Rockin' Robin

Just a picture update of our garden' progress. No blooms on the sunflowers yet... The birds wanted to show their love, and waiting patiently for the seeds, so inside of beautiful blooms, I have birds! There were a couple families out there today loving each other. It was really kind of adorable, just sitting with the kitchen door open and listening to them. Such beautiful little songs they have for us. The doves were there yesterday, four couples of them, nestled in the bark. Mik and I were listening to them as well. So sweet when my honey asked if he had heard an owl. They get often mistaken for each other. He didn't seem all that surprised though. I love doves.

 We're patiently waiting for the garden lately. I want so badly for those things to bloom, but I just can't wait. Its seeing all my favorite flowers growing, and easily these sunflowers are growing on the north side of seven feet tall! Still nothing. I will await them longer still, but I can't give up hope. I just want them to get there with their tiny little buds. They'll get there. Our birdies and I will continue to encourage them!

Meanwhile, the caterpillar eggs from our friendly little butterfly has hatched. This one will make you all smile. These are our stages of caterpillar! 1-3. The next stage is a cocoon! Lets go Pillars! And in addition, some of our porch garden pictures.

Stage 1: There are several of these guys on the plant varying in size. These are the most tiny. Starting from that size, to about a quarter of the tip of my finger. Forefinger, not thumb. Sadly, Simon was eaten by a bird, so this leaves only the new babies at this size, since Alvin has moved on too.....

Stage 2: ALVIN! His first day of Stage two, and his little puttum feets! Munch away little guy! You have to catch up to Theodore, who has moved on to....

Stage 3: The Big Daddy

Bigger everyday! We're rooting for you pillar!

And for a finisher! Our garden as of late.

 Grow, grow little garden

Sunflower!

Guys, its happened!!!

The sunflower is blooming! So Proud of my little baby! I'm gonna have to take it outside to get it pollinated. Makes me realize how little I know about flowers. Does it need another sunflower around to get pollen-ed? Will it make seeds without more sunflowers near by? Darn you bees for not listening.

The First Melon!

For those of you who don't get that, its from Ice Age, or rather the 'last melon' is from Ice Age. Anyway! The point remains that I am in awe and have become quite jolly! I produce before you! The first planted pots of 2011!


Very exciting, VERY exciting indeed! Mom produced me with some dirt. I would have bought it myself, but as we are all well aware,... I'm cheap. Plus I forgot that I could acquire some from my friendly neighborhood garden providers. They have a mountain of dirt that currently has no home or plant to cover until I get the remaining leaves cleaned out of the area.

Speaking of them by the way, I mentioned to mom that perhaps since she's going through yard withdrawal as well, that I'm sure she'd be welcomed to join me on a weekend to bring the Emma-pie and let her play whilst she aids me in the garden. They are such wonderful people those Morton's. I honestly want to repay them by making what I think will be a grand garden for them. I think she wants to plant an actual garden with potatoes, which is something I would love to do, but in order to do that I think we'd have to find a different plot. The current plot providers aren't into growing root veggies I think.




Nice and tall those sunflowers are. I wish they'd hold off just a wee bit longer, I have to wait another two weeks before they go into the ground and all. I would prefer if they'd get more stocky rather than taller, but they are already growing a second pair of leaves! Those in the middle there are the cumin, looking very nice and healthy. They didn't make it into the pot today. Only the basil managed that feat, though I did plant, in that short snubby pot, some chives! I new attempt. Anyway, the little ones are the strawberries, finally getting on their way. They are three where they once were only two and I'm so pleased. The poor man's weather glass, they are doing alright but I still need some research done on those. Make sure they aren't climbers.

Alls looking great people! Can't wait to keep a weather eye on the horizon for those baby chives (Nicky has some accidental ones in her garden, lol), and get this garden off to a better start than spring is!

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Garden Bunny

First Day of Spring!!

Its awe inspiring! It's amazing! It's... SUPER SEED! It's almost like having my very own present for the first day right? I mean its so huge and strong looking. This one is a sunflower. One of TWO sunflowers that have popped forth from their tray. I'm so proud. I try really hard every year to put myself down and tell myself my first sprouts are no way going to actually sprout so that when they do, BAM! I'm all excited, but somehow, I had an inkling about this group of seeds. I mean they are as excited to get into the ground as I am to put them there!

Speaking of, I took a before picture of the garden spot that was so wonderfully provided to me, tada! A perfect spot if I do say so myself! I have already pulled those whitish yellow reed things. I had aid from the most adorable little gardeners. Sarah, Jonathan, and Emma. Sarah was more interested in the spiky plant that I couldn't get out of the ground without first getting myself some garden gloves, but I think it was because it was the only plant I wouldn't let her fiddle with. Jonathan and Emma preferred the leaf raking part. It looks nicer now, but next is the huge rock removal.

Very VERY! Exciting.

Oh and then of course, as of yesterday we began the next step of our gardening. The house plants. First it was to farm and fleet to gather some peat pellet replacements, the the window box after it was all arranged. That of course was the planning phase, but the other side of the box was arranged like thus, from left to right: Spice Basil, Cumin, Poor Man's Weather Glass, and Strawberries! That's right I tried out the cumin. Mom thinks its best to do only the herbs right now. She claims its too early yet for flowers and that they might get wind shock. Not that they are going out of doors, but you know. Anyway! That was my exciting first day of spring, how was yours?!

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The Happy Tine!

Shopping!

Oh how I love Farm and Fleet. Its like this wondrous little place that carries everything that would ever make me happy. Yes I know sounds weird to be swooned by a warehouse department store, but they are the only people I know who carry the new year's seeds. So with that lead, I'm sure we all understand what I am about to start chattering about. SEEDS! I mean 40% off on sale! It was great. And a 50% off on the seed pod trays. Extremely exciting. SO! This year's seeds, or at least this rounds seeds:



Top Row, Left to Right: Lemon Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Sweet Basil, Spicy Globe Basil, Curly Parsley

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Herbal Strawberry, Bellflowers, and Bunny Tails!!!

I mean how cute is that? Now I've been told I have to wait until Easter before planting, at least that's what mom claims, but you can bet I won't be waiting that long. I have pots outside the boxes in storage and such. I think she's more worried though. See our cousin just moved and she now has a yard and porch... On that note of this new year of planting coming along she is talking about moving again for us. She wants a porch too, and a yard for my herbing. Hahaha. Well that sounds great and all but it won't stop me from starting basil plant one as soon as this Christmas Tree goes away.

Don't get me wrong I'd love to move, but it doesn't mean I'll wait for it to happen before returning to my green thumbed ways.

Not the best night...

Well, today sucked. I spent the day at work, which I love, only to come home tonight and find that someone had broken into my mail that was sitting in front of my door. It was this little package torn apart and emptied, left in a disheveled heap in the hallway. As you can imagine, having one's rather expensive present stolen by a mean MEAN! person, has put me in a really right mood, but I tried, I really did try to brighten up. Thus is what I attempted to do in order to feel better.


I think its nice. Its a tiny tea box which I intend to stain despite its size. I think its pretty. And it keeps my teas nice and safe. So ha to those who are looking to steal my garden.

Preparing for January

Alrighty guys! So I don't know if I mentioned this to you guys, but I've been cleaning up the room a bit, reorganizing it for the new plans of becoming an herb gardener. First Aloe plant has been placed in a nice, not in direct sunlight place, and has been given one of the food sticks that I give to all my plants. Hopefully that will help him through the winter months, since there are only so many of them. Hehehe. Cheating I know. But still! And I have begun preparing soil for growing the parsley. Apparently mine got kind of dry and chunky in the closet, so I'm turning in healthy soil with the dry stuff and when January comes, bet your feeties I'm gonna plant me a parsley.

Welcome to the Family!!!

That's right, the Aloe Vera has come home to live with me! We have named him Doug. And he's a perfectly lovely little plant with five tentacles and a brand new little bud. Though it is considered winter and the herb manual says that during he winter all I'm suppose to do is once a week squirt the spines with water. It ha some character to it this plant, with a growth on the biggest of them from being placed in extreme sunlight. Or at least that's what was being said about it. I'm not too certain that Illinois gets extreme sunlight, but he'll enjoy it here I hope. I cleaned off the little spines when I got it home and measured the longest one to monitor it's progress. 10 inches from base to end of the longest tip. Very cool. Lets hope I don't kill it right off the bat.

Hello Oxygen!

For those of you who don't know, I have been battling with a rather nasty chest virus lately and this afternoon I finally met with my old and dearest friend OXYGEN! The family and I, after our glorious soccer game, traveled to Starved Rock State Park, it was extremely amazing to have all that oxygen provided by all our wonderful trees. Very nice to finally be able to breath like a normal person again.

Anyway, on to the big news!!! The Dwarf Incredibles... have blossomed!! That's right after leaving them in window to soak up as much sun as possible after the sun decided to start rising too early to get them out for their normal doses. It was great! It is great! Look at the little petals and its first tiny stamen things are extruding pollen. Its greatness!!! They are beautiful. Now you should also know that I am going on vacation starting Monday afternoon (can't miss Sunday night football), and heading to my brother's house for the week. I do enjoy those visits, but sadly it means that while I am gone I must leave the glorious garden in the care of Emma and her mother. They are good gardeners, I get my own slightly greenish tinted thumb from her, but she also doesn't have much time in the morning to be taking them out all the time. Hopefully the sunflowers continue to release their little stamen things and get even bigger. So far there is 2 blooms, hopefully with will get the last third one.

Also, the lack of sun has claimed another life, the savory is has passed on as well as the nasturtiums. They just couldn't be coaxed into surviving, but there is one more of the nasturtium plants left and its quite healthy. We'll try new savory after Christmas is over. Mom says anything that dies before Christmas can't be replaced because the table I've been using for the garden is the table we use for the tree. Our apartment being so tiny and everything. Anyway, time to baby my babies and prepare them for the night, wash the sill so they can go back out there and then wash there indoor trays so they are ready for their mommy's vacation.

A Distinct Lack of Sun

yes that's right people, its become that time of year where my plants are starting to lose about an hour and a half of sun per day and let me tell you its certainly showing in the nasturtiums. Its very distracting to see my plants get more and more droop in their step because of the stupid coming winter. I'm either going to have to invest in some kind of plant light for the poor things or there must be some other way to convince them its not time to die. I will not give in!!!

Anyway this morning, after dealing with a prolonged sore throat (bleh!), I finally got around to sitting down with my ever enthusiastic sister to jar the dry basil. I must say, it was certainly a better location to dry them in the cool, dark closet rather than in the living room on my lamp. Sometimes I wonder just what I was thinking, but then again this is my less than green thumb we are talking about and its basically useless when it comes to the facts of tending to basil. And ever MORE ambitious me, actually got around to finally hanging the basil plant that had been reduced to a stand for the morning glory that never REALLY did anything bit wrap itself like a python around the poor thing. Distracting. So I finally hung that basil and chucked the morning glory and its awful clay pot into the dumpster in my parking lot. About time! I'm finally rid of clay pots. I think I have finally learned my lesson about them, they are only good for smashing.

I also, was inspired by my mother of all people, the one who complains that 'my yard' has gotten too big, asked me to plant some more basil. As you can tell, this is a house of basil. Its the one plant I have managed to never REALLY mess up despite my green thumb flaws. I'm still monitoring the cress and savory with a bit of zeal. I am really hoping they work, but I think that this cress is summer cress and its under the impression that I am trying to hoodwink it. The savory I bought was winter savory, so they take forever to grow, but they can deal with the winter weather as long as they are indoors. At least that's the impression I get from its name. Perhaps I should do some more reading in the great big book of herbs.

Oh and so that everyone knows the update on the flowers! The sunflower buds are actually getting on rather well. They are about the size of a nickel now and they still haven't opened yet. I have never grown the kind with traditional sunflower seeds, so this experience is new for me. The Teddy Bear Sunflowers, fuzzy and cute as they were, had not real seeds and their blooms never got bigger than about half the size of my palm, which I believe for sunflowers is rather small. These new sunnies are suppose to get full sized heads on their shoulders, so I'm waiting and measuring in anticipation.

Mystery plant is growing quite well. I spoke with my greener half the other day (Nicky, my cousin with the garden of greatness), and she was talking about how she also would like to attempt sunflowers and I narrowly talked her into Mammoth Russians. Though she has decided that she would like to try, instead, something smaller first, and might attempt the Autumn Beauty variety that I was attempting earlier this year. They were far too big for my window. Speaking of! I had a Autumn Beauty, growing in the Dwarf Incredible pot that I had been working on so I had to pull it. I have discovered though, thanks to curiosity, that my rabbit, Pebble, thinks that are fairly tasty sprouts and she was snuffling about for more of them after I'd given her a small bowlful. Sometimes sprouts are just meant for a bunny mouth.

Alright, time for some relaxing yoga and a compress for my chest so that I can maybe breath later on today. Stupid cold!

Compost

So today was composting day. I finally took the long passed Baby Blue Eyes to the dirt bag to let their roots free, as well as the remaining dirt from the basil pot that we recently cut and hung. It reminded me that I need to check on the basil to see how it was drying. Its doing quite well. I mean its not quite dry yet, but the leaves have mostly all begun to droop and the use of my closet, dark and cool as it is, has kept the scent and flavor of the herb well contained within the leaves, just like the book said to do.

It was a very inactive day today for the plants, but they did get their necessary sunlight. I discovered the reason the Blue Eyes didn't make it is because the pot wasn't properly draining and indeed drowned the poor things. We should try again with them later, but I think we might wait until the nasturtiums have passed so that there aren't too many flowering plants in the house. I think I need a new method instead of using the pebbles in the pot to keep it from flooding, if anyone else has any suggestions I might be able to use?

Anyway I thought I might pass this on since I was reading last night and came across a particularly interesting and very useful tip for those of you like me. If anyone else has read "Romancing the Ordinary," their section for September is quite revealing about sleeping issues cured easily by herb packets! Sounds perfect for me and I think this weekend I might go about gathering some lavender for just the job. Make a pouch and hang it over your bed is suppose to help you stay asleep at night and always relaxes muscles enough to relieve leg cramps that you might have in the night. Very useful tip. And one I will be using shortly as I wander off to bed.

The Day of Labor

A day to be celebrated, I'm sure, so I will be doing so at work. Yes, that's right, I'm updating from work. Though I am rather disappointed in myself for having forgotten to take my plants out to their window sill this morning and am now in a desperate frenzy to contact the celebrating masses to please move them so that they might get all the sunlight they deserve. There should be some kind of punishment for people who forget to move their plants, like if they can't have food, neither can I! Hopefully though this won't be a rule until later because I am one hungry bunny. I wish I knew a proper herb I could use to reduce hunger cravings, but sadly no, I do not, so we'll have to continue the onward struggle to grow great smelling plants without eating constantly.

Anyway, since I'm at work this morning I thought it would be nice to instead of updating on my poor sun deprived plants, instead show you all something fancy that I did with my house dwellers the other day. This goes to prove that you don't have to have living plants to make fancy arrangements.


All you need for this little number is!: A fancy pants wine glass, or in this case something from the dollar store will do quite nicely, and two dried sunflowers. That's it! Now in this case they are teddy-bear sunflowers grown from the beginning of April until late last month. They were a lovely little addition to my garden and I was sad to see them depart their vibrant yellows and puffy bumble bee like fluff, but in this case, they are beautiful even in death. The sunflowers are averaged to grow to only 24 inches, but anyone who has seen my apartment knows that that is too big, but luckily! They only grew to approx. 8 to 12, with very nice twin blooms on both sides. I had two pots of them, and one of the pots followed the seed packets averages perfectly, twin blooms and mature length, but the other had some kind of strange mutation. It was growing blooms directly from the stem and there were at least four at a time just off the stem never even branching out at all. Anyway, they certainly were beautiful. After I dried them though, they certainly made some interesting photographs and has made me proud to say that these flowers did their duty by me to make me smile even after departing from my window sill.

A Little Something New

Alright everyone. I suppose that its time that I did something different than sitting around and trying to make things change by simply complaining about them, so I've decided that first I am starting here. This first step is one in the right direction. Its not healthy to try being something you aren't and its certainly not the way to go about things by saying absolutely nothing at all, so! I'm here to take a healthy step in the right direction. Yeah my life is hectic, but who's insist in their own way, so why dwell on that when you can use those experiences that attack you like a fierce lion to move on and grow stronger. Better yet, just find your happy place and let that help you towards moving to better places. So I am going to make this my happy place numero uno!

My unconventional garden. Sure I'm living in a tiny little apartment, but that isn't stopping me from the one that thing that keeps my sanity from the evil clutches of what I will now simply call, WEEDS! I mean my garden is indoors, so its hard for there to be weeds except for those people that live outside my tiny little four walled bedroom and attempt to drain my nutrients.

I'm not that green thumbed, in fact, its more like a pasty white since I never see daylight, but its getting there as I slowly get further with my plants. All my friends, they have their own individual names, and for a little anonymity, they are referred to as different kinds of bunny rabbits. But! of course the one that matters most in my life, is my sunflower! He's someone special and amazing, despite my random obsessions he still supports me in everything that I do. So to him a salute *SALUTES* and I dedicate my love. All of that of course which is not going into my tiny little apartment garden.

But now onto the most important part. The garden!! The thing that makes me happy here. Its a small garden right now, consisting primarily of several pots of rather lush looking basil, newly planted savory, and a few flowers such as 6 dwarf incredible sunflowers, and dwarf nasturtiums. Yeah, you guessed it, I'm an herb gardener. Or at very least its something I enjoy doing. Herbs smell good, simple as that. There is nothing better than a good smell: basil, thyme, or something even more simple, the smell of a good cologne. Which by the way I am still to remember just what my sunflower's favorite happens to be. He seems to like the smell of basil, or at least I think he does, but I am really excited about getting a chance to smell those wonderful things I've heard about from my herb book.

I'm also interested in the medicinal properties of my herbs too. I've heard great things and can't wait to try them out myself. Tonight I hung the last of my first season of growing basil. They were a bountiful crop and I hung them just as it says, in a dark cool place in order to keep the flavor in. I've been looking for several different things to do with them. I've kept dried leaves in an air tight container and they are perfect! I've used them in sauces and its truly liberating to use something I grew in the food that I am cooking. Makes you feel much more at ease when you don't need to ask for other people's help, but of course the fact that I like people for the most part keeps me from actually limiting my contact with others, but as far as the food and planting goes, this is my kingdom!
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Anyway, this is the reason I'm doing this, its a very nice and relaxing passion of mine and obviously I can chatter about it for a while. But step one is to begin and I am very ready. Thanks for those that have kept up and thanks even more to those that might be watching because I love the input and even more I like the idea that I've made someone else think better.

The Baggy Bunny,
The Unconventional Gardener