mrs greenthumb's Blog at GardenStew.com

How about this type of composter!!!

mrs greenthumb — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:53:58 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:53 am (GMT 0)

Get a 5 gallon or larger bucket with a lid. Cut out the bottom of the bucket with a pair of heavy-duty shears or a utility knife.
Push the bucket into one of your flower beds so the bottom of the bucket is 12 inches below the soil surface.
Add compost, weeds( without seeds), and plant wastes every day, do NOT use meat or processed foods. You can use egg shells and vegetable waste also.
Keep the lid on to avoid attracting flies or other
critters.
When it's nearly full, pull the bucket up, and cover the pile with soil.
It will quickly settle as the compost rots and the earthworms do their work, and, as the compost breaks down, it will provide the bed with nutrients.
Tomatoes and squash crops, both heavy feeders, will benefit greatly when planted close by.

Poison Ivy.
If you need a barrier between you and the poison ivy try this:
Put a plastic newspaper sleeve over your hand and arm like a glove before pulling the ivy.
After you have pulled it out, peel the 'glove' inside out while you are still holding the weed.
Then you can throw the whole thing away safely.
There is no danger, using this method, of spreading plant oils as there is when using garden gloves, for the same task.
If you were saving all your bread bags, now you have a use for them!!
Till next time. Mrs 'G'

Grab Your Litter!!

mrs greenthumb — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:56:10 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:56 am (GMT 0)

If you are tired of jumping on and off your lawn tractor to pick up debris, try this ingenious trash grabber.
Take an old wooden handle from a broom, rake or other tool, and saw it off to a comfortable length.
Hammer 3 finishing nails into one end, and then take it with you when you mow by tractor.
Use this tool to "grab" litter from the ground, saving you getting on and off your tractor and having to re-start it.This tool will work for almost anything except glass. The nails will even puncture
and pick up aluminum cans!!!

When you have a big pile of soil to move, try this dustpan trick.
Kneel on a kneeling pad, dig in with the dustpan, and fill your wheelbarrow or buckets from that position, it sure helps your back muscles!!

Cut a piece of old rubber or plastic hose, the length
of your saw blade, garden hoe or machete, then make a length-wise slit in the hose. Slip it over the sharp edge of the blade or hoe to save the blade, and protect your hands from cuts and scrapes.

If you have stiff knees or a long job to do in the garden like dead heading or weeding, try using two, 5 gallon pails. Sit on one and use the other for the cuttings or weeds that you are pulling. It's easy to pick them up and move them, and they are usually free, from your local restaurant.

Place plant flats and small tools on an old plastic shower curtain, and drag it to the spot where you are working. You can also fill it with leaves in Autumn, as long as you don't fill it too full!

Don't throw away those sheer white window curtains!
Drape old curtains over garden plants to protect them from insects or light frosts.
They work great and hold up better than expensive
spun garden fabric. Not only that, you can throw them in the washer, if needed!

Till next time,
Mrs 'G'

I have pictures!!

mrs greenthumb — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:23:07 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:23 am (GMT 0)

Please let me know how to get my pictures onto my blog.!
I have them on Photobucket but I am not sure what I am supposed to do after that.!
Do I use IMG or URL and what do I enter into those tags???
thank you,
P.S
Tea drinkers>> Don't throw out your cold tea from your cup or tea pot.
Give your plants a treat, and pour the leftover into
the soil.

To prevent late blight on tomato plants, fill a trigger spray bottle with Hydrogen peroxide and mist the plants every evening from late August until September.

To prevent viruses from tainting the blades of your pruning shears, which can then be transferred to your plants, spray the tool with Lysol, then rinse well and dry. The disinfectant kills germs on contact.

Plant diseases can be spread by an infected shovel, gloves, or gardening shoes. Washing tools etc with warm soapy water will kill any disease on these items.

Revive an ailing plant by adding two tablespoons of
pancake syrup ( Aunt Jemimas etc) at the root of the plant once a month.

Watering plants with Gatorade adds Potassium to the soil and the sugar feeds microorganisms, adding Nitrogen.

There is an old proverb that says;
" The best fertilizer in the garden may be the gardener's own shadow". In other words , daily attention to plants is better than artificial additives.

Till next time "Mrs G'

Tips about Herbs.

mrs greenthumb — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:34:53 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:34 am (GMT 0)

Place an old Tire on the ground, fill with potting soil, plant herbs like lavender, oregano,sage, and thyme in the soil. The tire retains
moisture and provides excellent drainage.

To speed the germination of parsley seeds, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for several hours, let dry and mix with coffee grounds before sowing outdoors in one- quarter inch of soil. Cover the spot with a board to keep the seeds moist and cool, until they sprout.

To germinate basil, plant the seeds in a flat pan filled with seed- starting mix and cover the pan with a sheet of saran wrap to create a miniature greenhouse.

To preserve diced fresh ginger in your refrigerator,
,peel and chop the ginger, put in a jar, top off with
Vodka and seal tightly. The ginger will last up to one year in your refrigerator. DO NOT DRINK THE VODKA!!!!!

To prevent thyme from being burned in the summer sun,
dissolve one tablespoon of Borax in one gallon of water , use this solution to water the thyme once, in spring.

To store rosemary, strip the leaves from the branches and place them in a freezer bag and place them in your freezer.

To those of you who asked kindly about my garden, I have been working like crazy in 95degree heat, to get it going. It is beginning to take shape and once I know how to publish photos on this site, I will let you see my progress!!!

Till next time " Mrs G"

All About Rakes!

mrs greenthumb — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:37:31 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:37 am (GMT 0)

Whether or not you live near the seashore, a short handled clam rake can be perfect for cultivating a garden bed.
The rake's slender tines penetrate the ground deeply, bringing up rhizomes of grasses and other invasive weeds in large pieces that are easy to pick out of the soil.

Are you bothered by ' bindweed?'.
It grows just about everywhere and is a gardener's nightmare.
If you can find a potato rake it is the finest bindweed removal tool in the business!!
This cross between a hoe and a pitchfork has three very sharp tines that easily snare bindweed and makes it easy for disposal. It can also be used for dragging piles of thorny clippings and pulling compost out of a bin.

Compost tea bag.
When you open your next bag of onions, untie the string gathered at the top rather than ripping through the netting.
Fill the bag with compost, retie it, and place it in a bucket of water. Allow it to steep for a week or more, then use the liquid to water plants and give them a fertilizer boost!

Cooking Spray.

Squirt your hands with cooking spray before you go into the garden. It will make your hands easier to clean, especially if like me, you don't wear garden gloves.
It will make it easier to wash up and even helps keep them cleaner , if you do wear garden gloves.

Till next time 'Mrs G'

A flower like Tiffany Glass.!

mrs greenthumb — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:29:10 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:29 am (GMT 0)

If you have never grown this plant I urge you to do so, it is called " Salpiglosis".
They are tall thin plants and really need to be sown in a group to support one another, but they have the most beautiful flowers, just like looking at colored glass. They have all shades, blues, purples, pinks etc all on the one flower. They are annuals ,but well worth having just to look at them .

I have started buying shrubs for my new garden, and some roses. I like climbing roses, and shrub roses, but I am not always successful in growing them. I think I must water too much or too little, but I know they do best with a soaker hose, rather than a blast from the hose.

I also brought with me young water lilies, and they are doing great, lots of leaves but no flowers yet, I will have to bring them in for the winter.

I always throw seed from my established plants into my garden in the fall, but it must be my old age, I found that now, I can never remember what ones I used!! I have to wait until the spring when they begin to sprout, and then I replant them, not knowing what I am replanting! Oh well, it's always a suprise.

Some fun thoughts:::

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Do you ever wonder??

Why does round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did 'cured' ham actually have?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
Once you are in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the same clothes you were buried in, for eternity?

Till next time Mrs "G"

Thank You.!!

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:52:17 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:52 am (GMT 0)

Thank you all for your kind words and I am glad to be back behind my wheelbarrow!!.

My new garden is quite a challenge, it has once been a very large tilled garden, but is now just a pile of weeds!! I really like to use my " Garden Claw" as I don't have a regular tiller, and this tool helps me tremendously. The only problem is, when the ground gets too wet, I cannot lift my feet out of the mud as my shoes are almost stuck there. I am gradually adding new plants and shrubs so that next year, I should see a big improvement.

I found a nice new shrub ( to me ) called "Sweetberry Honeysuckle", and also a newer type of PeeGee Hydrangea with longer blooming time.

I have set up my arbors with climbing roses, and clematis so I am looking forward to seeing them grow.

It is just too bad that I have to wait through a long winter, until I can see how all the plants have survived. Oh well!, maybe I will just hibernate in my bed with a good lot of books and watch the snow
fall outside my window.!!!
Cheers' Mrs G

<a href="http://technorati.com/claim/zb475p499" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a>

I have survived!!!!

mrs greenthumb — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:43:54 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:43 am (GMT 0)

Well hi there! it seems ages since I last wrote, but is only about a month. We survived our journey and so did all the 4 legged family, it took us about 5 days, in terrific heat and the dogs were uncomfortable but were very good. The only mishap we had was on the Trans Canada Highway. We had packed the van very carefully, with the cats in their cages at the back and the dogs behind our seats at the front and in between was lots of " stuff". We were quite pleased with ourselves as to how it was all working out, until we turned a corner on the highway and came face to face ( almost) with Mother Moose!!!!
I had to slam on the brakes, all the cat cages came tumbling to the front, the dogs got in a panic ( and so did I) as I was sure I was going to hit her.

She stood there , just looking at us, and decided to have a munch of grass before continuing to cross the road.Meanwhile our well laid out van was a disaster, cats mewing, dogs barking, sweltering heat and tempers getting high. Our long legged friend finally decided to move, and allowed us to pull off to the side of the road and re-organize the van.

Apart from that, things went quite well, until we arrived at our new house. The movers had not yet arrived, so we just parked the van at the driveway and waited, and waited, and waited!!!
By this time it was getting late in the day and we were tired and hungry.
We tried to call the mover on his cell ( he told me he always had it on), "NO ANSWER". So we decided to spend the night in the local motel.
In the morning we called him again" NO ANSWER"
It was about 90 degrees, all of our furniture was on the moving van, we didn't even have a chair to sit on.So we put the dogs into the house where it was cooler and we sat on the grass. By late in the day, still" NO MOVER".

We called head office, they couldnt find him, so back to the motel we went.

They came 3 days late, said the van broke down etc etc, well I wasn't buying that excuse. I was hopping mad and let them know it, as only a good Scottish Lassie can !!

So now I unloaded the plants that I had packed up to take with me, and was surprised at how well they had done.
Since being here for a month, they have picked up really well, and showing signs of life. Only problem is, I lived in zone 5 and now I am in zone 3, so
was it really worth it to bring them with me?
I have decided to mother them through the winter, and see how they do, maybe Global Warming will arrive here before the frost, I can only hope.!!

Mrs G'

The Trials of Moving House.!!

mrs greenthumb — Sun, 13 May 2007 02:17:56 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:17 am (GMT 0)

I am in the middle of packing for my move. I have been at it now for 2 weeks, and I just get deeper into a muddle!!

I never knew we had so much "stuff" , and we decided that we were going to keep only things that we really need, not the hundreds of items that lie in a cupboard and have never been used.

My biggest devastation has been selling the plants out of my garden. I never thought I would feel such a loss. Sounds stupid I know, but I have lived with these plants for 12 years, and they have been my family.

To dig them out of the ground and pass them on to others, has been quite traumatic.
My once beautifully designed English garden, is now no more. It has holes everywhere, where I have dug up shrubs and plants, and no longer resembles the labor of love, that I created.

I have been surprised how many people really know nothing about gardening, as I have had to explain how to plant shrubs, perennials and water plants.
I have broken 2 of my best shovels, digging out well rooted plants, who I felt , just didn't want to leave.!!!

I now have boxes for the Mover, boxes for the Salvation Army, boxes for the Auctioneer, and very nearly had one of my cats boxed also, ( she jumped in while I was packing and I just heard her mew).

My house is an absolute wreck, ( and so am I) what with sorting out new telephone numbers, hydro, television connects, sorting out what bills I need to pay before I leave, and all the other financial matters that have to be taken care of, I am just mentally and physically " pooped".

Anyway, I did read somewhere, that one must not dwell on what you are losing, but the potential of what one will gain!

So I have this message written on the door, so that I keep it in my mind, when I am feeling down,( that my favorite rose has just been sold.)

The worst part, everyone who comes to the garden, keeps saying" oh how can you bear to leave this lovely place?" This is well meant, but makes me feel even more depressed.!

I have 2 more weeks to get all my house in order for the movers, and when they have gone, I have to pack my station wagon with 2 large dogs and 2 cats( who will be in their cat carriers) and clothes for a week, and animal dishes and I am going to sneak in a few plants( well how could I not?).

So the journey of 3000 kms, will be quite the test of all our patience, and my worst thought is I have to unpack all these boxes at the other end!

Well I won't be the first nor the last to go through this stress, but when we are in the midst of all this chaos, we tend to think, we are the only ones that have ever done it.

So, I won't be writing for a few weeks, just in case anyone who enjoys my blog, thought I had gone missing!!

'Mrs G.'

Rules for Cats who RUN the house!!!

mrs greenthumb — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:32:28 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:32 am (GMT 0)

I thought that some of these "rules" would make you smile!!! All from a cat's point of view....

CHAIRS and RUGS...........

If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug.If there is no Oriental rug, then shag would be sufficient. When throwing up on a carpet, make sure you back up while doing so, to make sure the mess you leave is as long as a human foot!!

DOORS.....

Do not allow closed doors at any time in your house. To get a door open, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws, once door is open, it is not necessary to use it. After you have an outside door open, stand halfway in and out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, or mosquito season!

BATHROOMS........

Always accompany humans to the bathroom. Make sure they let you in( see above rule regarding doors)
and then simply sit there and stare at them.!

PLAY........

This is REALLY important. Get plenty of sleep during the day so you are fresh for playing kitty games in the middle of the night. The best place to play is in the human's bedroom, preferably under the bed!!

BEDTIME........

Always sleep right on top of a human when you decide to get some sleep during the night. If they try to move, make it clear( and you know how) that this is not allowed.!!

Humans can be taught if you start early and remain totally consistent.

Mrs 'G'

The More You Give...

mrs greenthumb — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:30:49 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:30 pm (GMT 0)

To thank those of you who were so kind in sending me your best wishes on my move, here is a little thought from me:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to cry,
When care is pressing down a bit,
Rest if you must, just don't you quit!

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit-
It's when things seem worst,
That you must not quit.

Mrs Greenthumb.

All About Berries.

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:00:38 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:00 am (GMT 0)

To prevent strawberries from touching the soil, cut a large doughnut shape from a piece of bubblewrap and put around the plant like a collar.

To grow beautiful blueberries or cranberries. occasionally water with a mixture of two tablespoons of white vinegar to one quart of water. They love acid soil and grow best in soils with a PH below 6.5 You can also fertilize them by using coffee grounds, work them into the soil around the base of the plants, about once a month.

To keep Rabbits away from strawberries, sprinkle Black pepper in your garden around and over the strawberry patch. Rabbits have a keen sense of smell and are repelled by the scent of pepper. When it rains make sure to re apply.

Remove berry stains from your hands with lemon juice.

To kill earwigs ( and who doesn't want to !) fill a jar lid with corn oil and place it in the garden. The earwigs are attracted to it and then they drown

Cranberry Jello, is the only flavor of jello derived from genuine fruit, rather than artificial flavoring.

Strawberries that are planted on a slope facing south will fruit at least a week earlier than strawberries planted on a slope facing north.

Twigs and foliage of cherry trees are poisonous, and, if eaten, cause death, so watch out for your children.

Mrs"G".

Leaving Old Friends.

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:43:37 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:43 am (GMT 0)

We have made the decision to move from Ontario, to another province in Canada. This has been a hard decison to make, but due to certain circumstances, we had no choice.

The biggest dilemma I have is leaving my many plants behind. I have a very special feeling towards my plants, I have been growing them for 10 years,and we have been through many battles, against weather, disease, insects etc. and we have survived!! So now I have to leave them behind.

Having them spread out over 2 acres, means that there
are many of them, and also many unusual varieties that I have specially cultivated over the years.

I have been secretly digging up the ones that I really like and putting them in holding area, to see if I can possibly fit them in to the moving van. As`the movers cost out the load by weight, my husband has been very strict with what we take with us.

So somehow, I am going to get these plants into the moving van.!!!

I also have a plant sale on, and that is a lot of work. I have been digging up clumps of plants and trying to remember what they are all called. I used to know them off by heart, but somewhere along the way, I seem to have lost my memory!

My poor garden looks decimated, holes everywhere from plants that I have dug up, plants trodden down by the large feet of some males, helping their wives to dig out plants, no sensitivity to my "family".

I also notice, that the small group of plants that I have stashed away, is getting bigger!! How can I leave my favorite Hydrangeas, Daylillys, Roses, Vines, and other Perennials. That is just too much!!

We have only a small station wagon, which has to take 2 large Golden Retrievers and 3 cats and of course my husband . We`are travelling 3000 kms, to our new destination, so the trip will be fun?????

I am thinking that I could sneak some plants in between the cat cages and the dogs, or another thought was that they could all fly there, and I could FILL my wagon with all my plants and drive myself.

Common sense has prevailed however, and I will have to box up the plants, put them in wet newspaper, and send them by mail. Or should I wrap up my husband and animals in wet newspaper, and send THEM by mail?
The thought is tempting!!!!!

Mrs"G".

Get Your Beans Growing!!

mrs greenthumb — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:31:57 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:31 am (GMT 0)

To get bean seedlings off to a good start in cold soil at least 2 weeks before your early target date, slice open the sides of black garbage bags to make long sheets and place the plastic on your garden bed, as mulch.

Secure the plastic in place with stones and then plant the pre-sprouted seeds in holes in the plastic at the proper planting intervals. The heat from the plastic warms the soil an additional 3-4 degrees
Fahrenheit.

The plastic sheets can be rolled up at the end of the season and re-used another year.
Make certain that you water beneath the plastic sheet with a drip line or soaker hose.

FLOSS YOUR BEANS!!

String waxed floss across your garden just a few inches above a row of bean plants. Attach floss to stakes. Using scissors, cut a dozen or more strips of foil one inch wide by five inches long.

Tape the strips of foil along the string of dental floss every few feet.

The strips of reflective foil , flapping in the breeze, will repel birds.

HOW ABOUT A SLINKY?

Hang several Slinkys in a row from the side of the house or an overhang, this will give your beans a trellis to "slink" their way up.

SPIDER MITES.

To kill spider mites on bean plants, mix 2 tablespoons of pepper sauce, 2 of garlic powder and 3 drops of dishwashing liquid, add 2 cups of water, mix all into a sixteen ounce spray bottle and spray on your plants.

FOR YOUR INTEREST............

The Asparagus Bean can grow pods up to 3 feet long.

In the sixteenth century, peasants in England relied on dried beans to survive a famine.

In the seventeenth century, people ( foolishly,)believed that eating beans cured baldness!

During World War II, the US army floated water-proof bags filled with beans from ships to beachheads,to feed American troops.

Don't forget Jack and his Beanstalk!!!

Mrs'G'.

Do your knees need help??

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:37:37 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:37 pm (GMT 0)

I am so fed up wasting money on buying knee pads for my gardening pants . They end up at my ankles or around my feet and I get so mad, I just throw them away.
So, I have made knee pads of my own, and I will share this " fabulous" design with you!!!

Take a piece of fabric ( old blue jeans) and cut it to fit like a large " pocket" over each knee of your gardening pants. Then cut a piece of foam rubber to fit into the "pocket" on each knee and when you are crawling through your canna lilies etc , your knee pads will stay put.
When you want to wash your gardening pants, then just slip out the foam and when your pants are dry, hey presto! you are good to go again!

INEXPENSIVE GARDEN LIGHTS.

I read`this tip and I thought it was worthwhile passing on.
Get any strong glass jar, the bigger the better, and empty it out and wash it well. Could be a mayonnaise jar, pickles etc.
Pour 2 or 3 inches of sand into the jar, then insert a white pillar candle.
They look lovely in the garden at night,down a driveway or grouped together by your favorite garden spot, or to welcome visitors to your home.

Try it, let me know how it works for you.

Mrs "G"

Stop and Smell the Manure !!!!

mrs greenthumb — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:47:42 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:47 am (GMT 0)

When I was very young, we lived on a farm in rural Scotland. My father looked after the animals and the crops and my mother would do the cooking and cleaning, making jams and jellies and other good things to eat. At that time, I was an only child and never had anyone of my own age to play with, and as a five year old, this, to me, was a problem.

To make me feel better, my parents bought me a doll carriage, all shiny and new, with white lace bedding and pillows. I only had one doll, so I pushed her around the garden for a while, talking to her as a five year old would do. But I was getting rather bored, as she never made any sound.

As I passed the chicken coop I had an inspirational idea. I opened the coop door (which I was not supposed to do) and looked for Molly, our biggest, oldest hen. I managed to lift her up and take her out of the coop and proceeded to dress her in my doll’s shawl and bonnet. I then put her in my new doll carriage and was delighted when she seemed not to mind this new form of transport.

I happily pushed her around the yard for quite some time. When I spoke to her she would cock her head to one side and cluck at me. This appealed to me more than my silent doll companion. What I did not know was, as she was "talking" to me from one end of her body, she was doing something else from the other end! I only found this out when I had tired of the game and lifted her out of the carriage. To my horror, I saw this messy, stinky, mess on my lovely white lace bedding!!

This was my first close encounter with "manure". As I became a gardener, I realized just how valuable manure would be in my life. It was to become like liquid gold, the answer to healthy green plants.

In my novice days, I ordered manure from the local farmer. When he came with a tractor load and dumped in on my front lawn, it was just fresh. If you’ve been close to fresh manure, you will know how revolting a smell it has. So there I was, taking wheelbarrow loads of this "stuff" for days, to get rid of the odor. It seemed to penetrate my clothes even after they had been washed.

Then I got smarter and wiser, learning that old manure is the right thing for the garden. I now make manure "tea". If you take a large bucket and suspend a long pole over the top, get a porous bag, fill it with manure and hang the manure bag over the bucket, then when it rains, the manure gets liquefied. Then you can drain it off into a smaller pail and put it on your garden as fertilizer. No matter how much money you spend on fertilizer, it will never give you the benefits of "liquid gold".

If you know a farmer or know where there is a horse farm, ask for the scrapings of old manure from the barn floor and hold your nose while transporting it to your home. You will reap the benefits ten fold.

So my first encounter with manure as a child was an unpleasant one (especially as in THOSE days you could receive a spanking, and sitting down was painful for a while), but I didn’t know then how much I would rely on this ‘smelly, messy stuff’ to produce wonderfully scented flowers.

Easy seed starting tape.

mrs greenthumb — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:13:26 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:13 am (GMT 0)

I head out to the garden armed with a pail of water, seeds, some old newspaper and a 7-8 inch length of twine, kite string or cotton yarn. I put the twine in the pail and while it is soaking I dig a furrow for planting. By the time I have finished, the twine is saturated.

I then sprinkle a row of seeds the same length on a sheet of newspaper. I dip the twine in the seeds and plant the whole thing.

As the seeds germinate, the twine will degrade, giving a bit of organic matter to the soil.

This is a great way to tackle those almost invisible seeds such as carrots, lettuce, etc. this is much easier than the old method of mixing them with sand!.

PORTABLE POTTING BENCH!!

I remove the padded cover from my ironing board and set it up wherever I want to work. I use the flat surface and then, when I am finished, I can just fold it away until I need it again. It is a good idea to use an " Old" ironing board if you don't want seeds in your underwear!!!!

PORTABLE SEED CARRIER!!!!

My golden retriever called Hunter, just loves to roll around in the snow. When we have snow I always put lots of sunflower seeds in my bird feeders, and the birds are apt to scatter them on the ground.

So when Hunter decided to have his "roll" he did it on the ground under the bird feeders, and hey presto!
a walking sunflower container!! His back was covered in the seeds, and much to his disgust, he had to have a bath to get rid of them. So imagine all these sunflowers growing in my drainage pipes !!

Mrs "G".

A " DUNk" for Japanese Beetles!!!

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:13:12 -0400

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:13 am (GMT 0)

There are many uses for vinegar these days, from gargling your throat ( UGH!!)
to drinking for stomach problems.

As I love roses, these beetles can be a real menace to them as well as corn and raspberries etc. For short-term control, hand picking is the safest and most effective measure. ( I hate doing that!)
To make this rotten job easier, place cans of vinegar solution ( equal parts apple cider vinegar and water ) next to vulnerable plants.

Early and late in the day, when beetles are not at their best, hold the can under them, and knock the beetles into the solution. Vinegar kills them quickly and is not harmful to pets or children.

You can leave the can in place until it's full, and then empty dead bugs into the compost pile, and refill the cans.

Over time this method does reduce their population, significantly.

Trouble with cut worms??

Clear plastic 12 ounce water or soda bottles make great cutworm barriers.
Slice the bottles into 3 inch high rings, then press them into the soil,( about 1 inch deep) and put them over newly planted seedlings.

Tool Caddy??

I strap on a carpenter's tool belt, with my garden trowel, pruners etc and I am all set for the day!!

"Mrs G"

My "pet" inspiration.

mrs greenthumb — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:15:08 -0500

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:15 am (GMT 0)

I had a cat for many years who became my faithful companion. Unfortunately, he passed away after 18 years, and I was devastated.

I vowed that I would never have another cat, as I did not want to go through the emptiness that his loss created.

One day my friend came to call, she raises Himalayan cats, and after we got chatting she mentioned that she was trying to find a home for a one year old male. I was surprised, as she never has problems selling her kittens and I asked why this one was still with her.

She then proceeded to tell me that he was blind, had been since birth, but she couldn't have him put down. Now, this was meant to get my sympathy, which of course it did! I heard myself say "Well I could come and see him?" only to find that he was in her car! Oh, how well she knew me!

When I saw this little bundle of white fur, with the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen in a cat, I was hooked! When I picked him up and held him, he was mine.

I have so much admiration for this little creature who lives in the dark. I watch him as he wanders around the floor, testing with his long whiskers as to how far he is from objects, putting out his paw to feel if he is safe to go further. Despite his handicap, he bravely goes about his day,letting nothing hinder him in his inate curiosity, as in all cats.

He has given me a new outlook on life, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. There have been many days when I have been feeling sorry for myself, life has been too stressful, or so I tell myself, and I just want to pull up the bedcovers and hide, and then I see my little white furry friend, trying so hard to have a life, and not give in to his blindness. He has been an inspiration to me, his determination, his courage and his perseverance, are beyond words.

Do you have a question?

mrs greenthumb — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:45:33 -0500

Author: mrs greenthumb
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:45 pm (GMT 0)

I would like to ask anyone who reads my blog a question!!

I get asked many gardening questions over the years and hopefully I have helped people to make their gardens, just what they wanted.

I would like to start a site, that would allow people to ask me gardening questions, and I, hopefully, can answer them.
I just wanted your input into this idea before I get it going.

Please just click on my comment link, and let me know if you would enjoy participating or just reading the questions and answers.

thank you Mrs Greenthumb.