I've been forcing myself to work in the garden lately. The heat has been terrible, but my enthusiasm has waned on the garden. I enjoyed preparing the beds, planting the seeds and plants, and watering. I even didn't mind weeding.....at the beginning. It's a good thing that my children are excited about all the produce we've been picking lately or the garden wouldn't look as good as it does.
The reason for my lack of enthusiasm finally occurred to me yesterday when I walked into Walmart. I didn't plant ANY flowers this year. Beds of black-eyed Susan's, brightly colored morning glories and other flowers lift my spirit when I'm outside doing mundane tasks. As much as I love fresh green beans and ripe tomatoes, they don't make my heart rejoice like roses and snap dragons.
Walmart has shipments of mums at all the entrances right now. It's time to clean out the lettuce patch and plant some flowers!
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Not Being Bored
The previous owner of our home built a deck over part of an existing cement patio. The deck is open on the bottom and leaves often get stuck there. We have used the leaf blower to clear out the sticks and leaves several times. It was time for another clean-out, so I asked Joe to blow the leaves into the yard.
About 45 minutes later, Joe asked if he could clean all the dirt that was matted down under the deck. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he wanted to make it "spic and span." After about 1 1/2 hours, I walked outside to ask him how it was going. Joe was no where to be seen, but the flower beds around the deck had about an inch of rich, black soil on them. There was also some black soil on the bare spots in the lawn, underneath one of our huge maple trees. Suddenly, a hand gripped the edge of the deck and Joe came out from under the deck. He was covered with dirt, leaves and spiders. I asked if he was having fun. He responded, "I'm being NOT bored."
About 45 minutes later, Joe asked if he could clean all the dirt that was matted down under the deck. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he wanted to make it "spic and span." After about 1 1/2 hours, I walked outside to ask him how it was going. Joe was no where to be seen, but the flower beds around the deck had about an inch of rich, black soil on them. There was also some black soil on the bare spots in the lawn, underneath one of our huge maple trees. Suddenly, a hand gripped the edge of the deck and Joe came out from under the deck. He was covered with dirt, leaves and spiders. I asked if he was having fun. He responded, "I'm being NOT bored."
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Garden
Our garden is flourishing! We harvested a lot of lettuces and radishes this week. A few of the lettuce leaves were bitter, probably due to the excessively hot weather recently. The onions have large tops. Paige and Allie are anxious to pick them, but they aren't ready yet. The pepper plants are flowering. We had some sections of the bean rows that didn't come up. Beans aren't a favorite vegetable around here, so it's not too big of a loss. The tomatoes and broccoli are filling out nicely. I'm so excited to be able to grow vegetables for us again.
Madelyn and I spent a few hours weeding this weekend. I'm going to force the other children to help us finish it off today. The temperature is so cool that it's actually fun to be outside weeding!
The big disappointment this year is our herb container garden. In the past, I've always purchased our herbs as plants. This year, I tried seeds. Very few of them germinated. It was very cool here in May, so I haven't completely given up hope. Maybe, I should check out the green houses for any leftover herb plants just to be safe.
Madelyn and I spent a few hours weeding this weekend. I'm going to force the other children to help us finish it off today. The temperature is so cool that it's actually fun to be outside weeding!
The big disappointment this year is our herb container garden. In the past, I've always purchased our herbs as plants. This year, I tried seeds. Very few of them germinated. It was very cool here in May, so I haven't completely given up hope. Maybe, I should check out the green houses for any leftover herb plants just to be safe.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Gardening Allergies
Mike and I read an article about an unusual gardening method from Mother Earth magazine last winter. The article suggested using large bags of potting soil for the garden. The bags are poked to create drain holes and laid flat on the ground. Then a large rectangle is cut out from the center of the bag. Seeds are planted in the normal manner. But the middle of the summer, the plants have root systems in the soil beneath the bag.
The benefit to this type of soil is that the gardener is able to begin a garden without all the back-breaking work of breaking sod, etc. The following season, the plastic bag is removed, the grass/plants under the bag are dead, and the soil can be tilled into the ground for a better garden.
We had planned on using this method along our fence line this summer. I didn't have enough money to create raised beds everywhere I wanted this year and this method would allow us to have a slightly larger growing area.
Mike and I purchased a lot of bags of potting soil from Meijers and carted them home. By the time we reached the house, my hands were itchy and swollen. I washed my hands thoroughly, but the swelling continued. Eventually, it was necessary to take an antihistamine. We had purchased a lot of seeds and plants, so I assumed that my reaction was to one of the plants. Michael dumped some of the soil into planters and I planted some lettuces and herbs.
A few days later, Amy went outside to help move the remaining bags to the more permanent location. After a few minutes, her hands began to swell. The plastic bags caused an allergic reaction! We ended up not using the bags of soil as planters this summer. I was amazed that a plastic bag could cause such extreme reactions. Mike thinks that it might be the spray that is used on plastic bags that are stacked on pallets. Regardless of what caused the swelling and itching, we won't be purchasing any more potting soil from Meijers.
The benefit to this type of soil is that the gardener is able to begin a garden without all the back-breaking work of breaking sod, etc. The following season, the plastic bag is removed, the grass/plants under the bag are dead, and the soil can be tilled into the ground for a better garden.
We had planned on using this method along our fence line this summer. I didn't have enough money to create raised beds everywhere I wanted this year and this method would allow us to have a slightly larger growing area.
Mike and I purchased a lot of bags of potting soil from Meijers and carted them home. By the time we reached the house, my hands were itchy and swollen. I washed my hands thoroughly, but the swelling continued. Eventually, it was necessary to take an antihistamine. We had purchased a lot of seeds and plants, so I assumed that my reaction was to one of the plants. Michael dumped some of the soil into planters and I planted some lettuces and herbs.
A few days later, Amy went outside to help move the remaining bags to the more permanent location. After a few minutes, her hands began to swell. The plastic bags caused an allergic reaction! We ended up not using the bags of soil as planters this summer. I was amazed that a plastic bag could cause such extreme reactions. Mike thinks that it might be the spray that is used on plastic bags that are stacked on pallets. Regardless of what caused the swelling and itching, we won't be purchasing any more potting soil from Meijers.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Making Headway on my To Do List
1. Joe and I planted our garden today. Normally, the second week in June is too late for me to put in a garden, but the weather has been really cool this spring. We didn't plant many long growing items, primarily food that will be ready to serve in less than 60 days. Here's our list: okra, green beans, two types of beets, radishes, spinach, carrots, and green onions. Tomorrow it will be time to do container plantings of herbs. The kids and I also planted 4 Rose of Sharon bushes (thanks Melinda!)
2. While I was puttering around outside, I fixed a section of the privacy fence that wasn't particularly stable. A new pole was installed and some nails/screws went in to provide more support.
3. The boy's bedroom is almost finished. Steve and Joe worked really hard organizing and disposing of unnecessary items. We had a huge amount of trash this week! The kids also worked on the play room, which is being renamed my Workout Room. The playroom has been a problem for several years. Small children go downstairs and dump out tons of toys in a few minutes and create hours of work. Reminding them to pick up one type of toy before getting out another doesn't work. Placing toys in hard to reach areas doesn't work, because they climb and get into the hidden toys anyway. Most of the kids don't use any of the toys in the play room any longer. My youngest two children have too much time on their hands when I'm teaching the older ones.
The girls' toys will be stored on metal shelving along one wall. When they want items from the play room, someone older will bring the items upstairs. Hopefully, it will give me more control over the number of things being used.
4. Five large shelves of books were organized in the family room. Sorting books is one of my favorite chores. I love rediscovering old "friends" and introducing new books to various family members. Two large boxes were filled with books we no longer want or need for our garage sale. Only 27 more shelves to do!
5. Seven loads of laundry were washed, dried, folded and PUT AWAY. Why is it that moving the clean piles of clothes to the appropriate drawers is so difficult? There always seems to be one or two piles sitting out when I go to bed.
6. One small laundry basket of Mike's shirts were ironed. There are two large baskets of ironing resting on my folding table in the laundry room, but they can be done another time. Mike has work shirts and slacks in his closet!
The kids were a huge help today. We got so much accomplished that I'm hoping to have my major cleaning done by the Fourth of July.
2. While I was puttering around outside, I fixed a section of the privacy fence that wasn't particularly stable. A new pole was installed and some nails/screws went in to provide more support.
3. The boy's bedroom is almost finished. Steve and Joe worked really hard organizing and disposing of unnecessary items. We had a huge amount of trash this week! The kids also worked on the play room, which is being renamed my Workout Room. The playroom has been a problem for several years. Small children go downstairs and dump out tons of toys in a few minutes and create hours of work. Reminding them to pick up one type of toy before getting out another doesn't work. Placing toys in hard to reach areas doesn't work, because they climb and get into the hidden toys anyway. Most of the kids don't use any of the toys in the play room any longer. My youngest two children have too much time on their hands when I'm teaching the older ones.
The girls' toys will be stored on metal shelving along one wall. When they want items from the play room, someone older will bring the items upstairs. Hopefully, it will give me more control over the number of things being used.
4. Five large shelves of books were organized in the family room. Sorting books is one of my favorite chores. I love rediscovering old "friends" and introducing new books to various family members. Two large boxes were filled with books we no longer want or need for our garage sale. Only 27 more shelves to do!
5. Seven loads of laundry were washed, dried, folded and PUT AWAY. Why is it that moving the clean piles of clothes to the appropriate drawers is so difficult? There always seems to be one or two piles sitting out when I go to bed.
6. One small laundry basket of Mike's shirts were ironed. There are two large baskets of ironing resting on my folding table in the laundry room, but they can be done another time. Mike has work shirts and slacks in his closet!
The kids were a huge help today. We got so much accomplished that I'm hoping to have my major cleaning done by the Fourth of July.
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