Flattening the Curve, Day 48

Hello friends. Today is the forty-eighth day that I've been on mandatory leave from my work site due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Back in the beginning of March I had expressed an interest to Jim about having a new flower bed. Specifically I was thinking about dahlias, but I was feeling doubtful about where in our small garden such a bed could exist. Jim was enthusiastic about the idea and offered to not only dig out a space for a new dahlia bed but said it was a great excuse to get a long needed section of fence built as well. So the whole of it became one big project. 

Jim did manage to get the fence sections built and I purchased several dahlia bulbs, but then, due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic situation, we never got a chance to get the bulbs planted and the fence still needed to be stained.

Once our family situation was sorted though, Jim dug the bed intended for the bulbs. And as you can see from the newly sprouted dahlia bulb in the photo above, there has been some success! Here are a few photos of the process:

The first step was to relocate some yellow irises (in the wheelbarrow) to another area of the garden. Then Jim stained the new fence.

And finally, he framed the bed and planted the new bulbs for me. I was a bit worried that I had waited too long to get the bulbs into the ground, but it's looking hopeful right now. For good measure, I also sowed some old leftover flower seeds in the bed, just so I would have even more of a chance of getting something to grow in there. So now there are some English Daisies coming in, so we'll see!

I hope your week has been healthy and peaceful thus far.

Thanks for looking and see you again soon.

 
 

Flattening the Curve, Day 13

Hello friends, how are you today? For the past several days the weather here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon has been the usual rain, but lately we've experienced an extra dose of dark ominous clouds hanging overhead. Not the kind of weather that makes these days of coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine feel hopeful.

But today there were some 'sun-breaks' as they are referred to here - moments of sun breaking through the heavy clouds with intervals of no rain. I have a new camera that I've been wanting to practice my photography skills with and so today I ventured into my front yard to try it out.

The garden bed shown above is new. Jim and I started it last spring and it's exciting to see the plants and flowers responding. I'm especially excited about the pink tulips. We planted them in groups of three, which makes it particularly fun for taking photos.

So here is an overdose of pretty pink tulips - I hope this makes the darkness in your day a little bit brighter.

Thanks for looking and I wish you and your family well in these difficult times.

Spring Gardening

The Willamette Valley can be a grey place.  For most of the year the entire valley is cloud-covered and it rains frequently.  So when spring time comes around, and the sun begins to shine, I love to get out in my garden, see what's happening, and give it some much needed attention.

Last Saturday was just such a day.  The strawberry and tulip starts above were added to beds that were established a few years ago.  And I recently received several seed packs as gifts:

Some seeds went directly into beds, and others I planted in trays.  It was a great pleasure to be outside in my garden after the long winter.  Another of my favorite activities when I am in my backyard is to observe things like birds, worms, or some kind of bug.  On this day I found that some old cut logs have this beautiful shelf fungus growing on them:

Do you like to garden?  What are some interesting natural phenomenon that you've observed in your garden?