I wish I wrote down the date of this planting but this old brain just simply forgot to do it. The intention was to update the blog as soon as the planting was done but, as is typical for me, I was worn out by the time I was done...such is spring!
I planted Purple Coneflower up by the gate. There are two mounds of dirt that were pushed up and over to either side when the driveway was being cut. They just sit there with nothing growing on them except the occasional brier.
In the fall, I planted day lilies and irises on those dirt mounds and last week I planted the Coneflower seeds. With any luck, all this rain will get those seeds germinating and I'll forever have flowers up by the gate.
Note to Sydna: No snake sightings since you were here!
In the garden that Debbie helped me create I have lots of flowers growing. With the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths there are also hollyhocks, 4-O'clocks and Sweet William. Everything blooms at a different time so I'm hoping for color throughout the summer.
Added to that garden this year are allium, irises, snap dragons, cosmos and bachelor button (Blue Boy). The snap dragons, cosmos and bachelor button are planted from seeds. History tells me the birds are likely to get them before they can sprout but fingers are crossed that the birds are too busy doing what they do in spring and will hopefully not pay attention to my plantings!
In the vegetable garden, the radishes are leafing out, the collards are standing tall and the garlic is thriving! The experimental kale in the container has broken ground and will need to be thinned out in another week or two. I hope you can imagine how difficult it was for me to buy kale at the grocery store when so much of it is growing in my own garden. Ugh! Patience... where art thou patience?
On April 11th, I trimmed back the mums. The tops were dry and brown from over-wintering. Since lots of green was coming on, all that brown had to go. Now I see on the weather forecast that it is supposed to get in the 30s come Friday morning... I hope these plants are cold hearty!!
Up by the flag pole, all the hostas are leafing out and incredibly beautiful to me. The Lenten Rose is doing well but still no bloom? Perhaps next year will prove better for that plant. The yellow rose (that was supposed to be pink) is showing signs of return. The stems have no leaves on them yet but when I cleared away the mulch, sure enough, there was green growing at the base of the plant - it appears to be where the graft took place!
My hydrangea is coming along just fine, it won't bloom until August but when it does, man what a sight!!! The birds, bees and butterflies can't resist it and fill the stems with their color and song. It has a lightly perfumed scent that I catch each time I walk by!
Today I'm hoping to plant the sunflower starters that have sprouted up in the yogurt cups... Once planted, I'll get some more started so I'll have lots of bloom time with those giants! The variety this year is one Kris sent me called "Mammoth" sunflower. The packet promises they will grow 10-12 feet tall! Woo Hoo Imagine That???
I'm going to start more radishes, get the beans planted and two more packets of peas. That's a pretty hefty "to do" list I'm envisioning! lol wish me luck!
So what's being planted in your garden or containers today??? Surely there's something you want to watch grow????????? Fill me in, I love hearing gardening stories!
"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides." ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
April 2nd, Planting and Seed Starting...
Today the calendar indicates a favorable time for planting so that's just what I did!
In the ground, I now have two rows of sweet peas and 4 packets of snap dragon seeds. The sweet peas are planted in the vegetable garden under a trellis so they have a way to climb towards the sun. The snap dragons are in the flower bed that Debbie helped me with a couple years ago. The last time I planted seeds in there, the birds dug them up and ate them. These seeds are so tiny, I'm hoping they don't figure out they're in the dirt!
In containers I have a packet of cilantro seeds and about 40 sunflowers! I planted a variety of kale that says it does well in containers, we'll see!
I'll be transferring the sunflowers once they're about 3 inches tall. A few years back I planted an entire packet of sunflowers only to have the birds get them too. It may not sound like much but when you try to dig in this part of the country, you mostly dig up rocks.
Digging an area big enough to plant a whole packet of sunflowers took the better part of half an hour. I was determined though so all rocks aside, I kept on going! I'm sure the birds just did a little scratching and had themselves a nice meal!
The daffodils are blooming like crazy along the driveway and in the flower beds. The tulips have emerged and I noticed one is about to bloom. I found that four of the hosta's have come up (three more to go!) and one has even unfurled a leaf! To my delight, it's a dark green leaf with a white stripe through the center! Keep 'em coming!!
The rose bush is covered with red leaves and the lilies are up and standing about 6-8 inches tall. The mums have little green sprouts at the bottom so I know it's time to clip the dead foliage from them. However, the weather forecast indicates we may get some temperatures in the 30s next week so I'm going to put that off until we're back in the warmer temperatures.
Spring really has come to west Tennessee!!!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." ~Margaret Atwood
In the ground, I now have two rows of sweet peas and 4 packets of snap dragon seeds. The sweet peas are planted in the vegetable garden under a trellis so they have a way to climb towards the sun. The snap dragons are in the flower bed that Debbie helped me with a couple years ago. The last time I planted seeds in there, the birds dug them up and ate them. These seeds are so tiny, I'm hoping they don't figure out they're in the dirt!
In containers I have a packet of cilantro seeds and about 40 sunflowers! I planted a variety of kale that says it does well in containers, we'll see!
I'll be transferring the sunflowers once they're about 3 inches tall. A few years back I planted an entire packet of sunflowers only to have the birds get them too. It may not sound like much but when you try to dig in this part of the country, you mostly dig up rocks.
Digging an area big enough to plant a whole packet of sunflowers took the better part of half an hour. I was determined though so all rocks aside, I kept on going! I'm sure the birds just did a little scratching and had themselves a nice meal!
The daffodils are blooming like crazy along the driveway and in the flower beds. The tulips have emerged and I noticed one is about to bloom. I found that four of the hosta's have come up (three more to go!) and one has even unfurled a leaf! To my delight, it's a dark green leaf with a white stripe through the center! Keep 'em coming!!
The rose bush is covered with red leaves and the lilies are up and standing about 6-8 inches tall. The mums have little green sprouts at the bottom so I know it's time to clip the dead foliage from them. However, the weather forecast indicates we may get some temperatures in the 30s next week so I'm going to put that off until we're back in the warmer temperatures.
Spring really has come to west Tennessee!!!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." ~Margaret Atwood
Sunday, March 30, 2014
It's Early Spring and The Fun Begins!
As they say, spring has sprung and for me that means I get to dig in the dirt! I follow my calendar to know what to plant when and when it's a good time to just leave the garden alone. To date, the calendar hasn't failed me and my crops have come in well and strong. I can only hope for the same this year.
This blog will serve two purposes, for me it's a way to track what I've planted so I know when to expect to harvest the crops and document how well or not the plants do. For you, it's a way to follow what I'm up to, how the garden is progressing and what we're eating as it becomes ripe for the picking.
March is a time for planting cool weather crops so in the ground I have planted collard greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, kale and spinach. These went in on March 19th and 20th. Though I had just six plants of each, I found the winter had softened me and it was all I could do to get 24 of them in the ground on one day. The next day, while sore as can be, I toughed it out and finished the planting!
Feeling ever so much like planting more, I planted some garlic seeds that looked like they were beginning to sprout. I check them Friday, March 28th and sure enough, little green spikes had broken ground. The garlic is on the way!
To ready the garden for sweet peas and purple hull peas, I set up trellises. For the sweet peas I'm using a lightweight, plastic trellis. It's sturdy enough to hold the peas since they aren't so heavy and won't bring the trellis down. For the purple hull peas I've constructed two trellises made of bamboo poles that I cut from the woods. It grows wild down by the dry creek bed so why not make use of it.
The bamboo is strong and sinks into the ground with very little pressure. I tied three poles together as high up as I could reach and they're standing in the garden awaiting the seeds. Indeed, much waiting goes on this time of year! For me, it's simply irresistible!
Next in the dirt are the radishes. The variety I chose is called "Cherry Bell." They don't get real big but they are juicy and spicy with just enough heat to let you know you're eating a radish. I love them cut up on a salad or sautéed in a little butter and eaten on a sandwich. Even the greens are edible so if you have the chance to try these greens in your spring salads, by all means do so. I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!
For now, that's what's going on in the vegetable garden. Soon to be planted are the peas, beans and herbs! Be sure to check back because I have a little surprise for the herb garden this year and you won't want to miss it!!
"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view." ~H. Fred Dale (Thanks, Anne)
This blog will serve two purposes, for me it's a way to track what I've planted so I know when to expect to harvest the crops and document how well or not the plants do. For you, it's a way to follow what I'm up to, how the garden is progressing and what we're eating as it becomes ripe for the picking.
March is a time for planting cool weather crops so in the ground I have planted collard greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, kale and spinach. These went in on March 19th and 20th. Though I had just six plants of each, I found the winter had softened me and it was all I could do to get 24 of them in the ground on one day. The next day, while sore as can be, I toughed it out and finished the planting!
Feeling ever so much like planting more, I planted some garlic seeds that looked like they were beginning to sprout. I check them Friday, March 28th and sure enough, little green spikes had broken ground. The garlic is on the way!
To ready the garden for sweet peas and purple hull peas, I set up trellises. For the sweet peas I'm using a lightweight, plastic trellis. It's sturdy enough to hold the peas since they aren't so heavy and won't bring the trellis down. For the purple hull peas I've constructed two trellises made of bamboo poles that I cut from the woods. It grows wild down by the dry creek bed so why not make use of it.
The bamboo is strong and sinks into the ground with very little pressure. I tied three poles together as high up as I could reach and they're standing in the garden awaiting the seeds. Indeed, much waiting goes on this time of year! For me, it's simply irresistible!
Next in the dirt are the radishes. The variety I chose is called "Cherry Bell." They don't get real big but they are juicy and spicy with just enough heat to let you know you're eating a radish. I love them cut up on a salad or sautéed in a little butter and eaten on a sandwich. Even the greens are edible so if you have the chance to try these greens in your spring salads, by all means do so. I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!
For now, that's what's going on in the vegetable garden. Soon to be planted are the peas, beans and herbs! Be sure to check back because I have a little surprise for the herb garden this year and you won't want to miss it!!
"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view." ~H. Fred Dale (Thanks, Anne)
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