Before I start this post I want to thank those of you who left comments and sent emails to me letting me know that you have not been receiving my posts. After doing some research, I discovered that many blogs who use Google's Feed Burner service to send out their posts were having the same problem. So, good bye Feed Burner! I am now using Mail Chimp instead. This is the first post that is being sent out by Mail Chimp... I hope you receive it!!!
Now onto the fun stuff...
We are going to be installing the furnishings at our clients' French Normandy style house this coming week, so I decided to relax a bit in my garden this weekend before the crazy starts!
I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful gardener, Ricardo Gutierrez. Ricardo has been gardening his entire life, and he has worked his magic on the landscape at Patina Farm. Everyone who visits always comments on how happy all of our plants look. I always tell them that it's all thanks Ricardo and his team!
The Eden roses are starting to make their way across the trellis by the potager.
The Fuji apple espaliers are not only beautiful...
they're delicious!
I am very pleased with the Eden roses. They are abundant bloomers and quite hardy.
My potager is the only part of the garden where I am completely in charge... it's my little science laboratory!
I've filled the raised planter beds with a variety of edibles...
My Pole beans are winding their way around the Willow obelisk.
I'm experimenting with pumpkins for the first time. I'm hopeful that they will be large enough to become jack-o-lanterns by Halloween!
I've planted a variety of peppers... Bell...
and Jalapeno are both doing well
The zucchinis are happy too.
I've also included some Spanish Lavender and Agastache auranticaca "Apricot Sprite" to add some color and aroma.
A variety herbs, including sage, oregano, cilantro, basil, and thyme are scattered in the beds as well.
Although it's a little too warm this time of year for lettuce, I do have some field greens that are doing quite well.
I learned a great deal of from attending the Ventura County Master Gardener Program. I owe a lot of my success in the garden to the incredible Master Gardener Instructors. Here are a few of the most important things that I learned:
1. Usually the compost purchased at a nursery is not fully broken down, so it leaches nitrogen from the soil. When adding compost (I've been using Organic Harvest Blend), it's important to add nitrogen to the soil as well.
2. I've had a lot of success with biological pest control. I've purchased many beneficial insects from Rincon Vitova to help fight against aphids, scale, white flies, thrips and mites. The people at Rincon Vitova are very helpful... and patient!
3. Gardening is not an exact science... variables are changing all of the time. What works one year may not work the next!
Finally, I wanted to share some images of my rose garden with you...
The David Austen roses in this area of the garden are flourishing!
Some of the rose bushes have gotten so tall that they are hiding the chicken coop!
I hope you enjoyed this garden update. If you have any questions or want to share one of your gardening tips, please leave a comment on this blog post.
Happy Summer!
xo
Brooke
