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Relaxing today

Category: gardening | Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:07 pm

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Time has just FLOWN by lately, so..today..am just relaxing (?) and getting caught up on a few things, mainly an up-to-date blog!
My sister, THE gardener in the family who works for a big commercial nursury Back East, was here for a 2-week visit beginning of July and we had a BALL! Of course, we just HAD to "visit" the majority of local nursuries in Casper..all I can say is it's a GOOD THING I own a pickup truck! As Fate would have it, every one we went to were having SALES of buy one, get one free, or 50% off on all plants. Now, I'm bad enough ALONE, but with "help"? Just use your imagination there and you'll get the idea!
Thankfully I still had some empty, good-sized pots and plenty of ProMix BX commercial potting mix on hand, and my little sister taught this Ole Hand a few things about transplanting into containers! First thing she did (and I almost CRIED!!) was give every plant a good haircut as they were getting a bit on the leggy side. I was "informed" pre-wetting the soils beforehand wasn't necessary (WHAT?), and this was followed by a quick handful of 16-12-12 timed-released fertilizer mixed into the medium prior to planting (OKAY! Could live with THAT!). Next came the actual transplanting where I KNOW my JAW hit the FLOOR! I DO break up congested root systems of pot-bound plants, but what I saw HERE had me absolutely speechless..and THIS is HARD to DO with MY mouth! Any roots extending out bottom of pots were unmercifully RIPPED OFF, then unpotted, root-bound plants got..basically..the same treatment as I was TOLD I'm "just too easy on things, gotta be FAST and ROUGH on them! Plants LOVE the abuse!" (nightmare time!!). Finally, after all were done, we got the hose and SOAKED every pot/container til they were good and wet, after which they were placed in a shady spot for a few days to recover (figued IF the handling didn't do 'em in, the watering sure would!!).
So, what's happened? ALL the new additions are simply BEAUTIFUL, and DO I stand corrected on a number of things in regards to gardening! I DO NOT LIKE Miracle Grow products, but one of my "lessons" was that THIS is what commercial growers use to push their plants along: Miracle Grow 20-10-20 pelleted, time-released fertilizer that cannot be found in stores, but can be ordered thru Miracle Grow products online (thank you, Sis! as I CHOKE on the unseasoned crow I'm about to EAT!).
Oh yes.learned quite a bit during the visit as we compared notes on differant plants, methods used, etc..was just too much for WORDS and I now have some NEW plants to hold over for next year, and/or propagate from that aren't patented ones. All I need NOW is the ROOM to do it...and I'll make it somehow!
We've had quite a bit of rain last few months, so what I have going really looked quite impressive to The Pro, was simply overjoyed to get a big "Thumbs UP" on appearances. THAT ment a LOT after all the hard work..since last fall..to revamp raised beds, keep WEEDS down and plants somewhat bug-free. Needless to say, I feel GOOD about this years efforts.
Visit wasn't ALL gardening: we did manage to have day trips to neighboring towns to visit with friends, and did get up on Casper Mountain to see the sights. Central Wyoming Fair was in progress, so we went there a few days..at 9 a.m.!..to watch livestock judging, see the vegetable/flower exhibits when they finally opened to the public. Few nights before Sis left, we attended the final night of the PRCA rodeo held in conjunction with the Fair. I'd gotten reserved "chute seats" a month in advance, seats were 2 rows behind the livestock chutes..were simply AWESOME! Parked out amid the livestock vans/horse trailers in their designated lot; got to get an "eyeball-to-eyeball" view of the bucking horse stock/BULLS on way to seats, saw the REAL size of them TV shows don't afford! Gotta give those cowboys that RIDE those things all the credit in the WORLD as the livestock used is HUGE, and MEAN LOOKING even just standing idle in the pens! I, now, have a much greater respect for the PBR (Pro Bull Riders) than I did previously..and any rodeo riders of the BIG animals!
Weather, the 2 weeks, put on a real Wyoming SHOW! Had 2 inches of rain in 40 minutes one night, cinplete with HAIL and tornado warning sirens going off. Other days it was high winds, clouds rolling in, hail and smaller downpours that came/went in no time. Plants got flattened by winds; leaves looked like Swiss cheese after hail stones beat them up; had lowland flooding in town; roads were washed out; but everything's survived..somehow!..and is thriving despite it all. Has been QUITE the summer to date!

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Lost In Time

Category: gardening | Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 4:20 pm

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Don't know where the last two months have gone: seems like just yesterday I was planning gardens and now it's time to begin planting starts/seeds, worrying about BUGS!
Winter wasn't kind. I've noticed many things seem to be totally "out of whack" in their blooming cycles and/or simply leafing out. The daffies came up and bloomed before the tulips; lilac's..usually loaded with fragrant blossoms..are still sporting purplish colored leaves and only have SIX blooms on the entire bush; a China Rose bush didn't bloom at all; and it appears the Japanese lilacs/gooseberries will be bloomless as well. The roses are very "sad" appearing, but the herbs, Oriental poppies, and WEEDS seem to be outdoing themselves very nicely! Weather has been such it would seem the poor plants really don't know which way to turn: grow up or head back to where they came from.
Anyway: everything's prepared and ready to go..finally! Containers and old existing raised beds have all been emptied, refilled with new soils containing some "perker-uppers": cabbages, potatoes, brocolli, Brussels sprout starts and some seeds planted directly out. Greenhouse is full of plants waiting to be permanently transplanted; sunroom's overflowing with hanging baskets of ivy geraniums, etc. that'll take two days to move there's so many of them! If nothing else, yard should be quite colorful very shortly!
I've had an awful time getting seeds to germinate this year despite the proper care..has me totally stymied. Am almost ashamed of the peppers and tomatoes, but they'll either GROW once outside..or they won't, I guess. The vines (squash, cukes and zucchini) are even a bit on the slow side in growth, but are very healthy looking none-the-less. What's drastically needed, here, is some stabilized warmth instead of 80 one day, 50 the next and everything will begin to flourish..I have FAITH!
With all the yard work and "garden prep", I've seemed to have lost all track of time as of late. Been stockpiling bags of refuse, that can be used for composting at local landfill, for last few months, leaving them in the garage. Loaded the pickup to the BRIM with everything yesterday and made the trip: were landscapers there unloading grass clipping, etc. and I discovered I had MORE than they did..which got me laughing a bit. It must have looked like I'd been out "collecting" around the neighborhood instead of from ONE YARD! I salvage whatever I can for my own barrel composter, so all this other was weeds, branches, more weeds, cut up fallen tree limbs and twigs: was quite the assortment! Didn't realize I had so much til I had to empty it all out..and I wonder WHERE the TIME went?
Antelope have royally "dined" on easily accessible tulips in front yard, mowed 'em down to ground level! One recent afternoon there was a turkey parade right down the middle of the street: looked like the whole road turned into feathers with feet! Counted over 30, mostly hens but there were a few big tom's that blew up like balloons and strutted their stuff while stopping traffic BOTH WAYS! Was quite the sight to behold, a real "rarity" down here on the flats. Never even thought to grab the camera and take pictures, sure missed a "Kodak Moment" there! Think I'm lost in time...

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MARCH MADNESS

Category: gardening | Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:36 pm

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March came in like a lamb (in Wyoming?) with days trying their best to reach 60 degrees despite winds! Snow drifts were still to be found in cooler shaded areas of yards, but where the welcomed warmth of sunlight hit, tulips began breaking dormancy and showing little mounds of coming thru the soil. Was time to go to WORK!
Two new raised bed frames had been sitting in workshop, needed "paver" block platforms built to keep invasive tree roots out before setting in place; some herbs needed digging out of their bed and potted; an old raised bed needed emptying and moving; the days were just perfect to be outside, get started.
The new platforms were installed, the frames set on them; the old frame set in place and designated to be nothing BUT an herb one, the potted-up herbs (in the greenhouse for time being) will be a good start in planting it as there's garden sage, oregano and hyssop that are already well established to this climate.
March 1 saw the seeding of decorative kales (5 varieties), other members of the brassica family slated for food, the tray of cells placed on a heat mat in sunroom that faces south, gets plenty of natural light..were beginning to germinate within 4 days, are now all up!
March 5 saw the seeding of a tray of various herbs, then flowers, flowers and MORE flowers, 10 trays in all or close to 400 plants! Due to daytime solar heat, nightime bottom heat from mats, action has already began with gazanias, bachelor buttons, moss roses and statice showing growth, expect petunias, etc. to begin any time. Wasn't room for everything on the mats, rest of trays were put in an "indoor greenhouse" on racks, will take a bit longer to show growth as it's not heated nights but sunroom is "holding" at 60 degrees then.. they can take it!
Between the outside work, filling of trays/planting seeds and jockeying around holdovers in sunbroom to make space for everything, had quite the busy time for a bit there! The excercise felt awfully GOOD tho', and these ole 67 year bones didn't seem to mind that much after a long winters' layoff.
My little dog "supervised" everything of course, his major worry was wondering if he'd EVER get fed once we started in, was greatly relieved when I rang his dinner bell on schedule each day, doled out the treats after..gotta keep the "Buddy" happy!
Today it's decided to snow, but it IS early March and to be expected here. However, I look out at empty planters and "see" them full of colorful blooms, vegetables growing and herbs thriving..must be MARCH MADNESS in all it's glory!

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Spring fever and windmills

Category: gardening | Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:08 pm

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Is Feb. 5, day is simple GORGEOUS despite the never-ending Wyoming winds, and snow..from last weeks storm..IS melting off slowly but surely. Moved boxes of freshly planted leaf lettuce seeds and spinach out into greehouse yesterday, NOW for them to just start GROWING as all they have is bottom heat for time being, and warmth from solar heat days. Expect first "shoots" to appear in near future, be "harvesting" the crop by mid-March.
In my yard is an ancient relic of an 8 foot decorative windmill that's broken down to point I have to keep the vanes jammed with pieces of wood so it WON'T work. A vane "snapped" it's weld 3 years ago, sadly discovered there was NO HOPE of mending it and, if left to rotate like a windmill should, you can hear the "clanking" a mile away! Poor bearings are also shot from years of abuse by our winds, would put a Screech Owl to shame when WD40 hasn't been applied on a regular basis. In short, this item I dearly LOVE is now facing replacement with a brand new one!
Was a cold nasty day in Dec., and..for some reason..decided to investigate windmills on the internet. Several sites down the line, lo and behold!, there was just what I was looking for AND shipping was FREE! A galvanized metal 8 footer to put together YOURSELF!, cost: $129. Ordered it in, arrived 2 weeks later, box has been sitting in garage ever since as I was almost AFRAID to open it, see what I may be facing!
Spring fever moved me to saying TODAY was THE Day!! Got box into sunroom; opened it; labeled everything as to what pieces go WHERE; was totally SURPRISED the vane..itself..was prefabbed and ready for installation on tower..WHEN done and in place!
Will move ALL pieces out into workshop tomorrow, start screwing away to "build" this windmill, marvel at MY "expertise" in putting something like this together! Of course, the MAJOR project will getting it from workshop to permanent home in yard AFTER removing old one from it's place of prominence, but I have a really SWEET brother-in-law to help with things like this.
I'm REALLY quite EXCITED about this venture: have hanging baskets of ivy geraniums (growing) I can just SEE adorning the mill to beautify it for summer! For some ODD reason, I just CAN'T PICTURE my yard without one, and the TIME surely has COME for a new windmill to see me thru next several years. AND it's taking the edge off the relentless "cabin fever" of this time of year! Worse comes to worse? I just may have a windmill for sale..AS IS!, shipping FREE!

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Beginning the New Year

Category: gardening | Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:13 pm

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The year of 2009 has..literally..been "blown in" by the Wyoming winds! Christmas Eve Day saw gusts upwards of 75 MPH, with a steady 45 MPH in between, that caused blowing snow and all kinds of good things floating in the air. Found a section of flexible drain pipe laying in front drive that drifted in from somewhere; plastic bags were decorating the bushes and trees; empty garbage cans were rolling around before their owners could get to them, and the tube bird feeders were flopping in ALL directions!
That night, about 9 p.m., was watching a program called "Ghost Hunters" when something hit the front window..right in back of my chair!..with a THUD, followed by "thloop! Thloop! Thloop!" that had me outta that chair in nothing flat! I thought I'd been HAD and that the "spooks" were surely knocking on my door! Looked out just in time for the SECOND "attack" that got me back paddlin' faster than I realized I could MOVE! The culprit was an Eurasion collared turtle dove that I went out and rescued with shaking hands (and whole shaking body!), took out into middle of yard an released..minus a few feathers. There's been a number of them present lately, roost in the cedar tree by front door, and all I can figure is it kinnda lost its grip on a branch and the WIND did the rest, causing a number of NEW gray hairs in the process! That was Christmas.
New Years Eve day, winds were at it AGAIN, but loaded up my little Australian Shepard and went to do some much needed shopping. Went by a not-yet-completed duplex being built whose newly shingled roof didn't look "just right": at LEAST 24 shingles had been loosened and were standing UPRIGHT due to the winds: thought "that contractor isn't going to be a very happy camper" when he returns to work! From there, it was dodging bags of garbage blown out of tipped over cans, getting the truck "rocked" at stop lights til I FINALLY made the store! Got out of pickup, then went PARI-SAILING across parking lot to front door of the place in RECORD TIME, looked like an old witch that just had a very bad ride around the neighborhood on her broom! Got what I needed, including a 50 pound bag of birdseed, and headed back to the truck, going INTO the wind this time! Cart, groceries, bird seed and I went east, west, a bit south then due north before getting back heading east again to..eventually..make it. Unloaded the items into truck bed (while trying to keep cart, with my foot, from taking off to parts unknown), just closed the tailgate and shell topper when a GUST hit me so HARD I was 10 feet down the parking lot before I knew it! Some nice gentleman, going by, laughingly offered to take the cart back..I didn't ARGUE one bit, said "thank you, SIR!", but think the words blew into the next town.
Winds continued into New Years Day, and here She is, another howler this one. We DO get the WINDS, yes!, but my heart goes out to those on the East Coast who've had devastating ice storms, snow and unusual winds for there. Our trees are use to the abuse, grew up with it and have adapted to their surroundings, not so those stately eastern rigid oaks, etc. who've suffered a lot of damage due to the elements, wind just isn't in their vocabulary!
I think I've "winded" enough...

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ENDING 2008

Category: gardening | Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:09 pm

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First of all, I would like to wish everyone a very happy, prosperous and good-growing New Year in advance of the change from 2008 to 2009. Secondly, I would like to let everyone know how MUCH I APPRECIATE this site and all the people involved: it is so GREAT to learn from people all over the world about differant methods of raising plants, problems/solutions associated with such! I THANK YOU ALL!
Am in the process of trying to figure out IF I can grow everything in containers I'd like to in the coming year, and where the devil to put them! My yard(s) aren't small but there's a lot of "spot" shade places due to perimeter trees on property. Have an area between house and massive workshop that would be IDEAL for vines except for two factors: antelope invade that section to browse on "succulent, ABUNDANT weeds" (got to cater to these critters all I can! Are being forced off native feeding grounds under the guise of "progress"), and the area receives NO air circulation at times, temps can get upwards of 120 degrees between the buildings on a still (YEP! Actually get those every millinium in Wyoming) day. As I don't want the fenced in area, where I grow 100% of plants now, looking like a hodge-podge container nightmare, have spray painted "regulars" with a color that blends in with color scheme of ground and makes them almost invisable from a distance..think I have MORE work ahead of me if I want to eat well in the future, cram things just a bit closer into a somewhat pleasing style (isn't that part of the gardening EGO tho'? Gotta have everything "just so".. container-wise or in a plot/lottie. Us gardeners are PROUD people and WELL we SHOULD BE when it comes to eye-appeal, square foot/companion planting and blending everything into surroundings, PLUS what we attain from it all for personal use or to give away to someone needy. We're GOOD at what we do! Need I say more?)
Tears in beers; weeds from seeds; rain and pain; flops in crops: may your New Year be an exceptionally productive, GOOD one regardless. My best wishes to ALL, Weeds n Seeds



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The "Woman's Knife"

Category: gardening | Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:18 pm

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Several days ago I made a huge pot of split pea soup and relied on my 20 year-old ulu, as usual, to chop the necessary vegetables into edible pieces. Now, you ask "what the devil is an ulu"?
First of all, the implement's name is pronounced "ooo-loo"; it dates back some 2,500 years; is the Alaskan Inuit womans all purpose knife that's used for anything from skinning/cleaning animals to cutting a childs hair and everything inbetween! At one point in time, the ulu was made with caribou antler for the handle and sharp slate rock to cut with, then came the introduction of metal for use as the blade (old, discarded saw blades were once used and honed to a fine cutting edge). The overall design hasn't changed a bit over the centuries, is basically the same as it was eons ago.
When I lived in Southeastern Alaska, ulus were for sale anywhere there was a souvenier shop, were touted as being only available in Alaska. I was in Anchorage for a training seminar, happened into a grocery store that had wooden-handled ulus for $4.98, so purchased one as the price was sure right (these can sell for as much as $200 depending on craftsmanship involved): was one of the BEST investments I ever made!
Because of price, I didn't have much hope as to its cutting ability. Included instructions WARNED of the blades' sharpness, took a few good finger cuts to realize the warning was NO JOKE: I even managed to trim fingernails, once or twice, when I got a bit too careless!
That was 20 years ago, I have GREAT RESPECT for my ulu to this day. I use it CONSTANTLY for dicing, slicing and whatever, have found it to be invaluable in the kitchen! It's been said these can even be used for filleting salmon and other fish. However, since someone gave us an electric filleting knife, I got lazy and never tried the ulu on those projects, but have used it to cut fish strips for smoking..sliced right thru the fish fillets like they were butter! Or my fingertip!
I've had many friends book tours to Alaska and I highly recommended they buy an ulu while there as they'd never regret the purchase.. ONCE they got USED to using it without fatality that is! Ulu's ARE classified as "dangerous weapons" because of blade sharpness, MUST be packed inside checked-in baggage at airports or security will be at your elbow and threatening confiscation..can be a very EMBARRASING situation!! I KNOW! They can be purchased on the internet now, but only thru Alaskan dealers as the ulu is "native" to that State, won't find the TRUE one anywhere else!
Now you also know what an ulu is. For pictures of various types, and a great history of them, type in "History of the Alaska ulu" and go to the Wikipedia site. You really have to LIVE with one to fully enjoy and appreciate it's values tho'..and keep the bandaids handy!



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FALL'S IN THE AIR!

Category: gardening | Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:42 pm

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The trees aren't losing their leaves yet, but all the signs are there: the feel and smell of the air; sounds of the birds gathering for migration; seeing pickup loads of fresh cut firewood being hauled off the Mountain; and seeing the differances in the animal's coats as they get themselves prepared for what's fastly coming..WINTER!
So far, we've had beautiful weather for September in this part of Wyoming, very DRY but beautiful none-the-less. Days are still quite warm, nights have put frost on the pumpkin in some local areas, but..to date..have been "spared" at this location, a REAL ODDITY! Time is limited so have been busy with fall cleanup and trying to get as much done/prepared for the next growing season. As containers have been denuded of what grew in them, they've been hauled into workshop, emptied, soil "reworked" then marked and bagged. All needed to do next spring is water the soil down, add compost, fertilizer and transplants. As workshop is HUGE, I have plenty of room to make a GOOD mess and store everything.
Last two days, it's been taking cuttings from various plants and prepping them for starting. If anyone looked in the fridge, they'd be in total SHOCK: have one whole shelf covered with cuttings of scented geraniums and ivy geraniums that need "callusing" before having their little feet placed in soil to begin rooting and a warm place to do it. The scenteds will be grown in large styrofoam cups (that let forming root systems "breathe"), the ivies are slated to go right into sphagnum moss-lined hanging baskets to begin their growth: all will be quite LARGE by May. Am not propagating any zonal geraniums this year..am, literally, overrun with them..just giving the ones in containers a drastic cutting back and fertilizer to ease the shock of what they've underwent (I really DO have a "heavy hand" with the clippers, nothing is safe when I start in!). A few have already gotten the treatment, are already showing new growth, should begin blooming along about March and continue on thru the summer despite of how they've been treated this month. They're like the Duracell Bunny: just keep going and going, are really amazing!
Was given a neat little Australian Shepard three weeks ago to replace my Saint Bernard I lost in August. Is very well mannered; extremely QUIET; LOVES to ride in the truck; is a real joy to have! Didn't take him long to begin "ruling the roost" but isn't overbearing about it, just lets me know..for sure!..what's what around here! He's on a DIET due to fact he's one bubbly chubby guy: couldn't believe it when the Vet looked, from the back, at him sitting down and LAUGHED saying: "Buddy's PERFECTLY PEAR-SHAPED! Small head, HUGE BUTT!" So, diet it is for him: weight-watchers canned and dry chow; diet cookies and bones; absolutely NO table scraps. It's working as can be witnessed by his expanding energy level..NOW, if only I could do the same!!
Back to work! Went fishing a week ago: lake had just "rolled over", caught nothing but did manage to be privvy to the Canadian Geese "discussing" about leaving for Southern pastures. The breezes are still warm; the trees are "talking"; the antelope have cleaned up the remainder of the fallen apples: YEP! Fall's here!



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GOOD WEATHER..BAD WEATHER

Category: gardening | Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:29 pm

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Has been a very "squirrely" year for growing with as much as a 40 degree temp differance between day and night, day after day. The cool weather crops, and a lot of the flowers, have just LOVED it but the poor tomatoes have suffered drastically as a result! The big, lush plum tomato plants are about to be pulled up as they're suffering extreme blossom end rot despite soil treatments AND spraying for the problem..so much for the salsa this season! However, have other tomato varieties that are doing quite well, picked 5 this morning that are as big as baseballs, totally blemish free with several others "coming" on each plant: all is not a total loss in that category anyway, and there's always Green Tomato Pie or green tomato relish to be made if they don't get a chance to ripen on the vine.
Curcubits have produced nicely; Swiss Chard is more than I could hope for (as was the Red Russian kale); Nadia eggplants (a purple Italian variety with no bitterness and very few seeds)are setting fruit FAST! The zinnias, double petunias/single blossomed ones, pansies, hanging ivy geranmiums and zonals have far outdone themselves as have the herbs with the cooler nights we've had, have been little hummingbird magnets, especially in the evenings. Did have lovely roses and tiger lilies til the ANTELOPE discovered the "delicacies", DENUDED the plants along with a few other bushes in the front yard as the browsed their way thru to greener pastures. Enjoy seeing them, tho': (the does..or females) have the longest BLACK eyelashes imagineable; the males sport very ebony black horns (that they never shed like other members of the deer family) and this years' kids are just adorable! Have had as many as five in front yard at once, others are here on a daily basis looking for fallen apples off trees on property, so is a busy place at times (is sad, but the antelope are being pushed off their native feeding grounds by the never-ending building in this area, are seeking new areas to graze and it just happens to be in the residential ones).
Lost my "Big Buddy", my constant companion Saint Bernard, last week. Was expected because of his age, was..at least..a peaceful passing and he's now interred in a nice "doggie cemetary" out in the quiet countryside. House is too quiet without him; is hard to water plants every day and not have him there by my side; think something of me left with him as he was such a sweetheart! Am still not "right" over the loss, will be very hard to find a replacement when the time comes.

Last edited: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:30 pm

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FINALLY it's GROWING WEATHER

Category: gardening | Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:43 pm

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Mother Nature couldn't make up Her mind what she wanted to do weather-wise, but OUT a number of plants went the first week in June. Rather felt like I was "throwing them to the wolves" for a while there as temps were up and down, were like riding a pogo stick, never knew from one day to the next what to expect! Needless to say, there were several plant varieties that just sat there looking back at me, almost asking "WHY have you done this to me?".
The weather broke just a few weeks ago, everything has been "triggered" into a fast pace of growth to say the least! A Marianna's Peace tomato, put out in latter May and wrapped with plastic, has now gone over the top of the cage which is 3 feet high, is setting fruit and has too many blossoms to count. The others (Oregon Spring; Grandma Mary's Paste; Original Goliath; Ugly; Bush Early Girl; and hybrid Patios) are coming into their own right, appear to be growing INCHES per day, and are beginning to bloom. Two zuchinni plants, in a large container, are doing what only zuchinnis can do: are producing squashes like there's no tomorrow! Other squashes, and cukes, are trying to play "catch up", even an heirloom winter squash variety I'm leaving in the greenhouse to assure it won't be killed by frost before fruits can ripen (am hand-pollinating these to be SURE they'll produce). What looked like was going to be a sure bust gardening season has, amzingly, turned around and become VERY promising indeed, not only for the veggies, but flowers and herbs as well (have a Russian tarragon plant, started from seed 3 years ago, that's topping out at SIX FEET TALL!).
My absolute pride and joy, however, are double petunias started from seed this spring and put into hanging baskets. I counted OVER 20 opened, very double white/purple and white/red frilly blooms on one basket yesterday. Had only gotten packages of 30 seeds for each color, germination was 50%, and when transplanted into the baskets, seedlings were extremely SMALL, looked almost lost in the 12 inch containers. When transplanting the seedlings, I lined the inside of plastic baskets HEAVY with dampened sphagnum moss for better water retention, plants are now overflowing them in all directions and offer a beautiful "spicy" aroma if you're anywhere within the vicinity of where they're at.
Yes..it's finally "growing weather". Didn't believe it'd EVER arrive, but it's HERE in all it's glory!

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