I went a bit stir crazy at the HIC's today. I had an hour before a dental appointment and the crews were moving in tons of stock, so......
Four flats of purple pansies, two bags each of potatoes and onion sets, plus too many packets of larkspur, globe artichoke, sunflower and marigolds later, I was out the door. The clouds had rolled in and it was colder than ever, but I pressed forward with a smile, hopeful that the newsman's predictions would hold true and the temp would reach a mild 60.
After my appointment, I picked up my neice Ally - the seed charmer - and we rolled on to my mother's house. We swiped my old Barbie Dreamhouse and the boxes of clothes and accessories to keep Ally busy once she eventually lost interest in the seeds and planting. Anyway, after we had some lunch, we cleaned up the ancient toys, and then pulled the booty out of the caravan and got to work.
First we sprinkled Larkspur at the back of the front flowerbeds - my hope is that they will bloom alongside the Orange California Poppies we seeded a few weeks ago. The first year in the house they bloomed together for just one day, and it was breathtaking while it lasted. The red and blue anemones were open then, along with the few late red tulips, the first yellow Happy Returns daylilies, that year's oddly early purple alliums, baby blue pansies and our sea of purple iris - so striking! I keep hoping for a repeat performance one season.
We didn't have time to start the delphiniums, marigolds or artichokes in egg cartons, but we did start planting some sprouting blue hyacinth and today's purchased pansies into pots.
Most of my time was spent bleaching dirty pots/seed flats, but Ally didn't mind at all. She dressed and redressed her Barbies while the cats watched her from inside the Dreamhouse. All the sudden my fifteen minute warning bell was blaring, so we walked to school to pick up my kindergartener. He wasn't as interested in the planting as all the new Ken doll clothes I'd acquired, so I decided to put off pansy potting for tomorrow.
I hope to get all the potatoes and half the onions in the ground. We'll see rabbit, we'll see...
Oh, that reminds me, we forgot to check the garden for emerging seedlings. Maybe I'll head out with the flashlight when it's time to take my loyal old retriever out for the night - it may dip into frost levels and I'd hate to see the little babies blasted before they gain any momentum.
Early Spring Garden
We sow peas, radishes, leaf lettuce, and chives in February and early March near the honeysuckle on my neighbor's fence. This, plus the clover, marigolds, and other beneficials (my husband calls them weeds) in our yard help us attract bees into our garden. This, of course, insures good pollination for the veggies.
About Me
- liz zubow-johnson
- I'm an artist, small-town family girl, and enviro-nut. My husband, Brent, and I have adopted one son, Dylan. We're one happy trio. I love to garden, teach children, and create art both in and outdoors every day. God has given me great gifts, and I hope to use them each day to beautify this great globe we all share.
Smiling
What I'm always wearing when I'm among my plants.
Allium
My favorite ornamental onions are planted right outside my front door - I need to order more of these as pests never bother the dirt near these beauties.
Me in my Hat
My new paper-blend garden hat is perfect for both rainy and sunny days
Figure 2
Gallon jugs do double duty in my garden. I use the tops for mini greenhouses and the lower portion as a collar for young, fragile plants. I plan to spray them red later since red mulch is all the rage around tomatoes these days.
Gramp's yellow tree rose
This rose was tall, thin and scraggly after it's first season in our garden. Now, five years later, it's a tough-stemmed "tree rose" and it's blooms inspired the color we purchased to paint the house. Now, if it would ever stop raining we could paint more than just the front porch...
Red in the rose garden
A few years ago, I decided to move two of my roses from their locales on the southeast side of the house for two reasons. First, because the pecan tree had begun to rob them of their sunshine. Second, because the bright salmon and hot pink hues didn't go with the cool blues and yellows I prefer near the porch. I split one rose into three pieces accidentally when the rootball broke in transit. This one was a surprise, as the original plant was covered in hot pink smaller blooms. It must be the parent plant and the other was grafted onto it. The biology of plants amazes me every day.
Favorite Garden Weed
I'm researching the name of this "weed" I found in our lawn today. (It may be Blue Toadflax, in the snapdragon family, but could also be many types of wild mint.) My reference is Ozark Wildflowers, A Falcon Guide, by Don Kurz. The discovery of this plant is the only reason I'm glad we have been unable to mow for nearly two weeks.
Radish Bonanza
The boys harvesting "a radish bonanza". They spit out the last radishes they tried to eat, but they had fun getting dirty digging them out. They even found a treasure radish: one deep purple gem, they called it.
My Handsome Hubby
Brent and our nephew Aidan relaxing in the front porch swing.
Nika and Jay-J Romping in the Front Garden
The last week in April finds yellow roses blooming and blue iris standing proudly among salvia and dianthus.
Planting Pumpkins & Watermelon
I spent Earth Day with my neice Ally planting hills of watermelon and pumpkins - later we'll add more radishes, butternut squash, sunflowers and cucumbers along the fence.
Newly sprouted pumpkins
Six days later sprouts are popping up everywhere - pumpkins, watermelon, bean, lettuce, spinach and carrots.
Watering in the pink
How I imagine you will usually find me or Ally in the garden - pink watering can and new retro toolbelt full of seeds.
Redneck Tomato Hothouse
We planted a one-inch tall tomato seedling six days ago in the greens bed. It is nearly popping out its gallon-jug-hothouse now.
Lettuce bed
Lettuce bed before I pulled out six heads of romaine to plant 3 cherry and 3 regular tomato plants
Pretty as a Tee-Pea
Can't wait to see these peas start producing and pull the kiddos out to the garden for picking every day :)
Rear Veggie Bed
Rear Veggie Garden viewed from the new upper kids garden
Preston's Potato Bed
The ski-pole bean teepee will be covered in no time as our beans have already sprouted (after only five days). The potatos are filling in really well - we're seeing new sprouts every day. Marigolds, pansies, and sage are keeping pests away organically.
Figure 3/13/09a
Our glass canister greenhouse
Figure 3/13/09b
Sprouted snap pea seeds
Hidden Smurfs
Ally loves to hide stuff in the garden
Attack of the Cucumbers
Preston, Dylan and Ally with a day's harvest of cucs in July 2008
Year one early summer
My lone delphinium survivor with salvia, pansies, coreopsis and our ever-present iris
Our second year in the house
Husker Red Penstemon, Coreopsis, Happy Returns Daylily, Veronica and native sedums
Year three with my newly fallen pecan tree in the background
Coreospsis, Marguerite daises, black hollyhocks, native lily buds, roses, penstemon, salvia, and pansies among ferny anemone foliage and sharp iris spikes
Grandpa's Memorial Garden
This garden gnome sat happily in my grandparent's garden for years, so when he passed, I planted it in mine surrounded by roses and rhubarb. They always had roses growing, my Gram's pride and joy for many years. Accompanying the roses are Gaillarda, Penstemon, Hollyhock, pansies and my tried and true edger Lamb's Ear
Iris under the Pink Dogwood - year four or five
These earlier lavender iris are followed by true purple iris with darker falls. When they begin to change, they truly resemble a rolling tide under the paling pink dogwood.
Nearly contrasting colors in year four
This year blues were more prevalent. Striking purple verbena and salvia complement fiery orange pansies. Lamb's Ears and white Iberis cool down the hot tempo too.
Fun in the Veggie Patch
Kids having water wars amongst the zinnias, basil, and mammoth cucumbers
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