Creating habitats is a passion of mine. Setting out the birdbath and erecting the bird feeders is generally the first thing I do when moving into a new place. I was concerned that, due to the new development and mostly sterile yards, it could take weeks before the birds discovered the feeders I put up for them. I was delighted when no more than a couple of hours after getting the feeders set up, a Brewer’s blackbird appeared at the ground feeder. Early the next morning, a male house finch was partaking of the black oil sunflower seed and announcing his find to others. By the following morning, no less than seven house finches were at the feeder. Robins, too, have been appreciative of the water that I provide; and they usually find an insect meal while they are visiting the yard.
I pulled by hand, all of the weeds in the garden space prior to planting it. I have learned from experience that simply digging them under and turning grass upside down, then covering them with layers of cardboard and mulch, is not enough to deter them from regrowing. It was better in the long run, I decided, to nip that problem in the bud. I should explain that I always do no-till, sustainable gardening, trying to disturb the soil as little as possible. Naturally, weed seeds can still germinate on top, but they will be small and easy to pull. I will need to stay ahead of the bindweed, which is so prevalent here, since its roots descend to about twenty feet underground. I amended the soil and now I have finally been able to put some plants in the ground. It is late June and too late to plant many of the things that I would like to; however, in another six weeks or so, I can begin planning for a fall garden. There are many flowers that can be sown in the fall for bloom the next spring, so I will not be deterred. I am already thinking about where I can plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall, which is also the best time to plant garlic.
Summer was so reluctant to arrive here that seedlings I started indoors on the 4th of April, still barely have their first set of true leaves. We have finally had a few truly summer-like days of temperatures in the 80’s and now that I have at long last been able to get them in the ground, they can begin to thrive. I am counting on the herbs that I began from seed the previous year and brought with me, tol bring some pollinators and beneficial insects into this space that was mostly barren when I arrived. I did see a tiger swallowtail flit briefly by one day, before anything was blooming, so hopefully, the parsley will soon take off and offer them what they need. For now, I must be patient and allow Nature to restore this small space in her own time. I must be a patient gardener.
