This year the perennial beds are looking like they are established. I no longer feel like I am living on a new piece of property. It has taken 4 1/2 years to be able to say this. If these warm temperatures and just enough rain hold out there is no telling what is going to happen around here.

Lets take advantage of this optimum weather situation and not neglect successive planting of your radish, spinach and lettuce, and anything else you can think of for that matter. There are no rules for gardening, so get out there and see what you can do. The more varied the selection of vegetables that we can grow, the better.

The Small Sugar pumpkins and Provider green beans are still tucked under the greenhouse umbrellas. I am reluctant to uncover them until they fill their enclosure. If you do not have these umbrellas yet, do consider them. They are easy, affordable and effective, and are available at Lee Valley Garden Tools, 1-800-871-8158 or www.leevalley.com.

I have found a chipper/shredder that I am quite sure I can no longer live without. It is electric and will handle the garden waste material that I generate. I want to chop it all up so that it will compost faster and more completely. It has a 1,600-watt (14 amp) motor. The catch here is the cost of shipping is just dreadful and there is no way I can talk them down. I tried. It is offered by Charley's Greenhouse & Garden, 1-800-322-4707 or www.charleysgreenhouse.com.

Which brings me to the truly wonderful fence that my nongardening spouse, John, made for the vegetable plot. I have a folder that contains all of the charming fences, gates, arbors and trellises that I have ever seen in every single magazine for the last million years. We made the decision that this would be the year to enclose the vegetable plot. The introduction of our son's puppy into our lives pushed this project up on the priority list. John asked me what I wanted for a fence and I trundle out the folder and start showing him the reams of ideas that have been fomenting in my head forever. "Tell ya what," says he, "you're gonna get what I build." (Thank heavens he does not call me "babe.") The folder goes. The materials start showing up: old seine net, even older floats, treated lumber for the uprights. In no time flat we have a fence that is not to be seen in any magazine in the entire world. The gates are constructed from our old skis, and the trellis on either side from reclaimed copper pipe and wire. It is as "Homer" as any garden fence/gate/trellis can get. It is effective. And I love it.

John also came to the rescue tonight when I was attempting to coil my hose. They have been uncooperative all season, twisted and kinked. They have been driving me crazy. Which is where John found me on his return from a motorcycle ride ( I have to throw that in so you don't think he hangs out in the garden with me; he needs to retain his "non-gardening spouse" status). I was close to tears as I fought with these enormously long hoses for the umpteenth time. He showed me how to neatly loop them so they will unwind nice and neat and get the job done in a fraction of the time. I asked him where he learned how to do that and his response, "coiling cable," reminded me of why he was gone every other week for 25 years. It is ever so nice to have him home.

Yet another project John is working on is installing the 4-inch copper flashing around the raised beds. This is an expensive attempt to thwart slugs. Very expensive. But if it works, and it really should, I will be home free on the slug front. I am sprinkling Sluggo within the beds to kill what is already there, and there are lots. If I can prevent any more from entering I will be very pleased. Barbara Walker, owner of the Wagon Wheel, our local feed and seed store, is to be commended for holding the price down on Sluggo. Pricey as it may seem it is even pricier in various catalogs. A visitor from Portland is paying only a dollar less. Sluggo is as organic a slug killer as we are going to find. Its active ingredient is mostly iron phosphate which discourages them from eating anything else and that is the end of that.

Keep your eyes open for aphids. They are thick this year. I am using a brass nozzle on the hose and blasting them off the delphiniums. This sounds harsh, and it is, but it is very helpful in eliminating these very nasty, destructive pests that will, literally, suck the life out of your plants. They are to be stopped. Look under the leaves if you suspect that you are having a problem. Aphids are born pregnant so it does not take long for them to take over everything you have. They are particularly dangerous in the greenhouse. The first line of defense that I have been using forever is not to plant peppers or eggplant in the greenhouse. These are magnet plants for aphids. It has been really easy to do without these but for who-knows-what reason this is the year I just had to have peppers. I check them every day for aphids. I am living in fear of these life-sucking insects.

Note: The Homer Garden Club's first tour of the year will be Sunday, June 22. Meet in the parking lot of city hall to carpool to the gardens of Rosie Burgess and Shirley Forquer.