Greetings from Southern Maine! The fog rolled in early this morning and I have a feeling it’s going to be a hot and humid day. Oh well, hey, it’s great for the garden right? 🙂
The bunting is up and things are beginning to look a little festive at our little house in town. It makes me want to go out and buy sparklers and fudgesicles and tie ribbons to my bike.
The HH put a little hook on the gate so I could hang one of Jeanne’s baskets and fill it with American flags.
Just behind the gate I have a row of bush beans, mammoth sunflowers and peonies growing. I think I’m most looking forward to the sunflowers though. I love the tall ones and they always seem to put a smile on people’s faces as they walk by.
Here’s an aerial photo of our garden plot the HH took with his drone.
The garden boxes are filled with 12 tomato plants, cucumbers, watermelon, bush beans, peppers, eggplant, beets, sorrel, lettuce, cilantro, dill, basil, parsley and probably a few other things I’m forgetting.
In the garden plot we have blueberries, onions, raspberries, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus and peppers. Along the back of the garage I planted rhubarb, cucumbers and artichokes. And by the fence there are arborvitaes and pumpkins.
All the brick borders and perennial plants are finally in place. Now all that’s left to do in the backyard is to paint the garage windows, the back fence panels and to landscape the side garden {not in the photo} by the fence for a bit of privacy. That should all be done by the end of July.
Then I’ll just need to refine and mulch the lasagna garden at the back of our property. With fall {and 10 million leaves} only a few months away though, I think I’ll wait to complete that area until next spring. And then we’re done with the yard. Can you believe it? How weird will that be when everything is done and in it’s place. SUPER WEIRD if you ask me.
Pear tomatoes win the prize this year for the first fruit.
And the cucumbers are finally starting to grow…
Last night I harvested our first batch of sugar snap peas.
And my sweet neighbor gifted me a bouquet of roses from her garden. 🙂
My advice for the day {everyday really}: Turn off your television, go outside, take a walk, soak up the sunshine and enjoy all that life has to offer. You only get one chance at this. So take it.
Keep Calm and Garden On.
Have an AWESOME day everyone,
~Mavis
Kim says
Those aerial shots of your garden are BEEEE-utiful! Your house is darling and I just want to get back to visit the state of Maine as quick as I can. Such cute houses, beautiful gardens………………………sigh.
Oh, and I have now picked 284 giant tomatoes, the most epic tomato crop ever!!! Daily making Tomato Jam to go over the purple hull peas that have been planted.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
Mavis Butterfield says
Kim! Keep counting those tomatoes. I want to know how many you end up with. 🙂
Diane says
How many tomato plants do you have? And is it all for family/friends or do you sell it a the farmer’s market? I’m just flabbergasted at how much a family could possibly use. I can’t even imagine Mavis using the crop from 12 plants!
Peg says
Your home almost gives me goosebumps it’s so beautiful! The amount of work you’ve put into it and the lot it sits on are inspirational. I’ve never been to the northeast, but after all you’ve written, and the photos you’ve shared, I need to reconsider that.
Mel says
Our first Honey Drop tomatoes are turning color…after only 42 days! I’ve never grown Honey Drop tomatoes before, but they are similar to Sungold and are supposed to take more like 65 days. The other varieties are still at the green stage, though one or two still only have flowers.
Something keeps breaking my pepper plants, so I lost a few of those, but the ones that are left seem to be doing really well so far. We have purple jalapenos ready to pick, and we have a lot of green Jimmy Nardello peppers. Peppers never grow too well for us, so I’m very excited.
In other plant news, our first pole beans are forming. My basil that is in pots really took off, but the ones I planted in raised beds or in the ground are still sort of small. My cucumbers (after two plantings of 40 seeds) finally coughed up 3 tiny plants, which are finally growing.
Mavis Butterfield says
Jimmy Nardello peppers rock! I love the shape of them and the taste. Last summer we sprinkled cayanne pepper on our peppers, eggplants and beans and it kept the critters away. Maybe it would help yours?
Mel says
I’ve never grown them before, but I’m very excited! My hope is to stock the freezer with lots of peppers for winter. And cayenne is a great idea, except whatever is messing with them isn’t eating them, just breaking the stems off at about 3-4 inches above the ground. My hunch is either a squirrel or our garden cat. Other years, they grow but just never seem to produce, so it at least looks like they might set fruit this year.
Vicki in Birmingham says
I am not sure of the size of the “critter” that is breaking your pepper plants, but I have had good luck keeping animals away from my plants but putting plastic forks in the ground with the tines up, it helps keep them away by them not being able to walk over to them. You could give it a try, it is inexpensive enough to try it out. Maybe it will help! I put them in my potted flowers and herbs too…
Linda says
We had a raccoon who was breaking off my dahlias and lying in the garden. I sprinkled Repek around and no more broken plants. It doesn’t hurt the animals, just has a tasye and smell that is unpleasant
Courtney says
Oh my! Love the house with the forth of July decor. And love the garden pics.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks says
Mavis, the house looks lovely and festive and the gardens are amazing. How you can transform spaces, and in such a short amount of time, is just incredible. The aerial views are pretty spectacular with so many different flowers, fruits and vegetables. You are such a talented gardener! Thank you for sharing the pictures.
Here in our little bit of earth on the coast of NC, my husband proudly picked our first two tomatoes of the year after 77 days, with many more to come. Our lettuce is bountiful and I’ve enjoyed sharing with neighbors and the food bank. Our blueberries are ripening but our peppers are struggling. Still hoping they will come along. We will be having our first tomato sandwiches of the season for lunch today!
Dianne says
Mavis,
Everything looks so beautiful! The hardwork you and your husband have put in is now showing! Now YOU need to sit back and enjoy! It will be fun to see if you have attracted any new birds or butterflies!
Carol @ Lake Tapps says
Your house and garden look fabulous! So much planning and hard work – it really shows. The bunting and flags are really festive, but that cone shaped hanging basket – WOW!! Gorgeous!! Happy Wednesday!
Lori says
Wow, I’m impressed with your garden and your home! You did so much work in a short time. Kudos to you and HH.
Kari says
Your house is adorable. Nice work!!
Lisa says
So inspiring! So neat and beautiful and functional. I’m impressed your grass is so green when it’s been so dry.
Teri says
Looks beautiful Mavis and HH. Your hard work really shows. I never thought Maine had such lovely weather.
Would love to see what your compost bin looks like.
Diane says
Mavis, I see you have 2 cucumbers per bamboo pole. This is my first year growing them and was under the impression you needed to tie up to a trellis because plants would get tall and heavy. But 1 bamboo pole can support 2 plants? Thanks!
Vicki in Birmingham says
Everything looks wonderful Mavis. All the hard work you put into a place really shows. And I have read your blog for MANY years…I have seen the fruits of your labors ( and of course your husbands too!) more than once!
It is truly lovely.
Annette says
Now I have garden envy and house envy. The only thing that would make your house seem more perfect, is if the porch went all the way across the front of the house. And a porch swing!!
Emily says
Mavis,
Your gardens are enviable, as always! You’ve been doing this for so long now – how do you keep critters away? Rabbits and groundhogs seem to get at our garden more years than not, even with a chicken wire fence.