Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Web Finds Wednesday

I know you all have missed this type of posts! :) These used to be my way of kind of bookmarking interesting stories and things online for me to go back and read later when I have time...but then I discovered evernote and pinterest and that is now where I save all my recipes, tips and tricks, interesting articles etc. But I should still try to take some time to share with you all too! :)

How to Balance Motherhood and Career (if You're Not Marissa Mayer)

Biscoff Cupcakes with Biscoff Buttercream

Biscoff Puppy Chow

(another variation) Biscoff Cupcakes with Biscoff Buttercream

August Garden Chores

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Envy: Garden Geek Style

Not my blooms but I wish they were!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Iris Update

Still managing to squeeze in some gardening here and there! :) First time this bloomed!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Garden Wish List

Coreopsis

Pink cosmos

Orange cosmos

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Spring is Sprunging! :)

I threw on my dusty garden clogs and with baby on my hip (and dressed warmly of course) we took a brief jaunt about the house today in search of spring.

And guess what?!

We found it!

Tulips, daffodils and crocuses sprouts/shoots/whatevertheyarecalled were all sighted today! Woohoo!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Web Finds Wednesday

Vanessa's Chocolate Chip Cookies (with vanilla pudding!)

Frozen Blue Hawaiian and other fun summer drinks

Complete Online Grilling Cookbook from Sunset

Fair-Style Lemon Shake Ups Recipe

Potato Towers - Must try this in the garden next year!

Healthy Snacks for Moms to Be

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Veggie Garden Update: June 23, 2010

Woah nelly, we need to mow the grass! The constant storms and intervals of sunshine (while we are at work) has caused our grass (and gardens) to grow like crazy!

Above is our "viney" garden bed - sweet corn in the back, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini and yellow squash. We actually have about 3 inch long zucchinis and maybe 2 inch long yellow squash already! :)

Garden bed #1 with our broccoli, cauliflower, peas, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and peppers. Peas are done - I harvested and ripped out the vines (after I took the pic) to make room for our giant pumpkin plants that have outgrown their pot (thank you, Dad!). With any luck, our little one with have her very first pumpkin straight from our garden!

I also took out the lettuce and will be taking out broccoli as it comes to harvest here. Broccoli is, by the way, one of the most annoying plants. It grows so big, takes up so much room and only has a tiny little 3 inch wide broccoli stalk. Maybe I am doing something wrong - but not happy with that plant. Plus broccoli is not on my pregnancy diet here lately - makes me burp way too much.

Also haven't had luck with onions or carrots either this year - I think it was the planting time and location. Too close to monster plants like broccoli and tomatoes that overshadowed the seeds - never even saw seedlings. :( That or my seeds are bad. Though two carrots did make it up - but that is it out of two rows I planted - and zero green or yellow onions. :(

And I planted everything later this year - I think that had a lot to do with it. Usually I would start cold weather crops like onions a lot earlier and I didn't this year - they got planted in the same time as my tomatoes etc. I think they need the advantage of being planted earlier so they have time to establish before the other late spring plants start foliaging all over the place blocking the sunlight.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Early June Garden Update

Here's garden box #1 planted in April - doing great! Soon we'll have peas to pick!

And here's garden #2 planted late April - just starting to get going - this little box will look a whole lot different in a few weeks! Zucchini, yellow squash, watermelon, cucumbers, cantaloupe and sweet corn!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

More Mint

Adding to our mint collecting - we found some chocolate mint (bottom), apple mint (not pictured) and ginger mint (top)! Will be interesting to see how invasive these variations are to the spearmint/peppermint variety we have currently. I love the chocolately scent of the chocolate mint and the dark colored leaves and stems. The ginger mint doesn't have as distinctly different of a smell as the chocolate but the leaves have a fun yellow variegation to them. The apple mint is fun because it's leaves are so fuzzy - doesn't really smell like apples - at least not the fresh picked leaves - maybe if they are dried.

I didn't realize there were so many different types of mint out there: grapefruit mint and pineapple mint are still on our list to add!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Pretty Peony

We planted our first peony plant last year only to have it not bloom. :( But this year we were greatly rewarded - looks like we will have three blooms this year! The plant is still young and small but it is so nice to see the flowers! I walk out every day just to stop and smell the blossoms. :)

I ordered two more peonies from Spring Hill that just came in the mail - will need to get those in the ground here soon! But probably no blooms on those till next year either. They are white and pink or white and red - gorgeous!

It is so fun planting things I remember being in our yard growing up - so far I've been able to check off quite a few things off my list including - bleeding hearts, daffodils, rhubarb, peonies, snowball bush, mint and lilies.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Garden Update: Late May 2010

Not sure what happened to my carrots or onions - had to replant rows of them here this weekend because the first ones never came up. We did get a heaver rain right after I planted the seeds and I had to rack up the soil a lot because of unwanted volunteer seedlings coming up from the compost - so I think they got racked in with it.

Radishes are done - crazy how quickly those sprout up and come to harvest! I've planted yellow onions and green onions in its place.

Growing now is peas in the back row, broccoli and cauliflower, green and red peppers, lettuce and cherry tomatoes!

Had a little fiasco with the peas here a few days ago. I was tying the vines to train up the trellis and when my back was turned our little chihuahua, Lola, was up on her front paws reaching into the garden bed and pulling the pea vines out and chewing on them. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what would possess her to do that - she is so good with our garden. But I do remember her watching me very closely when I was messing with the vines - and I did accidentally break a branch off - and the branches smell like the pea snaps themselves - which she LOVES to eat. Last year and the year before as I harvested the peas I would break one in half and let her eat them. She must remember that and when she smelled the broken branch think that there were peas or something - I dunno! But now I have to leave the white trellis up behind the peas to keep her from pulling any more out! Crazy dog.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Web Finds Wednesday!

Growing Herbs for Tea

Lemon Bars

Apple Crisp - from Joy of Baking

Herbal Soaps and Soapmaking

Garden Quotes & Sayings

Gardening for the Senses

6 Green Cleaning Uses for Vinegar

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Welcome Stones Crossing Church MOPS Group!

Hello ladies! It was great to meet you all yesterday morning and be able to share a little bit of our gardening adventures with you! My husband and I are by no means experts at gardening - but I think that's the point - you don't have to be a "Master Gardener" to get started and grow your own veggies! Especially with the square foot gardening method being as hassle free and successful as it is as opposed to traditional means of gardening (i.e. tilled plots with straight, wide rows). So I hope you all jump in and get your hands a little dirty and grow some great veggies in your yards this year!

Here's a recap of some of the great resources I've used to get started:

How To Build a Raised Garden Box

All Things Garden- A DIY Guide

The Garden Helper's Vegetable Growing Tips and Planting Guide

Homefarming

The National Garden Association

And you can always refer to our past gardening posts to live and learn through some of our successes and mistakes! http://squirrelchatter.blogspot.com/search/label/gardening

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I did mention composting quite a bit and probably should have covered it a little more - so here's more resources for those of you interested in that:

Falling in Love Over Compost You too can learn to compost, and boost your garden.

Backyard Composting
Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic materials into a soil-like material. Compost added to soil improves soil structure, and adds nutrients needed for healthy plant growth. Benefits of composting:

Increases the organic matter in soil
Improves soil fertility
Decreases the volume of household trash to landfills
Lowers your household water bill....

Download the complete article in PDF format
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Also a few of you had some really great questions about keeping deer away and rotting pumpkins and melons that I didn't have a really good answer to, but after some googling - I found some great answers!

Battling Aphids, Caterpillars, & Mites the Natural Way

One thing I have to deal with every year on my plants and in my garden are unwanted pests. You can purchase organic soaps, and I have, from the store but making an insect soap at home is just as effective and less expensive.

Ingredients

3 drops of nontoxic dishwashing soap

32 ounces of water

1 tablespoon cooking oil

Spray bottle (be sure to label as insect soap)

Mix all ingredients together in the spray bottle. When spraying on plants be sure to saturate them, but avoid the blossoms.

National Gardening Association Pest Control Library
Use our "mug shots" to identify pest problems in your garden. Click on names for photos and complete descriptions

Phytophthora Fruit Rot

This fungal disease affects all cucurbits, especially winter squash and pumpkins. It is most common in humid areas of North America. Fruit in contact with soil are especially susceptible. The infection begins as a watersoaked spot or depression, later producing spreading white mold. Rotten spots grow rapidly, and fruit may eventually collapse. The disease may set in after harvest. The fungus survives in soil for at least two years.

Prevention and Control

Use a minimum 2-year crop rotation excluding other host plants (eggplant, pepper, tomato). Plant only on well-drained soil or raised beds. Elevate fruit off soil surface.
Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Plant Pathology/

Deer
by National Gardening Association Editors

Although most people think of Bambi as a cute forest creature with retiring behavior, due to an growing population, deer have become a major garden pest throughout the country. Although they tend to keep to forest edges and fields grazing on grasses and leaves, they become more daring when food is scarce, venturing into suburban yards. Deer graze and browse leaves, stems, and buds of many woody plants, as well as alfalfa, roses, corn, vegetables, and fruits. Their damage is evident because they leave jagged leaf edges on the eaten plants, not to mention distinctive cloven hoof prints and bean-shaped droppings.

Control
Although deer will eat anything if hungry enough, given a choice they tend to stay away from succulent plants, poisonous plants, pungent flavored plants, and plants with hairy or furry leaves. Plant ornamentals with these qualities in areas of heavy deer traffic. Some gardeners have had success using human hair, dog hair, soap, blood meal, rotten eggs, hot pepper, or predator urine spread around or on flowers and trees. Deer can be scared away by motion sensor devices attached to lights or loud music. Of all the methods, though, fencing is the most reliable. It's best to erect the fence before Bambi has found your garden or yard.
Images©2002, courtesy of www.arttoday.com

Monday, April 19, 2010

Herbs for the Senses

Lemon Balm

Chamomile

Mint

Lavender

Hyssop

As I've grown into a gardener in the last couple of years here after buying a house with a yard and room to do so - I've started noticing things that I really like to grow. I mean at first you go all hog-wild at Lowe's putting every pretty plant in your cart and digging willy nilly to put it in your yard. But after awhile - and by while I mean like 2 years into it and so many plants that when you buy something new you have to walk about the yard for about 20 minutes trying to find a spot to put it - that or dig a whole new flower bed - you start to realize the plants that really make you happy. Not that any can make you sad - just some are more fun than others! :)

I've found that I really like things that smell good - and not just flowers - but leaves that emit aromas when you brush up against them. There's something about being able to pull weeds around a plant and when you brush up against the air is filled with a luscious herby smell. Puts a little more pleasure into ripping up those dandelions if you get to practically sit amid a spa-like infusion of scents like lavender or mint!

I catch myself now cupping bee balm leaves as I walk by just to catch a whiff of their delightful scent. (yup, not only am I the crazy lady out with her camera snapping pictures of her daffodils, I'm also out there touching and smelling the leaves all the time...yup)

Here's my list of must-have perennial (comes back year after year) plants the play on the senses!

Bee balm (can't describe the smell - but I LOVE it!!) - and they have gorgeous big flowers that the bees and humming birds love!
Lemon balm (smells like lemon) - my husband loves to weed-eat near them just to catch a whiff :)
Mint - grows like crazy but smells amazing and can be used for so many things
Lavender - needs no explanation here
Hyssop (smells like black licorice oddly enough) and bees love, love, love their flowers
Chamomile
Lilac
Lily of the Valley
Marjoram

These plants are so fun to have around - I love having family or friends over and crushing the leaves for them to see what I mean - or to catch their surprise at the licorice smelling hyssop.

Here's a few more I want to add to my list:

Lemon verbena
Chocolate Mint
Sage

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Etsy Gifts for Gardeners

Seed Bombs $7 at Visualingual
Practice random acts of gardening with these seed bombs! Five seed bombs are packed into each pouch, ready for gift-giving.

The bird-, bee- and butterfly-friendly wildflower mixture includes Upland White Aster, Prairie Aster, Cornflower, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, Sulphur Cosmos, Wild Cosmos, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, California Poppy, Perennial Gaillardia, Indian Blanket, Baby's Breath, Wild Annual Sunflower, Dwarf Sunflower, Dame's Rocket, Candytuft, Blue Flax, Scarlet Flax, Perennial Lupine, Russell Lupine, Baby Blue Eyes, Evening Primrose, Red Poppy, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy, and Sweet Coneflower. These wildflowers were chosen because they're native to the Midwest, where we live, but many are actually native to much of North America.

The muslin bags were made in the USA and screenprinted by hand by us with the West Coast Seed Bombs design. Inside each pouch is the full list of the seeds included. When you've used up the seed bombs, reuse the pouch or frame it!

Stoneware "Scare Cat" - $16 at JolieFare Medival
Gardeners in France have been hanging stoneware scare cats in their fruit trees and berry bushes for centuries, as far back as the reign of Louis IX, the Sun King. The dark shadowy outline of a cat's head hiding among the branches, with its glittering, glowing eyes, will make birds do an immediate u-turn in mid-air and seek their fruit treats elsewhere. The scare cat will slowly turn and move as the breeze blows through the branches, which makes the eyes glow and flash, very much like a real stalking cat on the prowl.

Scare cats are especially effective for those early weeks when your fruits are just beginning to grow and are still tiny enough that the birds can decimate your entire cherry, peach, apple or berry yield in a very short time. Later in the season, of course, after you've picked the fruits you want, you can take the scare cat down and let the birds enjoy the rest of the harvest.

A scare cat in your garden will keep the bunnies and other munchers away from your lettuce and other veggies. You can make a quick and easy 'stake' by stretching out a wire coat hanger, with the hook at the top. Use pliers to bend the hook upwards and hang your scare cat from it. Be sure to position your scare cat so that it looks like its peering out from among the greenery.

A scare cat in a sunny window is also very effective for saving the lives of birds that keep crashing into the glass. I have one window in my house where that was happening all the time--apparently something about the way the sun hit the window, the birds just couldn't see that glass barrier. My scare cat has solved that problem and no more birds have died crashing against the window.

Scare cats are made of high-temp kiln fired ironstone, with amber marble eyes. Each scare cat comes with a long length of strong invisible fishing line to hang it in your trees, bushes or window. Each scare cat is made by hand, no molds are used, so each one will be a little different.

Available either in natural red brick ironstone, or finished in a matte black.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Good Things Growing in the Garden

It's so nice to have good things growing in the garden! Our rhubarb patch is now finally mature enough to eat this year, and our strawberry patch is thriving and now - asparagus! :)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Weed or Not? (Edited) Weed! Lesser Celadine

Ok, fellow gardeners - is this a weed or not? I have a few of them coming up in my flower beds and I'm not sure if they are a friend or foe.

They are growing up within the flowers I got from another gardener - so it could be an actual plant that just got dug up alongside the rest they were giving to me...

Tell me if you know! Should I pull it or leave it?

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Thank you everyone for the help! For awhile there I was convinced I had a great little wildflower (Marsh Marigold) - but thankfully a lovely reader (BerryBird) alerted me to the look-alike invasive species Lesser Celadine.

The most identifying factor between the two are the roots. Lesser Celadine have roots with many tubers and Marsh Marigold has no tubers on the roots.

Here's a helpful fact sheet:
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/DE/publications/Mistaken_Identity_Final.pdf

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