Posted on 01/20/2012 9:56:41 AM PST by JustaDumbBlonde
It was just a couple of weeks ago that I was really glad that the last of my garden had frozen. Being blessed with a long growing season is not always what it's cracked-up to be. You understand ... gardening is hard work! When it lasts from March or April until December, it can get tedious.
Then, yesterday, my first order of seeds that I don't need came in from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds. Four beautiful little envelopes that sound like maracas; Baby Lincoln Leeks, Tres Fine Maraichere Endive, Beaumont Broccoli, and Large Fruited Mixture Ornamental Gourds.
I am stoked.
Yep, that's all it takes to get the soil coursing through my veins once again. Newspaper pots are about to be made ... my plastic trays need to be washed in a sudsy bleach solution. Clean off a couple of shelves in the garage and hang up the grow lights. Now, if I could just remember where I put that 55 quart bag of moisture control potting soil ...
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Last week, the Weekly Gardening Thread welcomed the 500th member of the ping list. What a great way to begin our 2012 gardening season! More members = more information to share. Let's grow!
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
We have been going back and forth between high fifties and single digits for the last several weeks. Last nite it got down to 5, this weekend supposed to be near 50.
Everybody complains about it but I don’t mind a cold snowy winter. January and February are down times for me and it’s nice not having something to do in the garden. Builds anticipation for next season. It’s a good time to clean up, plan, organize, take care of little projects, and kick back a bit, and live off the harvest.
Going to do some sprouts next week I think.
Looks like Peggy has found a house in Marshall, Tx. She will meet with the owners tomorrow. It is a small older house with a nice sized fenced in backyard. She will find out if they will have a problem with me having a vegetable garden.
Mark and I have 3 cutouts to do on folks that have bee problems. I have the components for 10 hives either together and painted, or in pieces unpainted. Mark has similar inventory, and we are planning on a huge bee expansion this year. If you like the mead-making, I'll definitely give you some honey by this time next year!
First cutout is scheduled for Sunday. Thank goodness Mark is making a good recovery with his back!
I dug a hole for the first tree of the 11, and the soil smelled so good! Can’t believe I’m getting fired-up this early.
A Texan having a problem with a backyard vegetable garden? You don’t gotta worry about that. What you WILL have to worry about is random knock knock Mr. Devil, I hate to bother you but I was making salsa and realized I ran flat out of tomatoes. You don’t happen to have four five extra, do you?
Speaking of tomatoes, I couldn’t find a single plant in Austin and it’s time to plant. Winter is OVER. We may get a couple of freezes until mid-March but the plants can be covered.
I’m finding myself more invested in container, right next to my door gardening. I expect the drought to be as bad but we might have a better shot at tropical storms this year.
bump
I’m hoping for some tropical storms. We need the water in the Hill Country.
Great photos, all of them
I’m with you right there on the paying of taxes, fortunately for me with tax season here my income will be increasing so just need to make it through this month. Of course that also means no time to think much about gardening but oh well.
I don’t envy you being in the midst of all the union nastiness there in Wisconsin but am impressed with your Governor and will send prayers that he and the Senators will weather the storm.
Being a noob to gardening and a noob to chickens, I’d like to get some input on what to plant in this years gardens that would is good for chickens.
The couple of things I know for sure is lettuces’ and corn but anything else, I’m not sure of or am him-hawin’ about.
Also anything about fertilizing with chicken manure.
We keep straw down in the coop but I think I want to switch to some wood pellets or un-treated wood shavings or maybe if I had a source, some saw dust.
Any thoughts, experiences, opinions etc ??
Prayers are much appreciated, as are donations. Even tiny ones.I am furious about what all this is costing. And it takes Wisconsin out of the presidential altogether because all of us are totally preoccupied with these ridiculous recalls. But, we just have to work through it.
I had something crazy happen to me eight years ago. My mom left town visiting and I took a big bag of chicken scratch over and stuck it in a big igloo since rain was coming. My brother was helping around the house while she was gone and I think he left the igloo open one day then it rained.
When I got back, there was evidence of bug activity in the moist meal. I went and got another bag of scratch. When I opened the igloo again, it was TEEMING with mealbugs which I shoveled out and fed to the girls.
That igloo produced great protein for about two weeks. I doubt I could re-create the situation though. But, man they came screaming in when I drove up! Snacktime!
ONLY 10b??? It’s more tropical than THAT! hahaha
...well Lady Bender made Chicken Gizzard Soup today so there...
Well, it MIGHT be Zone 10b, but there are MANY summers when it goes up to 11 (reference to Spinal Tap, AND I am a Rock musician on top of being a Gardener! LOL)
Ah, the sweet heartbreak of a false Spring day
When the fresh smell of rain is in the air,
And the breeze has a soft edge to its chill
But tomorrow's coming will be colder still
And 'though future days may be considered fair
More inevitable Winter is on the way.
As for the garden, I bought my mom a camellia last Mother's Day .... the first & only one in her garden. It is a Kumasaka & it blooms winter to mid-spring. It has done very well and is loaded with what looks like big buds and we're getting anxious to see what the flowers will look like. The description is "pink peony" and the pink is not a soft pink, but brighter and darker (several shades lighter than fuschia). It should be beautiful!
Well, I went out and did the thumbnail scratch test on one of the branches. Happy to report that there is some green in there. I'll cut them back and hope that they make it.
I don’t think I’ve ever had the word yuk enter the same sentence with the blueberry bandit before! You’re a mess, Mr. Bender.
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