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Hello Everyone!
Yesterday (Tuesday), I spent a long time in the garden. I concentrated
mostly on the continued amendments of the veggie patch, but also
planted some of the morning glory starts. I had started them in a
cottage cheese container between damp paper towels, they ended up
growing through the paper towel and up the container). I planted them
under some of my bushier plants in hopes that they will get shelter if
it does get overly chilly.
I fiddled and faddled adding more
horse manure, 2.5 bags of top soil, peat moss, sand and ash. Working
back and forth, turning the soil in over and over, and back and forth
some more. My blisters returned! I hadn't been digging to that extreme
in at least 3 weeks! I will have to purchase a nice rototiller when I
get a larger garden area, it would be well worth it! Just think, I will
have so much pride when I get to harvest my veggies though! It's all
done by hand, every bit of it!
After working in the garden for
most the mid-morning to afternoon, we went for a walk to visit my
Mother-In-Law and see what she was up too. She had to head out to town
so we didn't stay long, instead we wandered around looking at some of
the flowers blooming in her yard. She has a really pretty area with red
tulips, grape hyacinths, the prettiest daffodiles (they must be called
a "double" or something, I will look it up tomorrow) and oregano. Below
are some pictures, I really recommend this time clicking on the images to make them larger to see the lovely details (especially the daffodil):
Above:
Grape Hyacinths, Red Tulips, Daffodils and Oregano (I think it is since
I smash it between my fingers and I smell oregano) and my daughter
stopping to smell the flowers.
Above:
What I think is oregano (not sure) because when I squish it between my
fingers it smells like oregano and my Mother-In-Law thinks that is what
it is (she's the one who planted it). It's a pretty little plant and I
transplanted some more into my garden (from my Mother-In-Law's garden).
While my daughter napped, I did some more fiddle-faddling in the
veggie patch amending like crazy. When I felt I had done my best I
decided it was time to build a natural trellises. My trellis has 3 pine
branches and Jute natural string. It turned out really neat! I am going
to make some more only slightly modified for my cucumbers to climb in
the few days. Below are a few pictures:
After
I finished the trellis I planted a row of peas (only half the length of
trellis) with some older pea seeds I had from 2 years ago. I watered
them in and by then it was dark out (above pictures show how dark it
was, my daughter was using a flashlight...lol) I figure it was natures
way of saying to go inside and take a break, the day is done.
Today
we spent most of the day inside because it was sunny but overly chilly
outside. I found it hard to "want" to go out there and work, PLUS I was
so sore all over! My left calf is extremely sore (is that the way you
spell the body part...hum???). I am currently applying heat to it since
it's been sore the entire day.
After deciding we needed some
fresh air despite the fact that the day hadn't improved (it was
supposed to be an amazingly beautiful day, but to our disappointment it
was not nice!), we headed out to the garden. I still have lots of
flower seeds to plant and I have been wanting to get my veggie patch
planted. I have been so cautious not to plant until I am totally
convinced that my soil amended to the best of my abilities, but I
really needed to get my veggies in.
I
have a few more spots to add veggies, but I am not sure what I want to
plant in those spaces. I have quite a few more to plant. I have more
cucumber seeds (which I will be building a modified natural trellis
soon), more carrots, lettuce (I have two kinds and would really love
fresh lettuce), and tomato (I doubt I will get fruit off of them, but I
still want to try, I will probably plant them in pots instead of in my
veggie patch that way I save space, can move them to sunny spots, and
can bring them to a safe space when it gets frosty...oh-how I do not
want to think about frost....).
Above is a picture of my clematis (Nelly Moser). First year having it grow in my garden and I can't wait to see how it does!
I decided to condense all my "garden" related blog entries from my family blog into a new blog titled:
So, when I write how you can go to my "other" blog for links I have mentioned in these blog entries here, you can go straight to the gardening one instead of having to sort through my "other/family related" thoughts etc. It will be strictly garden related stuff. I will be posting the garden posts here, in my family related blog, and the garden blog (~The Gardening Mommy~), so either way you won't miss out.
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Today in my garden:
I had a wonderful day outside today with my daughter. I played in the garden and together we went worm hunting to add worms to my worm poop bucket. She really doesn't like many bugs, but wiggly squiggly worms don't seem to bother her one bit!
I "upgraded" my worm poop bucket into a "worm apartment" (one of a few steps towards the final project - "The Worm Mansion") ...lol! The reason I want worm poop is because it is so full of wonderful things that plants love.
1.) I put a few handfuls of cut up coffee filters in the bottom of a bucket. 
2.)
Next, I poured organic matter such as degrading leaves, fluffy dirt and
pine needles (and apparently a small pine cone...oops)
3.)
I added another layer of cut up coffee filters, old coffee grinds, then
more organic matter in repeated layers. I also added some dry chunks of
bread (the heal) since the article said that worms love the decomposing
bread (and since it decomposes fastest it's perfect worm food) and
lettuce scraps for "worm dessert". After the repeated layers, I added
the previous "Worm Slum House" dirt and worms on top of the new, more
spacious, "Worm Apartment".
I have no idea how I am supposed to
"check" if they are happy or if I have killed them by all these
"upgrades", so we will have to see in a few weeks. IT'S ALL AN
EXPERIMENT!!
Some other worm "food" that the article suggested
was grain based foods at first, then used coffee grounds (even the
filters, I doubt that they have to be cut up like I did mine, but I
think it would help them decompose faster). The one thing it did say
was that if your feeding your worms your "kitchen waste, wait until the
buried food disappears to add more", that means that my method wouldn't
be effective way of total composting, but it would be efficient at
getting the wonderful worm poop.
I could go on and on about how
interesting this article was! I am going to try a few more of their
suggestions to get more worms into my garden area and I will write
about them as I go. The whole thing with worms is definitely not a
rushed endeavor since most suggestions take a month or longer to
potentially see the full results. I can't wait to try these ideas and
tell you about them!
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Because
it was such a pretty day out, I brought out all my plants to soak up
the rays! Below is a picture of my Zucchini and Cucumbers. Yeah, I know
they're leggy, but they are still healthy and happy. I like to think of
them as "tall" guys. The Cucumbers are starting to vine and I think
even putting out flower buds (not positive, but I thought I saw a few).
Below is a "bugs eye view" of one of my flower beds....I just thought I would throw that in.....
My
daughter playing in the dirt, she LOVES dirt. This is her area that we
dug a hole and filled it with water to create a "lake" for her. She had
a blast today (it was definitely a sunblock day today! After I took
this picture we went in and put sunblock on and put a cap on her!!)
Above: My "Veggie Patch", I finally got all the rocks placed around the perimeter, so all I have to do now (and I say all
like it's nothing, but really I have a ton to do) is amend the soil
more, and more, and more! But I really need to get my seeds planted in
there A.S.A.P otherwise I will run out of time!
Above:
Another picture of a male Rufous Hummingbird feeding at dusk (it looks
pitch black, but it was really just getting dark. I think it was
because of the flash that it looks so dark.)
At the beginning of the this entry is a picture of my orange tulip that
opened up today. Oh-so pretty! I love it! I just wish my red ones had
come up properly. I wonder how people get their tulips grow
perfectly....hum...maybe next year....
Well, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I will post more tomorrow.... the theme - Wildflowers.
~M~
We spent some time outside in the afternoon, but the sun that was out
earlier in the day had disappeared by the time we got out there. It was
windy, but really mild and warm. We watered the garden (Hannah helped
me...that was interesting...) and I started expanding the area that had
veggies last year. I am planning on doubling the size roughly in hopes
that I can plant some tomatoes, my zucchini and cucumbers and just
possibly some carrots. I will have to make some other areas to be sure
I can include all the veggies I want since I doubt that they will all
fit in the one area I am doubling. I need to do some more research in
how the sun hits the area back there because it is behind my house and
at some parts of the day my house blocks the sunlight to the garden
area. I will have to see what happens back there because I have my eye
on a certain area in the woodsy part that is somewhat open and gets
quite a lot of sun as far as I have seen. I am running plans through my
head trying to figure out how to get a raised garden bed built back
there. I think when Kyle gets home (or sooner if I can get to the
hardware store and somehow get the lumber cut, screws and stakes to
make one). I am not totally positive it gets enough sunlight, but I
will keep checking as the days get closer and closer to the "summer
sun" levels in the sky. My alternative to building one raised garden
bed is to buy a/some livestock rubber feeders (I will have to check the
safety of the rubber though) and filling those with soil and placing
them around the front of my house for the veggies. That may still
happen even if I get a raised bed because I love FRESH VEGGIES and can
always fill empty spaces with veggies/flowers. I am just lacking space
for a true vegetable garden at the moment.
I really need to make
my flower gardens better. I have had a hard time planning out my garden
due to the fact that I have had to just plant things all over the place
hoping they would grow. Some took while others died and each year I
have replaced things with different combinations of flowers hoping they
will fill in and work out. I need to step back and look at what I have
for height, creeping and bushy plants, then move accordingly. Oie!
Oh,
I also need to do some research on how to split (or what is the
word.....humm....well, I can't remember the word at this moment...) my
perennials that are growing in thicker and pretty close together. I
know you can do that with some perennials, but I don't know how. I will
have to try and find out tomorrow (or in the next few days). I still
haven't moved my Day Lilies and they are getting a bit bigger each day
as the weather is getting nicer/warmer.
I wonder, what looks best....one bed that is strictly spring flowers....or spring flowers spread through out.
I
don't know if I currently like them spread out. Maybe it's because I
don't have very many spring bulbs yet and that there is really only one
spring flower in each bed. 2 tulip plants, 2 crocus bunches, and 2
hyacinths all spread out over quite a large area. I just wonder what I
should do about that....hum...Any suggestions or ideas? What do you
have, where do you put your spring bulbs?
I have to sort this
out...I am feeling quite itchy to make some change. I don't know why,
but I feel like it is just not working out there. I may be biting off
more than I can chew though with all my digging back there. I still
haven't finished the area I am leveling out for Hannah and I haven't
finished amending the soil in areas I want to plant veggies (due to the
fact I am expanding and finding more rocks to remove).
Oie, oie, oie!! I have a lot of work to do!!
I will post some more pictures soon.
Hope all is well, and that the weather dries up a bit for all those people getting dumped on! Happy Gardening!!
~M~
Well, it was overcast and partly sunny on and off today. Hannah and I didn't get out and do much. We basically went out for a bit of a walk and then fed the horses for my Mother -In-Law.
We spent quite a while over at the Mother-In-Law's house visiting and helping her create an email address. She's pretty computer illiterate and I have to teach her how to do the same things over and over. It's okay and I really don't mind, but it's hard to find the time when I have my little 2 year old stinker running around like a hurricane! It takes me twice as long to teach her and it's hard for her to concentrate totally while "Hurricane Hannah" hits. Anyway, it took us a long time to get even the simplest thing like making her a hotmail account accomplished! But we did it! Yes! But.....later this evening my Mother-In-Law called and said that something weird came up when she tried to log-in, so who knows. I will have to check it out tomorrow!
Hannah played mini hockey (basically indoor hockey) with her Uncle Luke and his friend Connor (both 12 years old) for a while and she just loves spending time with them. It's so neat to watch her interact with her young uncles (12 and 8 years old) and to see them interacting with her. Kids are so much fun to watch how they play....
Above: The three musketeers, Mitchel-Hannah-Luke, 2 days ago while it was super nice out. So nice we even broke out the popsicles! Hannah just loves hanging out with them (she's wearing a head band that Mitchel put on her, she was so proud that she got to wear it!)
Sorry there isn't much on here about gardening so far...but here ya go:
My seedlings are doing alright, nothing "new" with them. The tall zucchinis I have been talking about are okay, tipping over like Gay Lynn (giggelynn) mentioned might happen. I just hope that I don't lose them. The cucumber seedlings are still button cute. Tomorrow I need to plant my Grapefruit seedlings/sprouts before I end up killing them (they are still in the baby food jar I started them in).
I am planning on trying to plant some of my garlic. I bought some garlic and it's gotten older and I thought why not try to plant them. My gardening book says that there can be some success from store bought garlic cloves. So, experiment #1 we'll see how it works out! If anyone has any suggestions/experience with starting garlic from store bought garlic.
Another thing I have to get around to doing is planting my bulbs that I have. They are summer bloomers so I am pretty sure that it's an okay time to be planting them (well, as far as my "research" is telling me.
Bulbs I have:
Chives: I have just regular old chive bulbs from my Mother-In-Law's garden that she pulled out last summer (they wintered over with just the dirt they were pulled out with and sat into a pot). They are starting to sprout so I need to get them in the ground. They grow actually really well even in my clay soil and I do like the look quite a bit, especially when they are thick and full.
Gladiolas: I bought some bulbs from Home Depot last fall when they were getting rid of their bulb selection. They are red. I think. (They are put away in a "dark place" and I haven't seen them in a while).
I have VERY little knowledge of growing bulbs, but last year I decided to try my hand at it. I bought some crocus (still does anyone know how to spell this one in the plural form?) flowers, 2 tulip pots (flowering) and 2 pots with 1 hyacinth in each - to brighten my spring. I planted them all after they died off. I am happy to say that ALL of them are poking through the ground. I originally thought that one of my hyacinths was not going to come in, but when I checked yesterday it had started to come through ever so slightly! I still need to make sure I planted them properly so I have alittle research to do in the next few days so that I can make it right after they die off this year. I will be sure to post pictures of them when they bloom.
More tomorrow, I have to go to bed! I really need to continue my recuperation since I am feeling noticeably better today! I sure hope that we don't have an icky day tomorrow. I should probably check the weather report to see though.
Have a great Easter weekend!
~M~
Above: My bean sprouts FINALLY sprouting. It seemed to take forever in comparison to my Mother-In-Laws. Her's sprouted in 5-6 days I think and mine have been closer to 10-14 days! I do know that she used a special (I think Miracle Grow brand) seed starting soil and I used plain jane potting soil. I wonder if it made that difference, thoughts?!
Above: My beautiful super tall Zucchini plants! They're almost 6-7 inches tall, which I am not sure if that's too good since they're probably "reaching" for the sunlight. Any thoughts, good or bad?
Abov
e: Another view of my super tall Zucchini. Any thoughts, is this good or bad, or just okay?
Above:
My good little cucumbers growing in their milk jug home. They are doing pretty darn good, and I am pretty proud of 'em! Hope it stays that way! (Fingers crossed!)
Above: Now there's some big rocks! This is a sample of some found on my husbands parents property (we rent on this property too, so basically it surrounds were Hannah and I go walking a lot.)
Above: One view of the canyon we live by. My husbands parents own the property that follows along the canyon (and we rent on this property). Pretty dangerous for kiddos, but the actual canyon is far enough away that we don't deal with it on a daily basis. We have to walk a bit to get to it and my young Brother-In-Laws (ages 12 and 8 years old) know better and have been raised to know its very dangerous!
Above: One of those dang "Gravel" Brothers and Sisters!! If you happen to hit this too hard with the shovel, they break into many pieces gravel size and are a PAIN to try and get out!!
Well, that's the lot of them. I love taking pictures and especially like being able to share them. I was so excited that I was able to get out and do some digging in the dirt today! Hannah is feeling better a little bit at a time and she came out and joined me for a bit, and then I was also able to get out when she took a nap (thank goodness for baby monitors!!). It was another gorgeous day outside! I got quite a bit done today in that area that I am making for Hannah. She will love it once I am done! I won a battle with the "Boulder" brother, but may need the hubby to move it from where I ended up rolling it since it flipped to a side that doesn't easily roll from. I hope it's not stuck since I would like to use it in the landscape of the new area I am making for Hannah. I may use it as a rock step, or even as a retaining rock. I have conquered the "Boulder" beast! Hahaha!
I also transferred two wheel barrow loads of composted horse manure over to a pile near my rock garden. I still have to make up my mind as to what is going to go where and what I want to expand before I put the manure into the soil. I think that I want to expand an area and potentially get rid the area that I attempted to plant my veggies in last year (Zucchini, Cucumber and Tomatoes). I will have to take a good long look at things tomorrow. At least I was able to get the manure closer to where it will eventually end up. I can't move the manure when Hannah is around because she walks so slow (basically I couldn't fill up the the wheel barrow and have her walk next to me, it would take upwards of half an hour!). So, I was very pleased to have been able to get the two wheel barrow loads today. I will be sure to do more when I get the chance since I need TONS!
Well, more tomorrow. I hope that everyone is well! Happy Gardening!
~M~
Above Left: My African Violet start rooting! I am so thrilled!! I have two successfully rooting!
Above Right: My Grapefruit seeds that have sprouted. There are two seeds but multiple sprouts. I will try getting a better picture later! I am also very excited about these!
Above: The beautiful African Violet that I was able to get my starts from. It's just a wonderful plant and it likes me so I decided to try and get some starts from it so I would have more that like me!
Above: One of the "Boulder" Brothers I encountered today while trying to make an area toddler friendly (see below picture.)
Above: The area that I am going to try and flatten out for my daughter Hannah (2 years old) to play on while I am playing in my garden. It is really hard to see how uneven the ground is and how many rocks are actually sticking out of the ground (So hard for a toddler to navigate!!)
Above: 5 days ago this is what I saw when I went "strollin" with Hannah. I was bummed out that the snow level was heading our way! But it came and then quickly melted away, thank goodness!
Above: Same as the photo above this one. 5 days ago (April 1st, 2009)
Above: My Zucchini and Cucumber that had already out grown their starter cells. So, I transplanted them a few days ago into larger peat pots. I will post another picture in the next blog post.
This thing is acting up so I have to make another post to include the other pictures I want to show you all! Be sure to check the rest out too!
~M~
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