Clutter Deck 2020

[Cluttermagnet]

Hi, All-

 

Spring has been in the air a few weeks now. Looks like we are past overnight frost now.

May 15th is the theoretical last frost date around here.

 

Clutter has been spending some nice days outside- both at Casa David doing mainly

dead tree cutting and woodsplitting, also at Casa Betty doing general outside work.

A couple of photos out on the large back deck:

 

 

One of several Rhododendrons, the largest. Always a reliable spring flower show. They

must like the environment. Both our places are mostly in shade  when the trees leaf out.

This is a forest understory sort of plant, they like that shade.

 

 

 

Those eager beaver Caladiums finally got to go outside May 15th. Repotted. I don't know if

any of the red/green leaf types are going to come up. Hard to tell from the bulbs. I'll know in

a month or so... That's a berry plant in the foreground, probably raspberry. I found it on the

deck in another planter, a volunteer, probably planted by birds. Need to get it in the ground

soon. It's getting late- the wild berries are shooting up in places in both our yards.

 

 

Something I wish I had a photo of but don't- Clutter has been faithfully diverting all plant type

kitchen scraps to compost. I'm not an expert, but nature is. Even though I don't have a

compost bin, or turn the material occasionally, it still eventually forms compost. And what a

rich, wonderful planting medium it is! It's more of a sensory thing than a photo thing...

 

The texture, the nice smell, the appearance- all very nice. Anyway, Clutter recently dig out

a bunch of compost for the first time. A combination of kitchen scraps and leaves, just

dumped in a pile. I got about one big cart full, maybe a little over one wheelbarrow full.

This will nourish either flowers or maybe some spring veggie greens on the deck this year.

It is a wonderfully calming experience to garden once in a while, get your hands dirty, etc.

Love it!

 

I may skip most of Betty's traditional planting of New Guinea Impatiens in favor of a

few planters with some radishes and greens- quick, before the trees are fully leafed

out. That deck is really too shady most of the day. Not quite enough sunlight for veggies.

 

Clutter

 

Edited May 20, 2020 by Cluttermagnet

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Nice. Wish it was 60F here.

[Cluttermagnet]

I planted that raspberry seedling in the woods out back yesterday.

Sure have enjoyed these outdoor days recently. Wednesday it was

also back to Casa Clutter for a little more mowing and clearing small

size deadfall (branches) as I slowly beat back the weeds and

reclaim that back yard- section by small section. In the 1960's

there was more of a decent lawn back there, but it's really too

shady. Letting it slowly revert to a modified forest, but mostly

grass and ground covers- I keep it mowed, more or less- all under

a canopy of trees, a number of which exceed 100ft in height.

 

Very satisfying to work steadily with the firewood stores. Some

days I split for a few hours, other days I move things around a

little and improve the stacks. Eventually I get most of it covered

to keep the rain off. Some day maybe I'll get around to building

a woodshed...

 

At both places, enough volunteer raspberry bushes that I can

harvest multiple quarts of berries in a good year. I give some to

the neighbors next door. Our season lasts a week to ten days

or so.

 

Clutter

Edited May 21, 2020 by Cluttermagnet

[Cluttermagnet]

I think I added 3 more planters with red Caladiums. Well, 2 for sure.

There are now 6 total, the older plantings being mostly green/white.

In the background- 2 planters with Hostas, getting ready to open

their blossoms. The hummingbirds love these. There is also a sugar

water feeder for them on the deck.

 

 

Three new planters with New Guinea Impatiens. Betty found that

these would do well on her shady deck. Once they start flowering,

they don't stop making new blossoms until the fall. It's continuous

all summer.

 

Clutter

Edited July 1, 2020 by Cluttermagnet

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Looks like a nice peaceful spot to kick back with a bourbon on the rocks and watch nature.