My Garden (My pride and joy!)

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-17-2010, 10:50 PM

So here are the before and after pictures of the front and side garden. I have many, many more pictures than this, but this is the bulk of the good ones.

I started the garden in the first weekend of May. This is now the third weekend of June and it's becoming more established every day. I'm so very proud of it and I've been taking excellent care of the plants. The marigolds in the border are already starting to seed, so that's all I have to do until the berry bushes drop fruit.

http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/...my-garden.html

**mauimagic** · 06-17-2010, 10:54 PM

What a lot of work and aloha you put into your gardens - congratulations!!

**frugalfranny** · 06-17-2010, 11:49 PM

Looking good MTTB.......you have done some great work!

**Russ** · 06-18-2010, 07:14 AM

You ARE AWESOME! That looks great!

**ladykemma2** · 06-18-2010, 07:20 AM

remember to harvest those marigold seeds. collect them and rescatter some for self seeding annuals, and dry the rest on a flat surface for next year. remember that they're alive so put them in a paper sack, not plastic, for storage.

edited to add: move aside that mulch for self seeding annuals, the seeds have to hit dirt, not mulch.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-18-2010, 08:00 AM

I'm embarrassed of the state of my garden. Can't wait to see yours in a few more weeks

**Ceashels** · 06-18-2010, 08:00 AM

wow, that's a lot of work! nicely done.

**nodmicks** · 06-18-2010, 08:01 AM

Looks great!

**Jenny WC** · 06-18-2010, 08:17 AM

It looks wonderful! I love marigolds because once you buy them as long as you save the seeds you don't have to buy them again. I started using marigolds in my garden five years ago and have had to buy seeds since then.

Jenny

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-18-2010, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

remember to harvest those marigold seeds. collect them and rescatter some for self seeding annuals, and dry the rest on a flat surface for next year. remember that they're alive so put them in a paper sack, not plastic, for storage.

edited to add: move aside that mulch for self seeding annuals, the seeds have to hit dirt, not mulch.

Originally Posted by Jenny WC

It looks wonderful! I love marigolds because once you buy them as long as you save the seeds you don't have to buy them again. I started using marigolds in my garden five years ago and have had to buy seeds since then.

Jenny

My MIL taught me how to harvest the seeds from the dead heads when she was here the last time. I've pruned six dead heads from the marigolds so far and then two more this morning. I let them dry completely before removing the withered leaves, then pry open the base of the head to remove the seeds. I have them inside an envelope that i keep adding seeds to with the name of the flower and the year on the front.

Man, they sure are stinky when they're dead!

Now that the berries are taking hold and turning colors, I have to go out today and drape some bird netting over them to keep the sparrows and magpies from eating them. I was soooo excited that they were actually turning color already.

**Sassyclass** · 06-20-2010, 09:48 AM

Those look great and I can't wait to see the pies you make... you will make some pies won't you? I love gooseberries right off the bush. I miss having raspberries but I plan on having them again some day.

Cat

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-20-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Sassyclass

Those look great and I can't wait to see the pies you make... you will make some pies won't you? I love gooseberries right off the bush. I miss having raspberries but I plan on having them again some day.

Cat

If not this year, definitely next year. They're still young plants, so I imagine that I won't get very much in terms of fruit. I found a recipe for whole wheat blueberry muffins in my Gordon Ramsay cookbook that I've already allotted this year's blueberry crop to go to.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-01-2010, 09:06 PM

I finished off the front garden this afternoon. Here's the end result:

I purchased some lattice white fencing from Russ' favorite place on the earth (next to his favorite fishing spot and the place he procures his beer from ) and did the front yard. The side garden is getting treatment this week. Each 24" section cost me $5.99 (it may not be frugal, but in terms of selling the house, it adds KAPOW!).