Garden seed catalogs aren't just for buying seeds anymore.  They offer so much more!

 

They are great for learning about garden plants:  their history, their growing habits and needs, and great pictures for identification purposes.  Some catalogs even print recipes!  Here are my favorites.

 

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has beautiful pictures and descriptions of rare heirloom plants.  The owners are worldwide seed collectors, and they give historical background of the plants.  In past years they've had good recipes for garden vegetables.   www.rareseeds.com

 

Heirloom Solutions has good pictures and large print!!  Ya gotta love that.  They also share a little philosophy, from a grandfather's Christian perspective on sharing the garden with the next generation.    www.HeirloomSolutions.com

 

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange has good descriptions,  PLUS extensive explanations for growing every kind of garden plant.  They also offer mushrooms and HOW to grow them.  And they are in Virginia, almost in our zone.  www.SouthernExposure.com

 

Territorial Seed Company is out of Oregon, not our zone, but they offer very good information about HOW to grow each type of garden plant:  how deep to plant, how much fertilizer to use, insect and disease problems, harvest and storage.  www.TerritorialSeed.com

 

 Sow True Seeds is my new favorite catalog and planting guide.  They are located in Asheville, really our zone.  So when they tell us what to expect, it's from a very realistic perspective.  Like, day length, average temperature, frost dates, etc.  This catalog also tells us each plant's needs, including companions and antagonists.    It offers mushroom plugs and culture information.  It even discusses seed saving for each type of plant!!!    www.sowtrueseed.com

 

All these catalogs promise GMO-free seeds.  They offer heirloom and organic seeds too.  And best of all:  all that information that helps us become more successful in our gardens.   

 

So even if you aren't growing your garden from seeds, you still need the information on how to do it, so go ahead and read these cool catalogs.  I've given the web addresses for each one.  They all offer free catalogs.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

 

We have lots of bluebirds here. We see them year round.  Fascinating to watch as they build nests, raise babies, and bring joy to our neighborhood.

 

You can have a "bird's eye view" by going to   https://wildbirds-1.click2stream.com/  and see inside the Yorktown nest box.  Right now they are building a new nest for the next brood.

 

Or....You can build a bluebird house of your own and see for yourself.  The dimensions are available online, and not that hard to build.  Sounds like a good winter project!!!!  But don't wait til then.....  :)

 

 

LOVE THE BIRDS!!!

 

Jon just came in and said, "Have you seen what's growing in the compost bin?"

 

 I thought he was referring to the squash seeds that have sprouted in there.  I saw them yesterday, and was pretty excited about free squash plants.

 

But NO!!!  Today this was growing on the top layer.  YAK!!!  So I looked up 'fuzzy yellow mold'.  You can find everything on the internet!!!  Well I found this. 

 

Its name is Fuligo septica.  But wait!!!!  The common names are even more unattractive:  Scrambled eggs slime mold, and Dog vomit slime mold.  OK.  That's GROSS.

 

But the good news is this:  It's not harmful to the compost or the garden.  It spreads by spores and grows in really wet places.  So keep the compost bin DRY, and don't freak out when you see it.  It won't hurt YOU.  Except NOW whenever you see it you'll think about dog vomit.  GROSS!!!!!

 

That's my cheerful contribution to your morning read.  Sorry.  ;P 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

Yesterday we went up to Brasstown Bald, and hiked up the trail from the bottom of the road.  We had only gone a short way when we started seeing Ladyslipper orchids!!!!!!

 

It is a fairly common wildflower, but it takes my breath away every time I see one.

 

They grow in colonies in pine-dominated forests, and are dependent on microorganisms that live in the soil.  So they don't transplant well.  I've seen people selling them at the flea market:  but save your money;  they probably won't survive transplanting.  Just enjoy them in their native habitat.

 

They are just starting to bloom now, so you should be able to see them for a couple more weeks.

 

You don't have to drive up the road to the parking lot;  just park at the bottom and walk up the hiking trail.  In about a half mile you will see hundreds of them. 

 

Be prepared to be amazed!!!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

If you loved watching the bluebird nest, you might enjoy this new angelcam on the titmouse nest.

 

They are very different, and fun to see inside the nest.  When can we ever do that?

 

Go to  Yorktown titmouse nest and see into another world.

 

LOVE THE BIRDS!!!

 

Sandy Bradley sent me this picture today.  It is one of her grandbuddies shucking black beans that they grew in her garden.  Her message said....if you know how to pick em, you NEED TO KNOW how to shuck them beans.

 

Thank you, Sandy for training the next generation:  how to grow and harvest REAL food.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Karen finally found something that the deer won't eat!!!   YAY! for you!!!!!

 

Bearded Iris are beautiful perennials named after the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow.

 

The best time to plant iris is early spring, to give them a chance to establish their roots before blooming.  Late autumn planting doesn't offer this, and they don't grow as well.  Be careful not to bury the rhizome; it could prevent the plant from blooming.  Iris also doesn't like mulch;  I guess the roots want to "breathe."

 

When they become overcrowded they don't bloom as well, so they need to be divided.  It is usually done after blooming, by lifting out the entire clump, and cutting it into individual plants.  Each rhizome will have a fan of leaves. 

 

This is the time to replant, or share with your friends and neighbors.  Everybody loves Iris.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I hope you are still checking on the bluebird nest in Yorktown.  There are two babies, and they actually look like birds now!  They are adorable!!!!!  And they are getting very active.

 

Here, I'll make it easy for you....  Just click on the link.  Better hurry!  They will fledge soon, really soon.

 

 https://wildbirds-1.click2stream.com/   GO THERE NOW!!!!!

 

 

LOVE THE BIRDS!!!

 

Ever wonder why.... Barns are painted red?  click here.

 

Very interesting!!!!  I love The Farmer's Almanac.

 

Rhododendron calendulaceum, better known as Flame Azalea.  They have brilliant yellow to orange flowers.  I've seen several different colors.  All beautiful!!

 

They are native to our Appalachian mountains, and range from New York to Alabama.   They grow in deciduous forests and on the edges of the forest.  

 

Flame Azaleas are blooming all over our neighborhood right now, so be sure to notice them in your travels.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!