Throughout the long winter months, we waited and planned our spring project – a new vegetable garden. The overall layout of the garden was not optimal for everything we wanted to plant. Last year, I made wooden raised beds. They worked well, but the beds were just made just from scraps of lumber and would not last long term. In addition to the raised beds, we needed to get rid of several things taking up room in the garden. The installation of a new heat pump system enabled us to get rid of the air conditioning unit. We have never used the pool heater, so this unit was sent for recycling, along with the large propane tank that supplied the heater. With those three items gone, we could completely change the garden.
This was the garden last year, the propane tank had been removed, but the heater and the air conditioner were still taking up room.
After the units were gone, I leveled the ground. The sand filter for the swimming pool is staying. Andrew and I emptied the filter last month and changed all the sand. The kitchen renovation provided us with an abundance of cardboard. Each cabinet came in a separate box. Andrew spread the cardboard on the leveled ground. Cardboard makes a good weed barrier, and it is biodegradable.
We covered the cardboard with a layer of wood chips. Each spring, I have tree work done, which gives us a ready supply of new chips. I bought powder coated, steel beds. Last weekend, Andrew and I assembled them. They are each 4 feet by 8 feet. Next came the topsoil. I ordered 4 cubic yards. According to the internet, a cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 1 ton. Yesterday, I moved all 4 tons. Some people go to the gym; I just work in the yard! Our garden is now ready for planting.
Our yard is growing well. We had a late freeze in March that caused issues with some plants, but overall, the yard is blooming nicely.
Jack in the pulpits have sprouted everywhere. Our clematis vine in the woodland garden is blooming this year for the first time.
Over the past few years, I have purchased iris from the Historic Iris Preservation Society IHIPS). They are old and unique varieties. I may buy more next month. HIPS is currently working on rehoming iris from large collections of people who have either died or have had to give up their business of selling iris. The most recent is a collection 900 different varieties. This rehoming helps preserve older varieties.
Viburnum is in full bloom. The blossoms cascade on top of the branches.
As much as we enjoy our yard and all of the colors of the flowers, it is fun to look back on our vacation to Arizona and New Mexico. The Grand Canyon was so much more impressive than I expected. We enjoyed our trip a lot. As it was spring, we saw many wildflowers. No matter how much I work in the garden, it is impossible to make something as lovely as what occurs in nature.
