Hummerbum's Blog at GardenStew.com

7/9/12

hummerbum — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:42:38 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 4:42 pm (GMT 0)

Haven't written anything in a month and a half...been fighting with the scorching sun and the pests that have been eating my leaves of everything in the garden. I finally saw what was eating the leaves and it was catepillars and worms. I have natural pest control going on out there..in the name of green lizards...always loved those little reptiles. I have been struggling with the lack of pollinators in my area and have decided that this year will probably be my last year trying veggies like maters and cucs...too disappointing unless i get a bumper crop of tomatoes which seems to be doing really good at the moment...i may put in regular green bean seeds now..cuz the container variety is not growing and producing like i hoped it would..so i'm ready for that grate to be covered with beans already....lol

All in all the area looks really good, full and lush. I have to admit that the rocks do tie everything together quite nicely...yes I was too quick to get upset!!! lol

I will post the pics that I have taken over the spring/summer

5/15/12: My 48th Birthday!!

hummerbum — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:49:10 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 2:49 pm (GMT 0)

I woke up.. saying a prayer, I got dressed... saying a prayer, I drove to work early...saying a prayer, I planted tomatoes this morning...saying a prayer. I'm sitting at my desk...saying a prayer. No wonder I feel so Blessed!!! Happy Birthday To Me!!!

5/13/12

hummerbum — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:37:32 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 7:37 pm (GMT 0)

Today is Mother's Day and I am happy! My hubby surprised me with a huge pot of Bromeliads (3 humongous plants)before he went to work this morning. I just got back from Olive Garden where my "kids" took me for lunch/dinner early. It's crazy out there now. We had a great time there. Then they humored me and we went to see my garden at the office downtown..lol. They loved it!!! So now we're resting for a bit. My daughter and I are watching David Tutera/My Fair Wedding, before we start Monopoly at 5 p.m. We love board games and video games. Now that's my idea of a Happy Mother's Day!!!

5/9/12: Having A Great Day!!!

hummerbum — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:58:32 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:58 pm (GMT 0)

Good Afternoon Everyone!! I'm so excited. I have a cucumber blossom today!! I have green beans about a half inch long but something's eating my leaves. Everything is growing so nicely. I do see that I really really need to pot those other tomatoes and peppers because they are really tall now. I'm just so proud of the babies. To watch them grow has been so rewarding for me already and I haven't even tasted the first anything from back there...LOL!!! My co-worker just told me that I am having so much fun this year with the plants. I'm sitting here at my desk surrounded by papers and I'm smiling because my background on the puter has a shot that i took this morning of the yellow hibiscus and it takes me to another place..one of peace and calm. That's what gardening is all about to me..peace and calm. Having a Great Day!!!

5-9-12 First Blossom ( photo / image / picture from hummerbum's Garden )

5/7/12: Reflecting During Sunrise

hummerbum — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:04:03 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:04 pm (GMT 0)

For you all who don't know, I cherish mornings because that's my time to reflect and just exhale. Take in the wakening of the flowers and sounds. This morning at 6 am, i was in bed and looked over towards the window and the sun was coming up and immediately, I just smiled. I suddenly remembered how i loved this time of the day when I lived in my house in the country. I would get my coffee and go sit outside on the steps before the sun really came up and take in the smells of the morning. Then would come the hummers to feed. Oh man, do I miss that!!! The buzzing, the fighting. Hence, my nickname and tattoo!! Then after about 10 mins, I would always, always take a walk around the property to see what was new and to talk the plants. Back then I had 2 acres but 1 for plantings. The spiders would be busy at work, the lizards (my buddies) would be scurrying all over the place, birds playing in the birdbath. The flowers seemed to smile at me as I walked by..it was as if they were waiting on me. I would wave to everyone who passed by and honked and those who didn't. I was told later that i was a fixture out there. They could always depend on me to be out there when they passed to go to work. I was told that they actually enjoyed passing by to see the yarden because it brightened their spirits. That place was a public garden in the making. With those memories, which are so vivid, I can't help but smile as I lay there.
My hubby still cannot believe that I actually go up early this past Saturday just to go see my plants open...I told him that he doesn't understand yet but he's getting there. He said that he is starting to understand and just shook his head. This moment is when i truly know that I belong in the yard wanting to make people smile. So I got up got myself ready, have already eaten my breakfast and wanted to sit and write and share my reflecting moments with all of you because I know that you understand.

Have A Great Day Everyone!!!!

Still Haven't Learned How To Link Yet

hummerbum — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:19:14 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:19 pm (GMT 0)

For the moment please follow my pics on "My Garden"..still haven't learned how to link yet. Help someone!!
Thanks

May 1, 2012: I'm At Peace Now!!!

hummerbum — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:40:48 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:40 pm (GMT 0)

Well it's been an interesting month. I've had my colonoscopy (clean bill of health), 1st Wedding Anniversary and my son move back home: all this past month. I have to say that I have never watched over and prayed over plants as much as I did my little beauties. That was fingernail-biting and nervousness all rolled up into one. My goodness to get them outside for the first time was crazy for me. Since the last time I was on here, I was trying to find a spot to put my babies. Well, after much thought/prayer...i ended up placing them out at work..lol. I really did like the space after he put the rocks down and then it was taking soooooo long to find someone and that in itself was nerve-wrecking. So they are doing wonderfully out back and seem to be happy. People have commented on the space and love it...i give my boss credit for the rocks and he gives me credit for the creativity...lol!!! I've done a lot and spent a lot of moola back there on plants but have enjoyed every minute back there. I will be posting pics so I can catch you up to date. My tomato and pepper plants are as tall as the ones from the nursery. I am so proud of them. The greenbeans have gone on about their business. The roses have budded and i expect that they will open by the end of the week. Getting the camera ready!!! Have a few more specific plants that I want...trying to draw the bees. It's so hot here already 90's (86 today at this moment)!!!

3/31 Ah Hah Moments (Part 2)

hummerbum — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:10:35 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:10 pm (GMT 0)

Moving on to last night!!! I finally told my hubby what happened earlier in the week. Now just a little background on my husband...speaks his mind..holds no punches!!!

He said if i were you...i wouldn't open up the door and take another step back there...all that work and time that you put into making that area something that all of you can be proud of after sitting there for 30+ years... (--ck Him) Then he said but i know that you already have plants back there...i wouldn't take anything else back there...find another place for your plants...I hate people who are like that especially him, he said. They have a word specifically for him and no one has used it in a long time....he's a chauvanist. He said that that word describes him to a tee and when he said it....I said that's it!!!! Then he also said that he's the type of person whom you have to show him rather than talk to him. When he figures out that you're not going back there...he'll come to you and ask why are you not going back there. But he also said that's what he would do, not necessarily what i would do...however, after the lack of feelings that i had for the area yesterday, i think that he is on to something. That was my AH HA moment!!!! Just take them to a garden somewhere else as some of you have suggested. I got up and went there this morning at 8 and potted 2 plants already there and just stood there for a moment....it really really did not feel like the space that i drempt about because all around the area i saw "his" area. I always knew that I was passionate about gardening but this is the first time that my creativity/vision(s) Has/have been clouded. So I guess it's true...don't mess with an artist while they're creating that masterpiece. Well, ladies and gentlemen..I am searching for a community garden as we speak..As you see i have a lot of seedlings to plant or give to someone....the last thing I need is to argue over a space that was supposed to be peaceful. I'll just move on!!! Thank God For My Hubby!!!

3/31 My Ah Hah Moments!!!

hummerbum — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:50:19 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:50 pm (GMT 0)

I have a lot to say this morning after yesterday's conversations. I truly believe certain people are placed in your path for a reason.

I had a conversation with someone who was totally unexpected. It was as if he was bursting at the seams to get out his frustrations. Just so happens that that person wasn't at work yesterday so we went out in the "garden area" and he told me the pricing on putting in that path that I blogged about earlier. Well let's just say that I know the boss and his stingy ways and he will not pay 1500.00 for that path. Well we both agreed on that issue. Then we start conversating about what transpired a few days earlier. I didn't bring it up...he did because he was right beside me. After a long conversation with him, he said that he saw how my boss totally ignored what I was saying to him and kept on going with his idea and everything that you tried to tell him wasn't going to work, he didn't want to hear it. He told me that he saw the hurt in my eyes because he saw my vision disappear in an instant. He told me that we both know how he is and that it would not have done any good to say anything because he does not listen to women. When he said that....I ran around the building because I knew at that point that i was right all along but had never heard it from anyone close to him. He also doesn't listen to people who are not at his level financially. Oh My God...I have been waiting to hear that from someone else thinking it was just me. I told him that I feel as though my dream was stolen or crushed in an instant and as we stand here in this space right now...i can't think about what i should do next because my dream was invaded. It's as if the switch turned off. I told him that working here is not my dream..but working in gardens and creating them are and the boss knows this. I can't tell you all how free I felt speaking to someone who understood exactly what I was feeling but them letting me know how they felt. He actually feels used like I did. He told me to never let anyone steal your dream and never let anyone hold me down. He is a gardener to his heart and he understood..it was as if i was saying those very words....THEN something hit me....he doesn't appreciate the work that i've already done to just come and take over ...spoke volumes to me.

3/29/12 Feel Better - Letting Go!!

hummerbum — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:09:36 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:09 pm (GMT 0)

This morning I am feeling so much better about the "used to be" issue. It's not anymore. I decided it wasn't worth saying anything and just going with the flow. Besides the reasons why I do this is not for cosmetics it's for the passion. I think what really made this all blow over was what greeted me when I got home besides IVAN the cat...remember the cucs, watermelon and green beans I just seeded Sunday? Well they are up and out..that made my whole day and actually made me realize that at that moment all the tension of the day went away when I saw that. So now I'm excited again to continue watching the seedlings grow. The ones that I transplanted this past wknd are doing well....gotta give them some weak fertilizer though this wknd.

Thank you all for your responses because they sure help take me through the day...I Love This GARDENSTEW FAMILY. Til Next Post!!! Have A Great Day.

3/28/12 Sleepless Night!!

hummerbum — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:23:45 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:23 pm (GMT 0)

I woke up this morning at 1 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep because something subconsciencely was on my mind. Most of you know that I have a garden project at the office where I work. I don't think i've told you how this came to be. My boss has had this office/house for 30+ years and has done everything to the in and outer exterior of the office but has never touched the small backyard strip for anything other than to throw glass, nails, paint, screws, rugs out there without caring. He tried unsuccessfully to put out lava rocks on top of the weed block but the weeds took over. I suspect that the thin layer of rocks had something to do with it. Anyway, for the last 2 years I kept asking him to put something out back for us to have a place to eat our lunch or just to take a break. Well last year (2011) he let me do it. First of all you couldn't walk back there because of the type of rock and all the sharp objects so what did I do first? Put down cardboard to cover all the crap that was on that ground and build and instant ground cover and an area accommodating to the feet. Just that by itself was an awesome transformation. The next thing I knew there was straw back there. I didn't put it down, my boss did and he left it alone. I did appreciate that he took interest in the area and I went on with attempting to do what i could that year because i started sooo late in the season. I will post pics later so that you can see last years transformation.

Moving forward to yesterday (3/27/12)....
Before I got sick the first time, earlier this month, I started the transformation again but this time I wanted to make it more beautiful than ever. You all know that I had been dreaming about this the whole winter season. (You can also see my garden pics of what's been done so far) Ok yesterday, he called his handy person to come to the office. Well next thing I know, they're in the backyard discussing what HE wanted to put down over my weedblock so that we wouldn't have to go through this part again. Well that would have been alright with the type of rocks that he decided on but then he decided he wanted a path in the growing area. Mind you if you look at the pics, a path in that space is not visually pleasing in the area that have already visualized in my head. I was so upset and didn't hold back (no i didn't yell or anything like that) and let them know that this is not a part of my plan. The rocks are perfect but the path is not a part of the design and takes away the space that is needed. I also told them that weed block is needed before they put the rocks down in the other area..he said that weed block does not work and i told him it does when you know what you're doing. You have to know what you're doing in order to control weeds. Then I turned around and went back inside. I am so hurt because I feel as though "my" little piece of heaven has been invaded with his insight. He is an attorney and great at interior decorating and I hate interior decorating and has to have his hand in everything, so i couldn't even suggest what to do in his area of expertise. I just feel that I do know that the hours spent thinking about how I would like it to look like is tainted a little. I thought I was alright with it and could work around it but I guess I was wrong. He just wakes up and thinks about things with no rhyme or reason, when I visually plan over seasons. I do realize that this is HIS office and humbly acknowledge that fact, but I just thought that since nothing had been done all those years that he would stay inside and let me be the gardener I know that I am. Finally, I had a space to reasonably work in, so I thought. I am in tears now over this believe it or not..I truly feel like that the part of myself has been stabbed in the gut because I needed that freedom so that I can showcase my natural talents to try and help others as well as help myself---show them how they can garden and what they can have in a relatively small space. I guess that's why I would need a home instead of an apt. but then that would defeat the purpose. I think though what I will do is take him outside today and explain to him, so that he can see my passion for gardening. This is just not an hobby to me but a passion. I want him to be able to feel what I feel about his place...I can't take it with me I just want him to step back and understand. I don't think he really realizes how much gardening is a part of my life. Wish me luck!!! Have a Great Day!

Empty Daughter's Room Turned Seed Starter Area

hummerbum — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:21:13 -0400

Author: hummerbum
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:21 pm (GMT 0)

I have limited space to plant at the office space in the backyard at work so everything is going to be in containers and container-sized. Since we are empty- nesters in our 40's..our daughter's room has begun to look like a garden area (she's in Med School). Started the first set of seeds on Feb. 11, 2012: Container Tomatoes & Sweet Bell Peppers (from Carolyn). I was really excited. My seed starter consisted of organic seed starter mix, tray with dome and regular old heating pad. At night I use my daughters headboard with a light on it to grow them under...LOL. Started sprouting in about 2 or 3 days later. (See My Garden)

Planted a second set of seeds on March 11, 2012:
Okra (Crimson Spineless), Dill, Cilantro, Roma Tomatoes (Bush Type), Jalapeno Peppers. Same seed starter and set up. Also started sprouting in about 2 or 3 days later.

3/24 & 3/25

Since I have bronchitis, I transplanted most of my seedlings (Will load pics tomorrow)and it was a lot of work but it was therapeutic..watched TV while playing in the soil. They are now on our living room table..sunning...Wore me out!!! On Sunday freshened up all the plants in the house with fresh soil. Also started Cucumbers (Spacemaster - Bush), Watermelon (Bush Sugar Baby)and Green Beans (Tenderbush). Everything is on a smaller scale. Now they are getting a nice sauna job...can't wait for them to sprout. For me it's relaxing but this year I pray that it will be fruitful as this will be used as our main source of food. Can't wait!!! I will say this to end today's entry....you have to absolutely love gardening to do this because your patience will be and definitely is tested during this process.

Stay Tuned!!