Seen here ferociously guarded by a bird, the tomato plants have fulfilled there assigned destiny and filled all 7 levels of the cage. I really did not think this would happen. Now if we could just get one tomato I might feel it was worth the expense. I might.

The first ear of corn pushed silk out today. Karen counted 4 ears. Might get a dozen out of this crop.

The first fruit of the tomato vines has made an appearance. These are on the Roma vine. Hopefully more will appear soon. The flowers are abundant, just no fruit yet.

This is the critical level! The smaller cages stop here at Level 4. If the tomato plant gets larger than this (it will) then the taller cage was the wise investment.

This is the bulk of the harvest from the raspberry bushes. I took two early harvests, each of them was half this size. They are really sweet.

I had to fight the birds for every berry. Netting, posts, dogs chasing them, unshielded bush on the side yard, nothing seemed to stop the attempts to steal my berries. All that effort for maybe $8 worth of berries. I have to rethink my gardening strategy.

Grow, baby, grow! This is the first (recognizable) cucumber of the season. I don’t like them, but I like growing stuff. Especially stuff I can see grow on my daily walk of the garden.

It is really warty.

We have reached level 3. We have now passed the extension joints. Wise decision, Jim, wise despite your doubts.

The tomato plant has reached level 2 (of 7). Maybe the cages were not so optimistic.

The Raspberries have burst, summer can now begin.

We have cultivated several square yards of our little lake lot. Mostly herbs and vegetables, but I managed to squeeze a few fruit bushes in the less sunny spots. This is a native ( it was growing on the lot when I got here) berry bush. I created a nice spot for it, raised a bed for it, put some weed cover down and placed a bird net around it. I might get to eat one or two of these berries before the wildlife gets them all.

So, the big dead hemlock is gone. We called for an ESTIMATE and liked the price. The service came out while we were in Negril and took it down. I never said, “Yes” to the service, but it is done now.

I am not sad it is gone, just surprised. I will have to call them Monday and pay up.

We bought the expandable tomato cages online. In reality I think this was an optimistic choice.

75 Red Cedar Planks
50 1x3 boards
12 cubic feet of pea gravel
8 cubic yards of top soil
7 pounds of weight loss
50 wheel barrow trips to the driveway and back

She finally has her garden. I placed the last wheel barrow full of top soil in the last box this morning. We set up irrigation, planted and set up cages this morning.

There is a Mojito Mint garden, Herb garden, Pepper and Onion garden, Tomato and Basil garden, Cucumber garden, Watermelon patch and Corn field. Who is coming to the lake this summer?

Inspiration: Oakville
Photos: Construction

All hail the harbinger of Spring! The first Crocus popped today. Forget your calendar, Vernal Equinox, or Groundhog. The Crocus has spoken! Emperors, planets, stars and small mammals are defied!