Evolution of the Veggie Corner

I am guessing that those that read my blog regularly remember that back in June I got a hankering for a veggie garden. This little plot (click to see the beginning) ended up a great success despite the near drowning it had in June to the drought-like weather in July, August and September. 

A bit of success has spurred me to expand my options. As you can see in the photo below there were big sparse lilac shrubs at the back of the garden area. This is the corner of the garden I used to call 'the neglected corner'. I can't say that any longer.

You can also see that the tall fall asters are thick and takes up most of the space on the left. My DB dug out the lilacs. They didn't ever do well what with all the trees behind them. Then this second year of drought really took their toll.

They only thing I don't like about this is that I can see the neighbors pool and house too well. I will have to work on that.

I needed more upright growing space so I have put an arch of cattle fencing onto fence posts. I plan to plant a grape or two. Then the cucumbers can grow up these instead of inside the raised bed. 

To raise the bed we bought some 'planter stones'. This is a dandy interlocking system. I didn't want to use wood because I was afraid it would rot too quick and this way I can sit on the sides to weed or harvest.

St Fiacre watched over the veggie garden this year. His watchful eye was most appreciated. This was his view of the garden. 

Now he is elevated so to have a better view of the raised bed. With his new paint job he ought to last another 10 years.

The compost pile has sat here behind the barn  for years. It started out with a wire surround. Talk about not lasting long. The surround didn't last long at all. I wanted to neaten it up a little bit so... 

We used the same planter blocks to surround the compost. If I find I need more room  I can add layers to the blocks. I think this will do for now anyway.  I can also throw a piece of fencing over it when dogs come to visit. They love to forage in the compost. If they only ate leftover veggies it would be ok but they like noshing on corn cobs and spaghetti squash skins. Things that don't digest well... if you have a dog you know what I mean.

In the opposite corner is a nice shaded spot. This is where I have set a bench to have a place rest. I left a big swath of the asters. They are one of my favorite fall bloomers.

The only thing left to do is to figure out a way to block/stop the view to the neighbors boring garden. I thought about more shrubs but they take up too much room. I like being able to get around the garden easily.

I sat here and decided I wanted a bit of formality. I placed a row of small boxwood along the edges both sides. This view is as I sat on the bench taking the picture. We also need a load of soil to raise the level inside the blocks. I haven't had the heart to tear out the tomatoes and green peppers that keep on giving although at a slower rate. Enough to keep us in salad tomatoes for sure.

Sitting there you can see the compost pile. Left over shrubs. I am sure I will find a spot for them. To the left of the compost has become the wheelbarrow parking lot. 

As you can imagine I am not all that formal of a person. Certainly not in my garden. I couldn't help but to use a bit of whimsy too. My DB had brought several pair of these wooden spoon & forks home with him from his deployment in Vietnam. You can imagine how old they are. I thought they would be a nice touch as salad fork and spoon to crown the garden entrance.  

So here is the neglected corner transformed into the VEGGIE CORNER. 

I can't wait for next spring to get another round of veggies growing. 

I want to thank my DB for being the backbone of this neglected corner make over. Without his help I would still be working on it next spring to get it all accomplished.