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New Acreage Sowed at Fink Farm

Well, maybe not acreage . . . but a very nice flower bed, indeed.

Along the wall of the house, we planted hollyhocks and sunflowers.  If they grow as hoped, it will shade that wall this summer, keeping the den cooler.  But the wild cards in this vision are the fact that the sunflower seeds were old and the hollyhock seeds harvested from dead heads found along the streets on a dog walk last summer.

The next row has zinnias and gallardias,which have never grown before at Fink Farms.  The zinnias are quick sprouters though.  We also planted a pot of coreopsis and a six pack of  gazanias.  We added in one small dill plant which seems to love its new location.

Kate had a chance to use her favorite piece of gardening equipment, the Mantis tiller. An amazing chewer of soil, it is. She started down another piece of land on the north side of Karen's house, but there are mighty tree roots in that bed that will need more attention than we had Sunday.

Meanwhile, the cabbages are slowly balling up.  It's getting time to search out red cabbage slaw recipes.

Karen got in some basil and Kate planted some cucumbers and squash.

Karen's artichoke patch is filling up with tiny green sprouts.  She's steeling herself to thin the plants out.

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