Two Sisters 1930 Cottage Garden Progress

Dear friends,

It's been months since I've posted here.  We've been busy remodeling the "Two Sisters 1930 Cottage" and finally were able to move in about 6 weeks ago.  My garden activities never really slowed down, though.  I just hate to miss the spring season, no matter what else I'm doing.  I thought I'd share some photos of the garden here today since it's such a major difference from when we bought the place last May.  For more pics, visit the Two Sisters Cottage blog.

Eventually, all this grass will become planting beds and walkways.

The side yard is lush, the grass is growing back (unfortunately) and I've managed to plant an assortment of native shrubs and trees such as esperanzas (AKA Yellow Bells), Texas sage, hackberry, Texas pomegranate, fig, etc.

The snails have proliferated, and there are literally thousands of them.  Right now, their favorite food are daylily leaves.  I discovered their hiding place---in and on the hundreds of boxwoods on the property.  I'm in the process of thinning them out and clearing out the leaf mulch from underneath.

 

At the side entrance gate to the garden.  House is to the left.  Cottage/greenhouse is to the right.

 I've decided that the former residents were trying to plant one of each color of rose.  So far, I've had red, pink (dark and light), white, yellow, apricot and green bloom.  Right now, almost every bush on the property (80+ in all) are blooming.

My wooden pallet container garden where I'm growing bell peppers, eggplant and herbs

We had to remove part of the clothesline because it had rusted and was a danger to my taller Husband.  We left one central line at the back, which will be used to grow a grape on.  It's planted at the bottom of the central "T" at the center of the photo.  The remaining poles and line make a great place to hang hummingbird and seed feeders for the birdies that live here.  We have a huge resident population of birds---so far we've seen pileated woodpeckers, finches, mockingbirds, sparrows, Carolina chickadee, two types of doves, cardinals, a female bunting, and others.

I've managed to build three of my "So Easy it's Stupid" garden beds and have filled them with Yard Long Beans, tomatoes and peppers so far.

The bed at the end of the greenhouse is filled with salvias, bat-faced cuphea, culinary sage, etc.

Another rose by the side gate

The side bed at the back of the house with herbs, salvias, blooming ligustrum, irises

In general, I'm concentrating on supporting the plants that are already here and adding in lots of natives, herbs and food plants.  The main goal is always to reduce and eventually eliminate the grass and support wildlife, beneficial insects and grow as much food as possible.

A closer view of the greenhouse garden with sitting area, birdbath, gazing ball and other ornaments.

Yes, the house is still white with dark green shutters and black window screen frames.  As much as I'd love to paint it a jazzy color, it's OK for now.  We have our hands full with finishing the inside of the house and getting the Leander house ready to sell.

So, stay tuned---the old gal's coming along!  LOL.

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Wild bees and rosemary

The Earthly Gardener by Bobbi A. Chukran
February 20, 2007

Dear friends,

I’m sitting gazing out the window to my garden, and am happy to see that my little swarm of wild bees are back! They disappeared for a few months, and I was worried about them. I have no idea where they live, but a beekeeper friend identified them for me soon after they appeared here a few years ago…turns out they are honeybees! He told me he’ll help me capture them and put them into a hive, but I’m not sure I want the responsibility of tending a beehive. The bees seem to be doing fine on their own.



One surprise…they LOVE rosemary! My rosemary plants bloom off and on year-round here, and I never thought about that being a good source of pollen, or nectar. Apparently the bees think otherwise. I see a handful of them swarming the plant this morning, but last August there were thousands out there. The idea of rosemary-flavored honey is intriguing, I will admit.

I was glad to see the bees in the garden because they help the plants with pollination. One reason I have a totally organic garden is so that the beneficial insects can thrive in it and aren’t killed off by pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Too many of our native pollinators are disappearing because of widespread spraying of crops. For me, that’s reason enough to go organic.

Until tomorrow….dig it!

bobbi c.
Copyright ©2007 bobbi a. chukran.

Take comfort, dear ones...

The Earthly Gardener by Bobbi A. Chukran
February 22, 2007

Dear friends,

After years with my office in the back of the house, I convinced Husband to switch rooms with me. His office was at the front of the house, overlooking the gardens; mine was at the back overlooking a rocky gray hillside covered with scrubby cedars. I can’t tell you how much difference that move has made to my mood everyday, my level of inspiration and general well-being.



I’m convinced that looking at flowers and plants releases endorphins in our system, much like smelling good food cooking does. And for sure, smelling the fragrance of an antique rose HAS to do something good to our physical bodies.

My garden comforts me. When I see the heirloom onions popping up that a friend back in Austin gave me years ago, or when I see a plant bloom that was just a tiny seed just a few months before, or when I hear the chirping of birds at the birdbath or the buzz of bees in the rosemary bush, I’m comforted.

Take comfort in a garden. Doesn’t matter what size, shape or form. Plant a few herbs, attract some bees, plant one tomato plant and when it fruits, stand out in the garden in the sunshine and eat one off of the vine, and let the sweet acid juice run down your chin.

I guarantee you will be comforted.

dig it!

bobbi c.
Copyright ©2007 by bobbi a. chukran.

Signs of Spring!

The Earthly Gardener by Bobbi A. Chukran
March 1, 2007

Dear friends,

Somebody asked about the rosemary bush that was attracting all the bees. Here’s a photo of it, in my garden. It’s happy here in this Hill Country soil that is so much like the Mediterranean soil where rosemary is native. This bush is about 8 years old, and is only one of over a dozen I have in my garden area.



I also got a shot of the first bulb to bloom here, a grape hyacinth. It was planted four years ago, and comes up like clockwork every February/early March.



dig it!

bobbi c.
Copyright ©2007 by bobbi a. chukran. all rights reserved.