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Happy Spring 2009!
I'm literally panting for spring. Our snow is gone, but it's too cold for anything to actually grow at this point. Here in Minnesota we often get one last blast of winter late in March and it can be a killer if I uncover my perennials too early--so I am trying to be patient.
Old Man Winter is hanging on pretty tight here this year and for the first time in a few years I'm so ready for Spring! The Day Lilly greens have popped up out front and tall green shoots are sticking strait up out of one of the containers, but I'm not sure what they are, lol!
I discovered green popping up from my Bleeding Heart container yesterday! Not to mention the Sedumn, Ice Plant and 1 red flowering container that totally escapes my memory right now!Tree's are popping out pink & white all over the area and the Forsythia are really standing out.
I bought $34 worth of seeds at the hardware store yesterday!!!
Snow perdicted for tonight, although we are not getting the big blast that's hitting in S Dakota and southern Mn. Spent the day at a gardening seminar put on by a local Master Gardner's group. Went to classes on how to build pathways, landscaping with daylilys and creating bouquets from whatever happens to be blooming in the garden. Since our landscape is brown and gray right now viewing PowerPoint presentations of gorgeour gardens was refreshing. I won a door prize of a $25.00 gift certificate to a great greenhouse and am excited for it's opening at the end of the month. The greenhouse I patronize the most has been totally rebuilt this winter and am looking forward to their grand opening as well. I know it's all coming soon, but I'm like a kid at Christmas---I just can't wait!
Going to the nurseries is better than Christmas! (For me, now that I'm all "grown up.")
I went to a couple of nurseries yesterday. I bought my first tomato plant! I hate fresh tomatoes, but love canned or cooked ones, so I thought I'd take a stab at it. I'm not opposed to giving any away either. I just want to know if I can do vegatables. I'm planning to plant some corn and zuchini, too. I will eat those. :)My giant allium are busting out of the ground and my bareroot peonies I planted last fall look like they survived the winter! This is so much fun!
We're really having a chilly start to the spring this year. I've been well under way by now in the past few previous years. Ah well. Mother Nature will let me know when the time comes. (Not this week, thunderstorms all day today and wet snow tomorrow. We need the rain, but bleah to the wet snow!)
This dreary weather is about to break and high 60's and 70 are coming tomorrow and this weekend! I've got grape hyacynth's up out front and some mystery flowers I've yet to determine. I brought home 2 hanging baskets of pansy's yesterday. Very pretty.And what in the heck is going on with the higher than usual and total outrageous price of outdoor furniture this year?! Just because we have some money to spend this year doesn't mean we want to spend so much! It's RIDICULOUS! I'm looking for a tiny bistro set for the front porch or a small end table & chair and all I've found is ugly and overpriced! Yesterday I fell in love with a tiled top collected at Pier One yesterday, but it's more than I want to spend. ARGH!
I hear you on the outdoor furniture issue. I have an ancient round picnic table by the gate to my veg garden and it is literally falling apart and I want to replace it. First of all I discovered no one wants to sell just a table, everything comes as a set. Second the prices, as you say, are ridiculous. I'm going to hit the garage sales and see what I can score there.On a happier note we are having an early spring, although it is very dry and our fire danger in the area is screaming RED. Many of my perenniels are up about 6 inches and the hostas are poking their noses through the soil about 2 weeks ahead of the average time. I've done quite a bit of cleaning out flower beds and cutting back dead stuff and kind of feel like I'm ahead of the game for once.
I'm hoping to get my garden tilled on Tues and will be able to start planting potatos, peas etc. It never comes soon enough for me!
It never comes soon enough for me either! I just started seeds yesterday, flowers & veggies. Kinda late, but here at the coast, kinda not.
My Cosmo's seeds have sprouted already! (The ones Ms. Holli sent me in Feb!)Inspired by a photo on Brenda's blog, I got paper cups & filled each with potting soil, sprinkled some of the seeds in there, then topped them off with a little more soil, patting it down gently and I've been misting them w/a spray bottle to keep them moist. I wrote the names on each container & date started.
I kept some of each to direct sow outside when the temps seem to be fairly regular and I didn't bother starting any of the climbers. I'll direct sow them outside.
Yesterday we picked up a bale of hay for the back yard (I've got to re-seed & need it to cover the ground afterwards) and 7 bags of top soil to replenish the containers and bed. (Who knew an oil company would have hay, soil, fertilizer, dog/cat/bird food and the like?! Hay was a little pricey at $13 for a bale but the top soil was only $3.26 a bag & since 1 bag had a (tiny) tear in it, they gave me an extra for no charge!)
Don't you just love those unexpected bargins? I had lunch at a Famous Dave's yesterday where I eat maybe once a year and they were having customer appreciation day. I was handed a large bottle of Dave's Spice Rub for free! I've used it before and like it so I thought this was pretty cool. I wish someone would hand me free plants at the local greenhouse where I have dropped megabucks in the past.
Here's a tip: When places like Home Depot bring in a new batch of 'in season' flowers, veggies & shrubs, they put whatever is 'past season' on racks along the far outside area of the garden center for BARGAIN discount prices like 25 cents, $1, etc. (They do this w/orchids too but at 50% & 75% off). If the plants are perennials, it's worth it to see if they can be saved! Even annuals are worth it at that price! Use lots of love & lots of Miracle Grow Organic & 9 times out of 10 they thrive! (Many are the last sorry looking stragglers). For example: right now they're knee deep in pansy's, viola's, primroses, english daisy's, etc. Once the petunia's, impatiens & wax begonia's start coming in, what's left of these flowers will be moved to the bargain racks!
Sometime after the 4th of July, ALL the roses get moved to the bargain racks @ 1/2 off!
How do I know?! I worked for Home Depot in the Garden Center!
Kelly Jo, start them anyway! I've got a bunch of different ones sprouting already & I just started them this past Sunday morning! Then when the last frost date for your area passes, direct sow the rest outside.Garage sales & flea markets may be the way to go - also food stores have really good prices on patio furniture & bistro sets (@ least around here they do). Then make a trip to the hardware store for spray paint to make your garage sale / flea market find look like new!
We have had the strangest weather lately. It froze several nights last week and most of my gorgeous daffodils that bloomed on a warm weekend in early April are now goners.The gardening guru on the local news said not to plant anything until mid-May because we still have some questionable temperatures coming. My husband and I checked out the garden center at Home Depot last weekend, but didn't buy anything. I think we may try the local nursery this year instead of the "big box" for anything I can't buy at the farmer's market that opens next month.
I started my herbs from seed last year and our veggie garden will be from seeds this year, too. My husband is going to till up some ground this weekend, but I'll be scrapbooking all weekend and cooped up outside instead of enjoying the beautiful weather.
Woohoohoo! Have fun tonight Kelly Jo! (Happy Anni!) You deserve some smiles with all the tears. Katie, there will be plenty more gorgeous days for you to enjoy! (Scrapbooking is fun too).
Have any of you used the gallon milk jug method of starting seedlings? I read an article about it and also saw a demo on TV, but would like insight from someone who has actually done it. It involves cutting the jugs almost in half, planting the seeds in potting soil and then putting the top of the jug back in place and securing with tape. The jugs are put outside, no matter the weather and need to be checked for sprouts. Once the sprouts appear the tops are loosened or lifted depending on the weather.
Hey Jo,Thanks for the tip on Home Depot. I have plant shopped there before, but didn't know about their sales strategy.
Cheryl S, I've heard of the gallon milk jug method but never tried it. Of the 24 different flower & veggie seeds I started last Sunday morning, all but 6 have sprouted! So exciting! lol
You're welcome about the 0home Depot tips! Every little bit helps these days.
FYI- Some AC Moore craft stores have opened garden centers in their stores! My Aunt got a huge Hosta for $6!
Hey Kelly Jo,I live in Minnesota so I am wondering the same thing. One picture I saw had the jugs setting on what looked like a cement slab and another picture had them right in the snow. I have got to hunt around and see if I can find the article I read about this. It is getting too late to start any for my area this year, but I would like to be ready to do it next year.
LOL! We've had the same problem here and when it wasn't like that it was in the 90s! Now its been windy & in the 50s again - frickin' chilly! Of course we had rain thru the night and more tomorrow & Sat am. Ah coastal living! It's not all about going to the beach!
Kelly Jo and Jo--LOL as well. We're having the same garbage plus I just spent 2 hours freezing my buns in a hockey arena. I don't care what the weather is tomorrow I am going to work outside. I'm cleaning off the garden so the neighbor can till and I'm cleaning out around the bushes and perenniels and they are just going to have to fend for themselves. It's almost May 1st for crying out loud. This is our 4th year in a row with this cold cold spring and I've had it!
There now I feel better.
We've gone from heat wave to days of rain. It's not looking good for the weekend. There's a lot I'd like to accomplish in the yard, though. I'm headed to the first day of the farmer's market on Saturday and there are usually a few flower vendors there early in the season. Last year I bought the biggest, most gorgeous marigolds I've ever seen in my life.My husband and I are in the process of ripping out one bed at the end of our driveway near the road. It's full of shrubs and "ornamental" grass which we both find unattractive. We spent a couple hours one evening on it last week. Everything has been there for a very long time and is deeply rooted. Very frustrating.
That's how I feel about the ivy that's returned which I 'got rid of' in our back yard over 2 years ago! Very frustrating it's returned from the alley behind us!Actually, I don't mind the fog & showers since they keep the newly re-seeded back yard moist and I don't have to! lol
I've posted some great info re: bees & gardening in the "Bee Project" thread (scroll down until you see it) and started a "Favorite Gardening Sites" thread just below that as well!
Today's only fog & showers so far - we're supposed to have heavy storms thru tuesday! I hope it doesn't rain too hard again like it did before that heat wave last week - I'll have to reseed the back yard AGAIN! lolI'm tired of being inside too! I'm sitting out there every chance I get!
Some of my seedlings are biting the dust but that's alright since I saved some of each to direct sow outside. Others are doing well. Have to reseed the back yard again because with all the rain we've had (living in a flood prone area with a back yard with drainage issues). sigh.
I think there is hope. Tonight is the last frost then it looks like a warming trend. How about for you Jo, Kelly Jo and Katie any hope of warmth this week? I'm dying to plant my tomatoes.
It's pretty chilly here because of the on-shore breezes lately! I play it safe & wait until Memorial Day Weekend to plant my tomato's!
I'll do one in my yard too to help you out, lol!!!
I was thinking the same thing in regards to myself, lol! (Maybe I'll make them laugh to tears & they'll melt themselves away!)
Well I covered every tender thing last night and ... no frost! Dancing in the moonlight would be a good thing as it was just Beltane.
Nudity and bonfires are optional!Kelly Jo wrote: "I'll have to light my firepit when I dance. That'll freak out the neighborhood and for certain scare everything away!" LMAO!
Here's what makes me feel like dancing: the crab apples trees are in full bloom, the lilacs will be full bloom tomorrow, my bleeding hearts and plumerias are going full blast and the columbines are dancing in the wind. I even have a few tulips adding into the mix. I'm kind of old and chubby to dance, so I might just do it on the inside. I too have to consider the sensibilities of the neighbors.
Cheryl - I say go ahead and dance your heart out! Sensibilities of neighbors? Psh. Dance dance away - it is the season!
Erika wrote: "Cheryl - I say go ahead and dance your heart out! Sensibilities of neighbors? Psh. Dance dance away - it is the season!"I agree! To heck with the neighbors! Celebrate the beauty of our garden!
Cheryl your garden sounds beautiful. I just picked every single lily of the valley and scattered them through the house. I can't wait for lilacs. The smelly spring flowers are the best.
Yesterday I picked up a LARGE Rosa Radcon Knockout Rose (pink) for only $19, 2 different kinds of (pink) Dianthus, "Lemon Zest" Petunia's and 3 "Beefsteak" Tomato plants (I prefer Early Girls but they were all moldy at Home Depot and picked up the Beefsteaks at the grocery store).
We did a LOT of planting last weekend. I spent an hour at the farmer's market and 3 hours in the garden center by myself on Saturday. Sunday, my husband and I spent another 3 hours back at the garden center for more potting soil and other supplies.I planted gerbera daisies and a dahlia in some containers to put along the gravel near our outbuilding. I did my own hanging baskets this year instead of buying ready-planted. They're Fuschia, deep purple Petunias and something else I can't recall the name of right now, but that looks like large, orange daisies with purple centers. The concrete planters on the front porch are all Pansies and I have an oversized teacup planter with Silhouette Orange Star Double Impatients.
We're getting the veggie plants and planting the vegetable garden this weekend!
Katie that sounds BEAUTIFL!!! I bet it seriously took you all weekend. Too bad we can't see it, it really just sounds gorgeous. What kind of veggies are you doing?
Erika wrote: "Katie that sounds BEAUTIFL!!! I bet it seriously took you all weekend. Too bad we can't see it, it really just sounds gorgeous. What kind of veggies are you doing?"We're not sure yet. Tomatoes, lettuces, bell peppers, onions, banana peppers, zucchini and yellow squash for sure. We'll see what else they have at the farmer's market. I'm also doing herbs in containers.
You'll have the best yard in all the land! I've never done banana peppers before, are they grown like bell peppers? You will definitely have your hands full this summer!I have some herbs in planters right now, and everything is doing well except the basil. Every leaf now has brown spots on it, even the little baby ones. Does anyone know why this could be?
Erika, did you let water touch the leaves? Sometimes that can burn them, if the sun is too hot when you plant.
Sounds so awesome Katie! Any chance you'll be posting pics on your blog?!
Oh Cyd that might very well have happened. Thank you!
Jo wrote: "Sounds so awesome Katie! Any chance you'll be posting pics on your blog?! "I'm planning on it, Jo. Not much exciting happenings for me lately hence the lack of posts. Maybe I'll take some pics this weekend.
Erika - I have no idea. lol I've never grown veggies in my life. My husband did every year with his parents when he was younger so I'm just following his lead.
Oh, and just a PSA, I bought some iron hanging baskets with the coconut husk liners on sale at the end of the season last year. They're amazing! The plastic kind that I've purchased pre-assembled in the past had to be watered 2x per day when it was hot. These hold the moisture so well that the soil is still damp 2 days after watering.
I bought 2 of those too last year at the same time, mine are on 2 pedestals, staggered in height!
Erika, Cyd and Jo--Obviously none of you have ever seen me dance--but I love the encouragement!! I would love to pick a big bouquet of lilacs and bring them in the house, but my darn cats would wreck them. Fortunately there is a lilac right outside of the window where I am sitting so I can enjoy the perfume and not have to clean up a mess. This time of year is almost overload with all the great smells.
Bravo on your shopping Jo. I went to our Farmers' Market this morning and bought some purple basil and a moon flower vine. I'm going to try to finish planting my garden tomorrow, tomatos, eggplant, three kinds of squash, peppers and basil. We are having fabulous weather right now after getting through a wild spring. At one point we had 93 degrees with 40 MPH wind gusts one day and 62 degrees the next, a little confusing for the plants and the one planting them as well.
The gardening catalogs on the coffee table are nagging at me. I need to get my list of seed wants ready, head out to the nurseries & buy what I can, then order the rest. There's so much to do outside this year! Bringing in LARGER containers, refreshing faded ones, buying new patio furniture (getting rid of the old, YAY!)...