We are going to get a deep freeze (and it will probably snow)!
So I harvested a lot of the greens that will not make it. Looks like I'll be eating a lot of salad soon.
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
19 January 2025
24 February 2023
planties
Hello.
There have been many times in the past few months where I wanted to stop and record something for this little old blog, but didn't have my computer with me and the moment passed. Lots of good memories.
We have spent a lot of time at the river. The projects seem never-ending but they're getting more fun. Like we made our own headboards from tongue and groove planks that we burned, to match some of the other accents in the house. Better than spending a bunch of money for a headboard that 5,000 other people have.
Recently, I've spent the past few weeks digging around in the dirt. Yes, it's early to be starting the year's garden, but it's been warm and I am gambling that there won't be another freeze this year. Got all the beds at home cleaned out, and put some new ones in at the river, because I can't live in a home without flowers and herbs and an experimental veggie.
At home, I'm waiting to plant new stuff until I see what grows back from last year. I've already identified a number of flowers that I thought were dead but have new growth.
At the river, I'm planting mostly flowering succulent-type plants that will live though watering neglect. Because let's be real.
You know my goal is to cover every available inch in flowers, and I'm well on my way. But I'm trying to take cost-effective, see-what-grows approach. This year I am relying heavily on regrowth, seeds, and cuttings turned into transplants. I'm really hoping those hardy zinnias from the last couple of years re-appear, and I ambitiously planted lavender seeds in front of the roses. I've been having a lot of fun with the gardens this year. It's so fascinating how things grow. (or don't)
I did spring for a couple of bottle brush trees, one at each house, because hummingbirds love it.
20 February 2021
Stuff I love right now
Another round of things I think are awesome:
This is the best thing since sliced bread! Just squeeze it on whatever you're snacking on, and move along. I hope they keep this a thing because I'm loving it. PLUS, no gluten crumbs ever make their way into it. (I'm generally a fan of things that squeeze because of this important little factor.)
2. Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express mascara.
Since I've started wearing this, I've been asked by three people if I was wearing false eyelashes. That's a big deal. I switched to this mascara because the old mascara that I've used for years started irritating my eyes and I chose it because it has one of those hard spiky brushes- which is a deal breaker for some, but a must for me. I love the formula. It goes on smooth and doesn't clump, and after a long day it doesn't flake or smear. Plus, it washes off with my normal facial cleanser.
3. the Aerogarden.
It was a birthday gift from FG. This thing is so cool. It's kind of a "set it and forget it" kind of garden. All the work is done by this little machine and things grow like crazy. If something doesn't grow, they send a replacement. So far I've grown herbs that I transplanted into dirt and are doing great, and I started a salad greens set that is going strong. When I want salad, I pick some. No more sad wilted greens in the back of the fridge.
5. Liquid fabric softener. Really. I've never used it. (Did mom never use it?) I thought it was an old people thing bc FG uses it, and when I discovered that, I rolled my eyes and continued my laundry routine. But then one day, I was moving his wet clothes from the washer to the dryer, and they felt... soft. Even when they were wet. And then I washed the bedsheets without it, and they felt noticeably different. So I started adding a little it to my laundry and wouldn't you know, it's a big deal! It kinda makes the fabric fibers seem more flexible. Cool stuff.
31 January 2020
little hopes
I don't know why I do this every year, because my success rate is not great, but I do enjoy the prospect.
In those cups are seeds. Basil, thyme, lavender, oregano, and ginger.
Let's see what sprouts!
And then, let's see what stays alive!
In those cups are seeds. Basil, thyme, lavender, oregano, and ginger.
Let's see what sprouts!
And then, let's see what stays alive!
18 October 2019
plants and plants
I don't know what I was thinking.
Vicky asked me if I would take care of the party favors for Missy's bridal shower and I said, "Sure!"
...and suggested that we give everyone a small plant with a tag that says,"Let love grow."
Damn you, pinterest. And wine.
I'm not going to buy 30 plants, so now I'm trying to propagate/ keep small aloe vera and pothos plants alive until the shower a month from now.
Good thing she's going with a rustic theme, because I'll be able to avoid buying 30 small pots and am going to use cat food cans with a ribbon tied around them.
Ha, crafty!
Then I have to figure out how to transport them to San Antonio.
If it works, I will have outdone myself.
If it fails, I'm going to be spending a lot of money at a garden center in a few weeks.
I asked my neighbor if I could have some cuttings of some plants in her front yard. I know she has a bunch of pothos and I'm pretty savvy with those particular plants. I actually have 4 that I've kept alive for many years.
She came over with 2 huge bags.
I definitely only needed like, 40 leaves but now I have a giant amount.
Anyone want some?
Vicky asked me if I would take care of the party favors for Missy's bridal shower and I said, "Sure!"
...and suggested that we give everyone a small plant with a tag that says,"Let love grow."
Damn you, pinterest. And wine.
I'm not going to buy 30 plants, so now I'm trying to propagate/ keep small aloe vera and pothos plants alive until the shower a month from now.
Good thing she's going with a rustic theme, because I'll be able to avoid buying 30 small pots and am going to use cat food cans with a ribbon tied around them.
Ha, crafty!
Then I have to figure out how to transport them to San Antonio.
If it works, I will have outdone myself.
If it fails, I'm going to be spending a lot of money at a garden center in a few weeks.
I asked my neighbor if I could have some cuttings of some plants in her front yard. I know she has a bunch of pothos and I'm pretty savvy with those particular plants. I actually have 4 that I've kept alive for many years.
She came over with 2 huge bags.
I definitely only needed like, 40 leaves but now I have a giant amount.
Anyone want some?
20 August 2017
Project Backyard
For some strange reason I chose today, of all hot-as-hell days, to start Project Backyard Cleanup 2017. Maybe something broke and I couldn't stand looking at it anymore.
Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and check out the progress we've made since purchasing the house.
Exhibit A: Unkept jungle. Rat habitat. Messy flowerbeds. Call it what you will. The back corner was a hodgepodge of old tree stumps, vines, and trash. We had to take a chainsaw to a tree that had fallen and had been dragged to rot in the corner. We screamed at bugs when we moved it all out. (The first "we" with the chainsaw was obviously Chris. The second "we" screaming at bugs was all me.)
Over the course of several weeks, we managed to clean things up and make them look tidy. Much sweat, a little blood, and a burst of tears (when I once fell over on a rake and hurt myself.)
Exhibit B: Taken maybe 2 years ago? Managed and tidy, if still ugly. Notice how the corner behind the (leaky) birdbath is nice and clean.
This is how that corner looks today*. The jungle had taken over again. In an act of desperation, Chris bought some industrial strength vegetation killer and nuked the whole thing, with the exception of that corner, because I forbade him to kill my gardenia and rosemary. He even sprayed a little onto the back neighbor's jungle, because it started to climb over the fence and invade our side.
*This is how it looks after hours of tearing out grass, weeds, vines, and discovering a new sinkhole. The rosemary is scraggly and the gardenia didn't even flower this year, because it's so choked.
I didn't take a before picture out of sheer embarrassment. You couldn't even see the fence. I'm afraid to go deep into the actual corner because I'm not sure what's living in it.
Here are the project plans:
I decided to make the flowerbed a lot smaller, and turn the rest of it into grass. It's so big that it can't be kept up and the jungle keeps taking over and it's ugly and probably harboring critters. So the new edge of the flowerbed is to the left of the tree, where I moved the bricks.
Here's where the new flowerbed starts. I chose that spot mostly because there's a raised sprinkler head that would be really weird and annoying in the middle of the yard, but makes sense if it were watering a flowerbed.
My to-do list involves removing all the old bushes and weeds. I've also got to fill the surprise sinkhole*. I'll need to clean out the rest of that scary corner and trim the bay trees and oleander. Next I'll trim and transplant the rosemary and gardenia, which has to wait until winter or I'll likely kill them both. Then next spring I'll need to sod the areas that will turn into grass.
It's a lot of work but here's hoping that this will make things prettier and easier to maintain in the long run.
*When researching how to fill sinkholes, I came across a cute idea to put a time capsule into the sinkhole before filling it. Totally going to do that!
Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and check out the progress we've made since purchasing the house.
Exhibit A: Unkept jungle. Rat habitat. Messy flowerbeds. Call it what you will. The back corner was a hodgepodge of old tree stumps, vines, and trash. We had to take a chainsaw to a tree that had fallen and had been dragged to rot in the corner. We screamed at bugs when we moved it all out. (The first "we" with the chainsaw was obviously Chris. The second "we" screaming at bugs was all me.)
Over the course of several weeks, we managed to clean things up and make them look tidy. Much sweat, a little blood, and a burst of tears (when I once fell over on a rake and hurt myself.)
Exhibit B: Taken maybe 2 years ago? Managed and tidy, if still ugly. Notice how the corner behind the (leaky) birdbath is nice and clean.
This is how that corner looks today*. The jungle had taken over again. In an act of desperation, Chris bought some industrial strength vegetation killer and nuked the whole thing, with the exception of that corner, because I forbade him to kill my gardenia and rosemary. He even sprayed a little onto the back neighbor's jungle, because it started to climb over the fence and invade our side.
I didn't take a before picture out of sheer embarrassment. You couldn't even see the fence. I'm afraid to go deep into the actual corner because I'm not sure what's living in it.
Here are the project plans:
I decided to make the flowerbed a lot smaller, and turn the rest of it into grass. It's so big that it can't be kept up and the jungle keeps taking over and it's ugly and probably harboring critters. So the new edge of the flowerbed is to the left of the tree, where I moved the bricks.
Here's where the new flowerbed starts. I chose that spot mostly because there's a raised sprinkler head that would be really weird and annoying in the middle of the yard, but makes sense if it were watering a flowerbed.
My to-do list involves removing all the old bushes and weeds. I've also got to fill the surprise sinkhole*. I'll need to clean out the rest of that scary corner and trim the bay trees and oleander. Next I'll trim and transplant the rosemary and gardenia, which has to wait until winter or I'll likely kill them both. Then next spring I'll need to sod the areas that will turn into grass.
It's a lot of work but here's hoping that this will make things prettier and easier to maintain in the long run.
*When researching how to fill sinkholes, I came across a cute idea to put a time capsule into the sinkhole before filling it. Totally going to do that!
09 April 2017
growth
Enjoying this Sunday afternoon in the backyard, sipping a spritzer.
We don't get many nice days between the humid winter and the suffocating summer, so I'm going to soak up every bit of this tolerable sunshine.
I started tinkering around in the garden, but it's been minimal. Mostly cleaning up all the dead stuff.
Although over the past couple of years I've adapted my planting goals around my own shortcomings and the dog's destructive tendencies, this year I simply won't have the time. I've managed to kill some plants already and got another scolding from my yard guy.
As I cleaned out some sad old pots full of dried up things that used to be pretty, I had a couple of surprises. The small cutting of yesterday, today, and tomorrow from my neighbor came back from assumed destruction. I found some turmeric that my coworker gave me and I long ago dismissed as dead. When I dumped out the pots, they were full of the roots so I replanted them. Two of last year's rosebushes survived the freeze this winter, and the aloe vera is already sprouting babies. Thankfully the rosemary and gardenia bushes were pretty well established and they only had superficial damage. The mums didn't bloom this year but managed to stay alive. That's the kind of plants I need; sturdy survivors.
This year I'll plant a few herbs on the kitchen windowsill in tin cans. Basil, green onion, and oregano are the current contenders. I gave up growing them from seeds and grabbed some already established plants. Hopefully if they're in plain sight, they won't be neglected.
On another note, I'll be traveling a lot to different places I've never been. I thought about starting to collect something from the cities I visit. But I don't want to do something typical like key chains or spoons or post cards. A colleague has a gallery wall full of pencil drawings she's collected on her travels, which I think is spectacular and unique. I'd like to do something like that. Suggestions?
We don't get many nice days between the humid winter and the suffocating summer, so I'm going to soak up every bit of this tolerable sunshine.
I started tinkering around in the garden, but it's been minimal. Mostly cleaning up all the dead stuff.
Although over the past couple of years I've adapted my planting goals around my own shortcomings and the dog's destructive tendencies, this year I simply won't have the time. I've managed to kill some plants already and got another scolding from my yard guy.
As I cleaned out some sad old pots full of dried up things that used to be pretty, I had a couple of surprises. The small cutting of yesterday, today, and tomorrow from my neighbor came back from assumed destruction. I found some turmeric that my coworker gave me and I long ago dismissed as dead. When I dumped out the pots, they were full of the roots so I replanted them. Two of last year's rosebushes survived the freeze this winter, and the aloe vera is already sprouting babies. Thankfully the rosemary and gardenia bushes were pretty well established and they only had superficial damage. The mums didn't bloom this year but managed to stay alive. That's the kind of plants I need; sturdy survivors.
This year I'll plant a few herbs on the kitchen windowsill in tin cans. Basil, green onion, and oregano are the current contenders. I gave up growing them from seeds and grabbed some already established plants. Hopefully if they're in plain sight, they won't be neglected.
On another note, I'll be traveling a lot to different places I've never been. I thought about starting to collect something from the cities I visit. But I don't want to do something typical like key chains or spoons or post cards. A colleague has a gallery wall full of pencil drawings she's collected on her travels, which I think is spectacular and unique. I'd like to do something like that. Suggestions?
31 July 2016
crappy garden
This year was a crappy year for a garden.
With the flooding early on and the lack of rain afterwards, even if I had gotten a good, planned, early start I think I would have been screwed. And probably much more disappointed.
Most of the plants I got a few weeks ago are still living. Some are pretty meh-looking. After figuring out that the dog could still reach the edible flowers, even after putting them on the cart, I moved them to the front yard.
Surprisingly, some sage I nearly killed last year is looking a lot better. And I planted some tumeric roots my coworker gave me after forgetting about them in a plastic bag for 6 months. They're doing fantastic.
These guys are hanging on, and the aloe is doing wonderfully. He's a transplant baby from mom's house, who was originally a transplant from Missy's mom's house. Gotta love hardy aloe. I'm still not sure if those "ornamental" peppers are edible, but really, are any peppers not??
One plant, for sure, will end up dying.
Because every time I went to water it, a bird would fly out and scare the hell out of me. Then a few days later, I heard cheeping.
When I took a peek, sure enough. There was a nest with three little birds whose beaks were open for food.
There's no way to water it without drenching the nest, and I'm certainly not going to drown little baby birds, so it will have to die. Or hang in there until the birds are old enough to fly away. Man, it had such pretty purple flowers, too.
I moved the roses to the flower beds, because I'd eventually like to see them planted. I'll see how they do in that spot in pots before transplanting them. The dog leaves those alone because of the thorns. Ha!
With the flooding early on and the lack of rain afterwards, even if I had gotten a good, planned, early start I think I would have been screwed. And probably much more disappointed.
Most of the plants I got a few weeks ago are still living. Some are pretty meh-looking. After figuring out that the dog could still reach the edible flowers, even after putting them on the cart, I moved them to the front yard.
Surprisingly, some sage I nearly killed last year is looking a lot better. And I planted some tumeric roots my coworker gave me after forgetting about them in a plastic bag for 6 months. They're doing fantastic.
These guys are hanging on, and the aloe is doing wonderfully. He's a transplant baby from mom's house, who was originally a transplant from Missy's mom's house. Gotta love hardy aloe. I'm still not sure if those "ornamental" peppers are edible, but really, are any peppers not??
One plant, for sure, will end up dying.
Because every time I went to water it, a bird would fly out and scare the hell out of me. Then a few days later, I heard cheeping.
When I took a peek, sure enough. There was a nest with three little birds whose beaks were open for food.
There's no way to water it without drenching the nest, and I'm certainly not going to drown little baby birds, so it will have to die. Or hang in there until the birds are old enough to fly away. Man, it had such pretty purple flowers, too.
I moved the roses to the flower beds, because I'd eventually like to see them planted. I'll see how they do in that spot in pots before transplanting them. The dog leaves those alone because of the thorns. Ha!
29 June 2016
life choices
This morning I was sitting at the dining room table, when I glanced outside and my jaw dropped.
That dog was eating my flowers. Literally chomping off the blooms and swallowing them. I could not believe it, so I watched and sure enough, she ate another one. Like a fucking gourmet dog salad.
I thought I was not watering them enough, or the light was wrong in that spot.
But the problem was that the horrible dog has been snacking on my flowers. I could cry.
I can't plant a garden because she will destroy it. I can't put anything in the flower beds because she will trample them. I can't put flowers up on the porch because apparently she will fucking eat them.
Too bad they aren't poisonous.
I'll try to find a cheap baker's rack or shelves to put them on, out of her chomping reach. I'm so mad.
That dog was eating my flowers. Literally chomping off the blooms and swallowing them. I could not believe it, so I watched and sure enough, she ate another one. Like a fucking gourmet dog salad.
I thought I was not watering them enough, or the light was wrong in that spot.
But the problem was that the horrible dog has been snacking on my flowers. I could cry.
I can't plant a garden because she will destroy it. I can't put anything in the flower beds because she will trample them. I can't put flowers up on the porch because apparently she will fucking eat them.
Too bad they aren't poisonous.
I'll try to find a cheap baker's rack or shelves to put them on, out of her chomping reach. I'm so mad.
19 June 2016
Flowers, Flowers everywhere
Yesterday's pool day was so fun that I didn't even take any pictures. I needed that. Did it really happen if I didn't instagram it? We'll never know.
My body insecurities went out the window because I decided I didn't give a fuck. Plus after the pool party I dropped Ashley and Calvin off, and one of Collin's friends later asked Ashley if she could hook us up. If I'm cute enough in my post-pool-party grossness to get a second glance, I must be doing ok. Thanks for boosting my self-esteem, guy. If I end up single, we're hanging out.
So anyway this morning I slept until 11. It felt SO good to get a solid night's sleep. I woke up, had breakfast, then paid some bills.
Even with my must-save-money phase in serious swing, I decided that I had enough money in my bank account to go get some flowers. So I traipsed to the local nursery and spent an hour wandering the greenhouses. Grabbed whatever caught my eye. Filled my carts with abandon, leaning towards the hot pinks, yellows, and oranges. I wheeled my carts to the checkout, sweaty, with dirty feet and a sense of satisfaction. Ah, so pretty. (That's not a real person, although it looks like it. It's just cutout.)
I prepared to cringe at the checkout, but only $100 and change later, I was ready to florify. Andy did some quick quality control.
I picked the sizes perfectly, because most of the plants went from the nursery container straight into the pot with no added dirt.
I should have snapped a pic of each plant individually, because I snagged some really unique ones. Some I'd never seen before. I found a bucket of some flower that I'd pinned on pinterest a while back. I even got some cool ornamental peppers. If they live, I'll go back and snap a few pics.
The afters:
Turtle got some Lemon Drops, which love full sun and humidity so I should have gotten like 20.
I always avoided hanging baskets on the front porch, even though there are very convenient hooks begging for foliage. Why? Because hanging baskets are ugly. Like, the basket part. Fortunately these trailing vincas cover up the ugly basket part-- Vincas always make my heart sing. The curb appeal just got boosted.
So there's my flower day. I hope they all stay alive!
My only regret? Not grabbing one of these cool guys.
The flowers were huge, but it's more of a tree than a small flowering bush so I passed them up. Now I wish I had gotten one. They're so whimsically Dr. Seuss-ish. I may go back.
My body insecurities went out the window because I decided I didn't give a fuck. Plus after the pool party I dropped Ashley and Calvin off, and one of Collin's friends later asked Ashley if she could hook us up. If I'm cute enough in my post-pool-party grossness to get a second glance, I must be doing ok. Thanks for boosting my self-esteem, guy. If I end up single, we're hanging out.
So anyway this morning I slept until 11. It felt SO good to get a solid night's sleep. I woke up, had breakfast, then paid some bills.
Even with my must-save-money phase in serious swing, I decided that I had enough money in my bank account to go get some flowers. So I traipsed to the local nursery and spent an hour wandering the greenhouses. Grabbed whatever caught my eye. Filled my carts with abandon, leaning towards the hot pinks, yellows, and oranges. I wheeled my carts to the checkout, sweaty, with dirty feet and a sense of satisfaction. Ah, so pretty. (That's not a real person, although it looks like it. It's just cutout.)
I prepared to cringe at the checkout, but only $100 and change later, I was ready to florify. Andy did some quick quality control.
I picked the sizes perfectly, because most of the plants went from the nursery container straight into the pot with no added dirt.
I should have snapped a pic of each plant individually, because I snagged some really unique ones. Some I'd never seen before. I found a bucket of some flower that I'd pinned on pinterest a while back. I even got some cool ornamental peppers. If they live, I'll go back and snap a few pics.
The afters:
Turtle got some Lemon Drops, which love full sun and humidity so I should have gotten like 20.
I always avoided hanging baskets on the front porch, even though there are very convenient hooks begging for foliage. Why? Because hanging baskets are ugly. Like, the basket part. Fortunately these trailing vincas cover up the ugly basket part-- Vincas always make my heart sing. The curb appeal just got boosted.
So there's my flower day. I hope they all stay alive!
My only regret? Not grabbing one of these cool guys.
The flowers were huge, but it's more of a tree than a small flowering bush so I passed them up. Now I wish I had gotten one. They're so whimsically Dr. Seuss-ish. I may go back.
16 August 2015
lately, in pictures.
The morning involved a double batch of waffles, to freeze.
I don't know what happened. I bought these at the same time, put them in the same place, gave them the same amount of water. One is thriving, the other went Poof and dried up in like a day. I'm sorry little rose bush on the right! I hope you survive!
This is the unfortunate state of my craft room. Full of racing stuff and man stuff. Which means pretty much no crafts until the man room is done. Motivation to get it done-- Mama's gotta craft!
Because... here is a picture of the guest/man room before we bought the house: (yes, that's a lot of holes in the wall)
Here is a picture after we moved in and plopped a bed in there...
And here's how it looks now.
I was very skeptical of the color initially, but Chris insisted and I'm glad he did. It looks pretty cool, and I think with the right decor, it will end up being a really cool room. I've been looking at pinterest for color inspiration.
Spent a good part of my morning running errands, including a trip to the dollar store to hopefully find k-cup storage solutions. I didn't find one, but of course it's the dollar store so I managed to find a few things. ;o) I might need to suck it up, brave the Galleria traffic one day, go to the Container Store, be done with it and move on to another project. Ooh, or maybe Ikea has something. I need to do some more research. Or maybe I could build something custom. Because Chris doesn't get nervous at ALL when I use his tools.
I don't know what happened. I bought these at the same time, put them in the same place, gave them the same amount of water. One is thriving, the other went Poof and dried up in like a day. I'm sorry little rose bush on the right! I hope you survive!
This is the unfortunate state of my craft room. Full of racing stuff and man stuff. Which means pretty much no crafts until the man room is done. Motivation to get it done-- Mama's gotta craft!
Because... here is a picture of the guest/man room before we bought the house: (yes, that's a lot of holes in the wall)
Here is a picture after we moved in and plopped a bed in there...
And here's how it looks now.
I was very skeptical of the color initially, but Chris insisted and I'm glad he did. It looks pretty cool, and I think with the right decor, it will end up being a really cool room. I've been looking at pinterest for color inspiration.
Spent a good part of my morning running errands, including a trip to the dollar store to hopefully find k-cup storage solutions. I didn't find one, but of course it's the dollar store so I managed to find a few things. ;o) I might need to suck it up, brave the Galleria traffic one day, go to the Container Store, be done with it and move on to another project. Ooh, or maybe Ikea has something. I need to do some more research. Or maybe I could build something custom. Because Chris doesn't get nervous at ALL when I use his tools.
22 April 2015
I like to personify my plants
Spring is in full swing. We're going to have to do a bit of growth control on the wild bushes soon, but most of the new growth is very welcome.
A bit of a plant roundup:
The flowers I hunted down and planted a few weeks ago not only held up through the storms we've been having lately, they have all started to bloom and they really spruce up the front walkway. I'm so proud of myself because they look like they've been there all along.
Kitty quality control is obviously very important around here.
These plants can actually grow to take up some pretty significant space, so for now I'm resisting the urge to plant something pretty in the spot in front of the window.
Miss Gardenia got a bloom last week, and the many buds have started to follow her fragrant lead. The storms weren't as kind to the gardenia, as I found some of the buds and flowers blown from the plant, but she seems like she'll be resilient enough.
I've determined that delicate little herbs don't do very well outside and should be best grown on the kitchen windowsill. Thyme seemed promising at first but is now reduced to little more than a few lingering sprouts,
while Basil and Parsley seem to be thriving.
Sage is still on the edge of droopville and perksville.
Zucchini are growing leaves well enough but they always do well until it comes time to grow actual zucchini. I may need to do a bit of pollinating if the bees and butterflies don't show up.
The citrus tree has flowers and little green citrus fruit type things.
I was surprised to see pretty little purple flowers show up on the wandering jew.
Even last fall's mums and last Easter's lillies are full of buds. Don't you love the turtle planter? The previous owners left it and I happily plopped the lillies in it. We keep it (and the garlic) on the bird bath because the dog has tried to eat it.
This guy's always been a bit droopy no matter what I do. A bit of epsom salts dissolved in water seems to be giving him new life. Little shiny new leaves keep popping out. You can do it, houseplant!
The rosemary I planted last year seems to be doing well in this spot. I have hopes for a nice big rosemary bush one day!
The flowers I picked up at the grocery store make me smile every time I see them. They're doing a great job cheering up the breakfast table.
A bit of a plant roundup:
The flowers I hunted down and planted a few weeks ago not only held up through the storms we've been having lately, they have all started to bloom and they really spruce up the front walkway. I'm so proud of myself because they look like they've been there all along.
Kitty quality control is obviously very important around here.
Before
After
These plants can actually grow to take up some pretty significant space, so for now I'm resisting the urge to plant something pretty in the spot in front of the window.
Miss Gardenia got a bloom last week, and the many buds have started to follow her fragrant lead. The storms weren't as kind to the gardenia, as I found some of the buds and flowers blown from the plant, but she seems like she'll be resilient enough.
I've determined that delicate little herbs don't do very well outside and should be best grown on the kitchen windowsill. Thyme seemed promising at first but is now reduced to little more than a few lingering sprouts,
while Basil and Parsley seem to be thriving.
Sage is still on the edge of droopville and perksville.
Zucchini are growing leaves well enough but they always do well until it comes time to grow actual zucchini. I may need to do a bit of pollinating if the bees and butterflies don't show up.
The citrus tree has flowers and little green citrus fruit type things.
I was surprised to see pretty little purple flowers show up on the wandering jew.
Even last fall's mums and last Easter's lillies are full of buds. Don't you love the turtle planter? The previous owners left it and I happily plopped the lillies in it. We keep it (and the garlic) on the bird bath because the dog has tried to eat it.
This guy's always been a bit droopy no matter what I do. A bit of epsom salts dissolved in water seems to be giving him new life. Little shiny new leaves keep popping out. You can do it, houseplant!
The rosemary I planted last year seems to be doing well in this spot. I have hopes for a nice big rosemary bush one day!
The flowers I picked up at the grocery store make me smile every time I see them. They're doing a great job cheering up the breakfast table.
06 April 2015
Today
This cake and coffee, for breakfast.
Maxi dress that makes me feel like I'm Suzy. ♥
Got my engagement ring inspected for loose stones and no repairs are needed. A little pro activity on my part to avoid another lost diamond.
Watching Mom and Ash go apeshit in LUSH. Great store, I had to seriously restrain myself because I wanted to buy ALL THE THINGS. I couldn't decide on what was best so I'll do some more research and survey my current products that need to be replaced, and go back.
My baby vincas are growing up.
Not only are they not dead, they're all getting ready to flower! That and the gardenia. It has a ton of buds and I can't wait until they open.
Maxi dress that makes me feel like I'm Suzy. ♥
Got my engagement ring inspected for loose stones and no repairs are needed. A little pro activity on my part to avoid another lost diamond.
Watching Mom and Ash go apeshit in LUSH. Great store, I had to seriously restrain myself because I wanted to buy ALL THE THINGS. I couldn't decide on what was best so I'll do some more research and survey my current products that need to be replaced, and go back.
My baby vincas are growing up.
Not only are they not dead, they're all getting ready to flower! That and the gardenia. It has a ton of buds and I can't wait until they open.
22 March 2015
determined gardening
Woke up with a dick of a headache, but it stopped raining and the sun was trying to peek through. I was determined to plant flowers.
I took a bunch of drugs, then went to Home Depot to get a few things + flowers. I looked everywhere, but was unable to locate much else besides impatiens and petunias. Definitely no vincas.
Disappointed but not deterred, we headed to the local nursery. There was much more variety, but still no vincas. Thinking that it might just be too early in the season for them (last year I spotted them in stores during the summertime), I headed back into the greenhouses. After a short search, I located their telltale leaves. After confirming with one of the employees that there were no larger vincas, I got two pallets of the baby vincas.
I was planting them today, darn it! We also brought home a citrus tree. I wanted a lemon tree but Chris wanted a different one, and either way they're useful, so it came home. The flowers smell lovely.
The sun poked through, and I rounded up the dog and the cat for mandatory fresh air, then dug the holes for the flowers.
Each side got two rows of flowers, alternating between a blush color and a pink color. Or, at least, that's what the tags said. We'll know for sure once they bloom! IF they bloom!
Hopefully soon visitors will be greeted with pretty flowers instead of empty dirt.
I took a bunch of drugs, then went to Home Depot to get a few things + flowers. I looked everywhere, but was unable to locate much else besides impatiens and petunias. Definitely no vincas.
Disappointed but not deterred, we headed to the local nursery. There was much more variety, but still no vincas. Thinking that it might just be too early in the season for them (last year I spotted them in stores during the summertime), I headed back into the greenhouses. After a short search, I located their telltale leaves. After confirming with one of the employees that there were no larger vincas, I got two pallets of the baby vincas.
I was planting them today, darn it! We also brought home a citrus tree. I wanted a lemon tree but Chris wanted a different one, and either way they're useful, so it came home. The flowers smell lovely.
The sun poked through, and I rounded up the dog and the cat for mandatory fresh air, then dug the holes for the flowers.
Each side got two rows of flowers, alternating between a blush color and a pink color. Or, at least, that's what the tags said. We'll know for sure once they bloom! IF they bloom!
Hopefully soon visitors will be greeted with pretty flowers instead of empty dirt.
22 July 2014
all the help I can get
I recently stumbled upon this great little website, SproutRobot. You just put in your zip code, and it tells you what you should start planting.
For the ever-trying garden enthusiast with a brown thumb (me), this website is genius.
For instance, this week in my area it's good to plant Southern Peas, Okra, Onion, Watermelon, and start Cabbage indoors.
See? Takes all the guess-work (or in my case, randomly planting seeds every spring) out of planting stuff.
Now, it does have a little Instructions link next to each type of plant, but when I click it doesn't load.
On a related note, this past weekend I planted a small flowering cherry blossom tree, and a gardenia bush in the backyard, where the big tree used to be. I did leave them in that spot in their pots for about a week to see f they liked it, and they seemed to do okay. Regardless, I have not a single clue about whether or not they'll survive. I hope they do.
For the ever-trying garden enthusiast with a brown thumb (me), this website is genius.
For instance, this week in my area it's good to plant Southern Peas, Okra, Onion, Watermelon, and start Cabbage indoors.
See? Takes all the guess-work (or in my case, randomly planting seeds every spring) out of planting stuff.
Now, it does have a little Instructions link next to each type of plant, but when I click it doesn't load.
On a related note, this past weekend I planted a small flowering cherry blossom tree, and a gardenia bush in the backyard, where the big tree used to be. I did leave them in that spot in their pots for about a week to see f they liked it, and they seemed to do okay. Regardless, I have not a single clue about whether or not they'll survive. I hope they do.
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