After three years of living on Oahu, and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to have a container garden, living in Illinois has one benefit, more moderate temperatures, thus a better chance of a successful garden. I'm no greenthumb, I don't claim to be. I grew up with my dad having a garden, and I've had a garden in the past, but it has been over 10 years ago. I feel like a newbie, totally.
So on May 6 my DD and I went out and bought up various plants for our attempt at gardening. My lovely husband had already cleared out the long-forgotten-military-issue-landscaping from the curved bed, including pulling up the weed barrier. He did this during some mild day this winter. So with promise of "warm weather on it's way" my DD and I had a vision.
In the ground we have:
- 4 types of tomatoes, including one cherry tomato plant
- green peppers
- cauliflower
- broccoli
- marigolds along the front border
In containers we have:
- cukes and carrots
- beans and lettuce
- stawberries and (??) I forget what I planted alongside!
- a mix of wildflowers
- radishes & misc. veggies (the pesky black squirrel has that pot all mixed up!)
- morning glories
Around the birdbath we have:
- two peonies
- two lavendar plants
Because I already new the digging habits of the neighborhood black squirrel (from him bugging my tulips), DH and I were quick to protect my newest plantings. Not quick enough, however. He'd already tampered with the pot of wildflowers and the pot of mixed veggies (these were planted before the in-ground garden) so DH concocted a fence around the garden and covers for the containers with chicken wire. (You can read about it at my squirrel page.)
The squirrel has been kept at bay, but we've already dealt with a night of frost. (May 17, 2007) But, again, my trusty DH was ready to put up a frost barrier (queen-size flat sheet) over the garden when we returned from my DD's girl scout meeting. We got that all tied up to the fencing and the containers into the storage sheds. DH said the next morning when he got up the ground was definitely covered in a light frost. So glad we were prepared for it. Everything was safe and sound.
Yesterday (May 22, 2007) I finally removed the chicken wire coverings from the wildflowers, beans & mixed veggies. I'm hoping the squirrel will leave the containers well enough alone since the plants are already well established. My fingers are crossed.
This weekend I plan to plant another batch of radishes, carrots and beans. I might plant some onions, too, among the other garden plants. Just not sure.
I'll try to get some pictures taken today to share here soon. | 
