tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58695967818239086832024-03-13T14:27:57.164-04:00Frugal Garden and Outdoor Living With AnnaFrugal gardening tips and advice for urban, suburban and country gardens.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-11383124471972906652013-11-07T10:08:00.002-05:002013-11-07T10:08:36.175-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2kJYUtZAminrsdKiWVmcT8efTjObTGdKzM1IQxbGKwermOn9KUDh1B5Ih3SQpWXQr7UmutThIcbSfU8aV3k5wCmUFTwU21vvJHaB2qrBZg6kobeq9wYbdAy5-rtQBFntgwSjV5oC8wFF/s1600/gardenvariety.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2kJYUtZAminrsdKiWVmcT8efTjObTGdKzM1IQxbGKwermOn9KUDh1B5Ih3SQpWXQr7UmutThIcbSfU8aV3k5wCmUFTwU21vvJHaB2qrBZg6kobeq9wYbdAy5-rtQBFntgwSjV5oC8wFF/s640/gardenvariety.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hi Frugal Gardeners!<br />
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Although it's been ages since I've posted here, Facebook followers know that I post photos there daily I'm happy to announced that we now publish a great new daily blog on gardening, outdoors spaces and natural living, edited by Therese Ciesinski, former editor of <i>Organic Gardening</i> magazine. Please check us out and follow us at: <a href="http://gardenvarietynews.wordpress.com/">http://gardenvarietynews.wordpress.com</a>.<br />
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Thanks,<br />
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Angela<br />
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-16005780037302878332013-03-13T16:46:00.000-04:002013-03-13T16:46:23.380-04:00Living Walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqomJvqhTptH33O7g9aqYGo6sGKnO_K0Xsmqfvy-W47GqF05H1sE-oE442J4L4MtHjVpSCKRlfkLc5zeVkDCtdUBzkUzTTiLQCzOMTSdmS5iyQMbv6qSvrH6Pb1y62BDubijYZ5nQAGCy/s1600/Img0014_09-09-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqomJvqhTptH33O7g9aqYGo6sGKnO_K0Xsmqfvy-W47GqF05H1sE-oE442J4L4MtHjVpSCKRlfkLc5zeVkDCtdUBzkUzTTiLQCzOMTSdmS5iyQMbv6qSvrH6Pb1y62BDubijYZ5nQAGCy/s320/Img0014_09-09-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Sense of Privacy-A Few Selections For Creating A Living Wall</h2>
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Ornamental Grasses<br />
Boxwood<br />
Glossy Lobelia<br />
Willow<br />
Dwarf Lilac<br />
Bamboo<br />
Holly<br />
Barberry<br />
Privet<br />
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Note: The above picture is displaying an invasive species called Japanese Knotweed. I would not recommend using this plant. <br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-9905948467383341112013-03-11T15:10:00.001-04:002013-03-11T15:10:29.175-04:00Wild About Gardening<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI8bHjHfcra0MH-8CWrSlwmvWne6IuZUsSOYhHtoaxMKdWp5ywshCFj7YVpvWZjAw1WJJILHY4F7rowwJb3AxcZm2cmVyEnFC-Pz6BnblKxPdrp85deFI1vz0afmsyLaQFAwQFHPHLrZ1/s1600/DSCF3067+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI8bHjHfcra0MH-8CWrSlwmvWne6IuZUsSOYhHtoaxMKdWp5ywshCFj7YVpvWZjAw1WJJILHY4F7rowwJb3AxcZm2cmVyEnFC-Pz6BnblKxPdrp85deFI1vz0afmsyLaQFAwQFHPHLrZ1/s320/DSCF3067+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello everyone. Spring is almost here!!!<br />
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I have a friend who requested information recently about starting a new garden that would include flowers, vegetables and herbs. They recently closed on their new home and basically have a budget of $50.00. Be still my beating heart, a challenge! Hmm....<br />
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Because they live in zone 6A and still have snow on the ground, I recommended starting with seeds. Thankfully they have a large atrium attached to their home and a lot of patience! They ordered seeds from two of my favorite seed companies, Vermont Wildflowers (they have a vast selection of individual flower types and special mixes) and Artistic Gardens (large selection of herbs, vegetable and flower seeds). They offer sample seed packs at very low rates (starting at .40 to .50 cents for small sampler packs). Sold!<br />
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I donated a large amount of soil-less mix, seed starting supplies and a vast amount of information on gardening and wished them much success.<br />
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I will keep you posted....<br />
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Angela<br />
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Links for Vermont Wildflowers and Artistic Gardens<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-36593827682164615702013-02-19T16:43:00.000-05:002013-02-19T16:43:37.999-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">10 WAYS TO OBTAIN GARDEN ITEMS
FRUGALLY<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1. Express your
interests to friends and family. You could provide them with a wish list of
most-needed items such as extra plants, garden tools, seeds and invaluable
advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2. Use what you
have: Plastic and styrofoam cups, plates, bowls, eating utensils and take out
containers can serve functions in seed starting and plant protection and are
common items in most households.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3. Check out local
thrift shops, yard and garage sales. Imagine, old cups and saucers can be converted
into creative bird feeders, or watering spots for butterflies and small birds. Small
and large bowls can be used as bird baths, toad houses and molds if you wish to
dabble in creating garden ornaments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4. Do a search
online and look at sites such as Freecycle.org and Craigslist.org to see if
free items or trades are available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5. Most dollar
stores offer garden supplies seasonally. Make sure you inquire when the items
will be available because they go fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">6. Check out your
local newspapers for permits regarding upcoming land excavations or contact a
local landscape or tree service company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">7. Contact your
local county extension office. They usually offer free or discounted plants or
seeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">8. Proprogate your used
produce scraps such as onions, peppers and tomatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">9. Coordinate a seed
swap party for like-minded friends, neighbors and family members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">10. Divide existing
plants or collect seeds from self seeding plants on your property and replant
in other areas in your garden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-88005397102913741342013-02-12T04:35:00.002-05:002013-02-12T04:35:21.220-05:00New Year, New Beginnings: The Dawn of a New Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x2iTEIZU1m6RZhryBwS0p-7sMQLcGI9xHLChy0PGIuGaAw_L3OF4gm2618u1pYO4R_Y6gCiql_pKaOk0VGl8xzekSb7pihdVSqhsRGC3JyD9UmhFr_9g_UeMLc49cF5zOfZD5LvvBD5V/s1600/sunriseoverthesea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x2iTEIZU1m6RZhryBwS0p-7sMQLcGI9xHLChy0PGIuGaAw_L3OF4gm2618u1pYO4R_Y6gCiql_pKaOk0VGl8xzekSb7pihdVSqhsRGC3JyD9UmhFr_9g_UeMLc49cF5zOfZD5LvvBD5V/s640/sunriseoverthesea.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was recently
reminded of how my seemingly normal and stable life can change to chaos in the
blink of an eye. As we all do at some point, I began to worry about finding a
solution. Maybe it’s a character flaw, but it’s so very predictable and totally
me to think of others without regard for myself and well-being. Then, I threw
caution in the wind and thought of the times that I was truly happy and
carefree and realized the answer was there all along in the humble beginnings
and simplicity of my childhood.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My love of the
outdoors stems from a childhood spent outside surrounded by the joy of nature.
I loved the feel of warm sunshine on my face during early spring and the beauty
and vibrancy of my grandmother’s favorite pink and white azalea shrubs. I can
still visualize the feel of crisp air, the smell of spring and the beginning of
new life in the garden provided by our creator.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During the long Florida
summers, I would eat breakfast early then run outside (minus shoes and common sense)
as fast as my little legs could carry me, feed the chickens, gather eggs for my
granny, then take off again to find new daily adventures. Not all of them were
good, mind you, but they often consisted of softball, hopscotch, tug of war,
drum racing, running, tree climbing and watching clouds. I loved chasing
butterflies and feeding the cows and hogs my family raised. Yes, bath time was horrific
for my mother because I was covered from head to toe with sand, dirt; bug bites
and scrapes from falls.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At lunchtime, I
would usually take ten minutes to run home and woof down a sandwich, but found
my snacks in the gardens around me. There was always an abundance of juicy,
sweet blackberries, sugar cane, figs, pears, tomatoes, sweet corn, plums,
nectar from honeysuckle flowers and dates. Usually, the only way anyone could
get me to come home for dinner was by threat of a spanking (it never happened
because no one could catch me outside) or the allure of a favorite meal:
buttermilk fried chicken, homemade biscuits and pure cane syrup or favorite
dessert, homemade teacakes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, I have come to
the realization that I need to go back to the basics to be truly happy. This
means returning to the outdoors and being creative in the choices I make in my
life, starting at this very moment. I look forward to sharing my new
experiences with you. Thank you for being patient with me and please stay
tuned….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Angela</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-38935182060503938992012-12-25T14:56:00.000-05:002012-12-25T14:56:00.933-05:00Holiday Greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qZ9fH-93dv_Lox7A5sNKXktUkis3rrRlTJUfaIfa8pA6Rzf0JtPOW-pnCRHXdIV5DeQOhq8VFq0vhyphenhyphenW1lm_379uRKScAi_2qY7gG7MVwaEMFGlbQSHj58W_3Kf0tGry6WZRqKs0YAL3n/s1600/FrugalGardeningBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qZ9fH-93dv_Lox7A5sNKXktUkis3rrRlTJUfaIfa8pA6Rzf0JtPOW-pnCRHXdIV5DeQOhq8VFq0vhyphenhyphenW1lm_379uRKScAi_2qY7gG7MVwaEMFGlbQSHj58W_3Kf0tGry6WZRqKs0YAL3n/s320/FrugalGardeningBanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> </b></h2>
<h2>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my gardening friends and family!!!</b></span></i></h2>
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-20592025079783323042012-07-17T07:19:00.000-04:002012-07-17T07:19:56.253-04:00Another Frugal Idea For Composting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4raQ4uLqe8XZdMGfq7EyQkD_X-eMzQ9mYRKTFyRd2cZkeOvc0kH2tGJK_ZQ7-4HUyAuTP9EDcRzJM6a5-WLrZy4ris73_QdJaSnr3n9RSHrbgMtuR9eIMqPiHw3Z2cNVqyBIShPjBi5Y/s1600/adirondack5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4raQ4uLqe8XZdMGfq7EyQkD_X-eMzQ9mYRKTFyRd2cZkeOvc0kH2tGJK_ZQ7-4HUyAuTP9EDcRzJM6a5-WLrZy4ris73_QdJaSnr3n9RSHrbgMtuR9eIMqPiHw3Z2cNVqyBIShPjBi5Y/s400/adirondack5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Photo by: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">travelerguidance.blogspot.com</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Sea or lake vegetation is free and very easy to obtain if you live near a large body of water.</span></span></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-11438026028214338642012-07-15T11:37:00.000-04:002012-07-15T11:37:12.541-04:00Mirrors In The Garden?<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYaCHm8Kl0SmNNG2jY7Zqnb7C3My3D2d5B9A5BfbwKfFbwg-_KOlHssR3PTxVLsKjVLVoiTdK2y8cr01rymM447zDEhkXr3nfquauy58sRZWZSPMlzPEo9ozCUi6YgurHELNUgLgKmIWP/s1600/61220876154614298_6G0ZmjOJ_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYaCHm8Kl0SmNNG2jY7Zqnb7C3My3D2d5B9A5BfbwKfFbwg-_KOlHssR3PTxVLsKjVLVoiTdK2y8cr01rymM447zDEhkXr3nfquauy58sRZWZSPMlzPEo9ozCUi6YgurHELNUgLgKmIWP/s400/61220876154614298_6G0ZmjOJ_b.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Photo provided by:<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> blue-dreams-revisited.tumblr.com</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP4A-FrolpnVCSgWzcefGaNcUI94TmgPBirlycT2_Uw6xt6IoNLxAN1l-pZfdChmTmAzdesIH0cDpz0ufC5ymxZtenofhWFP5IXEAN4BHISel_HwFMlmZ37irUntgcVDORUgmOjAKCQWy/s1600/29554941274100850_BKw6pWvX_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP4A-FrolpnVCSgWzcefGaNcUI94TmgPBirlycT2_Uw6xt6IoNLxAN1l-pZfdChmTmAzdesIH0cDpz0ufC5ymxZtenofhWFP5IXEAN4BHISel_HwFMlmZ37irUntgcVDORUgmOjAKCQWy/s1600/29554941274100850_BKw6pWvX_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Photo provided by: houzz.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old mirrors can be used as focal points of interest or to provide reflective light for sun-starved plants in shady areas of your garden.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
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</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-11680007145595739492012-07-08T15:55:00.000-04:002012-07-08T15:55:55.698-04:00Recycling Mismatched Cups and Saucers In The Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFXKMPfrLhYStuyo7kXEYHxRHBGyFQJ4NLLoS9vtNf6I5ibz7C07xiM2T0jFn0pJOCwnAqFZz5F4Ll3xOhYW3-ukr6yXEtKmLgScxYGhuRMaBm124wzNVbmutilu7MmtMAWACsSJtEMV4/s1600/cup-and-saucer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFXKMPfrLhYStuyo7kXEYHxRHBGyFQJ4NLLoS9vtNf6I5ibz7C07xiM2T0jFn0pJOCwnAqFZz5F4Ll3xOhYW3-ukr6yXEtKmLgScxYGhuRMaBm124wzNVbmutilu7MmtMAWACsSJtEMV4/s400/cup-and-saucer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>http://lesserevil.com/blog/<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Old china (cups and saucers) can be used for a myriad of things such as bird feeder, bird bath, and butterfly watering containers. Thrift shops are my favorite way of obtaining these gems cheaply.</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-30790082683371991982012-07-07T15:55:00.000-04:002012-07-07T15:55:27.173-04:00Saturday Frugal Gardening tip: Reusing Window Screens In The Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7okTTaOXqEInsw7ISlzNCn7NeMhyi1NZn2WUpIm8UmboqFgdeCuyTTbGSk92A7l1xT5pqoHPbDPB0glcUEI7qEzvYyQbfph3i3gN5e1K35vnJcPjFWqViEvp5iMDN_7UPbMqZ3i5ZyXK/s1600/windowscreens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7okTTaOXqEInsw7ISlzNCn7NeMhyi1NZn2WUpIm8UmboqFgdeCuyTTbGSk92A7l1xT5pqoHPbDPB0glcUEI7qEzvYyQbfph3i3gN5e1K35vnJcPjFWqViEvp5iMDN_7UPbMqZ3i5ZyXK/s640/windowscreens.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Window screens can be used to help shade plants from harsh sun in the summer. They can also be used as a compost sifter or food dehydrator</b>.</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-4312430639695799632012-07-06T07:20:00.001-04:002012-07-06T07:23:47.676-04:00Unique idea for reusing tin can lids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEPOQ49rEhvtI0mOS3DfyIisr98Abt4G7xt436h_3X5qQvXfN3mBU9oKSS237WpENSutevoxWtZssrrPJ62D7K4f-7L8Rp_Mo0haYvVFy1z8uUWuI5q5DXrM5aotRf-AgO6bsDcETnVkW/s1600/Finished-Garden-Stakes-with.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEPOQ49rEhvtI0mOS3DfyIisr98Abt4G7xt436h_3X5qQvXfN3mBU9oKSS237WpENSutevoxWtZssrrPJ62D7K4f-7L8Rp_Mo0haYvVFy1z8uUWuI5q5DXrM5aotRf-AgO6bsDcETnVkW/s640/Finished-Garden-Stakes-with.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo: In My Own Style blog.</div><br />
<br />
Check out this creative<b> </b><a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/06/jewelry-for-your-garden.html" target="_blank">project by In My Own Style</a>.<br />
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<b>LOVE IT!!!!!!</b>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-42239701629666015082012-07-05T07:37:00.000-04:002012-07-05T07:37:51.324-04:00Turning Cinder Blocks into Outdoor Bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnAjM_R7qCdGs7AIEZvs160SJcMZ9eQaO8QDd1dTl1IiTklMt-o6NwK8z2mVOjs8Fh3zuW4oHy5DzaqUDltjCO7ehEXUtfk0vgSBaTi_j6E8SFKvoUt0IKiU_8TvKYoAhiyW0T_MR8Fde/s1600/89931323778619797Aijo6JkXc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnAjM_R7qCdGs7AIEZvs160SJcMZ9eQaO8QDd1dTl1IiTklMt-o6NwK8z2mVOjs8Fh3zuW4oHy5DzaqUDltjCO7ehEXUtfk0vgSBaTi_j6E8SFKvoUt0IKiU_8TvKYoAhiyW0T_MR8Fde/s320/89931323778619797Aijo6JkXc.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<b>I think this is an excellent way to re use cinder blocks. Can you say "FREE BENCH"?</b><br />
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<a href="http://indulgy.com/post/3oA2XX6KE1/outdoor-bench-made-from-cinder-blocks#/do/page/1" target="_blank">http://indulgy.com/post/3oA2XX6KE1/outdoor-bench-made-from-cinder-blocks#/do/page/1</a>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-11585416735765408332012-07-04T18:48:00.000-04:002012-07-04T18:48:54.570-04:00Turning Pallets into Gardening Furniture and More <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM5mVQfayaunaXI-0Pe4r8ra9zjXyZCJW0OqiGeyAuKkK_n01dBVL2LIakGgzzBY7RwXvl7v5yx1nTXUNJ8J-s6_qJYOev-n_PGcjEKqq4YO7EbOBF0KQucmal_wjdYelqUjroQE2yLg6/s1600/DIY-Succulent-Pallet-Table.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM5mVQfayaunaXI-0Pe4r8ra9zjXyZCJW0OqiGeyAuKkK_n01dBVL2LIakGgzzBY7RwXvl7v5yx1nTXUNJ8J-s6_qJYOev-n_PGcjEKqq4YO7EbOBF0KQucmal_wjdYelqUjroQE2yLg6/s320/DIY-Succulent-Pallet-Table.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Another D.I.Y. project to add to my ever growing "Things To Do" list. The hubby will be pleased!</b></span><br />
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Please view link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.homedit.com/another-diy-pallet-transformation-into-table/" target="_blank">http://www.homedit.com/another-diy-pallet-transformation-into-table/</a><br />
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</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-33160103053925231402012-07-03T07:38:00.000-04:002012-07-03T07:38:48.990-04:00Frugal Gardening Tip Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzRVel5J1yCItppDlYdFh_KZTt29kTF9kg_bq6tMMk7ZS-2QeVlEUPnGQDDXQ9CtyfXYscHFPI71Rv9wwiUVc1gWeYQhLW73Squ_-u-E4h_MQPqhps1EGjKF1nXOcxZXTc56scfe_txHm/s1600/IMG_1167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzRVel5J1yCItppDlYdFh_KZTt29kTF9kg_bq6tMMk7ZS-2QeVlEUPnGQDDXQ9CtyfXYscHFPI71Rv9wwiUVc1gWeYQhLW73Squ_-u-E4h_MQPqhps1EGjKF1nXOcxZXTc56scfe_txHm/s320/IMG_1167.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><b>Your kitchen is a great source for garden tools would be your kitchen.<br />
Come on, we all have utensils in our drawers we never use. Think of the<br />
new life they knives, forks and spoons can have as garden tools or markers.<br />
Those wooden spoons, potato mashers, serving spoon and that old blender<br />
can really make gardening easier and guess what? They are free.</b>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-62611559434766554622012-07-01T08:13:00.000-04:002012-07-01T08:13:55.534-04:00A Few Pictures From the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWYTBShGLgzOayfstD66EynxBjI4YDZCDSXS-H29ZpgE3z3EkaU5_wrk55XOghKB3jlcK5l22Sq8Cru4Z9OMJTatcUIK2FzmKPsW-jWLLwnX_7dVmPOr94keMcE6Egj5YI1rOkkkjSa3j/s1600/061311-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWYTBShGLgzOayfstD66EynxBjI4YDZCDSXS-H29ZpgE3z3EkaU5_wrk55XOghKB3jlcK5l22Sq8Cru4Z9OMJTatcUIK2FzmKPsW-jWLLwnX_7dVmPOr94keMcE6Egj5YI1rOkkkjSa3j/s1600/061311-16.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>"On every stem, on every leaf,... and at the root of everything that grew, was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar, aphis, or other expert, whose business it was to devour that particular part."</i> ~Oliver Wendell Holmes</b><br />
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Hello my gardening friends. I trust you are all well, staying cool and hydrated due to the high temperatures. I have excellent news. I finally have enough pictures to show you what is growing in my garden this year. Please keep in mind that I was in a rush so I used my cell phone camera so the images are bad (should have used the digital camera).<br />
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Shasta Daisy – Roots divisions were given to me by a co worker last spring. The roots grow rapidly so I was able to transplant them in several beds and gave some to friends. I have collected healthy seeds from the plants.<br />
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Sweet William – I received a sample package of seeds for $.25 two years ago. I sowed them last year and have collected seeds from the plants.<br />
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Lance leaf Coreopsis – This is the volunteer plant I wrote about in an earlier post. Although, it was only one plant, it produced a large number of seeds.<br />
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Ox Eye Daisy – I purchased seeds locally for about 50 cents. Great seed production. Very weedy though and extremely invasive.<br />
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Day Lilly – Came with the house purchase! We divide them every year and spread them around our yard. One of the hubby’s favorite.<br />
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Gloriosa Daisy – The plants were grown from seed, given to me by a friend. The plants produced a huge amount of seeds and the flowers are multi colored (red, yellow, magenta, orange and gold. I have to stake them because the stalks are thick and heavy.<br />
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Blanket Flower– Grown from seeds given to me by a friend. Modest seed production and the stalks are very weedy. However the flowers are gorgeous.<br />
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Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Lemon Balm and Okra, Thyme and Cayenne Pepper plants are in pots soaking up sun.<br />
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Mini Bell pepper plant grown from seed.<br />
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Well, I have to run. Until next time, happy gardening!<br />
<br />
Angela<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCAJ6PH3tEyKSltOosE_XkG6LGmB-eHYmX67wQ2Lmj4ZO8tuwq4XTPV3wTZ4-6r5fD2498SBsmcVJ_-OweRLHLz_j6uTdGtRr2KSIMwq8VFyzhMmouxHppV0Jnnej34tI01q49ivDG-0t/s1600/062211-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCAJ6PH3tEyKSltOosE_XkG6LGmB-eHYmX67wQ2Lmj4ZO8tuwq4XTPV3wTZ4-6r5fD2498SBsmcVJ_-OweRLHLz_j6uTdGtRr2KSIMwq8VFyzhMmouxHppV0Jnnej34tI01q49ivDG-0t/s640/062211-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_yBafsULgV3EiNd3oGagkjjJALoRQx59kmAwizixLc56YQEN1CMT0PeZH9Ix6HvhUDPooj8SyuKPQJSZDhY981ZTHMHQS95nl-RGr2J5v5f7juhDWp5JKVwgcvZLBV-Y7V_e6wsewOJI/s1600/072511-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_yBafsULgV3EiNd3oGagkjjJALoRQx59kmAwizixLc56YQEN1CMT0PeZH9Ix6HvhUDPooj8SyuKPQJSZDhY981ZTHMHQS95nl-RGr2J5v5f7juhDWp5JKVwgcvZLBV-Y7V_e6wsewOJI/s640/072511-44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-49256082574982710472012-06-25T12:53:00.000-04:002012-06-25T12:53:21.732-04:00A Gardening First for My Hubby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDqAncqgowpYbzNvlCF5OLBtfmMq6QaFRzFvdQ3BBqPZRiP4rR32-p7AXwmDX39Mi0tHc6ebjW-4KkDX7DxECAqXWWWKbdAAS6z8LKisSHE79QkFW8B5rdJf1nPowzyjVCRUdAM3BX0gP/s1600/tomato+seedling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDqAncqgowpYbzNvlCF5OLBtfmMq6QaFRzFvdQ3BBqPZRiP4rR32-p7AXwmDX39Mi0tHc6ebjW-4KkDX7DxECAqXWWWKbdAAS6z8LKisSHE79QkFW8B5rdJf1nPowzyjVCRUdAM3BX0gP/s320/tomato+seedling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<b><i>"Last night, there came a frost, which has done great damage to my garden.... It is sad that Nature will play such tricks on us poor mortals, inviting us with sunny smiles to confide in her, and then, when we are entirely within her power, striking us to the heart."</i> ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks</b><br />
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<br />
Hello Everyone,<br />
<br />
This has been an unusual week. There is so much going on but I am having loads of fun in the garden! I have to share a garden success scenario regarding the hubby (honey, if you are reading this, I just had to tell…sorry). My husband has successfully grown vegetable transplants (peppers, tomatoes, corn, cowpeas and beans). I am so proud of him because he has never grown anything…ever! He did this on his own, I did not advise him of the dos and don'ts for sowing seeds so I am very impressed. Not bad for a born and bred big city boy.<br />
<br />
We placed shade protectors over his newbies today due to the thunderstorms we have been receiving lately. Basically we reused the chicken wire cages I mentioned in an earlier post. I had a bunch of muslin I purchased several years ago for peanuts (for a quilting project) and anchored pieces over the cages. Very inexpensive, but effective. I have also used light colored tarps, cheesecloth, tall plants (sunflowers) and row covers in the past, but I am partial to the newest method.<br />
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I hope things are going well in your gardens!!!<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<br />
AngelaAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-76909845506482545702012-06-17T17:41:00.000-04:002012-06-17T17:41:38.692-04:00Happy Father's Day Fellow Gardeners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADF_Bir4Op7ECAU72oLWY2r3R_62IOplK4DFA-dOEl-fRbXb8eMgtZ3-wBp6M92CREUsizS-uCjkXDsK0CB_RvAfhfji33_U9_5ejWD9a5DuP9u2xLNrPDkp5kp6nDBpxJK5jESEC4u-y/s1600/Daiseys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADF_Bir4Op7ECAU72oLWY2r3R_62IOplK4DFA-dOEl-fRbXb8eMgtZ3-wBp6M92CREUsizS-uCjkXDsK0CB_RvAfhfji33_U9_5ejWD9a5DuP9u2xLNrPDkp5kp6nDBpxJK5jESEC4u-y/s320/Daiseys.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:ApplyBreakingRules/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt;">The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion</span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
Hello My Friends,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Father’s Day for any Dads who are reading this post…</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I hope all is well with you. I was watching our local news station a moment ago and was thrilled to learn we are going to have a few days of beautiful weather. Truly excellent for my plants and for my sanity I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also perfect for alfresco dining, so I am going to surprise the hubby with a special dinner cooked by yours truly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make sure I have a bottle of Pepto Bismol on stand by Mom, I promise. LOL. The menu will be as follows:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h1 style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Grilled Sirloin with Chimichurri Sauce</span></h1><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Sautéed Green Beans</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Herbed Roasted Potatoes</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Strawberry Shortcake</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Iced Lemonade with Sprigs of Mint</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It will be simple but I will be giving him what most men want, MEAT & POTATOES!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part is a majority of the ingredients are just outside my kitchen door grown from seeds and transplants I purchased last year (at an end of season sales, I might add). For example: Garlic, Oregano Parsley</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rosemary, Thyme and Basil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to place his favorite flowers (Shasta Daisy) on the table. I hope it turns out well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Until next time, happy gardening everyone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Angela</span></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-50899994828613285032012-06-10T17:17:00.001-04:002012-06-11T07:13:11.765-04:00A Less Than Miraculous Bag of Potting Mix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0faImTWotKa37XmxnoYY8Dju-9meka8_jsY29Zbxv4IgB4Y84ugDtz73tQQEbrI57eg_vtArgbZeDxMVs8TWuJalOFI8ZqV87S5P06zx1-OBxAYhM91R6BVQFVWyrO1YgouOD1HqSh0cu/s1600/seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0faImTWotKa37XmxnoYY8Dju-9meka8_jsY29Zbxv4IgB4Y84ugDtz73tQQEbrI57eg_vtArgbZeDxMVs8TWuJalOFI8ZqV87S5P06zx1-OBxAYhM91R6BVQFVWyrO1YgouOD1HqSh0cu/s640/seedlings.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest. <i>~Douglas William Jerrold, about Australia, A Land of Plenty</i></b><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Good afternoon everyone,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I trust you are all well and gardening happily. I’d like to thank everyone who expressed get well wishes during my brief convalescence. I am fairing much better and have joyfully resumed my activities in the garden. I am more cautious but not overly so. The hubby insists I wear more protective clothing because I am a “bug/arachnid magnet” but I think he is being a bit overprotective. LOL</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wanted to share a few incidents that occurred lately in my world. I picked up a few bags of potting mix from a home improvement store (I know it sounds like I am cheating but it was purchased with a gift card because I have been pressed for time lately-typically I make my own medium). The soil is manufactured by one of the largest garden supply companies in the country. The bags basically contained large wood pieces, weed seeds, fungus spores, gnats waiting to hatch and a minute amount of soil. I was livid and of course, I had to throw it away. I did a bit of research and found out many people are having problems like mine or worse. Not good. I won’t make that mistake again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I mentioned in a previous post about the benefits of utilizing your town’s compost resources. I have used several sites here to obtain free compost for my garden but a friend of mine found broken glass in her piling as she was transferring it to a container. It was disturbing because she rarely uses gardening gloves and she could have been seriously injured. I am not sure if the leaf donation bags were not checked properly last fall or if someone carelessly threw the shards in the pile but I will be using a homemade sifter I made from an old window screen from now on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, I have to run. Enjoy yours gardens!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Angela</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-57346170462387777832012-06-03T04:38:00.000-04:002012-06-03T04:38:57.484-04:00Spring Gardening and Another Spider Encounter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaBTDqK4p7lcYNzrWy4y-WsWY07Q8MqwPAXCSfoH_RO1oIjMv2AsfwAQp8Vx12Fp85aw4oR_1sGJcIjt8lzRrEkAdtEqN_hFLrGjKm1_r66KXnhU01wAHmVOpXvp12_Os9VWYlJ6O0_Z2/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaBTDqK4p7lcYNzrWy4y-WsWY07Q8MqwPAXCSfoH_RO1oIjMv2AsfwAQp8Vx12Fp85aw4oR_1sGJcIjt8lzRrEkAdtEqN_hFLrGjKm1_r66KXnhU01wAHmVOpXvp12_Os9VWYlJ6O0_Z2/s640/flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:ApplyBreakingRules/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<b><i>"I know that if odour were visible, as colour is, I'd see the summer garden in rainbow clouds."</i><br />
~Robert Bridges, "Testament of Beauty"</b><br />
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Good morning gardening friends,<br />
<br />
My garden is coming along slowly, but I am pleased with the transformation occurring as the season progresses. The temps here last week were pretty high for this area (at one time reaching 93 degrees). However, the high yesterday was only 65 degrees and I must admit a wonderful respite from the heat.<br />
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You know I love sharing my gardening experiences, both good and bad. Last week I had an unpleasant experience with a spider (a gardener’s best friend). I was kneeling on the ground trying to tidy up a small unused part of my garden (I am trying to create a shady garden corner) and experienced a sharp pain on my right calf.<br />
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As I looked down, I noticed a brown spider trying to retreat from the leg of my pants. I used a trowel to fend it off and noticed it looked familiar. I went inside to clean the bite and show my husband because I was bitten by a venomous spider a few years back and had a really bad reaction that required medical attention.<br />
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After that experience, he insisted on becoming an “arachnid expert” by researching venomous spiders for this area. Guess what, it was a yellow sac spider. Not as bad as the brown recluse spider, but still not good. They hide in dry, woody areas and this is where I encounter my spider.<br />
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I am receiving excellent care, trust me. I feel loads better and I am looking forward to returning to my garden today. Although I admit to having a fear of the little crawlies, spiders beware; you can’t keep this gardener down!!!<br />
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Until next time, take care of yourselves, my friends,<br />
<br />
Angela<br />
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P.S. For anyone interested, here’s a link with information about the spider: <a href="http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2060A.html" target="_blank">http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2060A.html</a>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-78465874070984404972012-05-21T14:00:00.000-04:002012-05-21T14:01:32.828-04:00Seed Harvesting and Pollinator Gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g2aKZbKWjhSbxO3zb4UeZqJJpZj05MKSbvLnZQtQoxlRsi44oGYBAqi5FEj1O68Qr5RGrZACHQqt2aeqG7qnMZTbkDlqN1zbKWZSXGZmbaXKa3vyN8f8Ynq9cEiPtUd9q922e3KS6An_/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g2aKZbKWjhSbxO3zb4UeZqJJpZj05MKSbvLnZQtQoxlRsi44oGYBAqi5FEj1O68Qr5RGrZACHQqt2aeqG7qnMZTbkDlqN1zbKWZSXGZmbaXKa3vyN8f8Ynq9cEiPtUd9q922e3KS6An_/s640/butterfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>"I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green."</i> ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from and Old Manse</b> </div>
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Hello Gardening Friends,</div>
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I hope everything is going well with your gardens and that you all are
enjoying their beauty and bounty. We have finally got warm weather in
or region and I am enjoying it immensely.<br />
<br />
I had a chance to go through my garden journals for past seasons and
reminisced about hand-pollinating squash blossoms one year because I
didn’t plant enough flowers and herbs to entice pollinators to my
garden. It was a very time consuming experience. I know, silly me. So
of course, the next year I planted flowers like cosmos, sunflowers,
daisies, yarrow, asters, alyssum, lupine, phlox, zinnias, Sweet William
and Black-eyed Susans to attract bees. I also planted several types of
milkweed, ironweed, dill, oregano, parsley, fennel and lemon mint to
draw in butterflies and wasps. I purchased all the seeds at end of
season sales from two seed companies for only $8.60. It was a great deal for
me because I harvest the seeds from those plants every year and take
advantage of the added benefit of having a beautiful, heavily-pollinated
garden.<br />
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Well, I have to close for now. Thanks for dropping by and happy gardening!<br />
<br />
Angela<br />
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<br /></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-69459343527680526532012-05-12T14:42:00.000-04:002012-05-12T14:42:31.748-04:00A Mother's Day Tribute to My Two Favorite Gardeners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-UMrLBH52aR-LzICgDc-dmGPmql5WpgzfUR2456x53879FOl_TebzF_PVEpK-SLp7Hm2iv7l2qwvpD_jUfNB_fXMAP7UtZ_8IC8R0bcfcVCdiOLj_ReOlYYMWS3V4GJ3h4mfksDao7dr/s1600/mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-UMrLBH52aR-LzICgDc-dmGPmql5WpgzfUR2456x53879FOl_TebzF_PVEpK-SLp7Hm2iv7l2qwvpD_jUfNB_fXMAP7UtZ_8IC8R0bcfcVCdiOLj_ReOlYYMWS3V4GJ3h4mfksDao7dr/s320/mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />Greetings my fellow gardeners. I typically don’t share much about my family but in honor of Mother’s Day I’d like to mention two extraordinary women: my grandmother Anna and mother Cynthia. <br /><br />My grandmother Anna was a generous, thoughtful and caring woman. She was also my greatest teacher about both life and nature. She loved spending hours upon hours outdoors faithfully caring for her plants and teaching her grandchildren to respect and love all things. I can still hear her talking and quietly humming to ailing plants under her care. I would describe her as a plant healer.<br /><br />My mother Cynthia is a vibrant, vivacious and big-hearted lady who enjoys life and loves her family fiercely. She has sacrificed so much to keep her family happy and together. She is also the best indoor gardener (houseplants)! Her specialty is African violets but like my grandmother she is also excellent at plant propagation. My mother is also a great poet and I have listed one of her poems below (dedicated to my grandmother), which was published in a book of poetry. I love you both!<br /><br />Happy Mother's Day to you all out there in the blogsphere and enjoy your special day!<br /><br />Angela<br /><br />Mom's poem:<br /><br /><br />THE GIFT FROM MY GRANDMOTHER<br /><br />Another year is beginning <br />In my Grandmother's life for me to see<br />That God has given her more time on this Earth <br />To teach me to be:<br />The Giver of Love<br />The Passer of knowledge and wisdom<br />The Teacher of morals and values<br />The Believer of faith; and to have <br />The Strength of face my fears<br />The Ability to give and to show love<br />The Courage to fight my pain;<br />And to know that life does not <br />Go on forever<br />When I can put all these things<br />Into play<br />And know that when it comes time for my<br />Life to end<br />I will know that death will<br />Be nothing<br />But another adventure into Peace<br /> </span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-14504336295041248362012-05-05T14:58:00.002-04:002012-05-05T14:58:39.929-04:00A Great Birthday Week and a Gardening Pest Tip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI6OIAHvO6ddQ1rSvHgIGV4k7mhbMTvki2_byRiOPpC4pZrAGyj2K1Veq_W3vi4pprAHWGvfKCfYE38lzgHmLEAPd4pKDl2sGaSPIybUJDhbWYonmSwVTJUSYkwU-pKbTYoH0T2i2X7vn/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI6OIAHvO6ddQ1rSvHgIGV4k7mhbMTvki2_byRiOPpC4pZrAGyj2K1Veq_W3vi4pprAHWGvfKCfYE38lzgHmLEAPd4pKDl2sGaSPIybUJDhbWYonmSwVTJUSYkwU-pKbTYoH0T2i2X7vn/s640/flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b> "Science, or para-science, tells us that geraniums bloom better if they are spoken to. But a kind word every now and then is really quite enough. Too much attention, like too much feeding, and weeding and hoeing, inhibits and embarrasses them."</b></i> <b>~Victoria Glendinning</b><br /></div>
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Greetings everyone,<br /><br />I hope things are going well and you are enjoying the beautiful weather and your gardens. I had an excellent week and wanted to share my activities. My birthday was earlier this week and I received an arrangement from my mother/family and an azalea shrub from a co-worker (both pictured above). They were a very pleasant surprise considering the first thing to greet me at my desk in the morning is typically a mound of paperwork and notes from my colleagues! It was an amazing day.<br /><br />I finally got a chance to go outside for a couple of hours today to observe things and so far, we do not have any dandelions growing in the lawn and no squirrel damage to my potted plants. YES!!! I know, I will knock on wood for now. <br /><br />I also observed the antics of a robin red breast and a cardinal sitting on the passenger side mirror of our car looking at their reflections and I realized I don’t have a special spot in my garden for birds. So, I found a shady spot and I am working on hanging a small mirror with a wooden piece attached for perching. This spot receives no sunlight, so I am not worried about harsh reflective light which may cause the birds to crash into the mirror and injure themselves. Does anyone have any advice to share?</div>
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Just in case anyone is having problems with soft-bodied insects
(like aphids) that are using your plants as a nursery, a great natural
insecticidal soap can be made by adding a tablespoon of Murphy's Oil
Soap to about a quart of water. Just pour into a spray bottle, shake
well and spritz your plant's leaves, being sure to pay special attention to the underside, where the little crawlies tend to lay eggs.</div>
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<br />Well, it’s time to return to the safe haven of my garden. Thank you for stopping by, take care of yourselves and until next time…happy gardening!<br /><br />Angela</div>
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<br /></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-31398313627808090882012-04-28T16:23:00.001-04:002012-04-28T16:25:01.800-04:00Winter Weather in the Spring and Flea Market Garden Finds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnB8qkHHYbk6qgI5A4zEmchP9ph9U-Vb8547KGt1RJ9a9lSLODmZW6e5JCXYm4geHdBZSe7uOpmukRjIfTwJKjYTW-qG1KiXZcJKTA3nkzMoUOorqjcyMVGsI1mz0RQ704v-mOgBhuSJg/s1600/statue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnB8qkHHYbk6qgI5A4zEmchP9ph9U-Vb8547KGt1RJ9a9lSLODmZW6e5JCXYm4geHdBZSe7uOpmukRjIfTwJKjYTW-qG1KiXZcJKTA3nkzMoUOorqjcyMVGsI1mz0RQ704v-mOgBhuSJg/s640/statue2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b> "The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden, Than anywhere else on earth". </b></i><b>~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"</b><br />
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Greeting Fellow Gardening Friends,<br />
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I hope your gardening endeavors are going well for you. As you probably know, the Northeast saw a late season Nor-Easter, and for the past week our area has experienced freezing temperatures, snow, rain and high winds. Definitely not the norm but not unexpected either for this area. I have received calls from several acquaintances asking for advice on how to save plants from the ravages ofthe storm and how to heal damaged plants. It has been a strange week.<br />
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To brighten up things a bit, I decided to share a favorite recipe that I found a while back (it is really good and simple) and to show you pictures of a few finds from our treasure hunting excursions for the garden. The recipe is at the end of this post.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgnmdybi6HGSceRpr9To0t_trsAnrUTTULNIgnGDiu7uFqIwFbCkm1MNEIXPLdXR1BfiRUk38Tk1Yn1eeGVDVYK_e6QQXmfAQcT__LUYRMhjL9Tyr1xlqtJew5idqXQt6hsAqflwu3WgN/s1600/vase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgnmdybi6HGSceRpr9To0t_trsAnrUTTULNIgnGDiu7uFqIwFbCkm1MNEIXPLdXR1BfiRUk38Tk1Yn1eeGVDVYK_e6QQXmfAQcT__LUYRMhjL9Tyr1xlqtJew5idqXQt6hsAqflwu3WgN/s200/vase.jpg" width="183" /></a><br />
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This large, beautiful glass vase (18" high x 14" wide) was found in a
thrift store and I only paid $5.99 for it. I plan to put sunflowers or
gladiolus in it later in the season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXIXUsbYRveF8EFYN_GX6tu6gfU4t6rCpx7wZDY447mP71KC_kcDs6Cv9jUhGDa8m7YsxdKIK9PqjKOjOw6Eqnqh3gkaqtWvUVML86crYWcJyyPuMirKPA0AAas5o7JJphAHv4O08d-Lk/s1600/statue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXIXUsbYRveF8EFYN_GX6tu6gfU4t6rCpx7wZDY447mP71KC_kcDs6Cv9jUhGDa8m7YsxdKIK9PqjKOjOw6Eqnqh3gkaqtWvUVML86crYWcJyyPuMirKPA0AAas5o7JJphAHv4O08d-Lk/s320/statue1.jpg" width="247" /></a><br />
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My husband found this terra cotta Saint Francis (the Catholic patron saint of nature) statue at a resale shop. It is almost 3-feet tall (35”) and we paid $40 for it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRjabyhud0dY1Axz13zRjDWiaSTVFbVmce6fzD2ob6A2WUzeBw7NnC2D11qZls3-b40fDt3uKtYWp1N6-Y0y0rhp5I7YJ9eGwQgzGXIKrIFNzytDDj1F1XlEX76LPYWP13xqEnNM4b2DC/s1600/weedbarrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRjabyhud0dY1Axz13zRjDWiaSTVFbVmce6fzD2ob6A2WUzeBw7NnC2D11qZls3-b40fDt3uKtYWp1N6-Y0y0rhp5I7YJ9eGwQgzGXIKrIFNzytDDj1F1XlEX76LPYWP13xqEnNM4b2DC/s320/weedbarrier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also got a 150-foot long roll of weed barrier at a thrift store for only $3.00.</div>
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Anyway...that's all for now. Happy gardening!<br />
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Angela<br />
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P.S. <span style="font-size: large;">Farfalle with Spinach and Peas</span> (by Kay Chun, Real Simple, MAY 2003)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrdfZ5BqB_XzmyCA1YC2qA92jGDKvePm-kNQjS-wUMCgNVNCJees_7n3149RuQN5PnNJMfHNo0WfrEBA3_It0bpmOkfmHShMiQMFQnJmYZVpgTw4c8HCY0dZYCUSLgV8OanqPuWV__4rd/s1600/r_175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrdfZ5BqB_XzmyCA1YC2qA92jGDKvePm-kNQjS-wUMCgNVNCJees_7n3149RuQN5PnNJMfHNo0WfrEBA3_It0bpmOkfmHShMiQMFQnJmYZVpgTw4c8HCY0dZYCUSLgV8OanqPuWV__4rd/s1600/r_175.jpg" /></a></div>
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• 12 ounces (4 cups) farfalle <br />
• 1 tablespoon olive oil <br />
• 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, torn into 1-inch pieces <br />
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced <br />
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced <br />
• 1/3 cup frozen peas <br />
• 1 5-ounce package fresh baby spinach <br />
• Black pepper <br />
• 4 ounces Feta, crumbled <br />
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn <br />
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Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2
cup of the cooking water. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium
heat while the pasta cooks. Add the prosciutto and cook until crisp,
about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.<br />
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Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until
softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in
the peas, spinach, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the cooked pasta, Feta,
and reserved pasta water. Cook, stirring, until the spinach wilts.
Remove from heat and fold in the cooked prosciutto.<br />
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Divide among individual bowls and top with the basil. <br />
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Amount per serving <br />
• Calories: 455 Calories from fat: 22% Fat: 11g Saturated fat: 5g Cholesterol: 33mg <br />
• Sodium: 755mg Carbohydrate: 68g Fiber: 4g Sugars: 3g Protein: 19g <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-8966782983795254992012-04-17T07:15:00.000-04:002012-04-17T07:15:25.237-04:00Squirrels in the Garden and Ways to Deter Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfZHjTAYS6XX2jNGb0eaPh6Z-0IH3RwfCdGDmNx5IC8Q6rhM5zXUBFlh93k0_9zJs_xeKVpz5YkiGeZbhKHWS7qWFVe7IlcSNT2TFY9ZH9ghyphenhyphenoaJrvNd2hvcWA2HGxEXij6zpIzQF0A0Q/s1600/squirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfZHjTAYS6XX2jNGb0eaPh6Z-0IH3RwfCdGDmNx5IC8Q6rhM5zXUBFlh93k0_9zJs_xeKVpz5YkiGeZbhKHWS7qWFVe7IlcSNT2TFY9ZH9ghyphenhyphenoaJrvNd2hvcWA2HGxEXij6zpIzQF0A0Q/s640/squirrel.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.</em> ~Mirabel Osler</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Greetings Everyone,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I trust your weekend went well. I placed more of my transplants outside yesterday because the conditions were quite lovely (68 degrees and partly sunny). They are happily adjusting to their new surroundings but I was reminded about a major problem I experienced last year (grey squirrels) and pondered about humane measures I should take this year to deter them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like most gardeners, I have to deal with a major problem in my garden (stray cats, moths and squirrels are the leading three for me). This is the year of the squirrel…again. They are nesting in nearby trees have numerous food sources (an abundance of walnut trees) and are getting a little too comfortable. The problem: hoarding nuts in my potted plants by digging up my babies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watching one squirrel try to shove a huge nut underneath our back storm door for safe storage was funny and my husband finding another nut tucked behind the bend in a gutter downspout left us both scratching our heads and laughing about the things these little guys will do to hide their stash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, they are cute and their antics can be entertaining, but they can also be destructive. And although I love wildlife and will occasionally sacrifice plants to help supplement any animal’s diets or self preservation, NOT THIS YEAR. There is so much space in the back of our property not being utilized because of the squirrels and I think it is high time to call in some reinforcements, including:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Heavily mulching the pots with screened straw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Planting natural deterrents such as nasturtiums, marigold and alliums as borders</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Placing pieces of wire mesh or window screening around the base of the plants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Using some type of thorny plant material around the base of the plants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Creating small cages out of recycled wood and chicken wire fencing we have on hand</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think I may have some success with these methods, but only time will tell. Until next time, happy gardening!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Angela</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. The corn gluten meal is really working so far. The grass is healthy and we only had three dandelions pop up.</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869596781823908683.post-70683695635149341472012-04-09T20:29:00.000-04:002012-04-09T20:29:02.385-04:00An Enjoyable Weekend in the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFGP7m4zezQ3rDwowwdbC0YSyVvkr2m2yuLRNZQwcGUpFmrCquLaaKJvk9-C93LRrwI6MWKLinCh2187kKkT2SBE-RM0njVEeZEYuoyj0RpM9jsc7NlG4-_EiWvzmA8QrA3sV1rfnQqVd/s1600/spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFGP7m4zezQ3rDwowwdbC0YSyVvkr2m2yuLRNZQwcGUpFmrCquLaaKJvk9-C93LRrwI6MWKLinCh2187kKkT2SBE-RM0njVEeZEYuoyj0RpM9jsc7NlG4-_EiWvzmA8QrA3sV1rfnQqVd/s640/spring.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination. ~Mrs. C.W. Earle, Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden, 1897</strong></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
I am so content right now because of the beautiful weather and positive experiences I had this past weekend. After searching for an active community garden for years, I found one a block away from my home. It is relatively small and is tended by a lovely couple who have generously donated a small plot of their yard for the garden. Naturally, I offered to donate a few hours a week, some supplies and of course seeds for their garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a chance to work in the garden today with my husband (a miracle, I know). We sawed up the tree I mentioned in a previous post and cut back our invasive 8-feet-tall Japanese knotweed (often mistaken for bamboo) that the previous owner of our house generously introduced to the backyard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also noticed several of our neighbors yards have dandelions showing up. Not good. We applied corn gluten meal to our lawn a few weeks ago and hopefully our grass will be healthy enough to deter them. We divided Shasta daisy plants and day lilies to give to my BFF Randy for his family’s new garden. Busy day, but it was wonderful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The hubby and I found some great items in a newly opened thrift store yesterday for our garden and he suggested I start including pictures and ideas in my future posts. As you know, I love a bargain and like introducing new ornaments to my garden. A great idea I think and because I have the hankering to cook lately (hubby is the active cook in our home), I am going to include pictures of my experiments and recipes. But please don't be too criticalgo easy on me, since I'm not much of a cook (remember, I was outside playing in the dirt and climbing trees while my mom and grandmother were in the kitchen). LOL. :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I hope you have a great week and thank you for reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Angela</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. I have included a link for more information about knotweed here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.sleloinvasives.org/about-invasives/target-species/japanese-knotweed/" target="_blank">http://www.sleloinvasives.org/about-invasives/target-species/japanese-knotweed/</a></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14614391502032930541noreply@blogger.com15