A Quiet Place in the Woods

We live on a little over 2 acres of land so there is always something to plant wherever you want it, but we also have a lot of wild life, so that is a big problem.  I planted my vegetables on the deck this year, in this all weather wicker box, to keep the animals from eating all of what I planted.  I found it at BJ's Wholesale, it was only $99 and so far, so good!

I just picked my first red tomato and red and green lettuces twice already.

 The cucumbers are growing, they are little but growing.

 I already picked cubanelle peppers, these are banana peppers and bell peppers

 Being Italian and loving figs, I always wanted a fig tree.  In October last year at Lowe's, I found this one on clearance for $4.  So I picked it up and thought if it doesn't make it, not too much lost.  So I put it in the garage, it was too late to plant it, and left it go.  I only watered it twice, because I forgot it was out there.  When winter came I thought I should cover it, because that's what you do when it's outside, so I put a plastic bag over it, tied it shut, left it go and never looked at it again.  Spring came and I was planting everything else, then I remembered it was in the garage and went to get it.  To my surprise this little fighter of a plant, bloomed and pushed it's branches right through the plastic bag!  I had to cut the bag away from the branches because they had leaves on them. I put it outside and now I have all these figs growing on the tree - can't wait to eat them!

 I found this lemon tree and thought I would give it shot.  I tried growing one before, it didn't make it. I use a lot of lemons in cooking or just for water with lemon.  I have a bunch of lemons growing on this one and more are coming, there are blooms on it again, we'll see how it goes.  

 We planted sea grasses all along the creek bank next to the house. I love them, they make a really nice border.  These were only a stalk when we bought them at a grocery store now they are about 5-6 feet wide. They grow very fast in the right place. I also have them planted all around the deck.  They require very little maintenance, a big plus when you don't have time to spend outside.

 Hydrangeas blooming, finally after 2 years!

Russian sage peeking out through the rhododendrons and azaleas, it smells so good and the bees love it.  Be careful where you plant it though, it's very invasive

 WHY HELLO THERE!  A few of the neighbors dropped by to check out what I was doing. The deer, we have herds of them.  They are not afraid and will walk right up to the house. We also have foxes, raccoons, hawks, owls, chipmunks, groundhogs, hummingbirds and all kinds of other birds.  Very peaceful atomosphere and only 1 block off the main drag.

Battling Nature - All GOD's Creatures Great and Small

This year I decided to fancy - up the shed.  It's been lonely without any plants and just plain blah.  So I put my husband to work with the rototiller and had him dig out two gardens, 18" wide and the length of the shed, I put one on the side and one in the back.  There is a sidewalk on the other side.  I wanted to plant deer and groundhog resistant plants, we have ALOT of those animals, so I went searching on the Internet and found that they don't like textured or fuzzy leafed flowers.  So off to the nursery I went and came home with Rudebeckia (Black Eyed Susan), Bee Balm and Montana Bluette.  Below are before and after pictures when you set out a feast for all GOD's creatures great and small! Nothing will stop them. I love nature, but COME ON give me a break here.

BEFORE - the side of the shed, just planted

BEFORE - the back of the shed, just planted

AFTER - the side of the shed, 2 weeks later

AFTER - the back of the shed, 2 weeks later.  The only thing left standing

 was a knockout rose bush.  Looks like they enjoyed the buffet

 I planted for them!  Guess what I will be

 planting  next year.

Also put in a new rhododendron bush, you guessed it -groundhog

ate through the roots and dug himself a home.

  Never underestimate the power of a groundhog.

Not only do deer and groundhogs feast, so do the bats!
We have alot of hummingbirds that fly to this feeder all day and into dusk
everyday.  I filled it one night and to my surprise was empty the next morning.
Bats sucked it dry.  Do you all get the picture of what I am dealing with?


I bought these citronella candles to keep the bugs away, but evidently it
doesn't keep raccoons away.  I didn't even have a chance to light them.
If you look closely you can see the claw marks
in the wax.  He was actually eating the wax! It was all over my rug
 and deck and the oil from the candle stained both.

I found this Spanish Lavender plant at Home Depot.  It was in a 6" pot 

it's growing like crazy and smells so good when the wind blows.

I moved the solar birdbath/water fountain (QVC) to a better place and gathered some

of the deck flower pots around the bottom.  Looks prettier now.

I also moved the ferns from the entryway. They were starting

 to get too much sun. When that happens they get burnt and brown.

I love ivy but never plant it in a garden, it is very invasive

and will ruin everything in its path.  I found three different

varieties at an Amish nursery.  All of them were only one small strand

 of ivy in a pot for .99 cents each.  I planted them all in one pot and 

set it out of the sun on the coffee table on the deck.

My husband and I built a base for our other fire pit.

 Purchased the pavers and sand ($48.00),

 the Fire Pit ($29.99 end of season sale)

and the Chairs ($7.99 each, also end of season sale)

all at Home Depot