Garden Time! April 15th is Finally Here!

We have been waiting for April 15th to arrive. Why? It is the last frost date for our area and now we can move all our seedlings outdoors to the garden boxes.

Well, actually this year we are going to be growing the bulk of our garden in containers on the deck. Our city has more than doubled our water rates in the last three months and we are concerned about our water usage. We will be keeping our garden a little smaller than in the past and keeping a close eye on our water consumption.

Our Container Garden List
2 tomato plants
2 pepper plants
Basil
Lettuce (in the shade and only early in the season-already planted)



Our Garden Boxes-These are permanent residents so we have to keep them watered.
Strawberries
Herbs-thyme, oregano, chives, garlic chives, dill
Onions (already planted and growing well)

Sunflowers (easily hand-watered as needed since they are next to the pool)

We still have the blueberries and grapes to water. There are the apple, plum, walnut, and pear trees.


I am also going to keep the butterfly gardens watered since we have invested in so many wonderful plants over the years.


Much of these gardens are drought resistant so they should fair well. This arbor and the plants on the other end are mostly for the birds...hummingbirds love this garden in the summer time. The climbing rose is blooming now and the trumpet vine will bloom this summer. One the other side the lilac is budding out and the butterfly bush has lots and lots of leaves already. There are three crepe myrtles in between here and the butterfly garden. The short fence in the background has star jasmine growing all over it and it needs just a little water in the summer too.

We will not be watering the lawns. Eventually they are going to be replaced with different kinds of plantings that need little or no water. I envision mounds of lavender, sage, butterfly bush, rosemary, and perhaps some day lilies. We are also looking at planting yarrow and deer grass.

I should have a lot of time on my hands this summer with the reduced gardening and watering. I will be more frequent with my visits to our local farmer's market stocking up on all the summer's bounty, reaping from other local gardens this year for the first time.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom