The months of May and June in the Pacific Northwest tend to bring with it a vigorous growing season. This is great on the one hand because things like the rhododendron and rose blooms pop open in dramatic splendor after months and months of cold and rain. That said, if you are like me, a large amount of gardening time in these growing months is spent battling back the weeds and grasses so that your carefully curated plants can shine.
Therefore, if you have any structural projects that you started this past winter in the garden, March and April are the time to get them finished. I know, it can be difficult to “close the deal” on some of these things, but the payoff is worth it when you see how your hard work complements the landscape.
In an earlier blog, I wrote about sourcing an old dresser I had into a raised garden bed. Well, this is year three, and while it has successfully produced tomatoes, onions, garlic, and lettuce over the past seasons, like everything else, it is not immune to the elements. With my not-so-spectacular carpentry skills, I managed to repair it for another season. This is where I have planted my peas and lettuce, and later in the season, I will swap those out for later season plants like squashes maybe?
I also wanted to put in a small wildlife pond, because the importance of water in the garden to insects and small critters cannot be overstated. It is not big or deep enough for fish, but I think it will be perfect for those needing to stop for a drink. The cost was minimal. I paid about $40 for the pond form that I found at a local home improvement store. From there, it just took some time and elbow grease to dig out the area and put everything into place. I put the removed sod into mounds to give some interest to the area, and the rocks I used were ones I have dug out of my own soil over the years. I transferred some plants from elsewhere in my yard, and ended up buying just two small clumps of ornamental grasses which together cost around $20. Now I just have to convince my pup that it is not a kiddie pool for his ball!
Whatever your project(s), do not forget to have fun! Every garden is different and unique because they are an expression of your creativity and individuality!
Happy gardening,
Lauri
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