Going to work to rest?

I took pictures of my garden just in case the storm tonight is a doozy and it gets flattened again. But I'm not at my computer so won't be putting any in this post. I still have carrots and onions that are overrun with weeds, but will keep plugging away as I can. Peas, beans and potatoes are blooming. Yay!

My son took three hens out to his friend who is keeping chickens for the first time. They have an entire yard to explore and are settling in nicely. By the following afternoon they had produced six eggs, so no stress there.

Saturday I laid out the drip hoses and watered the big garden. I also had a load of laundry hung out so, naturally, it rained. With no chance mentioned in the forecast, we got 1.5". Since they've been predicting storms tonight for days it would be ironic if we didn't get anything.

I've noticed that I have much less tolerance for heat than I used to. Only low 80s and I can't deal with it. We're not even into the hot months yet.

I did get my first cherry tomato today. Even with the hail blemishes - yum.

Aargh!

For the record: I really hate mosquitoes.

Grand opening

Over the weekend I moved the chickens into the new coop.

Three more nest boxes and lots more floor space make it very nice. The most time consuming part of getting it ready was the insulation, but much easier to do it while empty. I'm going to move over the roosting bars from the old coop yet. Otherwise I'm happy with it.

The second night after the switch I had two hens who insisted on getting in their old digs so I let them in then carried them to join the others. Tonight there was just one stubborn hen who got the special treatment. All are healthy.

One day later...

It seems incredible that just one day after I took all those pictures I'd have a reason to take more but this is what I came home to:

The 1.5" of rain and winds we could have rolled with, but the hail - oh my.

Fruit trees

This is the first year I have fruit on my trees and it's very exciting.

Peach Contender

Alderman Plum

Honeycrisp Apple

The Superior Plum is also producing, but looks identical to the Alderman. Next year two more plums should kick in and maybe another apple. The other peaches will probably be the year after that.

Garden shame

I've avoided posting partly because the state of my garden is sad: planted late and already struggling with weeds. But no more hiding! Blemishes and defects revealed.

The small garden doesn't look too bad except for the stunted sizes and weeds on the outer rows.

The big garden is in serious trouble. The carrots and peas are overrun with grass and germination rates are not impressive. The beans in the middle seem to be doing the best.

Shallots and onions are what I began with on weeding. With my back troubles, I can only do so much before having to stop...and it's not enough.

My mom's potatoes are easily twice as large and already blossoming.

Luckily the earthboxes are doing well. Of course, that's what they're designed for so it doesn't say anything for my gardening abilities!

Flowers

Because they're beautiful.

Mom's yellow peony 

I love ornamental kale

My first delphinium - Wow!

Finally hacked out most of the weeds

Hostas are some of my favorites