Garden and Outside Projects

I always say we live in a different planting zone from those at the bottom of our mountain side.  In fact, the tree line is not  much farther up!  I tend to ask neighbors and look at houses above us for inspiration.  Then if it doesn't work ... i am sure it's something I did :)  

Mostly, I have learned by trial and error.  I put little bushes under a sun drenched area near the deck the first or second year I was in Alaska.  All died.  I put  Fuchsia plants in our hanging baskets in the front of our house...did great and have done so ever since.  

    

They love the half sun and I love them in baskets.

Nasturtiums from seed transferred to big pots in the front are my newest discovery...will do again next year (these seeds my sister gave to Amelia along with a pair of gloves and watering can).  They did fabulous...and are still going.  Even the little ones in Amelia's painted pots hanging on her cottage look good.

Since lettuce and peas have done fairly well in years previously, I do a couple pots of each and do a few in the terraced garden.  

Amelia never eats peas if on her dinner plate...but loves them freshly picked.  Sigh.

Sunflowers that I planted from seed may or may not make it to full bloom.  They look ok..but we only have a month or so of summer left to bloom!  Cross your fingers.  

I love the thyme and chives that are spreading all over, even running over the rock barrier.  Purple things seems to do well...Amelia is pleased with that!

  Didn't take pics of strawberries...but hopefully will do a post on picking later in the summer.

I have tried many perennials, most are gone in a year or so (except the chives and the thyme).  The one exception is Columbine...they have taken over the perennial terrace and I let them.   I am trying for wildflower looking english garden...I guess :)

We weed and feeded the grass and threw some lime down and now it is in need of a mow.  Amelia helped.  Lawn still looks pretty sad even with the cute kid.

Of course...we have rhubarb galore.  This is only one half of the plants.  Posting a new recipe for rhubarb soon.

Planting, gardening, weeding have not been our only outdoor projects this year.  We ordered a dump truck full of gravel to refresh the path all the way around the house.  What a difference that made!  Since the tractor can only fit on the sides of the house, my body ached from moving the rest with a wheel barrow.  Well worth it and great exercise!

Of course...the deck will be an ongoing project for a bit as it wraps half the house.   But it is looking good!  Can't wait to see it all finished ... that will surely be a post in itself!

Been a glorious summer thus far and Amelia has been enjoying herself...here are a few Instagram pics I have posted recently.

Next week: Inside crafting I think as we have LOTS of projects to do and it's suppose to rain...hate staying in a even a glimpse of the sun!  Another Eagle River Nature class and a few playdates too!