March Garden Update

My mind is trying to work around the notion that it is already mid-March. I do not know where the time goes, but it sure does come and go quickly.

The garden has significantly changed over the course of the month since I've blogged.

Mostly, tons of green has appeared.

Weeds. Ninety percent weeds.

Everything growing in the Potter thru the winter has been transplanted and put outdoors (needed to make room for my spring sowing).

The sage, the very same sage I've been babying since last summer, is officially an outdoor plant now. For some reason, I am unable to grow sage, so this plant is a big deal for me.

I had special ordered some 'zatar' seeds. Zatar is a special European oregano that Mr Farmer adores. Much to my dismay, when I received my order, I only received a dozen seeds and as you can see, only one has grown.
I have planted lots of strawberries in containers this year.

And, I'm trying two new kinds of mint: citrus mint and chocolate mint. Both have been planted in containers as I learned my lesson in previous years - never plant mint in the garden unless you want a garden of mint.

Mr Farmer loves mint and has said each one has a distinct flavor and he found the chocolate mint to be unusual but quite tasty.

This vine has shown up on my back porch. I don't know what it is. Do you? Triple T is coming by for coffee on Friday - as usual, I am counting on her plant knowledge to help me identify this. Should I pull it? Keep it? Will it flower?

I have a tray of succulent propagations going. These are for my fountain, which I plan on planting in before the end of the month. If you look carefully, you can see all the 'green' I was talking about.

Let me give you a better picture.

How do you like those weeds?

Ah, yeah... I haven't been weeding much.

Real life, people.

Mr Farmer and I have been discussing removing our 'heavy metal screen doors.' I have them on the porch door and front door. I'm sure I've mentioned a hundred times before, but when we moved into Rose Hill, the place was a fortress - barred up real good. Chain link around the perimeter with barbed wire on top... Bars on all windows and heavy metal grids on the doors. These doors are the last of the 'heavy metal.' They do hold decorations nicely, though.

More 'green' for your viewing pleasure.

The lettuce and spinach have grown wonderfully in pots - a good thing to remember for next year. The cabbage hasn't done so well. The ones in pots are root bound and weak and the ones in the ground are covered with aphids - or some other small pest.

I have begun sowing seeds. This is one of the first pictures I took. Today, there is not an empty inch in the Potter... Tons and tons of sowing has taken place.

Last month, I began putting water in this terra cotta plant tray. Much to surprise, it is visited daily by the stray cats and birds. The birds seem to love it the most and always seem to be watching and waiting for a water refill.

I hope everyone is enjoying their March!

Garden Update

This garden update shall be quick and easy - for truly, I have no garden. I did try to plant a winter garden, but apparently, my neighbor's chickens had the final vote on that idea. Yes, they continue to be extremely destructive... My neighbor has promised by March, the situation would be taken care of...

Most of my garden takes place in the Potter.

The rosemary cuttings are ready for planting.

This year, my volunteer garden will probably surprise us all. Because we are taking apart the two large wood raised beds, I have been trying to use the soil in them for my Potter transplanting (the soil is amazing as I have worked on it for the past three years). I discovered shortly after using that soil - it is full of seeds from gardens past.

This tomato plant grew with some lettuce seedlings.

My first time growing sage from seeds. Yes, it took a long time.
I planted two flats of zinnias. I will probably plant another four flats before I am done with this beautiful garden addition. They germinated quickly.

Two more examples of my volunteer seedlings. If you look carefully, you will see this pot should have one (1) succulent (a propagation project).

Spinach and cabbage in the Potter.

Succulents... I continue to propagate them as I plan on devoting my small fountain to a succulent 'piece of art.' Yes, I have big dreams.

Do you remember the tomato plant that was growing inside the Potter last summer? It still grows. It still gives tomatoes (right now, it is LOADED!). Year round tomatoes. I love my Potter. Anyway, it has grown so large that it now takes up half the Potter (which makes working difficult) and I can't get in/out the door.

I had to do the unthinkable and trim it back.

There are many things growing outside the Potter. I have found that my neighbor's chickens do not look to the pots... they prefer to attack everything growing out of the ground. Believe it or not, I have lettuce, cabbage, celery, and herbs growing in pots and to date, they haven't been bothered by those pesky chickens.

The cabbage is in sorry shape due to our continued wind storms. But, I have to admit - I am so craving green that I am willing to continue to try and let them grow.

Do you see the tilted tomato cage? We don't touch it because growing up inside that tomato cage is one of the branches of the 'inside-the-Potter' tomato plants. If you look carefully, you will see several bare branches heading from the ground up into the Potter.

The roses have begun to climb up the horrible chain link that separates my garden from my neighbor's chicken yard. Because we have so much work to do in the garden, a proper fence is not in the forecast for this coming spring/summer. While the roses don't do a thorough job at covering the 'stinging view' - it is nice to have something there to take away the bite.

(By the way, all the green on the ground - you know, the green that almost looks like grass - weeds...just weeds...)

Clay pot bottoms make for excellent bird baths. I have several around the yard. Every weekend, I fill them with water for the birds.

But, not these birds. My beautiful girlies stay in their coop. This weekend, I did a feet check (mites). I was worried about handling them (because they can't stand to be picked up - but they do like to be petted). I called them up on their roost and checked, one by one, each little clawed foot. No mites.

That concludes my pre-spring garden update.

This past week, I made a huge order for seedling flats and pots... This weekend, I made a first purchase of seedling starter soil, peat moss, and perlite. You know what all that means, right? Yep, it is almost time to start the spring sowing...

LMHO and Awwww...Pinterest

In today's modern language of acronyms, is LMHO (laughing my head off) used?

If not, it should be.

These days, Pinterest generally has some great LMHO and Awww moments:

Awwww... My kiddo did this with all our kittens.

Can you read this cat's mind? "Does this mirror make me look fat?"
LMHO!

LMHO: I can so relate.

And, today's favorite:

Thanks Pinterest!

Being Different

This morning, it suddenly dawned on me that I have a blog.

Really.

And, just to prove it, let me throw in that blogging has been so far from my mind that I actually forgot my own blog address.

Sad. I know.

These days I'm deep into the world outside the computer.

I like it there.

Gearing up to begin my doctorate work. Which means, my blog may go on hiatus for a bit... That being said, you know me... I'm moody. I go through stages wherein I blog twice a day. So, be prepared for anything. Around these parts, you've just gotta go with the flow (see Dad, all those years you thought I wasn't listening - I was... I did learn to go with the flow. Well, kind of. Every now and then, I like to cause a ripple - or a wave...)

Today, I would like to comment on being different.

Human nature - many of us like to hide our differences. When I was a teen, I was overweight and very unlike my peer group. I tried to fit in. It didn't work. So, I embraced being different. I don't think my parents will ever forget my "I'm different and I don't care" phase. Let's just summarize that phase as I was 'half-vampire' and 'half-buy-clothes-from-the-thrift-store-just-so-you-can-redesign-them-into-something-really-weird' stage.

I get being different.

Did you ever want to do something really crazy and other's opinions held you back?

Well, let me tell yoos peoples...go for it.

Just.go.for.it.

Stop hiding those romance novels...swim naked...start that book you've always wanted to write...share your poems...get your ears double-pierced...go ahead and put that feather in your hair...and yes, buy that bright orange purse!

Embrace your uniqueness.

Within your uniqueness lies your beauty.

Go.for.it.

For my friends living with autism.

Autism = different = courage = inspiration = beauty.