I love the Essential Herbal Magazine, and have been a subscriber for a number of years. Now here is your chance to get a FREE subscription, and I guarantee you will want to subscribe year after year. So I hope you will join me and a wonder group of gardening friends for our Herb Blog Group Contest.!
For the week between Friday, February 27 and Thursday, March 5 you can enter simply by entering a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning a full year’s subscription to The Essential Herbal Magazine! The Essential Herbal is written by, for, and about herbie people and the things they love. It is a grassroots publication that talks about the things you want to know when it comes to herbs.
The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs. If you are already a subscriber, we’ll just add the free year on the end. Be sure to leave an email addy in your response so that we can reach you if you win!
I was listening to the news in the background yesterday, and it was reported they may "turn the water off" to major farms in California due to the drought. Prediction? High prices and shortages of some fruits and vegetables. Why are we having our food shipped over a thousand miles to most areas from California? Plant your own garden, share with a friend, share with the food bank, have safer and fresher food.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The seeds germinated!
In my previous post a couple of days ago, I showed you how to check and see if old seeds are viable before you either throw them away, or waste your time and space by planting them. All of the seeds germinated in less than 3 days! What really surprised me was the date they were originally tested was 2006 and I purchased them in 2007. Here are some pictures. You couldn't see them good on the white paper towels, so I put some on my kitchen table. They were sunflower seeds, bachelor buttons, cosmos, and zinnias. Again, all sprouted.
Beehive
Someone had put this beehive on my Dad's property a few years ago, and did not come back to work it, or remove it. Year before last, I called a work aquaintance who I knew that kept bees, and had them come and take a look. The hive was healthy, and it was suggested we add the top box or super, so that the bees could have a place to make and store honey for the summer and fall, and we could get some of the honey the next year. My Dad became ill, and we just forgot about the hive. My son was living on the property last summer, and reported that the bees were very active all summer. My son moved off the property last month and the property is to be sold. I want to bring my Dad's hive to my home. Today, the weather was sunny, (but windy) and about 58 degrees. The bees were out and active. I have been watching the blog of comfrey cottages, who blogs about bees. She has suggested I purchase the book Beekeeping for Dummies, (which I did off Amazon today.). While looking through todays paper, guess what I found! A beginning bee keepers class starting in March, to be held by the Hamilton County Extension Office! First thing Monday morning I am registering.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Will Old Seeds Germinate?
I was cleaning out my office storage cabinet this week, and found some flower seeds that I had purchased for a project. I thought I would till up an area around my shed and scatter the seeds this spring, but I didn't want to waste the time and effort of planting the seeds if they wouldn't germinate. And why buy more seeds if these were okay. So.... to test these seeds here is what I have done.
I have taken a few seeds from each pack and placed them on a dampened paper towel. Fold the towel over them. Placed them in a zip lock bag to keep the seeds and towel damp. I labeled the bag so I would know which seeds were germinating. I placed the bags in a warm place 70 to 75 degrees, but not in direct sun. I will need to check them daily to be sure the towel is still damp, and check for germination. Depending on the seed, they may sprout in a few days or several weeks. This will work with annuals or vegetable seeds, but may not with perennial seeds.
For those of you who have visited my website before, please take a look at the new one, redesigned by Cherie at redlimeweb.com. Cherie just instinctively knows what I am looking for, and I am always in awe of her talent. I love the new look, and have an opportunity to show off my granddaughters. http://www.gardenchick.com/
I will close the contest at 9pm tonight. That will give me time to pick the winner. I am going to print out all the entries, and place in a gardening can. I will then have my husband pick the winner. It will be announced tomorrow afternoon. The winner will need to contact me within 3 days via email, and response in the comment section. Thanks to all of you who entered. This has been a fun experience. I have loved seeing all of the blogs and am in awe of all the creative men and women out there! Good luck to all.
And the winner is!!!!Carolyn H at mindlesswonders.blogspot.com
Plant a virtual tree with the help of celestial seasonings. Go online to help Celestial Seasonings plant 1,000,000 trees. Click on the picture to get to the website
Saturday, February 7, 2009
"Every gardener knows under the cloak of winter lies a miracle--a seed waiting to sprout,a bulb opening to light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream." ~ Barbara Winkler
Check out the last expected frost date for your area. You can start your seeds about 4-6 weeks prior to this, get your area ready, plan the garden on paper, and anticipate the coming spring.
Forget about science. Every February General Beauregard Lee is taken from his antebellum mansion at the Yellow River Game Ranch located in Lilburn Georgia to predict an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter for the south. On February 2, in 30 degree weather, and an overcast sky, no shadow was seen. I don't care that his northern counter-part, Punxsutawney Phil, didn't see his.......I choose to believe Beau. It didn't help though that the low temperature that night was 16, today's predicted temp is in the 50's, with Saturday and Sunday in the 60's!!!. Go Beau.
The next time you are near Atlanta, stop in and visit him at the Yellow River Game Ranch. Tell him I said thanks.
These pictures are from the office website of the General, the game ranch.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Herb Recipes
If you are planning an herb garden for the spring, check out Michele Brown and Pat Stewart over at Possum Creek Herb Farm. I have visited Michele many times, and purchased numerous plants from her farm and at the local market. She and Pat have recently written a booklet with great herbal recipes when you get ready for harvest. www.possumcreekherb.com/tasteofherbs.html
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Spring Day Teaser
What an absolutely gorgeous day! I woke up to sunny skies and by 12 noon the temperature was in the 50's. The deck is now clean of all the leaves, my husband MOWED the yard, and mulched leaves, and I couldn't resist peeping under the mulch on several plants. My Stella de Ora lilies are green under their blanket of mulch, but not to be fooled by this weather, I tucked them back to bed. My pineapple sage bush has survived the early winter temps of 9 degrees (this is the first year they have lasted this long), and I noticed my hydrangeas had a few green leaves. I think those will certainly be nipped by the upcoming weather report. The high for Wednesday is 30. What a tease this day was, but I will take it as an omen for better things to come. My granddaughters came down, and the Barbie Jeep was put to good use after being recharged.To all of those undergoing the harsh freezes in other states, I hope the power is back on soon, and warmer weather is in your future. Get those gardening and seed magazines out, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and dream of sunny skies and warm weather!
About My Blog
For me, this blog is my journal. It helps me chronicle my dreams, my accomplishments, and hopefully imparts a little knowledge for those who love to garden, like the simple life, or have hopes of owning their own business one day. I am sure my friends, family, and other bits of trivia will crop up frequently. Garden info and recipes will also be included periodically.
I was listening to the news in the background yesterday, and it was reported they may "turn the water off" to major farms in California due to the drought. Prediction? High prices and shortages of some fruits and vegetables. Why are we having our food shipped over a thousand miles to most areas from California? Plant your own garden, share with a friend, share with the food bank, have safer and fresher food.
