Spring Planting

We had a local carpenter cover over the existing front porch, which was old cement that was beginning to deteriorate. And he added a small floating extension to the porch, just big enough to accommodate two chairs and a small table.  It will be a great spot to enjoy the changing trees and  the front shade garden as it gets established.

And he mounted a nice country pine screen door.  I love these kind of doors and am debating what colour to paint it - cherry red, bright turquoise or lemon yellow?

Just a large pot of pansies at the moment but I am sure there will be more pots to come.

Meanwhile, the annuals that were started as seeds two months ago are bursting out of their containers. I have been hardening them off by bringing them outside for a few hours each day.
I lost a dozen tomato plants as the box they were in collapsed from being too wet. I figure that  Mark Cullen says it best:  "nothing is a mistake with gardening; just an opportunity for composting."

Some of the annuals started from  seed were Cardinal climber, an annual that grows like a vine and  produces lovely red showy flowers. These have been put into the bed close to the back deck.
The trellis comes from a honeysuckle that didn't make it through this winter.

And the apple tree is thriving. It has several flowers on it, lovely pink buds that open to reveal white flowers. The deer have not harmed this one at all.

A shot of the raised beds. One has some plants in it; the other is waiting for tomatoes.

A closer shot of 4 green pepper plants that were put into the bed today.

The lettuce is doing well; I suppose we could actually pick some of the leaves and eat it already.

Another photo of the apple tree.

This  is how it looked a year ago when it was first planted.

                                     

It has definitely grown a few feet in height and has filled out too.

And a new photo of Tekla. Now that the back yard is fenced, she doesn't want to come in at all.  She is even out there in the rain today. She is on squirrel patrol, keeping watch on the surrounding trees for any evidence of movement. She would love to catch one of these little annoying rodents.