It’s been another crazy week here in Mavisland planting seeds, weeding and clearing land. The main vegetable garden is coming along nicely and so far so good. The cucumber seeds I planted a few weeks ago are popping through the soil and I am on the look out for the zucchini I planted last week.
Weeding carrots though…. It’s not the funnest thing to do.
Take a look at those beans!
And the Swiss chard, turnips and beets! So far everything I have planted is doing well. I’m looking forward to giving the vegetable garden a more manicured look {with wood chips and proper borders} this fall when the growing season winds down. Right now though I’m just trying to get portions of the lawn dug up and a few of the wooded areas cleared so I can get seeds in the ground.
Harriet’s babies.
The mammoth sunflowers I planted along the back of the house are really taking off. I should probably thin them out or transplant the extras, but I’m just not sure where to put them.
Then again, maybe relocating a few sunflower seedlings near the purple martin house might be a good idea for a bit of color. Did you know purple martins eat mosquitoes? Yes, yes they do and they eat wasps as well. Giddy up! Maybe we need to become a purple martin sanctuary. 😉
Mystery Plant #1 – Dames Rocket
We have this growing all over the place and I thought this was a weed, but apparently not. Anyone know what this is?
Mystery Plant #2 – Some sort of Peony.
Not so mystery plant: Comfrey. And we have loads of it. Apparently it makes a good organic fertilizer tea. 
And last but not least… I bought a 12 pack of Irish Spring soap because my buddy Heather told me to. Although I haven’t seen a deer yet {knock on wood} and several people on my road have vegetable plots in the front of their properties with only a 3 foot fence, if even that {to keep bunnies out?} I thought it might be a good idea to hang up some bars around our vegetable garden plot.
I know I am totally taking my chances this summer with our garden, but honestly, we are not going to make an investment to do anything else to protect our property from wildlife this year. Just getting a garden installed and keeping up with the yard is hard enough. The people who lived here before us had a nice sized vegetable garden and it was left unprotected, and after seeing the neighbors veggie plots out in the open, I am willing to gamble a little. Crazy as that may be.
Life, it’s a big adventure. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you get to enjoy a freshly caught wild turkey for dinner in the middle of June. 😉
Keep Calm and Garden On I say!
Have a great Wednesday everyone,
~Mavis
Molly Sonneson says
Mystery plant 1 looks to be phlox. 2 looks to be peony. I have matching ones here in PNW.
Mavis Butterfield says
#2 Is a Peony? The leaf pattern looked a little different than the other ones. Wow, we’ve sure got a lot of peonies here.
Melanie says
I agree with Molly–phlox and peony. I have both of those in my yard here in Nebraska, 🙂
Teresa says
me too. phlox and peony.
Richelle says
Yep on both.
Laura says
And another agree-er (is that a word?)
Tracy says
Wild phlox is the first plant. Often called “Dame’s Rocket”. The peony is fooling you because I bet it is an Itoh peony, a cross between a deciduous people and a tree peony. Cut the flowers if you want, but don’t prune it.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
Definitely phlox and peonies. The peony is what I’ve often heard called an “older variety “. Though perhaps just the precursor to the super hybrids that are most common? But like everything, peonies come in a myriad of varieties. One of my favorites actually has just a single layer of petals. It’s stunning!
KK
Valerie Hansen says
#2 is a tree peony. Do not cut them back in the fall! They will not bloom in the spring if you do.
Jessica says
Yep I agree on both! We have this version of peony at my parents. there are a number of varieties.
Nancy from Mass says
yes. tall phlox and I think the other is a Chinese Peony.
sharon says
Mystery plant #1 looks like garden phlox. Very fragrant.
Leah says
The second pic is a peony. I have several varieties and the they are beautiful together.
Connie says
Your garden has really grown fast and looks great.
Mystery plant#1 is phlox. One of my favorites . I have it too but mine won t bloom for several weeks.
CSirca says
Your garden looks fantastic! You’ve inspired me to plant sunflowers along our fence border.
Carol says
You haven’t disclosed your location, but where ever you are, there are legal seasons for hunting wild turkey, and I don’t know of any season that includes June! The spring hunting season has probably passed, but there should be another one this fall, when you can bag that turkey with a shot gun or bow and arrow (no rifles allowed).
Gina says
Maybe for public property. But privatly owned property is usually different when it comes to hunting.
Gina says
Best to check laws in your state with regards to hunting. May need license, may only allow males, may have restricted dates, etc. My husband hunts strictly by the book.
Gina says
Spring turkey ends:
MA May 26,
ME June 2,
NH May 31,
I believe, from the web
Cheryl says
Yeah, but it is still May!
Tracy says
Yeah, go ahead….one taste of wild turkey and you’ll never eat another one!
Becky says
I believe in the spring you can only shoot the boy turkeys (the gobblers). Even on private land you need a general hunting license and you have to stay in season. There is also a fall season in most places for turkeys, and the girl turkeys can be hunted then. You also have to obey the ordinances to discharge a weapon, if there are any for where you live.
Di Black says
Mystery Plant #1- 4 petals-Dame’s Rocket. Phlox has 5 petals.
E in Upstate NY says
In my neck of the woods, Mystery Plant #1 is called early or wild phlox and is considered a weed. If you decide to remove it, it’s a plant that will come back if you only cut it. Won’t come back if the roots are also removed.
Another plant that I have lots of experience with is goldenrod growing where I don’t want it. Growing, I have problems identifying it when it grows in my phlox beds. It’s not until the plume has developed that I can tell the difference. This is another plant that ALL the roots need to be removed to remove the plant. Each stalk can send out 2 to 7 thick white roots of which each will create new stalks next year. So, yes, it is invasive.
Carol says
Agree that it is hesperis matronalis, or Dame’s Rocket. Some consider it a weed as it can be invasive, but I have been planting its seeds off and on for 40 years as I consider it a wildflower. In mild winters here in Puget Sound area it comes back from its roots in the spring, and may also reseed itself. Mine has been blooming for several weeks and is nicely fragrant. All species of phlox have 5-petaled flowers, as you point out, so we know it can’t be a phlox. A garden phlox that height would also bloom in summer, rather than spring.
Theresa says
I agree it’s Dames Rocket and an invasive not native like Phlox although mistakingly called Phlox by many. It outcompetes many of the native plants I try to grow in upstate NY.
MeanJean says
Second that!
Jean says
Changed my mind–Kay named mystery plant #1 as Lunaria — Dame’s Rocket is usually purple, not white.
Stacey says
Wow I didn’t relize that you moved away from the PNW. Is New England similar? Does it get more sun than the Seattle area? Love your gardening posts!
Mable says
Carrots are a place where I pay more and use seed tape. Makes weeding bearable.
Carrie says
I thinned my carrots the other day and my pup was so excited to get the baby carrots. Fresh out of the ground!
Robyn says
Are you planning on mulching Mavis? I swear by it. Straw is great because no seeds. If you put it on before planting carrots, just push the straw apart to create a row for carrot seeds. Once they come up nudge the straw back up against the carrot seedlings. it really cuts down on weeding. Not to mention less watering needed and great for building soil after it breaks down over the winter. Just my tip for the day! We gardeners need to stick together and help each other out!
Mavis Butterfield says
We are looking into wood chips. HH is planning on getting the chipper attachment for a man tractor and from what I’ve read, ticks hate crossing gravel and wood chips. 🙂 Time will tell I guess. The first step would you know who ordering the tractor.
Melissa in Vic says
We had a local arborist drop off 20 yards of wood chips for free! I guess they’re always looking for free places to drop off; otherwise, they have to pay. It took a while to spread it around the yard, but it’s making such a difference!
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s good to hear!
Terri says
I agree with Di Black–dame’s rocket. It is considered invasive in some states.
If your peony has wooden stems, it is a tree peony. Some varieties can grow to 4′ to 6′ tall.
Jill K. says
No #1 is Phlox as other people have said. It grows like a weed on the sides of the road where I am. No #2 is a Peony again as others have said. Very pretty too.
Katelyn says
Why don’t you pot up those extra sunflowers and leave ’em at the end of the driveway? Spread some love!
leslie says
Hi Mavis, jealous about your comfrey!! Now is the time to harvest those leaves you lucky dog!! Use buckets and get really good olive oil and cover the comfrey leaves in it. Let it steep for 30-60 days. Strain out the mucky leaves. This can be applied to any part of the body and face and you have a very very expensive (if you buy it) skin moisturizer that is amazing and natural!
leslie says
I should say the oil can be applied (throw out the comfrey in the compost)
Kay Roberts says
I believe number. 1 is a money plant..(luminaire)…. by the fall the flowers turn into seed pods which when the outer coverings turn dry..you remove them and under them are silver pods…beautiful in arrangements. Will snap you a picture of the finished arrangements.
Kay Roberts says
Here is photo.
Small dots are the seeds.
Valérie says
I was going with borage and peonies…..
Rachel Simpson says
Love your blog, Mavis. #1 is Dame’s Rocket (aka Wild Phlox).
https://www.americanmeadows.com/wildflower-seeds/wildflower-species/dames-rocket-seeds
Linda says
#1 looks like Dames Rocket to me. Is an invasive in wisconsin.
#2 is a Peony
# 3 comfrey,is great medicinal herb. I think I may have given the leaves to my chickens,but it’s been so long ago,check to be sure that is ok for them.
Deb Todi says
mavis you are lucky to have the comfrey plant deer will not eat them due to their fuzzy leaves,
they will get tall then topple over but new growth will come up its a cycle it does. they are high in nitrogen for the soil. But never take it internally only use externally. also the leaves can be crushed and put on bug bites, bee stings and sprains, swelling or broken bones helps heal faster. love your posts. Deb T. Finger lakes area NY
Lynda Kling says
First is phlox…. second is a peoney!
SandyF says
Hi Mavis,
My Consumer Reports just arrived today and there is an article about tick roofing your yard. 1.https://www.consumerreports.org/outdoor-safety/tick-proof-your-yard-without-spraying/
One interesting tip was :new product that consists of cardboard tubes stuffed with cotton treated with permethrin, a tick-killing chemical. Mice collect the cotton and take it back to their nests. The permethrin binds to oils on their fur, killing any ticks that try to attach without harming the mice.
“Mice play an important role in the transmission cycle of Lyme disease,” explains Laura Goodman, ”
2. What kind of sunflower seeds did you use? I want to plant some giant sunflowers as well-I have some coming up but they are not super giant like your appear-do you mind sharing what kind they are?
Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Mammoth sunflower seeds. Do you think I could use dryer lint for my tubes?
Gee says
You can give it a shot, but I’m pretty sure the sunflowers won’t transplant because they have a tap root.
They sure do look nice, though. They look just about the size mine would get before I came out one morning to little stubs of stems left – after the bunnies had had a nice night.
Jenny Elliott says
Mavis,
I messed up and planted the wrong greens beans and now I have to come up with a quick way to create something for them to climb. Any suggestions that are on the cheaper side?
Mavis Butterfield says
I always use sticks. Bring your pruning shears and go for a walk in the woods to find some if you don’t have them in your own backyard.
Anne says
How do you water your garden ? I don’t see any drip tape or furrows ?
Mavis Butterfield says
I haven’t had to water it yet. There is a sprinkler system on the property though and we have a well so I guess when I need to I can turn it on.
Indio says
Itoh peonies are expensive plants. I have that I bought wholesale and they were still over $50 per plant.
I feed comfrey to my chickens everyday. They love it and it’s great way to supplement greens without having grass torn up. It has long tap root that brings up soil minerals so I planted it around all of my fruit trees. It keeps them organically fed.
Mavis Butterfield says
$50 a plant!? Lucky me. I didn’t know that.
Carol says
I think Harriet is a quince. Spice the fruits for a fall dish. (Like spiced pears) An old fashioned door yard staple
Mavis Butterfield says
I would LOVE a quince!
bobbi says
What is the Irish Spring for? 🙂
Diane says
It’s supposed to deter deer and rabbits because they don’t like the strong smell. You cut them up into chunks, put a few chunks in mesh bags, and either hang them or lay on the ground.
Judy says
The plants are phlox and peony. The leaf is probably different cause it is a different variety than others. I love the color. They are very hardy and do very well in cold snowy states. I live in Ohio near Cleveland and we had a cold winter last year and my peony is just fine. They kind of remind me of a weed too cause they grow so easily. Love your garden and wish I could plant one. We have far too many deer around that visit several times a day to feast in our yard. Now they are having their babies and there will be several more deer around. Hope your decision to not fence in your garden works out for you. Do enjoy your blog and you inspirations. Thank you.
Rebecca in MD says
Hi Mavis. Would love to find out how you use Swiss chard. I received some free seeds of Swiss chard with my seed order this spring, planted them, and they are doing really well in my garden. Any recipes or tips?
Mavis Butterfield says
I saute it up like spinach and put it in a quiche or feed it to the chickens. 🙂
Rebecca in MD says
Thanks very much!
Debbie - MountainMama says
I had wondered if you had a fence to keep out the deer….and the bears. I have a 5 foot fence around my vegetable garden yet the critters still get in and eat things, it’s so frustrating….they ate my cucumber seedlings and my sunflower seedlings down to the ground (uggghhh, I started them from seed in my utility room, so frustrating!) and when the tomatoes come out they come and take a bite out of them when they are just about ripe – grrrrrrr!!! I might try just starting more cukes from seed like you did, but our growing season is so short up here I’m not sure that’s practical.