2020 Garden

OMG!!! I have officially put my order in for the seeds I wanted for our garden this year!  My only question is... What are we going to eat???!!!

I have ordered the more beautiful flower seeds from Floret Flower Farm!  This is my third time to order from this lovely company.  If you grow your own flowers you should seriously look into their selection.  I unfortunately was too late to buy some of the seeds on my wishlist but that's ok.  What is meant to be will be and I am so tickled at what I did buy.  If you are lucky to be one of the people that had my flowers adorn their summertime tables last year then you will know the fortunate beauty of bringing garden flowers indoors and should really be excited about my selection this year!  Here are pictures (taken from the website of Floret Flower Farm) of what is coming this summer to a garden near you!  And please click HERE to see my wishlist where you can find all of these flowers of my choice and more!

Here we have Bachelor's Buttons, Cosmos, Snapdragons, Black Eyed Susan, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Foxglove, Dahlia, AND ornamental squash!

ALSO, I was teasing about what to eat :)  I still have tons of seeds leftover from last year for fresh veggies.  I did, however, have these on my list of seeds to buy from Rareseeds.com or Baker Creek Heirloom.  Find their website HERE.

I'm excited to grow Stevia this year as I haven't had any in the garden in several years.  In fact, I'm still using it from the last time I grew it in 2014 LOL!  

I decided to include Marigold in with my tomato growing this year to keep bugs away which I haven't done in a long time.  I had some strange bugs last year that didn't seem to mind any kind of poison I put on them,  

I am really looking forward to having dried Parsley after this season!  It's also been several years since I've grown parsley.

I love these white zinnias and can't wait to have them as a bit of contrast in cut flowers this summer.

And the Brandywine Tomatoes.  I had really good success last year with Bonny Best from this site and decided to try these for this summer.  I am planning on only growing two varieties this year.  last year I had five varieties in the garden and seriously only wound up canning the Bonny Best.  I'm not going to grow any cherry tomatoes or smaller varieties as I really just wound up having too many to eat.  Seemed a waste of garden space and only gave the bugs something to eat.  I'm trying to use my space wisely I guess?   

I will still have squash, zucchini, green beans and peppers to eat.  And of course the flowers!  I'm drooling just thinking about how beautiful this summer is going to be!

Seeds

Am I finally getting to this post??  I ordered new garden seeds a few weeks back and have actually already received them!  I haven't, at this point, gotten around to starting any indoors as of yet.  We are planning on setting out the garden the first week of June again this year.  We used to put it out on May 10th or there-a-bouts.  But it really seems to take off faster and better and really needs less tilling when the ground is truly warmer and ready.  So there's really no rush on starting my tomatoes this soon.  Boooo.  However, I do feel that the seeds I will begin to go in pots do need to be started very soon.  If I put them outside earlier I can always bring them under the porch eave if there is frost in the forecast or pop them into the house for the evening.

Two years ago I was given a tip for a good company to order seeds from that offers a wide variety of heirloom seeds and are non-GMO, non-treated and non-hybrid.  Just good seeds.  Their catalog alone helps get me through the winter and the last one they sent out was just beautiful... cover to cover and featured pictures of their employees.  My orders are easy to place and arrive by post very speedy.  If you are looking for a good spot to purchase seeds I highly suggest giving them a try.  All of the seed that I purchased from them last year came up and grew very well.  The bell peppers were ever as huge as they said they would be and I have had problems in the past with bell pepper plants... not these!!  They offer herbs, flowers, vegetables and more!  And they were nice enough to allow me to use their photos for this post!  Thanks a buncho!  Visit Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at www.rareseeds.com

Here are some of the seeds I purchased.  The following I bought to try this year.  They are all plants that I've not grown myself before.

Crosby's Egyptian Beet

I have fallen for beets and they and I always say that things are just better when you grow it yourself.  I fully intend to try it with this one!

Calabrese Green Sprouting Broccoli

A friend of ours remarked last year about how good the broccoli was from their garden.  It's been on my mental list to try and grow.

Chantenay Red Core Carrot

The kids at the day care wanted to grow carrots in our garden this year.  We shall give it a go then!

Caraway

Ah caraway... I love to use caraway seeds when baking bread and also in my cabbage.  I can't wait to collect my own seeds for next winter.

Oregano Vulgare

I've not grown oregano from seed before that I can recall.  I think I've always bought a plant from the garden center.  Hopefully.. not this year!  And I've been out of homegrown oregano for a few months and I sure miss it and need to grow more this time.

Apple Blossom Snapdragon

I had such success growing snapdragons last year that I thought I'd try another color this year in addition to the seeds I will sprout that I saved from my own plants.  They bloomed all summer and I so enjoyed them!

Orange King Zinnia

I'm gonna tell the truth here when I say that I decided to order seeds for orange zinnias instead of stopping to steal some from the gardener up the road.  Not that he would have minded.  I never could seem to catch him out there to ask permission and going late at night just felt wrong.  I can't wait to see these big orange beauties gracing our garden!

I also ordered Henderson's Black Valentine Bean, Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage, Bonny Best Tomato, Crimson Sweet Watermelon, Blue Lake Bush 274 Bean and Basil - Genovese.

These are the peppers that I grew last year and extremely pleased with.

Emerald Giant Pepper

Here is a shot of their beautiful catalog.

Click on it to order yourself a copy!

The 2015 ones aren't available anymore but you can get on their December mailing list!

But you don't need a catalog to order online!

They also have a larger catalog for sale that is amazing.

I was in awe when I saw the collage of seeds adorning the entire cover of their catalog.

Amazing and beautiful I found myself trying to name the seeds and beans.

Thanks to Baker Creek Heirloom for allowing me to use their pictures for this post!

All credit goes to them!

Remember to click the pictures or names to be directed to that item.

What do you intend to grow in your garden this year?

Really!  I want to know!

Trying anything new to you this year?

Happy Birthday to readers Kathy and Katety!

root baskets

Root Basket - hanging basket that holds root vegetables such as garlic, onions and potatoes.  There's the old fashioned wire kind, of which i have and use as a planter, and then there's the handmade, hand woven kind.  These have got me drooling just a touch.  Enough so that I plan to check and see if I can hang the wire one that I've got in my pantry so as it's out of the way enough.  If not, these are always an option and they hang on the wall.  I truly feel that I only need one to use for my garlic that didn't get braided this Summer.  I simply want to cut the stems and roots and store them in something airy and big enough.  The original "root basket" that I found is sold out.  I have found the following from Amazon to Etsy.

Amazon dot com

sold out - Root Basket from clydeoak dot com

Large Onion Basket found on Etsy by basketrybotanica

Onion Basket found on Etsy by BasketWeavingSupplie

Hanging Shaker found on Etsy by RusticBuckets

Then again... I could hang wire baskets from my herb drying stick across the sink.  It doesn't get much light.

Pic found on pinterest

Vegetable Sphere Basket Set found on Etsy by CherestStudios

Alas... I will try to make do with what I've got.  These pictures sure have given me some good ideas.  I wonder if there's a tutorial on youtube... hmmmm.

Late May Garden

Shaun has been heard to say that with the success of planting our garden much later than usual this year that we may wait to plant every year!  We actually had to put off planting for a few weeks because of the moisture in the ground where our garden is, plus our work schedules, but mostly the moisture.  We planted last Sunday, May 26th, and because of the moisture still in the ground and the ground temperature being much warmer our plants were sprouting up by Thursday with no rain or watering.  By Friday almost everything we planted was showing signs of life above ground.  Amazing.  Our corn is up, green beans, black eyed peas, rattlesnake peas, zucchini, squash, and pumpkins.  I will venture out this morning to see what else is up and begin hoeing the weeds that are trying to sprout.  I also planted my new herbs and zinnias and cleome that I raised from seed.  I will also proudly state that out of about 65 tomato plants and began all but a six pack from seed this year and they look fantastic so far.  I also began our cabbage and eggplant indoors.  My garlic will be ready to pick on the longest day of the year, June 20th, and judging by the size of the stalks we should have a good crop this year and that's good because I am almost out!  Gardening is so satisfying and so much fun but is a lot of work and maintenance but the rewards can't be beat.  I absolutely cannot wait to have a big fat homegrown tomato sliced up with supper.

 Slight update: my dill pictured is gone and the teeth of a rabbit and it hurts my garden heart.  It ate the stalks and left the leaves and luckily I caught them before they wilted so I can dry them.

Our Garden 2013

I know!  It is only the third day in January but it's like an alarm goes off in me that tells me that gardening for the summer is just right around the corner!  I have already ordered some seeds!  I will be starting some of them at the end of next month (I always jump the gun). 

This evening I have created my first treasury list on Etsy.com.  It was pretty fun!  It includes seeds that I have already purchased, tools that I have and think are cool and I tell you what... I probably will have trouble going to sleep I am so excited. 

Here is the link to it. 

One tip of mine is looking for seeds is to sort by "Most Recent" meaning recently listed.  The listings aren't on there but for a few months anyway but I feel I am getting the freshest seeds.  Maybe not.

Oh and be sure and check the shipping prices.  Maybe it is because I am also a seller of seeds but it really doesn't cost three or four dollars to mail seeds that can be sent in an envelope.  Maybe I'm just cheap.

450 Dish Delish

I play Bunko once a month.  What is Bunko you say?  FUN!  It is a dice game, where fellowship and eating is a must.  At the last Bunko gathering, my friend Linda shared a recipe with us.  Well... some of us that were listening.  I HAD to try it and am so glad that I did.

Here was my version of the dish.  You can use practically any vegetable and any meat that you want.  You simply heat the oven to 450 degrees.  Once it has preheated nicely, place your casserole dish in the oven to heat for 15 minutes.  While the dish is heating you prepare your vegetables and meat.

I tossed chopped broccoli, cauliflower and onion wedges in olive oil (which is a must) and spices.  I used Butt Rub, sea salt and pepper.  Next prepare the meat in the same way.  She said you don't actually have to oil up the meat but I did a little anyway.  I mixed a little olive oil with a little melted butter and lemon juice and added spices to it too. 

Once the dish is heated, remove it from the stove carefully because it is HOT.  Throw in the veggies and scoot them to the sides.  Then place the fish or meat right in the center.  The veggies will sizzle the second they hit the hot dish.  Place the meal back into the oven for fifteen minutes. 

I prepared rice to go on the side but really.. this is a one dish meal!  And terrific to boot!  Since then I have made it with deer tenderloin, green beans and potatoes.  The potatoes and deer meat did take longer than fifteen minutes as I imagine a thicker cut of most meats may.  Just watch it closely when the end of the timer is near.  Enjoy!

Toss with spices and olive oil. 

I promise this entire meal cost under four dollars. 

Mainly because I swiped the rest of the raw veggies from the veggie tray at Easter lunch.

 Roll that beautiful Butt Rub footage. 

 Sizzle Sizzle, Dot Dot

 Oh Yeah

 Tell me 'bout it... stud.

So good.  I am here to tell you.

By the way... here's a tip.  You know those wood bees that look like bumble bees but can't sting you?  Well, if you squirt WD-40 in the hole they are drilling into the side of your house, or your walking stick, or door frame,  or wooden bench on the front porch, it'll kill them.  I am currently listening to one buzz for his life in the door frame behind me.  I feel real bad.. seriously.  If I don't kill him he's going to drill right through.  I've been listening too him scratch away at the door frame for too long.  Silly bee.  I can't listen any longer.  I mean really... pick a tree for crying out loud!  Not my house! 

And that's the truth PPPPPPPHHHHHHHHHHHHLLLLLLLLLLLLL

He stopped buzzing.  I think I'll go reclaim my walking stick now.