This evening was one for what I call the almost garden. I think perhaps I need a better name for it. It, meaning the idea that isn’t quite an actual thing just yet. I think, for now, I may name the garden project lightning. It is storming as I write this. A beautiful, cooling spring shower, complete with lightning and big rain drops. And, as lightning usually comes before a beautiful summer storm, I think project lightning has a good ring to it. Once established, the garden will need a new name. But, for now, this one fits.
At around 7 pm, I took a trip to a garden center and picked up some more landscaping fun. The beginning of a major project like this is always something to behold. And, right now I plan to pick up mostly perennial things that I enjoy and that will attract the birds and the bees.
The Haul:
The tools:
- Hand shears
- Kneeling pad
- Two large S-Hooks
The Plants:
- Rose bush
- Lavender
The Fun:
- Small bee house
- Garden soil
- Seed starting soil
My master plan is to slowly build up the garden through summer, and hopefully in the fall plant fall blooming perennials, but honestly, I’m just winging it. I’m not completely sure how everything will turn out or if I will even have any success this season, but I am willing to try. And, I think that’s something.
My main goal is to attract a small ecosystem of butterflies, birds, and bees. And, having a nice hang out spot to enjoy the surrounding environment. I want so badly to create an inviting space for friends and family. But, first, the animals.
I’m not sure if the bees will actually use the house that I picked up, but I have seen someone on TikTok use the same bee house for ladybugs. So, there’s an idea. I do know that I want to hang the bee house and a last year’s bird feeder from the trees in the yard. I am hoping that this will deter the squirrels from sealing all the seed. I haven’t been refilling the seeds in the window feeder because I would rather the birds eat the cicadas (that only appear once every 17 years) than the seeds that they will be able to get year round.
Once home, it took maybe 15 minutes to clean and transplant the rose bush into its new home. I have no idea where this container came from, but it seems big enough for maybe a year or two. I’m hoping that it will work well. I don’t want to have to go out and buy a new pot. But, the container has been washed and rinsed and placed.
I filled the container with some of the newly acquired garden soil. I bought an 8 ct bag and used about 3/4 of it. Which means that I will have some left to fill in parts of the raised beds on the front of the house when the time comes. The rose bush container has been placed on the south side of the house, where it will hopefully receive full sun and thrive. If not, I had the foresight to home it in a container that can be lifted and moved to a better location.
And, by the time I had finished, the sun had set and it was time to head inside and water the camomile seeds which I had planted earlier this week. I am starting to see the beginnings of life in that pot, and I am hoping for a bounty of camomile. Currently, the pot is placed toward the western side of the house where it can get indirect light. I hope that that will be enough for the seeds to germinate so that I can put the container outside.
I hope to do a little more each week. But, for now I think that this is a good beginning.
Leah Kristin 