We cleaned up the Cottage Garden today... in preparation for our first CSA FarmShare pick-up on Monday June 15, and the Clark County Master Gardener tour on Thursday June 18, 2009.  We chopped away weeds, added fresh mulch, trimmed up the Curly Willow trees, and finally set that old iron bathtub in place, ready for some perenials.... hmmm.... what shall we plant in it?

Today's efforts were a family affair... Kevin, myself, Craig, Trisha, and our nephew Nicholas gathered to make short work of the project. We thought we'd be finished by noon... but as Craig said, it always takes a couple more hours than we plan. 

MJR - my 91 year old Father Milton J. Rasmussen, ambled out to snatch a few strawberries from the raised garden bed.  Betty Rasmussen, my mother, took her kitchen shears to the chives - she said they were crowding the strawberries too much.  There will be a few blueberries for GrandDad to pluck in a few weeks. 

Tiny pears have replaced the blossoms on the miniature espalier fruit trees along the fence.  Pulling weeds between the nearly blooming lavender was an excuse to immerse myself in the heady scent... mmm, lavender is such a restful herb.

The peacocks squawked and fanned their tails.  The Mandevilla vine on the arch has dropped its flowers. The lush pink and white Peonie blooms are eye-catchers against the dark ground mulch.  We discovered new yellow wild-iris starts... from dropped seeds, no less.  

There's always an abundance of life at Wisteria Gardens....