English Gardens

Still February

2012-02-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

February is a very busy birthday month in our family. The celebrations make this short month go even faster. In the background scenery winter is bustling through, this year with very little snow. Did you ever notice in mid February, snow or no snow, the birds begin to be heard again? I remember walking our old dog one day after work, with a foot of fresh snow on the ground and the birds carrying on as loudly as spring. And spring is after all right around the corner.

Snow Moon

2012-02-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night is the February full moon, known to Native Americans in this area as the Snow Moon. Not very descriptive this year, snow has been lacking. The only real storm came before Halloween, nothing significant since. Makes for a more comfortable winter, too warm for ice, snow and howling winds, but a little dull as well.

Fairy Gardens

2012-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas, I received a gift certificate for one of my favorite markets. I was enjoying shopping for holiday food when I spotted an interesting display. It was a collection of miniature gardens and accessories. Little pergolas, bird baths, rustic fencing and gates, benches, paths, all set off in containers with small plants.

Thinking ahead to the January blues, I indulged myself with a fairy garden kit. Then on Christmas, my son gave me a bonsai kit, with seeds for little pine trees and moss. I have a lot of moss outside, and for once it is not covered in snow this time of year. That will be useful as I have never grown moss from seed, and wonder how easy it is. I can see a busy winter working on little gardens. They certainly have to be more manageable and less back strain than the outside version.

So It Goes

2012-01-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Again, it has been awhile since I posted. But inspired by my daughter's new blog, I'm back.

Funny that my last post was the October storm. It was the only bad weather we've had, so far. What a beautiful, mild late fall/early winter season it has been. Christmas has come and gone, the days are already a little longer, and I found half a dozen dandelions in my yard the other day. Even though there are surely snow storms ahead, spring seems close.

Early Snow

2011-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

The power line did come down, under the weight of the snowy branches, this time last week I had no power, never a happy situation, no matter how you think about it.
But we are back to normal again, and it is a golden autumn day. It is probably the early snow, but I am starting to think about Christmas.

Time Passing

2011-06-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

It has been a very long time since I posted. Once spring starts, it is full speed ahead. So I'll try to make up for it in the next weeks, but no promises.
I have been gardening up a storm, of course. May is a wonderful month, so much good weather ahead. I have such full beds that I am selling perennial collections online.

First Day of Spring

2011-03-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

And what a wet, dreary chilly day it has been. The best thing I can say about it is that it stopped snowing.

Meanwhile, as my heat blasts away merrily, I put a grow light on the succulents. Just for a few hours, but each gets the light that is missing today. I am planning some table top succulent gardens this year, and I want as many plants as possible available. I have a very good selection in the garden, but of course I don't want to take all of any planting. But they seem to have come through the winter well, I've been harvesting new growth as the snow melts and replanting them inside. They're taking off, with all the careful attention. Wouldn't we all!

One project I'm planning is to plant some hen n' chicks in a straw bale. I purchased a very small straw bale, roughly a foot long in A.C. Moore, and spent the required ten days "curing" it. This is just keeping it wet, so the straw starts composting and will support growth. The straw bale gardens I've seen on the internet are all normal size bales, and I do want to try them, too. They'll be perfect in a new garden space I'm starting. The bales can go right over the rough ground, keeping down weeds while the plants grow from the bale. Then by next year they'll be rotting away, right where I'd want them. Should be interesting, we'll see. But the succulent bale will be part one. Stay tuned!

3 Ways to Jump Start Gardening Season

2011-03-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

This early spring weather makes many of us want to get outside and get to work in the garden. But it is March, and in this area that means it could snow next week. Still, there is a lot to do before full spring hits.

1. A little raking makes a big difference. In many of my beds, there are dried stalks, etc, left from last season. Pulling them out improves . My Lamb's Ear was a flattened mess, the bamboo rake helped perk it up. This also works for grass. I don't rake too deeply around the plants, I leave some leaves for protection.
But under larger bushes and trees, in corners by fences or the house, getting rid of the old leaves blown in my winter winds makes things look more attractive, instantly.

2. It's kind of early to hook my hoses up again, but the furniture that didn't get put away needs to be wiped down. The same with any odds and ends that never made it back into the house last fall. Everything non organic looks better with winter's dirt wiped off. My trusty leaf blower does a great job clearing debris off the patios and other hardscapes.

3. Trimming the dead wood off perenniels, making sure matted leaves don't hold down emerging bulbs, checking out what made it through the winter alive, there are so many things to do. But don't let it overwhelm you. Start small, make lists, and try to do at least one thing a day, your garden will get prettier and prettier as springs marches along.

Actually Out There

2011-03-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

The snow is about gone, what a relief. It died a sort of slow death by rain this week, gradually shrinking and getting dirtier and then finally the full melt. So I was able to get a good close look at the front garden.

Of course it is much too early to rake the leaves out of the beds. They add protection, especially necessary now that the snow blanket is gone. Anyway, I never like to rake too many of them out. I'd rather use the trowel to dig them into the soil a bit. It is on the spot composting. I started to use that method many years ago out of laziness. Instead of fully raking the garden in spring, I'd leave some leaves behind. Then when I was planting, of course they got turned into the ground. They condition the soil, which improves the texture, and add nutrients. On top of the soil, they act as mulch. The mulch I purchase goes much further, if it is on top of a layer of leaves. And it all decomposes, making the soil better and better, every year. I have been gardening in this spot for 24 years, and the soil has gone from having the texture of cheap cement to being reasonably black and friable. Laziness doesn't usually work out so well.

But there were many things I could do in the garden. There were dead stalks to cut down, as I leave many in place to feed the birds. There were dead annuals which succumbed very late in the season, I added them to the pile in the driveway. I bolstered up a butterfly bush that had heaved out of the ground. A bucket of soil was needed to get it straight with all roots protected again. Then I got the trimmers to clean it up a bit, but was distracted by the slimy stems of the left over herbs.

By the time I got rid of all the dead stuff in the pile, my Chihuahua, Niles, was shivering. Niles is not much for the cold. Snow storms with him are challenging. I brought him inside, and then got to work on some of my big finds, succulents in odd spots I had forgotten about. I brought them in and potted them up, succulents are going to be big in my garden this year. I have a sunny room that is slowly filling up with them. Rescued from the cold they're really taking off. To them, it is May.

Well, I'm off to trim the butterfly bush. And before I know it, my garden will look more like this.

And So It Begins

2011-03-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

It is kind of a bleak Sunday today in Fishkill. Torrential rains are forecast for later, so I'll be happy to stay in today. If the snow is finally melted off my front garden, I'll be able to go out tomorrow and find some treasures. It has been covered with snow since December, I can hardly wait to see it again.

I did see snowdrops blooming in my neighbor's garden, they weren't there yesterday. Here we go.

Grow the Good Life, or How About Some Fresh Mint for that Mojito?

2011-03-05T06:11:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else noticed that food is getting pretty expensive? It irritates the heck out of me to pay a couple of dollars for a bunch of dill, knowing that it can be grown all season with a pack of seeds for the same price or less. If you purchase a pack of seeds each week when you do your grocery shopping, by planting time you'll have an impressive selection, and it will seem almost free. A small patch of herbs goes a long way, and the flavor is never quite as delicious as when you have just brought some inside.

One problem with people starting veggie gardens can be the experts. They try to be so thorough, covering all that can go wrong, that the process seems intimidating. It's a little like thinking about getting pregnant, and preparing by reading up on learning disabilities and childhood illnesses.

So this new book by Michele Owens is refreshing. Michele is a blogger on one of my favorite blogs, Garden Rant. She puts perspective back in the garden, and shows the newbie how very possible, and affordable, it is to grow some fresh food for yourself.

Getting Ready for the Garden Season

2011-03-04T04:42:00.000-08:00

Spring is close, there are swelling buds on trees (if you look close, against the light), and market umbrellas on sale in Stop &Shop. But most importantly, there are seeds for sale. At a dollar or two a pack, hope for spring has never been cheaper. I usually start buying a pack or two a week in late January. This way, I accumulate plenty without feeling it financially. It also gives me small, attractive envelopes that I take out and enjoy (ogle) when I'm sick of winter.

I don't start many seeds in the house. I don't have good grow lights, or window sills. But I plant directly in the garden as spring progresses. More on that at the right time.

March 1

2011-03-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of March, it's not a moment too soon to start planning your spring garden chores. And doesn't that sound like fun! Well not so much, but it's always worth the trouble.

There is probably not a garden anywhere that couldn't use some compost. This does not have to be a big messy deal. A few carrot scrapings and onion ends can be buried in a flower bed, where they quickly decompose into the soil, improving nutrients and texture. Tea bags, coffee grounds, kitchen waste of all sorts, well, no animal waste. No animal waste should be in compost, ever. It smells bad, decomposes poorly, and attracts pests, even coyotes. But small amounts of veggie peelings, shredded paper, and other plant based material get added to my chopped up autumn leaves daily. The chopped leaf pile is under a window, so I can dump my kitchen bowls easily all winter long. As soon as I can get back there without wading through snow, I'll start turning it over. I'll add soil from last year's pots, if I didn't do it last fall. I can always get a bucket or two of friable black compost when needed. It makes a big difference in how easily the garden grows, and how productive it is.

Succulents

2011-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

I saw a picture on Facebook, and followed the link to one of the most interesting garden sites I've come on in a long time, Simply Succulents http://www.simplysucculents.com/simply-succulents-nursery

Simply Succulents is a nursery and online store, among other things. They apparently specialize in succulents, and use them with an artistry that is inspirational. At least to me! I researched some more about succulents as art, and came on a Martha Stewart article along the same line. It turned out to be Simply Succulents that was featured. If you can impress Martha, you are good.

So I went outside on a warmish day, and in a sunny, thawing spot I could reach some of my succulents. I brought them in and repotted them. Babying them is my gardening fix for late winter. I have a pretty good selection myself, and want to try some ideas I had, thanks to the above. You can purchase the completed project, just the plants, or the plants plus project materials. The price is reasonable enough, given the value. I can hardly wait for my stuff to grow enough to be half that interesting. These have some new roots, after a week or so of warmth, attention and generally just not being buried in snow anymore. So I cut them and planted them in another pot, with another sedum.

Stay tuned!

This Time Last Year

2011-02-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Last February 25 in the afternoon, we were under siege from one of the worst storms I remember, ever. It went on until the morning of the 27th, leaving me trapped in the house for my birthday. It was one of those things that sound exciting before they start, and turn out to be a real pain. But really, we were fine, we never lost power, cable or internet.
This year is springlike in comparison. The snow is even melting a bit, although it is cold. The earth is coming back to life.

Houseplants, continued

2011-02-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

As usual when you put in some work, you get results. I have new growth on several of my plants, my avocado and jades seem to have especially appreciated last week's attention. When a jade has nice plump leaves, you can take one off and use it to propogate a new plant. I'll take pictures and show the how-to in a later post.

A quick way to spruce up a plant with long, thin leaves uses regular house scissors. I cut off the brown edges and tips, cutting on an angle. With a palm, for instance, I hold the leaf and cut the tips off one whole side at a time. This keeps the line of the leaf correct, and makes it look better instantly.

February-Winter is Passing

2011-02-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

The sun came out today, after the latest two day winter storm. The sun feels warmer than it did a week or so ago, and it is higher in the sky. At 5 PM I am still working by natural light. And best of all, I just took the dog out, and heard birds! Isn't there some February legend about St. Valentine and birds mating? I mean birds mating in February, not birds mating with St. Valentine.

All this snow will protect the garden like a blanket, providing plenty of moisture as well. In a few weeks we'll have a thaw, and I bet I'll find a viola ready to start blooming. Then snow drops, crocuses, daffodils, spring will come rushing through the garden with all its heady colors and scents.
Just thinking about it will help me through the next snow, forecast for the day after tomorrow.

Ground Hog Day, Indoor Gardening

2011-02-02T02:33:00.000-08:00

I think it safe to say the groundhog will not see his shadow today, and if I though winter might be over in six weeks, that would be good enough. Right now it feels as if it has been snowing, sleeting and just generally freezing for months. Well it has.
So working on my houseplants is as close to nature as I personally care to get today. They certainly need it. I pull off dead leaves, cut back leggy branches, and give them all a soaking, in sink or tub, depending on size.I use the hose to simulate rain, wet them down well, let them drain awhile, repeat. They look so much better, quickly. It really should be done once a week, when possible. Plants get so dry in the house over the winter. They are much more attractive after a shower. Aren't we all?

Cabin Fever

2011-01-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

This winter is hard on everyone, but our cat, Lex, is having a particularly hard time. Which trickles down (up?) to my having a hard time, because he is very verbal and very set on having his own way. He would like to go in and out repeatedly for long periods of time, and yells encouragement in my ear when I try to ignore him.

The other day, as I set up my workspace/Wii room, we attempted a compromise.

Wouldn't have been for me, but it seemed to make Lex happy.

New Year, New Start

2011-01-03T02:10:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over, although my tree is still up, because it is just too pretty to take down yet.

But the first Monday of the year should be extra productive, ideally.

Instead of blogging, I should be writing a list. I have a training module to do, that should have been done last Wednesday or Thursday. I have 2 items that sold on eBay to mail, some items to list for sale, and a kitchen floor that needs washing. My car needs oil, and a good clear out, and if I don't get upstairs to my new Wii Fit, well, that seems wrong.

Stay tuned to see if this is my year to be productive and efficient.

Gardening Season Is Far From Over

2010-11-14T04:54:00.000-08:00

Especially here, where I never did get a handle on the torn up mess in the backyard. (Septic work.) I tried a few things, including a pumpkin patch which thrived for quite awhile. The squirrels tore some of the plants up, but left others. In my front patch, they destroyed most seedlings. But here they left a bunch of plants, which covered the mess pretty well, along with the herbs and tomatoes that popped up here and there.

But now the growing season is over, and the vines need to be pulled out. The real problem, besides the squirrels, is the soil. Being lawn, I never supplemented it, as I did with the garden areas. It is fill, and lots of rocks. What it needs is compost, loads of it and as soon as possible. I removed as many rocks as I could, over the months, but they never, ever stop coming. I set them aside for the finished area. I am now covering the bare spot with newspaper, 4 sheets thick. I put some rocks on them, so they won't blow away. Then chopped up leaves 3 or 4 inches deep. The weeds and grass seeds will die over the winter, the leaves and newspaper will break down, and I'll have a new garden, lined by plenty of rocks. To help this brand new bed get a jump start to better soil, I also plan to empty most of my containers over the leaves. I just wish I didn't make it so big. I always to that to myself, but as time goes on I've learned that setting it up right in the first place makes it as low maintenance as you're realisticly going to get. Now I need to plan an anti squirrel strategy for next season.

Make Holiday Cash Right Now

2010-11-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

The holidays are on their way, both the most expensive of times and the most lucrative. The time of year when people want to show their love with "stuff" is an opportunity for anyone who would like to make some quick money right from home.

One way to get started quickly and without cost is to become an Amazon seller and/or associate. You can sign up right on their site, and they are very supportive with tutorials, live chat and just generally getting you started. Unlike eBay, who charge a listing fee, you don't pay Amazon until your item sells. They are an excellent place to sell books and movies, new or used.

If you have some books, say, that you'd like to sell, take some time to look them up on Amazon. See what the price range is,and condition of your competition. Check out the shipping options, remember the item has to be well packed, and weigh all the costs, including your time, when setting the price.

If you don't have anything to sell, you can sign up as an associate and sell stuff for Amazon, for a small commission. This is good if you have a list, a blog or website, an e mail signature, or other way to market. The benefit is, you are just a middle man. You don't send sold merchandice or collect money. It's worth looking into, but the main thing is to take some action. It is easy to sit and think of ways to make some money, but if you never try anything, you'll never make a dime. Get started in your home based business today, there will never be a better time.

As always, there is help available, to help you succeed even faster.

Sell Used Books on eBay, Amazon.com and the Internet for Profit

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Free Newsletter for eBay Sellers

2010-10-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Six Low Cost, Low Risk Home Business Plans In One Book

2010-10-26T05:25:00.000-07:00

A new book by online entrepreneur Skip McGrath spells out six simple, effective ways to make money from home. Even if you have a job, there is no reason to put all your eggs in one basket. Don't be at the mercy of your boss, or of this economy, have a Plan B in place.Start the new year with a back up source of income with one (or more) of these ideas. The author has been successfully making money online since 1999, and is generous with his knowledge. Nothing says freedom like the ability to drum up some extra money from home, to pay bills, travel, or enjoy the holidays.

The book would also make a great holiday gift, giving the gift of hope for a different future. Change your life, or the life of a loved one, for less than the cost of going out for pizza.

How to Make a Living Working from Home - SIX Home Business Plans

More Money From Home

2010-10-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Even the most minimalist among us has something extra they'd like to sell. Or maybe especially the most minimalist, that's how they keep the belongings down. Clutter creeps up on many of us, it is always satisfying to clear up some space, but very gratifying to make a few bucks doing it.
Sometimes you need new eyes to take a look at your basement or garage, things that seem part of the scenery can be turned into cash quite quickly.Maybe you and a friend can be fresh eyes for each other, and help spot the items that be turned into cash.

The Virtual Peddler: Learn how to make a living buying, selling and trading on eBay, Amazon and Craigslist
This book is a great guide to selling your stuff for the best money, lots of ideas. Give it a try, it could change your life.

Another Quick Cash From Home Idea

2010-10-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Craigslist.com is a huge help for life in general. Need a canopy for a tail gaiting party? Need a few boxes of Christmas ornaments? Need a short term job, or do you need short term help? I have bought and sold so many things on craigslist, and met many nice people. I've sold stuff that has been cluttering up my basement, garage, life, and gotten paid cash in a matter of days.

There are also things for sale on craigslist, that you can turn around and sell on eBay or Amazon or somewhere. Once you establish an area of interest, things you know something about, do some research on how they sell. Then if you see them available at a good price, online or at a yard sale, you know enough to buy them.

Tools sell very well, books of course, and toys, in good shape. There are many, MANY other niches for you to develop. Look around you, jot down some things you see. Notice how many you see in other places, besides your home and office. People love stuff, so sell it to them!

The longest journey begins with the first step.

Quick Cash From Home

2010-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a way to make some money, a reasonable amount of time spent resulting in a reasonable sum of cash, eBay may be for you. If nothing else, you can get rid of some clutter and get paid for it. And making some quick money from home can become addictive. Think of what you could do if you had a hobby that resulted in making money for you, rather than costing you money.

The catch is, eBay is not something you can learn overnight. You need some instruction. I highly recommend this (free) newsletter. Skip and Karen McGrath learned eBay by doing it, by buying and selling. This is a good place to start getting aquainted with the eBay culture. You could have money in your bank account by next week!

Subscribe to the Oldest and Largest FREE Newsletter for Professional eBay Sellers

Another Way to Make Money

2010-10-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

The sun is out today, at least for the most part. The leaves are coming down, and that is good news for me. With a leaf blower and vaccuum, getting those leaves up is quick and easy. Then, all chopped up from the vac, they are the perfect addition to my compost heap or garden. They make an excellent mulch and are useful in helping to protect perennials from the cold. If used as mulch, as they decompose they condition the soil, by far the easiest way to improve it.

But in my neighborhood, most people don't want their leaves. I run a service where I spend 30 t0 45 minutes picking up leaves for them, they pay me and I get to keep the leaves! Win/win, if you have a garden.

Tomorrow, more about eBay.

Working From Home in the Rain

2010-10-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Another gloomy wet day here, another day reminding me of why I wanted to work at home, where it is warm, and there is plenty of tea.

There is always a lot to do, when you think about it. I have eBay, and things sitting around waiting to be photographed and listed. There are stacks of books, some for eBay, some for Amazon, some for Cash 4 Books. This last is the easiest, and also of course a little less lucrative than the others. No pain, no gain! On the other hand, you look up the book and find out exactly what they'll pay before you do anything else, so it's a sure thing.

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But if you are like me, and have books accumulating all over, most of which haven't been read in years, it is a win/win.

September

2010-09-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

Time for renewal, in the garden as well as the rest of life. Some plants need to be cut back, some perhaps are done, and need to be removed. Early fall is the perfect time for planting, and many garden centers have big sales at this time.

More About Composting.

2010-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

I read a terrific list of things that can be added to the compost pile, from a blog I love called You Grow Girl. Included in the expanded mix, cotton balls, paper towels (depending on what was on them), all sorts of paper shredded, (but not glossy ads or inserts, wine corks,) and expired pantry staples such as pasta, rice, spices. Really anything organic, and plant-based, can be recycled into the garden. That also keeps the garbage down, of course.

e Bay

2010-07-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

EBay is quite challenging, even though my friend Linda is very successful at it, and very supportive to me. She suggested a book to me the other day, Three Weeks to eBay Profit. Turned out I had a book by the author, Skip McGrath, already, and thought it was worthwhile .

So I went to his website, and realized Skip McGrath, was known to me as Harry McGrath. He and Karen and their boys lived next door to me for years.

I ordered it today, stay tuned!

Sunny Sunday

2010-07-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Everything is fresh from yesterday's rain, but it's going to be a steamy one today. It is also my son's 30th birthday, unbelievable but true!

This picture shows Christopher giving Niles his first swimming lesson. It did not go swimmingly. The little guy actually did swim, but he paddled straight to me and asked (beseechingly, with his big brown eyes), to get the hell out of there. Still, no hard feelings!

Looks Like Rain!

2010-07-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

Even though it's a Saturday in July, and the day of my son's 30th birthday party, I am thrilled to see gray skies. The plants can use a good soaking, hope they get it. Even groundcovers, like sweet woodruff, and some azalea bushes are brown and sickly looking. The hose can't fix that. Still, I've done my best, and many things survived. Especially the shade plants, caladium, Persian shield, oh here it comes. Beautiful rain.

I thought it was hot in June....

2010-07-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

But July has been truly tropical. According to the Weather Channel, it hit 101 degrees in Poughkeepsie last Tuesday and Wednesday. My garden got positively crispy in spots. The grass is straw, which is fine with me.

But tonight felt much better, although it is still 80 at 9:40. I got a lot done this afternoon and evening, weeding, moving plants and containers, a little watering, etc. Things look much better. I can't wait to see it in the morning, and take pictures.

Break from the heat

2010-06-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

It has been very, very hot lately, so to sit here this morning in the cool, with the windows open, is a treat. Not for long though, there are many things to do while the weather is so energizing. I didn't do any weeding, dead heading, etc for the last few days, watering was about all I could manage. And then then only when absolutely necessary.
Oh, I did plant some more pumpkin seedlings, as the squirrels through out most of the first batch. I started them in a new spot, in the back, where the yard was all dug up for our septic problem last month. Plenty of room there! The soil, as it used to be a lawn, is more or less just fill. So starting from scratch, I dug a hole for each peat pot I planted, adding some compost, a handfull of dead leaves, and after backfilling I topped each off with some peat moss.
That was how I turned the front into a good garden, bit by bit supplementing the soil with organic stuff. Works like a charm, over time. The leaves, and some vegetable peelings, break down into nice friable soil. Easy to plant, and the plants thrive.

Cleaning the Gutters/Compost Harvest

2010-06-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

What a miserable task, so I procrastinated, as usual. But really, it didn't take long, and all that mess is actually perfect for the compost heap, as it is half rotted already. I love it when I get a reward for doing what I have to do anyway.

My composting is very simple. I don't use a bin, but keep a pile in a quiet corner of the yard. This is also available from a window, so I can easily add my vegetable peelings, eggshells, tea bags etc, all year long. I add the soil from flower pots at the end of the season, Starbucks is very obliging with free bags of coffee grounds, and all in all I can always get a few shovels full when I need them. It just needs to be turned occasionally.

I usually add some chopped up dead leaves to my containers, too. This has the advantage of filling up space, which conserves potting soil, as well as enriching and conditioning the soil. Try it, easy and effective.

Summer Now

2010-06-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

The first zinnia is now blooming, and I found tiny Cypress Vine seedlings in their home around the pool fence. These are signs of true summer, and when I spotted them the other day, I was thrilled. I could hardly wait to tell my friend Leni about them. But that won't happen. She told me she'd be up in the afternoon, I waited to tell her until I could show her. But she never came, and never will again. Rest in peace, my friend.

Saturday

2010-06-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

So the steady rain of the last few hours has stopped, and the sun is struggling through. Which makes it a good growing day, everything nice and wet, then warmth and sun following.

I'm planting some of my latest hypertufa pots this afternoon, I'm doing a batch for shade. I have Persian Shield, tiny palm trees, this fabulous purple spilling plant (whose name I don't know), and I'm sure I'll find lots of other stuff out there to add. It will be nice to sit on the cool patio under my porch and enjoy a miniature landscape. I have some beach rocks for decoration, can't wait to get started. Pictures next time!

Plants for Shade

2010-06-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

My shade containers are finally coming together. Much more low maintenance, as they don't dry out too quickly. With a little planning you can have plenty of color, too.

Rainy day, time to thin the zinnias

2010-06-06T05:45:00.001-07:00

My zinnia seeds are finally popping up, in the garden, and in the whiskey barrels. Of course, even though I tried to space them properly when I planted them, rain and wind and probably squirrels muddled them about. Now they are in clusters, which will fight each other for space. Today will be perfect for gently pulling them out and separating them. The trauma will be eased by the lack of hot sunlight, and the rain. In a few short weeks, they'll have shot up and started to bloom, can't wait.

Me vs. the Squirrels, Part 2

2010-06-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I opened my front door to find an odd sort of debris on the walk, which I realized had come from the gutters. The squirrels must have gone foraging there for seeds and what not. I was briefly tempted to line peanuts up all along the gutters, but the little @#$% have become so bold, I don't want to encourage them to be too near the house. I'd like them to be 200 ft. from the house at all times. At least!

Me vs. the Squirrels

2010-05-28T05:09:00.001-07:00

The squirrels are going nuts in the garden (ha ha). They're pulling plants out of pots, digging up seedlings and casting them aside, including the pumpkin seedling from the other day's post. They even dug up my tiny new blue hydrangea, which really got to me. This is a relatively new problem for me, as our old dog, a Rottie mix named Belle, struck terror in their little rodent hearts. But Belle moved on to the Happy Hunting Grounds, where she is probably chasing little squirrel angels. For some reason our current dog, Niles, doesn't have the same affect. Maybe its the clothes.

Another Heat Wave

2010-05-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Its not even Memorial Day yet, and the temperature is in the 90's, even now at 7:30ish. I hope we have a thunderstorm tonight, because I'm too lazy to water. I'm kind of an air conditioning snob, but right now I don't care too much about fresh air, if it would only be cooler in here. The pansies and violas are drying up, and I'm worried about the lobelia and Gerbera daisies, too. I guess perhaps I should log off and water, after all.

The First Pumpkin Seedling

2010-05-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

I love starting plants from seed, and this is my second year growing pumpkins. My daughter Sarah has been throwing a pumpkin carving party in October for the last couple of years, and last year I was able to bring 6 or 8 pumpkins. Amazing, what comes from such a tiny start.

Turtle

2010-05-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

The turtle is back.

I've lived in this house for about 23 years, and just about every May we see a turtle that comes to lay her eggs here in one of my gardens. This results in extra pool duty in mid August, to rescue the babies who fall/crawl into our pool. With vigilence, most can be saved.

I had been in and out of the fenced in area around the pool, so she must have gotten in when I was upstairs. She scared the heck out of poor Niles (my Chihauhau).

Hypertufa

2010-05-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

My newest project is making pots from Portland, peat moss and perlite, or sometimes sand. They resemble the garden troughs, originally cement boxes used on farms to water the animals.

In the early 20th century, gardeners bought them up cheap as farmers upgraded and automated their farms. Then of course they became valuable collectibles. The problem is, they are very heavy. Hypertufa looks like the original troughs, but is lighter.

My early and very informal market research tells me they are deeply interesting to serious gardeners and small boys.

Garden Sale

2010-05-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well, the good news is also the bad news. Although I did sell quite a few of my pots, I still have a bunch left. As I hate seeing them leave, (I never trust most others to care for my mini gardens), I'm glad not to be wiped out. When I give them to my family, friends and neighbors, I still keep an eye on them. Works for everyone, especially the plants. But not a good attitude from one who hopes to make money selling container gardens!

May 2

2010-05-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

A few days later, it is almost breathlessly hot. I got very sunburned yesterday at Family Fest, making it difficult now for me to be outside. I thought it was supposed to be cloudy and stormy today?

Late April

2010-04-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

We've had a chilly damp few days, but the sun is out now. It will be a lot more pleasant getting my plants ready for Family Fest this Saturday when it warms up a bit more.

The forget-me-nots are blooming now, true blue flowers are not too common

Real Life Farmville

2010-04-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

So about a month ago, I spontaneously decided to make a change in my life, and spend as much time in my garden as I could. This means I have to find a way to make money out here. So far, things are looking bright. I am going to have a tabletop at Family Fest May 1, at Dutchess Stadium. I'm having a garden sale at my house Mother's Day weekend, and the Stormville flea market will be coming up again Memorial Day. I'll keep you posted on how it goes, I know I'm not the only one who hates to leave my garden this time of year.

Spring, More or Less

2010-03-30T09:22:00.001-07:00

Raining cats and dogs today, also tonight and maybe tomorrow. But at least it isn't snow. The snow has only been gone from my yard a week or so, in spite of warm weather and other rain storms. We had a tree fall, and apparently a glacier formed underneath. But now that it finally melted, there are healthy plants getting ready to explode with warm weather.

2010-02-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Winter

2010-02-02T16:23:00.001-08:00

I love this picture. I took it very early in the morning, walking up the hill from my house in the snow. Up ahead you can see both the full moon, and a stop sign.

Brown Gold

2009-11-14T04:19:00.000-08:00

It makes me sad, driving about and seeing big brown Home Depot bags along the curb, waiting to be picked up to go to the landfill. I am always tempted to pick them up myself for my compost pile, or as extra winter mulch. My soil is lovely, black and crumbly, from years of using chopped up leaves as winter cover. Looks a whole lot better than that awful dyed red stuff, that so many people pay a fortune for.

I sometimes wonder, would anything sell if you could convince the big stores to carry it? Could an evil gardener start a trend for say, huge plastic blow up figures to disfigure front yards . Oh wait, someone already did that.

November

2009-11-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

Beautiful weather we've been having, warm and sunny. Pansies, violas, Montauk Daisies, blue salvia and coneflowers still going. Russian Sage also, this is my first year with that, and it is a great addition to my garden.

More Halloween

2009-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Halloween

2009-10-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

I grew some pumpkins this year, and brought some to my daughter's pumpkin carving party. They were pretty on the vine, but really cool after they were carved.

The October Garden

2009-10-29T13:02:00.001-07:00

Many of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs are gone, but not all. It still looks attractive out there, the stone gives it a shape even in winter. I'm trying a shortcut this year, using the dead leaves to create compost right where I want it, in this case the new pumpking patch, and the ongoing side yard/stone wall project. This will save me a lot of hauling. My neighbor dumps his leaves for me, then I'll add the usual vegetable peelings, old fruit, the soil from my many containers. It is all right out in the open, no composting bins. This way, they'll get wet and be easy to turn. By spring planting, it will be nice rich soil.

Autumn

2009-10-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

The first frost will be here any time now, so I am enjoying the last of the annuals. For the first time in years, I am not clearing more garden space. My whole front lawn has now been turned into a garden, a few feet at a time.

The best time to prepare the lawn for the transition to garden is fall. I spray vinegar on the area set aside for change. This is most effective on a warm, sunny day. After a couple of hours in the sun, the vinegar starts killing the grass, with out harming anything else. Then I cover it with news paper, about 6 sheets deep. Next, dead leaves chopped up by a lawn mower, or leaf mulcher. After that, what you do depends on your plans for this particular patch. At my place, some areas are for plants, some are mulched, some have slate walks or patios.

More stone

2009-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

The downside is when the weeds get to taking over. Then the stone has to be moved out of the way, or I have to spend hours pulling theweeds out, one by one. I usually put down newspaper (several sheets thick), then mulch, then my rocks. But after a year, or two, the newspaper and mulch break down, dirt blows in, and the rocks are just in the way of weed pulling. My project this week is putting down more newspaper, more mulch, and finding the rocks that have sunk into the earth. Messy job, but what beautiful results!

August-More Rain

2009-08-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was beautiful, so I shouldn't complain. It's a great summer, if you like mosquitoes.

Slate

2009-07-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

I love slate! Well, I love most stone, but slate is so versatile. And cheap, sometimes even free. It can change the whole look of a garden, as a path, or a low wall, or a patio. Even when found in the woods, it is usually quite flat, so it is ready to use. Sometimes I buy a box, 5 square feet for less than $10 in Home Depot. The pieces sometimes break a bit when walked on, but that makes it look more natural. I set the pieces in mulch, instant patio.

Container gardens

2009-07-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

I love my containers, and of course they are movable, so less affected by weather issues. This does not protect my back, whcch is certainly affected by my moving large heavy pots into shelter from the rain, then back out into the sun!

But they are very useful for filling in spots that need some color, or setting up a sitting area for a party. If they don't grow successfully, they can be changed out quickly and cheaply.

I spoke too soon

2009-07-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Once again, the Weather Channel forecasts rain, chance of thunderstorms, chance of severe thunderstorms, and showers, as far ahead as they'll guess. Oh, I mean "predict".

But even a couple of days of partial sun made a big difference, my poor little plants perk right up.

The hibiscus loves the humidity, it is loaded with buds right now, and when the sun does come out the flowers are beautiful. And of course, the weeds are thriving.

The sun is FINALLY shining!

2009-07-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

July is almost over, but at least it finally feels like summer. Better late than never. It should make a big difference in the garden, some of my stuff is really not thriving. The vegetables are not too much bigger than they were a month ago, but after just a few days of hot sun, if we have a few days of hot sun, I bet there is a big change. I never tried to grow eggplant before, I hope I get at least a few to eat. The black eyed susans are happy, anyway.

2009-07-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

So it has been awhile since I've been on. Strange summer, weatherwise. My zinnias and portulacas have had a hard year, and Im disappointed. So I have been working more with perrenials, so I have dependable color next year.

Tomorrow, I'll put up pictures.

Earth Worms and Compost

2009-01-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

It is a little sad, what makes my heart beat faster, this time of year. There is of course a lack of gardening articles available this time of year, but I can always find something. This week I found a hymn of praise for earth worms, I can't remember where. These homely little creatures are a great resource for the soil. They move through, breaking it up, and leaving behind their casings, which are great for the soil and the compost heap. I only started composting last year, so I'm really excited about the black gold waiting for me under the pile of chopped up leaves, vegetable peelings, spent container soil, and anything else I found that seemed appropriate. It all breaks down together, and slowly, over the months, becomes this beautiful, friable black garden soil. A big improvement over the rocky soil that made up most of my yard. I have been slowly improving my dirt for years, with peat moss, chopped up leaves, and other supplements.

Planning ahead

2009-01-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

There are so many small practical things to do now, while I can't actually work outside much. There has been snow on the ground for weeks, good for the perennials trying to survive the bitter cold. More plants die from being dried out than being actually frozen, the snow really is a moist protective blanket for them.

So I dig out my notes from last season, and make lists. Lists of plants to buy, like a mandevillea for the deck, I've had no luck with overwintering mandevillea.. Estimates of mulch, river rock, zinnia seeds, estimates that will change a dozen times before actual purchase. But it cheers me up to plan for my spring garden, for my summer annuals, for the new neighborhood herb garden I'm installing in my front yard. The change of seasons, like the phases of the moon, can be counted on.

More about seeds

2009-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

I love to buy seeds, especially zinnias. I plant hundreds of zinnia seeds every May, they always start to bloom June 30 and July 1, reliably. They come on one at a time, faster and faster like popcorn in the microwave. There is something so summery about bright hot colors in the garden, Cut and Come Again so far are the most reliable, best return.

Snow? Again?

2009-01-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

It is hard to make plans these days, the weather is always screwing things up. In my job, we are always putting together events, which is maddening in winter.

So, since there is not always much else to do, I am planning my seed purchases, courtesy of my Burpee catalog. I love the way Burpee sends it along every year, a day or two before Christmas. I put it in my room and wait until I have time for it, days later. As I go through it, I want something from every page. Sometimes more than one thing. I (now) know better than to go wild ordering. For one thing, Burpee seeds are cheaper in Home Depot than from their own catalog. For another, seeds are not always easy to grow. Some annuals, like marigolds, are easy. Some perennials are, too, but it is usually faster to get cuttings or self sown plants.

But still, there is hope in just seeing the catalog, along with the extra minute or so of daylight we are gaining. Winter won't last forever, life will get easier again. So thanks, Burpee.

Packing Away the Holidays

2009-01-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

The tree is down, most of the ornaments are packed, but I left up a lot of lights. I like lights. And the days are still damn short, even if longer than a week ago. So the little white lights are necessary to keep my spirits up. After all, there are several weeks, at least, before I'll be able to see any new life in the garden. So I'll watch a new DVD (Mamma Mia? Or The Office?) from Christmas, while I box up more stuff. I'll miss it, but Christmas always comes again.