Garden Update

You may remember about 6 weeks ago I shared my little garden. I thought it was time to share an update. Here is what it looked like back at the first part of June

And here it is today:

Full disclosure, I had to replace the closest two tomato plants after a damaging hail storm that occurred just a few days after I took the June photos. 

The farthest tomato plant got some damage but it seems to have benefited from the beating it received! The other two original plants were beat down to a mushy pulp.

Nine cucumber plants came up from the seeds I planted and, after monsoon rains last week and highs in the 90's the past few days, they are going gangbusters! 

I got some questions on what is all around the plants.  It is grass clippings from when we mow.  It really helps to keep the moisture in as well as keep the soil temperature more even.  The cucs seem to love it!

If you look closely, you can see a couple of Roma tomatoes coming along. 

I broke down and bought a trellis for the grape plant the previous home owners had planted and, although it took a pretty good pounding from the hail, it is going strong.  Mr. B is pretty excited about it even though I told him it may be a few years before we see actual grapes. I have seen birds at the bird bath and that makes ME happy!  Hopefully Mr. B beats them to the grapes if/ when they come in LOL!

My little Grandchildren garden is doing pretty well considering it is it's first year.  I smile every time I go to water it!

Bad photo alert! I was trying to beat the sun before it came over the fence, but you can see I finally have my sign up that I made for the shed at our old house. You can also see the damage the hail did to the fence.  Mr. B says it looks like it's got freckles. The hail actually put small divots into our wood deck!  

The star of the garden right now is the planter behind the Grandchilden garden.

You have to really look hard to see the blackberry bush I have planted in the center of the container.  I had only planted six very small petunias here and they have taken off!  I'm not sure if it was the hail beating them up or the coffee grounds I was advised to add to bring up the acid level in the soil. I am going to try coffee grounds in all of my pots next year just in case that is it LOL!

There are times when I miss all of the space that my previous garden had, but then I remember how much work it was, and how I really never got to just sit back and enjoy it.  With my new smaller spaces I can relax with a glass of iced tea and not have an aching back!
How are your gardens doing this year?

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Container Herb Garden

Hello!  It's been a bit since I last posted hasn't it?  To be honest, I have been in a bit of a blogging funk because Spring is late in arriving this year.

I have had zero inspiration and have just been sitting on my behind lamenting the cold weather and just cursing Mother Nature.

Well, the old gal must have heard me and decided to make her appearance as we have had two full days of warm temps and full on sun!  So much so, I got a bit too much of it during our garage sale over the weekend and I am now sporting a very red nose.  Can you say Karma?  LOL!

Anyway, since it is so nice outside, I decided it was time to create the herb garden I had been planning for weeks now. I wanted something small to have up on the deck.  Close to the BBQ and to the kitchen.  Perfect for cooking inside and out.

I had planned on using this plastic container the previous owners had left at the house but Mr. B expressed concerns about drainage and standing water under the container on the wooden deck.  

I considered it a valid enough concern that I went in search of something better.  I found the perfect solution at Home Depot!

It's made specifically for patio gardening! It's not too big, 24"x20" which is the right size for a variety of herbs for just the two of us. You could also use it for a small veggie garden too.  Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, whatever you'd like to grow but don't have the room for! I love that it is on casters (included in the packaging) so I can easily move it out of the intense sun or, if hail is in the forecast, I can roll it under the eaves for shelter. Plus, it's elevated so, if I do over water or we get a rain storm it will dry out natually.

A big thank you to DTL Herbs LTD (go over and like their Facebook page too!) for answering my questions on the best soil medium to use!  After some back and forth it was a suggestion that I use a light garden soil (like from Miracle Gro). I was concerned that a normal potting soil would be too dense and I think the garden soil will work wonderfully! The container is self watering too!  It has an upper screen that elevates the soil and below is a basin for the water.  You fill it using the tube you see on the left side.

I knew I wanted to grow dill for when we can pickles, basil because I love fresh basil, and thyme for some of my chicken recipes.  Mr. B had me add cilantro for his homemade guacamole, and chives for the baked potato he loves with his grilled steak LOL.

The seeds have been planted, 4 sets of each herb so now all that is left is to keep the water reservoir full and to, oh yeah, my favorite activity, wait!  I'll keep you updated on the progress so be sure to come back for a visit soon. 

***Check out an update on how the herbs are doing here***

*This is NOT a sponsored post.  I just think this patio gardening kit is so cool I had to share it with my friends! 

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A Healthy Workout In The Garden #TENways #PMedia

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TENways http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

With Summer is just around the corner, I know a lot of the younger gals are thinking about getting ready for swimsuit season. I, however, am not. As you all know, I am a woman of a certain age and some things just ain't gonna happen, like seeing me in a 2-piece! This is not to say I don't want to look good and that I am not concerned about my health. I just know that words like "Zumba" and "Step Class" are no longer in my vocabulary.

So, how do we older, but still active, ladies get rid of that winter weight?

You could do what I do, I go for a healthy work out, in the garden!

See those 10 bags of garden soil? They didn't get there by themselves. I had to bring them from the front driveway, down the side of the house, to the backyard. 10 bags! I did 2 bags at a time so it was back and forth 5 times carrying a heavy weight. No expensive gym membership required! No equipment purchased to later become a bulky clothes hanger. Added bonus? Fresh air baby!!

And, before I could even lay down the new garden soil, I had to prep the existing soil in the vegetable garden. What I found was, not one but, two layers of gardening weed control fabric. I needed to remove both layers so that my plants roots had somewhere to go! That meant I had to move the soil TWICE! More heavy dirty work that also included bending over and pulling at the fabric as I moved the dirt out of the way, from one end of the garden to the other and back again. Up and down, pulling and tugging. Bend those knees, use those dormant muscles Kath! Feel the burn!

The weed barrier duo did not beat me! Oh yeah, it took some time and I was a sweaty, muddy mess, but I won!! And it felt so good!

I then put the new soil down and tilled it all together. (I saved a couple of bags for an herb garden I have planned in another area, so um, they'll be moved again)

Oh yeah! One garden ready for planting in about 6 weeks time!

Even better with the addition of some fencing to keep Mr. Max out!

After that workout I was hungry and thirsty! Luckily I had picked up some tasty, low calorie sodas from Walmart. 

There are actually four TEN products that can be found at Walmart from the DPSG (Dr Pepper Snapple Group) in 7UP, Sunkist, A&W, or Canada Dry Ginger Ale. The Four TEN sodas are Low Calorie, only ten calories actually, but each has that great full flavor taste I love!

Not only is it refreshing to drink after a hard workout in the garden, I used some of the TEN A&W Root Beer to make a healthier sauce for some 'qued ribs!

Root Beer BBQ Sauce
(adapted from www.mrfood.com)

1 cup A&W TEN Calorie Root Beer

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)

1/4 cup molasses

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons light brown sugar (to keep it healthier I substituted 3 tablespoons of organic honey)

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

In a medium saucepan, combine ingredients; mix well and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes, or until sauce is reduced by half. 

Some freshly made cole slaw on the side kept my meal light.

There were plenty leftover for Mr. B too.  He loved the sweet sticky sauce and could not believe it was healthier for him! And he does love root beer! Now he can really enjoy it, TEN calories at a time!

I'll be keeping cold cans of the TEN products on hand for a refreshing light, full flavored drink, to look forward to as I work out in tend to my garden this season! 

You can join me in keeping  up with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group on Facebook and Twitter. And here's a treat, when you go to Walmart to pick up your TEN soda , make sure you print out this great coupon for $0.50 off the purchase of TWO 2 Liter bottles or TWO 4-pack cans of 7UP TEN, A&W TEN, Canada Dry TEN, RC TEN or Sunkist TEN soda. AND...if you share this offer you can get a $1.50 off coupon!! Woot! This offer is available from March 27 – April 17, while supplies last.

Now I ask you, how do you plan to get back in shape after the long winter months?

My Irises Are Blooming!

A few years ago, we had a neighbor that was considered a Master Gardener.

His front garden was a delight to see each day as the flowers he lovingly cared for bloomed.

Alas, due to some personal issues, he had to move away.  

But, before he left, he allowed me to adopt some of his flowers.  

I chose some irises to dig up and replant in my back perennial garden.

As with all plants, the first year they crawl, the second year they walk 

and the third year they run. 

Whether it's because it's the third year having them in my garden or, 

because of our cool wet Spring, the irises are definitely running this year!

I am not tall, about 5'3" on a good day, 

and these are so tall I barely have to bend to get a good look at them.

I love the white and yellow combination. 

(Photo taken with my iPhone believe it or not!)

I had thought I should have dug up some of his 

chocolate brown irises too but, now I am glad I stuck with just the white.

I just love how tall and straight they stand in the garden.

They bloomed just after my alliums were done for the Spring. 

Perfect timing really. I'm thinking, come Fall, 

I will divide them up and scatter them throughout the whole garden 

for even, fingers crossed, more blooms next year.

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My Front Garden

I spent Mother's Day planting the pots for my little front garden and porch.

When we moved into our home 10 years ago this little patch was full of 

tree stumps and lava rock. 

Mr. B removed all of that, I added a double pot feature and began planting.

Over the years I have added perennials to the garden bed but I always use annuals in the pots.

I normally use a tall cordyline plant for the thriller of the top pot but this year I went with a salvia plant because Mr. B liked the purple. 

The rest of the pots were filled in with petunias.

I have also placed some features such as a ceramic snail named Sid and a frog we call Big Fat Bullfrog.

I also made a garden totem several years ago from thrift store glass and flat sided marbles.

I purchased the pots about ten years ago from a local furniture store in a set of three.

The third, medium sized pot, sits on the front porch. 

I again used a salvia and filled it in with marigolds and petunias.

Along the front of the porch, where we like to sit in the evening and talk over the days events, we have two long pots along the railing (only one shown here). The planters were a terra cotta color but 

I whipped out a can of brown spray paint for plastic 

and painted them so that they blended better and the plants stand out more. 

A geranium an each end with white petunias in the center really pop!

I still need to plant up some hanging baskets but I usually wait to do those until Memorial Day weekend as those dang birds love to make nests in them if I put them up too soon!

I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of my front gardens. 

I will share more of the front of our home once the perennials start blooming.

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Garden Art

I wanted to add some new elements to my back garden this year.
I wanted something that sparkled and stood out amongst the plants
as they start to grow and bloom.

And, because you know me, and my lack of patience, it had to be easy.
I grabbed an empty jar, some flat sided marbles and some good glue and went to work.

I glued the marbles all over the jar in a random pattern.
I went with blue as blue is a hard color to find in perennial plants. 
Plus, it reminds me of cool water and the summer sky.

I then took a solar light from the Dollar Tree and took the long pole off.

I dropped the light part, solar cell at the bottom, into the jar.

I spray painted a leftover wooden stake a dark blue and screwed the cap of the jar lid into the pole. 

(Pretty darn close to center!!)

And then screwed the jar onto the lid.

Not only does it shimmer in the sunlight, it gives off a soft blue glistening glow at night thanks to the solar light inside. 

Should the light quit working,

I can simple untwist it and replace the battery in the light.

I will be making another for the other end of the garden.

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