A few garden pics

These pictures are from the terrace beds. Tomatoes go in the top bed today, so no pictures yet, but next step down is the basil bed. Yes, a whole bed of basil plants. I love pesto. I plan to eat and freeze a LOT of basil this summer. I may draft one of the boys to be the"Keeper of the Basil and Pesto Chief" while I am gone in July so that basil and pesto production will proceed apace. I'm that serious about basil - don't let me down, guys!

Next step down is the cucumber bed with it's climbing frame. Rhubarb went into a niche in the hillside next to the cuc bed. I know we won't eat that this summer, but I'm planning ahead. Gardening is an act of faith. It is especially so for me this year since I'll be gone when everything really starts to bear.

And the last step down holds this beauty, a very fragrant rose that was a Mother's Day gift a few years ago. It has never bloomed as bountifully as it is this year. It's fragrance wafts through the terrace garden and up to the deck. Mmmmm. In the beds alongside the rose are strawberries, like the rhubarb, new this year. Strawberry rhubarb sauce and pie next spring, anyone!

And this is just for fun, around the corner from the terraces, froggy cellist plays music to make divided hostas grow. These hostas were rescued from someone's backyard a couple of years ago. They've prospered and were divided this spring.

I'm back out to the garden on this cloudy day for more transplanting and especially attention to the retaining wall bed. It is dug (thanks, Thomas), needs manure spread, and then planting. I'm afraid it is not getting as much sun as I had hoped, so this year's plantings may be a bit of an experiment. But I'm always learning and adjusting in my garden. So, now I just have another spot for testing and learning....