trudy's Blog

My Day
Feb 3, 2008 | 2:58 PM PST
Tags: red oinions , shallots , grape vines , hibiscus , magnolia trees , suckers , obiedient , roses , compost , brocolli , manure , seeds , asparagus , lantana

Well I did get some things on my list done today.  The red onion seedlings, shallots, asparagus (went with the in ground method this time) all planted.  Cut back some of the roses, esp. the one at the front porch.  And one bed of lantana, an my grape vines, hibiscus an some of the lavender obiedient plant stems that had gotten bit an cut the suckers off the 2 magnolia trees I had cut down last year,  they were in a really bad spot.   I am noticing a lot less tree roots where I have some raised beds at by cutting them down. 

Got 6 trays filled with some potting soil, now to go thru some seeds an decide what to start seeding out.  Added compost to the existing asparagus container beds that didn't get it in the fall.   One thing I did notice when I was loosing the soil where the red onion sets were being planted was how rich the soil is looking.  Back in the fall I had planted brocolli an cauliflower there an had added composted manure an it has finally paid off, I hope.  So far its not looking so sandy, but nice rich soil.  

I hauled the cuttings to the woods an burned the other pile while looking around for a place to experiment with the Strawbale Garden method.  I think I'll put it either on the side of the house an use a somewhat level area near the garden to grow some corn.  I don't ever have much luck with corn, but I keep trying.  Thank goodness I have a BIL that farms in case I fail at it once again I can get some from him.  Will try an get the red onion bulb babies planted tomorrow if I'm not to tired after work.  Now to call it a day!

Got another load of Manure
May 27, 2007 | 7:58 AM PST
Tags: manure , composted , roses , fall flush , mulch , water , rain , Thai Green Eggplant , squash , Amillia , beefsteak , fruit , pinestraw , peppers

I brought home another load of composted manure from the fair grounds, I wanted at least one more load before fall.  Man is that some good stuff!!   Seeing how in July I will need to reapply it around my roses for their fall flush.  This time it wasn't so wet, so unloading was much easier.  The load I got earlier sure has made a difference in my plants,  they were in bad need.  Just couldn't tell it til I added it.   I'm thinking about putting some down as a mulch in one bed just as an experiment to see what ill happen.  

 I'm having to water everyday now,  but its now where I can alternate the beds.  That may not last long if we don't get some much needed rain.  I got another large container planted of comfrey.  Still have a half a tray to go.  I was wanting to plant the last 2 Thai Green Eggplant plants in the last container I have seeing how from what I've read it won't bear fruit til the 2nd year.  Just need to get another container.

 I picked my 3rd mator yesterday.  A nice Amillia beefsteak.  All my mator plants are loaded with fruit.  I have decided not to stake the ones in the flower beds.  I've read where staking really isn't needed an sometimes you get more fruit by letting them sprawl.  Will be interesting,  The fruit will have pinestraw to keep them directly off the soil.  I got out this morning an did some roundup, just spot spraying.  Its been windy here the last few days an today was the first chance I had with little wind.  Still need to do the garden pathways, but there not to bad yet.   I did pick 2 of the patty pan type squash and a few banana peppers.  Not enough squash to do much with yet, hopefully they will hold up long enough for more to get ready for a mess.   Don't really know how to fix them yet, first time with these.  So any recipes you want to share, please do.

 I had planned on copy an pasting my Bloom Calendar to here, but this site won't let me.  So I guess if you want to see what plants I have you'll just have to visit my photo album.  Although it's nowhere near complete, u can see some of what I have growing here on the Lane. 

One of my baby chicks died yesterday, couldn't really tell why.  But it did.  I've been letting the older chickens out about every other day,  may be will go to daily now that the dog has gone to Florida.  One of the campers wanted her, so it all worked out good. 
 

We got rain
May 13, 2007 | 4:13 PM PST
Tags: rain , crunchy , roses , tuber rose , chamomile , lillies , Spirea , Hydrangea , Spanish , Red 7 Sister , mators , cucumber , heat , raised beds Brugs , Sage

finally last night,  what a relief!!  It had gotten so dry the weeds I call grass was crunchy.   Since my last entry I've planted a few more things,  a couple roses, tuber rose an more chamomile.  A plant I'm not real familiar with called Pet????? Saxifrigara or something like that.  Will be interesting to see how it does down here in the heat.  Some of my Asiatic Lillies are blooming or full of buds.  Several daylillies are blooming, my Spanish Flag Vine, Red 7 Sister rose, Duranta, Anthony Waters Spirea, The Lady in Red Hydrangea is trying to bloom.  Can't wait to see that one seeing how I rooted it from a friends that had already bloom right b4 winter.  

 I got about 3 Brugs planted to replace some that didn't make it over the winter, 3 Pineapple Sage herbs an finished up with planting the rest of the tomatoes.  Took an potted up some Monsieour Tillier cuttings that had rooted that I should have already done.  Still have others to do, just finding time in all my spare time to do it.  Picked a handful of strawberries, which of course got eatten right away.  Spend some time with my DD's an a couple grandsons, was a pleasant day.  Now just to finish up watering the veggies,  you'd think they wouldn't need any, but being in raised beds I have to think about the heat tomorrow and they won't get any water til late tomorrow afternoon.  But I do have mators,  even picked a cucumber for my salad today for lunch.    Man was it good!   trudy
 

Almost done
Apr 19, 2007 | 1:26 PM PST
Tags: roses , Iris , Melons , houseplants , flowers , greenhouse , feathers , coop , chicks
This post has been edited by an administrator

I finally got the melon patch planted 2 days ago, I planted Santa Clause, Moon & Stars, Banana, Paradise and Canary. Can u tell we love melons. Still have a good bit of flowers left to plant and the house plants to get out of the greenhouse an placed about the beds, but I'm in no rush. The nights have been in the 50's here, so I know they'll like the cool temps. The baby chicks are growing and doing well, thinking about putting them outside in a coop with a light so they get a chill during the night. At least the larger of them, some are still getting their true feathers and some already have them. Some more flowers have started blooming an here they are:

Lemon Mist Bearded Iris

Unk. Purple Bearded Iris

LaReine rose

Mrs. B. R. Cant

Belinda's Dream

and another rose I can't remember the name, have it written somewhere

Felicia

trudy

Storm on its way
Apr 14, 2007 | 5:25 PM PST
Tags: Black eye susan , Phillipine Violet , Mexican Flame Vines , Spanish Flags , Morning Glorys , Borage , Oakleaf Hydrangeas , Hollyhocks , roses , strawberries , pie filling , storm , chicks

Its been gonna storm all week, but has been missin us.  Staying north,  I didn't want it to be bad weather but just get some of the rain off of it.  So every afternoon when I'd get home from work I get to planting.   Same today,  I did get a lot planted,  more hollyhocks, black eye susans, Phillipine Violets, Mexican Flame vines, Spanish Flags,  Morning Glory trees, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, White Obedient Plant,  Morning Glory bush (questinable as to whether they make it here), Borage,  some lillies I couldn't never seem to get planted also got done today.  Finished up planting the last of the potatoes I've not been able to find the time to plant.  I've not been that good at growing them, so I'll be interesting to see what they do being planted so late.  The other afternoon when it was suppose to rain I got my Lady Banks rose and Lavaglut rose planted.

Friday I picked another bucket of strawberries,  think  I'll put it up as a pie filling this time.  My baby chicks are doing well,  out growing there large box thats for sure.   Had planned to put them outside today, but DH says to wait til after next Wed., cuz its suppose to be back down in the 40's at night til Wed.   I was gonna C & P the bloom list, but this site won't let me.


Well its lightening a good bit now, so its getting closer.  A tornado has already been spotted in Ala north of us.  trudy