barbarasherbbasket's Blog

About Gardening Companions....
Jan 29, 2010 | 3:06 PM PST

The book I am reading is "Great Gardening Companions" by Sally Jean Cunningham. 

For weeds, she covers every open area with straw, wide boards to walk on, and other covers like pine needles to bring in and protect the good bugs and insects. She describes which cover is best for each crop.She covers every open space with a flower or herb or crop so that the weeds have less of a chance of popping up. The book describes the helpful buggies and even helpful, harmless snakes and toads. This book is jam packed with great ideas that make sense. She covers when crop rotations should be done and she does not plant lots of the same crop together which helps with bringing in the beneficial helpers. With corn of course you need several together for pollination purposes but you can still spread the crop about and plant  other things below. She explains the three different levels or heights of what to plant together and how to save water and watering times. She even encourages plants that I would think that would only do well on the ground to grow up on stakes or teepees so you can put other crops or flowers below and get a better crop to boot. You will enjoy this read I am sure. It is written with the reader in mind and not just facts. She has a natural hand at how to present her information.

See if the library has it or check online to see if you can get it inexpensively. I borrowed mine from a friend.

We may be drying out here a tiny bit. We have needed the rain but so glad to see the sun today. We had snow again but could only see the mountains one day to know it was there! Our cloud cover has been low and thick. Unless it stays cold, we should be seeing signs of Spring in February. Will have to wait and see.

See You Over the Backyard Fence,

Barbara

Stormy California and El Nino
Jan 21, 2010 | 8:18 AM PST

We are probably out of the drought by now but not sure. It rained buckets yesterday, we had thunder and lightening, a tornado warning! (did I move to Kansas?),and a smaller earthquake. My animals were going nuts. Both the cat and dog wanted to be in my lap at the same time - all day and all evening. It is still dark and rainy but we are due for a few clear days and then another storm is coming. Our Spring is going to bust out all over with all this rain.

Am reading a book about Companion Gardening. Do any of you do that sort of thing? I have always heard of it but had not tried it except to put marigolds around the edge of the veggie garden. The book I am reading covers which plants with which veggies and how they work and how some plants help the soil and attract beneficial bugs and birds and such. I knew that peanuts do re-nourish the soil but there are others as well. She covers crop rotation too and she even shows how a small amount of some types of weeds like Queen Anne Lace are beneficial to bringing in the good bugs. I am getting so much out of it.

Hope your day is wonderful and you are all feeling well. Thank you to all who are praying for my back. So much appreciated. It warms my heart and gives me hope.

Best to You, Barbara

Gotta love California!
Jan 14, 2010 | 4:50 PM PST

Our winter is so short. Next month we will have 2 weeks of summer weather and then it will go back to 50-60 degree weather until April or May. Our cherry trees will start to bloom next month and the hills will look like green velvet. It is already greening up but next month will be spectacular.

My carnations are blooming, a vine I have has yellow flowers all over it, roses are starting to bloom slowly, and I staked up my rosemary bushes today. I want them to grow into Christmas tree shapes. I planted some mint around the base of one of the rosemary plants. Now I will have mint, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, Italian parsley and rosemary. 

It is so nice to be able to do a few things every day now. My back is still bad but getting better. Still with the Physical Therapy and now doing acupuncture for the pain. It all seems to be working and am hoping for a summer of gardening even if it is only light gardening. I'll take whatever I can get!

Hope your Spring is just around the corner too! ~Barbara