I love the May garden. Everything is so lush and and green.
May 8…Looking over the garden to the southwest, Sue’s foxgloves (grown from seeds) provide the foreground colors, the volunteer Tower of Jewels (or echium Pininana) to the left, yellow turnip and kale flowers all attract the bees.
The potatoes are up. I just tilled between the rows with the little cultivator below.
For several years, we tried to garden without using fossil fuel. We prided ourselves on the ability to spade the garden and then hoe out the weeds. But now we’re several years older. Last month when we were faced with the task of planting potatoes, my wife says, “Let’s get the old Troy-Bilt tiller out.” Yes, it started on the second pull, but it also is waaaay too big for the raised beds. Reverse doesn’t work on it anymore and plus…it uses fossil fuel!!! Enter the battery-powered Greenworks cultivator. It’s easy to use, works well in the raised beds, and USES NO FOSSIL FUELS!
Peas planted outside…first time in about 25 years (because of the deer fence.) I added a couple of rows of carrots in the middle after I tilled it one more time.
Buckwheat is growing well, tomatoes need cages, peas and carrots, potatoes in far back.
May 2…..Sue plants some corn.
…and a second batch of lettuce.
Just for the fun of it, we bought some giant lobelia (Lobelia fistulosa) for the hummingbirds and bees. A daisy to the left and the Knockout dahlia in the center back. The dahlia has flowers that attract leaf cutter bees (at 1:18) It’s fun to watch the leaf cutters in action.
II had to get creative with the drip water grid for the squash. I’ve been accused of planting the squash too close together in years past. This time, there are only 5 hills here, where I’ve planted 10 or more hills before. The idea is we will get more if we don’t crowd them. I left the turnip flowers for the bees (and for next year’s seeds)
Drip watering gets the water to the customer without wasting any.
Another look at it…I think these are Sugar Pie Pumpkins.
There’s never enough room for squash. We are trying some ‘container squash’ this year. It’ll trail down over the stump grinding experiment.
These squash are up against the fence for a reason. They get the morning and afternoon sun. We might try using the fence to trellis them. The upside…more squash. The downside, I’ve got to water by hand unless I figure out a drip water solution.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Your garden really and truly is a beautiful sight. Dripping with envy here. 😉
Thanks, Esther. It might be a different story in August when we realize we’ve over planted and don’t have enough water for everything without running the well dry. 😁
We had a good rain here last night … not to worry.
Just curious, are you growing the buckwheat as cover crop or as a grain crop or other reasons?
We buried our kitchen ‘garbage’ in this bed during the winter. With all the rain, the soil became ‘clunky.’ The buckwheat was planted as a cover crop to break up the soil. An added benefit is it will bloom early so the bees can appreciate the pollen. We will spade it up in time to plant a winter garden, probably in July. Maybe we’ll plant more turnips which can flower in late winter next year, (for the bees.) Thanks for asking.
You always choose such good music Pat. The garden is looking great and tidy, it reminds me I better start weeding 🙂 That’s little tiller looks good, a great help I bet.
Haha, I don’t have the property you have. While I plant 5 squash hills, you’re probably planting 500 hills. I have a feeling weeding takes on a whole new meaning for you.
That music was good alright…so good I can’t use it legally. Apparently “ND” means you can’t use it on a video without the permission from the author. I’m trying to get permission, but in the meantime, I like the lively piece from local musician Steve Montana, “Cluck, Old Hen.”
Love your bumble bees! You have got a lot of land for vegetables, that is a lot of work. I have lots of Echium seedlings now and so have my friends who also germinated some of the seeds. I was so surprised at how many came up when I could not see the seed. I hope I will have some plants like yours next year 🙂 Amelia
I’m so happy you were able to get those seeds to germinate. Plus your friends are growing some too. When they decide to bloom, you’ll soon be finding them growing in some surprising places. 🙂 I keep finding more from the one plant that bloomed (and died) in 2013. The bees will love ’em. 🙂
Astoundingly beautiful garden, so creatively planted and lovingly tended. Loved the video and music as well, the foxglove looks amazing!
Thanks, Vikki. Yes, the garden is coming along. Still there is more to go in and just about the time you think you’ve caught up, you’ve got to start the winter garden. It’s fun though, trying to keep up, and meet the challenges along the way. That’s my form of creativity since I’m not an artist like yourself.
I am getting great inspiration from your blog, and especially about growing flowers/plants for the bees. My garden this year I have allocated for the bees too, we were away till mid May, and will be gone again end September so I am not growing many vegetables, so I have declared this year my garden as the garden for bees. Thanks for all the inspiration!
I love the pictures I just got home . I will also want your input thanks 😊