Sitting and Reading

I would like to have Oliver do a little bit of reading

at our podium this summer!  I'm calling this summer,

The Summer of Reading because I hope for him to

become a stronger reader before summer ends.  So

we are practicing a lot.  The podium is a good place for practice!

I'd also like to try and sit on our bench a little more

this summer!

Rock Garden

The rock garden definitely needs some work.  My students painted me a bunch of rocks so I have a lot more color to add to the area!  I just need to straighten them all out and make it look pretty!

Deck

I need to clean the chairs and work on the empty container garden!  Oliver's deck is so neat!

Pictures

I like taking pictures of my garden.

Wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrow garden is doing well.  Just not as colorful as I'd like it to be!

Meaty Tree

Morning glory, watermelons, poppy, and meaty smelling tree.

This is all growing where the dead painted tree used to be!

The morning glory came back on its own!

The meaty smelling tree is growing on its own in 

a couple of areas.  I'm going to let them because

they are like succulents and don't need a lot 

of help from me!

Trunk

I finally chose the right kind of plants to live in the trunk garden.  I jest need to keep that area weed free!  I also met a black widow there the other day, so I need to be careful when I'm weeding in that area!  

Fence

I'm very happy with my morning glory progress.  I hope it can cover that fence one day.

Soil Conditioner

I'm thinking about trying a couple bags of soil conditioner in 

one of my garden beds to improve the soil quality.  Nothing

ever grows very well in my beds.  So I'll try this and also try

taking out the soil and putting brand new soil in another bed!

Shopping for soil and other garden needs is fun!

Tomatoes

I've gotten a lot of yummy tomatoes.  Some of the plants need to be trimmed and maybe just taken out.  But I'm happy with my tomato harvest this year!

Grass

Grass in the summer is so sad.  I need to make sure I water it way more.  Water bills in the summer make me a little sad too.

List

My list for the summer:

1.  Figure out tree watering.
2.  Research lavender care.
3.  Straighten up rock garden.
4.  Plant sunflowers and morning glory for the summer.
5.  Weed the garden beds.
6.  Weed the trunk garden area.
7.  Refresh kitch garden.
8.  Tidy up the garden table area.
9.  Clean the chairs on Oliver's deck.
10.  Work on Oliver's deck container garden.
11.  Read and look over what still needs to be done on the last list I wrote.
12.  Tomatoes- work on tying them up better and trimming leaves.
13. Get mulch from the street next to my shed.  Put around azaleas.
14.  Get another Mallow plant or whatever it is called for the purple garden.  Go to Four Queens.
15.  Weed area near the morning glory and poppies.
16.  Weed and straighten up converse garden.  Add new succulents and shoes.
17.  Figure out when to name all my garden beds and design themes for them.  Consult my writer friend.

Zucchini

I've been getting some yummy zucchini this year!

Kitchen Garden

The kitchen garden needs a refresh!  This area gets way more sun then I originally thought!  I will need to put strong plants that can handle a lot of sun there!  I also ordered a sign to be made that points to my "Follow My Heart Garden."  I met the lady at the Vista Strawberry Festival.  I'm still waiting to hear back from her though!  I would really like a sign.

Dead Tree

The plum tree in the backyard died last year.  It finally came down on its own, well, with a little help from Oliver.  I really need to try to water some of our trees better.  

Stump of the tree.

The dead tree all chopped up.

Lavender

Our beautiful lavender in the front of our home underneath the window is not doing so well.  I'm going to have to do a little research and see if there is anything I can do to save it!  If not, I'll plant some new lavender.  

Playhouse

Our playhouse is being used as Oliver's shed.  It needs a lot of work the porch fell off!

Help!  

Doorway

I am working on updating my garden blog with some ideas and thoughts.  I will do it tomorrow!  I really need to write a new list and review the old list.

For now, I just wanted to post this picture.  I love this doorway.