It's Busy Thyme In My Garden..Recipes & Pics

Welcome Lady Blue. My first garden girl to show up ready to
tackle all things garden. With her seed packets, shovel, watering
can, and hat she's ready to work. She even has her first flower 
basket ready to hang. You go girl! Love the purse and blue boots.

The lilacs and peonies have been beautiful this season. Hope 
you've cut yourself some wonderful bouquets.

I believe there are visitors to my garden. Mama Hen and her baby
chicks are exploring. More to come!! 

Work continues on the Potting Shed. Ron working hard on the 
redo. He deserved a well-earned meal, and dinner in the screened 
porch with glasses of wine helped. We had a bottle of Vidal Blanc, 
a Kentucky white wine, that was very good. 

An easy meal..
See EARTHLY DELIGHTS for recipes

Fairy gardens are fun. Here's a favorite I just finished. Tea 
thyme with the fairies. There are golden thyme herbs growing 
up the arbor, a miniature Sam, a bunny, and a sweet bird bath 
for everyone to enjoy.

Next Up: Strawberry Festival here in Troy

Are You Planting Yet? A Field Trip.

Had some great weather recently. I think everyone felt the urge, 
the call, the beckoning to be outside and tend to the yard/garden.
Ron even played some golf, YEA! Mulch was ordered and

I was glad to tackle it while Ron started the potting shed
redo. A dusty, dirty job.












We've been thinking a creature had 
invaded the potting shed and yep Ron 
found a baby squirrel in the loft area.
And yes, we released it into the nature 
area alongside our neighborhood. But 
what a mess that squirrel created. Didn't
help Ron's frame of mind either. Noticed already pests 
eating at my climbing rose. Will get out the Neem oil,
(remember try out on a test leaf and watch 24 hours to make sure it won't harm your plant). (See garden tip below). Harvesting radishes right now and I'm so glad I sowed an additional crop a week after the first.They are delicious with a sprinkle of salt. 

                      

Now about that field trip. On the last Friday of April, I make sure
to save the entire morning for a trip with my friend, Marian to 
Hydro-Growers. For many years I have been visiting this special
farm/nursery, locally owned and operated. The big beautiful 
flowers baskets are amazing. And that's not all.

                                       hydrogrowers-produce.com

                                                                                                                                  
Deanita, her family and friends make you feel welcome and offer 
growing tips as well as offering services to fill your own container 
and designing arrangements for that special occasion. If you like 
garden decor, and we all know I do, this is the spot to find it. 
Fresh homegrown produce, herbs and vegetable plants are 
provided as well. A special treat is the home-made ice cream. 
Delicious. Tap on the link above to find directions and phone no.
Now if they would just offer some baked goods…oh my!

friend Marian making selection

Can't leave you yet without a salute and mention of Memorial Day.

May Brings A Recipe, Garden Tips, & Chores

Hello garden friends. May has brought the sun, some heat and
of course rain. But I'm not complaining. I'm enjoying it all. The
thyme to do planting has started. The to-do list for outdoors is
growing as well. Don't panic now, the season is only beginning!
Let's take a look:
*Deadhead the spring blooms from bulbs, but leave the foliage 
  until it turns yellow.
*Divide your perennials as needed.
*Plant perennials now, can plant geraniums, summer bulbs.
*Sow summer annuals, (seeds) like zinnias, sunflowers, etc.
*Plant your herbs, in the ground or containers.
*Cool season crops will do well April and May, like radish and
  lettuce, hold off planting warm season crops until the danger
  of frost has past. (May 15-19) like tomatoes.
*Continue mowing, fertilize and weed controls need to happen.
*Prune flowering shrubs after their blooming has ended.
*Plant new shrubs like peony, hydrangea, rose. Apply a trans-
  plant fertilizer.
*Container flowers will need to be watched for cool evening
  temps of 50 and below. Take into the garage for overnight.
*Mulch towards end of May, but remove sticks, weeds and turn
  old mulch over.
*Add repellants (organics if possible) to deter the critters.

 *Apply pesticide sprays around perimeter of house to control
  ants, etc.

  

Herb pots done, container planting continues.

Something fun..

                                                     


   Garden Tips:
Here are 3 products I recommend.

  NEEM OIL- (for organic gardening too)
  controls blackspot, powdery mildew, rust, spider mites,
  aphids and other insect pests. Use on roses, flowers, shrubs,
  vegetables, fruits.
  REPELS-ALL- animal repellent (natual ingredients) spray
  on plants, flowers, around garden and flower beds.
  SUCKER-STOPPER- controls regrowth of tree sprouts,

  sucker growth.
See instructions for use









How about that recipe?
(see EARTHLY DELIGHTS)

It's Your Day Mom

                                                      webclipart.about.com

                                                                                     
When you are a mother,
you are never really alone
in your thoughts.
A mother always has to
think twice, once for herself
and once for her child
                        Sophia Loren

Mother's Day, a day to express, to reveal, to set forth, to clearly
indicate your feelings, your love, your gratitude to YOUR MOM! 
She deserves it. Having pushed you out into this world with a 
love that is undefinable, well...now is the thyme to thank her. 
Show your appreciation!
To my mom, I love you.

Motherhood:
All love begins and ends there.
                        Robert Browning

Spring Has Arrived

What is Spring without the wind and the rain. I know, I know
you want a perfect weekend. It will happen. With what is going
on out in the world we have to be grateful for our moments.
Enough said!

I'm sending you sunshine today,

And ducks enjoying a swim,

And flowers waiting to be planted,

And keeping busy. (Ron and neighbor Eliana)

LIFE GOES ON
THERE IS BEAUTY IN EVERYDAY 

Remembering What's Important

WHEN ONE TUGS AT A SINGLE THING IN NATURE,
HE FINDS IT ATTACHED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
                                               ~John Muir, environmentalist

Today is an opportunity. Events are being held globally to support
a movement that puts environmental concerns to the forefront.
More than a billion people will gather for festivals, rallies, many
activities that will build community awareness on what we can do
to protect and keep our planet healthy. We are the caretakers.

 Earth Day is a call to action
                            

How can you help..be a steward of the environment!

                                                                                         
THE EARTH DOES NOT BELONG
TO US. WE BELONG TO THE EARTH.
                         ~Chief Seattle                                          

Garden Chores Everywhere…About Clematis

susanbranch.com

This past weekend brought sunny days and warm temperatures.
Much to do outside and it seemed everyone had mowing on their
list. Our goal was to empty out the Potting Shed and the storage 
shed which contains my bird houses, the "Ladies" of the garden
and all the other yard paraphernalia, or stuff as Ron calls it, that
I need to decorate my garden areas.  I like to think of my entire
yard as my garden space and by definition it's my "fertile and
delightful spot or region." 
                                                       

                                 
And while wonderful hubby did his thing, I cleaned up the beds.
This involves starting at one side of the house and working my  
my way around to the back and finishing up in the herb/perennial
garden. There were a lot of sticks and leaves to pick up, mulch to
turn over, Phlox to trim, then tidying up the edging. I decided to 
put the sheep and baby lamb in the front yard this year, like it? 
Ron needed neighbor Dathan to help in moving the sheep.It is 
very heavy…solid concrete!

I wanted to show you the Hostas coming up, see picture left, and 
the Hydrangea, on the right. The picture above shows what they 
will look like in full bloom. This variety of Hydrangea called 
Annabelle or "mophead" is now 16 years old. It blooms on old 
wood and on new, sending our runners underground and you 
might be able to see the new green growth in the center and on  
the old wood. I severely trim this variety to about 6 inches above 
ground in the fall. This side of the house faces the north. We will 
talk more about the different varieties of Hydrangea in a later 
post. It's fun to see the new growth coming up. Isn't nature just 
amazing?

Here is my Clematis on the south side of the house which also 
gets the west sun. It's a lovely purple shade with a medium
sized bloom. I keep it trimmed to stay about halfway up the
arbor. The climbing rose is on the left side of the arbor. The
Clematis has been here for about 6 years. I just trimmed this 
vine about 2 weeks ago, cutting it back to about 12 inches. 
You can already see the new growth in the picture on the
 left. It will flower out in the summer and look like the 
picture on the right. If you're looking to have a Clematis it's
best to purchase one at least 2 years old. You'll see them in 
gallon or quart containers. It will need a sunny location, 
receiving about 6 hours per day. Follow directions on 
planting that is provided, fertilize and water weekly the 
first year until established. Mulch well around the base  
of the plant to conserve moisture and to keep the soil cool 
for the plant. It is best to prune Clematis in early spring,
this encourages new growth and more flowers. Knowing
when your vine blooms will dictate which of 3 groups your
Clematis belongs. You can just watch it for a year and see
how it flowers. Type 1 vines flower in spring, on growth
from last year. Prune these vines right after they finish 
blooming in spring. Type 2 vines bloom in late spring and
early summer and again off and on in summer. They 
bloom on old and new wood. Thin out and prune where 
needed after flowering. Or an easier way is to prune the 
plant back by half in alternate years. Type 3 vines bloom 
in late summer or in the fall, on new wood. They can be 
pruned short nearly to the ground in early spring. The
identifying tag that comes with your plant will also tell
you when your vine will flower. You can also Google to
see illustrations on each and how to prune. Clematis 
comes in a variety of colors, and sizes. They can be quite
striking. 




Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.
                                                         ~Virgil A. Kraft