In between rain showers we have spent the last three weekends digging and organizing all the plants we scored at the Raleigh Farmers Market and a local nursery. The deck box is full with the usual tomatoes and herbs and additionally, we are growing cucumbers, pumpkins and cantelope in the backyard. Plus, as a last ditch effort to have productive plants this year I am growing my bell and jalepeno peppers in the front yard near the street where there is plenty of sun! Eric has done a fantastic job of picking out plants that return year after year, so to supplement we added some zinnias, a lantana, straw flowers and climbing vines.

One challenge we did not count on was transplanting the japanese maple to the side garden once we discovered it had grown roots (big ones) into the brick patio. Eric had to cut the roots to free the plant, but it seems to like it’s new home in the back of the garden.

(Eric illustrating the size of the Japanese maple)

(the newly mulched garden)