I moved into my current home about two years ago. It’s the first house I’ve owned and it took me over a decade to save up for the down payment, with over two years of searching and multiple offers on other homes that fell through in the pandemic-induced skyrocketing price shock.
But the stars aligned with this one, and I had a truly fantastic realtor who went above and beyond to help me get it, and I finally had a home of my very own. It’s older, it’s tiny, and it’s definitely dated (hello 80s décor!), but it has yard space, which was a dream come true!
I closed on the house in mid-May and I had four priorities: get the retaining wall fixed (a joint effort with the owner of the house next door, which was also for sale), get the two foundation cracks fixed, replace the 24 year old hot water tank (😱), and start a vegetable garden. The infrastructure issues were fixed right away (part of my budgeting to buy the place), and when the guys put the fence back up and were laying replacement sod after ripping half the yard up to fix the retaining wall, I asked them to leave a bare stretch along the fence for a future garden. They were happy to oblige. And that was the start of my garden journey.
The Garden Journey Begins
Now, when I first moved in, there was nothing here but a patio and a shed, plus one raised garden box along the edge of the patio… and a whole lot of grass. (Seriously. So. Much. GRASS.) That first year, a friend helped me dig some sod and make some box frames for small raised beds at the back and was also able to give me some extra seedlings he’d started for his own garden and hadn’t used, so I was able to have my first garden in my first year. And I planted some flowers along the fence line where the retaining wall guys had left the bare strip for me.
And I had bees! So many bees, of all different sizes and varieties. I was entranced. I wanted more bees. And I wanted butterflies. And birds! I made some bird baths out of plant pot saucers set on bricks.
But no one came to visit my bird baths. 😢
I was told it was probably because there was no cover for them in my yard and that birds can be skittish.
Bringing in the Birds
So, last year, I planted some baby fruit trees. And built a big trellis for some kiwi vines. And other trellises for grape vines. And I put in more flowers.
And I got a few birds in my bird baths. But fewer bees. And only a few butterflies, despite my careful attention to selecting flower species that were supposed to be bee- and butterfly-friendly. I figured I just needed more flowers.
This year, my fruit trees have leafed out nicely, and I upcycled some old light fixtures and plant stands into “fancy” bird baths. It took a few weeks, but the birds have found my baths and use them regularly. The robins will even come and splash if I am out in the yard! (I am very excited about this. I have bird friends who aren’t afraid of me!) And I have a smaller bird bath that’s just a little terracotta saucer that tiny ground birds have been using, too. I imagine that, once my kiwi vines take off (probably another year) and cover their trellis, that will bring even more birds in because there will be more places for them to hide, so I’m happy about that.
Still Trying to Entice the Bees
But I’m having bee issues. I can count on two hands the number of bees I’ve seen so far this year. I’m hoping it’s just because it’s been such a cold and wet spring that everything is delayed. Once the flowers start blooming, maybe the bees will come. I’ve tried very hard to make them an inviting spot to visit. And I did find one large bumblebee asleep in one of my apple blossoms last week. So, maybe they just need time.
I’ve been frequenting the perennial sales and have been expanding my flower-offerings to try and entice more bees and butterflies to come visit. I started some butterfly flowers from seed last year and they seem to have come back nice and strong, so I’m hoping when they blossom, that will help. Plus, I have lots of cone flowers given to me be friends with gardens. And when the sunflowers bloom, that should definitely bring in the honey bees.
And Dealing With Unwanted Guests
In the meantime, I’ve had a visit from a less welcome garden guest, who spent a good twenty minutes frolicking around the yard and digging in my vegetable beds. 😲 (I have since blocked off his access to the yard because, yikes.)
And there is also the never-ending battle against my usual squirrel, Dr. Evil, and his Minions of Doom, who insist on digging up all my seedlings immediately after I transplant them.
Despite the setbacks, however, I continue to experiment with growing flowers from seeds and chip away at the grass, expanding my garden space every year with flowers and veggies and fruit.
And despite his endlessly destructive schemes, I will triumph over Dr. Evil. The garden will flourish and the bees and butterflies will find their way here.
At least, I hope so.
