wan2hav's Blog
wan2hav's Blog
Last Post 9 days, 18 hours Ago
May 2, 2008 | 2:54 PM PST
Here we are..and its MAY 2nd already !!......but outside it looks like a April or March day...cold..moist..rainy looking.
I actually had to restart the heat--as I'd turned it off when we had a string of 70 degree tempatures....then a few days of waking up freezing....HEAT ON !!!
Last week...and this week--I got about two days worth of work done out in the garden. I planeted a few Eggplants..a few Tomatoes......and I picked up a couple of flats of early annuals.But I only got half the flat into the ground.,..the rest is waitin' for me.
Since I've been seriously fightin off the viruses and ear aches and everything else coming down the pike !!!...I am scared to take a chace on hanging outside in dank..damp...cold conditions---for fear the cough or fever or what -have- you ...will return again.
I also put my Christmas Cactus out on the porch...they don't seem mto mind the cool !!
Now the wait is on...for a few days of 50 to 6 degree weather with no strong breeze...to get back to planting the rest of my summer garden !!.......can't wait !!
Apr 10, 2008 | 11:40 PM PST
Tag:
Ahhh, finally--I have a chance to get outside to the garden and begin my schedule of cleaning and getting the different garden beds ready.
The weather broke just the last two days or so...no more howling winds...no more icy rains.....it was a very balmy 62 degrees today..and I was able to work in just a T-Shirt. ( YEA !!! )
I've decided to do away with my raspberry beds. Its a hard decision.....but they are located against a privacy stockade fence--thats was blown down about two weeks ago. the whole line of fencing now will have to be repaired or replaced...and that will be at least eight sections. I will then need to have a load of soil dropped...and by the time those many feet have finished working ----the raspberrys will of been trampled ...so I have decided to pull them up.
It was a rather small--but very productive patch..and I enjoyed them greatly over the last five years or so..........I could just walk outside and pluck a few for my breakfast ---and I made many a pastry turnover...........
For now ---I see no other way--as the workman will have to come thru the patch to repair the fence....and of course they cannot be dragging thru the bushes to do so.
I also threw a few onions in today. I don't know if they will make it or not. I wanted to get them in much earlyer than now..but the weather was not co-operating. More information on those in the future.
I ordered a few other plants--but will be checking out the garden centers and maybe a few more magazines for more .......
Until then.........................
....................
Mar 31, 2008 | 1:24 AM PST
Tags: weather , Easter plants
One of the most important things in this world --is to have someone---think about you once in awhile---and I thank all of you that took the time to wonder if all was well !
All was not well....as I have been STILL struggling with a feeling of tiredness--that has hung on my back--like the proverbial monkey--since getting that virus thats been going around....several months ago now !
Normally -----I would of been to the garden center several times for supplies....and I would be smiling as I went at the Tulips and Daffys---often being out in full force........both in the southern facing yards outside here and there........ and at the garden centers...which often would specialize in hugh masses of colors and varietys..but.....Not this year !!
The green leaves of my early tulips are just emerging from their winter sleep..they are in ...no way ready to flower.....and ..as of yet are not even forming flower heads !
Since I was down for the count the week before Easter this year--I was in full lament --because I felt that I was missing EVERYTHING this year....but a trip to the garden center two days ago..relieved all my fears....the weather here had simply been TOO COLD...TOO WINDY..and TOO WET !!! The garden center has very little to offer...because nothing much had come in yet...their choices were several colors in cold weather Petunias ......and a few Primrose out on the racks.
I decided to forgo the outdoor plantings at least for now....so ........I bought a large bag of potting soil ---and will re-pot my indoor Christmas Cactus...Snake Plants..and Spider Plants......and to add to my family of Plants...I also brought home a beautiful Easter lily..that was left over and 1/2 price -----------even though it was clearly in its prime of life. I asked it if it wanted to come home with me---and it whispered in my ear YES ...I too am just looking for someone to care for me !!!!!!!...............so I willing took it home....................
It is living its life out in my kitchen ------on my table--its glourious trumpet shaped flowers still announcing the now ---- week gone Holiday !........I may return and try to find a few of its other family members..and have a group !
Feb 28, 2008 | 11:23 PM PST
Tag: Baby its cold outside
Its February 2008 !!!......and all we have to show for it is Ice and snow !!.........Were hovering around freezing give or take a few degrees...and Baby !! Its Cold outside ! The only thing I've been doing outside for the last few weeks --is throwing down sand over the ice for safety !!
A quick turn around the yard--show that all seems to be weathering this winter pretty well. Roses still appear to be okay--and they are really the biggest worry for over wintering.
Tonight though --even my trailer lock is frozen--so I couldn't get inside to do anything.
Inside my house---everything is under sun- light lamps and downstairs ----heat lamps. The sunlight lamps upstairs have all burned out in the last week---I had opened the drapes for them--thinking that just perhaps the sun would do its thing...but NOT to be !!! I'll be buying more sun light lamps on my next trip to Home Depot or loews !
Jan 31, 2008 | 11:09 PM PST
Lots of new things happening........Everything is cold and dead outside..but the winter is weird this year--very little snow.....and it makes me wonder once again--if we'll have enough moisture for the summer gardens ! I worry !
The garden magazines are arriving already !!...but I cannot enjoy them right now !!...because I am working on my house interior...and moving things around...But worse to worse --instead of growing my own seedlings --I'll buy from the nursery AGAIN this year. Last year this time --I had to plan travel to Georgia around this time.
I know that I am hoping to grow Garlic this year !.....Eggplants....Heirloom Tomatoes...Grape Tomatoes.....Hungarian Peppers...and of course cucumbers ! Last years cucumbers crop was really poor..we had a spat of cold weather in the middle sof the growing season--and it just wiped them out !
This year will be better !
Jan 31, 2008 | 11:02 PM PST
This post has been edited by an administrator
LAST WINTERS 'OH WELL ' NEWS ...
Posted: Sep/08/2007 7:35 PM PST
Oh Well...we're getting to the end of the season now...it came pretty
quickly here.....a week or so ago..we had a few days of cold weather
and my cucumbers have never recovered. There leaves are now
yellowed..brown and covered in that winter veil of gray like substance.
The cold snap just snapped thier will to live ! A got a few more off of
them !! But the days are numbered now.
But.......my
tomatoes and eggplants are still going strong ! I am amazed at the
amount of eggplant produced by these plants this year....the slowed
during that cold snap...but once the sun returned and the bees returned
to pollenate...back they came.....I'll be making my second large pan of
eggplant parmasan in a day or two.They taste GREAT and ohh so fresh !!
The
SWEET 100 grape tomato plants I grew this year..took me awhile to get
used to....they started slow and grow on a bracht..unlike any I have
grown before !But you know...they turned out to be the best ever
...sooo sweet. A little harder to pick..off of the bracht..and seem to
be deeper into the plant itself...but well worth the extra work.
I
had so many volunteer tomatoe plants this year ..I was almost
swamped...they were mostly Brandy Boys..hugh..hugh....big shouldered
tomatoes. They were all so tasty and big and meaty !.What a harvest
!!....I also had a normal red tomatoe and a flame tomatoe. The flame
tomatoes..are very pretty and unusual..but I was not crazy about the
taste of them...but they make for a lot of conversation...and are okay
in the sauce pot.But for eating the Brandy Boys are the best !Also I
had some Big Boys ..more on them later as they are both still
producing! Not the best--but still quite a good yield on these tomatoes.
Posted: Oct/05/2007 2:41 PM PST
Todays tempature is about 80 degrees !.it is certainly keeping my
peppers and eggplants and a few tomatoes going strong ! Its a very nice
surprise for this year..to still be enjoying fresh produce......
Heres some of my big red ones !!
Posted: Oct/10/2007 8:15 PM PST
Cold and wet weather has just made its appearance again.
Two days ago 80's........now 60 - 70 degrees.
I
harvested some things ..but I'll be out again in a day or so for more.
I HOPE that the tempature dosen't drop TOO much....and that the rains
don'r destroy everything !!
Fall is creeping in ....
Posted: Nov/11/2007 1:11 PM PST
Racing quickly towards the holidays...and I've heard of flood and
famine..and fire and eathquakes....but my gardens knew little of
this.hey produced until the killing frost last week.....and even
still...a few peppers brightly red still hang...and a few
tomatoes...not enough sun nor heat to ripen them ...also offer the sad
thought.....Is summer really over ??? Yes... yes !!.........and I shall
put you to bed shortly. I would of already....but I was felled by a flu
or cold or whatever one calls these things these days....no outside
work for me for another week or so...for now lots of bed
rest....fluids...and tissues !
My
pick of this garden season------EGGPLANT ! SO STRONG IT GREW AND
FLOWERED AND PRODUCED TILL THE KILLING FROST. I will certainly try to
reproduce this crop again next year !
Posted: Jan/17/2008 1:15 PM PST
To the poster that wanted pics of my ERNIE PUMPKIN !!
THis
guy grew unknown to me about three years ago.....I was shocked to see
it...because I hadn't planted any pumkins that year at all....
After
it was finally identified and I knew what I had--I cared for it
better...and the final result --was the beautiful Orange Pumpink in the
last photo.
Enjoy !!
Jan 31, 2008 | 11:01 PM PST
This post has been edited by an administrator
MORE NEWS FROM THE 'OH WELL ' THREAD
Posted: Jun/01/2007 2:37 PM PST
My
gardens are just about in for the next 3 months. The only thing I worry
about are the cucumbers for now...and even with those I see several
volunteers.... I have planted a few hills and will add more in a week
or so.
I lost several of my favorite plants over this
winter.....none of my Hibiscus made it...though I had them for several
years. This year ..they had gotten so large and heavy...I moved them
into a hallway instead of the usual position in the downstairs play
room...and I quess the were angry and shocked and gave up the ghost. I
just couldn't muscle them deep into the house anymore.....still I am so
very sad about it..as they had become friends to me....and all bloomed
like crazy in three seperate colors all summer and into the fall too !
They will be missed !
I never got to start the
seeds I traded here for this year as I had to travel unexpectedly...so
I bought my BURPEE Tomatoes. I always like to try something different
so this time its tomatoes that have yellow and red like
lightening...and a Bush Brandy..more on these as the summer progresses.
Posted: Jun/21/2007 10:49 PM PST
YYYeessss...Summer is HERE !!!!
I have my tomatoes in the ground and flowering...my cukes are in the ground and growing.
A few strawberries and am waiting for the raspberries which appear to be running a little late this year.
My
HORSERADISH which is this years new plant has leaves up and big !!
..actually three plants have leaves..and I am so hapy about
that..because I planted them in a partial shaded area that will be
blocked some at the height of summer by flowering lilys and and other
tall ones.
With the exceptions of a few days when we had heavy rain..I am watering daily...everybody loves it except for a few .
Still not too many bugs.....but I did have to treat a few of the roses for black spot !
I am once again a happy gardener...enjoying the new growth..and promise of this years harvest !
Posted: Jun/29/2007 3:24 PM PST
Cannot seem to get pictures up here anymore even though I have reduced
the size of them !!! The pic direct from the computer are too large to
load...so I can't show you anything........
But
I finally have my dill...the third and fourth sowing finally broke
through a couple of days ago...so now I can kick back and relax.and
just let everything grow on ! I plant on leaving some in the ground in
hopes they will self sow for next year !
Posted: Jul/20/2007 1:25 AM PST
Wheeeeewwwww..................
I am truly into that everyday gardening spin..and loving it !!
The cooling mist blowback of water from the hose......the sounds of the garden...
The sun....WONDERFUL!
This year is runnung 2 to 3 weeks in back of most as far as ripening goes.
I
have fruits on everything pretty much.....and it looks like the eggplant
may be this years winner...and really I don't mind ...because I will
pickle it to death if I get enough.
I finally saw my first honey
bee this year...and thats sad to say. His furry little face was a true
joy...'cause I think most of them are gone now. Lots of other bee's and
wasps around...but not many of them.I think thats why I have so many
fruits on my vegetables...I haven't sprayed for years now...and its
becoming a safe haven for a lot of insects and several types of
birds..not usually seen around here.
I had been admiring the
loveliness of the eggplants flower..I hadn't planted eggplant for a
long time...and I was sort of shocked to see the deep blue flower
appear !I tried to get some good pictures of it...but the heads always
seem to be downward...if any come out ..I will post it.....anyway..I
have several forming future Eggplants for my future Eggplant Parmasan.
More next time..on my little garden !!
Posted: Jul/23/2007 7:22 PM PST
This year I decided to stake all the tomatoes instead of letting them
run like crazy..sort of an experiment. I do have green tomatoes on all
of my plants....but I don't think that the plants really want to be
"corralled" like this...they seem scrunched together...but I'll wait to
see the end results on the yields before I decide if I will do it again
or not. One pro is that it is easier to work around the plants because
not much is stretched around all over the ground and to the
fences....the pros is that the fruits seem to be more towards the
inside of the plants interior...as opposed to right out in the open
when I allowed them to grow at will.
I
am still seeing a lot of bumble bees and wasps..so I know the flowers
are being pollenated......and several of the eggplants are now showing
fruit formation...I am also now seeing hugh squash flowers....and I
have both CUBANELLAS...and HUNGARIAN PEPPERS ..amassed on the plants !
No cucumbers forming yet..though I do have flowers.
Posted: Aug/06/2007 10:43 PM PST
Just started harvesting some cucumbers.....what a great thing...I am
eating them with a little salt..pepper...wine vinegar...and a bit of
sweetener. I'm really enjoying that fresh taste.
I
planted SWEET 100 grape tomatoes this year. This is about the 5th
variety of grape tomatoes I've tried. They are ready..and I am eating
them right off of the vine...but they are very hard to get to ..since I
staked all my tomatoes upright this year...and it seems a lot of the
fruits are between the branches.
I have also picked...yellow
squash....and I have bunch of eggplant. The eggplant is this years best
crop so far...with all of my plants flowering and producing . I have my
mozzarella and bread crumbs at the ready.
All my dill is up and
out..but I am not satisfied with the strength of the stalks and next
year...I hope I can start them inside in order to promote better
..thicker stronger plants....but what I do have smells divine.
Over-all
I am happy to see everything..finally showing up...but I will have to
wait to see if I have the amounts needed for pickling. I think I may be
doing a lot of tomatoes and peppers this year instead of cucumber
pickles.
I'll keep you posted !!
Posted: Aug/07/2007 7:22 PM PST
Heres a look at my YELLOW SQUASH.....
Sorry..but I don't think that YOU CAN SEE IT !!
Till next time !!
Posted: Aug/25/2007 10:02 PM PST
For awhile there I was on a roll !! The eggplant and tomato were out
everyday for me ! I even started giving some away
!.................then this weird weather has appeared again...it
dropped to 60's no sun...overcast ..looking like rain all the time. Its
been a week now...and though I've been able to harvest a few
tomaatoes..the eggplants dropped blossoms...and I gues nothing much was
being pollenated either !
Today--the
thickness of the humidity and un-breathability of the air..was enough
to run me into the safety of the house air conditioning---so I didn't
check on the growth of the small fruits or the eggplants or the
ripening of my large tomatos.
I harvested a large amount of
peppers a few days ago...and started them for canning...but I got off
track and they are just sitting around ! This weather just plain makes
it hard to move around and removes desire to do so...I hope the heat
and the sun return to normal soon....and I can get to doing at least a
bit of canning !!.I did start one small crock of dills...but my dill
crop is weak..though I still used some for flavoring.. I will need to
pick some up from a farmers market or store if I want to do a large
amount of dilling ..as I want the dill I have in the garden to grow
heads and have a chance to reseed itself.
Let the SUN SHINE !
Jan 31, 2008 | 11:00 PM PST
This post has been edited by an administrator
MORE POSTS FROM THE 'OH WELL ' THREAD
Posted: Mar/13/2007 5:52 AM PST
Just about made it through winter...(YEAH !!!!!)
Today
..I was able to walk around with just fleece on....I can't wait to be
able to get outside again...I am just about stir crazy.
I have a
lot of seeds from all over..but I didn't get a chance to start
'em..because I had to travel in January..then my husband traveled and I
had to care for everything myself.....no time to baby the seeds. The
ones I can start outside I will when it gets warm enough....and who
knows ?? maybe I'll still get a few going in pots.....I do have lots of
herbs to do...and I bought from many different sources this year ..so I
should have a good variety this year.
Either way...I'm looking forward to it all !!
Jan 31, 2008 | 10:59 PM PST
This post has been edited by an administrator
MORE POSTS FROM THE 'OH WELL' THREAD !!
Posted: Dec/16/2006 11:19 PM PST
Weather is still amess...today --all you need is a fleece jacket to get
around in..how strange is that....Still we brought over the snow blower
for a tune up....I think will see weather in FEBRUARY..at this rate.
You just don't kow what to do..its winter...but isn't acting like it.......!!
Holidays approaching fast now..and right after ..I will be looking and dreaming of my 2007 Gardens.
Posted: Jan/05/2007 7:59 AM PST
2007 has arrived....
Not
a lot of gardening going on right now .....outside--nothing much is
alive in my area....inside..pointsettias ..and christmas cactus are
still brightening the rooms...with the reds and whites and pinks of
flowers....though some are spent..they are still splashing color around.
Soon it will be time to start the seeds ofor the years Gardening. I can barely wait !!
Posted: Jan/24/2007 5:43 AM PST
Finally had our first flakes of snow January 22, 2007.
Such
a odd winter season this year...some people are buried under snow
others gettin rained out....and around me..its been spring or fall..now
they keep saying that the cold is coming..and there has been days to
around 20 or 17 degrees.....but not many !!
Can't help but wonder ..how this will effect the gardens of 2007.
Posted: Feb/05/2007 12:25 AM PST
Just returned from a trip to Atlanta Georgia. They were also having
strange weather. The coldest stretch many people could remember. I
really needed to have a winter coat..but had left mine at home. Since
returning and warming up to the 20 degree and less weather here at
home...I have finally gotten the cataloge bug for this year...and am
looking into the vegetables that I'll order for this years gardens. I
won't be ordering many..but horseradish is big on my list this
year...maybe some new colors of foxglove...and a few others.
Jan 31, 2008 | 10:57 PM PST
This post has been edited by an administrator
My original posts in the old New England threads "OH WELL " are moving here....I saw that they had over 10,000.00 hits--so I want to continue them here !
Posted: Oct/07/2006 3:22 AM PST
I am finally and reluctantly bringing in my house plants for the winter.
Today
, I brought in my tender stalked tropicals (Names unknown) tomorrow my
Snake Plants...and Sunday my Hibiscus ..which are still continuing to
flower..God BLess Them !!!
Falls here and temps will drop to 40's or a bit lower tonight and I don't want to frost 'em too much.
Veggie garden is looking real sad--though STILL.. I have greenies on the vine !
Leaves
are crinkling under foot......and winterizing will now begin !!! Plants
in..Hoses in...planters dumped and put away....roses tied back and cut
back.
Onward we march through the end of another year.
Posted: Oct/17/2006 2:51 AM PST
Took cold last few days.
Heats on in the house..though still low !!
Hibiscus
are in--though they are taking up so much space..I'll probably have to
cut them back. They are so green and full and bauetiful now I hate to
do it.
Nothing much growing outside now..still a few greenies on
the vines..but this cold weather dip will soon have its way with
them..and they'll be froze to death...
I'm startin' to think
about chiles and soups and hot long cooked foods..that heat the belly
along with the body........and have pulled out my sweaters and
sweatshirts...cause even going downstairs at all needs long sleeves.
Oct/21/2006 3:35 PM PST
First fall rains came the last day or so-----knocked a bunch of leaves
off the trees...leaves that are left are very red and orange now. I
heard somewhere
that the moisture level is what determines a lot of the color in fall leaves.
Sweep up--clean up !
Posted: Oct/27/2006 6:41 AM PST
Got a bit of frost last night...lucky for me I had just gotten all my
house plants in the house ..just in the nick of time !
My
four Christmas Cactus already are full budded...and will be in full
bloom within a couple of weeks I guess. They did very well outside this
year..they look better than they ever did. These are young ones only a
few years old..as I lost my old timer over last winter...even with
lights..last winter was cold ..long....and deep..for this area.,,These
I have totally in the house now...I certainly don't want to take a
chance on losing them..this year.
Posted: Nov/07/2006 4:57 AM PST
I spent today out side ..finally pulling up the spent vines and the supports for
the
cukes and tomatos. I picked another fifteen or so small tomatos and a
few romas.They were very cold..not like in the summer when they are
warm ..but ..still..very good tasting.
Cut back a bunch of late flowering plants....and swept up the driveway of leaves and debris.
I
thought I'd be moving to a more northern place..but have had second
thoughts--so for this year and next that won't be a issue for me..thats
a good thing because I could not figure out how I was going to move all
of my plants....and worse...in the winter. Nice house ..big yard...but
I had to cut it loose.
My Christmas Cactus's spent all summer
outside and now are blooming like crazy...I can ='t even believe
it........they were little babies last year ..I saved from the end of
the holiday plant sale..dried up and half dead..but
now...........................
.................
They are alive and kicking !!
Posted: Nov/09/2006 1:01 AM PST
Major rains and flooding down here at about sea level.
Roads are closed...you can't get under the railroad tracks and a ton of accidents.
Everyone got home late today if they went to work at all.
No working on the land at all today--unless you want to drown or sink in mud.
Personally--I'm
glad to see this rain...as now I can be at peace that all the plants
will get a deep drink before we finally freeze off .
Squirrels been eating my pumpkins---hopefully they won't get them all so I can save some seeds for next years crop !
I'm
still getting tomatoes..and I found another cucumber---yesterday. I
brought it in and just made a salad. SO very late..but still better
than a store bought one ! I was happy to see it..and happier even more
to eat it.
Posted: Nov/13/2006 3:01 AM PST
We are trying to get the heavy pre-winter work done before the freeze
off happens. Yesterday was working on the fence that had been blown
down by the wind during the rains we had over the last few weeks. We
need to put in another post...but want to wait till next year ..because
we'll need to drop some fill where the earth has been washed away...so
for now we had to rig it up.
I'm
still pulling up the rest of the vegtable plants and putting away the
cages and other goods for the winter....next I'm going to winterize my
tools..by oiling and sanding.
I'm also looking at my beds to
decide what I want to do and where I want to place things next year...I
have some areas that plant certain types of plants..but I try to move
them around within the bed to different areas.
I want to get this all done over the next couple of weeks..before the freeze.
Posted: Nov/17/2006 8:46 AM PST
Major windstorm overnight...
The storm came up from the south and is a long path of wind and destruction
Lots of flooding and downed stuff again !!..yet it was 65 degrees yesterday...wheres the snow. ?..where the sweater weather ?
I truly miss having a real winter ..and on time !!!!
Posted: Nov/21/2006 11:56 PM PST
A few days ago ...it was 65 degrees outside.
Today it had dropped down to 40 or so.
BBBrrrhhhhhh....Its getting there !!
