Learn something new...

While straightening up the garden, I noticed this.

Looks like toes

This is what the bottom of two of my cornstalks look like. I had never noticed it before.  They look like little toes to me. I am wondering if this is normal or not.  I assume they help stabilize the stalk as it grows.  I just think it is kind of neat.

My favorite is the zucchini blossoms. 

If I did not know any better I would just pick the blossom to have and then I would never have any zucchini.  I wonder why nature made it that way.  I guess it is designed more for the bees than me huh?

Try, Try, Again

I have had some "learning experiences" with my garden this year. My Dad didin't call them failures, just learning experiences.

1) Eggshell containers- You need to make sure you Carefully wash out the contents before storing. I didn't get a couple of radished to sprout but being so little they dried out rapidly

2) Strawberry plant- I think you need two different types of plants for them to flourish.  I have one left over from last year. It has done really well, but the strawberries weren't as plump as I thought they would be.

3) Make sure to cover plants even if it is close to freezing weather. Weather people are often wrong.

So... here is my latest.  You know how they have those watering globe things for plants.  I have some old bottles so I am going to try that and see how it works are far as watering goes.

Don't worry it is lemonade

Strawberry bottle for strawberries :-)

Bad Weather Blessings

There was a really bad storm on Thursday night. Nothing major in my neighborhood was effected, as far as I know. However, my onions did get knocked over. But look at these blessings.

no crying here

These were the first things that I planted this year.  I am so pleased with how they turned out.

At Easter

This is what they looked like at Easter. The lettuce is right behind them.

Other onions

These were planted at the same time as the others so the size is the same. Yeah!

Salad anyone?

I am so excited about the harvesting. It isn't alot but it helps make all the hard work easier.

Reminds me of Beatrix Potter

The veggies in the basket are Kohlrabi, Easter Egg radish, lettuce(Romaine), broccoli and carrot  It made for a nice salad. I love all the veggies but it is getting tiring all the washing and cleaning off of food. Can't complain though.*

tomato plant

LT invited me to a Memorial Day cookout.  I asked if there was anything I could bring and she said "You could bring a tomato".  This is what was brought :-) Hey its will have tomatoes in a while.  A real tomato ready to eat made it way to her house as well.





*Be careful pulling out carrots. I wasn't and it broke in half when I pulled it. :-(

blast from the past

I was trying to find a picture for a friend and came across this one on a CD.

Spring (2005?)

This is from the first year I every tried to grow something in my yard.  I know it is the first year because that is the only year I have planted sunflowers.  I don't know why I haven't planted them again.  I think it might be because of the birds they attracted.

Summer (same year)

I was doing ghetto gardening even then.  The branches were to hold up my tomato plants that had fallen over. I didn 't know what to do then and for some reason didn't ask anyone or look up things on the Internet.  Oh, well. Live and learn.

It is beginning

I am so excited that I am finally seeing some things that look like vegetables :-)
Besided the leafy variety which is kind of hard to judge when it is ready.
The first was some Easter Egg radishes.  I don't like radishes that much but they are pretty easy to grow and grow quickly.

They look like turnips but I promise they are radishes

My favorite pictures is this one of the broccoli. I am really proud of it (the picture,not the broccoli) I can't take credit for making the broccoli.  I will say it seems to have taken FOREVER for it to finally like like broccoli instead of just big leaves.

Pretty enough to eat. (almost)

I had totally forgotten about the asparagus.  It came up about 1 week and 1/2 ago.   I was so surprised. Now it has turned into that ferny thing.  I don't think I am suppose to do anything with it but i will read up and double check.

Sometimes it is best to leave things alone.

The watermelon is already past this stage and in the ground.  However, I love it when the plant has sprouted but you can still see the seed attached to the plant.

The black part is the seed it came from

My strawberry plant is getting in some nice looking berries.  I am learning that things happen on their own schedule. Everyone else was making strawberry jam and such so I was a little jealous.  Now, mine are coming in and all is better.

My favorite plant in the garden :-)

Lastly, are the sugar peas. I finally have a pea pod.  I am so excited.  I learned that the flower is what turns into the pod.  It is rather quickly from flower to pod.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and summer.

A Dirty Movie

Well, Daisy Janie has done it again. She told me about Dirt! The Movie that is available to watch on Hulu.com
1) Jamie Lee Curtis, my fav, narrates this movie.
2) It isn't one of the dry, preachy movies but gets its point across
3) Speaks to Nobel Prize Winners, Harvard professors, and brought up points that I never thought about.

Digby

There are several popular gardening trends that I do not like and after watching this movie, I felt better about the decisions I have made.
It also echoed the Back to Eden video that I recently watched and wrote about.

Little Update

I have been reading about brussel sprouts and it seems that fall is the way to go. Our weather here get too hot too fast. I am still going to try. 
While reading, I read that some people cut off the leaves to make the sprouts grow.  I have decided to try and see what happens.

brussel sprouts before

I took 2 of the plants and clipped their bottom leaves and will see what happens.

hope this works

New additions

We have had alot of rain lately, so my seedlings have sprouted.  I feel like I am late in planting these but I am always amazed at what Mother Nature can do.

Kohlrabi is planted. Now, what is it?

It is amazing to think that you put this little bitty seed, that you can barely see, add water and some fertilizer, and it comes something you can eat.

Carrots for Easter

I am learning that things do get better over time.  If only I can have the patience until May?

Living on the edge

Bottom and side of my garden

I am trying something new with my garden. Every year I hate having to dig out the outline of the plot.  I was reading another blog and they talked about using cardboard to cut weeds.  What I have done is to dig out the garden dirt and then place down a layer of cardboard.  I then refill the area with the dirt, after I have taken out the weeds and rocks.  Finally, I place the ceramic tile pieces on top.  I am hoping that this will keep the weeds at bay.
Anyone have any information about this? 

Making a pie from scratch

Today I finally was able to plant my blueberry bush.  Actually right now it is just a stick but hopefully with time and patience, I will have blueberries to much on this summer.

Bare root blueberry plant

Hopefully there will be blooms in a few weeks.

It just looks so sad right now.  Just planted a couple of twigs in the ground

Inch by Inch

Well, I just wanted to show that not all the veggies are in the garden.
First up- seeds and seedling are begining to sprout.

Pepper, collards, mustard, carrots,etc

Leeks, kale, broccoli, lettuce, etc

Next, are the veggies in containers. Of course the ones, someone else planted are doing WAY better than mine.

Swiss chard - Yum

Onions

Finally, the herbs in the planters

Cilantro and mint

Parsley and oregano