this year is the 'turn over the raised beds" year... a lot of work but not something i do on a regular basis.. normally i would just top up and or scratch the surface with fresh rotted compost or well aged manure, but this year the 10 huge bags of aged manure from granddaughter's highschool football team, the 2 old compost piles and the bags and bags of 'stewed' greens from my friends house are all being put to good use... in between rain and cold and icky weather i've managed to turn over most of the raised beds, topped up around the fruit trees and am now working on the original raised bed i had....
it's old and most people would consider not worth having but over the years supplied me with potatoes and squash and different herbs as well as a colourful supply of daylillies..... the bed originated with a load of top soil that i never got finished moving, the season was getting late so i decided i would just put a frame around it and make do... well that lasted a couple of years, then my son in law and daughter decided it was 'ugly' and made me a beautiful big E raised bed, which is most awesome i must say.... see the pile of rocks in the left side of the picture? i've spotted many a snake or alligator lizard sunning themselves on the warm rocks in spring and summer... i love those slug patrollers!!!
i'm not sure how much i'm going to do with the bed this year, but i'm going to divide it into sections, put in some squashes and a very thick layer of hay around them and pray that the beds don't get too dry over the summer....
i tend to be a bit of a 'buddhist' gardener... i have issues with squashing slugs and insects, stepping on snails or worms so i'm ever vigilant about trying to not shortening the lives of many a critter... here are a couple of the residents i unearthed today.... a sign that i must be doing something right in the garden... balance is wonderful thing......
Posts
11 comments:
Dang! That is one fat worm!
That is a big worm, the snake looks like a milk snake.I saw my first 3 footer on Sunday, a rat snake.
Katrina and Out on the prairie that was the biggest worm i've seen on this property.. LOL .. the snake is a baby garter snake... and after i posted i uncovered a very unhappy alligator lizard who scurried into that pile rocks before i could grab my camera...
Lizards and worms are OK in my world, but you can keep the snakes! I'm happy to say I don't have them here, but I do have to watch for them in AZ.
That's a very cute snake and a monster worm! I dont know what it is about worms today, but I was here http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
earlier and she's looking at worms too!
awww Annie's Granny.. here on the island we don't have any bad snakes so all are good ones ....
thanks for the link queen of string.. thats funny that she also posted about the worms, but if her garden is anything like mine is right now, it's plumb full of them... all different sizes, colours and even shapes... i was looking into worm farming, but i think i'm good for the 'wild' ones right now, no work for me :D
Wow, I think that worm is bigger than the snake! Sounds like you have been busy, hope your gardens flourish this year.:)
thanks Mr. H... i hope it does too!! oh yes, that worm was much bigger i wish i'd found them at the same time, i could have done a comparison picture... and Mr. H i saw pics of your snow... ACK!!! i'll bet your all chomping at the bit to get going on yours... your seedlings look great, whereas mine are paltry this year :(
Holy smokes, that is a ginormous worm!! Love the tiny snake!
Worms and snakes. Both of which I love seeing in a garden.
Kinda like a Chef and Geno... i really wish i'd measured that worm... but i did feel rather bad that i'd disturbed his earthly home and as soon as the pic was taken 'buried' him/her (?) in a spot close to where i'd dug him up...
Post a Comment