Hello Everyone!
Finally! My time of watching the mailbox for the arrival of my seed order is over! Earlier in the week the mailman brought the long awaited package of seed for the upcoming garden. Joyous squeals could be heard when Mr. Plant Lady announced that my package had arrived. It was like a scene from Christmas mornings long ago as paper wrappings were tossed about as I tore into the large envelope from the heirloom seed company. Does anyone get that excited over a few packages of seed? Anyone except me?
Packages of gourd seed were my main interest - eagerly anticipating the bountiful harvest I'm sure to have (with God's help) in the fall. They came!!! Loofah (dishrag gourds), an unusual kind I've never heard of (Gakhaa gourds), dipper gourds, and bushel basket gourds. I can't wait until April when it is time to plant! I also received some herb seed as well - a cilantro that is slow to bolt and one called "Oaxaca", along with some parsley "Brayor" and an oregano "Wild Zataar".
I'll be sowing the herb seed in flats in the greenhouse in a few days and I will post pictures as they grow! More later . . .
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Friday, March 6, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Watching and Waiting
Hello Everyone!
It's looking more and more like Spring here in North Carolina! Daffodils and quince are already blooming and the buds of the blueberry bushes are beginning to swell. It won't be long until my days will be filled with quite a variety of tasks that are sure to inspire some "lessons learned" in the garden.
The other night, I sat down at my laptop searching many seed companies online catalogs looking for that special variety of veggie and herb that I will try in the garden this year. I would like to try them all, but space and time prevents that! I finally decided on the ones that I thought would be right for this season's offerings at our local farmer's market.
Last year, I planted four rows of gourds for crafting - martin, apple and small eggs-like gourds that make wonderful ornaments, birdhouses, and feeders. I have saved the seed from all of the martins and apples and have a bountiful supply of those seed, but I decided to venture out and try the long-handled dipper gourds as well as try my hand, once again, with the loofah or dishrag gourd. I also found some interesting gourds from other countries offered through an heirloom seed company. This seed company is quickly becoming my favorite! The varieties offered are very unique and colorful!
Growing culinary herbs have been a passion of mine for several years. I started off with a small package of sage seed and the rest is history! Having taken a horticulture class in high school, I learned how to sow, transplant, and grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. It was my favorite class! Our teacher picked four students from the class to "manage" the greenhouse operation during the days it was open for the community to purchase plants for their home garden. I was one of the four! I was thrilled to be out of "regular" classes, but it was also a thrill to interact with the public and answer questions about the plants we offered.
I ran into my agriculture teacher several years after I graduated and he told me that he had never had a student that showed as much interest and had really promoted the plant sales as much as I did! That compliment really made me feel good after so many years! He was really that one teacher that inspired me to go into the horticultural field as a career! Thanks Mr. G!
Back to my garden seed purchases - I found a couple of varieties of cilantro that are said to be slow to bolt - a problem that I always have. I usually sow cilantro seed directly into peat pots because I find it does not transplant as well as some herbs. Parsley and dill are others that I direct-sow. I am trying to "Go Green" by using the peat pots that are biodegradable and can be planted directly in the soil. I used them last year and was well pleased with the results.
Oregano, thyme, rosemary and a few others are easily rooted so I will propagate these myself for a quicker maturity rate. I have tried seed, but their growth rate is a little slower than I like in order for a saleable plant by the first part of April. I am able to heat my greenhouse, but I don't like to because I don't want the plant to be "tender" and die from a "cold" night that we sometimes have in early spring. Heated greenhouses make for faster growth, but in my opinion, not necessarily better growth. Basil will have to wait a few weeks, as it is particularly sensitive to cold weather. I have had LUSH green basil one day and DEAD black basil the next! A very awful sight!
Blueberry cuttings are going into the propagation bed when the one-year old plants are removed to a nursery patch. The buds of the bushes are already swelling, preparing for the fruits to come in mid-May. I have so much to do before I even think of blueberries! Speaking of blueberries, Mr. Plant Lady said he saw (and tried) some blueberries in Sam's Club a few days ago. He said they were good and were grown in Chile. For some reason, I can't imagine eating blueberries from Chile. When I think of blueberries, I think of North Carolina, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida and South Carolina as well as a few West Coast states that are into blueberry production. Oh well, I'm for buying American, I guess!
I am eagerly awaiting my shipment of seed! I'll be watching for the mailman and waiting!
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
It's looking more and more like Spring here in North Carolina! Daffodils and quince are already blooming and the buds of the blueberry bushes are beginning to swell. It won't be long until my days will be filled with quite a variety of tasks that are sure to inspire some "lessons learned" in the garden.
The other night, I sat down at my laptop searching many seed companies online catalogs looking for that special variety of veggie and herb that I will try in the garden this year. I would like to try them all, but space and time prevents that! I finally decided on the ones that I thought would be right for this season's offerings at our local farmer's market.
Last year, I planted four rows of gourds for crafting - martin, apple and small eggs-like gourds that make wonderful ornaments, birdhouses, and feeders. I have saved the seed from all of the martins and apples and have a bountiful supply of those seed, but I decided to venture out and try the long-handled dipper gourds as well as try my hand, once again, with the loofah or dishrag gourd. I also found some interesting gourds from other countries offered through an heirloom seed company. This seed company is quickly becoming my favorite! The varieties offered are very unique and colorful!
Growing culinary herbs have been a passion of mine for several years. I started off with a small package of sage seed and the rest is history! Having taken a horticulture class in high school, I learned how to sow, transplant, and grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. It was my favorite class! Our teacher picked four students from the class to "manage" the greenhouse operation during the days it was open for the community to purchase plants for their home garden. I was one of the four! I was thrilled to be out of "regular" classes, but it was also a thrill to interact with the public and answer questions about the plants we offered.
I ran into my agriculture teacher several years after I graduated and he told me that he had never had a student that showed as much interest and had really promoted the plant sales as much as I did! That compliment really made me feel good after so many years! He was really that one teacher that inspired me to go into the horticultural field as a career! Thanks Mr. G!
Back to my garden seed purchases - I found a couple of varieties of cilantro that are said to be slow to bolt - a problem that I always have. I usually sow cilantro seed directly into peat pots because I find it does not transplant as well as some herbs. Parsley and dill are others that I direct-sow. I am trying to "Go Green" by using the peat pots that are biodegradable and can be planted directly in the soil. I used them last year and was well pleased with the results.
Oregano, thyme, rosemary and a few others are easily rooted so I will propagate these myself for a quicker maturity rate. I have tried seed, but their growth rate is a little slower than I like in order for a saleable plant by the first part of April. I am able to heat my greenhouse, but I don't like to because I don't want the plant to be "tender" and die from a "cold" night that we sometimes have in early spring. Heated greenhouses make for faster growth, but in my opinion, not necessarily better growth. Basil will have to wait a few weeks, as it is particularly sensitive to cold weather. I have had LUSH green basil one day and DEAD black basil the next! A very awful sight!
Blueberry cuttings are going into the propagation bed when the one-year old plants are removed to a nursery patch. The buds of the bushes are already swelling, preparing for the fruits to come in mid-May. I have so much to do before I even think of blueberries! Speaking of blueberries, Mr. Plant Lady said he saw (and tried) some blueberries in Sam's Club a few days ago. He said they were good and were grown in Chile. For some reason, I can't imagine eating blueberries from Chile. When I think of blueberries, I think of North Carolina, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida and South Carolina as well as a few West Coast states that are into blueberry production. Oh well, I'm for buying American, I guess!
I am eagerly awaiting my shipment of seed! I'll be watching for the mailman and waiting!
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
In The Meantime . . .
Hello Everyone!
. . . . . I'm still pondering! I haven't quite formulated my next post so please be patient with me.
It will be about the dawn of a new gardening season and all the challenges and joys to come. Stay tuned and always . . .
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
. . . . . I'm still pondering! I haven't quite formulated my next post so please be patient with me.
It will be about the dawn of a new gardening season and all the challenges and joys to come. Stay tuned and always . . .
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Winner Is . . .Mar!
Hello Everyone!
Thanks to all of you who participated! There were many great entries and all of you out there in Blogland are very creative! Visit Mar and share your best wishes!
Congratulations to Marlene at "Mar's Mornings" for the winning name for my new jewelry creations! She will be receiving the first "Homestrung Beads and Baubles" creation! When deciding on the color scheme, I chose colors representing God's wonderful creation. Blue representing the heavens we look toward, green - the grassy meadows in which we pasture, black - the life we once had, and clear crystals - the life we now have because of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary. He deserves all praise!
Thanks to all of you who participated! There were many great entries and all of you out there in Blogland are very creative! Visit Mar and share your best wishes!Please keep me in your prayers as I try to witness to others through my creative efforts.
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Plant Lady- Starring in "The Birds"
Hello Everyone!Alfred Hitchcock may have another movie coming up! It seems I'm walking through the Twilight Zone-or maybe, the Outer Limits! Twice this week, I have had the fortune (or misfortune) of seeing starlings by the thousands, if not millions, sweeping over my house in a seemingly never-ending swarm. Yesterday, a group of large buzzards (I counted six) sitting along the roof line of a house about one mile away seemed an eerie sight as I drove by on my way from town. I remember thinking that the sight would be a great element for a suspense movie.
I believe I'm playing Tippi Hedron's role in Hitchcock's "The Birds". Strange things often happen to me and no doubt this qualifies as "strange". When Mr. Plant Lady alerted me to the sight yesterday, I ran for my digital camera. I knew this would make a very unusual post and I thought all of you might find it eerily interesting. Mr. Plant Lady thinks the swarm of starlings are on their way south for the winter. I have no idea what the buzzards are up to. Maybe they are looking for me so they can have the starring role in the next Hitchcock film-" Some Flew Over My Cuckoo Nest"!
Weird-very weird, even for me!Plant Lady
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Things Accomplished Home Alone
Hello Everyone!
Mr. Plant Lady returned safe and sound and we had a wonderful service at church on Sunday. After Sunday dinner, a friend accompanied me to the beading workshop at the beading studio I mentioned in my last post. She is the same friend that came over on Friday night while I was home alone. I had promised her I would show her how to make the gourds that I have shown in previous posts.
A big pot of vegetable soup, crackers and pepper jack cheese made our work more enjoyable. After supper, we started to work on the gourds. I had already scrubbed the gourds, so all she had to do was to draw the pattern on her gourd, cut, and weave it. The finishing touches were made as she added the beads. She did a very good job for her FIRST time gourdcrafting!
The beading workshop was a thrill and I am scheduled to return for the next few Sunday afternoons for beading several other projects where new techniques are taught. I'm so excited!My friend was amazed at her "hidden" talent!
Today's photos are of our "Home Alone" project and the beading workshop project. What do you think?
This is my friend's first gourd creation. She did everything by herself with a little instruction from me. Isn't it beautiful? She has talent that she didn't know she possessed! She did a great job!
This is my very first beading project-a necklace made at the beading workshop Sunday afternoon. I think it's pretty! What's your opinion? We just might have to have another giveaway! Jewelry by Plant Lady! Help me think of a name for my jewelry creations! Post a name for consideration and the one that is chosen will receive the first creation made under the new name! How's that for a giveaway? Entries can be made until January 30. The WINNER will be announced here on "Plant Lady's Ponderings" on January 31! Spread the word!
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ramblings
Hello Everyone!
Yipee! Today's the day my honey arrives back from his trip to Dallas. Well, not today, it's tonight actually, or maybe tomorrow. Oh, I'm so confused! He has a late flight that will come in at the airport around 11 p.m. and with the return trip, will get here a little after midnight in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
He will return to a sparkling clean home (don't look in the closets, I was not that lonesome!) and a BIG hug! I have truly missed him for the few days he has been gone. I have tried to occupy myself with housecleaning, tons of laundry and craft projects with a friend from church and have not been terribly lonesome. My mother-in-law called yesterday to see if the Mr. was back. I told her that he had just left the day before and wouldn't return until late Saturday night. She said, "Are you staying by yourself?" I replied, "Yes". She then said, "Well, you'll be alright, nobody will get you." Then I said, "If they do, they'll bring me back!" (something Mr. Plant Lady tells me all the time!) Really, I haven't been nervous about being home alone. My daddy never raised a scaredy cat! Except maybe when it comes to those little, green rain frogs that cling to whatever they land on, which is usually ME! I have a real FEAR of them. My daddy says I got that from my grandaddy, who was afraid of them also. I had rather have a snake on me than a frog!
The day is planned for a trip to Wal-Mart for grocery shopping, lunch somewhere in town and who knows what else! Oh, by the way, I have been invited to a beading class a local craft store is having Sunday afternoon. I have noticed a new beading studio open a few miles away, in another town. Several times I went by, but they were closed.(on vacation) Thursday afternoon, I was by and saw that the OPEN sign was on the door. I went inside to find they had a wonderful selection of beads, supplies and other craft items. The owner and his wife were very friendly and inquired if I was a jewelry-maker. I told them that I did not know where to start and they invited me to a class they were having Sunday afternoon, all FREE! The store is closed on Sundays, but some of their customers meet there once in a while and bead and learn new techniques. So, I guess I'll be there.
When I got to the studio, the owner asked if I need assistance. We walked over to the beads- all kinds, glass, wooden, stones, etc. and asked about my project. When I told him about my gourds and how I use beading and weaving techniques to embellish the gourds he asked to see some of my work. I told him that when I came back, I would bring some to show. Then I remembered I had some in the back of the car (items for the Garden Club presentation). I got one and returned to the store. He was very complimentary and asked if I would allow him to display some of my work in an enclosed case in the store with my contact information. He was sure I would get quite a few inquiries from the display. I did not commit, but I am convinced it might be a way to market my art to another clientele. What do you think? Would it be worthwhile?
Mr. Plant Lady just called and said he was trying to get an earlier flight from Dallas. Could he be missing ME? I hope he can because I'm sure missing him!
More later. . .
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
Yipee! Today's the day my honey arrives back from his trip to Dallas. Well, not today, it's tonight actually, or maybe tomorrow. Oh, I'm so confused! He has a late flight that will come in at the airport around 11 p.m. and with the return trip, will get here a little after midnight in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
He will return to a sparkling clean home (don't look in the closets, I was not that lonesome!) and a BIG hug! I have truly missed him for the few days he has been gone. I have tried to occupy myself with housecleaning, tons of laundry and craft projects with a friend from church and have not been terribly lonesome. My mother-in-law called yesterday to see if the Mr. was back. I told her that he had just left the day before and wouldn't return until late Saturday night. She said, "Are you staying by yourself?" I replied, "Yes". She then said, "Well, you'll be alright, nobody will get you." Then I said, "If they do, they'll bring me back!" (something Mr. Plant Lady tells me all the time!) Really, I haven't been nervous about being home alone. My daddy never raised a scaredy cat! Except maybe when it comes to those little, green rain frogs that cling to whatever they land on, which is usually ME! I have a real FEAR of them. My daddy says I got that from my grandaddy, who was afraid of them also. I had rather have a snake on me than a frog!
The day is planned for a trip to Wal-Mart for grocery shopping, lunch somewhere in town and who knows what else! Oh, by the way, I have been invited to a beading class a local craft store is having Sunday afternoon. I have noticed a new beading studio open a few miles away, in another town. Several times I went by, but they were closed.(on vacation) Thursday afternoon, I was by and saw that the OPEN sign was on the door. I went inside to find they had a wonderful selection of beads, supplies and other craft items. The owner and his wife were very friendly and inquired if I was a jewelry-maker. I told them that I did not know where to start and they invited me to a class they were having Sunday afternoon, all FREE! The store is closed on Sundays, but some of their customers meet there once in a while and bead and learn new techniques. So, I guess I'll be there.
When I got to the studio, the owner asked if I need assistance. We walked over to the beads- all kinds, glass, wooden, stones, etc. and asked about my project. When I told him about my gourds and how I use beading and weaving techniques to embellish the gourds he asked to see some of my work. I told him that when I came back, I would bring some to show. Then I remembered I had some in the back of the car (items for the Garden Club presentation). I got one and returned to the store. He was very complimentary and asked if I would allow him to display some of my work in an enclosed case in the store with my contact information. He was sure I would get quite a few inquiries from the display. I did not commit, but I am convinced it might be a way to market my art to another clientele. What do you think? Would it be worthwhile?
Mr. Plant Lady just called and said he was trying to get an earlier flight from Dallas. Could he be missing ME? I hope he can because I'm sure missing him!
More later. . .
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
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