2006 in Central NY
an experiment in "low-maintenance gardening"

My original "square garden" is doing great, with its dianthus (Cheddar
Pinks), Oregano (Greek and Italian) and Bee Balm (purple-flowered)
borders. The sorrel in the center is coming along slowly, so I still had
room to plant three hot pepper plants I picked up for $.50 each at Walmart
in mid-July. That's about it for Sherburne, other than the elderberry bush
and (hopefully) the currents. I know the currents need a major weeding and
mulching, but I didn't have time to check on them. Some of the sage plants
also came back, and I think there's some garlic growing in that bed again,
but the whole area was too covered in weeds to check on them during the
last trip.

Mid-August update: same story. The sorrel didn't spread noticably, and the
Walmart peppers didn't do anything but survive. The oregano is great and I
gave a few plants to a friend to spread it to his garden. I also planted
two grape vines! I planted them in a lot of compost from the Solid Waste
Facility in Norwich and gave them two gallons each of water from the yurt
runoff (collected in two large plastic garbage pails). I need to head back
in October to take care of the currents and plant garlic around them for
next year. 

GRAND ISLE:

Legumes:
My peas hit their prime while we were away, unfortunately. I finally
caught up today, picking every one I saw. I hope that spurs another 
wave of peapods. It's getting a bit hot for both the peas and the
lettuce, though. The green beans (we refuse to call them Bush beans)
are just starting to come in. The edamame will be ready in a few more 
weeks. (I'm sure I will find it easier to buy frozen edamame in the 
future than wait months for homegrown ones.)

Cabbage family:
I tried to direct-sow some brocolli, never saw a sprout. 
The cabbage always gets eaten by bugs (it's full of holes
again this year, a waste of space unless the chickens will
eat it). For a change, I tried a 28-foot row of brussels 
sprouts. We'll see how that goes. More of a "because I can"
than a "because I love it" crop.

[ the really good descriptions of this garden are on pieces of paper ]

Grand Isle postscript:
Spring 2007, picked kale and brussels sprouts -- all the better
for the winter's touch, and leeks, which are finally getting to
a good size in June. Am leaving him tansy and artemesia, as 
well as the blueberries and bulbs, but am taking many of my 
herbs, or portions of them, for Sherburne. I've also taken some
of his "wild" thyme, oregano and catmint, to hopefully naturalize 
as thoroughly on my property in Sherburne as it does on his in 
Grand Isle.