Creating Curb Appeal in Side Yard

Do you have a side yard that is begging for some enhancements? Consider adding a garden area with stone and mulch to add some amazing curb appeal. We've previously shared the transformation of the front yard on this FSBO senior home in Lakes at Leesburg. Let us show you what we did in the side yard to tie the landscape design all together.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Initially, we started our side yard project at the back area next to the opening into the carport and then expanded it to the back adjacent to the shed. Along the side, next to the carport, we dug up an area about 18 inches wide to include red stone edgers and red lava rock. We then stopped that portion of the side yard improvement and jumped to the front curb area.

It was a wee bit challenging to decide how to handle the placement of the water meter as it was set a bit lower than the rest of the area. It took a little maneuvering with the stone edgers to create an "indented" area. We think this actually looks like one of the states -- perhaps a little Utah? 

Oh woe is me! This place needs some CURB APPEAL !!!
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Let us remind you of the lack of curb appeal before we got started transforming the exterior of this home! It is kind of amazing to see the finished result especially when you compare it to the before condition.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

The side yard area was handled as mini-projects -- kind of like little puzzle pieces that fit together to create one design. We initially planted Aztec grass and salvia in the front yard side garden. Heading to the back, in that side yard, we did a triangular garden area with more red mulch and red stone edgers. We opted to go triangular so that we could install a stone and rock patio area to connect to the golf cart path along the carport.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

In the triangular side yard garden, we planted sunflowers! For four consecutive years, we maintained sunflower gardens grown from seeds. The first year, in our Jacksonville back yard garden, we used four different variety of seeds -- mostly Burpee. The fourth year, the sunflowers were grown from the seeds of an amazing wine-colored Autumn Beauty sunflower.

After planting the sunflowers, we noticed little brown bunnies in the area. One morning, over half of the sunflower seedlings we had growing in our backyard garden were nibbled to the ground! The remaining seedlings were moved to this triangular garden and then surrounded by wire decorative edging and the red polka dot pinwheel. The bunnies seemed to leave these sunflowers alone ... but then the squirrels found them! What to do? We tried crumbled moth balls that were spread around the area.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

In the photo above, you can see that the wine-colored Autumn Beauty sunflowers are doing well. Notice on the mulch around them how crumbled moth balls have been sprinkled there. It was a good deterrent to bunnies and squirrels.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Of all the sunflowers that I have grown in my four sunflower gardens, the Autumn Beauty variety is my favorite. I also discovered that squirrels in Jacksonville AND Leesburg, Florida LOVE the Autumn Beauty blossoms! I'm not sure what it is about this variety -- perhaps the wine color?

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Once the Autumn Beauty sunflowers blossomed, the side yard curb appeal was pretty amazing. Neighbors were driving or walking by daily to check out the sunflowers. It is very satisfying to grow sunflowers from seeds ... I'd say my only "regret" -- if you can call it that -- is that sunflowers seem to have a life of little more than 90 days ... and then you need to start over. When the sunflower heads are read to cut from the plant to harvest seeds, I generally take out the plants.

Creating Curb Appeal with Front and Side Yard Gardens
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Here is a view of the property after exterior enhancements -- virtually EVERYTHING has been "touched" with a designer's brush to create a visually-stunning finished piece. Classic Burgundy painted accents draw the eye across the front of this property.

If you love what you see, you can be the new owner of this stunning senior home in Lakes at Leesburg. We are pleased to offer for sale by owner this cute cottage-style, senior home at 19 Tortuga Way in Leesburg, Florida.

Sunflower Garden at 9 Feet at 90 Days

My sunflower garden finally achieved 9 feet in height on the 90th day! That 90th day was yesterday, June 12, 2014. A couple of days earlier, June 10th, I measured the tallest sunflower plant at 105 inches; that was short of nine feet by only three inches. At 79 days, my sunflower garden was nearly 8 feet tall. On the 81st day, the tall plant measured 8 feet 1 inch!

NINE FOOT SUNFLOWER PLANT

9 Foot Tall Sunflower Plant in My Sunflower Garden
Nine Feet at 90 Days on June 12, 2014

Take a look at the stem of that tallest sunflower plant. Pretty impressive, isn't it. It has a number of buds which will ultimately bloom into pretty sunflower blossoms.

The evening of May 29th and May 30th, I was busy installing 5 foot wooden stakes to my sunflower plants. I finished on the morning of May 31st. I installed 30 separate wooden stakes and two full spools of landscape twine to completely stake the plants right before the start of Hurricane Season!

My Sunflower Garden at 9 Feet at 90 Days on June 12, 2014

I must say it is mixed blessings that we had that stormy and windy weather the end of May. It was because of the initial damage to my garden that I got all my plants shored up. And, that has helped me to achieve the extra height in my plants.

CHARTING THE PLANT GROWTH

1. 23 days - 6 inches wide by 7 inches across by 6 inches tall = 0.5 ft.
2. 30 days - 9 inches wide by 10 inches across by 12 inches tall = 1 ft.
3. 37 days - 11 inches wide by 13 inches across by 18 inches tall = 1.5 ft.
4. 42 days - 24 inches tall = 2 ft.
5. 51 days - 38 inches tall = 3 ft. 2 in.
6. 56 days - 49 inches tall = 4 ft. 1 in.
7. 62 days - 3 plants at 59 inches tall = 4 ft. 11 in.
8. 65 days - 2 plants at 63 inches; 1 plant at 66 inches tall = 5 ft. 6 in.
9. 70 days - 2 plants at 73 inches; 3 plants at 74 inches = 6 ft. 2 in.
10. 72 days - 9 plants over 72 inches; 1 plant at 78 inches tall  = 6 ft. 6 in.
11. 79 days - 93 inches = 7 ft. 9 in.
12. 80 days - 96 inches = 8 ft.
13. 81 days - 97 inches = 8 ft. 1 in.
14. 88 days - 105 inches = 8 ft. 9 in.
15. 90 days - 108 inches tall = 9 ft.

My Sunflower Garden at 9 Feet at 90 Days on June 12, 2014

See if you can find the 9 foot tall sunflower plant in the picture above. Do you see it? If you look at the previous garden photo, it is not easily apparent which is the tallest plant. There are easily four plants that are similar in growth for being the tallest. The tallest plant is in the first, outside row and is just left of center. Look toward the roof of the house and you can see it rising above.

My Sunflower Garden at 9 Feet at 90 Days on June 12, 2014

OK, it should be easier in this last photo to identify the tall plant. Look to the middle of the garden and then just left. See that yellow sunflower plant reaching for the sky? An optical illusion shows it about a foot and a half above the roof. You also get a great idea of how many plants I have and how many blossoms. Probably a couple hundred plants and several hundred blossoms counting all the multiple ones per plant! Amazing sunflowers.

It has been incredible to experience this sunflower journey. I owe it all to Burpee Sunflower Seeds! That's all it took for my first garden in 2013. I had a little more than one hundred plants from 5 packets of seeds. Now, my 2014 garden is all from my harvested seeds from the first garden. This year, I have held off cutting off the sunflower heads for harvesting the seeds. Since my plants are staked, the stems can support the weight of the heavy heads. Now, let's hope that the windy weather doesn't take out any more plants. It's 2:24pm here on June 13th, and some really windy weather has just rolled in. Fingers crossed!!

I just stopped to chat with our mail carrier. I had given him several packets of sunflower seeds from The Sunflower Project. He gave a few packets to a coworker at the local USPS office; she had planned on planting them in front of the facility. He said his plants are around 3 feet tall since he didn't plant them all that long ago. "Boy, they are really growing ... they love all this rain!" I said, "Let me know when you have flowers, I want to see pictures!" Stay tuned.

Oh ... and I want to see pictures of YOUR own sunflowers and sunflower gardens. Please feel free to share YOUR own photos with me. Don't take mine. You know? Be authentic. Be original ... be the best that YOU can be ... stop trying to be me.

Sunflower Garden at 79 Days Almost 8 Feet

Since I last reported one week ago, on the status of my sunflower garden at 72 days, there has been a lot of stuff happening meteorologically. Last Sunday, we reported 9 plants were well over 72 inches with the tallest single plant at 78 inches tall = 6 ft. 6 in. Today, that tallest single plant is at 93 inches; only three inches shy of 8 ft.! That's fifteen inches of growth in one week.

THE TALLEST SUNFLOWER PLANT

The Tallest Sunflower Plant at 93 inches at 79 days
Photo Taken: June 1, 2014 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

SO MUCH WEATHER

What about all that weather? Over the past week, there have been quite a few days of rain along with some pretty heavy winds. Each day, along with the heavy rains, I have seen hail. The hail has been about the size of garbanzo beans and there was quite a bit of it.

Because I was seeing a lot of growth throughout my sunflower garden, along with lots of multiple, large blossoms, the plants were a bit top heavy. Needless to say, the rains and winds ended up taking out several of my larger and smaller plants.

Sunflower Garden Impacted by Wind
Photo Taken: May 30, 2014 5:50pm

Sunflower Garden Impacted by Wind
Photo Taken: May 30, 2014 5:50pm

You can see in the two previous photos, some of the wind damage to the sunflower garden. I cut out a number of large and small sunflower plants which had been toppled or were bent on the stem. I was able to fill four different vases with a variety of the sunflower blossoms - so that would be the positive!

STAKING THE SUNFLOWER GARDEN

On Friday and Saturday, I started to add garden stakes throughout my sunflower garden after I had cut away many damaged plants. I used three packages of six each, 5 ft. tall garden stakes from K-Mart along with two packages of six each, 5 ft. tall garden stakes from Lowe's. The K-Mart stakes were much nicer than those at Lowe's.

Sunflower Garden Staked : Tallest Sunflower Plant at 93 inches at 79 days
Photo Taken: June 1, 2014 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

If you look at the plant right above the blue ceramic flower pot, you can detect the tallest plant at nearly 8 ft. I am so thankful it survived all the wind, rain, and hail. You can also make out the various 5 ft. garden stakes throughout the 4 rows. I used the type of wooden stakes like the Bond 95006 6-Count 5-Feet Hardwood Stakes.

Sunflower Garden Staked : Tallest Sunflower Plant at 93 inches at 79 days
Photo Taken: June 1, 2014 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

When I added the thirty 5 ft. garden stakes throughout the four rows of the sunflower garden, I used two different types of landscaping twine. I ran out of the bright lime green twine and used a forest green twine rather like Gardener's Blue Ribbon 200 Feet Soft Green Garden Twine T028A. I am thankful, in hindsight, that I ran out of the lime green version because the other forest green twine was easier to tie and seemed to make more secure knots.

It took me two days to put in all the garden stakes and an additional morning to finish off with the twine. I pretty much secured all the plants and strung some twine to connect the various garden stakes so that all plants were supported. On the outside edges, I extended the twine from the garden stakes to the metal edging to add extra support.

I would appreciate YOUR support in not stealing my copyrighted images for your own purposes. It is not a good habit to get into to.

I am hopeful that the plants will hold up to the wind and not snap the stems! Stay tuned.

My DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 72 Days

It has been 72 days since I planted all those harvested sunflower seeds in my second DIY garden of sunflowers. Those 72 days have encompassed a lot of hours of my time tending to my sunflower garden. Early on, I spent 21 consecutive days covering my emerging seedlings to protect them from digging critters.

Looking out from my home office window, I am thankful of all the time I spent nurturing that garden.

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 72 Days ~ JaguarJulie
View out my Home Office Window
Photo Taken: May 25, 2014

From my home office, I can see a number of the beautiful sunflower blossoms. Pretty soon, I expect to see a lot more sunshine as all the plants are with buds. Some of the taller plants have multiple buds up and down the stem.

SUNFLOWER PLANTS OVER SIX FOOT

Ten days ago, at the 62nd day measurement of sunflower plant height, I reported three plants had attained 59 inches in height.

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 72 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 25, 2014

Today, I measured one sunflower plant at 78 inches. That is nearly 20 inches of growth in 10 days; wow, 2 inches per day!! Remarkable. You can see that the plants have been getting a lot of water because the leaves near the bottom of the stems are yellow. I have been watering them more recently because I did a second treatment of Kgro All-Purpose 24-8-16 Water Soluble Plant Food. I originally did my first plant food treatment on the 42nd day.

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 72 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 25, 2014

CHARTING THE PLANT GROWTH

1. 23 days - 6 inches wide by 7 inches across by 6 inches tall = 0.5 ft.
2. 30 days - 9 inches wide by 10 inches across by 12 inches tall = 1 ft.
3. 37 days - 11 inches wide by 13 inches across by 18 inches tall = 1.5 ft.
4. 42 days - 24 inches tall = 2 ft.
5. 51 days - 38 inches tall = 3 ft. 2 in.
6. 56 days - 49 inches tall = 4 ft. 1 in.
7. 62 days - 3 plants at 59 inches tall = 4 ft. 11 in.
8. 65 days - 2 plants at 63 inches; 1 plant at 66 inches tall = 5 ft. 6 in.
9. 70 days - 2 plants at 73 inches; 3 plants at 74 inches = 6 ft. 2 in.
10. 72 days - 9 plants over 72 inches; 1 plant at 78 inches tall  = 6 ft. 6 in.

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 72 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 25, 2014

SUNFLOWER POSTAGE

I think a neat part-time opportunity would be to design postage stamps for the United States Post Office! Hey, wait! I believe I already did that in my Zazzle shop.

BACKYARD GARDENER CONTRIBUTOR AT SQUIDOO

You might have already heard that on May 4th, I became the Backyard Gardener Contributor at Squidoo! This time of year, I am pretty immersed in my backyard gardens and particularly in my sunflower garden. That means, I don't have a lot of discretionary time for my writing. That's OK! I'd really rather be working that green thumb of mine out in the garden than at the keyboard.

My mom keeps asking me why I haven't been contacted to work for some large Home and Garden company to help them in their online presence. Because I have been a sort of brand ambassador for Burpee Gardens, always promoting Burpee Sunflower Seeds, I was thinking that would be a great company with which to work!

BLONDES THAT DIY

Another niche that I have launched is Blondes that DIY -- you know, blondes that do-it-yourself? Living in Jacksonville, Florida has allowed me to seriously explore that niche. And, more so lately since I am a single senior gal. Since my divorce in November 2010, I've found that I seriously NEED to learn how to DIY more things around the house. And, you know what? I have surprised myself along the way.

Are you a blonde that can seriously DIY? Hey, let's hear from you! Don't be shy.

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower of 2014

Over the past couple of days, I have been charting a particular blossom in my sunflower garden. Waiting for it to emerge. It isn't on the tallest plant, but it is on one of the plants which grew from the seedlings which some critter originally dug up. The first autumn beauty sunflower of 2014 has made its appearance ... and it is true to its name; it is a BEAUTY!

CHARTING THE ARRIVAL

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower as a Bud

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower as a Bud Opening

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower as a Bud Opening

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower as a Bud Opening

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom of 2014

I am normally out in my sunflower garden first thing in the morning, then mid-day, and finally in the evening. And, I am taking pictures ... lots of pictures. Especially when I see such a beauty as this blossom!

If you move back a little and look at the autumn beauty sunflower, it might not look so impressive.

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom of 2014

Where is that blossom in the sunflower garden? Why, it is front and center in the fourth row. Look!

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom of 2014

Hey, it doesn't look like much does it? Well, I got to see a couple of photos of that first autumn beauty sunflower blossom that blew me away. I had an artistic moment where it made me feel so infused with inspiration. I think my blood pressure went up a bit ... I had to reach out to a fellow artist to share my moment. She told me that she feels like that every day and that I should take a walk.

THE ARTSY SUNFLOWER BLOSSOM

First of all, my photos have not been edited or retouched. These are exactly as I took them. Here are the two photos that seemed to pop today for me. I had stooped down to take a photo of the emerging autumn beauty sunflower against the pretty blue sky of Jacksonville, Florida. I snapped these two photos one after the other.

First Artsy Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom of 2014

First Artsy Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom of 2014

There actually are a few more photos before and after these two; however, those also captured some other bits of nature in the background in addition to the pretty blue sky. These two artsy shots look too good to be natural shots! Well, at least for me and my FujiFilm FinePix V10 digital camera. I seriously need a better camera so that more of my shots will be like these two ... and then I will have more of those inspiring moments that make me go, "AH!"

ARTSY SUNFLOWER BLOSSOM CLOSE-UP

It's a close-up view of that pretty first autumn beauty sunflower of 2014.

First Autumn Beauty Sunflower Blossom Close-Up of 2014

Have I convinced you yet to want to try and grow your own sunflowers from seeds? Today my garden is on its 66th day! Yesterday, on the 65th day, I measured several plants at 63 inches with the tallest already 66 inches! How about that? I have Burpee Gardens to thank for those terrific seeds.

May I recommend you try:

• Burpee 47902 Sunflower Autumn Beauty Mix Seed Packet
• Burpee Flower All Summer Sunflower Cutting Garden Simple Solutions Seed Packet

P.S. Do check out my unsolicited product review of Burpee Sunflower Seeds and my DIY Garden. And, then take a look at my story about My DIY Garden of Sunflowers. I must tell you that I am one of those Blondes that DIY - that's the new blog with the hashtag of #blondesthatdiy.

Painted Turtle in my Sunflower Garden

Today, it was around 11am and I had just returned from my morning workout at Bailey's Powerhouse Gym. I was walking through my side yard and coming into my back yard. As I came upon the sunflower garden, I did a double take. At first, it looked like a large rock in my sunflower garden.

Painted Turtle in my Sunflower Garden
Photo Taken: May 19, 2014

Well, how about that? It is a painted turtle in my sunflower garden. And, I would surmise that it is a female who was getting ready to dig a hole to lay some eggs!

Painted Turtle in my Sunflower Garden
Photo Taken: May 19, 2014

There's a closer picture ... she's a pretty good sized turtle. You can see the dirt being dug at the bottom of the picture; at her tail end! Between late spring and mid-summer, the female painted turtle will dig its nest on land and lay its eggs. ~ The painted turtle according to Wikipedia.

Underside of Painted Turtle in my Sunflower Garden
Photo Taken: May 19, 2014

I went to the garage to get my pair of playtex handsaver gloves so that I could move the turtle. First I flipped her over to check out her underside. She played along and tucked in her head and legs quite neatly.

I lifted the old gal up and we had a little conversation as I walked with her to the back of my property to the dip down into the drainage area. If I had a third hand, I would have taken a picture of her head as she bobbed along. Darn it, but I only have two hands. I set her down carefully on the incline that sloped down to the bed of water. She wasn't moving. I tapped her on the rear and said, "now git!" Then, she took off.

ANOTHER TURTLE IN MY FLOWER BED

It was June 2012 when I photographed another painted turtle that made it all the way to my front yard.

Painted Turtle Digging Nest in my Front Yard Garden
Photo Taken: June 2012

I have a pretty large yard, over 12,200 sq. ft. The turtle that I found in my front yard had to travel a pretty good distance to make it into my front yard. By the time I found her, she had dug a pretty deep hole and thrown a good deal of dirt on the concrete walkway.

Underside of Painted Turtle in my Front Yard Garden
Photo Taken: June 2012

As I did with the turtle in my sunflower garden, I put on a pair of rubber gloves and flipped over the turtle.

You will notice the artsy marking on the underside of the turtle shell. It really looks like somebody painted those. I think they look rather like Egyptian hieroglyphs!

By the way, I did notice that the bottom, underside shell has markings that look a bit different from the painted turtle. Maybe I need a second opinion on these two turtles ... perhaps they aren't painted turtles? What do you think?

Those are just two of the many turtles I have found in my yard over the course of some three years. And, at least two of the times I have found the turtles, they have been digging nests for laying eggs! I'm glad they feel so comfortable in my yard to want to have their baby turtles here!

Want to learn more about these painted turtles and their cousins? May I recommend:

• Aquatic Turtles: Sliders, Cooters, Painted, and Map Turtles (Reptile Keeper's Guide)
• Aquatic Turtles (Complete Herp Care)
• Aquatic Turtles (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

ANOTHER TURTLE IN MY BACKYARD

Here's just one more turtle that was making its way through my backyard.

Turtle in my Back Yard
Photo Taken: July 2013

This turtle is a bit different from the others. Note how the shell is smoother and more oval in shape? Plus the coloring is definitely more brown.

Underside of Turtle in my Back Yard
Photo Taken: July 2013

Are you a turtle lover? Know your turtles? I'd sure love to have a confirmation on all three turtles that I have shared. Take a moment and leave me a comment if you can identify these.

"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out." ~ James Bryant Conant.

My DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 62 Days

Reflecting back on some two months, it is incredible to see the growth in my second DIY garden of sunflowers! Take a look at the garden view you have grown accustomed to seeing!

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 62 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 15, 2014

I just took a break and went outside to get a measurement on plant height. I have three plants at 59 inches! That's nearly 5 ft. How about that? Fifty-nine inches at 62 days ... I wonder what will be the magic number when the height matches the days? Maybe 70??

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 62 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 15, 2014

There's that second view of the sunflower garden, a side view from my daisy garden. For some reason, those sunflower plants look taller!! And, one last view! It is the other side.

My Second DIY Garden of Sunflowers at 62 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: May 15, 2014

When you compare this growth to the first couple of pictures of this year's garden, you really see the difference! Then, when you compare it to last year's garden, you see the difference in amount of plants.

I was concerned that my sunflower plants were too close together; however, I think it might be a good thing. You see, yesterday we had a lot of windy weather. All the sunflowers were blowing to the West. Last year, when we had similar weather, some of the plants were bent over. This year, because of all the plants, they seem to be supporting each other with the wind, and cushioning the blows, so to speak.

I think it is a good thing to have so many plants. Sure, some of the plants are being shielded from the sun ... but, that's OK! I have plenty of taller sunflower plants with some spectacular buds!

WHY NOT GROW YOUR OWN?

Have I convinced you to want and try your own sunflower garden from seed? I am telling you that I am forever changed by a couple of packets of Burpee Sunflower Seeds! I mean, who seriously knew that sunflower seeds could change your life and bring you so much joy. I'm not kidding. Why not bring some joy into your life ... my secret? I am a very nurturing person who tends my garden every day. How about you?

Cat in My Sunflower Garden

This morning when I came outside to remove the protective landscape fabric from my sunflower garden, I couldn't believe my eyes! It was a cat in my sunflower garden, sitting there quite proudly. I normally feed the orange male tabby cat early in the morning. Lately, I have had to diplomatically separate the food dishes to keep the black male cat from chewing on the orange tabby.

Orange Male Tabby Cat Sitting in my Sunflower Garden ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 14, 2014

For the most part, the tabby missed sitting entirely on the fourth row of tiny sunflower seedlings. The previous morning, after removing the landscape fabric, I found the top of a seedling snapped off in that fourth row. Now I know that it was the cat!

CAT IN MY SUNFLOWER GARDEN - 2013

This wasn't the first time that I found that orange tabby in my sunflower garden. I would find him sitting amongst the sunflower plants early in the morning waiting on his feeding.

Orange Male Tabby Cat Sitting in my Sunflower Garden ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: Spring 2013

What is curious is that the tabby cat was sitting in about the same location in 2013! But, back then, the plants were bigger.

Orange Male Tabby Cat Walking Through my Sunflower Garden ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: Spring 2013

In the 2013 sunflower garden, there were only three rows of plants and they were spaced further apart. Also, there were less plants than this year's garden. Back then, I had no issues with digging critters, so I wasn't using the protective landscape fabric like I am in my 2014 garden!

Orange Male Tabby Cat Sitting in my Sunflower Garden ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: Spring 2013

Ah, look at that sweet face? In the Spring of 2013, this tabby was looking a LOT better than this year. The black male cat has been chewing on this cat like crazy!

Thinking positively, I can only hope that the tabby doesn't sit on too many of my tiny plants. At the moment, I am doing my best to protect the garden from digging critters. You'd think that tabby would be around to scare them off?

Well, might as well celebrate the cat in my sunflower garden. That got me thinking ... what if I place some cat sculptural garden statues in and around my flower garden. Would that perhaps discourage the tabby from sitting there? Hey, maybe it would also scare off those digging critters?

Sunflower Seedlings at Twenty-Three Days

It is measurement time for the sunflower seedlings in my flower garden! As of April 6, 2014, it has been twenty-three days since I planted the sunflower seeds. On the sixth day, March 20th, the sunflower seedlings first emerged or broke ground. Today, the 23rd day since the sunflower seed planting, I did my first measurements on the seedlings growth.

It is really curious that the most growth is being seen in the fourth row; the last row in which I planted the seeds!

Sunflower Garden Four Rows of Seedlings at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014 - 9:56am

Here is the sunflower garden on the twenty-third day. There is actually good growth throughout all four rows; however, the exceptional growth in the fourth row makes it look like those other rows are slackers!

SUNFLOWER SEEDLING MEASUREMENTS

Drumroll for the moment of truth! How big are the sunflower seedlings?

Sunflower Seedling Height of Six Inches at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

The most height attained above ground is pretty much six inches and a hair. The sunflower seeds were planted a bit deeper this year, but the best growth is from the seedlings in the rows where the digging critter initially uprooted them.

Sunflower Seedling Width of Six Inches at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

The widest width of the prospering sunflower seedlings is six to seven inches! Yes, many of the sunflower seedlings are wider than tall. Thankfully, the stems are thickening up to support the top heavy weight of the leaves. Using the black weed barrier cloth to cover the seedlings at night hasn't affected their posture so to speak. That is, they are all standing up pretty erectly.

Sunflower Seedling Width of Seven Inches at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

The biggest sunflower seedlings are in the part of the fourth row that was the first seedlings dug up by the critters. I guess it is a mixed blessing - a positive and negative.

Sunflower Seedling Width of Six Inches at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

As you can see, there are a lot of different sunflower seedlings clumped together. I'd rather have more than not enough!

SUNFLOWER SEEDLINGS BACKUP

Since I wasn't really sure how well my harvested sunflower seeds from my first garden would grow, I did three pots of sunflower seedlings as a backup.

Sunflower Seedlings in Backup Pots at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

Each morning, I uncover the three pots and bring them out into the sun on the brick patio at the back of my house. To the right, you can see the weed barrier cloth drying. The digging critter also found the two rectangular pots and did a bit of digging. The growth is probably average to above average in those two pots.

Sunflower Seedlings in Flower Pot at 23 Days ~ JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: April 6, 2014

There are two sunflower seedlings in the round flower pot. The larger one is a good seven inches wide from left to right and five-and-a-half inches wide top to bottom on the leaves. It is only about five inches tall.

I will continue to cover the sunflower seedlings at night for a little while longer. Fingers crossed that the digging critters go elsewhere! Like maybe China??

So, have I interested you at all in planting your own flower garden? May I heartily recommend to you, Burpee Sunflower Seeds! You can find a good variety at Amazon. And, be sure to check out my Sunflower Seedlings at Thirty Days!