tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37031810390113252332024-03-13T18:50:23.036-04:00My Garden DreamsExperiences of a Novice Gardener.Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-13515225994234251742010-03-31T15:22:00.003-04:002010-03-31T16:01:25.074-04:00Willow Branches<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgFmMsI3UZmvgu7JZnWTbLC46On0t11pXP8dbs7aNEqX2ndZOQBh2aUS3n9uI9GjqVgLaWu4cFQT1FTR4gVX21vUCfjZkeYk3AqJNJzAIkOEfds5P9UF60A9TwqFDz9jIOHeWanz1pas-/s1600/Garden,+Spring+2010+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgFmMsI3UZmvgu7JZnWTbLC46On0t11pXP8dbs7aNEqX2ndZOQBh2aUS3n9uI9GjqVgLaWu4cFQT1FTR4gVX21vUCfjZkeYk3AqJNJzAIkOEfds5P9UF60A9TwqFDz9jIOHeWanz1pas-/s320/Garden,+Spring+2010+014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454888442218242690" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got a bunch of willow branches with catkins on them from the CT Flower Show earlier this year. I didnt know that catkins are the willow flowers in full bloom till the farmer told me. I put these branches in a container of water. And now the branches have grown roots, catkins fallen and developed into leaves. I am told each of these branches is a potential tree and can be sown in the ground after they develop roots. In a year the tree would grow to about 10 feet and bear catkins early next spring. I plan to grow them in a container (I saw a container with weeping willow at the grocery store) for a year before planting them.</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-33805054229070549852010-03-30T15:42:00.005-04:002010-03-31T15:59:54.696-04:00Forcing Hyacinths<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP0y24nMcTi38GWHhA2a5haLFdKKJoG2dHVi8-2pRAxObxz2aZT7hyFbYA9m5rtv9Vzh3eEMCcwe96Oh2j7GmyB3hnlcoZDZ_fHLafCmBi3X-zPxZdnrOmwc1GCLGPiiUK5wdglq-ukkN/s1600/Garden,+Spring+2010+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP0y24nMcTi38GWHhA2a5haLFdKKJoG2dHVi8-2pRAxObxz2aZT7hyFbYA9m5rtv9Vzh3eEMCcwe96Oh2j7GmyB3hnlcoZDZ_fHLafCmBi3X-zPxZdnrOmwc1GCLGPiiUK5wdglq-ukkN/s320/Garden,+Spring+2010+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454516314994425218" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I tried forcing 5 Hyacinth bulbs indoors in a pot with potting soil. After watering I stashed them away in a closet in the garage for about 2 months.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNZThslMaEJbdkSh9e7PJTVVxXHQUxzlbzFuv0ftzt7eTtJNPIVofW6Ub8Wd58Tp8xZFOWHHjX47oauaUVLYix8OYJDEtrRtGXmCVf_42SaWRcDhl2THntn2e2lyUWz8wuJNWiSDJHaSm/s320/Garden,+Spring+2010+020.jpg" /> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I brought them into the living room early this month. And now they have fragrant blooms on them. Had the internet been smelling friendly, these photographs would be hyacinth scented.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So forcing bulbs is not tough. The key is to mimic dark and cold days of winter for these plants. I am going to try forcing paperwhites and tulips next spring, and maybe even some forsythia.</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-32262911917872897392009-09-27T20:18:00.003-04:002009-09-27T20:47:02.207-04:00Harvests<div style="text-align: justify;">Harvests over the past few weeks have been abundant. Tomatoes were all over my kitchen. I made chutney, pickle, sauce, jam, puree, soup and not to forget the everyday tomato salad. And still I more tomatoes left. But I am not complaining. Recently I am freezing whole tomatoes (cherry tomato size). I just wash the tomatoes, lay them out in a single layer on stainless steel plate in the freezer and after a few hours I bag them up in them freezer after a few hours. I know I will savor these summer home grown tomatoes during the winter months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there has been the green and yellow bush beans, so tender and flavorful that we could eat them raw. The beets are sweet and I am storing them for future use. And obviously the beet greens in stew with rice is another tasty heaven. I got a decent amount of okra specially after the wet summer we've had. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The greens did pretty well this year. I grew mostly Asian greens with some lettuce in spring. I got a good harvest of fenugreek greens, amaranth greens, sour greens and Malabar spinach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But one which is has become a favourite at our house is the red carrot (Gajar in India). They look, taste and smell really carroty. I am going to grow lots more next year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, nothing and truly nothing comes close to the taste and joy of growing your own food.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7_0QZO4W1aZqm9Ud8mCUnPhSWwU0n6MLR3X-4lK9gEOeYKQMXPWZS3jDKLN2iO-iCvtK0-vj_YhFlXnrC2zpNTzzkH0HGOHTCdDVdCT3P_VoNI_WU-mjiF6FYgXnDP6iIuexq9LNnRi_/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+088.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amaranth Greens</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvlRBwocJhXVMnRXhqIwMZIMK8dg4WVT8geKMgxCAkzAaaujzOF3gRe7IUzQ211VjNDE5GPIqMy1ZTOYqpv66Bka-D-DJiijCSy-qNMekMrASUHRYRU3XDrAwy0xUD32MQ6sP5AnUHRuT/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+102.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Onions, Carrots, Kohlrabi and Beets</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IzO1l-Sk0It07wU1fswJ2-xZorfJ4W_YZAcL4jlQ3pGC_EVCo6-EkizUV3xcH5B6sEBwCw7_TSC-BNDYzPo9K5rDKsK9T8O4mhBtY6ki3lJOBYxDLXZdGc8HzSUQxAW2QudB6haa7lFF/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+069.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bush Beans</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFNJtqj_sDhalVbyDiXLtJjnKpVYJrDQ9I5ipvD3awLm4lUskUVt9SXQYrBFXICeyyY31vZM5ATbPtF4FtR-We9u0l0An6x50WY6AGy5fZeyx7XKmRuj-F44swASKjpDk6UVTRnkoaP0x/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+078.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eggplants, Peppers, Bitter Gourds and Greens</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVhKxDdZ1siivd6fcPrmG5J-_7dIff5epMlNiEooS7lWtBLilgdeZQniYJBjjqrysT7XsMo_T1NocL1J2wdzPOIH1TCsNiu-F8EpbsiLlByT-elLYEZNUpq4k59a6L5Jj390n1sQNr_z-/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+061.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at those red carrots</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-59608030382064749122009-09-27T19:50:00.003-04:002009-09-27T20:18:17.607-04:00End of Summer<div style="text-align: justify;">Fall is here. The temperatures are milder during the day and nights pose a threat for frost. Pumpkins and mums are on sale, tomatoes have been disposed due to the blight, summer vegetables are winding down and the sunflowers are throwing giant shadows with their drying up flower heads. Its sad how fall can bring an end to the summer garden in a matter of days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The more colorful side of fall is definitely the beautiful fall foliage. Winter will be here before we know it and everything will be buried under the cover of snow. So now you know I am</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> really not a winter person. And there are 25 weeks before the next spring. On that note, few pictures from my garden these past weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIzM5oMwI1-D3VyY1e0MEweRcqiLi6THwVsqGQdlJnfE1qDrj20uj8AeB_ekVTyAnZDCf84fgA_nZ2L0ao5jLR_fZLOIDFVZkexftYwnKLYGgQTfhaT6IjnhyphenhyphenFk7_y1bSySSqC_PRVl0o/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+092.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386303424526405010" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bee enjoying the sunflowers. You can even see the pollen on the bee.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpfQlZSlJCKIyqjFEZNXwzN7IgKoifFElpqCbEpj9IDQzeIh3I3SF_lXwRbvO1l_N0kUPwXJ5fkiPkHM0YdoM0pzWXuNcHfEK6IR7oQbpIralV2k2rf0CBoMJZ52233a-ZxwLyT4XktOl/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+094.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Japanese eggplant</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnVrH9zW2n3mQMsteN_yrLtQmrCDonqRH85XJfirx7pRaAcVv3jedomFsk62JTO7o7nWqsXaqjos7m-Yb1hHXt5UojlDGRBWLysMU4ihwJNATaoBh9aPCdXMSTp1ZD8FwkGMIx4mZr3wL/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+071.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last of the yellow bush beans</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_FnEebihamqVK6bhEaxBtUxMMKXktFzw7_8jLhWgDM1fi27a_FAXhw9TKc9ZJrMlGSomSVV009Ttoc9nQVBIsPaPrx18XU9po2BF1Zx4DG7-BDPfwn0WDLIxKxhEwMlI76Uy_iv37Q1x/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+075.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okra blossom</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6rZTZ-kqP-1jsgE11PZV5xXJibG4V-TE-kdX-dAuxBThOxuLQZOg4GPrE8Oa0zFLXSmExfFjk9zZ6cEjww3UZPUlHG9gokgJqLa-g7bbTwkfKMpd64Uxz0-nD8hBbGk5gXSlTUaAcgxo/s320/Srishti+Birthday-2009+081.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carrots peeking out of the soil. Ready for harvest.</span></span></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-11442636467994339992009-08-16T17:12:00.004-04:002009-08-16T17:55:30.262-04:00Summer Senses<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLAWgR-uzwMGcEysMrecGsw0k97p16MnMUo1ZEMB3OwKRs_nqqcmOmA93KzYNFaFr9n0CfrmNge6nqv74EjXrAKbRVAeBeRkQx9NtUoZBDBbGbAezfklWkIABxiV4-7eFt9hf2T8jq0PP/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+058.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLAWgR-uzwMGcEysMrecGsw0k97p16MnMUo1ZEMB3OwKRs_nqqcmOmA93KzYNFaFr9n0CfrmNge6nqv74EjXrAKbRVAeBeRkQx9NtUoZBDBbGbAezfklWkIABxiV4-7eFt9hf2T8jq0PP/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+058.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370679847994155986" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This week truly feels like summer in CT. After endless rains drenched part of June and the whole of July, hazy hot humid (hopefully dry) days and nights are finally here. The sunflowers have started to bloom. The tomatoes are ripening on the plants that have been spared by the <a href="http://www.joenesgarden.com/2009/08/late-blight-marches-on/">late blight</a>. I see more bees this year than I did last year. Hope they survived the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/introduction/38/">CCD</a>. Great relief and joy to have them back. My vegetable patch infact is thriving, I must say, with vegetables, flowers, bees, butterflies, insects and ofcourse the weeds. I hardly visit the grocery store except to buy milk and bread. But I was saddened by the appearence of mums for sale. Well mums, to me, signify that fall is not far away, cooler nights leading to decay in my garden. I pull through winter with images and thoughts of spring and summer. One look at my tomato plants and I can see the impending fall, the tomato foliage is ripe with septoria leaf spot. This is a fungal disease which slowly robs the plants of its foliage. But thankfully I am still able to harvest all the ripe tomatoes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway here I am enjoying the sweltering summer heat and ranting about fall. So to revel in the present, I have posted some fabulous summer shots from my garden. Truly these engage your all of your senses- sights, sounds, tastes, touch and smells of summer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEAW9JeDWGTNV5BIv8sxpx0oQbJ4ZJ49uK7v0kiwugf6uJt36-t7Iu9QIyy8ikK3LI8O9Rco2McL5oNoB-BF5Ak7NLqjG_R_VgSJGXIT5Ud5DX0WfpG9m_2bI30LLHWNTavAmOeA7LgR7/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370679858817707634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Okra-sign of Summer heat</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPAYAH3023M_P48qQ4wtyXW5f_MmLES2vMsw4B9UBd_jyoV9RY-7kklBDf9xf2EESFA5DUFS82NltRSiNFKHj4Y6LL-gBIWkIFlqak_83o3_vCED4bgDg1co0Y7Jq5_TypT6c0aD1EpZh/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+070.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370679850790036226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Tomatoes and Basil-Summer in Bowl</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVxIdFP5zs6fISPA5bbTTyCqNKsAolnpN8S11mCGn9Awp8BGqBXe__lnvZsbS2czqsW04uD-JyxL0pWaTL2ySnZqMFo6PJdO-bIgJFNd34R989GRW5YQTC8yw-fd_9QcSSt8F7O87vbjU/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370679869493755138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Blueberries waiting to be picked</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc8SGDUxiHMdzPK6QJQdR8JBErGWHnQSUDJHifT8E2ai0ObqBHUEApmkKlOc7wgshwW9w99sN74zcAc8RiWIU7IfgfarYrwY7APNXwDZKzH4oGKWDl6dQWbpcGELqdcXaV3naYJCAoVAc/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+050.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370679872900598546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Tree-ripe peaches</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDqaYFsFhAC0znAkxQrt7gYDQQbiMFK3uuAoThALixj6thyMyIrtiLaHWzdhIe940YxxYPNYWikXvraXS9_VR4GHbQ7cV67S4c6AsdrEDZov2On1W9UJR9cD91hGjB0cO2H08-sA0tcth/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+072.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370681330904067218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Female Flower on a Cucumber plant</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3gBImLQojwAhtD3L5yuwbD72NYcy_zNuw8FmnSMud_mQ_x15Y5lbNyk0_FvDDP_qjfR7PGUZpyh8QIZBpNrn-SPhdISHjVsiU_WuGlRc1pQCY6Q89SmxtB00zmnAkqUqPfCpufeVr-ii/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370681317571419266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Bitter gourd</span></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-29008570083567826132009-07-21T21:52:00.005-04:002009-07-21T22:17:49.851-04:00Nature's Bounty<div style="text-align: justify;">Gardening is a very humbling experience. With a little effort one is blessed with the precious bounty, nature can offer us. With a few days of heat and sunshine, my garden has reaped me so many vegetables.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been harvesting peas, radishes, spinach, lettuce (though the lettuce has now turned a tad bitter due to the summer days), fenugreek leaves, beets, dill and a few yellow wax beans. For the first time I ate radish pods after I saw <a href="http://madteaparty.wordpress.com/?s=moongre&submit=Search">this delicious recipe</a>. Between admiring the bounty and the beauty of my garden, weeding therapy, dreading the appearence of <a href="http://www.joenesgarden.com/2009/07/late-blight-update/">late blight</a> on my tomatoes , I am thoroughly enjoying eating off the land. Though now I wish I owned a <a href="http://tinyfarmblog.com/">tiny farm</a> (BTW check out the link of tiny farm, one of my favourite virtual hangouts). So enjoy the photos below.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwoaoCoD8J0mMO76De34yU77vA1wLzTIEupOOApe4mTJpihea4BklH_0z9lS0uqwAdlGBbe_7F0pO6q3WqEC4JObNtTfdXvBon_VULhqaN92h-3tZhyphenhyphenY-HpLGVGDXZfIc1PfzvG2vBb7o/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361100824317773378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dill, fenugreek leaves, a few yellow wax beans, beet, radish</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya9g0gOf0_lrctuLPWB8Wd5WtnOyjmkbLorAnmDEso_s0bMoaytHGK3nAcqSO2bexUw-RaejuNHXIPkZVhDED7WyuEkxMS1E2a5ocMmbVZHkKoHJUvmHOmv51hkXmzQ25kBEIQ__NScC4/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361100827282138658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peas, lettuce</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMw89-SX_as7aOnkOZ3ydMHjEwhfWwChhK1eTEST-IhIrr3WbughpJI-JEhLLeK2axTgn_S4gpnKJFGRmXKbb31ErfLCHs3kXp94Y_8Xm4nNQjXn9_esPaeCg8KpeXJFaIAhMlK5DeK2il/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361100835290762850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Radish pods</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pfF0mcno3BIYZqAGujWRr9_UevD70-ySwLSACmNXggGkpvXUFxmfY15W6uX2gibyrZ_xlovPmDk3QqIU-Bnp0Yl8qGn3b9kj1mZMpVlPGYITTz5stGZqXIAqz3P0kCu1A6FjQpEbxHXz/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361100832308399250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">This week's harvest<br /><br /></span></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-57488643492396500522009-07-21T21:42:00.006-04:002009-07-21T21:52:21.523-04:00How beautiful is my garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcjzw1t_7oHpmR1r13xu7ofbOmL4er5XtyCAiWP0LgZktOlrG-kpA7-B0nsZMhINGD0hyphenhyphenxAye27PmIGpx5neXOBRNoEfNEVGAuEO1P3SKWVQuHT55tFlqRbbGU75Jq7LWi0nPkF4BXf9/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcjzw1t_7oHpmR1r13xu7ofbOmL4er5XtyCAiWP0LgZktOlrG-kpA7-B0nsZMhINGD0hyphenhyphenxAye27PmIGpx5neXOBRNoEfNEVGAuEO1P3SKWVQuHT55tFlqRbbGU75Jq7LWi0nPkF4BXf9/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361095379456706162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Finally a red ripe tomato</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Oso8xded1gTSLKwbZ3uWgqnLpXOrqVFBeE7m6Jp39Sp3UVpGN1sIof9YKB6IR4Wi7rnwlVyxT7Ye-m0zFlykQcYMd8UeegKETVCwgfizEFUfpbYx2l5yJse7vW4Ihv4tYKH169B-_Km/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Oso8xded1gTSLKwbZ3uWgqnLpXOrqVFBeE7m6Jp39Sp3UVpGN1sIof9YKB6IR4Wi7rnwlVyxT7Ye-m0zFlykQcYMd8UeegKETVCwgfizEFUfpbYx2l5yJse7vW4Ihv4tYKH169B-_Km/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+027.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361095371641257186" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first cucumber</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE2IBfdMU_h9NWAQ5y-pmLHxa4ROCd8gx_VhPUyajWWDCgFFQztaFksEm-5rYwcMiTZPRFTAqQuXpi8GI70xnhh0NMFqtHU3cP_LoTApkY7cvpB2PbRCREWjrnrBvgnzzb8ud2XgBHhc2/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE2IBfdMU_h9NWAQ5y-pmLHxa4ROCd8gx_VhPUyajWWDCgFFQztaFksEm-5rYwcMiTZPRFTAqQuXpi8GI70xnhh0NMFqtHU3cP_LoTApkY7cvpB2PbRCREWjrnrBvgnzzb8ud2XgBHhc2/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361095367636370642" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bush Beans</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXHR1Z7h4qJ4aaH12Nl0d99Zm2UcfizqONuuPWVo5LhJVAIEkik8u1iL36q1PlJT1CGUFsIsRHtUsbpPILXbSGY9-zyq76YGpwYVmreWHNBrW4Z39wZUwIt56c06b6rpr5x3sfDDm_yxY/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXHR1Z7h4qJ4aaH12Nl0d99Zm2UcfizqONuuPWVo5LhJVAIEkik8u1iL36q1PlJT1CGUFsIsRHtUsbpPILXbSGY9-zyq76YGpwYVmreWHNBrW4Z39wZUwIt56c06b6rpr5x3sfDDm_yxY/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+034.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361095366153626610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Flat Beans on the way</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG-5BTLbU0uttJU1QUfULUZ6p-PVyv8SnZkqOzMU92uDG4Gojfw5naT0eDMBp2xABjUKZOGwMcz1CPGuH3zxrfGBXU7XxJLzqtRzy-3cw6hVF_FFyDB97SHFLFYTGpXB7DOAL3yIYQqHm/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG-5BTLbU0uttJU1QUfULUZ6p-PVyv8SnZkqOzMU92uDG4Gojfw5naT0eDMBp2xABjUKZOGwMcz1CPGuH3zxrfGBXU7XxJLzqtRzy-3cw6hVF_FFyDB97SHFLFYTGpXB7DOAL3yIYQqHm/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+030.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361095360830741074" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nasturtiums</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d16Ja0xwfuAjtnu2VifvV_VT1qtoTc9RkWBo0kyNozc0xqF9B6E6YwrkjV2bkgmXAnPw0iv9-Yj8QTfbLZ-WCfItu8_VoPLK9lY576c-4W5MRJJvvM2-Pi9H3Lb0eF7nRQS0XUOza2uA/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d16Ja0xwfuAjtnu2VifvV_VT1qtoTc9RkWBo0kyNozc0xqF9B6E6YwrkjV2bkgmXAnPw0iv9-Yj8QTfbLZ-WCfItu8_VoPLK9lY576c-4W5MRJJvvM2-Pi9H3Lb0eF7nRQS0XUOza2uA/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361094795203714754" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looks like the nasturtium flower is capturing the sun</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyAi5j8AyYG2ZqudLQ2CZXAprK7oNmVHL_bWwf8lPJXVnE-XtQH0llzKXvW36SBH9_0QNQ8OznDbuuxqYX1tQmIaJ6OT-yTrQppgvIFO0su0a0jwn9hF5xJ5-OknTPi4dZ6W7Qv4l6VFu/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyAi5j8AyYG2ZqudLQ2CZXAprK7oNmVHL_bWwf8lPJXVnE-XtQH0llzKXvW36SBH9_0QNQ8OznDbuuxqYX1tQmIaJ6OT-yTrQppgvIFO0su0a0jwn9hF5xJ5-OknTPi4dZ6W7Qv4l6VFu/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361094598801377602" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peas ready to be picked</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCuK6LNZEfM5uodY_zJrCV-JeVKs5wVQ2ObhufUcXQDC0FnycIXCYNuXxyXoUCtPMzD-smrlw7oGvXt_fGAJi0poyhcHxzwGNwYQCs0MwAPh_maPAf8rLzCiDJiie4m735yQHO0Om-vnx/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCuK6LNZEfM5uodY_zJrCV-JeVKs5wVQ2ObhufUcXQDC0FnycIXCYNuXxyXoUCtPMzD-smrlw7oGvXt_fGAJi0poyhcHxzwGNwYQCs0MwAPh_maPAf8rLzCiDJiie4m735yQHO0Om-vnx/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361094345472633074" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lush Beet greens</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-27246475254417627962009-06-19T09:36:00.002-04:002009-06-19T09:45:42.441-04:00Update<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAzpGP44Pc23D6UdwPp4T6HLmqv5n9rFPo3DXLwxYwd7qpX43ALLt9WK9Vzx8iuX0VaU6TCGRV6yOs9i2kQOUbTZVLRw_Q8Y-TN0VZeQmTupfjx_7sBVMcjG068HMMGqKIJCBjnvHnZUa/s1600-h/27.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBjy4g6q8OtCXOlXC77Sb5FgbDu6xHflvnUUKjgyuKZUB4_fSFYYejpB-VaKY-xGbDNNLtFmrb-e0EtY88AIw7UI-B138hvzEjJzJ-BMZ-y52HzKoHLY7CQoSp3k2iNNZa9lQWrXZdqMD/s1600-h/31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBjy4g6q8OtCXOlXC77Sb5FgbDu6xHflvnUUKjgyuKZUB4_fSFYYejpB-VaKY-xGbDNNLtFmrb-e0EtY88AIw7UI-B138hvzEjJzJ-BMZ-y52HzKoHLY7CQoSp3k2iNNZa9lQWrXZdqMD/s320/31.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349032843954427026" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lettuce, Radish, Fenugreek and Beets</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAzpGP44Pc23D6UdwPp4T6HLmqv5n9rFPo3DXLwxYwd7qpX43ALLt9WK9Vzx8iuX0VaU6TCGRV6yOs9i2kQOUbTZVLRw_Q8Y-TN0VZeQmTupfjx_7sBVMcjG068HMMGqKIJCBjnvHnZUa/s320/27.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349034307284441474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cabbage</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNlMVUc6HYPOZNCbkw2EQP4aYfcFd2y0fq_p31I8jp-oQE9PqhYgES0OynlxrGKBoY6nDbY1a0w3F7ZNyHH5OOdEsnhh9yPlWrx-BpYBmoQdeyOvbwl_5Vw-r2gy20RepzrKIsGinPenh/s1600-h/21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNlMVUc6HYPOZNCbkw2EQP4aYfcFd2y0fq_p31I8jp-oQE9PqhYgES0OynlxrGKBoY6nDbY1a0w3F7ZNyHH5OOdEsnhh9yPlWrx-BpYBmoQdeyOvbwl_5Vw-r2gy20RepzrKIsGinPenh/s320/21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349032834831101842" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally the peas are flowering</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvv2gZKSCIokhvWN6No5FAgNga7Recr1j4xsKb2k4kqYV0_15q-vgz8Z3x7kp7vL5gBcFJivGI00Yc2f5ToSAix3E8d31UU0wxBHEPHV2xUVoRTy7x94qHNCnzGxGgHCNSitB3Ub5hmUB/s1600-h/22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvv2gZKSCIokhvWN6No5FAgNga7Recr1j4xsKb2k4kqYV0_15q-vgz8Z3x7kp7vL5gBcFJivGI00Yc2f5ToSAix3E8d31UU0wxBHEPHV2xUVoRTy7x94qHNCnzGxGgHCNSitB3Ub5hmUB/s320/22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349032830067767458" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bunching onion, Icicle Radishes, Lettuce-this week's harvest</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-72792706640021615722009-06-18T10:16:00.005-04:002009-06-18T11:37:43.654-04:00Ants, Aphids and The Ladybug<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dont</span> know how aphids always find their way to my plants. The new leaves on beans were all dotted with black spots which were aphids happily sucking the sap. Well this time they are black in color. My tomato leaves have red and green aphids and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">coriander</span> leaves have only green aphids (clever camouflage).</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMshx_PPPpENuUZsATKwoszICKNUMt3A1wakWOLAGrVJxvzl2aGhO5rPMxuh57sOFJkyvTfYpvspub88xXtpGTuSkpmHu3R3kkFLbjC5UgUZ3DDcrN0O5VM6qC3bfgC06Lan2AD-7S9Fe/s320/26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348689778734224274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Black aphids on spinach blossoms</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aphids are plump creatures, sizes ranging between poppy and mustard seeds. Obviously with all the sap sucking, they will grow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bigger</span>(size of a small mosquito) and have wings. These winged aphids will try to play tag with you, leaf hopping but you ultimately can crush them. These aphids seem to be infesting both potted plants and those that are on the ground. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My best way to "crush" these plump pests is literally to crush them between my fingers. So I run the leaf (with aphids feasting on the back of the leaves) between my thumb and index finger, and crush the juice out these pests. Sweet revenge. Your finger may turn green, red or black depending on the color of the aphids. Just wash your hand and job well done. Sometimes I make a soap solution with dish washing liquid and spray away.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now this time the issue was more with ants adding to the problem, ants emerging from different points on my plot. Then I saw ants on the leaves infested with the black aphids. Now I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">didn't</span> know for sure if these black spot-like things were aphids, ant eggs or ant droppings. Until I read <a href="http://uconnladybug.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/seeing-red-in-the-garden/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span></a>is post. So what was shrivelling the new leaves on my bean plants was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">definitely</span> aphids fiercely guarded by ants. What a symbiosis. So I decided to deal with the ants first after reading ( and laughing) <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/antsandaphids/">this</a>. This post is really informative, instills confidence that you are back in the battle again and you can win. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I made a stinky garlic-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">chili</span> powder spray (1 cup hot, not boiling, water + 2 crushed garlic cloves + 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tbl</span> spoon c<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ayenne</span> powder. Let this solution steep for 2-3 days. Ready to spray). The ants I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">didnt</span> seem to like the heat of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">chili</span> powder but came back after a few days. And the rain seemed to dilute and wash away this spray. So the whole aphid-ant marriage was going strong again. Until I spotted a ladybug yesterday on an aphid infested spinach flower. (Yeah the spinach bolted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">inspite</span> of the cooler weather here in CT). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUS0W70gKVRrB0RBXNVhmY_8s4gCYqit0mhP2pQLfOZbnMHOaAbzGHHfMVYN40VlDRMQ3WfAJyPmHmhQp263RcVNE3TBbYNui3L7u4rgmeruYOfdCK9keStqfmN4xRNxW12_GoZjnh7Co/s320/28.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348690771522819890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look who is having a party? Beautiful Ladybug</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found the other spinach flowers, the new bean leaves were clean and green again with all the aphids gone just like magic. Thanks to the beautiful ladybug, the aphids are gone for now. Hail the ladybug. . But the ants are still there and I think the aphids will be back again. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dont</span> worry, the ladybugs are here. And the witch is here too, busy brewing more soap and stinky garlic-pepper potions for you my dear aphids and ants.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-14332611792544008122009-06-15T15:45:00.003-04:002009-06-15T15:55:55.173-04:00Lettuce Harvest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8plx1mLOuRgy3AIeCeT2YDKY3ukbotVeKO3H3UF9ze3excv7FPx5qaOGsHWLZ_FPacaRjnyNdNBda4KT8mUeIKWQnuMArmCVMKU4DkfwQw3TugUjTIwvJA_hSro_WXdoTh6umtAe3qCs/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8plx1mLOuRgy3AIeCeT2YDKY3ukbotVeKO3H3UF9ze3excv7FPx5qaOGsHWLZ_FPacaRjnyNdNBda4KT8mUeIKWQnuMArmCVMKU4DkfwQw3TugUjTIwvJA_hSro_WXdoTh6umtAe3qCs/s320/15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347644906432506050" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This week lettuce was ready for picking. There are 2 ways to harvest lettuce-pick the entire plant from the soil or pick few leaves. I opted for the second method. So I picked mostly the outer leaves. This way you can get 2 or 3 harvest out of a single lettuce plant. Fresh picked lettuce is so much more rewarding than store-bought ones. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This lettuce was from Burpees seed packet-Gourmet Lettuce Blend.</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-30442835528065377302009-06-15T13:32:00.008-04:002009-06-15T15:30:09.368-04:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - June 2009<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/2007/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-announcement.html">Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day</a> happens on the 15th of every month and was started by Carol of <a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">May Dreams Garden</a>. This is my first Bloom Day on my blog. Check out her blog for all the blooms in the bloggers' gardens.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am starting off with some pretty golden-hued tomato blooms. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwafrIWfsHFrnt9jCDdu71YJdDuCVY9ZrRIt2pRwBbsuWYguCqjwbX5jtPb9Ue5qCMBqnTCzYdEZD1JBDxHnNnZhJ26NOZyQyvRJ8CtNg8fcqXMU7-DOjcbiYPadg80tevIP-k-mC3btt/s320/10.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347625083144757138" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The annuals and some perennial plants in my garden are in bloom now. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U6jAdneRSkJX6fp6r762a8aUj_zsU5iCYb0ePxbdKv6kO2OAg-xle1Oo1uzuh1FTy9qX44xnwKZqSJrfPAJQqTOMLsKuprA6_d1z3LMCnQ3FP8VDMmX-Kw0k8lQd6eY3Dig7TUVaiZ2T/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347626060861410626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Beautiful violet daisy-like blooms of Brachycome</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUpb26byZ8MQTR40mVdffKKSUNaZW75tie69ZdF6sIXWq9ZqnljrOT78ooGF6ic-TIQtF2FQlsAg_Vv3ZfuZssGcvXfXcMLacyIsihT63oWUUEzhvt8l07R2TpJ1AsuQp_C1KY6v1lmA_/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347627037865305330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Blue flowers of Lobellia Hybrid<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU45eAYaT0zCDLqgAPBG25EMd52430LVd2xdItTgrViLS6Xa4cmRGjfXNlDem-7dmkNQbxQ89WggJlzEjJSk9DhPBvZCoIvh9TfM02h58JTKSMKzXK_VxxmTXh75ZqJvU-7KlXK-Lj8b2A/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347628061671505554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fuschias-My favourite blooms. I love the way the petals look like delicately draped cloth.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokkDsCx86gf_TGY_vfQoj4sl7MfFQle-SDYjcwMjb6HCdTz7bt_s_WiVfYsu_OK0KpGWju3pHqGPPEgotTENH53b_Y1GZ7_byw9-fqc798ruZ2LgIYsa7PHETTy3R2pZrBkKuomZt4qFn/s320/viola.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347632941616922434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Violas in bloom but some are already forming seeds. I hope some of these self-seed for next year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0Ax_s4XLWha5axB-DPcewN2yMJe4rAy-FQGCzexqFaR-Jrz3WG8UKtJqYbnco1QgXYUCHmTpUwQZ-7sMka28krgPM5siG060Qd_o5YPG-J7aypkLyGFDjL07WwgV8-079lnW-jB9tW95/s320/viola+seeding.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347632940140109474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Viola Seeds</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUPcg0v_6ECVHX5Wyh9l1tdxla1CM3RzRyg9oAum7nOX51N847KaBb9JCzK3Mttr-JfAAbZasy6DciIRq5-5xPzp5XN0P1BnUD1LjcBQJ4xF3G7s-N1zOZ8-d8wwEUbb_WSw82twtC__V/s320/alyssum.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347632937335516034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sweet smelling Alyssum. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39xGn43LygI5ct9VSfF64D9wolV0b5KVXpP4I0zkUnExjYpaWnoPnrh2JJJf_qEia6bEX0lo-L5f20ReMUr4M_75V_DI8Ad6qEBRA4yd_cVomw_MmObivjrwZfNEKp8FYUejW7eVjdcin/s320/dianthus,+salvia.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635388563288338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The red and pink of my garden-Dianthus and Salvia. Hopes of attracting some beautiful butterflies.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfPLfG_WtAiEQ8cFn3EG-9A1xC3YTHk-h91nsF_2bhUP_BT4LCII12TSef2bsaBrwqfchL6BBZcuKjff0lGvKAANNX2Df6V0fV6awHBzgliDKJAcGeScd7hH5m8YHEjexp6lYjE9lfdcK/s320/veronica.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347628067720100082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Veronica "Royal Candles. I love the blue candle-like blooms. This a summer blooming perennial which does not mind a little shade.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTehgcDC8y5Dj_papiqX291TBJfrtMSWhiqWxGLi-3rReYud6mY7qWnM12s3APlEPCKuJwjpTSTyEuUQFM2VsI8rL1dfRJuWJ1KoyGBLFxGaNg2nZx_xU_AGSQ-aRQXBou5Fpk-ZO0PSgN/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347632930571690178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Perennial Iberis-This plant is a real survivor. I had planted this last year and it did well. But during winter, while clearing the snow it got uprooted and I didnt notice that until all the snow had melted in early spring. I replanted it with little hope and it didnt show any signs of life until a few weeks ago. And behold, there are blooms now. Kudos to the power of nature, thanks Iberis.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxoPx6Mqw2DRS7DrKi6qK8pDjHF0ocreRM_Wy878VJXI-1Lt43BUSL5zRgbb7GmTSL2O-Rhx7pNN-1AhgLGOcq_ZNodAvMMq2Jajp1t7KeH-1GMaPB6637NCqCKLBRztKxr5fFZ7VNz0f/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635390877896258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">And finally the proud stately Columbines. Last of the blooms, I think they maybe a spring blooming perennial.</span></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-89578195506584379652009-06-10T21:34:00.001-04:002009-06-10T21:36:54.320-04:00First Harvest<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-z1vKmr91T683hCwwMQmBgesZsxGYDqdanRfAt4Wrh8kh2RZ6sUyZ6b4mKCh4kyzmhI5b6eRYlQ_TdjlKYrI-s1_zpWbKNaucGTZ0PGNm0pGFbPasaSz5h6ZZXCqQ_FioeOjsfl_pTjy/s1600-h/radish1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-z1vKmr91T683hCwwMQmBgesZsxGYDqdanRfAt4Wrh8kh2RZ6sUyZ6b4mKCh4kyzmhI5b6eRYlQ_TdjlKYrI-s1_zpWbKNaucGTZ0PGNm0pGFbPasaSz5h6ZZXCqQ_FioeOjsfl_pTjy/s320/radish1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345877809162223538" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Icicle RadishesGarden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-45513694853895752382009-06-03T16:06:00.008-04:002009-06-04T22:15:25.948-04:00Black Gold<div style="text-align: justify;">Compost is called black gold in some books. I dont make my own compost (though I would love to make some. Any suggestions welcome, I live in a condo). I buy Long Island Organic Compost from my local nursery. It feels like chocolate cake crumbs and smells equally heavenly, like rain drenched earth. I applied a 'side dressing' to all my vegetable plantings today. Side dressing is exactly what is means, apply to the base of the plant as if you were mulching it. The compost will gradually leak into the soil and feed the roots of the plants. Side dressing of compost is specially recommended when the plant is flowering, fruiting. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMEek5g-egDXL-Nta0qKnDZfpmJSaUkMu9KMIt3OlVhT7YgZNCaCANOdRcCVEO7hgeurG6-_kxmHeca3p9zGD-h6Q35fbDaK41TCuSFZgHxNGLQyFdnhM3E5P_6prDRR0TBXwAegx7pva/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+023.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343198065125866098" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Lettuce grows well and fast if fed with compost regularly. Lettuce taking a long time to grow is said to taste bitter but compost can hasten its growth. These are gourmet lettuce mixture from Burpees seeds.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4rlGBkfvQ0MAvWxSHwHXIsbbhsMjbeMvXJwH2MCTxIvQTV8zFuvczzbyYYWwFbnqPw0lLxAohztY-0g52_pKnBmLlf6KMR38t-lSQpjS8t3Wb4qgOAIlETN35JUS_PhUo_p4meDqdGky/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343198903314076642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lush green spinach</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIxVZ_9GQeVkZPwus_kduLCV5I4Rr_SKqkA_706nLtuFLlIuJOCKmvrojYY8vDwoDUHM-GsggP7ZzDa4N1JnTi6vdNBgBzqLpgIBLzSVBKc-QGrzv6OhgLetLGUWjEWptRkywgCTxdRev/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343199988819608050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div>Rows from top to bottom: Beets(row1), Fenugreek and lettuce(row 2), Fenugreek(row 3), Icicle Radish(row 4).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwxk6J12cpHUmteI80Sz89_ucIRhFGCcwaFQWG0IVOF-uFN3kC5ELNW-QrFlxoAoo1xHzb1WkgUFkruIDIxU6Nwq9GKopqKF1-x2Qab-VRllF1BsCL-WbSu7OspFl-cgy5prHjOfiS3vz/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343201112166022514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Kolhrabi</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO4A7SdgqVnd0wLybrkeDoI2hO7XLCTnBzDsjQXgU0EqX3facRSA-bD8di3PgkvDXs4CqT3fYxvITc5IWy-i-azI0SiDDaYTWyYF4b6EccDEvk-hwTqpB0q3IhKm3xKF6KyOMAiSp4uSU/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343201957094105234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Row of dill between two rows of spinach</div><div><br /></div></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-53435257609611483602009-06-03T14:54:00.006-04:002009-06-04T11:45:40.705-04:00Working the Land<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx6wehVTO6H1PFDQEKAg0sGN9aCHNKpaQi8Zs-XHUW_vt4UtlrK5LDwK3xtbq8Yq0mkr3jHEjXnzWup5_F6wpgYCto0mdNpJrgbjrZfmB08UOusbo17eREAGaUPtard654gMUDDlnqf3U/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2009+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx6wehVTO6H1PFDQEKAg0sGN9aCHNKpaQi8Zs-XHUW_vt4UtlrK5LDwK3xtbq8Yq0mkr3jHEjXnzWup5_F6wpgYCto0mdNpJrgbjrZfmB08UOusbo17eREAGaUPtard654gMUDDlnqf3U/s320/vegetable+garden-2009+025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343192309033623058" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a vegetable patch which is a 10 x 10 raised bed. I hand tilled the plot in early April with a garden fork and worked in compost, plant food and peat moss. In the process fished out lots of stones from the bed. The soil in my plot becomes hard and cracks, so its not the best. I have planted peas, spinach, onions, radish, carrot, kohlrabi, lettuce, beans, tomato, eggplant and peppers. So this is my learning and let me share its rewards with you through this blog. Here, I will update all the gardening as it happens and record my garden journal.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703181039011325233.post-49783961879622945492009-05-31T13:03:00.004-04:002009-05-31T13:10:29.515-04:00Spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3aAZZD68xztz-ioWZXYjWuLEJSXpNmjckKmn5Gtsw0Bqyj-QVEzEFIGTwQAanWmi53GN9v-MjTtKTCbsG-ojxKgftazkvOvAZtckNP8rYAkYZzrJOkrXJFVba9oE84oFEUpNUBA2PO0k/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2008+010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3aAZZD68xztz-ioWZXYjWuLEJSXpNmjckKmn5Gtsw0Bqyj-QVEzEFIGTwQAanWmi53GN9v-MjTtKTCbsG-ojxKgftazkvOvAZtckNP8rYAkYZzrJOkrXJFVba9oE84oFEUpNUBA2PO0k/s200/vegetable+garden-2008+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342035596425696850" /></a><div>Spearmint sprouting new growth<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBRiOEOODN8CGy-3A-sluDunaKy7uy0S0iY9tueElZ3tkyMHj6xKLqLxmTSKsDk5IK_EXRTxLHFsyasNCludoOKwypeoUoFJnjc2M3f0ZDB1c-ZIRuUynpLjKkTzWY3HFXK86EL6M_iLY/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2008+051.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBRiOEOODN8CGy-3A-sluDunaKy7uy0S0iY9tueElZ3tkyMHj6xKLqLxmTSKsDk5IK_EXRTxLHFsyasNCludoOKwypeoUoFJnjc2M3f0ZDB1c-ZIRuUynpLjKkTzWY3HFXK86EL6M_iLY/s200/vegetable+garden-2008+051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342035593981671602" /></a></div><div>Spinach seeds sprouting<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl9hxw0ZlphazxeofSb82xJsOV91a01UR6kkEiwqks1XvgYCHRFEof2kcrB0DGQVcs-ourOaZJKteNS2SyNcyDUASnTZmfpPDTzeqnAthZ4bQWGfXD1S0Q0gknT_FvI4f6Y_pyi6kwYUP/s1600-h/vegetable+garden-2008+002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl9hxw0ZlphazxeofSb82xJsOV91a01UR6kkEiwqks1XvgYCHRFEof2kcrB0DGQVcs-ourOaZJKteNS2SyNcyDUASnTZmfpPDTzeqnAthZ4bQWGfXD1S0Q0gknT_FvI4f6Y_pyi6kwYUP/s200/vegetable+garden-2008+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342035590343384050" /></a><br /></div><div>Tulip in blossom</div>Garden Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729091718644006365noreply@blogger.com0