It is spring so, of course, I am outside. I haven't had the grass cut yet and I am enjoying the spring flowers, aka, weeds to my neighbors. Today I found some grass with lovely blue flowers. Grass that I didn't even know flowered because I had always seen it cut. I got my camera.
I found a ladybug. I watched bees visiting the soapwort. This was while I was sitting down after pulling out invasive vines along the fence row. If they would stay on the fence, I'd let them alone. But, they would take over the property if I left them be. My son-in-law dug up a clemantis from his yard and I planted it to grow on the fence. Clemantis is beautiful and will not be a nuisance.
I found one swamp milkweed seed sprouting and several butterfly weed sprouts. I don't know if these plants will bloom this year so I am also sprouting zinnias to plant in front of them for some color in my new butterfly and bee flower bed. Last week I transplanted some goldenrod from the yard to this flower bed. And it is doing well. I am very happy about that because I have read that it is almost impossible to successfully transplant goldenrod.
I added more dirt to an area that I am filling in. Previous renters parked pick-up trucks in the yard making ruts and creating conditions for erosion. I am restoring the area. After laying compostable plant waste, I put down bags of commercial compost and on top of that I am laying commercial topsoil. It is kind of like lasagna gardening. I am edging the area with fallen limbs, mostly from neighborhood oak trees. I have planted sunflowers in the "front" of this lasagna garden and plan on planting okra later when the weather is a little warmer.
I got the idea to use large fallen limbs as edging from hugelkultur. My compostable plant waste also includes twigs. My bee and butterfly garden is also edged with oak limbs.
