My tomatoes were a bust

I got one lousy tomato off of four plants. And that one had a big split in it so I threw it away.

I don't know if it was too much or too little water, bad soil, too rich soil - sun or too little light - they just didn't grow!

I am not willing to try it again next year at the same location, anyway.

What a waste of time!

First and only Brandywine Pink Heirloom Tomato

Wordless Wednesday

Bear in Marshall

Wordless Wednesday June 8, 2011

Baby Finches, Daylilies, Sky

Wordless Wednesday 06-01-2011

Daylilies

Painted a Wall

From a flat pinky beige to glossy white.

Spring Morning

Wandering Jew

This one is summering on the back deck.

Cucumbers in a Pot

I don't know if they'll make it, but it's an experiment.

Chicken Turnip Portabella Stew

6 chicken legs or other chicken pieces
5-6 small turnips, quartered
Large Vidalia or red onion, quartered
Portabella mushroom, quartered (optional)
Olive oil
4 cups broth or water
Sunflower seeds (optional)
Balsamic Vinegar
Rosemary
Parsley
Salt
Pepper

Brown the chicken legs in olive oil in a large Dutch oven so both sides are browned, about 5 minutes per side. Add turnips, onion, mushroom, 4 cups broth or water, sunflower seeds, and 1 tablespoon or two of vinegar. Season to taste with rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook, covered, 20 minutes until turnips are tender. Serves 2-3.

Wordless Wednesday May 25, 2011

A Country Saturday Afternoon

May 13th Spring Fog and Barn

Wild Rambling Pink Roses

Yellow Knockout Roses After 6 Weeks

First Marigold Bloom

Red and White Petunias

Wild Pink Sweet Peas

White Mulberry Tree

Lotus Magnolia Tree by Barn

This beautiful tree is at least 20 feet tall, if not taller. We get huge white lotus-flower looking blossoms for over a month each spring.

Geraniums by Tomato Plants

Deep Red Blooms on plants with medium green leaves with dark zoning. Excellent heat tolerance. Wonderful mainstay that all gardeners, avid or casual, can connect with. Wonderful in containers. Dead-heading is necessary, make sure you break dead blooms off from the base of the stalk.

More impatiens

Planted up a pot full to put on the brick patio, and added six plants to the front garden.

The hanging containers are now home to at least one pair of nesting finches. I think they're the same ones that lived on the porch last year.

White Lilacs

Wild white lilacs growing on the Northeast of our property and in the Grape Arbor.

This old fashion lilac bears large fragrant white blossoms in May and is considered one of the most fragrant of all lilacs! Moderate growing shrub with dark green foliage. Used commonly for hedges, screens, and as a specimen plant.

Zone 2-8, 10-20' at maturity. May be kept shorter by pruning.

New curtains

They are blue-green - a nice, cool addition for summer! I like the way they filter the light, but leave a bit of a view.

Wordless Wednesday 05-04-2011

Lovely Cast Iron Planter Lady with Wandering Jew

I put five or six rooted Wandering Jew plants in the planter. We bought the little statue at a thrift store in downtown Valdese. She could have been repainted, but I like that old, worn look.

Wandering Jew is one of the easier type of plants to grow. This plant is unique. When given minimal sustenance it will spread out and grow. Cutting out its roots and planting in other soil will make it regenerate itself and start to grow. Wandering Jew plant adapts easily to various enviroments and conditions. It is difficult to control its growth because it spreads rapidly. It has oval shining leaves and produces three petalled flowers. Since it tends to vine it is used in hanging baskets and in areas where it can trail down. Wandering Jew plant produces flower in a range of colors from purple, pink to white which are usually blooming in spring and summer. It prefers moist soil and higher humidity level.

Taking care of Wandering Jew plant is very easy and is recommended for beginners. By pruning the ends it will result in having a more fully and bushy plant. Cuttings can be put in water to make roots and by this way you can make many new little plants. Fertalizing can be done once a month by using a water soluble fertilizer. Wandering Jew is native to South America. There are many varieties of these plants.This plant is really hard to kill. Wandering Jew plant is very pretty and also simple to grow and doesn’t require a lot of care.

A new walkway

I had lots of lovely bluestone/flagstone around the faucet by the front steps, but I wanted a walkway from the steps to the new flower planter. So yesterday I moved most of the stones into a path configuration. With Leo's help, I put three bags of pea gravel around the stones, and for about $10, I have my walkway.

Upon second thought, I need about another three bags to fill in around the stones. I quite like the look.

I moved the maiden statue to the left of the path and planted it up with wandering jew, which I hope survives the summer heat. Well, it is in the shade most of the time, and is easy to water. I moved the sundial and ducks around, and the ghost rocker to make a more pleasing arrangement. Very pleased with the results!