Summer Backyard Sharefest

"Gone are the birds that were our summer guests."

                                                 ~ Longfellow

I've been working in my backyard the last couple of days (not because it needs it but because it desperately needs it) and gathered these flowers...probably the last of the season.  I'm sad.  I love fresh cut flowers and I've had a steady supply all summer long.  

This summer has been super hot and dry and my backyard has suffered.  But, back in June, our house was on a non-profit fund raising home and garden tour.  This backyard picture was taken the morning of the tour.  

 When we bought the house, it and the yard had been abandoned for several years.  Here are some before pictures of the yard

....I hope you're not eating.

Two years later...

The "stepping stones" are recycled sidewalk concrete and the brick edging was found buried in the yard.

All together, I've planted a fig tree, 2 peach trees, a plum, a pear, an apple, 3 blueberries, 6 blackberries, a scuppernong vine and a vegetable garden. Oh, and 2 potato barrels.

I used humongous (20' - 30' long!) vines I found in the woods for a support system for the blackberries.  The posts were salvaged from the original fence row. 

The chicken coop, made from a salvaged satellite dish, is in the back corner and is guarded by Cornelius.  

I did have the real thing -- a rooster who first learned to crow early one Sunday morning.  I was mortified.  He was waking up all the neighbors so I did what I always do in an emergency -- called 911.  

Not really, but I did google "How to stop a rooster from crowing" and the number one answer was ..."To stop a rooster from crowing on Sunday morning, cook him for dinner on Saturday night!"  That's a true story.  You just can't make this stuff up.

In the opposite corner, there's a small vegetable garden with a chicken tractor housing two hens who have the job of cleaning, tilling and fertilizing the garden.  The 4'x8' "tractor" fits perfectly on 10 garden beds of the same size.  Of course, I did the math before constructing the tractor and checked into poultry labor laws. 

During

The paths in the garden are made from old indoor/outdoor carpet we pulled out of the house.  

Noah with Millie and Chick - a - dee in the garden

 

I practice "no dig" or "almost no dig" gardening in my vegetable garden and my flower beds that goes something like this...  

 

Not very glamorous but if anyone's interested, I might do a post on the process I use.

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