Weekend Compost - because life isn't all about work

This past week didn't see a whole lot of progress in our gardens due to the rain. On Saturday I was able to complete the installation of the electric fence around our garden. I waited patiently to see a tree rat (squirrel) get stunned by the low amperage pulse, but they seemed to sense my intent, and avoided the wires. I will take apart and store the cold frames this week. 

Safe inside the electric fence

Our garden now has basil, cilantro, carrots, beets, a few varieties of tomatoes, peppers, peas, tomatillos, lettuce, and a few other vegetables. We have some asparagus on the way, I will complete our planting after the asparagus are in. Some of the stuff to go in after the asparagus will be zucchini, cucumber, squash, beans, and ... can't remember the rest of the names. 

My honey was able to find a whole bunch of plants for our small fish pond, and picked up a small school of algae eating fish to accompany the 3 goldfish she already had in there. She also brought home so snails to keep the algae under control. We noticed a family of Chipmunks have set up home in a gap between the pond and the soil. I'll need to find a way to get them out of there. They are prolific little critters, and are everywhere on our property. 

One of the witch hazel we planted over a month ago didn't make it. The garden center, Rohslers,  thinks the shrub may have been jostled too much, damaging the roots. They are replacing it free of charge. I hope it matches the other two for size and cultivar. 

We added a couple of Adirondack chairs to the front yard last week, so we can have our tea at night while viewing the Oradell Reservoir. We're not quite lake front, but in the dark, the security fence is hardly noticeable. 

We are expecting our bee hive to arrive next month. It was supposed to be in last week, but they are delayed. In the meantime, the white clover I worked into the front lawn is thriving, so the bees should have at least one area with plenty of pollen to use for making honey. 

Presby Gardens, Montclair, NJ

My in-laws threw us a very nice 15th anniversary party on Saturday night. It was nice to relax and enjoy everyone's company for a few hours. We stopped at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Montclair on the way there. The Iris are about a week or so from prime, but we were able to enjoy the sunny weather and many of the flowers that are in bloom. 

What did you do in your gardens this weekend? What do you do with your life, the part of work life balance that isn't work?

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