Buckets of Gardening Ideas

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I wanted to share my Hosta's this week.

This year they just popped up and are so much bigger this year.

Most of these were planted from small pots 5 years ago except where noted.

The next few are along the front of the house on the North Side.

I love this Blue Hosta!

This is a side shot of the ones along the front of the house.

The next few are from in the entry area.

I wanted to show these - these were a tray that had been thrown in a dumpster. There were 24 in the flat and we were able to save about half of them...they are doing great now!

This is hidden - but I love this Hosta - oops you can see my foot - sorry about that.....

Thesse Hosta's are on top of the pond area.

These are right behind the pond - they are all starts from the Hosta's out front.

Some cute Hosta's by the fence just to the right of the pond - these are Hosta's that were in the flat that had been thrown away.

These are from the Hosta Quad in the side yard -the smaller ones are from t he throw away flat. .

Side shot of Hosta Quad
You can look at my header and see how much these have grown.

This Hosta is in the Wood land - I showed this last week.

Thanks for letting me share my Hosta's with you.

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Today I am grateful for all the wonderful green things that call my yard their home!
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Instructions on gathering Hosta Seeds

COLLECTING SEED

Collecting, drying and cleaning hosta seed is not difficult. When one sees pods on flower scapes, the first question coming to mind is "When will these pods be ripe enough to harvest the seed?" Generally speaking, it takes at least thirty days, depending on variety and environment for seeds to be fully ripe, even if the pods are still green. The best way to know when to collect the seed is watching the bottom pods. When the pods start changing color towards a dark brown, they are ripe. When the pod starts to split open, the seed should be collected. If left for a day after pods have split open, the seed will fall on the ground and be lost.

After the seed pods have all developed (at least 3 weeks after the last bloom has faded), some people prefer to cut the whole spike, drop it inside a brown paper bag and place it in a cool dry room to dry out completely. Using regular sheets of paper with the edges folded up box -like; the collected pods can be dumped inside. Drying seed inside the house, where it is warm and dry, results in pods splitting open within two or three weeks. Dumping the seedpods into a box and shaking with some enthusiasm will result in seeds coming out of pods. Dumping the seeds onto a spaghetti strainer, having ¼¼ inch holes, results in seed falling through and the pods remaining behind.

However, if you are hybridizing, each pod must be treated separately and kept with a label indicating the pod x pollen parents. It is important to have good labels when working with hosta seedlings, since it can take as long as six years before the seedlings are at their mature stage. Using plastic labels, and writing on these with a waterproof marker is not nearly good enough. Outdoor elements make such a label unreadable. The sun's rays make the plastic brittle and then they break. Aluminum labels will not rust and will last forever. You can scratch your information right into aluminum labels with a nail or a carbide tip 'Scriber'.

The seed is now ready for sowing. If you do not plan to sow immediately, put the seed in the plastic bag, then label and seal it. Place the bags in a cool environment. Some nurseries will store their seed in the freezer so it remains fresh.

Hostas, being the perennials they are make this pleasure a lasting experience. New developing characteristics appear each succeeding year as the hybrids reach maturity
http://perfectperennials.tripod.com/id10.html
Lots more info on this website.

It is August!

2011-08-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Linking up with:

Bloomin Tuesday!

Cottage Flora Thursdays

Fertilizer Friday

Our season is so late this year because it has been so cool - weird I know because the rest of the country is so warm - the lily's are finally starting to bloom...here is the first wave of them,

This is a pot in our pond area - love this spike and so excited because I can overwinter it in our greenhouse.

Here is one of the hosta's This little spot wouldn't grow anything so I tried this hosta and it loves it here. I am going to save seeds from Hosta's this year and start them in the greenhouse. I think next week I will do a hosta tour for my post.

Here are some Hop's - I haven't ever grown Hop's before, but it is doing great! Not totally sure what to do with this since we don't drink beer! Have to study this out a bit.

Holly hocks starting to grow....

Delphinum

Perenial Bachelor Button

Love, love, love this Astilbe! It is amazing

Daisy and Bee Balm

Apples left, cherries middle, apricots on the right - apples and apricots not quite ripe. The fruit is amazing. We are picking a 1/2 to 1 gallon of raspberries a day for now.

These are carrot seeds. I thought carrots were hard to seed . They are a biennial so you have to plant them and then get the seeds the next season . I planted them and then last fall put a bale of straw on them, this year they made it and popped right up! WOO HOO

Greenhouse Progress

We have all the boxes placed - we sprayed the weeds. This next week I am adding compost to each box.

Thanks for stopping by - this week I am thankful for fresh rain that we have been able to enjoy this past week.

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Have to show you one more picture:

Now this is my favorite picture - we had a family reunion last weekend. We have a family B-day party each year. This year we did a pirate theme. We have 20 people with our kids, son in laws and grandchildren.
This is a picture of our just our kids and g-kids.

I was so tired when everyone left on Sunday Night - this was my kitchen Monday morning - the sink is full of cups and plates that aren't on the cupboard anymore. It is clean now - what a great time we had! (Everyone's cups are on a clothesline over the sink - that is still up - I am such a romantic!)

Flowers, Fruit and Fun in the Greenhouse!

2011-07-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Linking Up Today With

Cottage Flora Thursday

Be sure and check out all the other gardeners from all over the world - way cool!

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FLOWERS
Because of the cold spring we have had we are about a month behind on our flowers and other plants. My flowers are finally starting to bloom. Here are a few of them:

FRUIT
I was outside working and I have raspberries all over my plants! This is a big deal as I have tried to grow raspberries several times and failed miserable - my little patch is happy, healthy and nearly ready for harvest. YIPPEE We planted them and put about 6 inches of barkchips all around them. I think that was the ticket for them - they like acid soil and the bark chips help with that.

I checked my grapevines and there are the cutest little clusters of grapes all over them...they are so great!

Our apple tree's are covered in apples, the apricot tree has apricots and the cherry's are almost ready to turn red.

- I feel like "THE FARMER IN THE DELL!

FUN in the Greenhouse.
We are getting things set up inside. Here is a picture of our progress as of last night.

When we are done we will have 8 feet of propagating area at the front of the greenhouse. We will add shelves, a table and garbage can's for dirt and fertilizer. Then there will be 6 raised boxes in the front to hold the small veggies and herbs. Then behind there is an open area that will be for bigger plants, small tree's etc. We are adding a few fences to the right side for vertical gardening. On the left side will be a small pond that will be used for propagating water plants and a nursery for plants that need some TLC. On the outside of the greenhouse to the right will be a compost bin for close use in the greenhouse.

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Thanks for stopping by - Stay Cool!
Today I am grateful for the sunshine and the summer weather - of course we are in Idaho and it is low 80"s - I know some of you have major heat going on - take care of yourselves!

We Are Building a Greenhouse!

2011-07-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Linking Up With

Blooming Tuesday

Cotttage Flora Thursday

It is mid- July! Can you believe it? It has been really cold here until the 4th when it turned hot. We went from an average of mid 50* temps to mid 90* literally overnight.

Just when I was ready to get out and play in the dirt I got kidney stones - I am so sorry I haven't been more sympathetic to people with that plight . (If you ever get them - dandelion and hydrangea help to dissolve them quickly.) I am very aware to make sure I drink enough water everyday! I never want to do that again!!!

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Now onto our news! WE HAVE A GREENHOUSE!

It is from Tuff Greenhouses.

http://www.tuffgreenhouses.com/

We live in Idaho and the wind can blow really hard here - these greenhouses can withstand whatever wind comes our way!

We assembled it over the 4th weekend. My husband, our son and son in law's make a formible crew! Here are the pictures:

This was the first step - choosing and making a level spot

This is after the spot was cleared.

The spot is ready

Base is in

The spines are going up

Same pictures from a distance

Support braces are up

This is how it looks from the end

Putting up the vents and fans

Putting on the skin - we had to get up at 5:00 a.m. to put it on without any wind.

The next cover goes on

From the end -

The Back End is Done

Working on the Front End

Everyone is tired - but it is done!

In the coming weeks I will be sharing setting up our greenhouse.

Thanks for letting me share.

Today I am thankful for plants that grow, the sun that shines and our wonderful family.

Lights!

2011-06-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with

Cottage Flora Thursday

Blooming Tuesday!
Cottage Flora Thursday
Fertilizer Friday

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I have had numerous requests for pix of the lights in our side yard.

Today we took down the burnt out ones and replaced them with new lights.
We cleaned the pond yesterday and it looks so awesome!

Here are a few pix....as soon as it is dark I will post some more.

This lamp was one of my mom's that didn't work anymore so I cut off the wire and added some lights inside and hung it - it is lovely!

After Dark Pix:
Now that it is dark I can see about 3 spots I need to add some lights to - we will do that in the next couple of days.
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This bird cage is filled with all the lights that only 1/2 string work . It add's great light to a dark corner on the patio.

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Today I am thankful for pleasant weather...it has been cold , rainy and windy here and when the sun shines my green things and my soul thrive!

Thanks for stopping by!

Our Side Yard

2011-06-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Cottage Flora Thursday and Fertilizer Friday
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Our side yard has really filled in this year (the pix in the header is our side yard) I was looking at it tonight in amazement - it grows and all I do is just love it. This used to be a place where the grass didn't grow and was just a forlorn little corner . With some TLC it has turned into something beautiful and amazing.

It has been too cold to clean out the pond - we are doing it next week , but this is the pond part.

This is the hosta quad

This is the bench quad

The Patio Area

I need some help - so please if you have some suggestions - please share. ..this corner had a hammock in it - the hammock wore out. So I need to fill it in with some things - I would like to get a free standing hammock for this area - it will be smaller than our other one - any ideas on what to put in these raised beds I just created? Things don't grow well in this area in the ground very well because of the tree. Please share any ideas you have!

Today I am thankful for my family and friends - it is my b-day and they have made it a special day for me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Purple Purple Everywhere!

2011-06-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with Bloomin Tuesday!
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We have had storm after storm with lots of wind and rain...the temps are about 20* below normal - I know the people in the east are baking! Weird huh!

It has slowed down the blooms but this week they are starting!

Hip Hip Horray!

My lilacs are breathtaking - all over our town it smells like heaven.

They are nearly a month late in blooming, so this is a real treat.

These are at the base of the white lilacs - so showy!

Here are the purple lilacs and the flowers blooming in front of it.

The Iris are just starting.

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We are finally getting our garden planted - the soil dried out enough to till...I will show pictures of all of that when we finish planting.

Today I am thankful for the 65* temps - it feel so glorious!

Thanks for stopping by!

What is Happening In Idaho This Week!

2011-06-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with
Bloomin Tuesday

Cottage Flora Thursday and Fertilizer Friday

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We have had a busy week!

We celebrated our 37th anniversary.

Best of all!

Our new #8 baby finally came!

The wind has been blowing like a banchy all week long!
I haven't done much outside so I am putting up some links for some fun past posts:

Some Fun Yard Art

Plant Marker Ideas

Garden Wreaths

Thanks for stopping by.

Today I am grateful for the miracle of new life!

Rainy Day Here!

2011-05-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Linking Up Today With

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We have flood warnings everywhere and the rain today isn't going to help that. In the mountains the snow pack is 197%, They have emptied the resevoirs down to 10-15% of capacity in anticipation of the melt of the snow.

Even with that said it is a lovely rainy day here in Idaho.

Here are a few pictures from our entry area.

I cheated when I took pictures from the front doorway as it is pouring!

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As you look out our front door and window this is what you see - the entry garden is really coming up!

I will show the plants when they get a little fuller and it isn't raining! No plants in pots yet - it hasn't been warm enough.

This is the other side. The bleeding heart cane from a start from my grandmother who died in 1994. I am so happy everytime this darling plant comes up - she loved bleeding hearts.

This is a lime bleeding heart - isn't it lovely! It is getting so big this year. Makes me smile everytime I see it!

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Today I am thankful for rainy days - so peaceful and calming.

Plus I can get my house caught up!

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Magic!

2011-05-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

Linking Up With Cottage Flora Thursday!

Linking Up with Fertilizer Friday!

I love springtime magic - everything suddenly comes to life - it is magic! It is wonderful! So grateful for such beauty and wonderment!

Here are a few of the things happening this week:

This tree just exploded with blossoms! I have no idea what kind of tree it is - we got it in a throw away pile a couple of years ago without a tag - would love your ideas on what it is.

This is about to open up!

Isn't this adorable - in the Woodland Garden

Just got my bench started - still need to add a few things - too excited about this! Thanks Tootsie for the idea.
(Click here to see her bench - scroll down she has a bunch of great pictures.)

Hosta's starting to come through the ground - we have 5 darling little grandson's under 3, so I put tomato cages around them till they get big enough to see so their leaves don't get scrunched.

PROJECTS

1- Our veggie garden is getting plowed and we are making grow boxes - more on that next week

2 - Cleaning out our play yard area and redoing a few things - more on that in the coming weeks

3 - Herb Bed - Some plants that are invasive have taken over so I sprayed them and will be redoing it all in the coming weeks - it will wrap around the corner (Left side) of the house and go the full length of the house - the cullinary will be on the back side - more about this later - I am pretty excited about doing this.

4 - I will decide on #4 when these 3 are finished!

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If you haven't seen the next post on the Tulips at Temple Square - be sure and scroll down and take a looksie! They are beautiful!

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Today I am grateful for the wonderment of Spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

Flowers at Temple Sqare

2011-05-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hooking Up With
Bloomin Tuesday
Cottage Floral Thursdays
be sure and check out all the other gardener's -
so amazing to me to see all the gardens in all places of growth on the same day all over the world!
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If you are a flower lover and you are ever in Salt Lake City, Utah during any flower season you have to go to Temple Square. The gardens there are amazing. They cover 35 acres. They are changed out every few weeks so whatever is in season is all over the sqauare...it is amazing....here are a few pix our daughter took last week.

Here Comes The Sun!

2011-05-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with

Fertilizer Friday &
Cottage Flora Thursday
Yippee!

The sun is shining in Idaho!

It has been 210 days since out temps were at least 70* and we hit it again yesterday

-----everyone is doing the happy dance here!

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Things are finally popping up all over my yard.....here are a few pix - I am so excited to share finally.

Here are a few tulips - aren't they lovely.

Here are some of the daffodils

A few of the pond plants

Apricot blossoms

My honey crisp tree has new growth - Here is the post I tell about planting it I planted it about a month ago

I am grateful today for the sun!

Thanks for stopping by.....

Geraniums From Basement To Side Yard

2011-05-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hooking Up With Bloomin Tuesday!

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

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I have 6 hanging baskets of geraniums that I overwinter. In the fall I cut them off to about 3 inches and put them in the windows on the south side down stairs. We are pretty far north so they get about 6 hours of basement sunlight a day. I water them about every 10 days. It is time to put them outside again - here is one of the pots - doesn't it look great! I give them fertilizer and then put them in the shade for about a week to reaclimate them to the outdoors. Once that happens they will flourish all summer. Every year they get bigger and bigger - they are so easy to care for and it saves a bunch of money too!

This next picture is one of the smaller geraniums in pots. They are in a shade flower bed and will stay there for the week to help them with the transition from basement to outdoors. They were also cut off to about 3 inches . There are about 9 pots in this group. Here they are:

Today I am thankful for the weather warming up a bit! YIPPEE!!!

Thanks for visiting!
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This post tells about getting everything ready in the fall
http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/search/label/Overwintering%20Geraniums
Also if you scroll to the bottom is an article that gives instructions about overwintering geraniums.

Putting Green Resouce for My Yard

2011-05-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

My husband loves to golf and not able to go as often as he would like to - we have a corner in our yard that would work perfectly - here is a little research and pictures for my project!

Indoor http://thesandtrap.com/b/training/build_your_own_8_x_8_indoor_putting_green_cheaply
How To's http://www.ehow.com/how_2313969_own-backyard-putting-green.html
An ad http://backyardputtinggreen.org/
All About it - http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/landscaping-and-gardening/putting-a-putting-green-on-your-garden-or-lawn.php

Pictures (Sorry can't shrink these links - I have tried about 5 times - the pictures are great though!)
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dputting%2Bgreen%2Byard%26fr2%3Dtab-web&w=600&h=450&imgurl=www.redleaflandscape.com%2Fimages%2Fputting_green_design1.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redleaflandscape.com%2Fputtinggreens.html&size=164KB&name=your+yard.+Insta...&p=putting+green+yard&oid=930e6baac1649bdefa57bbdca5613680&fr2=tab-web&no=5&tt=14500&sigr=11isr1o2l&sigi=11pa1dv3s

Bloomin Tuesday

2011-05-03T15:09:00.001-07:00

Sharing an old post for Bloomin Tuesday today - still pretty blustery and cool at our house today!

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

Click here to see GARDEN WREATH IDEAS
http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2010/04/httpwww.html

What's Going On In My Garden This Week!

2011-04-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Linking up with

Cottage Floral Thursday's

www.bucketsofideasforfall.blogspot.com/

Buttons in my Sidebar

Besure and check out all the other great gardener's - so fun to see what is going on at the same time in gardens all ove rhte world!

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First I want to tell you people in the southern USA how much

my heart hurts with you.

Please know the prayers and thoughts of many are with you.

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Things are starting to grow in my little gardens!

It has been a while since we have seen the sun and they just keep on growing!

L to R - Bleeding Heart, Daffodil, Monk's Hood

BULBS
The bulbs are coming up - it has been a slow go for them because of the weather.   The bulbs on the south are starting to bloom, the ones  on the north side are much smaller.

PERENNIALS
I have perennials coming up all over my yard!

VEGGIE GARDEN
I just called to get our veggie garden plowed when it dries out and warms up - like to be on the top of that list!

FRUIT GARDEN
Raspberries are pruned and old canes cut out . I also put Casoron on them to keep the weeds and grass from growing in the m . You can see the little shoots coming up!
I planted another 2 dozen strawberries and another grapevine.
Our apple, plum, cherry and apricot tree's are all pruned - just need some warm weather so they can do their thing!

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Today I am thankful for a nice warm house that keeps us safe from the elements - snow covers the ground this morning and we are warm!!!
(Taken at 8 a.m. this morning)

Planting Carrots

2011-04-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

An article from our local nursery

Tired of Thinning Carrots?

It just seems so wasteful to discard perfectly healthy plants that could have developed into mature carrots. On our radio show on Saturday we received a couple of great tips from callers on techniques to reduce thinning.
Idea #1- Mix sand and radish seed with your carrots. The sand allows you to spread the seed more thinly and since the radishes mature quickly, when you harvest the radishes your are automatically leaving room for the carrots to grow.

Idea #2- Create your own "seed tape" that automatically spaces the carrot seed to reduce thinning. It also produces a wider row so you get more carrots in a small space. Jon and Eileen stopped by the store and showed us how they do it. All you need is single ply toilet paper, white glue, a toothpick, and carrot seed. Simply dip your toothpick in the glue, touch it to your carrot seed (spread out slightly on the table or a plate), touch it to the toilet paper and let it dry. When you plant, just barely cover the seed with soil until the paper isn't showing. Your seeds will germinate with the right spacing between the plants.

Original Article Here

YIPPEEE!!!! Daffodils!

2011-04-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Linking up this week with Fertilizer Friday - be sure and click on the link to check out the other gardeners - it is so fun to see what is going on at all the different gardens at the same time!

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We have had a long and cold winter here in Idaho...it may snow again tonight but you can't keep the daffodils down! I have some that are really close to blooming. Here is a picture of the clump that is the closest to popping open - just in time for Easter!

Happy Easter to you all....

Thanks for stopping by!

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Today I am grateful for Easter and what it means for all of us!

I know that our Redeemer lives!

Planted a Honey Crisp Tree Today!

2011-04-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Hooking up today with Blooming Tuesday! http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ Be sure and check out all the other gardener's and their wonderful gardens.

The snow is melted , the grass is green, it is 39* and the wind is currently only 15 mph. It is quite glorious outside! I bought a bare root Honey Crisp Apple tree and finally was able to get out to plant it. (We have had winds for several weeks of 35-45 mph and gusts much higher.) It is like paradise right now. The bigger tree's in the background are others in my little orchard - apple, apricot, plum and cherry. I hope to get a couple of pear tree's to add to this wonderful area.

Here is a little bit about the Honey Crisp Tree-

The Honeycrisp apple is a high quality apple which keeps well for 5-6 months in common storage. The tree is one of the most vigorous and hardy of apple trees, showing little damage at -40 degrees. Needs to be thinned heavily. Honeycrisp fruit is characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture. Its flesh is cream colored and coarse. The flavor is sub-acid and ranges from mild and well-balanced to strongly aromatic, depending on the degree of maturity. Great eating apple with its subacid flavor. Develops its full aromatic flavor if left on the tree until mid October. Suggested pollinators are Gala, Granny Smith, Empire, McIntosh and Red Delicious. Not pollinated by Gravenstein. http://www.naturehills.com/product/honeycrisp_apple.aspx

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Here is a post that shows our apple tree's in full bloom last spring: http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2010/05/our-apple-trees-arent-they-lovely.html

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Today I am grateful for soft breezes instead of gale force winds!

Broccoli Without Worms

2011-04-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

We have a great nursery here in town named Town and Country. They send out a monthly newsletter with all kinds of great info in it - this is one of their articles from the newsletter this month. I want to keep this info so it gets a post today! (Click on the link above for their website.)

Here is the article:
If you are like me, you probably don't like finding caterpillars in your broccoli. And you probably don't much like having to use chemical insecticides, either. So here's a simple, inexpensive solution. Lay row cover (available at Town & Country) over the plants to keep the bugs off. You can simply lay it over the plants as shown above or, as shared with me by a customer (who sent me pictures which for the life of me I can't seem to find now), you can build light portable frames out of 1x2 lumber and staple the row cover to the frames so they can easily be removed for harvesting, etc.
Yet another ingenious idea is to cover them individually. For each broccoli plant, you will need one of the smaller-sized wire tomato cages. Push the cage into the ground over the plant. Then place a mesh laundry bag (available at Town & Country for just this purpose) over the wire cage and pull the mouth down to the ground. Pull the tie string closed and this will keep the moths from laying the eggs that hatch into cabbage caterpillars. And you thought laundry bags were for laundry!
Click here for original article

Raspberry Care

2011-04-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with Fertilizer Friday.... http://www.tootsietime.com/
I really want to play with all of you at Fertilzer Friday - but it is hard when there is snow in the backyard!!!
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Holy Snow Batman!
It looks like a Christmas Card in my Back Yard!!!

So with that being said - I am still learning about caring for some of the stuff in my yard. Here is a great article about Raspberries! This is by - VAL (Grandpa's Rose) LInk at the bottom for original post.

First of all there are two main types of raspberries, summer bearing and fall bearing. If you are unsure right now, which ones you have, treat them as summer bearing until they finish next year, and at least if they turn out to be fall bearing you won't have had a year without any berries.

Fall bearing bushes are the easiest to prune, as you do not need to decide what to keep and what to not. After the berries have all been harvested, cut or mow the whole row down to ground level. They will grow back up, and bear again in the fall.

Summer bearing raspberries take two years to complete their cycle, and therefore, if you were to cut all of yours to the ground now, without knowing if they were summer or fall, you could end up without any berries for a year.

The young, green canes poke out of the ground, and grow over the summer to quite a height (these are called floricanes). In the fall, some people let these branches continue growing as high as they want, and others top them at a more manageabe height (as I do) so that it is easier picking. Topping them also encourages bilateral branches from the sides of the canes, giving you a higher yield of berries.

In the spring, your canes that grew nice and tall over the past summer, but did not bear any berries should be left in the garden. They will now bloom this year, and bear lots of berries for you.

Then in the fall, you will see that you now have two types of canes. (if you just moved in and the raspberries haven't been taken care of, you probably have this stage now). Some are the nice new green canes that have not had berries this year, and some may already be dying or dead, but even if they are not yet, their stem will be brown or a greyish color. These old canes need to be cut out right to the ground. They are finished and will not bear fruit again. You should just be left with green canes (floricanes) again.

Your raspberries will continue this ongoing cycle, year after year.

Most people also use different ways of staking their raspberries as they can get unwieldy if just left. Some put a heavy, tall stake at each end of the row, run a line to both, and then tie each individual cane to this line. This is called a T trellis.

Others place several tall,heavy stakes along both sides of the row (the number would depend on the length of the row) about every six feet. Then a line is run all the way around these stakes, making a sort of cage. The line can be run at several heights, if your canes are different heights. This is call a hedgerow trellis.

Other people just let them grow their own way and let them do their own thing.

Raspberries will tolerate alot of hot dry weather, but while blooming, and especially while bearing fruit, require alot of water. The less water you give them at this point, the smaller your berries will be. Also, if you get hot glaring sun all day, try to somehow provide them with a little shade during the harshest time of the day to prevent scalded berries.

Raspberries, like all plants have their own special soil needs. They prefer deep, sandy/loam soil, although they will grow in almost any soil. The PH level for them is between 6 and 7, and they like a high level of organic matter.

Hope all of this helps, and that you have a wonderful crop to enjoy!

Feel free to return and ask any more questions you need to.

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1491

A Few More Gardening Videos!

2011-03-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

The snow is melting here, but still to wet and cold to plant so I am enjoying gardening abstensia through You - Tube and seeing other's gardening ideas - so I can keep these links I am housing these video's here!
Growing Celery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn5gkomavVQ growing celery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMwTo_f0Sh4 how to grow celery
Composting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAMy_ZJ0Xa8 how to compost (Organic gardening editor)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHVpLCQvjQQ great composting instructional video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgM1mJJbOz0&NR=1 how to tell when your compost is ready
Cold Weather Crops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQgOXHljOI cold weather crops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL7CstDnJcM cold weather plants specifics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrHiN4XB5wE another
Trellis'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8KbDz2Zz5k Cool bent wood trellis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCtKQk_i7O8 willow sculpture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfO6ReWrMhY 4 simple trellis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_Rdc4SnOU how to make a trellis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e31HUPsyyGk grape trellis
Broccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt00KVnrp-s how to grow from Stone Soup Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkK8_BaLfsQ ferilizing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0LaKze7ylM stop broccoli from buttoning

Vertical Gardening Resources

2011-03-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Hooking up with Fertilizer Friday.... http://www.tootsietime.com/

We are in Idaho and it is still cold here - high today was 35* and very windy. I am recovering from a nasty tummy bug going around here - I have been watching you tube videos - here are some vertical growing ideas, I thought you would like to see.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlQaOsDZuBQ
She looks great when she gardens, I would have to go and buy new clothes!!! and look at her knee pads - smart!
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A few more verticle gardening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySF8CW5U5eE all kinds of trellis ideas from community garden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzEnfPMKTJY&feature=related making a trellis quickand easy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMzjsCDJ7Hw&feature=related making hoops for raised beds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMzjsCDJ7Hw&feature=related growing melons vertically
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS2GPtcUY30&NR=1&feature=fvwp build a trellis out of PVC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfO6ReWrMhY&feature=related 4 simple trellis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8KbDz2Zz5k&feature=related - cool bent wood trellis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZL1ofu_yiE&NR=1 cool weather gardening
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Growing watermelons - I won't use the pesticides unless it is my organic brew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdUz6qcVg7k&NR=1&feature=fvwp

March 1st - A Walk in Our Yard

2011-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Linking up today witn Fertilizer Friday! Check out all the other gardeners from all over - so fun to see gardens in all stages of growth all over the the world.

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Today it is about 38* outside - that is amazing! It is so nice and warm. We are supposed to get more snow so we have to get outside for a few minutes today.

Just wanted to share a few pix of our yard walk.

There are things growing under the dead of winter! YIPPEE!

This is the back yard

This is how it looked last May - amazing what difference 2 months makes!

A walk into the side yard...

This is the same space last May

The pond is thawing!

This is the same area last June.

Thanks for stopping by....

WOO HOO - My 100th Post in my Gardening Blog!

2011-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Linking up with Fertilizer Friday - links also in my side bar - you must check out all the other great gardeners!

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Supposed to get to 10* BELOW ZERO again this weekend so I am surfing the net looking for some fun gardening ideas and found these ideas.

These are really great links to show some space saver ideas and how to's for gardening. ( Thanks Marion for the links!)

This is the next one - very cool!
All instructions at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09157/975373-47.stm

There are some really great videos at http://easiestgarden.com/ for space saving ideas.

Also a cute video with a Uganda girl planting a sack garden - a great idea for limited resources and space. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMv72yQFbvI&feature=related

I've Got Spring Fever!

2011-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

Linking up with Fertilizer Friday and Cottage Flora Thursdays - link also in my side bar - you must check out all these great gardeners!

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Spring Fever ---->That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

My first post for 2011.....

I woke up this morning, the sun shining bright and beautiful and streaming in my window. I laid in bed thinking just 2 feet through the wall it is - 25* below zero wind chill (-15* below temp.) and I am warm and comfy. I laid there thinking about the things I want to do in my yard this year.

It is the sun's fault and I have spring fever!

I found a great video of a family in California who have turned their entire yard into a garden. Another from Wisconsin that has a total ecosystem in their greenhouses on 3 acres - both very cool videos.

So instead of showing you my snowy yard or looking through pix to share that will make me even more spring feverish - I am going to share these video links with you.

Thanks for stopping by!
Paula

Greenhouse in Wisconsin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CCxdkOng&feature=player_embedded

Harvesting and Canning Tomatoes

2010-10-12T06:41:00.001-07:00

Linking up with Blomin' Tuesday and Fertlizer Friday - links also in my side bar - you must check out all these great gardeners!

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Here are my tomatoes finally ready to harvest. They are about one month late because our weather has been so cold this season. You can see all the stems of other plants around them that have already frozen. We cut all the leaves off so it would help speed things up.

They are ready and we had a wonderful crop! Here are a couple of my helpers picking tomatoes.

These are two of our daughters who also had tomatoes in their gardens and we canned like crazy people last Saturday. We did Salsa and V-8 Juice.

Thanks for visiting!

Hope you have a great week.

Today I am thankful for stamina to do my stewardships.

Paula

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Recipes we used.
Salsa
1/4 bu. ripe tomatoes (15 lbs. = a 1/4 bu.)
6 large onions
16 to 20 long green chilies ( like Anaheim) (we used 5)
2 Tbsp. salt
6 bell peppers
6 jalapeno peppers (we only used 2)
2/3 c. vinegar
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. fresh parsely
1/2 cup fresh coriander
3 cloves garlic
Peel tomatoes and seed peppers. Coarse grind all ingredients.
Simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently, or until right consistency.
Water bath to seal. Makes 14 pints

V-8 Juice
1/2 gallon Tomato Juice
3 large onions blended
8 med bell peppers
1/4 - 1/2 cup salt (your taste)
1 cup vinegar
2 tbs seasoning salt
1 tbs black pepper
1 jalepeno pepper
You can also add carrot, celery and beet juice but you must increase your pressure lbs. and cooking time to 30 mins.
Boil and fill jars.
Pressure at 10lbs. for 15 minutes.

Wedding Flowers

2010-10-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Fertilizer Friday and Show and Tell - links in my side bar

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Just have to share a few pictures of some floral pieces my darling daughter did for a wedding. They are beautiful.

Thanks for letting me share and show her off a bit!
Have a great week!
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This week I am grateful for the lovely Fall Season here in Idaho

Cute Little Ghords and Other Stuff From My Garden

2010-09-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

I love harvest time - our gardens haven't done as well this year in Idaho because of our short summer - our last frost was the end of June and our first fall frost was the end of August.

This is a picture of some of the cute little ghords - they are all so unique! These are all heirloom plants so I am gathering seeds for next years garden - I think my post next week will be about all the seeds I am gathering.

These are a few of the squash.Love these peppers! Can't wait to make Salsa - waiting on the tomatoes to ripen.
A few more peppers

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a great week!
Today I am thankful for the sunshine and the peace it brings to my soul.

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I would love to have you visit me in my Fall Blogging Room

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Linking up with Blooming Tuesday and Fertilizer Friday - link in my side bar - be sure and check out all the other gardener's - it is so interesting to see all the different phases garden's in various locations are in.

Pond Area - Micro Climate - Zone 5

2010-09-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hooking up with Blooming Tuesday and Fertilizer Friday - Links in my side bar

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In our side yard area off the living room. This is a view looking out the living room window - it is lovely! In this area because it is surrounded by tree's and close to the house is a micro-climate 5. (This is actually a side shot of thepicture in the header.)

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We are a zone 4 and so everything else in the yard is toast but this stays green a little bit longer. Here are a few pictures from that spot - the plants are looking tired and ready to go to sleep for the winter, but they continue to gladden my heart and brighten my eye for a few more days. Top of the Pond
This plant has never bloomed before!
It is a fall plant!
WOO HOO
This is one of the pots.

This is another pot.

This is the chinese lantern - they spread like crazy so you have to really keep an eye on them - but I love their cheery little seed pods in the fall!

Thanks for stopping by....
This week I am grateful for the health and strength to garden - truly a blessing in all of our lives.

Have a great week!

Fall Happenings At My House

2010-09-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Blooming Tuesday and Fertilizer Friday - Permanent links are in my sidebar.

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It has frozen here several nights so these are the end of my flowers - they have been so great to me this year - sharing their beauty all through the season. In the next couple of weeks they will be all cut down and ready to go to sleep. We have had a really short summer - our last freeze was mid June and then our first frost this fall the end of Ausgust - poor little tomatoes need heat! It is supposed to be nice this week so I cut back all their leaves and hopefully the sun can do it's thing!

This sunflower is so cheery I had to take a picture against the sky a few minutes ago

Here it is close up.

Pumpkins starting to ripen too - need some sunny days!

Notice the frozen leaves :(

Starting to gather my squash - I ran out of night tonight but this wheelbarrow will be filled several times before I am done.

Thanks for stopping by! Today I am grateful for Fall - I love every part of it!
Have a good week!
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I would love for you to stop by my Fall Blog when you have a minute.
www.bucketsofideasforfall.blogspot.com/

28* at My House!

2010-09-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Fertilizer Friday link in the side bar.

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Fall has officially arrived at my house - it has been down to 28* several nights in a row.

The corn is turning yellow and nearly ready to harvest. These apples need to freeze to turn sweet and be ready to make into applesauce, juice, jam's and pie filling.

The sweet pea's are still sharing their beauty with me!
Thanks for stopping by.
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Today I am grateful for the seasons - I love the changes they bring both in the outside and in my personal life.
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Have a great week!

Time to Start Harvesting

2010-09-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

My vegetable garden is ready to harvest - we had the most wonderful BLT's the other day with tomatoes still warm from the sun and lettuce so fresh fried crookneck squash, I am geting hungry just thinking about it! We wanted to keep eating and eating! It was yummy.

We are supposed to have a freeze tonight, tomorrow night and Tuesday night. I will cover the tomatoes and water the corn, but the rest I am going to let it go. My pumpkins need the sunlight anyway to ripen totally.

We will be canning apples soon - they need to freeze then they will be sweet and ready. Canning Salsa, V-8 Juice, speghetti sauce, peaches and more. Such a great time to preserve this yuumy stuff.

This has been a crazy, chaotic and wonderful summer. The days have sped by I am amazed it is September already.

I would love to have you drop by my Fall Blogs:

Buckets of Fall Ideas

Buckets of Halloween Ideas

2 New Babies in Our Family

2010-08-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

Taking a few weeks off for two new grandaughters born recently. Talia is on the left she was born the middle of July and Esti on the right born in mid August. See you next week!

Daisy's and Hollyhocks!

2010-08-03T09:29:00.001-07:00

Linking up with Blooming Tuesday, Fertilizer Friday and Show and Tell Friday. Check them out for lots of great gardeners and fun projects!
http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
http://www.tootsietime.com/
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My daisy's and hollyhocks are amazing - it is so fun to see how each week of summer the garden changes with perennials. Their entire purpose is to "Brighten the eye and gladden the heart." They do that everyday.

I have Daisy's in clusters all over the yard.

Here are some with some Bell Flowers

Daisy's and Holly hocks

Holly hocks and Jackman Clematis in the Bistro Garden

Close ups of the Holly hocks - hard to tell but there are light and dark pink in this pix.

Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you have a great week.
Still waiting for the arrival of our newest grandchild.

This week I am thankful for the vibrant days of summer.

My Delphiniums!

2010-07-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Bloomin Tuesday - lots of great gardeners sharing thier gardens - be sure and check them out. http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

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One of our daughter had her baby last week and we were out of town. The baby is beautiful - our first granddaughter after 5 grandsons. It was lovely in St. George, Utah - but it is about 30* hotter there than here!

When I got back all my delphiniums were blooming! WOO HOO - The first year they have bloomed - I feel totally blessed. I got them all on a throw away table at a nursery and wasn't sure if they would make it or not. Aren't they lovely!

Being gone a week let the weeds have a hay day! I will be busy for a while getting on top of them again - plus another daughter is due this weekend.

Thanks for stopping be - have a great week.

Mid Point - Summer Garden

2010-07-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

This is our mid summer mark - the middle of July - it froze here a couple of weeks ago and our first frost of the fall can be anytime in September. I wanted to take some pictures of the yard at the mid summer point.

Back Fence Area

This area used to have a huge wood pile and this bush grew up in the front of it. We moved the wood pile and had this little hidden spot. It was dubbed "The Thinking Spot." The next picture shows the little hidden alcove.

This is next to the thinking spot - it is the medicinal garden.

Cutting Garden

A Long Shot of the Cutting Garden

Here are a few of the flowers blooming in the Cutting Garden

Side Yard Area

This is looking towards the Woodland Garden

Woodland Garden

This is the view from the south

THis is the view looking from the side yard to the southThe Honeysuckle is blooming! Our Veggie Garden

Sorry for the weeds - I work on the yard one week and the garden the next -

the garden is next week.

These are the tomatoes - they love being next to this fence. We have such cool nights the tires help to keep them warmer so they do much better. These are the ghords and the beans

These are the raspberries

These are the seed plants - beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce

Strawberries, peppers, carrots, onions

More squash Corn starting to pop!

Entry Area

FRONT OF HOUSE

This is the center of the house. It is the "Hosta Bed" On the left side is the part I just did this spring and it is growing nicely. See photo below. The next photo is the right side which I haven't started - this pix is for me to study next winter so I can make my spring plans. These pictures show the long view of the "Hosta Bed" area.
This is the long view of the Hosta Bed from the driveway

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Hope you have a great week!

Today I am thankful for my sweet family.

Expecting two new grandchildren anyday!

Out Front - Lily Pad and Driveway

2010-07-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Bloomin Tuesday - lots of great gardeners sharing thier gardens - be sure and check them out.

Welcome! Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!

This is our front area next to the driveway. I redid the area last Summer - not sure why I have had so many problems with this area but I think it is finally starting to work. It is all in purple and white through the summer season.

If you go to your right you will be in the entry way.

If you go to the grass and turn right you will see the Hosta Bed.

This is the last Iris that blooms - it is almost black.

This is a beatuiful purple sedum.

Hardy Geranium

Love this lime!

This darling little flower was a throw away at a local nursery that I rescued from the garbage. I have divided it at least 10 times.

This is a Veronica - it is lovely

This is the "Lily Pad" starting to bloom.

Thanks for stopping by! Prayers for all of you in the Gulf and the Southwest.

I am thankful today for my sweetheart.

Side Yard and Pond Area

2010-06-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Linking up this week with

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Bloomin Tuesday

Welcome to our Pond and Side yard area. This is the entrance from the back yard. I tis also off the Livinf Room area in the house. Several years ago this was all grass. The tree got bigger and the grass died. So we decided to put in a retreat of sorts for our dad. We are self employed and he works long hours. we wanted to have a beautiful relazing place for him to be able to spend some time at the end of the day -

It is lovely out here.

There are four quads and the pond area. Each quad is like it's own little garden area. It is all shade garden. These are the hammock and bench quads.

The tree has lights in it and this light has Chirstmas lights in it and when we plug in at night it glows - it is lovely!This is the bench quad - I saw the bench on Tootsies blog and had a bench that wasn't able to be sat in so it turned into a planter like her's. I still want to get more do=da's for it. But it looks awesome and the plants are starting to fill in.
This is the pond area - it is directly to the east of the bench above. I haven't cleaned out the pond yet because it has been too cold - hopefully this week it will be warm enough to do that. A cozy chair and a book are all you need out here! The music that plays when you first come into this blog is how it sounds out there. It is heavenly!This is the top of the pond at the waterfall beginning. The little shelf above the star hold my shovel and other equpiment I need.
When you turn around you see the patio This is on the side wall - the broken rake holds all the watering supplies. The wreath is the one I made out of the old hose and the bird nest was just vacated by the baby birds and mom. This is the planter on the north side. It has been really cold here (froze my beans last week!) so flowers aren't very lush yet. I will post a pix when these get fuller.
This is looking back towards the back yard This is the view from the living room door. We spend lots of evenings out here with the lights on and the fireplace burning. There are more pots that I will show when they are filling in.

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I am thankful this week for our freedom - we are so blessed - may we do what we need to do to keep that priviledge.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week.

Out My Back Window This Week - Pink!

2010-06-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is the amazing view I have when I look out my back bay window/door when I look to the east. It shows our Cutting Garden and the Woodland Area with the swing. In the corner is the Pergebo with a seating area tucked inside.

This week pink is starting to bloom! The following pictures are the beginnings of this pink transformation.

This peony is a start from my grandmother's - she died in the early 60's and my uncle took a start from it. Last year when we helped him clean his yard, he gave me several starts and this year it bloomed for the first time! WOO HOO

There are 6 blooms on it.

Here are paitned daisy's that my sweet friend gave me. They are happy here.

In person this shot is quite lovely - the pink just jumps out at you - hard to capture in the pix.

I can't wait to watch as everything blooms out there.

Cutting Garden

2010-06-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Linking up with Show and Tell and Fertilizer Friday

.http://www.tootsietime.com/

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I have several theme gardens, one of them is the "Cutting Garden"

The flowers are pink, purple and white, no matter what season it is.

It goes the length of the house from the back door to the east.

On the other side of the door is the Bistro Garden and the Herb Garden.

Blooming this week:
Iris

Flocks

Perenial Bachelor Buttons

Blooming next week will be

Peonies

Carnations

Dianthus and more!

A whole different set of flowers - this is so fun to watch!

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West Half of Cutting Garden

East Half of Cutting Garden - through the opening (lower right corner) you go into the pond area. If you turned to right you would be looking at the Woodland area with the swing.
Long shot looking East from West
The Iris still blooming - aren't Iris' amazing!

Here are a few of the flowers just starting to bloom! WOO HOO

What I am thankful for today.

Fresh clean air, blue sky, warm sunshine and finally being able to be outside! It has been a long winter and spring and things have come to life in Idaho!

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Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a great weekend - our thoughts and prayers go daily to you who live in the south east US.

Hosta's and Comfrey Tea

2010-06-22T10:50:00.001-07:00

Linking up this week with Bloomin Tuesday and Tuesday Garden Party
Bloomin Tuesday
Tuesday Garden Party

Hosta Bed

This is our front yard "Hosta Bed" there are about 20 different kinds of Hosta's in all sizes because of age. They are finally starting to fill in - our weather has been so cool it has taken them a while. I am excited to see how much they grow this summer. This is one of my favorites - though I love all Hosta's! This bed I just redid so it is a new bed - there were things not doing too well so I pulled everything out and added Hosta's here too - it connects with the above bed.

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Comfrey Tea

Today I made comfrey Tea - here is one of my comfrey plants - I cut one down like it to make the tea.

You fill up a bucket 2/3's full and put a rock onthe top and then fill with water. Let it sit about 2 weeks and you have an amazing, nutritions plant fertilizer. Here is some more information about it. It is another step to being self sustaining.

Here is a post about the nutritional value of it - better than horse manure! http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2010/02/comfrey-tea.html

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MY BEANS FROZE ):

Sadly our freeze last week froze my beans - BOO HOO I was giving them a few days to see how they did but they are sad - I am replanting tomorrow. Notice how a few are ok and others next to them are toast!

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a great week!

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Today I am grateful for the warmth of the sunshine on my face, we haven't felt it much in Idaho yet this season.

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This week is my Back Yard Week and my projects are:

Fertilize my pots - DONE

Finish weeding the cutting garden (6 feet to go) - DONE

Clean up the ditch - DONE

Lop the tree's - DONE

Do little flower bed by back gate

Replant the beans

Clean up the play yard area

Go through Woodland - Maintain

Frrost Warning, Pink & B-day Garden Gifts

2010-06-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

YIKES!

Look what just came in my e-mail! IT is June 17th for goodness sakes! Our local nursery sends out weather alerts through e-mail and this just came!

Frost Advisory Tonight!

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch in effect from late tonight through Friday morning. Temperatures of 30 to 36 degrees possible. Locations include Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Rigby, INL Complex, Dubois and St. Anthony.
Cover any tender annuals and vegetables, hanging baskets etc. Protect with blankets, bed sheets, or frost cloth. If you can't cover up, consider turning on sprinklers before the temperature drops below freezing. Hardy annuals (petunias, pansies, etc.), perennials and shrubs should be okay. Anchor coverings well in case of wind.

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So I dashed out and covered everthing up and now that everything is covered - here is my post for Fertilizer Friday - be sure and hop on over to Tootsies to see all the great gardeners from everywhere! So fun to see what is blooming in all the different zones.http://www.tootsietime.com/

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Lots of pink stuff popping out all over!

Hawthorn Tree - it is magnificent!

Centareus - also considered the perrenial bachelor button

Pix on left are the flowers close up - such a cool flower!

My b-day was a couple of days ago - here is a gift my darling friend Betty shared with me. The pot is a bathroom sink - very awesome!

This is cute do-dad she made me too - it is a bowl inverted with glass marbles glued all over on it - it is stuck on a glass bottle so it sticks in the ground - looks like of like a mushroom out of the dirt. It is in the middle of the bottom in the right picture. The light shining on it is so fun!!!

One of our darling daughters gave this cute garden owl - isn't it so fun!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend - our prayers daily include the people in the Southe east being so negatively affected by this oil spill.

This week my garden tasks when it warms up are to 1 - finishing mulching my garden, 2 - fertilize my pots, 3 - clean out on top of the ditch.

Today I am thankful for such good people that are in my life on a daily basis - I am humbled by the ongoing love they show me.

What's Happening This Week in My Garden

2010-06-14T19:38:00.001-07:00

Linking up this week with Bloomin Tuesday and Tuesday Garden Party

Bloomin Tuesday

Tuesday Garden Party

First I have to tell you - today June 15th is my Birthday I love my b-day - what a wonderful day to hear from family and friends and get to do anything I want and I the day!

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This Week's Projects
Geting another section of our fence done ! WOO HOO My sweetie peeking through.

Working on the edges of the flower beds - it cleans them up so much when the grass is cut away from them. You can see the part done and not done in the picture.

When I do these projects I work on them 6 feet at a time and then come back where I finished up the day before - sometimes I get 6 feet done, sometimes more. But the goal is always at least 6 feet.

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Today at my house is it mostly yellow and purple.

My Iris are still beautiful.

The Iris are blooming all over my front and back yard. I still have more colors coming but they all bloom at different times here. More Yellow
A little closer up
Pink is starting to bloom! I am hoping to share pink next week.
My Vegetable Garden This Week - The peas and beans

You can see the baby birds, their little beaks are poking up waiting to be fed - I think they are ready to fly away. It has been so much fun to watch them through our window.

They haven't liked it when we use our picnic table.

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This week I am thankful for my birthday!

This week plans -

finishing mulching the garden,

finish the edging on my flower beds,

weed again after all the rain,

clean out my garden shed.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope you have a great week!

Woo Hoo - Still Purple at Our House!

2010-06-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

Linking up with
Bloomin Tuesday
Tuesday Garden Party
Fertilizer Friday

Favorite Things Friday

Finding Beauty
Show and Tell Friday

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It has been raining for a couple of weeks and it is beautiful!

It looks like we are in Oregon.

This is what I can see today when I looked out my back window.
This week everything is still a lovely purple and white.

These are the Iris blooming right out my window (they are in the lower left corner in the picture above) - aren't they lovely!

Here are four of the Iris' that are currently blooming - I just love purple!
The top left Iris is a Grape Iris - it smells like grape - isn't that amazing! Here are the lilac bushes in full bloom in our yard. All are different colors and a heavenly smell.

Here is a picture of our pond area - next week I will share pictures of it - things are really starting to pop out there.

Looking at the buds about to bloom - next week should be a pink week!

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share with you!

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This week I am thankful for springtime freshness and new beginnings, my faith in a loving Father in Heaven and the beatuiful world He has given to us as a gift. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; D&C 59: 18

Everything is Blooming Purple at my House!

2010-06-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

Linking up with

Bloomin Tuesday

Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Fertilizer Friday
Favorite Things Friday
Finding Beauty

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

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Everything at my house blooming is purple! Isn't it awesome!

The Iris' have started blooming.....

Apple Tree's still in full bloom - it smell's like I would imagine heaven smell's!

Our Veggie Garden

top right - onions/top left - peppers

bottom right- raspberries/bottom left - strawberries This is the top 1/3 of the garden This is the side 2/3 of the garden areaDon't you love spring - a promise of new beginnings.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you have a great week.

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Today I am thankful for my sweetheart - we have been married for 13,149 days....that is a long time. He is a trooper and he loves me!

Our Entry Area

2010-05-27T16:21:00.001-07:00

Be sure and check out Glenda's blog and all the other Fertilizer Friday Gardens - they are always great! http://www.tootsietime.com/

Also hooking up with favorite things Friday - check out all these great ideas.....so fun!http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/

Linking up With Friday - FInding Beauty http://www.dipityroad.com/

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I love to do the pots in this area. Every year it is a different color combination.
Last year it was purple, pink and white so this year it is a total new look

Entry Theme - Oriental Garden Mostly Shade/Partial Shade/One Corner is Sun
Colors 2010 -Burgandy Lime Coral
Plants for Pots -Potato Vine - Lime, Lobelia - White, Ivy Geranium - Burgandy,
Coleous Red and Lime, Impatiens - Burgandy & Coral Pink, Begonia - Burgandy
Still need to get some Coral Diacsia (? on spelling on that one!)

I have 3 more pots to get some little plants for.
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This is the area from the front door looking out

I love watching things grow up and fill in here. This is the blue pot at the side of the above pix it needs some coral Diascia. I love this lime potato vine. It is amazing with the burgancy coleous and other flowers in this wonderful blue pot. Same area - looking in from the driveway entrance area. These are the cluster of pots at the base of the tree. There are a couple I still need to fill with plants.
To the left of this cluster is another pot with a begonia in it, just behind the lime bleeding heart. Don't you love the lime!
I will show pictures through the summer as these things grow. I love the lime, I have a couple of lime coral bells I am nursing back to life in this same area and I will show them when they are growing.
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This is the rain cloud that came and chased us indoors. I worked out a little in the sprinkling for about an hour, then it poured on us - it was perfect!
Thanks for stopping by,
Have a safe weekend!

Thank you to all the Veteran's - especially my dad. (Korean War - 1950 - 1952)
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I am thankful today for the smells of spring - the dirt, the flowers, the tomatoe plants, everything that is so full of wonder.

Our Apple Tree's - Aren't They Lovely!

2010-05-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

There are three of our apple tree's in bloom right now - I am so glad they bloomed this week and not last or the snow and freezing temps would have killed them. (These tree's can go to 28* without damaging blossoms - it has been colder than that.

This is a picture of the transparent tree - it is loaded - this is the one year - lots of applesauce, pie filling, dried apples, etc. Here is a picture of the blossoms close up - our entire neighborhood smells so sweet!

Woodland Garden Progress May 27th

2010-05-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Woodland Garden is really growing! It snowed the first of the week and I was concerned about plants breaking off, but they did really well through it.

This is the south side

Close up of the plants falling over the walk - I love it when they do this!

This area is about 4 years old - this year finally things are touching! I see all these magazine photo's of lush gardens and this one is finally doing it! WOO HOO

This is the same area on May 10.

Same south side May 10 - look how much things have grown!

Planting Peppers and Tomatoes

2010-05-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

I love to plant peppers - they grow nicely here and we always get a wonderful harvest. I make salsa with them, freeze them and dry them for storage and cooking. The top corner is on the south east side. The wind blows from that side so I put a little wall up to help protect them from that. Here they are first planted:

I have found I also need to protect them from the sun after they are first planted. I put tomato cages in each corner and hook a small blanket or a sheet to them for the first couple of weeks. It warms up here quickly (Literally overnight) and the poor little plants can get fried quickly until they are used to the heat. Here are my tomatoes - I love the yellow and orange tomato cages! I am working on replacing my old ones with these bright colors - aren't they so cheery!?!?!?!

They are planted in tires because we fill up the edges of them with water. The daytime heat warms up the heat and when it cools down at night it keeps the plants nice and warm. OUr nigh time temps in the summers are in the 40's. We also add a milk carton upside down eith the bottom cut out. It is pushed into the ground. Then when we water, we fill them up so the water gradually goes into the tomatoes. They are planted against the fence - perfect protection from the wind. They get as tall as the fence and are covered in yummy tomatoes!

Blooming Tuesday!

2010-05-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks for Jean for hosting this for us every week - be sure and check out the other gardeners all over the country - so fun to see what is growing in different zones.

http://www.anoregoncottage.com/

We live in zone 4 but some of our yard I can sneek in zone 5 plants because of mico climates. For for the past 3 days it has been snowing! We get snow sometimes in May but rarely this late.

My house is clean as per the sign above! Because of the snow and the cool temp's. Nothing has changed from last week and I didn't know what to share today. Then I remembered the plants hanging out in the car for protection.

I went to the nursery and bought bought the tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes we need for our garden. There weren't any people there - who could blame them - there was a blizzard outside! It was a perfect day to shop. The whole area got the storm from Montana down to south of Provo, Utah. (It is 100 miles to Yellowstone going north and 250 miles south to Provo + 350 miles that is a HUGE area.)

I realized then I could tell you about one of the four pot area's. I try to get what I need for them one area at a time, get them planted and then move onto the next one I used to buy it all at once and then I was overwelmed and didn't enjoy it - this is supposed to be fun! It is supposed to warm up the end of the week so I am ready to plant.

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The next post is filled with some garden art ideas - it was snowing on Saturday and I had planned to work outside - so I spent my time looking at others gardens - I mean I can only clean my house so much!!!

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I am adding to my posts what Darla does over at http://morefamilyandflowers-darla.blogspot.com/

Today I am thankful for the hope that sunshine brings!

LInks to Posts with Great Yard Art

2010-05-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Can you tell it is snowing - atually bllizzarding at my house - instead of digging in the dirt I am looking at others gardens!

This post will be added to as I find other links - it is a great way for me to keep track of projects I would like to do!

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All the instrucions to repaint your old plastic chairs are at sassy style blog - they havea a bunch of spray paint outdoor ideas - Totally cute!

This chair was done by Andrea and is found at Before and After - Chair Super post. Amazing!

Look at this fun plant in a frame! Lots of fun ideas on this post
What an adorable mailbox! _ there is a tutorial at this link - Jan has done a great job on this. Christy did these next two projects

Beaded Plant Hanger Beaded Plant Decor Beautiful Frosted Mason Jar Candle Holders for the Patio - I love these!

Look at the Blooms at My House!

2010-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Glenda for hosting this~!

Be sure and check out her blog and all the other Fertilizer Friday Gardens - they are always great!

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I am so excited to finally be able to share some blloms from my house. It is really windy today and raining off and on - but looking out through the window it is beautiful.

This is always my first Iris to bloom - it is a mini Iris. It is tiny and only about 10 inches tall - I always get so excited to see it - it is lovely!

Here are a few tulips that are blooming. The top two are from the flaming garden. That garden has only red, yellow and orange blooming all summer long.

Our fruit tree's are really putting on a show! Top left - apple tree, top right - crab apple tree, bottom left another apple tree, bottom right cherry tree's. We still have plum tree's, three other variety of apple tree's and cherry tree's to bloom.

This is a picture of the corner of the woodland that the following collage is taken from.

That's all for this week...things area really taking off here ...hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!
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Goals for this week:
Fertilize everything
Add iris and lily's to the pond area
Buy tomatoes, peppers and potatoes (warm weather crops) to plant in my garden
Plant my veggie garden
Yard upkeep this week - Back Yard

Herb Garden

2010-05-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Also linking up with Favorite Things Friday at http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ Lots of fun projects over there!

Thanks to Jean for Hosting "Blommin Tuesday"

You can look at all the other gardeners at

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
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One of my favorite things is my herb garden - nothing like being able to walk out the back door while I am cooking and snip off some fresh herbs to use!

Today I cleaned it out and got it ready for the summer! WOO HOO Here is the cullinary part of my herb garden. It is about 20 feet from the back door.

This is the plant marker - the idea is from the Martha Stewart website - it is from the ideas listed in the next post. It works great!
I have all the information I need for this plant. Here is our dog Sterling - he watches me work between naps! I also found a bunch of plant markers today and shared them in the next post.

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I just read this blog post from a garden party and would like to add the link here of cooking with herbs from Gatsby Gardens. http://gatsbysgardens.blogspot.com/

Plant Marker Ideas

2010-05-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

These markers are made using the front of the seed packet and outdoor sealer - lots more ideas to use seed packet fronts here. I have been in my garden all week. I cleaned out my herb bed and all the markers I used last year are faded and I need some new longer lasting ideas. Here are a few ideas I found - each title is a lnk to the original post with instructions. ********************
This is from the Birds and Blooms site - put in plant markers in their search feature to pull up the instructions. Make your own marker on your computer Acyrlic Sleeves These are broken plates Made out of clay I love these engraved rocks Antique spoons with instructions Made out of vinyl blinds This website has several ideas - this pix is one of them Cute markers made from twigs This is from the Martha Stewart website - I like this one! Another website with pictures of engraved spoons In this post and pix are markers made from 3 different mediums

My Garden and Birds

2010-05-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

Be sure and check out the other gardeners this week at

I can't get blogger to let me switch the order of pictures - so sorry I didn't download them in the right order and I really want to get outside and dig in the dirt
so here you go!
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My garden is ready to be tilled - this is a picture of it before.....

Our first fruit tree blossoms...WOO HOO

My bleeding heart is blooming finally!

We had a little visitor drop by yesterday - a beautiful pheasant.....Our garden got tilled last night - isn't this dirt lovely!

Ready to plant cool weather crops.....

My garden wreath I made out of a hose has become the home of this little mother robbin. She has been laying for 4 days now.
Thanks for stoping by....

Have a great week!

Wildfower Information

2010-05-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have a spot against a fence and a road that I have struggled with forever. I am planting wildflowers there and found this great link with instructions of how to do it. So on my blog it goes so I can easily access it!

Great instructions for planing wild flowers

Woodland Garden Progress

2010-05-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Linking up with so many talented bloggers at:http://www.tootsietime.com/

Bloomin Tuesday http://www.msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

Outdoor Wedensday http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

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My Woodland Garden in Progress

This is a little tour of our Woodland Garden - I will show you this again later in the season.
I really have things growing! WOO HOO - The Woodland Garden is along the east side of the yard, this is a picture of the entire area.
Left side
Center and our wonderful swing that our son in law made.
Behind the swing

The right side with my wheelbarrow after cleaning up from a HUGE windstorm.

Thanks for visiting today!

Have a great week.

My Grandchildren's Garden and Stepping Stones and Snow!

2010-05-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Be sure and check out the other "Fertilizer Friday" gardens - they are all so fun to see! Thanks Tootsie for hosting this for us!