How Does Your Garden Grow? 5/10/11

Sorry I haven't posted any garden updates.  I just didn't make the time to do it.  I did take pictures though.  I have a few minutes today, so here they are.

Here's what the rose bush looked like

The peonies bloomed beautifully

I found my Jackmanii clematis...he was just a little later than the Nelly Moser.

My favorite hydrangea is starting to show it's beautiful purple color.

The blue hydrangea are starting to color out too.  

The sidewalk to the front door has been overtaken by the camellia and lace cap hydrangea.  I need to figure out how to move them.

I also found my Oak leaf hydrangea...it was hiding under the low hanging oak tree branch in the front yard.  I had forgotten about planting it out there several years ago.

I also picked up two different lavender varieties from the store.  The smell wonderful

Our garden is doing good

The lettuce is growing great, I pulled out the meslum mix.  I didn't like the way it tasted it, so I won't be planting it again...maybe I'll try some Romaine or some Butter Lettuce...

The green beans are growing like crazy!  I have bush beans on the outside and pole beans in the middle next to the tomatoes.  We hung string from a PVC pipe contraption I devised last year so they can climb up.

The cucumbers are also taking off.

I have some little flowers on our tomato plants

The pepper plants have a little crumpled leafage on the top, I'm a little worried about that, I hope it's nothing...

The beets and radishes, well, those are the most fertile seeds.  I planted them on Good Friday and they sprouted on Sunday.  Unbelievable!  I don't like raw radishes, but I saw this recipe on Ten Dollar Dinners and wanted to give it a try.  Also, my kids love to pull things out of the ground.  Last year, the carrots were hugely successful and they loved going out to see how they were doing.  Admittedly, so did I!  We could barely wait the 65 days until maturity.  In fact, we were frequently caught pulling them up to "just see how they were growing". 

The watermelons sprouted.  I'm going to try to water these regularly to make sure they grow good.

The butternut squash sprouted too.  I'm glad I marked these with the seeds packets, or I would not know which was which, they looks so similar!

We didn't plant any zucchini or squash this year.  I'm planning to add another 4' x 8' section on the end of the garden to add them in next summer.  

So far, everything is growing well, but it's just begun.  I'm sure the bugs and varmints will be feasting before long and I'll have to get the capsicum spray out. 

We also worked in the backyard and took down some trees.  "We" didn't actually do it, my dad and brother did.  I'll share those next week.

Have a great week!

This post has been linked to:

• Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage
• Garden Tuesday at Sidewalk Shoes 
• Bloomin' Tuesday at Ms Green"thumb" Jean
• Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
• Cottage Flora Thursday at Fishtail Cottage
• Fertilizer Friday - Flaunt those Flowers at Tootsie Time
• Grow Eat Save at $5 Dollar Dinners
• Grow Cook Eat at Good Life Eats

Don't forget to check out my new eCookbook Sweet Creations Volume 1 "Basic Southern Cakes"!  It's only $2.99!