An updated plant shelf

I can't remember if I've put this in any pictures yet, but I have a bookshelf (built by my father years ago) that I re-purposed as a plant shelf last year (because it's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a plant stand). I painted it, but it was looking a little worse-for-wear

So I decided to repaint it. I started by cleaning the pieces off really good, letting them dry and sanding down the rough spots where the previous paint was peeling. I found a bright red spray paint at Home Depot for about $3 per can. Here is the paint I used:

Once the pieces were dry from their hose down and wipe off, I set to work.

As you can see, I tried to avoid painting the driveway red as well by putting down some trash bags. As you can see from the picture above, I should have covered a larger area....oops. Anyone know how to get paint off of asphalt?

After two-ish coats of paint, I let the pieces sit until the following afternoon before stacking them together. Et voila!

I will probably let them sit for another day before I actually put anything on them, just to make sure the paint is all cured.

What do you think? Have you re-purposed items from your home in your garden?

Some New Additions

I made it out to the local nursery yesterday hoping to find some strawberry plants. No such luck, but I did find a few new (plant) friends!

I went in with a budget (and a Groupon). Here's what I came out with:

I suppose it doesn't look like a whole lot when you put it in one picture, but on the left are two ivy geraniums. They should eventually trail a little bit, and I planted some marigold seeds around them that will (hopefully) fill out the picture and give some nice color contrast.

Also (and I'm really excited about this one), I found a pink hydrangea! I went back and forth about this one for a while, knowing how big hydrangeas can get and how much water they need. The guy at the nursery said I should be able to keep it in the pot for a couple years before it will get root bound. I also made sure to get a smaller variety (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Berner, or "Let's Dance" Big Easy, is only supposed to get 2-3 feet tall). Hopefully I'll have some pretty pink blooms this summer!

Since I didn't find my strawberries at the garden center, I made a stop at the Depot on my way home for some potting soil, a big pot (for my new hydrangea friend) and a couple of strawberry plants.

 

What about you....any new additions in your garden?

Green Beans in the Ground

Ok, I know my average last frost date is technically not till April 15, and I may regret this later, but I just planted some of my green beans. I used a bush type (Blue Lake 274) so that I don't have to put up another trellis (I've already got one by the peas). This way, I can use the space inside the arc where the peas are planted efficiently.

As fast as beans grow, hopefully I'll have some bean sprouts soon!

With this consistently unseasonably warm weather, have you planted anything that you normally would wait to plant until later in the year?

Swiss Chard by the Bundle

Last weekend, we had a cookout with our neighbors and I cut about half of the four food row of swiss chard that was growing in the garden to make chard chips. They were a huge hit (even with the few kids that were present) and I figured it would take the chard a while to grow back, right?

WRONG

I took this picture yesterday, just one week after cutting half of the chard down, it's all back.

So now, I have a question for you....what on earth do I do with all this chard??? (Besides making more chard chips)

Potted Tulips

Ok, remember those tulip bulbs that I potted in this post? Well those tulips are beginning to emerge. Hopefully I'll have some pretty tulips just in time for Easter!

Also, my rhubarb that had plans to take over the world is now relegated to its own container until I can find a better (more permanent) place for it.

Here's a before and after of the flower bed....just so you can see the difference.

 

Some Rethinking

I think I may have to do some rethinking of one of my flower beds in front of the house. I went outside this morning and noticed that the rhubarb is overtaking the boxwood that it's next to. Oops. Here's what it looks like...

I guess one of my weekend projects will be to relocate one of these guys (probably the rhubarb).

Have you had to do any rethinking so far this year?

Returning Hosta

I guess this goes to show how much I don't know about hosta.....the one I thought died I discovered magically growing again yesterday. It's twice as tall today as it was yesterday!

Oohhh....also, I have exactly one tomato and one basil sprout in the greenhouse! Hooray!!