Happiness Is...Finding A Prince

But more likely finding a frog.  This image was in my emails yesterday from  A Way To Garden.  We didn't find a frog in our garden--just a chipmunk in the French watering can.  He got in but couldn't get out.  And the can was half full of water......... sad.

G and I pulled masses of heavily rooted Lily Of The Valley out of the front bed--where it was choking out all of the other plants (Wu Peng).  We had shovels, picks and garden knives.  And when we were exhausted (but there was still more LofTV) we gave up for the day, cleared the scene of debris and went inside for showers, clean clothing and the "tick check".   Not a day goes by without finding a tick on ourselves.

I had wanted to get my pepper seedlings into the garden.  Well, the garden is ugly.  What a mess. I did what I could and then gave up and went to dig in the front bed.  I am so angry and disappointed in myself.  I usually put the garden "to bed" in such a neat, orderly fashion--ready for planting.  I didn't and the resulting disappointment is my own fault.  Getting old.  Getting tired. Getting sloppy. I'll blame it all on the asthma.  I was probably struggling with my breathing.

The herb bed that I worked on last Spring is still in good shape.  I just had to set my new basil plants in.  Weed a tiny bit.  I have dill, parsley and oregano seedlings to plant today in the little rectangles I made with pavers as edging.  I was reminded of carrying the pavers down to the garden two at a time (heavy) and then the bags of lobster compost (yes, Maine) getting the little areas fed, weeded and mixed.  Then planted.  It's nice to go down there while making dinner and clip a handful of chives or basil or mint.  This year I'll have parsley there as well.

Right now the bed of arugula (which self seeded itself) is ready for a few big salads or brusetta.  It goes by pretty quickly when it gets hot in July.

The grape vines have lots of baby grapes set.  The blueberries have tons of baby berries.  The rhubarb needs a good watering and some manure.  The Queen of Plums has bitty little plum babies.  One of the peach trees has peaches.  The other--none.  It only had one flower.  So there will be fruit.  The newly pruned and renovated blackberry bramble may or may not have berries  I haven't inspected it as yet.  The strawberry bed in the garden has many flowers.  But the chipmunks may eat the ripe berries before I get to them.

There may not be peppers or tomatoes but there will be berries and fruit.