Growing Green...

We've got a few things - other than my belly - growing around this next of the woods. The vegetable garden has started to really take off!

They used to be just lil' guys...

The "Early Girl" tomato plant, dubbed the kudzu tomato, takes the cake so far. Now, all those green fruits need to turn red!

Home Grown Vegetables...

Last weekend, Chris and I planted our vegetable garden. We picked up our plants from a local grower that we had ordered as a fundraiser for the Gweimen Centre, an organization that helps provide assistance and education for widows and orphans of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

 

First, we arranged all the containers on the back walkway.

 

 

Then we filled them with stones for drainage per Grandma Versluys' advice.

 

 

And a few more pots...

I put together the tomato cages with adjustable arms so you can move them as the plant grows.

Then, we planted all the herbs and vegetables. 

Two tomato plants (with Marigolds to deter pests- also a Grandma Versluys suggestion), a pepper plant, parsley, arugula (from seed), basil and mint...

Another two tomato plants with more Marigolds, another pepper plant, chives and cilantro...

And the extra Marigolds and chives from last year found a new home next to the house...

 

 

Now, I just have to remember to water them...regularly. However, it's been raining every three hours for the past few days so I'm good. And to feed them  Miracle Gro  weekly.  And hopefully, they'll grow lots of vegetables. Now, I just need Mom to teach me how to can salsa and I can be in tomato-induced heartburn heaven in a few months.

Improving Curb Appeal: One Plant at a Time

Good 'ole Home Depot...I'm sure they love us. Seeing as we've dropped a few coins there in the past few weeks on landscaping materials like flowers and bushes and pruners and a/c units and potting soil and....the list goes on. But words don't really do justice to the changes around our abode...that's why we take pictures. 

Chris planted Salvia (purple) and Tickseed (yellow) in the front yard. However, he realized he bought medium height Salvia and tall height Tickseed...so he had to do some re-planting since he had planted them backwards. Live and learn and then dig up some plants. 

 The Salvia is still taller than the Tickseed but it will grow to be about 12-24" taller than the Salvia, eventually. 

Chris planted a Barberry bush in front of the mailbox.

Then he had to move the pavers forward a few feet and re-purposed a few from the backyard patio area so the path would reach the driveway. 

Chris planted Creeping Thyme in between the paver stones. 

Watering his handiwork, making sure it packs down to stabilize. 

The man does nice work. To the far right of the front of the porch (under the Evergreen tree), Chris transplanted Hostas from the backyard to fill out the front "bed".

 

How does your garden grow? Part II

Some recent eye candy of the bloomin' beauties around this neck of the woods...

 The lone tulip peekin' out from the stones...watch out Mr. Mailman.

More of my favorites, tulips...the hail missed these ones!

Unfortunately, the hail didn't miss these leaves...silly weather!

 Ready for a close-up!

Found some violets growin' in the backyard (just for you Grandma V)!

 Hostas, the indestructible species, have returned. Love 'em and their lack of maintenance!

The grass (or lack thereof) is another matter...

The ground cover under the maple tree in the backyard, in need of some serious weeding...in the future.

 The chives and Gerbera daisies are just hanging on the back steps next to the two enormous planters (smokin' hot deal at Home Goods) which are awaiting some potting soil and veggie seeds...

It's official. Spring has sprung all over the place at Casa de Buma. 

How does your garden grow?

Silver bells or cockle shells? Nope. Daffodils and tulips. They came with the house (read: I didn't have to plant them). Love those kinds. 

 Aren't they so pretty? 

Tulips, my absolute favorite.

I took these pictures on Monday. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm and about 70 degrees. The flowers unfortunately do not look exactly like this any more. You see, Tuesday morning, we were pelted with hail the size of Everlasting Gobstoppers (think movie theater candy) for a good 7-10 min. Now most of the leaves on the tulips are shredded. The tulip buds are still intact but the rest looks a bit sad. The daffodils put up a better fight.

In other gardening news, my itty-bitty African violet (front left) has not made it. The mother ship (original plant, back center) and that other baby plant (front right) are still going strong so I'm not a complete failure at this keeping houseplants alive thing. 

 

Surprise in the Spring...

Over lunch a few weeks back, a co-worker said she'd just started to have bulbs peeking up in her flower beds. I instantly regretted not actually planting our tulip bulbs last fall. Argh. Another missed step in the role of homeowner. Doh! But wait, what is that I see?

Okay, I'm over it. Apparently, the house came with more than a step stool, toaster, 3-4 brooms, snow shovel and a desk. It came with...perennials. Tulips. My absolute favorite flower. I think there is another type of flower coming up too but I'm no expert. Any thoughts? One tulip is even poking up through the stones near the mailbox.

During our gutter-cleaning bonanza, I also noticed that my chives were making a comeback. I had no idea they were perennials! 

I cleared away the old stuff and dug the growing chives out of the pot they were in last spring and replanted them in a smaller pot that would fit on the window ledge inside the back porch until it warms up a bit more. Our back porch is kind of like a greenhouse, with big windows to let in plenty of sun. Hurray for plants that take care of themselves!!

Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive..

Every Monday is "plant care day" and so far, things are looking good.

The plants are still alive. All of them!!! 

Now that spring is peaking around the corner, Chris and I started planning for the outdoors. However, after perusing all the garden books I could carry home from the library, we seem to have more questions than answers.  

 After reading a few books about kitchen gardens (potagers), I've been plotting and scheming my future vegetable garden. Tomatoes and beans twisting around a tepee-like trellis, Swiss chard, kale, arugula, lettuce, rhubarb and planters full of herbs. So far, it's a lot of lines and scribbles...

An attempt to turn (or keep) a new leaf green.

Keri: "Did you notice that plant was dry and dying?"

Chris: "Yeah." 

Keri: "Um, then why didn't you water it?"

Chris: "It was a test."

Keri: "What?"

Chris: "I was waiting to see if you'd notice and water it."

Keri: "Well I didn't and it is now dead."

Chris: "Yup, you failed."

Keri: "And you are partially responsible."

Chris: "How does that work? It was your plant."

Keri: "Negligent homicide."

I'll give you one word that pretty much sums up my previous experience to date with houseplants...death. I have seen the demise of many plants in my role as caregiver to greenery...however, I'm not sure that Chris' thumbs are any greener than mine. 

In this sanity-induced hiatus from major house projects, one of my goals is to nurture my thumbs to become slightly greener ...celadon thumbs. Since it is a very light shade, my interpretation is that most things should stay alive but it lets me off the hook for a few...


There are a few reasons for my goal of nature-loving thumbs. 

 

Reason #1 & #2 (above). When Grandma Flietstra passed away at the end of last September, there was a beautiful and creative floral arrangement that was made up of a variety of potted plants. I got an African violet and the funky-leafed one (still trying to identify...possibly a variety of a Alocasia or Amazonica). I've been trying to keep them alive but was, um, failing again...they were in critical condition. That was until Grandma Versluys came down for the housewarming party last weekend, bringing along Reason #3. A ZZ Palm (below in the bright blue pot) armed with some much-needed tools for keeping plants alive, a moisture meter so you don't over water and Miracle Gro Houseplant food. Genius.

 When you look up green thumb in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Martheen Versluys. Her ability to grow almost anything - and keep it alive - is quite amazing to me. 

She's also a fountain of knowledge about plants and caring for them. She took one look at my plants and worked her green-thumbed magic. After discovering that the African violet had 2 baby plants as well as the main plant, she guided me through how to re-pot them. 

Before we could re-pot the plants, we had to make a trip to Home Depot for some supplies like African violet potting soil, standard potting soil, a few pots...oh yeah, and another plant. Chris fell for it at first sight (below, a type of Cordyline). After receiving the expert's approval (Grandma) and swearing that it was his responsibility to care for it, it made it's way home with us...for $6.99. Home Depot was selling a slightly bigger one that came in a nice big planter - for $39 bucks. Hobby Lobby had all their planters 50% off so we picked up one for about $15 bucks. Um, deal.

 

Now, the Cordyline did not look this shiny and healthy at the store. When I agreed to take it home with us, I honestly was thinking for $6.99 it would keep Chris entertained for a few weeks until it died. 

But given 10 minutes, a soft cloth/towel, patience and a spoonful of mayonnaise, the plant looks like a million bucks. Grandma's got quiet a handful of tricks up her sleeve (above). Who would have thought mayo? Not me...but after seeing the results I'm a believer. I really hope Chris keeps this one alive. Thanks for passing on the green-thumbed knowledge, Grandma! Our plants are thanking you too...

 

Especially, the pink one. Last night, I noticed that my Gerbera daisy was taking a bow...looking a bit critical. I song line "and another one bites the dust" started playing in my head but I quickly changed the station and headed for the watering cup and Mirace Gro houseplant food Grandma had given us. I figured I might as well give it a try...and now, this morning, I am empowered. The pink Gerbera was standing up straight and looking very much alive. It might just be a rally but I'm hopeful!