Rototilling, beans aplanting, wood astacking, native iris aviewing

     I decided it was time to plant beans today.  In order to do that I had to prepare the garden bed chosen for the beans this year, add amendments (chicken manure, alfalfa seed meal, bone meal, greensand, and compost), till them into the soil and plant.  One of my more useful garden tools is the Mantis tiller.  I've had it for 20 years or so, and it does a great job.  (Click on photos to expand them.)

Mantis tiller and bed

I then planted 6 kinds of beans, 5 of them bush, and 1 polebean (Helga).  The bush types were Derby from Stokes Seeds, Blue Lake from Territorial Seed, Jade from Territorial Seed, Soleil, a yellow variety, from Territorial, and finally Dragon Tongue from Abundant Life Seeds. I then covered the whole planting with a polyester fiber to prevent the birds from digging up and eating the seeds which they love to do. Here is a pic.

The pole beans were planted under the garden structure that we strung with twine for the beans to climb.  It worked well last year so I'm trying it again.  The structure is a recycled clothing rack from KMart that they gave away a few years ago.

Illijana spent her time today mowing our neighbors lawn as a present to her, and in finishing the wood stacking for the year.  Here is the pile (4 cords plus one left over).

  






  Finally, here are a few pictures of native iris which we have been working to establish along our driveway.  They look mahvelous!