Fantasia Kitty, if we lived closer, I would have taken some of your tomato plants off your hands. The first four I started look great. All the rest, that I started just one week later in the same conditions, sprouted, and then just stopped growing. They didn't die, they just didn't get any bigger. Now that I have them setting outside in the sun, they are starting to grow a bit, but they are way smaller than what I want for putting in the garden.

I had lantana in pots on the deck last year and plan to again this year. They are so pretty. I was at a garden center yesterday looking for some, but they weren't in yet. I wasn't the only one looking for them!

I have harvested lettuce and spinach from pots on the deck, but nothing is actually in the garden yet. We are giving the garden an overhaul this year and replacing the fence, which we discovered isn't bunny proof. Since half the fence is down, I don't feel comfortable putting the pepper plants out in the garden, so I keep putting them in bigger containers on the deck. Yesterday they moved into cottage cheese containers. Hopefully the new fence will be up before they outgrow those!

Well my thyme starts got knocked over by...I'm assuming it was one of the cats, and they were too small for me to find, so I'm buying a fully established plant from a friend, and my bell peppers, sorghum, watermelon, sunflower, and broccoli are sprouting. Feeling rather happy and blessed that I've had such germination success this year, but wasn't too happy to realize a couple days ago that I forgot to plan where I'd have room to plant them...oh well, I'm gonna have a 'creative' garden this year.

I have a question, and I hope I can get an answer from someone far more knowledgable than myself.
I have a rose bush. A spindly little thing that I feared I had succeded in killing ( unententionally I assure you all ) but hangs on grimly.
Every spring it is attacked, mercilessly by some insect that chews it to bits. It still bravely sprouts more leaves, and carries on, but every spring it seems to take longer to come back. Possibly dreading to be attacked again.
My question. Is there an insecticide out there that is non-toxic that can kill, or at least drive away the little pests? I have been reading more, and more stories about most store bought, name brands leaving stuff in the soil that I am trying to avoid using them.

Well that sounds like you don't want anything systemic, which is what I would have recommended. You might look into the organic homemade stuff which usually includes soap and hot peppers. Just a quick google pulled up this page. You might find a recipe on there that might work.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/specia ... ontrol.htm

On my end of things, I keep thinking "oh, I'm done planting!" and then I come up with more things to plant that I've either forgotten about or want to add. I'm determined to get another pot taken care of today by planting some flowers I'm amazed I haven't killed yet. They're still in their store-bought seed starting tray.
Also on the to-do list is to tie up my tomatoes. They have fallen over.

But other than the rough start with the onions, my garden looks good this year! Hopefully it will stay that way.

We are slowly getting our new raised beds constructed. Slowly because we get started and then realize that we need fill-in-the-blank and have to go back to the store. Also, slowly because we aren't so young any more. Stargazer helped out today.

I do have 4 tomatoes, peppers, beans and beets planted. Still have to get carrots and cukes in. And, if we get the new beds built and filled with dirt in time, more tomatoes.

Also on the to-do list is to tie up my tomatoes. They have fallen over.

Do you cage your tomatoes or just stake them?

We take a 14ft length of hog fence and turn it into an arch. Then we plant tomatoes at the base of both sides.

I have a rose bush. A spindly little thing that I feared I had succeded in killing ( unententionally I assure you all ) but hangs on grimly.
Every spring it is attacked, mercilessly by some insect that chews it to bits

Ugh, that is frustrating. We have the same problem. I have not yet tried anything homemade ('though would like to), but we have used " ", which we spray on the bugs, and it gets 'em good! This year we have not seen any critters yet. Keeping a close eye. Thus far, all looks healthy, but that doesn't mean they won't show up.

On my end of things, I keep thinking "oh, I'm done planting!" and then I come up with more things to plant that I've either forgotten about or want to add.

Totally!

FINALLY, we have finished planting, except ... for the potatoes. They go in the ground tomorrow evening, hopefully.

We dug another veggie garden plot this year. The other one was just too cramped, 'though we have cleaned it up, made it a bit larger, and planted peppers, peas, beans, cucumbers, carrots, and sunflowers (for decoration) there.

In the new garden are tomatoes (beefsteak, sweet 100s, brandywine) and shortly, potatoes.

The flower gardens are really coming along: we have a goodly number of these, most of which we added within the past four years since we have moved to this area. Apparently the lady who lived here two owners ago (her dad built the house) had gorgeous perennial gardens, but the next owners (who we bought from), lovely young couple though they were, tore 95% of the gardens out. At least we've got a clean slate.

We have a fair number of perennials, as well as annuals to fill in the spaces.
Some of the perennials:
hydrangeas
clematis
daisies
black-eyed susans
lupines**
bloody cranesbill
bleeding heart
lilies
sedum (stonecrop)**
peonies

Some of the annuals:
geraniums (always red: I find that colour grows the best)
alyssum
fuchsia**
snapdragons
dipladenia**
hostas
sunshine impatiens
ivy
lantanas**
dahlias
coleus**
dianthus
salvia
million bells
portulaca

I love 'em all, but those with stars** are my ultra-favourites.

I haven't started an herb garden yet, but do have parsley. I can't live without parsley. It makes great decoration on so many summery dishes.

We take around a couple of weeks to plant everything, so from the end of May (after the danger of frost is over) until mid-June or so. For one thing, it's too tiring to do it all in one weekend. We prefer to space it all out so as to think carefully what we want where and then prep the gardens well. We have rich soil here, being in a more rural agriculture area, which helps, of course.

I dislike summer with a great intensity, so am glad for something to distract me—gardening, which I quite revel in.

Thank you fantasia_kitty. I will give that sit a good look. So far the little critters have left the bush alone. Buying me some time, o false hope

Apparently the lady who lived here two owners ago (her dad built the house) had gorgeous perennial gardens, but the next owners (who we bought from), lovely young couple though they were, tore 95% of the gardens out.

WHAT were they thinking?????

I dislike summer with a great intensity, so am glad for something to distract me—gardening, which I quite revel in.

I see we think alike.

I picked a green pepper from my garden yesterday. Made me happy.

WHAT were they thinking?????

I know, eh? I still weep over what was, and is no more. Gradually we're building new gardens up, but I don't think I will ever get to what I have heard the first owner had.

I see we think alike.

Indeed.

And yay for a freshly-picked green pepper, Grandmama!

We have nothing ready to be picked yet, but all are doing well in growth—burgeoning, as I said elsewhere: peppers, cucs, peas, carrots, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, parsley. ♥ I think I mentioned earlier this is our first year growing potatoes, and wow, are they doing well. We mounded them this morning, and are excited to see how the plants continue to flourish. We have had a very balanced amount of sun and rain in the past few weeks, which, of course, the gardens love!

The perennials are really filling in, and looking gorgeous, intermingled with annuals. Just planted a Phlox this morning. I have never had much success with these tall, vibrant plants, so tried a different location this time. We shall see ...

In this stifling heat wave, though, we shall be needing to water both floral and veggies tonight. Storms are to be moving in on Monday, so yay for rainfall!

The gardens (and everything else around here) certainly are green and lush! However, I know our gardeners have to water their plants in this heat, and should the weather remain hot and dry the picture will change very quickly.

It's hard to believe we're just hours from the start of July.

Lots of weeding to do this week. However, it's another wet morning, so not today. At least I don't have to water anything today.

I have one tomato just starting to turn color. I'm looking forward to being able to pick and eat tomatoes from the garden. The ones from the store just aren't as good.

The ones from the store just aren't as good.

Very true. They almost taste wooden, especially in mid-winter. There is nothing like tomatoes picked fresh off your own plant! ♥

We are in the midst of an excessive heat wave (record-breaking, actually), and while we are receiving some rain every 3-4 days, because it is SO hot out, the gardens dry up very fast. Watering them all is a big job, but I still enjoy it, as it gives me a chance to look at every plant and see how each one is faring ... along with pulling weeds, of course.

Our beans should be the first harvest ... maybe in a week or two. Tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots will be awhile yet. Peppers are coming along. Peas too.

Other years I have had beetles attack both my rose bushes, but no sign of them this year. Not that I'm complaining.