Upcycled wood/recycled plastic composite raised beds

What a cool turn of events that resulted in some great raised beds. My Frenchman noticed that some composite (trex type) decking had been sitting around his work. It was once part of what used to be a handicap ramp. He asked and was given the materials and began cleaning them and planning our new garden area. Last week, he installed two of the three new beds (we're waiting until the sweet potatoes are harvested before we add the third). I was so excited to get started on the beds that I started filling them and mulching around them until I found myself trying to finish in the dark!

We've been digging and planting and seating in this record hot weather with high humidity.

It's been a good week and I've somehow kept in a fall mood as we begin planting like it's spring.

Garden Update in Pictures

US Botanic Garden Washington, DC

I just returned from DC where I visited (with my Mother, Sisters, and some friends) so many sites, I'm having difficulty recalling everything that I took in over our weekend. One of the highlights was the U.S. Botanic Garden, with the Conservatory full of diverse plant life and "rooms" like The Jungle, Children's Garden, World Desert, Southern Exposure, and the Orchid display, it was a vast collection of plants from all types of climates. I found it hard to take it all in, so I snaps some photos of my favorites. I also tried to capture some of beauty of the parks close by. I hope you enjoy this little photo tour.

My Sisters, Mom & I

My twin sister

Dusk in the Garden

It's dusk on a windy cool spring night. It's 69 degrees and I've been wandering under the moon. I'm just getting over a rough bout with influenza. Poor baby Logan is still feeling bad. We get texts from his Mommy updating us on his symptoms. I smelled the orange blossoms and jasmine as walked around the garden, I hung a few more solar string lights and checked on the solar uplights on the crepe myrtle then did my best to capture a photo of the garden at this wonderful hour.

I'm going to enjoy this evening with the doors open and the breeze blowing through my little house.

A Peaceful Place

Ever wonder why it's so hard to get away from the hustle and bustle, the noise, the distractions? Are we afraid to miss something? Are we concerned about what small voices that we might hear if it's quiet? No, not the pshyco things we hear about on the news, but the little nudges we feel, some call it "concience", some instinct, but I believe it's more.

We leave the TV on as background noise, have ipods and cell phones ready to fill quiet times and deprive ourselves of peace. I've started to question why I feel so rushed and busy in my office and in my house and so peaceful outside and in the garden. It's not silent in the garden or outside at y work. It can even be loud with frogs singing and cranes squaking as they fly overhead. I've started becoming aware that I've even had profound thoughts in the shower; maybe that's because it's the only place peaceful enough to think or hear anything.

I'm now looking at the examples of Jesus. He went to beautiful peaceful places of solitude, for meditation and prayer (Matt. 28:16; Mark 6:45-46) like mountains and gardens. Meditation is not "new age", it's an ancient practice of calming the soul. Jesus was able to connect with God the Father most in a quiet place of solitude. He set this example, and I intend to follow it.

Yesterday I began to follow that example and found a peaceful place to pray and listen for that small voice.




Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane [a garden]. He said to them, "Sit here while I pray." - Mark 14:32

Spring has Sprung in our corner of the world

Today, after breakfast out with our son and his son, we mulched the garden, planted corn and watermelon starts and sunflowers, marigolds, impatiens, and carrots. My hubby and I are encouraged to see the growth of the tomato and okra plants. We added liquid organic fertilizer a week ago, so I'm sure that helped.

We added some solar lights. One set of string lights and 6 small lights on pasts. I've been impressed that the beautiful bluish string lights have stayed on from dusk to dawn. They add such whimsy that I'll be adding more.

From the screened porch this afternoon and watched a family of four cardinals play around our tiny pond. It's a beautiful day and I'm getting ready for a short nap to top off a great day.

Spring in the Garden

Today is the first day of planting in the new organic garden. It's been many years since I slowed down and decided it was time to plant again. The fire ants had run me off for several years, but this year is different. I don't intend to let them stop me. I have a one year old grandson that I want to share the garden with. Thankfully we had a few hard frosts this winter and that will help control fire ants and mosquitoes this year. We're trying something new this year on the fire ants; grits. Yes, the grits that southern people eat for breakfast. Apparently fire ants eat them and can't digest them. I know it sounds cruel, but fire ants can really injure children and I'm not taking any chances with my grandson.

Today we uncovered the plot we'd be solarizing (covered with black plastic to kill of fungus and nematodes) to reveal the snow white sand that fills our back yard and we amended the soil with some organic loam. We planted pre-started tomatoes, okra, and lavender and some radish seeds in our first row. We'll eventually have three rows, but we're starting small.

We're beginning to enjoy our big backyard again. We have a pond in view these days, birds, and squirrels for the baby to watch. Hanging out in the back yard and family & friends on the back porch, I can't think of a better way to spend these beautiful days before it gets too hot to be outside.

The Organic Garden Adventure Begins!

Al and I have begun to dig the weeds and roots from our old garden patch. We're excited that the weather will begin to cool off next month and we'll be able to grow some veggies. It's been quite some time since we ventured into gardening. The last time was during a hectic time when we had young children and a dog in the same area with no fence. I was working outside the home and had a family of four to keep up with. The fire ants were taking over and I decided to give up. Now, It's just Al and I and we see Emily occasionally between her many social engagements. We have baby Logan visiting most early evenings after I get home form work, so it's a great time to be outside.
Last night I was clearing up some weeds around our tiny "pond" and was nearly eaten alive by mosquitos. I wore repelent, but they didn't care. A bat box is on my list of things for Al to build for our new garden. I'm hoping the bats that used to inhabit our neighborhood will come back and eat all the stinking mosquitos! So far, fire ants have not been as much of a problen, but now that we've moved the weeds out and exposed the sandy soil, they'll find us. I have an organic plan of attack this time, so we'll see if it works. Stay tuned. You may see some green from our patch of dirt. I'll keep you posted.