Let's Pretend it's Warm Outside!

       Yes I realize that some of you live over  sea's where it's nice and warm right now(I so hate you! Kidding, I like winter), here in Indiana it's its cold outside, today's temps reached a whole 19 degrees! And we're under weather advisory's I'm fine with that at least til Monday when I have to drive in it!
         Usually this time of year is when I start planing this summers crops and flowers, I like to add two or three new perennials every year and always more mums, chrysanthemums, and live forever's. I always buy them small and cheap and plant them in the spring, I have tried planting them big and in the fall but our weather isn't always predictable and it hurts me when plants die.
       In about ten days is when I will be starting all my seeds. I'm assuming you read the blog before this one, no mater what I end up doing I will still have this space either here or on Bridget's Daughter, so I will still give you all my tips and know how. I love this picture, doesn't it look like the perfect place to meditate, watch the bee's, and just relax?

      Some day I want my whole yard to have a picket fence around it, though my husband says he's allergic to them. Um hun yep to bad.
       Are you planing any new additions to your yard this year? Let me know!






 

Garden Planning, it's time to start.

    I know, I know you think it's to soon to start thinking about your gardens now. For those of you across the sea I realize your enjoying the warmth of summer, but your fall will be here before you know it and here in the states where I live it's cold outside, but spring will be here soon too. And planning takes time especially if this is your first garden. Start small you can always add on later. For those whom fall is around the corner you need to be thinking about what kinds of flower bulbs you would like to plant and there are some seeds that need to go though the cold winter in order to come up next spring. Not only bulbs are planted in the fall, for instance, Peony's roots should be planted in the fall since they need the cold of winter to come up in spring.

   It seems early for us that are in the throws of winter, but seed catalogs come out the first of February and then if your planing on ordering seeds it can take up to three weeks to arrive, and I'm assuming you'll start your seeds indoors like I do, that takes time also. Its easy to do and I'll share my secrets with you later.

   Blooming Blubs is a great place to get your bulbs. Not only bulbs though they have almost everything you need, including Christmas tree's. If you click the ad on the left you can get a catalog and a 10% discount on your order. Not a bad deal!

Time to Garden inside!

       Yes ladies and gentlemen it's time to do the dreaded repotting! If it is cold and winter where you live its time. This is the perfect time because plants aren't growing much during this time, so less chance of shocking the poor things.  Actually I enjoy doing this and it doesn't have to be expensive, garage sales are a great place to pick up flower pots so is goodwill, dollar stores, I've used five gallon buckets and two litter pop bottles before. Anything will work as long as its big enough and has drain holes, and you can put your own holes in with a hammer and nails or a drill. By the way, five gallon buckets are cheap and I've used them many times to grow veggies in when I didn't have a yard. Let's get our supplies together.
1. Newspapers, if you don't have a garden area where you can work spread them out on the floor or a table.
2. Packing peanuts, gravel, rocks from your driveway(hehe), coffee filters.
3. Hot soapy water with a little bleach in it.
4. Soil (if you buy the cheap stuff get some slow release fertilizer,or liquid)
5. Trowel,or a coffee cup and a big spoon.
6. Pots, have them already washed and dry
7. Plants of course
      Gently grab the bottom of your plants(this is easier if you haven't watered them recently), and the bottom of the pot and slowly pull the plant out. If its hard to pull out make sure roots aren't coming out the bottom, if that's not the problem get a dull knife and go around the edges like you would a cake. If the roots are bound tightly gently pull them a little lose, it won't hurt them and it makes it easier for them to grow, cut off any brown or dead areas.
       In the new pot I like putting a coffee filter over the holes and then some rocks or packing peanuts. Coffee filters keep the dirt inside easier and help the plant retain moister longer. Then put your dirt in and make sure dirt is the same level on the plant as it was before. If using cheap dirt mix some fertilizer in it or in the water that you'll water them with after the transplant. See easy!
      Just a few tips here: when the weather starts chilling and you bring your indoors plants back inside take them directly into the bathroom and give them a shower, run water through them until they seem like they might be drowning, this will get any bugs out that might have made your plants home during the summer. I also shower my plants at least monthly in the winter to get all the dust off their leaves, I just don't drown them. Don't put oil or anything on their leaves to make them shinny, it's how they breathe and they don't need it to be shinny anyway, that's why you shower them, except for plants that their leaves are 'furry' (like violets) they don't like their leaves wet.  If your kitty likes using your plants for a bathroom put rocks over the dirt, those small bags of white rocks are cheap and look nice.
    If you live where it's warm now it's time to start thinking about ordering your bulbs to plant for this fall(check my left side, these are the company's I trust and use) and if it's winter time where you live have you started looking at seeds yet? Thinking about what you want to add to your beds this spring? What veggies you want? I like to try a new veggie every year in my veggie garden. And when I was younger(and broker) I would add a new perennial or two every year. They can be expensive, and that was before I knew to buy them in August or September when they go on sale, I still buy my Mums at that time so they can get established before it gets cold.  I also start a lot of my plants from seeds and next month I have plans to tell you all my secretes, I have a lot of good ones!

Winter time, nothing to do in my Garden

        The only thing I hate about winter, well not the only thing, is that I can't work in my garden. My garden is my haven, my escape, where I get back to nature. I get up early in the morning just to go outside with my coffee and have some peace, no one wanting something from me, or needing me to do something for them. You all know what I mean, I love my babies and my husband, I just need a break and being in my garden around the beauty of my plants and nature heals my soul and fills me back up so I can give my family and friends what they need.
     In the winter I can't go out there as much, normally its just to damn cold! Today it wasn't, 50 degrees isn't cold just jacket weather. I took some hot Pomegranate Cider with me and sat on a bench I have that faces the woods behind my home. The trees are all resting, the under growth is asleep, and its so peaceful. I can get lost in my thoughts, dreams, and just rest my mind. It was what I needed after this hard week. Peace. In my garden, its where I find peace. Its why I wanted to do this blog, I wanted you to have that peace too.
      It doesn't matter where you live or if you own or rent your home. There's a way to give yourself that peace, and I will help you if you need it or want it. All you have to do is let me know.

     My friend Crystal posted this on my Facebook and I thought I'd share it with all of you, it's really beautiful.
    I added a new page today, it's on crafts to do with Herbs. I started with just one and I'll add more every week, if you have any that you make I would love to put them in here and a link to your site or just your name for credit. I have put a few recipes in here before and I think I want to add a page just for recipes, again if you would like to share I would be grateful we all need something new to cook sometimes!
      On my 'A Good Mornings Start' blog I'm also going to put some recipes that feature coffee, tea and of course chocolate! Feel free to add to that as well. Just leave me a comment or email me and we'll go over the details. You all know I love hearing from you and your thoughts,comments,idea's and suggestions. Until we meet again.........          

Pebbles,Rock,Stones? Nope Plants!

    I know your wondering what I'm talking about with that title, those are some of the names people call these cute little plants! Easy to care for, just like any succulent, they don't take up a lot of room and a big variety to choose from. I have a friend who collects them like other people collect china cups. 




   The dwarf succulent is a perennial found among rocks and pebbles in semi-desert regions of Namibia and South Africa. All are members of the Mesembryanthemum family and each plant consists of a pair of extremely thick leaves, which are fused together to produce a stem-like body with a slit at the top.