More Garden Decor and Oh, an Electric Tiller

Happy Sunday everyone! 
And Happy Father's day to all the deserving hooman and paw-dads out there!

The weather's been quite good this week. It was really hot the days prior but this week it was less scorching than usual. It's still quite hot, planting herbs on my veggie garden facing the sun most definitely killed them. There goes additional casualties. Overall tho, it's been better. Reasons to get a mini greenhouse.

I have to admit, our garden is my pride and joy. I mean, on top of a lot of other things that I take pride of. Let me rephrase that, it's my life's spring & summer pride and joy. That being said, I put a lot of work in it over the past few years. Living in a home we didn't own yet then, I really didn't make that much modifications - just planted a few perennials and mostly annuals. This time, we're able to do more to it and I'm excited on what other changes the future will bring. In the meantime, let's focus on NOW!

I've lived in this home for almost six years - which is why I was also so keen in buying it as I've fallen in love with this 100 year old Victorian home in the heart of Oshkosh. See, it's nothing really historical, nor is it huge or extravagant. It's a two story, average sized home that I think is perfect for a family of four. I think that's what makes me love it. This house is very home-y.

Front Yard Updates

For years, Bear and I have always talked about getting a small water fountain for the front yard. We would always say, oh let's wait for it to go on sale at the end of the season. Well, three years later they go out of stock and never went on sale. Well, not happening this year - we got it immediately when Menards started putting out their garden decor because, you know, why wait?

I've also been looking for a nicer wagon wheel and plan to get something from the Amish folks. I got this wheel about 5 years ago, also from Menards for $20. I didn't really think it would last this long but I stained and sealed the wooden wheel and it actually survived with minimal rot.

I most definitely love my hanging plants. Getting these right was quite a struggle. See the hooks I got, I thought were sturdy. I mean, for about $25 a pop, you'd think they'd be quite good. Well placing the larger hanging basket on them bent them to the ground so I ended up getting those mini metal buckets last year, if I'm not mistaken, from Joann's. I love petunias but I also discovered Calibrachoas​.

Calibrachoa is also known as "million bells"

Got this really cute planter (it goes with another mason jar style planter) from Aldi. I have to put my petunias somewhere! lol

My Garden Helper

Bear never really had interest in the yard - well that is until we bought the property. All of a sudden, I got this husband who's talking about actually building the deck and finally getting the backyard turned to a lawn, and many other projects. Of course, my happiness level exceed 500% at this point.

Our property isn't so big and the plan for the backyard is build a deck and turn the asphalt into a lawn. I think it's a great idea but that also means I don't have much of a garden to play with. I thought, well once the backyard is sodded (hopefully this year or next spring) I can convert larger portions of the front yard into gardens. I'm not very patient so a corner garden it is!

I didn't even plan to get a manual tiller. I figured I'll use my shovel and just you know, dig that corner. Bear convinced me that it'll be a lot of work and will take me days (I don't really think so) but whatever, we got a manual tiller and a hoe. As we walked through the aisles looking for a chainsaw, well we saw an electric tiller. He wouldn't admit it, but Bear was more excited to get the electric tiller than I was.

Voila! Corner garden :)

No regrets, it worked pretty darn well! Hmmm now maybe it's time to convert a portion of the backyard into a sunflower farm while the deck is literally not yet built there.

The Past Week in a Glance