The new prairie garden is in - and a chicken update

Well, I finally finished getting the plants in the ground. And I've pulled all the invading grass and added the first layer of mulch. Of course, I'm not really finished. There are always loose ends - like the un-mulched rain garden. But it's nearly there!

Here's a photo of the garden along the path that I've finished:

Looking toward the house from the parking area

Looking from the front porch

It's pretty exciting to have almost all the plants in the ground. Some of them are already sprouting new growth. We've had many rainy days thats helped a lot to keep everything well hydrated while the little transplants waited for mulch. I just finished yesterday - a good 3 weeks after I purchased the plants.

In addition, there are a lot of seedlings making their appearance in the areas where we spread the super-expensive native wildflower and grass seed. I don't think they are losing the battle against "weeds." But, given that everything is coming up at once, it's pretty hard to tell - except where we spread buffalos grass seed. In those "lawn" areas it's very easy to see the weeds. So far, the little grass seedlings seem to be pretty darn tough. And, with any luck, I can pull the weeds and fill-in with plugs from other areas as soon as the ground has a few days to dry out.

Meanwhile, our little chicks are looking more like fully-feathered chickens everyday. We moved them into their new temporary home a week ago and they love it. They are much more active with room to run. And it's been very fun watching them on their new roost. They are also getting a few greens now and then which adds a new form of entertainment to our evenings: watching chicken rugby.

Here's a picture I posted on Instagram of the ladies as they first explored their new space:

The ladies in their modified dog kennel/chicken run.

I'm still trying to find time to build their coop. Balancing the urgency of the different things needing attention has been tough because I'm wrapping up the last few days of my corporate job. I think this is the weekend for building their new home, though. It kind of has to be. They are nearly covered with feathers!

It'll be hard to leave the little ladies out in their official big-girl house/coop - especially the first night. I'm going to have to fortify their run to make it a little Fort Knox, I think. And maybe I sleep in a tent next door or something. Yes, a camp out, that should help, right? :-S

Chickens and lots of plants

So it's been several weeks since I've written a post and I think it's time to catch up!

Brent and I have been super-busy trying to establish gardens between rainstorms before the luscious and tough prairie grasses take over. There is just never enough time or it rains every weekend. So I've been using up vacation time during the work week to get our native and edible perennials in the ground.

All of this busy-ness is really my own fault. I've been ordering online and buying at various sales in attempts to establish a sensible garden that utilizes the different micro-climates and habitats available around the house. It's mind boggling thinking through each plant's needs as well as bloom time, leaf texture and height as it relates to the plants around it. I'm sure I've messed it up. But, if my last native garden is any indication, it won't matter. It will be beautiful no matter what I do. As soon as I have everything in the ground (hopefully this week), I will post a "before" picture.

Here is what I posted on Instagram after attending the Powell Gardens Members-only Preview Plant Sale:

Plants purchased at Powell Gardens Spring Plant Sale

I didn't count the plants, but I know it was more than 30. I am probably most excited about the big leaved plants in the photo. They are the 3 hardy figs. I am planting those in front of the big rock retaining walls. In those spots they should get a lot of winter protection as well as good moisture. I'll add a border to "raise" the soil level for create good drainage. I'm pretty excited at the potential for growing those sweet fruits here in Kansas.

Asparagus update: many of the plants have spears up and some of those are already starting to leaf out. They are growing at different rates. Of the 4 beds we planted, the bed on the East end is sprouting the slowest. I'm speculating that it gets less sun than the other beds.

The other big news is our little chicks: 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, 2 Ameraucana, and one Black Sex Link.

Our baby chickens on their first day at home

They fit easily in a 40 Gallon water tub when we brought them home. But now, 2 weeks later, they've grown considerably. I'm working today to finish a "cage" that is about twice the size of their current space. And it will be taller, allowing them to have a roost and space to run around. The only one we know for certain is a hen is the Black Sex Link (Basil). I'm hopeful they are all hens. I guess one rooster might be fun, too. We shall see :-)

Here are a couple of recent pictures:

Basil strutting her adolescent stuff.

Just about the entire crew. Blondie is the big Ameraucana on the left
with the puffy cheeks. She may be a he.

Meanwhile, as a Mother's Day gift for me, Brent, his dad and Jeremy worked to cut down the tall grass around the old dog run that will become our little ladies' run. The also used the rough sketch of a coop I gave them to create the frame for the floor of the coop. That is my next big project!

The "girls" will be almost entirely feathered before I know it. So I better work fast (not like me)!