Earth Day Tribute - What Type of Gardener Are You?

Grapes are really abundant this year

Pink Verbena

Mullein

Spiderwort The more I garden and visit with other people and their gardens I have started asking this question. Its easy to be defined by a style, but in truth it goes deeper than that. I have found that gardening in many ways is an extension of a personality. Order, whimsy and purpose mark a garden in the same way we dress ourselves and decorate our homes. I think it is why our curiosity is sparked when an opportunity arises to walk around someone's yard or garden. They all tell a story. And we want to hear that story. Being involved with the Master Gardener program allows me the privilege of seeing more gardens than most. It's interesting to know that some gardens are more showy and "out-front" types that appeal to the eye.Those are the ones that make an immediate impression on visitors as one who knows everything about gardening and must be an expert. The truth is, the surface has only been scratched on the levels of gardening and know how. Even among our Master Gardeners if a question comes up about a certain plant or situation we often know immediately who needs to answer that question. That is why we have "Specialists" for certain things such as Vegetable Gardening, Composting, Etymology, Propagation etc. Its just hard to know everything. I often wonder when someone asks to see my yard what they expect. A botanical garden maybe? A show stopping view from the street? That always intimidates me when I think about it because in truth, I'm not that type of gardener. Mind you, I LOVE flowers and blooms of all types. I collect perennials and my inspiration is always an English Cottage Garden style. I fill in plants and collect them as gifts from friends and family. All of my plants have a story to tell. What is my type? I guess I'm really a backyard type of gardener with a cottage style flair. I plant things with a purpose. I like flowers and herbs so my bees and butterflies are welcomed in for a visit and nourishment. I plant vines and trees for shade. I grow food for animals and people. Its a broad spectrum of interests and I enjoy the challenge. It may not always be showy, but boy does it have a story to tell. One thing I can say is this, moving to the country has liberated my garden creativity process. I love the idea of hanging baskets overflowing with massive annual flowers and show stopping landscape design. I am inspired by them and often under my own breath say, "next year I will try this or that". But I often find myself back in the same places year after year building and dreaming in my own backyard. I like that... no pressure. Today I will be planting a few more herbs and filling soil in a three more raised beds where I grow food. I have several plants that have been given to me as gifts from friends that need a home in my yard. I will gladly place them with love and care as I think about my dear friends who gave them to me. New raised garden beds

Marathon Week

Having Christmas, our wedding anniversary, sons birthday, New Years and my husband birthday in barely over a week definitely is a marathon for us. Tonight 6 teenage boys are coming over for a birthday party sleepover so food planning and entertainment are in the works.

The chickens are laying an average of 6 eggs per day now. Hurray! We just have a few more weeks when the other 4 should start laying. There goes our cholesterol level, lol.

The rabbits are doing well. I think they're lovin' the cool temps and are as cute as ever.

My indoor lettuce and spinach are up and growing. I can't wait to harvest some. :)

Last but definitely not least, the garden planning! I've been hard at work figuring out the details of next years veggie garden. I really want to make sure I plant plenty for us and a good deal extra for those who will be in need. Next year will probably be a lean year for a lot of people and I want to see if I can be of help.

I'll post my garden plan soon. I need to make the diagrams for it all first. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Veggie Gardening Indoors

In the pursuit of practical gardening for myself, I came across a post on Red State Green about growing some cool weather vegetables indoors. With reducing our thermostats into the 60's, this is an ideal temperature to grow lettuces, spinach, Swiss chard etc. indoors. A cooler spare room would work too, as long as it doesn't get too cold. Imagine not only having my "itch" to garden scratched, but provide some food for my family in the process! ....I'm looking through my seed collection already for what I can grow. Yum!

An advantage to growing these indoors is that I'm not battling pests. (unless I count some of the larger 4 legged ones that I call pets)

Lighting will really be my only big challenge trying to grow these. A south facing window with plenty of sun should do the trick, otherwise additional lighting may be needed. I have a full spectrum light, that my family calls my "happy light" that I plan on using. (I have some seasonal depression issues sometimes, so this light cheers me up when I use it, hence the name) Otherwise any fluorescent light will work. (We have plenty of those lights now that we're trying to conserve energy.)

Garden Gal has some great information on what to grow and how to grow it. So now all I have to do is go gather my supplies!

Just a note.. growing veggies that need pollinating, will all have to be done by hand. Tomato plants just need a good shaking every few days to mimic wind for pollination and warmer temps too.

Woohoo! Off I go...