End of Month View - March 2011

Over at the Patient Gardener's Blog it's time for the End of Month View of the gardens.  I found her blog earlier this month so part of my contribution is finding her blog and making this post.  Wow...2 posts in one day.  Hope people still read them all.

A lot was done in the gardens this month.

The greenhouse was cleaned up and paths marked out. The first day of spring I declared the greenhouse open for growing.

It may not be pretty but a new flower garden was started.  Right now all that is there is some divided iris and mulch but more will come.

A few brave crocus plants surprised me and bloomed pretty golden yellow flowers.

A new Edible garden was cleared.  Still more to do but it can be planted with my veggies now....if not for the winter storm coming.

The small area just outside the greenhouse was also cleared and turned.  Cedar mulch was place back down again to cover the chives and mint that grows there as well as some onions I started.



Lots to do still in the garden's but I have time to get it done.  Stop on over to The Patient Gardener's blog and see what else was done in the Gardening blogosphear this month

Thriving Thursday - Seedlings

Welcome back Thursday.  Today I like you because it means that the weekend is very close.  Jack Frost and Old Man Winter are now on my do not call list.  As we are now under a winter storm warning.

Anyways for this Thriving Thursday I want to show off my seedlings.  Many of us have started seeds waiting for the right time to plant them outside and get the gardens going and though I may have started a few too soon I have some really nice looking plants ready to go.

White Strawberry plants started back in December.  I can grow strawberries.  Question is will it stay alive.

Strawberry-Spinach.  I saw these online and just thought it sounded really cool.  So back in December along with the White Strawberries I started these.  Pretty much just looks like Spinach right now but very healthy.

Also started back in December was these two.  Viola and Pansy.  I was hoping to bring some flowering color into the house.  They are doing quite well just no signs of flowers yet.

Like I don't show of my spider plants enough on here here are 2 babies in water.  The roots are looking quite well.  This is more to show the kids how plants grow.  Ok ok so I wanted to do it.  I think it 's cool too.

My love for the Polka-Dot plants inspired me to order some seeds.  And the first of the seedlings have begun to sprout their true leaves.

One of my Clematis plants that is growing quite well.  Just waiting for planting outside.  Started from roots not seeds but still counts.

Bad picture but this is the other clematis plant.  They are in the same big pot with smaller ones containing each.  I just hope I get to plant them soon.  I don't want them to get root bound.

My tomato plants.  Bad picture but there they are.

My morning glory plants.  Each pot has a different variety in it.

The rest of my tomato plants.  They were all started at the same time but these have been able to find their summer home.  Granted it is inside right now but they won't be transplanted again.





So what seedlings are Thriving in your garden this Thursday.  Post your link below with a link back to my blog and leave a comment.  Come back later and see who else is having a Thriving Thursday.

GGGRRRRRR

Ok so I know I posted the other day about having issues with Mr Jack Frost and well....I am back to complain again.  I am hoping the internet was down and he missed the blog post.

JACK FROST THE CALENDAR SAYS SPRING.  NOT WINTER.  I WANT SPRING.  I WANT TO PLANT SOME PLANTS.

Maybe if I promise to plant some perennials that he can try his best to kill during the following winter he will let go of this one.  So I woke up this morning to 24 degree temp outside and it is now sitting at 53.  Not too bad. The greenhouse is 91....quite warm.  I need to get the cooling water system back up but alas I can't do that till the threat of frost has passed.

Anyways I woke to read the forecast and find that we are under a winter storm watch till Friday evening.  Go figure April fools day.  It's a weather channel joke right?  Nope.  6-12 inches of snow is expected to fall by the end of Friday.  I am sure that the ground will just love the moisture but I have to say.....not me.  I have gardens to get ready and seedlings I wish to plant.

JACK ARE YOU STILL LISTENING.  PLEASE RELEASE MISS SPRING.  SHE HAS DONE NO WRONG.

So who is with me in protesting Jack Frost?

100 Posts and still no spring

Check me out.  I have posted 100 posts.  Well once this is posted it will be 101 but still.  Thats kinda cool.  Well up here in NY we are still suffering from winter.  Though the snow we got last week is mostly gone now there are still traces around.  Proof that the temp is not rising enough to melt all the snow.  Bitter cold winds blow.  Just look at what Jack Frost is doing......

My poor crocus that surprised me although still trying to bloom they only seem to last a day now.  And that mean ol' Jack comes in at night and Bam......droopy crocus.

Then I go and look in the edible gardens and find this.....

Garlic Chives trying to grow but can't get the color right.  Now Jack I know you are having fun and all.  But this is just wrong.  I mean who wants to eat red chives.

Feeling sad that Mr. Frost is messing with my gardens I head to my greenhouse and find this....

 Thats right Jack you can't mess with my Greenhouse Garlic Chives.  The calendar did say it was spring and the way the sun begins to heat the greenhouse by 7am means in the greenhouse I have Green Chives.  Green like they are supposed to be.

And take this too Jack Frost....my Oregano survived all winter in the greenhouse.  Freezing temp and all...it stayed green.

Yea you tried to kill my mint.  I saw that.  But take a look at this Mr Jack Frost......my mint is coming back and it's coming back strong.

After your harsh freezing winter the lettuce didn't look so good but Mother Natures wonderfully warming sun shinning in on the greenhouse has made this nice and strong...and tasty too.

Thank you Jack for the freezing winter temps as they have helped my carrots grow.  Carrots don't mind the winter cold temps as long as they had time before a frost to develop.  Nice strong green leaves here.



So although you have tried to keep spring at bay it looks as though Mother Nature and the sun are winning out.  So Jack Frost although I dearly love you and winter.  I love the way snow looks and frost decorates my gardens it is time for you to go.  Your 15 minuets of fame have long been over.

To Madame Spring.  I wish you the best of luck in kicking Jack out the door.  The greenhouse loves you and the gardens await your return.  Please hurry I can't afford to buy any more houseplants to play with.  I need to get my hands in the dirt and plant my seedlings.

Thriving Thursday - Houseplants

Welcome back to Thriving Thursday.  A day to show off what is thriving in your garden.  Today it's houseplants.

Although hard to tell but these 2 baby spider plants are growing water roots.  I have even noticed some new leaves forming.

Quickly becoming a favorite plant because of the ever changing colors.  No 2 leaves ever look the same. My Hypoestes also known as the Polka-Dot-Plant.  They are getting quite tall and so pretty.  I have 4 different kinds.  Dk Pink, Lt Pink, Red, and White.

I received free seeds to give away a while back and a packet for my kids to try.  This is the first of our Tickle Me Plants to sprout.  They seem to be slow to germinate but as you can see it is now starting to get it's true set of leaves.


So what is going on in your house.  Write a post and link back here.  Show off your Thriving Houseplants to the rest of the blogging world and see who else has something to show.  Leave your link and post a comment.  Can't wait to see what's Thriving this Thursday around the world.

Harvesting Edible Garden Tour - March 21, 2011

Welcome to this months Harvesting Edible Garden Tour.  I have thought about stopping this as no one yet has joined me but then I thought you know what?  Spring is here maybe, just maybe none of my current readers have anything harvesting yet.  So continue I will.

I have many herbs harvesting right now like:

My Common Chives.  They were flopping all over the place so harvest I did and chopped them and froze them.

Although not as abundant my garlic chives also needed some harvesting today.

My Oregano although still small seemed it could use a little trimming so I harvested some of the longer sections

My Winter Savory was hanging out of the pot although interesting to look at becomes a target for Buddy Dog's tail so harvest time for the Savory.

Much like the Savory the English Thyme was also beginning to hang out of the pot.  Some of the sections like the one pictured were also starting to yellow.  A hint I have learned that it needs to be harvested.  Usually after I cut stems like these off the rest starts to grow well.  We will see.





So what is harvesting in your garden today.  I would love to see.  Add a link below and leave a comment.  Come back later and see if anyone else joined the tour.

Spring? Ah more like Fall.

Today is the official first day of spring.  At least according to every calendar and newspaper.  What it felt like was more like fall.  Cool in the morning and well cool all day.  To celebrate today being spring I wanted to officially open up the greenhouse.  Well actually it never really closed but it is time to get it ready for the new growing season.  So because I am proud of what I accomplished I wanted to go through and show you Irish Lady's Greenhouse.

It all started Memorial Day weekend 2010:

A Frame was built.

The building was built.

Topsoil was added and plants were planted.  A fan was placed to move the hot air around.  One single path was made using landscaping fabric.

Frost was expected so cedar mulch was placed over all the growing areas and a heater was placed inside to help the remaining plants set their roots for winter.

Snow made entering the greenhouse quite a chore.  The door way had to be dug out.  The side walls are actually supposed to be 5 feet tall before the roof begins.  looks more like 3 feet.

The snow melted and idea's for a better way to layout the greenhouse was mapped out.

16x16 rubber squares were placed to create a more eye appealing and logical path.

The finished look at the end of the work day today.  Lettuce that survived the winter peaks out to the left by the door.  Mint grows in the middle between the two paths.  Carrots line the right side in the back and oregano hugs the wall near the carrots.

The color is not what I really wanted but at the same time should be good.  A lighter color would have reflected the sun better, a darker color would have held the heat in more.

The orientation of the greenhouse lends to many good hours of sunlight.  On this first day of spring this is the amount of light a high noon that my greenhouse gets.  After the doors were closed the temperature inside got to 100 and outside never got over 50.

In just a few more weeks I get to really start adding color to the greenhouse.  Granted it will be quite green for some time I still get to plant.  Time to get the paper out and plan what plant will go where in the greenhouse, and in the other gardens.

Thriving Thursday - St Patrick's Day

Welcome back to Thriving Thursday.  What is thriving in your gardens?

 My small Fragrant Lilac is showing signs of new growth....everywhere.  So it made it through the winter.

These Hyacinths are truly thriving today....and adding their wonderful smell to the house.  Can't you just smell them?

These are my Common Chives.  I have had Garlic ones for a while now and decided it was time to get some regular ones.  When I got them they looked neglected and sad.  But I cut them back to the soil and now look at them.  Truly a display of a plant that is thriving.





So tell me what is thriving in your garden today.  Fruits, Herbs, Vegetables, or Flowers.  Add your link below and leave a comment.  Come back later and see if anyone else posted about something thriving today.

I am an herb.

I always knew that my name Melissa meant Honeybee.  It has been a nickname of sorts for many years but on Dave's Garden I saw the Latin Word of the week - Melissa

The Latin word of the week

Melissa (mel-ISS-a)In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who cared for Zeus when he was an infant and hidden from his father. Melissa gathered honey from bee hives to feed Zeus, who developed a sweet tooth as a result and later turned her into a honeybee. Melissa is commonly known as bee balm. It is an herb native to southern Europe, and has been used since ancient times to relieve complaints relating to the nervous system. Its uses were described by Parcelsus, Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides and Gerard. Its common name "balm" is an abbreviated form of balsam, the source of sweet-smelling oil. In modern times, science has proven that balsamic oils derived from aromatic plants are useful in surgical dressings, as they can effectively seal the wound and prevent harmful bacteria from entering.

Now how cool is this.  I am a Herb.  I think I may just have to get me some of these.....just because it's me.  The things I learn while reading articles.

Anyone else out there have a plant named after them....or I guess it would be more like anyone out there named after a plant?