Hi! The past few weeks I've been planning my deck garden. Every August when I'm overwhelmed with the heat and twice daily watering, I say I am not going to garden out there any more. But where's' the fun in that. Seeds are so tempting, so deliciously hopeful, aren't they.
I did get rid of the two very old, very big, decrepit meadow pots. One remains. The guy I paid to clear up and winterize last December did a great job, but sadly he pulled out everything including the red lilies and both coreopsis perennials. Hoping these take and replace the ones removed, though I see I didn't buy yellow.
Last summer, coreopsis, age 7 or 8.
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My pansies are so adorable. I do love them. These came from the grocery store, very pretty, very cheap.
A reader mentioned how they had done a whole yellow/ orange pansy display---of course I loved that idea. But when you get grocery store flowers, you get what they offer or you get nothing.
Amazon delivered potting soil, but I misread the Buy It Again and was given enormous bags of Miracle Gro soil. A friend had to come help me top off the pots. And then--I decided to try something new. I planted baby lettuce and radishes, so fun.
I only ever grew cherry tomatoes on my deck, years ago. Gave up bec the wind makes the outer skins tough as old dry leather. So this is exciting. The seeds of both have sprouted. The lettuce says harvest in 30 days.
I also planted, yes, very late--sweet peas. I nicked them and soaked them[wet paper towel, baggie, in the dark], am seeing a few fine tendrils. I saved most of the pack for next year, bec they prefer cold weather and one of these days, it will be very very hot here at the beach,
For the rest of the pots, probably sow late next week:
Wouldn't it be great if the Chinese Lanterns actually grew? They and the one wildflower packet will go in the pot where the lettuce is now.
The thank you pack came with my seed order. I gave it to my friend who helped refill the pots.
Do you garden from seeds? Do you grow veg or only flowers?
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This is a new project. It was a gift to me from my little artist friend at Christmas. I tried to explain to her that if the trees grow, many many years from now, she will inherit them, and must care for them and ensure their futures. It may be warm enough to sow the seeds now.
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I must share this book. Maybe years from now I will find it aon the used book website, though I suppose that's rather unkind to the person who produced this stunning book.
It rained most of this week. I finished the pillow and pillowcases project, the blue seashells. Will deliver them tomorrow. Today I made a doll outfit for my little friend mentioned above. Her doll is a 14: American Girl Doll, harder to sew for than the original 18" dolls, but right size for a little one who is just 5.
I think this makes it fun: "Color the dress!" It won't matter if she colors outside the lines, or uses crayons. Or not at all. I have neon fabric markers too. I'll ask her mom when we do the project.
have a great weekend
love
lizzy
gone to the beach...
Mo is poorly, but I love him no matter what, rarely leave his side now. Today was a good day despite the rain. His beloved dogwalker carried him out for a gentle walk and Mo was so happy.
Happy Mothers Day
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Lovely seed pack varieties for this year, Lizzy.
ReplyDeletei am planning on planting after the 3rd week in May sometime--a couple tomatoes, some basil and tarragon and my favorite marigolds as a companion for the tomatoes...I don't start from seeds now--I used to do the whole thing starting early in Late Winter months, but just not into it anymore...my energy seems to have fled after weeks of wanting to "do" things...
the coloring dress for your little friend is just so adorable--lovely work on these little dolly clothes...
Glad that Mo is getting his little strolls in...
Hope your Mother's Day is restful--hugs, Julierose
I'm so sorry Mo's having such struggles with this health. I hope he feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteYour seed packets are delightful and I'm sure the flowers will be, too. It's too bad you lost your 7-year-old coreopsis plants.
The pansies are beautiful. I reserved the book you posted about. Maybe one of these years I'll buy pansies. There is a store I get to every now and then that seems to have a great garden section in the spring and their pansies are lush with a great variety of color options.
Have you ever grown columbine? That's another flower I enjoy, but it takes partial shade. You might not have much shade?
I hope your Chinese lanterns grow.
The dress and the rest of the outfit are delightful, sure to be loved by your little friend.
I am sorry Mo is poorly. Your dog walker is a gift. I have been to some garden club sales and bought a few plants. I don’t grow much from see anymore but I used to love that whole process. Each year I say I want sweet peas but I miss the window.
ReplyDeleteHello Lizzy, it was me who told you about my orange and yellow pansies, and how pansies were also a favourite of my late husband.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have a large garden with shrubs, bulbs and perennials, I do have some tubs and troughs on the patio. Although I vowed that I would use up old flower seeds in them this year and not buy any bedding plants, I gave into temptation. At Morrrison's supermarket I bought a tray of 20 yellow, orange and cream pansies. Then I couldn't resist when I then went to the Aldi supermarket the same day and bought a tray of 10 purple, pink and white pansies.
I now have one trough and two tubs of the yellow, orange and cream, and one trough of the pink, purple and white. The remaining pot will be a surprise as the last six plants were not in flower when I bought them.
I'm hoping they will do as well as the ones we grew when my husband was alive.
As for vegetables, we have/had a large vegetable patch where my husband grew a variety of veg and salad crops. I had a portion of It where I grew courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and sometimes pumpkins.
When he died the patch was ready prepared and loads of packets of seeds waiting to be sown.
It never got done that year or since as I can find no-one to dig it.
Last year I put some seeds in tubs, courgettes, radishes and rocket. I only got four small courgettes as the others rotted due to the weather. I had a few radishes but the slugs got the rest, and a few bunches of rocket before it suddenly went to seed.
I think I'll see if there are any lettuce seeds left and perhaps try those.
On another subject, your Bee nectar mix seed packet reminds me of a 1970's fabric which I bought as a remnant from a market when a was at university. I covered a seat pad for a garden chair, and made a peg bag with the last little bit. Of course I still have them.
Strangely enough only yesterday and before reading your post, I got out the peg bag and decided to Google it as the fabric edge had the name and designer on it. I found some patterns, but not my particular one. Mine is Ophelia by Grace Sullivan.
I'm so sad that Mo is still poorly. Surely the vet can do something now rather than waiting for a blood test in the future. I keep thinking of darling little Mo and wishing i could help.
Jean.
Hi Jean. Thanks for the warning about slugs, I will either look very carefully or prob just not even try to eat the lettuce and rads. I m super squeamish.
DeleteYour pansies sound delightful, as does your vintage [now] fabric. I admit I chose the seeds for the artwork. I never know how to decide. Just one big American company I avoid bec the seeds never germinate for me.
I'm doing my best to get Mo the care he needs asap. The vet is wonderful, but very busy; fast emergency visits do not give him the time he needs to focus on Mo and do tests etc. Plus fact is Mo is 11, probably best we can do is alleviate some of the pain and accept that he is very senior. I think internet Pugs of a similar age who are so perky annd active give an unrealistic expectation. But even Puggy Smalls is in a wheelchair, others use strollers. I' promise I am doing my best for Mo.].
thanks for your comments, love hearing from you.
lizzy
I look at all the beautiful seed packet photos and imagine them as quilt blocks! Wouldn't they be sweet in fabric for a spring quilt? Hoping you'll have success germinating the bonsai seeds. What varieties did they include? Dear little Mo, give him a special treat from Gibbs with our love and best wishes for a diagnosis and treatment plan so he can enjoy his time with you.
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