blueyedkitty04's Blog
blueyedkitty04's Blog
Last Post 68 days, 20 hours Ago
May 15, 2008 | 6:23 PM PST
~May 15th, 2008~
Today we are having great weather 25+ degrees C (75+degrees F) . The whole rest of the week and into the weekend is supposed to be nice too. Hannah and I are staying busy planting more seeds. Suddenly I feel like I have fallen behind on that. I was wishing for summer get here, but now I am trying to get all my "spring" stuff finished.
The seeds are doing well. I will be transferring some more seeds into larger peat pots soon. Also I will start hardening my plants that I have kept indoors at night to get them used to the outside temp.
I am still trying to figure out what is getting some of my seeds. I planted some sunflower seeds and the next day they were eaten (they were cracked open and sitting in the dirt). I will just have to plant sunflowers inside then transplant them outside once they've grown a bit.
Hannah got her glasses today (she's only 17 months old). She is wearing them pretty well. She will wear them for a few hours at a time, then get kind of picky and want them off. We will just have to keep them on and soon she will get used to it. I am so lucky that she is this good with them.
May 8, 2008 | 2:57 AM PST
Tags: seed problems , weather
~May 7th, 2008~
I have definitely learned a lot about growing plants from seed indoors this spring and have become successful in doing an adequate job of it. I have prepared my outdoor garden carefully, amending the soil, cleaning out the winter mess, and designing new flower beds. When the time was right I planted my outdoor seeds, watered and watched. The weather has warmed and I was so happy to see sprouts in the flower beds. Thats the end of my "dreamy" spring. Something is eating my seedlings!!! I don't know what. About a week ago I noticed what I thought to be cat paw prints/impressions in my garden close to where I had planted some seeds. I passed it off as that, but when I saw the cat walk though the garden and he left no impressions. I was worried and thought, "It can't be....nooooooooooooo", something was getting my seeds. I decided to wait it out and keep watering and planting more seeds in proper spots. So, sure enough a few seedlings begin to emerge, boy 'o boy was I happy!! "They've made it!" I thought!! So, super excited I went on with gardening. The next day I went out with Hannah to check on my other "babies" and to my horror they were gone. "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?" I wanted to scream!! What could possibly be torturing me? Killing my innocent little babies??
PLEASE, IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT CAN BE GETTING MY BABIES, PLEASE HELP!! ALSO WHAT I MAY DO TO STOP THEM?!
I am planning on setting up my husbands "Game Cam", a camera made for capturing picture of wildlife using motion sensors. Last year I caught the "Beast" eating my wild Columbine tops off standing on it's hind legs. I couldn't figure out exactly what it was. In the end (after catching it in a live trap) we figured that it was a pack rat. We ended up catching at least 6 or more last summer (needless to say I had a terribly hard time keeping any flower for too long and was VERY frustrated).
Above is the picture of the "Beast" that was eating my flowers last year caught on camera by my husbands "game cam".
Above is one of the many "Beasts" that attacked my garden. Also known as a Pack Rat, notice I caught him using tin foil as they love shiny things.
We have had really strange weather for the past two days. It'll rain, get windy, then get super sunny and hot out, next we'll get hail. Yesterday it was raining/hailing on one half of my house and not on the other for like 10 or more minutes, it was weird! Only half my garden ended up getting watered substantially.
I hope everyone is getting great gardening weather!
~M~
May 4, 2008 | 7:00 PM PST
Tags: Thunbergia Vine , Black-Eyed Susan Vine , Black-Eyed Susan , Rose Mallow , Squirrel , Chipmunks , Seeds , Seedlings
I was so angry today. My Mother-in-Laws cat knocked the seed container off of my porch (luckily it didn't go all the way down on the far side). It landed on my porch. Most of the seeds were okay, however the ones that I was really happy about (the Rose Mallow, I believe also looks a lot like hollyhocks) got totally taken out. Smashed beyond repair. I will have to get some more started soon. Boy 'O boy I was so mad!!! The others are okay I think. (Fingers crossed.....XX)
*Above are the seedlings in the seedling container. The ones that were "murdered" are in the very back. Oh, it still gets me fire up just writing about it now!*
I also had a question if anyone knows much about the plant Thunbergia Vine or "Black-Eyed Susan Vine"? I planted some seeds indoors and outdoors and was wondering what people thought of the plant and how well it started from seed. I have never heard of this plant, but love the description and picture and am looking forward to seeing grow and climb in my garden.
Above is the cucumber and zucchini plants I started from seed. They are doing well!
The weather is getting better! We had about 72 degree weather today ( I love it, I love it, I love it!!) and I got lots of work done while the little one was napping.
Hannah is getting better, the fever is down, but she now has a slight rash on her chest and under her neck and is still fussy. She went for her first wheel-barrow ride today and loved it. She was so cute! The same cat mentioned above even rode with her in the wheel-barrow. I wish I could have got a picture of that, but didn't have the camera with me.
I also have new great pictures of a resident squirrel and more cute Chippie photos! You can check more out in my photo albums.
This is a little squirrel I saw 2 days ago and again today. It's so cute!
Below are pictures of one of the two Chipmunks that live in my backyard. I love to watch them running around and sun bathing. They're cute.....
Hope everyone is dong well. Have a great week!!
~M~
May 1, 2008 | 8:55 PM PST
~May 1st, 2008~
I've got a sick 17 month old w/ a 102-degree fever and I haven't done/seen much today. The humming birds found the feeder. Also, some of my seeds are sprouting in my garden, I sure hope the frost doesn't get 'em though. Pictures and updates later, once Hannah feels better. We're gonna go to the doctor tomorrow, so hopefully she's just got a little bug.
Have a great day and rest-o-week!!
~M~
Apr 30, 2008 | 2:46 AM PST
Tags: seeds , Hollyhocks , malva zebrina , weather , peat pots
Well, here are a few pictures of some of the seedlings I was talking about in my last blog.
Above is an example of the peat pots I use to transplant my larger seedlings into once they outgrow the seed things I started them in.
Above are the seedlings that I thought I started only a short while ago and they sprouted very quickly!! I am happy that they sprouted fast, I just love seeing them!
Boy o' boy, I've made a mess!! I have a 17 month old little girl and she gets into everything, so I have to keep everything up off the floor. It gets kind of cluttered sometimes.
Above is my Malva Zebrina that is struggling to make it. I was so happy when I noticed the new little leaf started!
Above is one of a few hollyhock seedlings. I am so happy they are working! I wonder though if I will get any flowers out of them this year?? Any ideas?
~
The weather is quite strange this week. Tonight I think it may have froze again. I wonder when our proper last frost date is going to be this year!? I looked it up online and it said April 1-April 30th. That really wasn't much help, I think I could have guessed better than that. We had a major rain yesterday afternoon with thunder and lightning (strange for this early in the year though). It was so nice to get some moisture. We really have had mostly cold and gray weather, not much rain this year (still more spring to come however, so we shall see). Today was warm if you got moving around (i.e. digging and raking, walking my daughter in her stroller), but still too cold to wear anything less than a warm sweat shirt. I can't wait for it to warm up. Just a little is all I am asking for, tehe-hehe. I know that as soon as it gets scorching I will be complaining about how hot it is though....hummm...
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great rest of your week! More updates later!
~M~
Apr 29, 2008 | 1:52 AM PST
Tags: Sweet Peas , Hollyhocks , malva zebrina , broccoli , seeds
~April 29th, 2008~
My seeds are doing well. I planted some more just 3 or 4 days ago and some of them have started to sprout already!! I couldn't believe it!! I had put it outside in the sun, they were in a plastic container with a clear lid on it slightly open for ventilation.
I am happy to say that the others are doing well too. I had transplanted a few of my others (cucumber and zucchini) and will probably be transplanting my sunflowers to larger pots (if I don't end up just planting them outside to minimize the root shock, depends on the weather.....hummm.....)
My hollyhock starts are doing okay I guess. They really haven't changed much in the last week, week and a half. I don' t know why not. They have the 2 main leaves, but nothing more. They aren't getting overly leggy or yellowed, they are just the same. Any suggestions/thoughts?? Maybe they are just slowing down now after the spirt of growth during the beginning of emerging from the seed (that doesn't sound right, but I can't write what I am trying to describe.....humm....)
The broccoli that I planted is kind of in the same boat as the hollyhocks (literally in the same "boat", well same plastic container/same window spot). They are in the same window as my zucchini and cucumber that are doing well. I just don't know, things happen so strangely when it comes to plants!
Good news on the Malva Zebrina!! If you look in my pictures you can see how they really had no leaves on them, just two stem things. Now they are growing a third leaf from the center!! I am so happy!! I was really bummed that they weren't doing well because I love hollyhocks and they are so close to them in appearance ( according to the books and my moms experience). I can't wait to see them grow!!
Anyway, I will keep updating. Thanks to everyone who has commented and added great suggestions! Hope the spring is treating you all well! Take care and have a great week!!
~M~
Apr 26, 2008 | 10:54 PM PST
Tags: chipmunks , hummingbirds
~April 26th, 2008~
I am so happy to say today we spotted the first humming bird for this year!! It came flying in to find a feeder and I heard the familiar buzz!! I didn't have my hummingbird feeders out and the Hummingbird thought that one of my pink regular bird feeders was a hummingbird feeder. So now I know, I will have to get that put out tomorrow!!
Also I took some cute pictures of some Chipmunks in my yard today. There were two just sitting on rocks sunbathing and snacking on what ever they had stored in their cheeks. They were really cute. Then later, one came down into my rock garden and decided to see what was down there. I hope that it doesn't find the seeds that I planted and cause problems with that!! After I came inside for the evening I was just finishing putting my daughter down for her nap and I looked out my sliding doors and saw a chippie out on my porch eating some seeds from one of my bell shaped seed blocks. I opened the door so carefully and got some pictures, but when he noticed I was there he got scared and jumped down onto my porch. Needless to say, he got stuck somewhat on my porch and was running around until he figured it out. What a silly little chippie!! I will add the pictures on here once I upload them to my photo albums!
There are two Chippies in this picture, one on the log (left) and one on the rock (right).
Little Chippie grooming himself...so cute!
Look how stuffed it's cheeks are!! What a cute little Chippie!!
The chipmunk came back onto my porch today and at some point knocked the bird seed bell off my porch. I took some super cute pictures of him again. I will put them up tomorrow. Also my friend the hummingbird visited (well actually did a quick fly-by). I will definitely have to get the feeder out tomorrow.
Thanks for all the great comments from everyone! I just LOVE getting feedback as well as reading other blogs!! Happy gardening!
~M~
Apr 25, 2008 | 1:10 AM PST
Tag: Grapefruit seed plant
~April 24th, 2008 - Extra +~
Okay, because I couldn't add more pictures on the last blog entry I decided to put some on another one.
There are my Cucumber and Zucchini. Does anyone know if you can eat a "pickling" cucumber just like you would regular cucumbers and not have to pickle them?
Below is a picture of my grapefruit plant that I grew from a seed that I found inside my grapefruit. It was kind of sprouting when I found it in the grapefruit, so I put it in between two wet paper towels until it sprouted more, then I planted it. It's been 2 or 3 years now, but it's pretty interesting to see how it's worked. We don't live in a proper climate for it, so in the winter it doesn't grow much.
Below is a picture of my rock garden this year so far, still needs quite a bit of clean up and some more bark mulch etc to make it ready for the summer annuals & new perennials.
Apr 24, 2008 | 11:18 PM PST
Tags: seed starting , flower seeds , seeds , malva zebrina
~April 24th, 2008 - Extra!~
Thanks to Bill Mitchell I have pictures!!
Below is a picture of my daughter playing in the dirt. I ended up strapping her in her snow sled and putting different "toys" in front of her so I could do some work in the garden. She ended up throwing most of the "toys" and playing in the dirt. She was so dusty and dirty!! Straight for the bath when we got inside!! She had a blast though and tried eating her very first handful of dirt....lol!!
Below is a picture of some of my seeds started in my bathroom window sill. You can see the sweat peas growing nicely!! I am so excited that they are doing so well.
Below is a mix of seeds - Broccoli, Zebrina, and Hollyhock (my favorite flower!!) b
efore I put them back into the window sill with the other seed starts.
You can see in this picture below, my Zebrina are not doing to well!? Yikes...
I have to post another blog entry because it won't let me put any more picture on here.
Apr 24, 2008 | 7:34 PM PST
Tag: rock garden
~April, 24, 2008~
Well, if I figure out how to put picture up here on my blog I will put some on of my starts. That is why I started this entry, but I can't figure it out currently. I will edit it if/when I figure it out. Today I transplanted 2 Zucchini, and 1 Cucumber into larger pots and I re-arranged my starts in the window sill to fit more in to get better lighting. On a positive note, my Sweat Peas are doing amazing!! I have 3 started and one is doing better than the rest, but it was the first to sprout. They are growing really well and I will definitely have a nice head start on those. I took a picture of my Malva Zebrina to show how pitiful it looks, but if I don't figure how to put pictures on here I won't be able to show everyone. I will add more later!
TESTING, TESTING 123.....
W
ooooHooooo!! Thanks so much Bill Mitchel for helping me on that!! The reason I couldn't figure it out was because the whole text editor bar above my text box didn't load when I was entering this entry earlier. Who knows what was going on...Thanks so much!!
That pic above is a test. It is a picture of my rock garden last summer when it was almost finished. I have a whole photo album with about 5 pictures of it if anyone is interested.
~M~
Apr 23, 2008 | 1:12 AM PST
~April 22nd, 2008~
It is so hard waiting for spring!! Today was beautiful, but still very cold because of the wind bringing in the cold air.
My mother-in-law's tomato plant got killed by the frost last night even though she covered it, we will have to learn from that oops ;-).
I talked with my mom (she used to work for a nursery and a plant center) and she thinks that it is a little early for planting some seeds outside. She is concerned that they may sprout in a warm spell, but will get killed if we get another cold snap. We figured that I will just have to watch the weather and watch the sprouts too. I have never started more than one packet of seeds outside. Last year I put some seeds out in the middle of the summer to see what would happen and they only got a few inches tall (Columbine). I am glad to say, they are coming back again this year which is nice. So, this whole deal with planting seeds outside is going to be new to me!!
As in my last blog, I am still trying to get the hang of planting seeds indoors. I will be going to town to get some groceries soon so I may be getting a grow light (depends on where I go). I need to aid in the light time my seeds are receiving. We have had some cloudy days the last week and I think that it is not helping my seeds grow.
I will keep updating on my seed progress as well as my landscaping in the rock garden.
If anyone has any suggestions I'd LOVE to hear it!! Have a great gardening day!!
~M~
Apr 20, 2008 | 6:35 PM PST
~April 20th, 2008~
Today I started sowing my early outdoor seeds and it started snowing while I was out there. I hope that this weekends weather was just a cold snap and that it will begin warming soon. I made a new pathway and 2/3 more small rock garden beds. Yesterday I planted some bulbs that I had bought for indoor viewing pleasure (2 hyacinths and 2 tulips). I don't know if that is what I was supposed to do with them, but I just wanted to get them in the ground before it got too warm outside.
If anyone knows of a website that I can find out my official zone could you let me know??? I have such a hard time figuring it out. My garden book has it's own "special" zoning and it doesn't help me any when I am looking at flowers in catalogs that have the normal zoning numbers. So, if any one can help I would be so grateful!
Also, how do you know when the "last expected frost" date will be each year??
Well, I will update my progress as I go. Soon I will have pictures of my garden and some of my flower too.
~M~
