Gardening

We finally got around to working on our front flowerbeds.  It only took us a year and a half!  We had done some weeding and maintaining of the previous plants, but in general the beds were a mess.  Embarrassing, to be honest.  By next year, though, they should look amazing!

We are planting from seed.... don't look at me!  It was not my idea.  It may be pretty ambitious but we have a really long growing season and if it doesn't work out, well, we can buy a few potted starts and put them in the ground.  

I should have taken a real before photo, but this will have to do.  We had already torn out the weeds and plants, and begun raking the rocks out of the beds.  That bed along the house is really dry- the awning keeps it from getting any rain at all.  I chose plants that have two important traits: they repel cats and are drought-tolerant.  

We also have 4 spots along the shrubs that our neighbor hadn't planted in.  So we threw a few seeds here and there.

This is pre-compost/mulch.  

 The boys are obviously really good helpers!

After Kraig spread the compost/mulch.

 This is MUCH better looking already!

We sowed the seeds a few days later.  Dylan was happy to oversee the project.

Owen kept busy as well, until he fell down and got his very first knee scrapes!

We planted blue fescue, lavender, sage, autumn sunflowers, cosmos, portuluca, black magic bachelor buttons, and a few hyacinth bulbs our neighbor gave us.

I have seen a few seedlings pop up- I hope to get a good photo soon!