Finally got to get out in the garden....

Wow, tomorrow is May 1. Last year we had many warm days beginning in March, but this year has been cold with lots, and lots of rain. This has truly postponed my gardening.

I appreciated the rain after last years drought. We have a huge pond with wild life in the back of our lot, most of it rimmed with cattails and red-winged blackbirds. The pond is part of at least eight properties. Our next door neighbor dredged out a nice inlet where the Canada  geese roost, coyotes stop for a drink, and the peepers remind us it's springtime. This area went dry last fall. Luckily, with all our spring rain, this pond is again full and so are any depressions in our yard.

The geese just hanging out

So, today, finally with warm weather and sunshine, I collected some of my pre-Mother's Day stash of plants, and have planted a few of my collection of hypertufa containers. One is now planted as a fairy garden with some new and some plants reserected from last year. A couple others are succulent gardens with different colored varieties of hen-and-chicks.

Ready for the Fairies

I got out to "plant" some garden art-lovely, giant flowers made from glass dishware given to me by a friend. Love the way they look against the house. I was careful to place them where the rain run off from the roof and the wind wouldn't damage them. They are wonderful!

I was also able to clean out two of my raised beds which means I am half way to clean! In the first bed I got my edible pod peas planted, along with lettuce and radish seed. There are a few garlic plants that wintered and a hill of miscellaneous tulips. I wintered them there because it got too late in the year to dig in the yard yet the bed was still workable. This bed is still on the damp side but not like the surrounding area that is squishy as you walk through it, ha! Good thing my hubby build me the nice raised beds that are fully fenced.

In the second bed I got in 100 sets of red onions and will fill the rest with Yukon Gold potatoes. I have divided the potatoes keeping several eyes for sprouting. They are currently drying and forming callouses in a box on my dinette table. I am hoping to find time over the next couple days to plant them once they dry.

This little hot spell has my daffodils standing tall, hyacinths smelling great, grape hyacinths popping out in several beds, forsythia looking bright, with tulip flower heads looking hopeful along with magnolia, lilacs and azalea.

Neighbor's star magnolia trees almost full open. Beautiful. Time to take a deep breath of that fragrant "fresh" air and relax on the swing and watch the geese.

English trough class

English Trough - Hypertufa Class

It's Saturday and my husband and I (mostly him) loaded up the Suburban and headed over the WCTC so I could hold my class on making English troughs, better known as hypertufa. The sun is shinig and doing this projects helps us get a jump on spring. 

Suburban looking pretty full

I need my husband to help me with this because Portland cement only comes in 94 pound bags - that's why this is a great class to take since once you open the bag moisture in the air or from the garage floor can be enough to make the whole bag harden.

Mixing tray, masks, gloves, fiberglass mesh, water jug, spray adhesive, plastic bags- supplies and mixing station.

Large bags of Peat moss, vermiculite, perilite, and Portland cement. One part cement to three parts other materials.

Dishpan used as mold and the completed hypertufa.

Making Hypertufa

Materials:

Portland Cement – Keep wrapped until ready to use

Sifted Peat Moss

Perilite

Vermiculite

Poly Fibers

Water

Mold – Box, bowl, flowerpot, etc. (Avoid things with straight sides.)

Mold liner – heavy plastic

Mixing container – sturdy watertight container that is large enough to hold ingredients and have room to spare for mixing.

Dust mask – Cement dust is extremely fine and remains dusty until completely wet.

Sturdy gloves- Wear gloves at all times while working with the ingredients.

Sturdy work surface and drop clothes.

Newspaper or towels for cleanup.

Optional:         Cement colorant

1” thick foam board to fit inside box to form legs by cutting a 2” square

                                    From each corner

                        Materials for texturizing the outside of the form – leaves, bubble wrap, etc.

                        Shells, stones, or other embellishments to decorate with

                        Nail or stick to form drainage holes

Directions:

Prepare box by inserting lid flaps inside to stabilize.  If you wish to make legs on your base, insert foam piece into box.  Line the box with large plastic bag or plastic sheet.  The liner will help retain moisture in the hypertufa pot as it cures and helps keep the box intact while it dries.  If you wish to texturize the outside of the container by adding leaves or flowers, now is the time to set it up.  Use spray glue to adhere the botanicals to the plastic.

Put on your dusk mask and gloves. Gently pour the hypertufa mixture into the mixing container. Three parts organics to one part Portland cement. Add the cement and mix gently keeping dust to a minimum.  Add colorant if desired.  Slowly add about ¾ water.  Mix very thoroughly and use as little water as possible to make a workable mixture.  Do not allow the mixture to become soggy or it will not be able to stick to the sides of the mold.  As you mix, test mixture.  When squeezed it should remain in a ball, then it’s ready.  If it becomes too wet, add a little peat or vermiculite or let it sit for about 15 minutes and it may thicken.