummmmm....can't remember everything) have not broke ground yet. I really would like them to at least show me where they are so I can plant the rest of the 27 lilies, which I can't do until I know where the ones are I've already planted! C'mon! They've had some sunny days! What're they waiting for?

This is one of the crocus that has flowered so far that I planted 2 years ago. It now has a fuller look. still waiting on the others.
I did go to bed but couldn't resist.

Got some cardboard Outta.

Outta - I want that. It's just beautiful and all ready for the most fun part!!!!

Most of those bulbs will not show for a bit more, and the Lilies, well, be patient.
Did you just plant in January? Give them a bit of time, and they will hurry up: they are workin' underground right now...

My tulips & Narcissus are only up about 3", and they were planted in November.
The very large ornamental garlic wins the prize, though. Those bulbs are about 10 years old, so they know the drill and start early. Go buy some little pots of bulbs that are ready to bloom. You'll appreciate the colour, and it is still February.

Lilies - my favourite bulb to grow & have done so for over 25 years. In our region, plant them in full sun, or they will lean excessively. They can be grown in some shade, but you will need to stake them.

Thanks for the encouragement. Just kind of frustrating when I stuck a bunch in the ground last year and didn't do anything for them (didn't even make the soil nice) and most of them came up pretty fast (as I recall). This year when last year's started making their appearance I tried really hard to do right by the little buggers. I rescue a bunch of bulbs from my local Home Depot and Walmart, add really nice compost to the bed and lovingly put each of the new babies in a special place (the location of which I cannot remember specifically) and wait and wait and wait and wait. I feel like they're mocking me...do they do that?

yes, they do. But you must wag your finger at them when they bloom, then turn & secretly smile...

One of my dogs has helped me locate some that I planted without marking. While I appreciated the effort, I don't think the tulips did - some landed on their heads, with roots in the air. hope they make it - but I will see them next year, if not.

I am hoping to make some areas reserved for bulbs & annuals, next fall. Then I can cover with wire so the dogs cannot do their damage.

The only grief I've had in my bulb bed to my knowledge so far is a local feral cat who really likes the compost for a potty place. He's only used it twice and both times in the same place, so hopefully he feels content that his territory is adequately delineated. I appreciate him because I think he will help keep out the little critters who would do more damage.

Outta, you have to wait. uh, (finger up) wait! WAIT. waaaaaiiiiiiitttttttttttt. Okay, good girl. (Or at least that's what we do with the terrier - he's not that good at waiting either - boring).

tills, lovely photo of the crocus - the bed that I'm planting up with astrantia and iris, I'm thinking of underplanting with yellow crocus and snowdrops - I love that burst of warm warm yellow - its as if they put a drop of red in the yellow without it crossing over into orange - just yummy! Yours is particularly clear - only one seems to have the purpley lines on them. Very nice. Is that Buddy's bottom next to them? those will be nice to retain near the front door. Just look so inviting.

Laurie, That is the deers bottom, they are behind Purple place, around the front of the deer thats laying down.

Tilly helping me move the dirt around, or something else.

Big help, useful cat. Get her a wheelbarrow.