I’ve started to re-think my 10′ x 45′ garden plot. I wonder if it’s too big for the space. I may reduce it to 8′ x 45′ so I have adequate room to walk around the sides of it properly. I really like the idea of a garden plot right smack dab in the middle of grass. The Girl and I eyed some excellent examples at the Gothenburg Botanical Garden when were in Sweden a few years ago and the idea of being able to stroll around the vegetable patch seems pretty appealing. What do you think?
On the “to do” list for today is to dig out the dead arborvitae tree and plant a new one. I absolutely LOVE using trees as privacy screens. They make for such a nice backdrop. 
I’m nearly finished weeding Mt. Barktopia. It may not look like a large area, but holy cow it is. I’d say I have about 2 more afternoons of weeding before I’m done.
I think I found the perfect master bathroom layout. If we decide to put in a window it will go just left of the red wheelbarrow. Do you think a long skinny window would be best, or a wide one similar to the kitchen window that’s next to the BBQ?
Have you ever tried growing water cabbage before?
Well apparently I didn’t drill holes into my stock tank before I planted. Sheesh! How could I have forgotten to do that? I can’t believe the plants are still alive. I think I’ll drill holes in it today and hope for the best. I mean really, what else can I do?
I finally got the courage to trim the giant boxwood hedge in front of our house the other day. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be either. 😉 I also picked up 3 Leland cypress trees at The Home Depot this week so I could finish planting my privacy screen on the side of the house. The trees were $6.99 each if anyone is interested in picking some up. We planted several at our last house and let me tell you Bob, they grow quick!
I also planted my Meyer Lemon tree this week. Since our winters are pretty mild here in the Pacific Northwest I’ve decided to go ahead and keep it on my sheltered front porch. If the temps dip below 40 then I’ll move it in the garage for a few days. I plan on moving the lemon tree around to the back of the house in the summer months.
It’s been a busy week in the garden and next week I hoping to get even more done.
How is YOUR garden doing right now?
Is it under snow, frozen solid, or are your out there puttering around too?
~Mavis wants to know.
If you’re looking for some great seeds for your garden, Botanical Interests Seed Company rocks! I posted the list of the seeds I’ll be planting in my 2015 backyard garden HERE.
Diana says
Love the progress you’re making! Two comments: 1) I would keep the 10×45 plot and put a 2′ walkway down the center. You’d have 4′ on either side and have even better access. Could put a little trellis or alle’ down the center and grow something cool on that. 2) I’m a big fan of symmetry so I would put the wide window for the bath instead of a skinny one. It would look lopsided otherwise.
Keep up the good work! You give me hope and encouragement that my house will eventually be finished, lol. Started my remodel 8 years ago and still don’t have a kitchen… 🙂
Christa H says
I like the shorter bedroom window idea so you can put furniture under it without blocking the window.
How do you plan to keep the deer out of your new garden?
Mavis Butterfield says
According to the neighbors there are no deer in here. Crazy!!!
Renay says
I say less than 10 feet wide….will be hard to weed the middle. I would go with the bigger window. You can never have too much natural light and being a wee bit OCD myself, I agree with Diane and will look symmetrical. Haven’t been out in my garden hardly at all and have been using this dreary weather to watch bad TV and football with my cat. for. too. long. lol
Elizabeth in Upstate NY says
Mavis, I have a few more years on me than you [20+?] and I have found a 3′ wide raised garden works far better for my decrepit old arms and back. If this is your “forever” house, then would suggest going narrower for later in life ease in planting/weeding. Also, for balance, would go with two skinny shorter windows instead of 1 window. Even if narrow, the trim around two would balance the trim around your two kitchen windows–and that’s what you see, not the glass width. Continuing the “forever” house concept, would have reinforced framing in the toilet area for grab bars. Before sheet rocking, use yard sticks for reference, take a few pics of the extra framing. Print them out and save wherever you keep house records. Thus when something happens and you really need to install the grab bars, the cost is nominal because the support(s) is(are) already there. Good luck with your renovations!
Lisa Millar says
Love the new space… can’t wait to see what the new plot will look like.
I am all for room to walk around the garden easily… I did that with my raised beds… unfortunately the tomatoes turned into a jungle and I can’t get around them without a machete anyway! Oh well…
lol – and was all set to learn about a new plant, the water cabbage until I read further about WHY it was water cabbage! 🙂
Deborah says
How great to see the FFA sticker on the side of your container. Both of my boys have been FFA state officers. My oldest son now teachers agriculture science in high school and is an FFA advisor. FFA is a wonderful organization that teaches so many different skills to young adults. Thank you for supporting FFA! I look forward to seeing the progress of your garden spot.
Linden says
I have found stock tanks to be best for things that need a lot of heat (the metal amplifies heat and things like cabbage don’t like it that hot) and plants that sprawl—they can sprawl down the outside of the tanks, whereas if they are in the flat garden plot they spread so much they crowd out other plants.
Marisa says
I like Diana’s suggestion about the garden. I would put a window to match the kitchen for symmetry.
Jenny says
I was out looking at my garden today while the kids and the dogs were playing in the snow. I looked away from them for a minute and the beagle started eating my apple trees! I planted them last year so they aren’t very big. I finally get the things to grow and the dog started chewing on the trunk. And of course as soon as beagle started, the Lab had to start chewing on it as well because she couldn’t let him have something she didn’t. Of all the garden pests, those two keep me on my toes the most.
Kristen says
Hi Mavis – I enjoy seeing all of your progress and have learned so much from your blog. But, now I have a question! I live in NE Indiana, so I start my garden seed inside mid-Feb, and plant in late April. This year, however, I am required to go out of town for a week in March. Dosen’t the world know I have a garden to start? Anyway, I have grow lights on timers, but how can I keep my new little starts watered?! I have no access to a “plant-sitter”. Do you, or your reeders, have any suggetions? Please help!