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What we did Easter Sunday (pics)

19 years ago

After reading Steven's thread, thought I would post what we did on Easter. Doesn't look nearly as pretty as Steven's garden, but will work great.

Our old strawberry bed was planted with no easy way to pick the berries. Practically had to stand on your head and it was murder on the back and legs. Last fall we tore out all the old berry plants and covered the bed with black plastic. Then this weekend DH built raised beds for me to plant the 100 berry plants I have coming this week.

The two outside beds are 2x15 and the inside bed is 4x15. It will make picking the berries so much easier. He also left a path across the end so that I do not have to step into the strawberries to pick the raspberries as I had to do in the past. Not quite done yet as we need to fill in a little more dirt and mulch in the "path" area. The "paths" will not be as tall as the bed area.

Originally when we talked about doing it, I thought I would lose some growing space. But now looking at the almost finished product, I don't think I will. In fact I think it will be better.

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While DH was working on the raised beds, I started speading the mulch we picked up on Saturday. Got a good start. Lots more to do. Thought I would include a pic of the daylily bed to show how far along we are in zone 4/5.

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Marylu

Comments (7)

  • 19 years ago

    That looks lovely. I have some strawberries in part of my raised veggie garden. I decided last year though that the raspberries had to have their own space before they took over. We didn't do any gardening yesterday because it was just too cold. I'm looking forward to later this week when it is supposed to warm up. I'm getting stir crazy!

    Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:216423}}

  • 19 years ago

    I like the design of your strawberry bed. Very smart. My husband has been wanting to put in a strawberry bed. We may have to copy your design. That's a nice looking daylily bed too. I'd like to see it again when they are blooming.

    Susie

  • 19 years ago

    Mary Lu ~ I love your beds. I can't imagine having that many strawberry plants, but would love having them and picking the delicious fruits. I have 4 pots of strawberries that are several years old. This is the first year that I've collected quite a few berries. I need to put them in a huge planter that we have, next year, for more berries. You have inspired me. It would be neat having that many strawberries at the front of the beds. Easy picking that is for sure.

    Your gardens are always supberb, so I can't wait to see these in full bloom.

    FlowerLady

  • 19 years ago

    mrsgalihad...looks like you had a GREAT Easter. Our children are all grown and live 4+ hours away. We were unable to visit them and the grandkids, so worked in the yard instead.

    susie, I think the beds will work out great. Will let you know after planting and when we actually get to pick berries next year!

    flowerlady, we just love strawberries and so do the grandkids. One family has to make the trip down every year just so the two boys can "help" grandma pick berries. The oldest has already mentioned it this spring. His mom had to tell him that there will be no berries to pick this year. Usually I make 60-70 half-pints of strawberry jam and another 50-60 half-pints of raspberry jam and it is dispersed to all children/grandchildren. I sure hope the berries I bought will produce well. The old bed was planted by the previous owner and I do not know what kind the berries were.
    The picture below shows 1 evening's picking to give you an idea of just how many berries we got in the past. And why standing on my head just didn't cut it anymore!! :-)
    {{gwi:654440}}

  • 19 years ago

    Oh to have that much room, Marylu! What a clever and optimum use of space. Your back is going to love this. That soil looks good enough to eat, let alone all those tasty berries you're about to grow.

    Your daylily bed is looking very happy. How many do you have in there? They are quite the addiction. I was never fond of them until I saw one that I really made me take notice (can't remember the name now) and went searching. Well I found it. It was $125 per plant. I nearly swallowed my tongue. I started looking around on this site and couldn't believe how beautiful some of them are. Once I get my soil just where I want it, I may spring for a couple of the fancy ones.

    Were you as sore as I was today?

  • 19 years ago

    Steven, YES....I spent an hour or so earlier tonight on the heating pad!! Was going to go back out and spread more mulch after work, but....just couldn't quite do it.

    You will LOVE daylilies. Not sure which ones appeal to you but there are many pretty ones out there that are not all that pricey. My favorites are the double ones. Take a look at my daylily page for some close-ups of blooms. I think the most expensive was $20. Most were in the $8-12 range. I think we have between 50-60 planted in the bed in the picture above. Really looking forward to the blooms this summer as they were first planted in 2005. Last summer they did well, but as this will be their 3rd summer it should be a good show! Many fans appear to have multiplied nicely.
    Marylu

    Here is a link that might be useful: daylily close-ups

  • 19 years ago

    MaryLu, that is an outstanding strawberry bed. I know you and your family will be in withdrawals this season with no fresh berries to pick and eat. I do hope the new plants do as well for you as the old ones. What variety did you choose? Oh, how I wish my DH had the time to help me in the garden.

    MrsG. What a cute child. Is he your son? Such a sweetie. My grandson just arrived today for a short visit. I have to take him back to his mother on Thursday. I'll work especially hard to spoil him while he's here!

    Steven, I dare you to look at MaryLu's gorgeous daylilies and not become hooked LOL. Last years photos inspired me to plant over 50 daylilies in my large flower garden. They were just beginning to pop up and the cold froze every single one of them. Doubt I'll have any blooms on them this year....big sigh.

    MeMo

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