Double Happiness Gardens

09/28/2024

Heard the first big flock of big birds over head-

07/01/2024

Oh no! Have some norway spruce in my potted forest already showing their displeasure

06/26/2024

Photo dump June 2024. We've been gardening on this plot of land now for about 14 years. It was beautiful the day we set foot here. We've been basically embellishing the oaks.

Just about everything you see here that isn't an oak was planted by Trish and me. After 14 years some of those little trees we put in the ground have really gotten established.

I have drip irrigation running all through the property and it has been a blessing, allowing us to grow all kinds of different things.

Our little nursery is producing too, though we haven't sold a single plant this year. It's been more about getting specialty varieties of various perennials established so we can use them as "mother plants" to take cuttings from.

The top blew apart on the greenhouse pretty quickly, it was sort of a temporary canopy and I knew with it being raised up and more exposed to wind thar it would be in jeopardy. Goal is to have that replaced with more substantial standards and horticultural grade plastic by the time it starts to get cold.

I'm learning something new every single day out here and I believe that keeping active and curious is really helpful for my mental health.

The trick we have now, as Trish and I both age, is trying to figure out how to preserve this legacy after we've gone.

I foresee Los molinos eventually growing into a bit of a suburb, and it would be wonderful to preserve this nature corridor for future generations.

Oh! And the pollinators! We've been diligent about planting pollinator friendly plants. I'm sure it has something to do with the wet spring, but I have never seen as many butterflies, bumblebees, and native bees as we're seeing this year.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

02/18/2024

Oh wow the soil is saturated- if this rain continues, prepare for flooding!

06/14/2023

My happiest of happy places.

05/07/2023

I am so proud of our little nursery. It's janky, weedy, totally imperfect, and we're cranking plants out of it! Nothing makes me happier than planting seeds and taking cuttings.

It's so satisfying to sit down once in a while and try to envision where it will be in a year, two years, five years, ten...

05/01/2023

Selling plants and recording music - what a great way to spend a Monday!

04/29/2023

This bloom is a little past its prime but I wish you could smell it! It is the most fragrant lilac. It tends to sprout volunteers that we've collected and planted in some pretty large pots - not sure if Trish is willing to sell them though!

04/28/2023

Almost nothing makes me happier than greenhouse gardening. I simply love getting a pack of seeds, putting them in some soil, and then watching the magic happen! The new greenhouse holds a lot more trays than our old hoop house and we are taking full advantage.

04/25/2023

04/18/2023

Big day for Patricia Howard DBA double happiness gardens. First commercial order being picked up!