Edible Garden, Bed Preparation

Last weekend I prepared the edible garden beds for planting. I extended the current beds to double the row space, and moved the blue berry bushes.

We are awaiting a bid for a garden fence. I am quite excited for the project. The local Lowe's store sent out a project specialist to pull together all of our ideas. The full project will include a small deck, privacy fencing, a pergola and and arbor gate. Having a useable outdoor living space is a priority for us.

Our lot is long and narrow, but very usable. The kitchen garden is off the back door near the kitchen, and the patio and fire pit areas work with the dining room and living room. Similar to our first garden project, this plan will break the space down into "rooms."

This year I set up potato cages, rather than putting potato in a row. I have also rotated the crops in the garden plan following the leaf-root-flower-fruit method. There are still a few items that will wait for later, asparagus and the home orchard. We have an area cleared by the tree removal last spring that will become the home orchard area.

Now, we wait for the weather to signal a go!

Zone 5 Blues

I am feeling the zone 5 blues today. I miss my gardens and plants from zone 8, some of my favorites will not make it here in Michiana.

I have spent many an hour paging through seed, perennial and native plant catalogs trying to wrap my brain around this new zone challenge. Just a few hours south and Indianspolis can brag zone 6. What a difference a zone makes.

Coming from an area rich with nurseries my first challenge was to locate a good nursery. Unfortunately, I have watched several independent nurseries close their doors since we landed here in Northern Indiana. I have had good luck with Bluestone Perennials and I plan to try Prairie Nursery this year for natives. Both involve shipping plants, something very new to me.

Spring is late this year, night time temperatures are still dipping into the 20s. This weekend teases days creeping toward the 60s and night time temps hovering around 40. A month tardy the crocus and daffodils are pushing through, with tulips not far behind.

summer projects, fall canning and winter reflection

Well, the first hard frost has come and gone. The morning temps have dipped below freezing and the garden beds are put down for the winter.

The tomatoes have been sauced and canned, soups have been made and squash, potatoes and onions overflow their baskets in the kitchen pantry.

It is time to return to blogging and free the summer projects and photos from draft. It has been an exciting first year here in Michiana and I have had my share of learning experiences moving from Zone 8 to Zone 5.

alternate pathways, tree roots and looking up

front walkway through vegetable beds integrated among perennials

backyard pathway leading to wooded area and driveway

pathway along side of house and cutting garden

grass pathway between edible garden beds

In the past I had always used permeable pathways. When I began designing this house my husband quickly pointed out that it would be quite difficult to shovel cedar chips or lawn. Because of the snow in this area I had to choose a pathway material that could be shoveled. If you do not live in an area with snow I encourage you to select pathway materials that are permeable. If you do live in an area with snow consider alternate and coordinating materials for areas that are used in the winter and those that are not used until spring and summer.

gravel pathway

flagstone pathways and patio

If you have been reading along you will remember that we will be removing two large trees this month. Both trees were damaged by concrete. The root crowns were made susceptible to fungal rot from compaction and  girdling. When you look down to plan, do not forget to look up. The roots of a tree extend just beyond the canopy over your head. If you are working below that canopy consider the impact of pathways and patios. Initially the canopy was a consideration when we chose to move our patio, unfortunately the driveway poured over the root system had already damaged the tree beyond repair.

patio and pathway areas

patio and pathways staked off and borders set - this curve is an important transition point 

reclaiming sand and pavers from old patio area

sand moved to new location

leveling of sand

setting 24" pavers

10' x 10' patio space

patio set and canopy frame in place

There are a lot of how to websites out there to help you set a patio, so I will not be focusing on the HOW TO here. I will discuss the materials and design.

I chose a Lake Michigan 24' paver, which then matched the stone in the gravel we used from a local quarry. I am extremely pleased with the finished look. We also used the Lake Michigan circular stepping stones in the gravel areas intended for walking.

We reclaimed the sand from the old patio, and stacked the old pavers for reuse in other areas. The old patio was located away from all living areas and did not flow as an additional "room" from the house. I believe that outdoor spaces need to flow from indoor spaces, both visually and in a manner that makes them feel as if they extend from the house. The new patio is visible through the bay window upon entering the living room reception area and from the dining room. If you enter the garden from the front gate you approach the patio as a destination, and if you exit from the back door you step down to the pathway to the patio. All of the flows from the house lead to the patio.

the old patio was located in the back corner of this garden space, which is now divided by a new walkway that leads to the sidewalk and patio area

Additionally, we reoriented the approach from the driveway off the back alley. Originally the pathway took you directly to the back door and we wanted to discourage visitors, many who had been trained in the past to enter this way, from coming to the back door which opens to the laundry area. The new pathway, also in Lake Michigan 24' pavers, leads straight to the sidewalk along the garden and on to the front of the house, and past the patio. The garden space reclaimed from the old patio will become the kitchen garden.