Before.....

                                                After......

 

I picked the squashes just in time.  This is all that is left of the squash on the compost pile.

I put a few seed potatoes there for the fall.  We'll see if the deer like them.  I'm willing to sacrifice a few for an experiment, but not my whole crop.

 

Anything we really want to save goes inside the fence.  

 

The sunflowers are still there on the compost pile, way too big for the deer to get.  The birds are loving them.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Seeing Jewelweed and Poison Ivy together reminded me of the practice of companion planting in the garden.  Often it occurs naturally, but we can use the techniques in our own gardens.

 

Companion planting is the practice of deliberately planting, or allowing to grow, plants that compliment each other. They may provide shade or physical support, enhance growth or flavor, improve soil quality, deter bad or attract good insects and animals to the garden, etc.

 

There are many good resources for companion planting, like the Farmers Almanac and home gardening books.

 

Here are a few companions I count on in my garden:

 

Marigolds are pretty to look at,  and they deter many plant pests like nematodes, whiteflies, and bean beetles.  The deer don't like them either.

Borage planted near tomatoes deters tomato hornworms (which can devour your crop overnight.)   Borage also attracts bees to the garden to pollinate tomatoes, peppers, squashes, well...everything.

Basil improves the flavor of tomatoes (as every Caprese salad lover knows) but it also repels flies and mosquitoes.

 

Rosemary and Thyme improve the flavor of lots of things, and they deter the moths and worms that eat cabbages and other Brassicas.

Daffodils and castor bean are toxic to gophers and moles, so they stay away.  Deer won't eat them either.

 

Another good example is the "three sisters."  Native peoples have planted corn, beans, squash together for centuries.  The corn provides support for the beans to grow up, and the squash shades the roots of the other plants.

 

So you see, flowers are more than just pretty faces in our gardens, they provide many services too.

 

IMHO, (OK, not so humble) companion planting is far superior to pesticides, even though it is probably more work.  But when we kill insects, we kill the good ones along with the bad ones.  I don't want cabbage moths, but I do want Monarchs in my garden.  I don't love yellow jackets, but we NEED honey bees.  So we just put up with some things for the good of the whole.  That is a life lesson in itself!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

Kit project.  20" x 20" wall hanging.  I want to learn how to make Bargello style quilts, and decided that a small trial could tell me a lot about the process, without the huge commitment of a full size quilt.

 

What I learned:  the process is very fiddly:  small pieces to keep organized, and do-able with a good pattern.  

Just THE kind of project I LOVE!!!

 

So maybe this winter will be the time for me to take the leap into the world of Bargello.

 

Anybody have Bargello style experience?

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!

I only got one comment on my Quilter quote, and that was from a non-quilter.

 

Mark suspects an "army of quilters" across these ridges,

and even mentioned a "quiltfest."

 

I'd really like to know how many of us are quilters, and WHO you are.

I don't know what a "quiltfest" is, but it sounds like FUN!!!

 

I'll post some of my quilting projects, and hope for more comments.  

Maybe somebody can even start a "Quilting in the mountains" blog.

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!

 

This is Impatiens capensis,  aka Jewelweed or Spotted touch-me-not.  Perfect specimens down by the Chestnut trees, dense stand, right by the creek, about 3 feet tall.  Poison Ivy close by too.

 

Fabulous story to go with it:

 

The sap of the leaves and stems is said to relieve itching from Poison Ivy, and they often grow side by side!   

If you accidentally brush through Poison Ivy, you can crush a handful of Jewelweed and apply it to the affected area, for temporary relief.  Of course, it's best to wash with soap and water as soon as you can.  

 

When I see Spotted Touch-me-not, I look around for Poison Ivy.  The orange flowers are a lot easier to spot than Poison Ivy.  And I NEED to KNOW where IT is:  we are NOT friends!!!

 

Other interesting facts:  hummingbirds, as well as butterflies and bees are attracted to the orange flowers.  And because of its fungicidal qualities, Jewelweed has been used to treat athlete's foot.

 

Oh, wanna see a good example of Poison Ivy?  I took this picture right beside the Jewelweed.

 

 

Careful out stomping around in the woods.  It's everywhere.

 

 

 

The goldfinches love these coneflowers.  Other small birds visit them too, for the seeds.

 

They will eat the seeds all through the fall, until there are none left.  It gets a little ugly, but hey!! we're feeding the birds naturally.  And we get to see them up close.

 

I've got plenty of seeds to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I don't know about you, but I LOVE rainy days in the garden.

 

First of all, I think I can hear my plants drinking up the moisture, especially after a long dry spell.  They just sound happy.  Secondly, it's definitely cooler, and you can plant little plants without them wilting immediately.  Third, you don't have to follow the shade around, all areas are accessible without sweating to death.  And fourth, nobody bothers you, they're all inside.  

 

And best of all:  the weeds are easier to pull out!!

 

So, get out there today, and try gardening in the rain.  That's where I'll be...

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

These sunflowers also grew from seeds on the compost pile.  The deer didn't find them in time to eat the heads off.

 

George and Rose weren't so lucky.  Deer got a few of theirs.  Fortunately, they left most of them to bloom.

Be sure to notice them next time you're on Beacon hill near Stonebriar.  They are beautiful.

 

Sunflowers take about 80 days to mature, and some varieties can grow as tall as 12 feet.  There are many varieties. Choose one that makes you smile,  and try them, they are fun to grow.

 

It's a little late to start sunflowers, but if you hurry, you should be able to see blooms by Halloween.  But, that's pushing it.  You will get more enjoyment out of seeds you plant in May and June.  I'll remind you when planting season is upon us.  

 

In the meantime, notice them in your travels.  They're always good for a smile!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

We have been talking about this young bear who has been hanging around the neighborhood this past month and last night he had yet another zany adventure with him.

 

First here is the classic video of him lumbering around looking for bird feed, apples, or just enjoying the moonlight...

 

Then, having found no bird feeders out, he decides the Arlo camera look pretty good for a tasting!

Mmmmmmmmmm good. I like the taste of Arlo on bark!

 

I guess once he decided it really needed more salt he just left it, all bear spit, hanging up side down now point upward into the tree.

 

But thats not the end of the story!

A couple hours later Mr Racoon wandered down the tree and wondered why Mr bear left this tasty Arlo pointing upward into the tree..

 

But of course Mr bear, now annoyed that there was no salt on the Arlo to make it a wonderful snack, decided to express himself once again. And... flattened my bear cut out before he left! This is the second time he did it. The first time he pushed it over and bent the 14" metal spikes into a curve when he flattened it. Nice guy :P

 

 

 

So yet another zany eve with, Mr pushover.... his new name...

 

These are butternut (left) and spaghetti (right) squashes.  They grew from seeds on my compost pile.

 

I really have to be careful what I plant, because everything grows!!  I just stuck seeds in the ground!!

 

The deer don't bother the squashes, only the leaves.  So if they leave enough leaves for the plant to survive, we will have a few squashes.  They are worth the trouble.  I'll post how to use them in the recipe section.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!