Lots of heirloom tomatoes, Swiss chard, Tomatillos, and Kale ready to plant in the garden.  We started these seeds back in March, and have watched them grow to plantable size.

 

NOAA weather is calling for rain starting on Tuesday.  I say, "Let's get these babies in the ground !"  The moon is in Taurus today, a good sign for planting.  Yay!!!

 

Come on over, I have plenty of extras.  And I'm always ready to share garden experiences.  Maybe I should qualify that invitation:  I'll be in the garden from 9:30 - 12:00.  Come then.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

FLOWERS FOR YOU!!!!  From Tere and Henry's garden.  Love, Gerry

 

Last year's Leeks are getting ready to bloom!!!  

 

Aren't they the most beautiful blue?   I planted the root end that I cut off a leek that we ate last fall.  I think next time, instead of pulling it out of the ground and replanting the root end, I'll just cut off the leek above the ground and see if it grows back.....

 

If you search the site (go back to the main menu) you will find more about leeks.  I wrote about them last fall, and added a recipe for leek soup.

 

Meanwhile, I'm loving the blooming of Spring.  It's everywhere!!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

On my way down to the mailbox, I noticed a wild rose climbing the trees across from the Nobles'.  It is huge, and very fragrant.  I smell cloves and roses.  :))

 

Roses and blackberries are related, and look very much alike, except the roses are more compact, and the leaves are smaller.  The blackberries are blooming now too, but they are more sprawling in their growth habit.

 

Speaking of blackberries, it is now safe to plant whatever you want to grow in your garden.  Blackberries blooming signals the last frost date.

 

So, go ahead and DO IT!!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

This may seem odd coming from ME, but have you noticed that lovely smell in the air?  I have, and I know to look UP!!!  It is coming from the Black Locust trees in bloom.  We have several to our North, and when the breeze is right, the air is filled with that glorious scent.  OK, that's the big picture:  look up!

 

This is a close-up picture of Black Locust flowers.  They look like sweet pea blossoms.  Ted held the branch down so I could take this picture, and we agree that the scent is heavenly.

 

 

If you are interested, I wrote about Black Locust back in October.  You can go to the archives, or you can search the site for Black Locust.  Great trees, I love them!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

OK, maybe it's not the prettiest thing, but it works!!!

 

When we plant our tomatoes in the ground, we dig the holes deep and put in these 2 liter bottles.  Remove the lids and cut off the bottoms. Turn them upside down next to the tomato plants and bury them along with the tomatoes.  This serves as a watering hole, getting the water down to the roots and keeping water off the leaves.

 

This way the water gets where it needs to be, encouraging a deeper root system, and discouraging fungal diseases on the tomato leaves.  

 

We are always optimistic about our tomatoes: and ring them with 6 foot wire cages.  We stake them, and then tie the cages together to withstand our summer winds.  

 

We also plant Borage among the tomatoes to invite pollinators and deter Tomato hornworms.  Borage isn't blooming right now but when it does, I'll show you.  It's really pretty!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

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!!!