‘Garden’ Articles
Written by admin on 13 August 2010
I am in the middle of looking for as many pear recipes as I can find. The pear tree is getting so close to harvest I can hardly contain myself. Our apple trees smell so delicious outside and I think the deer would agree. Lately I have had a little issue with the deer helping themselves to the branches of my tomato plants. I can’t really blame them considering the garden is pretty open for temptation, and the apple trees are also right there for them. I haven’t confirmed it yet but I have a sneaking suspicion that a raccoon is helping itself to the grapes. I am still very thankful to have fruit even if it does attract the critters.
The drawing is on hold until I feel better. I have been sick since Monday which has been strange and draining and a total drag, but I think I am starting to feel a bit better and will look forward to my energy level rising and being able to breath through my nose again.
I have finished one glove from my latest knitting design. I love it! I still need to weave in the ends and block it, but am feeling really good about this pattern and should be able to knit up the left hand fairly quickly, with a pattern to follow!
Tags: apple, fruit trees, Garden, glove, grape, knitting, pear, pencil, portrait, pumpkin, purple
Posted in Craft, Drawing, Garden, Photo | No Comments »
Written by admin on 06 August 2010
Oh gardening, how I love thee. This week has brought us 2 zucchini, and a few tomatoes. I made zucchini bread and muffins (Parker is a big fan), and my friends have given me some beets and cucumber. Last night the beets dressed up our plates along with the beet greens, homemade potato fries, and cornmeal crusted tilapia. Our apricot tree has been incredible. Unfortunately a lot of the fruit was damaged by various pests, but I still ended up with more than enough apricots to make Apricot Almond Frozen Yogurt and Apricot Sorbet. I can’t even count how many fresh ones I simply ate off the tree. Next year I hope to have a better plan for harvesting and want to get a handle on the pest problem. Now I am waiting for the pears!
Another piece of the puzzle from my first drawing submission. I know if I can finish it up this weekend I will be in good shape for the other drawings that I need to do. Eeks!
Tags: pinstripe shirt, tomatoes, zucchini
Posted in Drawing, Garden | No Comments »
Written by admin on 07 May 2010
This post is mostly about what is blooming and growing around my yard, with a little bit of knitting. I have realized that I not only have apple trees, I also have an apricot tree, a pear tree, plum or cherry, and grape vines. There are lilacs, roses, peonies and iris…I feel blessed. It is a beautiful day here today, I think I am going to go out and enjoy it.
Tags: apple tree, apricot tree, flowers, grape vines, iris, knitting, lilac, pear tree, swatch
Posted in Craft, Garden | No Comments »
Written by admin on 10 August 2009
Cherry tomatoes that is. The first pick of the year, straight out of my own garden. So delicious indeed, although Parker won’t even try one. I think the squishy consistency is a bit of a turn off for him. Maybe next year he’ll know what’s good for him.
Featured in my beautiful new mug that was a very special gift for when I house-sat a few weeks ago. Love it! Have definitely been toying with the idea of having coffee again.
Posted in Food, Garden, Photo | 2 Comments »
Written by admin on 06 May 2009
I am proud to report that my seed starting success rate has been fantastic.
Herbs include: cilantro, basil, as well as, lemon basil, dill, oregano, thyme, savory, italian parsley, and sage.
Vegetables: broccoli, 4 types of tomatoes, 7 types of peppers, 3 types of lettuce, cucumber, and lemon cucumber.
Flowers: way too many to list, but to name a few: lupin, red hot pokers, hollyhock, purple and white gayfeathers.
Of course I felt compelled to share a few pictures.
See related post ”Tender Seedlings”
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Written by admin on 07 March 2009
I am excited to announce that I have started some of my seeds for this season’s garden. After weeks of waiting for them, and literally weeks, because I placed my order from Swallowtail Garden Seeds on February 7th and received them March 6th. Swallowtail is based out of California, and I originally found them months ago when searching for flower seeds and I found their website to be well laid out, their prices fair, and everything I was looking for. I ordered flower seeds with a few vegetable seeds back in September. When the time came to figure out what else I would need for the garden I went right back to them for my second order. With a confirmation email sent to me on February 14th I started to wonder why they hadn’t come in the mail a week later. So I went to the USPS link for my package to discover that it had left Denver on February 20th. “Great!” I thought, they will be here soon enough. They still hadn’t come a week later. So back to the USPS link to discover my package was in Springfield, MA. on February 28th. Wait, what? Um, Massachusetts is nowhere near Colorado last time I checked. Odd. So I called Swallowtail and the woman put me on hold for what felt like forever. When she finally gets back on the phone she says “Hello Jesska, I am going to have to take a look at what is going on here with your package because what the USPS website is telling me doesn’t make any sense.” To which I reply “You mean because it’s in Massachusetts?” Anyway, all time aside, they are here now, and quite a few of them have made it into their warm and cozy germination beds. Lets cross our fingers and hope for the best!
Posted in Garden | 2 Comments »
Written by admin on 05 June 2008
Justin came home with a special surprise gift for me the other day. Along with the tiny toads we have found lately in our backyard, here is one of my own to add.
Posted in Garden, Photo | 1 Comment »
Written by admin on 04 June 2008
As a child I was lucky to have grown up with an enormous vegetable garden which saved us from ever eating canned or frozen vegetables from the grocery store. Living on 100 acres gave us plenty of room for flower and vegetable gardens. I suppose it’s no surprise that I am gardening for myself again. Other than a previous year in Vermont, I haven’t had any sort of garden until now.
Along with our complete and beautiful landscape I am excited to say that we have our very own 300 square foot patch of “garden glory”. This year will be a bit of an experiment since I’ve never grown anything in Colorado before. Two weeks ago we planted peas, tomatoes, peppers, beans, carrots, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, onions and a list of herbs.
Sadly our soil here is a lovely clay that bakes to a crisp in the summer sun. Not only is it hard to dig and plant in, it isn’t a very promising bed of nutrients. So we’ve taken the plunge into composting. It’s nice to know that we won’t be throwing away our valuable food scraps anymore and we will have rich soil to add to the garden as well as the lawn. I wanted to share some pictures of what we have started and hopefully there will be beautiful vegetable shots to come.
Posted in Garden, Photo | 1 Comment »
