Category Archives: 2012

Update: I finally found my pictures, so I’m reposting my 2012 report. Summer was crazy for me, and I realized I had never really done a garden review. It’s the whole reason I started my site–so I could track my progress and what I learned. Here goes: Camera I need my own camera, that works. My camera broke, and I took turns using our “big” camera (Canon SLR) and my son’s camera. Though I have scoured all the memory cards, the pictures I KNOW I took are nowhere to be found. Good news–Santa brought me this! Walls O Water I’m officially … Continue reading →

First, I am happy to report my computer is online. Parts fixed, programs re-installed, I am finally able to function again! And that’s good, because my garden has been in full swing: Here is one tomato bed–huge and green towers of tomatoes. Unfortunately, I didn’t remember which plants I put where, and got my tall and short towers mixed up. This is my other tomato bed. It’s so strange, because these were all treated the same way, but these plants are quite a bit smaller. Still, they are producing tons of tomatoes, so I’m not complaining. Here is my first … Continue reading →

You may have noticed my total failure to post. Here’s a short summary: 1. Little camera breaks. This is my “go to” point and shoot. Something is wrong with the lens, it won’t come out all the way. I’ve LOVED this camera, and it’s served me well for a long time. Long enough to justify buying a new one. I just hate the process of having to read reviews, analyze, and decide. 2. Big camera battery dies. This is my “fancy” SLR camera. We have two batteries, neither of which will hold a charge. So we need to bite the … Continue reading →

My broccoli was a bust (I blame early warm temperatures and late transplanting), so I had a moment of silence for the failed broccoli, then I pulled it out and replaced it.  Now I’ve got green beans and collard greens in that spot. With the warm temperatures, the beans popped up in just a few days. It always seems like where one plant fails, another succeeds. This is my first year growing kale and collard greens, and they are producing like crazy, as are my snap peas. Every couple of days I go out and trim off a few leaves … Continue reading →

I have to apologize. I’m really sorry for disappearing. I was doing so well–posting several times a week, and then summer hit. Here’s what summer looks like for me: Mother’s day End of School Start Summer Homeschooling* My birthday Father’s day Local Rodeo (huge family tradition) My husband’s birthday 4th of July LOTS of family in town (this spans about 2 weeks) My son’s birthday I always think “This year will be different. This year I’ll keep going.” But then I hit my summer slump for blogging. With kids home all day, it’s hard to sit down to the computer … Continue reading →

So I tried a new thing this year, Walls of Water. Basically, this is a product that allows you to plant your tender and very tender vegetables earlier, offering them some protection. It is like a circle of tubes that you fill with water. The water collects energy and heat from the sun and warms the soil and air around the plant. I bought two kinds, the original Walls O Water, and another kind. In the original one, all the little tubes to fill with water are the same size. In the other kind, there were a couple of super … Continue reading →

First, I have to show you one of the things on my gardening wish list that I finally got: These are Sloggers Gardening Boots. I love that I have something to slip on quickly, tromp in the dirt and water, and not ruin my athletic shoes. The downside–I MUST wear socks, and they can be hot. In retrospect, I might have ordered a half or full size larger, so they slipped on more easily, and would breathe a little more. Still, I’m happy as a clam. Oh, and I have to tuck in my pants, making me look a bit like … Continue reading →

To say I’m busy is an understatement–I almost have more posts than I have days and time! That’s good, it just means I’m a little behind and always have 14 drafts waiting. Here is how my garden has been doing: These are my vegetables I started from seed. These pics were taken at the end of March. I’m also trying to grow some perennial flowers from seed to put in my front garden bed. This is what they looked like at the end of March. At this stage and size, it’s time to thin. I plant 2-3 seeds in each … Continue reading →

I’m very proud of myself for actually getting my seeds started on time! Last year I was so busy, I ended up just buying all my plants. But it was EXPENSIVE! So here’s my setup. All the plants in round pots are for my veggie garden, and the square ones are flowers for the front garden bed. I’m starting kale, collard greens (my new experiments), tomatoes, peppers, and some herbs. I was AMAZED because I planted these on Thursday, and nearly half had sprouted by the following Tuesday. All my tomatoes are up, as are the cabbage family. The peppers … Continue reading →

I was thrilled to be contacted by a representative of Brighter Blooms Nursery with an offer to try some of their products. They mostly offer landscaping items (trees, bushes, perennials, and vines), but it just so happens that I’m planning a huge redo of my front flower bed. Up until now it has graciously served as a spot for “ornamental squash.” That means I grew all my pumpkins, zucchini, and winter squash there. So it was perfect timing, to say the least! My flower bed is on the north side of my home. So it gets direct sunlight when the … Continue reading →