Urban Gardening

I finally got around to stringing up my hops bines - oh man, I waited way too long to do this! What a mess! The thing is, I have my roof being reshingled and wanted to wait until that was done because I was afraid the hops would interfere with his work. But finally they just got way too unruly sprawled all over the ground and I had to deal with them. I've got a whole bunch of Hallertauer that I've had for about 7 years now, and some new Nugget as of the last year. I figure by next year they should be producing just about enough to keep me self-sufficient in hops.

When stringing hops you have to use some sort of organic twine like baler's twine. I've tried synthetic ones but the hops just can't cling to it - they grow up so far and then their weight causes them to slide back down again. I simply have come hooks and eye screws screwed into the 2x4 on my eaves, and stakes in the ground below. I use a double length of twine and twist the two lengths together.

The park at the end of our street is a wonderful space for kids. There are broad paved paths perfect for learning to ride bikes, a smaller play structure for climbing and sliding, lots of little hills to roll down and tables and seating to encourage congregation of families and neighbours.

About the only thing missing from this great little gem, IMO, are some kid-friendly plants with flowers to be enjoyed or picked that are hardy enough to withstand the heat from the asphalt and the love from the children. What the park accomplishes in fun and function, it sorely lacks in visual appeal. A few half-hearted efforts in years past have left a couple patches of mangy forsythia bushes, some enthusiastic daylilies, a couple random tulips, and violets that have self-seeded sporadically around the park.

Fortunately, I've a surfeit of Spring-flowering plants needing new homes.