Today...

[dreamflower]

...we had *planned* to start the job of stripping the paint off of our fireplace. But it was far too warm and muggy to have the house open for that chore.

So this morning, while the DH talked to his sister on the phone, I worked on my Father's Day challenge fic, and did some MEFA liaison chores. And then we went to a new plant nursery. And then I planted everything when I got home.

It was very nice--the family that owns it is Mennonite, and it's meticulously kept, and the young woman who helped us was very knowledgeable about the plants. We had bought three hanging pots for the front deck, so I got some geraniums and some red and white vinca and some dusty miller to put in those. And I also picked up some convolvulos, some lobelia, verbena and allysum to plant in a planter in our new flower bed.

I also picked up a lemon thyme and some creeping thyme, and one bell pepper plant. (I can't eat peppers, I'm allergic, but the DH loves them, so one plant should be fine.)

Of things I've already planted, my tomatoes are thriving, and so are my herbs: I have rosemary, basil, sage, mint, oregano, parsley, and stevia--and now thyme. My dill died, so I need to plant more of that. I was afraid the stevia would die, but the last few days, it has perked up, and is actually starting to leaf out more. I'm excited about that, because it is a natural sweetener.

I still have three more tomatoes to transplant into upside down buckets--they weren't quite big enough last week when I did the others.

My radishes are growing like crazy, and may be ready for harvest soon. Onions look good, my lettuce finally has sprouted, and so have the bush beans. I transplanted my bush cukes to a great big planter, and they seem to be growing well. Sadly, my carrot seeds never did sprout.

Nothing like playing in the dirt in the spring. I'm sure Sam knows what I mean!

Comments

[addie71.livejournal.com]

You sure are quite the gardner! I haven't planted anything here yet, as we are just now past the normal threat of frost. Hopefully something will be going in the ground by next weekend.

[shirebound]

Gosh, I'd love to see all your veggies and flowers!

What's an "upside down bucket"??

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I envy your garden!!! :)))

Your garden reminds me of that cartoon that lbilover put up earlier! :)))

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Let us know how that stevia goes!

[dreamflower]

Well, here are some pics from *last year*! That was the first year I did the "upside down" thing. Actually, it's not the buckets, but the tomatoes that are upside down:

http://dreamflower02.livejournal.com/228213.html#cutid1

Hopefully I will be able to take some new pics this year!

[dreamflower]

Yes! I saw that! I wish there *was* such a thing as a mozarella plant.

[dreamflower]

I've been wanting to try it for a while. I'm hoping it will do all right--it's a native of Peru, and the climate here is not exactly Peruvian--but after a rocky start, it seems to be getting perky!

I've got to figure out how to use it. But it's nowhere near big enough to harvest any yet.

[shirebound]

Thanks, what a unique way to plant! I hope you have a huge crop of everything this year.

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

So, did you plant any mozzarella? *g*

I think Sam would be very proud of you. It sounds like you got so much accomplished.

[dreamflower]

I kind of feel like I'm late in getting started--after 30 years on the Gulf Coast, where we'd start putting things out in February, it seems strange to have to wait until May, but of course OK is a totally different zone.

[dreamflower]

So do I! *grin*

[dreamflower]

*grin* I wish!!

Yes, I feel very hobbity when I'm working in the garden! We did get quite a lot done today, though I still have a few things to repot still.

[topaztook.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your garden is thriving and that you are having fun with it. I actually like being outside in the warm -- but not necessarily muggy. I'm hoping to get some gardening stuff done this weekend, too.

[dreamflower]

It's doing pretty well so far. I'm hoping for some yummy veggies this summer.

There are a lot worse ways to spend a weekend than in the garden!

[songspinner9.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're doing the upside-down tomato thing, too? My husband is trying that this year. :) Your herbs sound lovely...

[dreamflower]

I tried it the first time last year. Here's some pics from last year's garden:

http://dreamflower02.livejournal.com/228213.html#cutid1

You will notice I am not using the 19.99 kits. I found directions on the 'net to do it without the kits:

http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/tomato2.html

I had the best and most tomatoes ever with that method. Last year I did four buckets; this year I hope to do six, or maybe seven.

I've been growing herbs for a while. I love to cook with them fresh from the garden--there's something about putting on a pot of spaghetti sauce, and going out to snip some basil, parsley and oregano straight from the garden to put in the pot. Or making breakfast sausage with fresh sage, thyme, parsley and chives! And it's delightful to be able to stick fresh rosemary onto chicken or pork when they go in the oven.

The only problem with growing herbs is what to do with the overabundance. You can only use so much dried, and I've tried giving some away, but I think my neighbors just throw them out. *sigh*

[fafojoy.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm jealous at how much further along you are than us! This is the first weekend we can start putting flowers out. My neighbors brought me over a pot of pansies and I'm just thrilled to look at them on the deck! Your baskets sound lovely.