petunia's Blog at GardenStew.com

A busy summer

petunia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:32:46 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:32 pm (GMT 0)

I guess I hadn't planned on this summer being as busy as its turned out to be.
This week has been our fair. my daughter shows her rabbits. She has 4 ribbons from 2 of them. Here she is with her mini rex named 'cocoa'

show rabbit ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

The judge is checking her rabbit.

judging ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

These are the 2 ribbons this rabbit took.

'fair' ribbons ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

The other rabbit is a California, NewZealand mix. her name is 'Pink Eyes':

California, NewZealand Mix ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

And its 2 ribbons:

rabbit ribbons ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

Our lineup for July (this is more to keep me in check) 7th we go to Ohio for college orientation, the 11th is registration for another fair. also one of my daughters baby shower that same day. 18th I go downstate for another shower with my family. (for my daughter) o.k. then our next big 'fair' is July 27-Aug 1. Sometime here my son is planning his move to ohio for college. And in September (7) We should be Grandparents and school will then start up for my 10 yr old. 5th grade this yr.
In between there's the garden to tend to. Its growing and I'm still adding. Hopeing vege's will still come up in time for eatin or canning.

My Graduates

petunia — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:55:36 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:55 am (GMT 0)

As much as I love gardening it just doesn't seem like I've been able to get out & do much this spring. My two oldest kids have graduated. My oldest daughter graduated from Ferris State University as a dental higenist. She is now pregnant and due in Sept with her first child. They're expecting a little girl. And my son graduated from high school. He'll be moving to Ohio to go to Univers. of Northwestern (UNOH) to pursue auto technology.
I have been busy making the yard and house look nice for an upcoming graduate party finally this Saturday. We just finished the food shopping today.
I'm hoping after this party is finished that I can get back to the stew to post pictures of my potted plants, my new caladiums I bought, my commercial size greenhouse(we haven't planted anything in there as of yet but weeds seem to be growing good-lots of work to do there!)we're still having frost anyway so I'm hoping to get things planted soon.
I really miss not posting. Here's a pict of my graduates. Now it'll be another 8 years before my youngest graduates.

daughter & son ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

A spring update to keep things in check

petunia — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:27:23 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 1:27 pm (GMT 0)

I been real busy this spring. I miss not getting on with the stew as much as I would like to. I'd like to show more picts. My son is graduating-with his Baccalaureate this Sunday and his graduation ceremony on Friday, 29th we been busy getting the yard looking somewhat nice and especially the house. Doing alot of spring cleaning thru out. He'll have his grad. party in june. There always seem like alot to do. Decorations to buy, tables to rent, senior pict to get sent out, invitations to write up. And then maybe the most important-getting him sent off to college. He'll be an automotive tech. He likes working on cars. Off he'll go for 2 years.
And my oldest daughter just graduated from college as dental hygienist. She'll be expecting her 1st baby in September. Yes I'll be um, hmmm, oh ya, a grandma-remind you though, a young grandma. :)
So as you can see I have been having many things going on. Hopefully when things settle down a bit I can get to showing more picts of my new 'hilbilly greenhouse'-(thats another story). Also of any flowers I haven't been able to show. Everything that I've had in the house over the winter I did just put out in the greenhouse so atleast 1/2 of my greenhouse is filled up. there'll be another pict. I don't want to forget, also, someone was wanting to see my trellis that the clementis climbs on and also some wooden chairs that sit out by my pond (that my hubby built) well if your the one reading this I haven't forgotten, I have taken the pictures of them just need to load & post them. Now let me see, hmm, anything I'm forgetting for this update. I sure hope not I only have 2 1/2 weeks till the party, sure hope everything gets done. Will post quick notes when I can and updates in 2-3 weeks.
For now I'll leave you with one of my latest, the white tulip.

White Tulip ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )

snow total for Northern Michigan

petunia — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:44:39 -0500

Author: petunia
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm (GMT 0)

This just in this week from our local paper. By the time we're completly done with snow this year through atleast March, we will have easily reached an 30-year high.
As of January we have received 161 inches of snow. That totals 13 ft. 25-30 years ago we reached 175.75 inches of snow that fell in 1984-85. They say we had twice as much snow for December this year then we had all year. Then with all the below -0 temps we had last week. Its no wonder we're all tired of winter. Yet we're not done yet, they say Feb can bring an average of 12 inches with March averaging 11 inches. You do the math-by March we could see almost 190 inches for our snow totals for winter.
PLEASE someone bring us some SPRING.

over hulling the old garden

petunia — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:52:34 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:52 am (GMT 0)

My first time trying the slide show. Hope you will watch it. It takes a few minutes, but it gives you an idea of the work that was done. Next we need to bring the tractor back in and flatten out the dirt and make sure its all level. Thanks for watching.
http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/little-sister_2007/garden%20overhule/?action=view&current=bde6ecb5.pbw

a busy weekend

petunia — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:25:16 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:25 pm (GMT 0)

Well we were very busy the whole weekend. picking toms. then taking the tom plants out of the garden. were try something new. we heard if the vines were hung upside down the rest of the toms should ripen. there must be over a dozen hanging-we'll see what happens. Then we took down the post that went to the tomatoes. I dug up all the gladiolas and layed them out flat to dry. THEN we had to start digging around a few stumps (oh only about 5-6). My husband took a chain and pulled out a few with his ford ranger. As he says "never under estimate the work of a ford." Then my son brought home a tractor from work and started the BIG digging under those roots and stumps. Wow were some of these stumps huge. The last one came out today, I can't wait to show picts. I'm still flabergasted at the size of this last stump. It looks as if it would have takin up my whole garden.(if the roots had been upward). right now my 'old garden' looks like deep ditches (some were as deep as 5 ft.) and hills of dirt/sand. Its totally unbeleiveable. I would like to show as many picts as I can-maybe figure out how to just make a link to my photobucket may be easier.
As soon as I get them organized be watching for picts to come. What a weekend, whew.

taking down the garden

petunia — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:04:35 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:04 pm (GMT 0)

They're saying next week will bring 60 degr weather.
Which means this weekend we will be taking down the toms and getting any stumps pulled out. All this in getting ready for the new greenhouse. Much work to be done before it goes up. Glads need to be dug up, weeds need to be pulled, rototil it once or twice, taking down some fencing and the post that held up the toms. So much work. I'll start some picts tomorrow.

My new compost bin

petunia — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:17:25 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:17 pm (GMT 0)

I went with a differant photo image site so lets hope this works.
This is my new compost bin. it will be able to turn by a crank on the side. The picture looks blue but it is actually a purple bin. (My fav color)

The commercial greenhouse will be set up this fall when we take down the garden. picts will be later of the construction.

we read, we went, we looked, we bought

petunia — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:17:41 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:17 pm (GMT 0)

Someone had a greenhouse frame for sale. They only used part of it but then later took it down. Its 18 ft wide by 48 ft long.(about like one of the commercial greenhouses). I know this sounds huge. But this is going to fit perfect into our vegie garden space. Hubby talked the lady into throwing in a spinning compost bin (about like Toni's) with the price of the frame. So I also have a bin now too-just needs a little work. How exciting.
The plan is to put the frame up in the garden so that next year when I start my seeds, we can put them right into the ground around the first of april. Many Amish people grow vegie's in the ground inside a lg greenhouse and have the best luck.
We still have to buy the heavy plastic covering and will have to get some help assembling. But when its finished, I'll take picts. We do want to get this assembled and up hopefully by the end of fall so it'll be ready to go by next year. Wow, when things just come at a good price sometimes you just have to take the plunge. What plans I can start making for next year. Its like having a new slat. The ideas could be endless. I'll use your ideas too if anyone wants me to experiment. I LOVE GARDENING. :)

Mmmm.....first pickins

petunia — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:19:42 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:19 pm (GMT 0)

If anyone remembers back when I posted picts of my strawberry patch-when we kept water on them because of heavy frost. Well because of doing that it kept them very, very nice. The plants and flower buds are many. Here is the results of my first pickins:

Now if the sun would only come out more, we will have tons more ripen up for us to enjoy.
Mmmmm.....but they taste soooo gooood. :)

Welcome to my garden

petunia — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:05:00 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 3:05 pm (GMT 0)

We just purchased a used garden tractor/tiller. Boy does it run great. The young man on the tractor is my husband claude.

I know this garden doesn't look like much of anything right now. But the first step is to tiller the garden first. This first one is where we had (last year) toms., beans, lettuce growing.

This part is where we had cucumbers last year.

This is one of our back gardens. We had toms. & zucchini growing here last year.

And lastly we have tilled up a new area. last year we used it for a burning pile and basically NOTHING but wasted land space. So we decided to til it up this year and use it for gardening. Though we're not sure whats going in it yet. But options are open. Down at the end is our 2nd year of rhubard patch already going to seed.

We have thought about putting in corn but the deer also come from in back of the rhubarb and would get into the corn. Another option is that we may have to fence around it, atleast if we want corn. Any way we have many options to use. Thanks for walking around my gardens with me.

My new job

petunia — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:03:21 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 6:03 pm (GMT 0)

I got the job I previously wrote about in my last blog. I started today. Just training for now until I get the feel of how things go. I'm working behind the counter in a gas station. Seems pretty easy, BUT there is alot of responsibility. We have to I.D (card) anyone we don't know that buys alcohol & cig. Most people that were in today were fine. I did 'card' one person. Then there's so many things to learn and remember on register. Oh, and I'll learn more about the lottery machine tomorrow. After my training hours are done then I'll be able to get more work hours.
I'll still check in atleast once a day here on the stew. see how everyone is doing with their garden. I'll get mine in on my days off or in between. I got too many seeds going to just give up besides gardening is what I do. I hope I learn more on this job as I really need it to get bills payed.
Thanks for reading, I'll stay in touch.

This may turn out to be a good year.

petunia — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:47:31 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:47 am (GMT 0)

As with anything else or any where else. Jobs have been hard to come by. A friend of mine asked me to help her with her dog grooming. So I been helping her wash dogs, dry them and brush them out.
I have recently put in an application elswhere, I know they have already called my references. And have heard that they should be calling me in for an interview soon. Whoo hoo a job at last-nothing real great but hey it'll pay the bills. Then I'll still help out my friend on days I don't work.
I'll post later when I get this job for sure.

inside my greenhouse

petunia — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:44:48 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:44 pm (GMT 0)

Though the outside structure is not not quit finished its still usable. After cleaning up we put the thermometer in there and though its warm during the day, the nites aren't warm enough yet to put tender plants in.

Here's a few of my garden collections:
paper wasp nest that hung over the garden last year.

I also collect bird nest after the birds have left.

My inside garden awaits their new home outside

petunia — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:10:59 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:10 pm (GMT 0)

These pictures will show my 3 shelves I use to start my seed. Then I have put them into cups. On the second shelf back right hand corner, I have cherry tom. already up. I have planted more, so to date I have 150 tom plants plus. Other plants on these shelves are flowers and herbs. Also on the second shelf you'll see on top of the light are seedlings using the baggy method which seems to be working this year.

My lighting on the shelves are grow lights I use for a few hours at nite before I head to bed. Then they're turned off and they'll have approximatly 7 hours of darkness. Here's another angle.

I am still been busy putting up more baggy's with seed, can't wait till the little ones sprout.
I just cleaned up the greenhouse today. Will get a picture of that soon for another blog.

Happy Easter

petunia — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:01:07 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:01 pm (GMT 0)

These are some of my daughters eggs that she had to find:

For those who remember the phrase "Don't worry, Be happy" Heres to you:

Though my 9 yr old is the only one that technically finds the hidden eggs, I still have to fix up baskets for the older kids too:

Here's a plant my hubby got me for Easter. An Azalea-this one is new to me. I'm looking for any info on how to take proper care of it.

Happy Easter from my family to all of yours.

plants moved to new area

petunia — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:38:20 -0500

Author: petunia
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:38 pm (GMT 0)

We finally had to shut down my greenhouse. I was really disappointed. But we took anything we could that was going to survive and put them under lights in the basement and put most of my flowers in the house on shelves. I do have some geraniums that will be flowering soon, so when that happens I'll post picures. There's always next year-can't stop trying. Just need to come up with a better plan then an electric heater in a greenhouse. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and noted.

Disappointed by cold weather

petunia — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:20:51 -0500

Author: petunia
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:20 am (GMT 0)

My first year experiament with vegetables did not work out as well as I had anticipated. Last year I had a small greenhouse that was heated by an electric heater and I only had flowers in there that survived quit well. So we Made a larger one this year with the same idea of heating it with an electric heater. Only, the same heater just wasn't enough to heat up a bigger area. As we have already had some very low temps, our greenhouse temps also fell. We lost most of our tomatoes. We will be moving flowers-geraniums, nasteriums, petunias, begonias, to inside my house so that maybe they will survive the rest of the winter there. Any tomatoes that might make it, we will be moving to our basement and putting plant lights on them. That will be one thing on my 'to do' list this next summer-find a way to improve my greenhouse for better usage.
Well onto next year planning for a better outcome.

baby tomatoes

petunia — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:12:25 -0400

Author: petunia
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:12 am (GMT 0)

I walked thru my back garden to pick more tomatoes, when I found new 2inch baby tomatoes plants along the ground. I put these in new planters and plan to keep them in my greenhouse at which I'll keep 60 degr. to 70 degr. thru out the winter, who knows with a little luck maybe I'll end up with fresh tomatoes all winter. here is a picture of my little
ones: