The rain has stopped...at least for the time being...but I still haven't had a chance to go out on a photo hunt because I've been busy catching up on all the outdoor projects and maintenance that couldn't get done while it WAS raining. Mowing was a must. And then there were our other projects:
We had built a raspberry box before the rains came...cleared a space, laid the wood, screwed it together, then put in some braces. The topsoil got in, but still had to wait until this past weekend to add the compost, the mulch, and of course, the raspberry shoots themselves. Judy did the planting all by herself since I was on an errand run to Christiansburg. Here's the finished product:
We're thinking we're going to attach some planks to its sides so we can sit while tending it.
Then, so long as we were mulching, we went ahead and put it in all the beds. The bucket load didn't last quite long enough to get to all the trees, but most of them are fairly established now, so I'm not too concerned about it.
Another project was taking some shoots off our shasta daisies and planting them at the front fence rail...
And finally, we bought a fuji apple tree because we love to eat fujis. Once home and planted, I discovered that apple trees aren't self propegating...they need another apple tree. I then went on a hunt to find another fuji but while doing this found out that it wasn't another fuji I needed. Fujis seem to like either red delicious or granny smith apple trees. Go figure. We chose the granny smith. We planted both trees. That's the fuji in the foreground and the granny smith is out in the field. Pretty small...how many years before fruit do you think? Hopefully sooner than later...
Well I guess I was premature in saying "finally" In addition to all this, I tended to our road, cutting back the grass and sprouts and cleaning it's "gutter". I got about 1/2 way down before my back cried uncle.
So, there you have it. Not much leisure time, but all a labor of love. I'm planning to go with Judy to Bright's Farm tomorrow...picking up chicken feet for Shaynee...yum. But other than that, I think I'm done...at least for this week. Maybe I'll have a chance to roam a bit and snap some pics...if it doesn't rain again that is!
Post Note
We bought two topsy-turvy planters and have one filled with a strawberry plant and the other, a tomato plant. I'd been eyeing these for a while but restrained myself from another infomercial purchase...only to find out when I arrived here that Judy had succumbed. I'll keep you posted on how they do. Or maybe someone out there already has experience?
We had built a raspberry box before the rains came...cleared a space, laid the wood, screwed it together, then put in some braces. The topsoil got in, but still had to wait until this past weekend to add the compost, the mulch, and of course, the raspberry shoots themselves. Judy did the planting all by herself since I was on an errand run to Christiansburg. Here's the finished product:
We're thinking we're going to attach some planks to its sides so we can sit while tending it.
Then, so long as we were mulching, we went ahead and put it in all the beds. The bucket load didn't last quite long enough to get to all the trees, but most of them are fairly established now, so I'm not too concerned about it.
Another project was taking some shoots off our shasta daisies and planting them at the front fence rail...
And finally, we bought a fuji apple tree because we love to eat fujis. Once home and planted, I discovered that apple trees aren't self propegating...they need another apple tree. I then went on a hunt to find another fuji but while doing this found out that it wasn't another fuji I needed. Fujis seem to like either red delicious or granny smith apple trees. Go figure. We chose the granny smith. We planted both trees. That's the fuji in the foreground and the granny smith is out in the field. Pretty small...how many years before fruit do you think? Hopefully sooner than later...
Well I guess I was premature in saying "finally" In addition to all this, I tended to our road, cutting back the grass and sprouts and cleaning it's "gutter". I got about 1/2 way down before my back cried uncle.
So, there you have it. Not much leisure time, but all a labor of love. I'm planning to go with Judy to Bright's Farm tomorrow...picking up chicken feet for Shaynee...yum. But other than that, I think I'm done...at least for this week. Maybe I'll have a chance to roam a bit and snap some pics...if it doesn't rain again that is!
Post Note
We bought two topsy-turvy planters and have one filled with a strawberry plant and the other, a tomato plant. I'd been eyeing these for a while but restrained myself from another infomercial purchase...only to find out when I arrived here that Judy had succumbed. I'll keep you posted on how they do. Or maybe someone out there already has experience?
Do you have a rifle to shoot the deer when they push the chicken wire to one side and start nibbling on your raspberries? That was a nice piece of information that you found on the Bright's farm. I don't know much about apples, but I'd venture a guess of 5 to 7 years before you can expect your first crop. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will have the answer!
Posted by: Jeff | June 08, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Raspberries, yammie. Especially "home made" without all kinds of pesticides sprayed over them. And those trees will take some years to grow before giving apples, at least that's what I think. My what a field to be able to plant the trees at such a distance from each other. Amazing!
Posted by: Carin | June 10, 2009 at 01:43 AM
i , very recently, noticed a tomato topsy-turvy planter on a neighbors' porch......it has me fascinated ....i am waiting to see how roots react to the reverse gravity.....
Posted by: moi | June 10, 2009 at 03:09 PM