Day 2 (or 3 if you're into counting)

Ok, I've finished with most of the planting and preparations.  The girls helped me out this morning with the Sunflower Box (remember, the Invisible Gold?).  I've just realized that you should be able to click on any of the uploaded pictures to bring up a bigger, More Detailed, picture...ain't that great?  So, here's the future Sunflower Box:

Finger Poking Holes

...You see each of those little holes?  Well, thar be a Sunflower Seed in each one.  Now according to the package you're supposed to sow the seeds 1/2 in. deep, 4-8 in. apart.  Well, I think we got the 1/2 in. right, but as for the spacing...not even close.  Oh well...I'm not sure this is going to work out 'as is' anyhow, because these so-called "Miniature Sunflowers" can grow between 4-6 feet according to the package.  Ain't no way that will happen in this little box.  Which brings back to my 'teaser' from the last post.  Our deck is exposed to North by North East winds...now, unless I put up some kind of wind breaker, I imagine I will come home one day, after a summer storm has blown through, to a deck filled with empty planter boxes and dirt everywhere.  That, my Lazy Farmer Friends, is another story, for another day.

Oh and one more detail I should mention about these Planter Boxes, specifically the soil mixture...the planter boxes are topsoil mixed with compost as follows:

Mmmm, Compost.

Using this professional Mixing Bucket:

Had to fight my two year old for this bucket.

The rest of the pots are a mixture of garden dirt, old miracle grow soil, a little compost and weeds.  Hey, can't take all the fun out of it, eh?

Right now, I'm trying to water morning and evening.  I know that seems like a lot of work, seeing as how far I have to walk to get to the "Garden":

That last Planter Pot, Ed2, is at least 10 feet away!

...and how far I have to bend over to get the hose:

No, that's not a green snake.

I got some great close-ups of the other Planter Box vegetable tags...here are the three plants and what they are supposed to look like when their ready:

Mr. Stripey, don't let me down.

How can you resist a Yummy Bell?

Container Tomatoes, from the Container Region of Italy.

We'll come back later this summer and do a little compare and contrast slideshow...heh, heh, that should be good for a laugh!

Two last items for today's post:

1.  Here's a good close-up of my 4th Child, that I have named, Red Norland (and he conveniently came with a name tag!)

Daddy love.

ooohhh, he's gonna taste good with a little sour cream and butter!


2.  Lastly, you may have notice a visitor to our little Deck Garden Party.  You can see him here sitting beside Red Norland and Ed1:

What you lookin' at Lettuce Head?

I'm not sure how he got here or if he was even invited.  If he is willing to stay around I think I'll name him, Clay.  As for the moment, Clay is only half full of dirt and has brought nothing to the party...he's literally a Blank Slate.  So, I'm opening up my Lazy Farmer Blog to suggestions as to what exactly should be put in Clay so he can become a contributing member of our Deck Garden Family.  This contest will be open to everyone and the selected winner, voted on by my judges, ages 2, 7 and 13, will win an all expenses paid trip to their own computer to open an email from me that congratulates them on winning the contest!

That's all for today.  Keep farming and keep it Lazy!