It's been a long while since I posted. 3 years ago we had a home gutted and rebuilt. It's a very special place for us. It is the kind of place I dreamt of and prayed for. I am incredibly thankful. It's a 3 1/2 acre wooded haven. Wild turkey frequent the yard and we see deer pass through often. I love it. It has the quiet country feel to it but it is actually within somewhat of a neighborhood.
I love all the wildlife but they have indeed changed my gardening! The neighbors said they gave up on gardening as the deer and turkey were relentless in getting the food. So, sadly I had pretty much given up on the idea of gardening here without even trying. In recent months my oldest daughter has expressed how much she wishes we had a garden. I decided the least I could do was give it a try! So, this blog will be revived and I will journal our first attempt at having a garden on this property. It won't be the nice fenced in garden we had in the past, there won't likely be nice raised garden beds like we had before. I'll be starting from scratch, investing what little I can until we see if indeed the plants can survive the wildlife!
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Monday, April 4, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Introducing: Angela's Garden
I am very pleased to get to share a newly discovered gardening store with you: Angela's Garden!
The goal of Angela's Garden is "to create a line of gardening gloves and accessories that are highly- functional and almost as beautiful as the gardens themselves." After viewing the extensive line of beautiful gardening gloves and accessories and having the great pleasure of receiving some of the products from the Green Garden Collection, I firmly believe they have achieved that goal!
The variety of gloves is extensive - from everyday gloves to heavy duty gloves and something in between. Each type of quality constructed gloves not only serves it's purpose but comes in an array of beautiful colors or patterns.
But don't stop with the gloves - Angela's Garden has beautiful and practical brim hats (which I personally think would also work great for a day at the beach!), durable and stylish Garden Tote Bags (which are cute enough to be used as an every day bag too!) Gardening Aprons, & knee pads. You will also find some great gardening accessories for the young gardeners in your family! The Kids Collection is simply adorable!
Stop in and check out all the products at Angela's Garden today! You will be glad you did!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
New Garden Season under way!
I must say I am so excited that Spring is here! Somehow I never cease to be flooded with excitement over a new gardening season.
Although it has been quite cold here in Northern Indiana my garden preparations have been underway.
Last year I planted way too many strawberry plants and they were overtaking my fenced in garden area and the areas beyond! Never underestimate the determination of strawberry plants! :) After giving it some thought I realized it really would have made much more sense to have planted the strawberries in my raised garden bed and left the vegetables to the fenced in areas! The raised garden bed would better contain the strawberries and the fenced in area would be much more protected from all the critters that love to nibble at my veggies. So one afternoon/evening this week my young daughters and I spent 3 hours making this transition.
First came adding compost to the raised garden bed soil along with some peat moss. We dug, tilled, and mixed it in the first few inches of soil real well. Hopefully that will make a difference in retaining moisture as we've found the raised bed to get more dried out. Next came digging up some 50 strawberry plants and transplanting them into the bed. My daughters took great delight in helping dig the holes. I'd dig up the plants and they'd rush over and get them and carefully plant them into their new area. After removing over 50 strawberry plants (after planting only 18 to start with - shows how much they spread out!) there were still tons of them left. So, we dug and dug, and pulled and pulled until we got the soil as free of them as we could. The extras went into the compost bin and will break down and feed the garden in another year or two! So, it really is not a waste. We were quite worn out but I am happy to say it's looking pretty good!
I've already got my vegetable planting plans under way. I'm going to attempt sweet corn for the first time (just a tiny row), then my usual tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, greenbeans, spinach, radishes, and peas. Maybe some peppers later in the summer.
I am happy that a new garden season is here!
My oldest and youngest daughters helping dig out strawberry plant roots.
My oldest daughter with all the transplanted "Sequoia" Strawberry plants.
Although it has been quite cold here in Northern Indiana my garden preparations have been underway.
Last year I planted way too many strawberry plants and they were overtaking my fenced in garden area and the areas beyond! Never underestimate the determination of strawberry plants! :) After giving it some thought I realized it really would have made much more sense to have planted the strawberries in my raised garden bed and left the vegetables to the fenced in areas! The raised garden bed would better contain the strawberries and the fenced in area would be much more protected from all the critters that love to nibble at my veggies. So one afternoon/evening this week my young daughters and I spent 3 hours making this transition.
First came adding compost to the raised garden bed soil along with some peat moss. We dug, tilled, and mixed it in the first few inches of soil real well. Hopefully that will make a difference in retaining moisture as we've found the raised bed to get more dried out. Next came digging up some 50 strawberry plants and transplanting them into the bed. My daughters took great delight in helping dig the holes. I'd dig up the plants and they'd rush over and get them and carefully plant them into their new area. After removing over 50 strawberry plants (after planting only 18 to start with - shows how much they spread out!) there were still tons of them left. So, we dug and dug, and pulled and pulled until we got the soil as free of them as we could. The extras went into the compost bin and will break down and feed the garden in another year or two! So, it really is not a waste. We were quite worn out but I am happy to say it's looking pretty good!
I've already got my vegetable planting plans under way. I'm going to attempt sweet corn for the first time (just a tiny row), then my usual tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, greenbeans, spinach, radishes, and peas. Maybe some peppers later in the summer.
I am happy that a new garden season is here!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Enjoy this season...
Awww... gone are those spring days in Indiana when the first birds come to visit the bird bath and we joyfully welcome them. Gone are the days of filling up the hummingbird feeder and excitedly watching as those tiny creatures come and flit about in such an amazing manner.
Now I sit indoors sipping some coffee as the cold is settling in Northern Indiana. The most I see of nature is a wooden birdhouse hanging down the side of my kitchen cupboard with some artificial trailing ivy and a lifeless yellow bird resting there! I really need to get outside and fill up my bird feeders so I'm not staring at a styrafoam bird! LOL)
Although I look forward to the days when I can begin a new year of gardening, welcome back the spring flowers & birds, and enjoy the warmth of the sun - there is much to enjoy now. Each season of the year and of life has its special joys and blessings!
Today I am enjoying a warm home filled with the colors of Christmas. I love this time of year. The excitement the children have, the lights all aglow, the warmth of candles. It's a beautiful time. Foremost it's the celebration of my Savoir and His birth. Christmas is a reminder of God's love for us - that HE cared enough for us to send HIS son into this world of sin that we might have the opportunity to be redeemed. That is most wondorous blessing.
Enjoy this Merry Christmas season while it is here! Spring and the new gardening season will come soon enough.
Now I sit indoors sipping some coffee as the cold is settling in Northern Indiana. The most I see of nature is a wooden birdhouse hanging down the side of my kitchen cupboard with some artificial trailing ivy and a lifeless yellow bird resting there! I really need to get outside and fill up my bird feeders so I'm not staring at a styrafoam bird! LOL)
Although I look forward to the days when I can begin a new year of gardening, welcome back the spring flowers & birds, and enjoy the warmth of the sun - there is much to enjoy now. Each season of the year and of life has its special joys and blessings!
Today I am enjoying a warm home filled with the colors of Christmas. I love this time of year. The excitement the children have, the lights all aglow, the warmth of candles. It's a beautiful time. Foremost it's the celebration of my Savoir and His birth. Christmas is a reminder of God's love for us - that HE cared enough for us to send HIS son into this world of sin that we might have the opportunity to be redeemed. That is most wondorous blessing.
Enjoy this Merry Christmas season while it is here! Spring and the new gardening season will come soon enough.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
My Garden 2010
Well, I haven't posted here in awhile but not for lack of enjoying Gardening.
My garden is doing well - now. It didn't start out so well. Mostly due to that I just get so anxious for gardening season that I tend to plant seeds outdoors too early. That was the case this year. Some of the seeds didn't come up and some that did the plants got damaged by frost. It's shaping up now though and looking pretty healthy. I will miss that spinach that didn't come up and the peas that some hungry rabbits wiped out. But in there place I somehow ended up with at least 6 tomato plants when I intended to plant 2. No complaints just not sure how that happened! I must have dumped some seeds I didn't know about. So, this year we shall have green beans (pole & bush varieties), zucchini, tomatoes, green peppers, and okra. We also harvested a decent amount of strawberries earlier this month.
The most excitement centered around a dwarf apple tree that began growing apples for the first time!! In May it had probably 25 apples growing on it and our whole family was thrilled about this first. Well, sadly when we came back from vacation there were only a handful left on the tree. While we were gone there were some high winds with some storms and apparently that got the best of those little apples. :( Oh well, we are happy to see the little thing working to grow some fruit!
That's the updates for now on the gardening front.
Happy Gardening 2010!
My garden is doing well - now. It didn't start out so well. Mostly due to that I just get so anxious for gardening season that I tend to plant seeds outdoors too early. That was the case this year. Some of the seeds didn't come up and some that did the plants got damaged by frost. It's shaping up now though and looking pretty healthy. I will miss that spinach that didn't come up and the peas that some hungry rabbits wiped out. But in there place I somehow ended up with at least 6 tomato plants when I intended to plant 2. No complaints just not sure how that happened! I must have dumped some seeds I didn't know about. So, this year we shall have green beans (pole & bush varieties), zucchini, tomatoes, green peppers, and okra. We also harvested a decent amount of strawberries earlier this month.
The most excitement centered around a dwarf apple tree that began growing apples for the first time!! In May it had probably 25 apples growing on it and our whole family was thrilled about this first. Well, sadly when we came back from vacation there were only a handful left on the tree. While we were gone there were some high winds with some storms and apparently that got the best of those little apples. :( Oh well, we are happy to see the little thing working to grow some fruit!
That's the updates for now on the gardening front.
Happy Gardening 2010!
Monday, September 7, 2009
My Garden in review 2009
As my garden season comes to an end I look back on the success of the season:
What had the best harvest: My Roma Tomato Plants & My Golden Jubilee Tomato Plants.
I enjoyed eating them fresh and trying out making my own salsa.
Close 2nd: My Green Beans.
What didn't do that great: Once again Zucchini just doesn't seem to be too happy with me! Grew a couple and that's about it.
What I bought too much of: Strawberry plants! They are taking over. I do hope to benefit from a large crop next year for some delicious homemade strawberry pies! :)
This years first: Growing Green Peppers. I will do that again.
My hopes for next year: Many more blueberries!
What had the best harvest: My Roma Tomato Plants & My Golden Jubilee Tomato Plants.
I enjoyed eating them fresh and trying out making my own salsa.
Close 2nd: My Green Beans.
What didn't do that great: Once again Zucchini just doesn't seem to be too happy with me! Grew a couple and that's about it.
What I bought too much of: Strawberry plants! They are taking over. I do hope to benefit from a large crop next year for some delicious homemade strawberry pies! :)
This years first: Growing Green Peppers. I will do that again.
My hopes for next year: Many more blueberries!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
This years Tomato Plants
This year I am growing two varieties of Tomato Plants:
Roma and Golden Jubilee
The photos below are of a Roma Tomato plant.
Roma and Golden Jubilee
The photos below are of a Roma Tomato plant.
Why I love my raised garden bed...
This year is the first year for me to use the raised garden bed my husband made me last fall. I love it. I definitely prefer it over my regular fenced in garden.
I find it is much easier to maintain as you don't have to bend down as far. I have found that I can fit a lot of things in this garden bed/box using what I call the shoulder planting method (basically planting all the plants closer together). I like this method as weeds just aren't that prevalent. There isn't much room for them to grow amidst the lush vegetation!
I find it is much easier to maintain as you don't have to bend down as far. I have found that I can fit a lot of things in this garden bed/box using what I call the shoulder planting method (basically planting all the plants closer together). I like this method as weeds just aren't that prevalent. There isn't much room for them to grow amidst the lush vegetation!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Ethel Gloves - the gardening glove for a lady!
For any gardening ladies out there in need of a beautiful, quality pair of gardening gloves I highly recommend Ethel Gloves. I recently was introduced to them and I was so pleased from the moment I saw the beauty of the website. The same attention to beauty and detail carried through to the impressive presentation of them in the packaging, to how comfortable and well made they were in trying them out. They really are a glove with lady like appeal!
I personally chose the signature style because I knew the darker color would not show dirt as quickly. However, there are various colors and designs to fit all styles.
"Ethel Gloves are defined by fashion, function and protection. Durable and tough, yet refined AND machine washable for easy care."
A worthwhile purchase for yourself or a nice gift for a gardening friend!
DISCOUNT**For my blog readers enter the the code "INDIANA10" when making a purchase from Ethel Gloves and you will receive a discount! ~ Good through Friday, June 26th, 2009.
I personally chose the signature style because I knew the darker color would not show dirt as quickly. However, there are various colors and designs to fit all styles.
"Ethel Gloves are defined by fashion, function and protection. Durable and tough, yet refined AND machine washable for easy care."
A worthwhile purchase for yourself or a nice gift for a gardening friend!
DISCOUNT**For my blog readers enter the the code "INDIANA10" when making a purchase from Ethel Gloves and you will receive a discount! ~ Good through Friday, June 26th, 2009.
Radishes first crop of the season.
I always enjoy planting radishes. They take up little space and usually only require 22 days from planting the seeds until harvest! For those of us who are short on patience this is a rewarding plant to grow!This year I planted Cherry Belle radishes and French Breakfast radishes. Over the weekend I got to pick the first planting of them.
The photo is of my Cherry Belle radishes. They can be planted in stone free soil in early spring to early summer and again in late summer for a fall crop. The Cherry Belle are very bright red and add excellent color to any garden salad.
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