Reporting In

So here I am in FL, and pleased to report, that the garden has a tender!  Mom is doing a wonderful job keeping the babies well tended and growing happy as clams.  The transplanted sunflowers have even made it passed a week of life now and I'm so happy!  There were three babies, but only two made it, but that's better than nothing!  She's even sent pictures to show us all how wonderful they were doing!  That picture is the weekend that I left, and the one on the right is as of last night! You can see the two tiny baby sunflowers in the bottom left corner!  The bud below is from the sunflower that towers over the shoulder of my momma now, and she reports it as a 2 inch in diameter, golfball shaped bud.  Hopefully it doesn't bloom until I get home on Sunday!

The elephant ear has grow exponentially! From the tiny bud in the last post, to a two pronged leaf baring beauty! Soon it might get taller and I simply can't wait. There are so many growing things that she has had to send over 9 pictures last night to cover all the bases!  And apparently last night she potted the picasso petunias, the tequila sunrise petunias, and weeded! The picasso's you can't really tell, but they have purply pink flowers, with lime green tips! They are beautiful! You never know what you might find! She added some other plants but I can't quite make out what they are but there's also some spikeys!

Its the neatest thing ever.  The dill, and the lavender are yet to be close uped, but I saw some yellowing on the dill's lower branches but mom said that was from a few days in between where she couldn't make it.  It will recover and hopefully get nice and strong and big! I love the dill, its so fluffy! And for those of you that keep up on the garden progress and knew the marigolds were just starting to recover right before I left... I have a picture for you!!!!!

WHOOT! WHOOT!  More to come!!!!

From your loving gardener in the forever spring!

-Tine!

P.S.

Guess who's growing! (Mom found him while culling at home!

Mantids, Mantids, Mantids

So ladies and gentlemen, today was Emma's 7th birthday. Happy birthday to my little sister and another great year of her pestering adorable self. It was a hectic but great day and in amidst the revelry there was another mantid sighting! I believe it is Zeus, however, there is a heavier green to this mantis than the last. It still has the same ye stripe that Zeus had though so until we see mutli-mantids at the same time. I knew I said I'd have flower pictures for you, but rather more mantids! The lavender I have to say has grown quite healthily and after viewing Nicky's garden and her happy little sprouts, I have to say that mine aren't doing too terrible. I think the growing season is quite overheated this year. Everything at Chris and Kelly's house has seemed to be stunted as well as everything here. The only thing that appears to be doing well is the potted lavender plant that has grown a huge and healthy proportions in the direction of up!

Over all it has been well and good and on Monday I will get the remaining things at work cleaned up and take some pictures of the rapidly growing sunflowers, despite the fact that all the sprouts failed to rise.

I also went out of my way to watch a documentary on bugs the other day that follows the life cycle of a caterpillar and a mantis. Its quite interesting and very factful! Great to watch. Its called the Fascinating life of Bugs! Narrated by the same woman that plays the elemental in the Chronicles of Riddick. It's a great watch that I recommend. Next research project! Onion propagation.

Excitement Ahoy!

More babies on the horizon! That's right guys, the seedplugs are sprouting!!!

Now first you have to understand, my eyes are not so great to begin with, so I'm pretty proud of myself when I get those tiny seeds all measured out into only 2 seeds per plug, but the chamomile seeds? Nono, those things were almost smaller than pinheads, so I merely got what I could in and was fairly certain only a few would come up since the seed packet was mildly old. This my friends... This means I was right mistaken. I now have over 20 chamomiles making residence in my 4 seed plugs. Well more babies for me! I have to do some research and find out how they grow with companion plants but it shouldn't bee too difficult. But in addition to those babies who have been up for approx. 2 days, I now have some thai basil making its appearance! YAY! Baby Basil is so exciting I have to say. Bijou, the lavender is also making a wonderful rebound form her purchase state and already has a few new sprigs coming up. Such a great start!

Oh yes, so many great things that these are only the things happening in MY house. The garden at work has been doing even better! The grape hyacinths are up and beside their bigger bolder cousins they look magnanimous! Its a great addition to the garden, however there have been some requests lately and it looks like I'm going to have to work extra hard now to get the front and back really nice. Not sure why, but hey!

ALSO! The Crumpacker/Lovell house is in full bloom now. Chives were so unruly they were in desperate need of a hair cut, which I of course am pleased to supply since I have adopted them as part of my herbal repertoire. They are so nice with their hair trimmed. Hopefully the buds will come up nice and strong this year and I will get to press a few of the flowers. I could put them in the book with the others! So exciting. On top of that, the lavender planted there last year, the one I couldn't keep because of his fuzziness giving mom allergy problems! He's got new sprigs as well!!! So proud of my baby!

This spring is going to be a grand thing. Already planning out the big box. So long as I keep my head up and above the water, I'm hoping it will last.

Babies!

Well I know its been some time since I last reported in, but some of you might not realize, we actually how CAN'T you realize! just how nice its been outside. It literally still is the winter months and I'm sleeping with windows open at night. This is a grand thing everyone and just over the last few days at work I have great news!

Because of the lovely days we've been having I have been enjoying some time out in the garden with the kids during work, cleaning out all last winter and falls leaves, only to reveal... BABIES!

These are the hyacinth bulbs that I had planted last autumn. I planted eight and they have all arisen! Along with another 40 something bulbs of babies that are happily springing forth with tiny buds. On Saturday I also worked, but I spent some more time in the garden and I happy to report NO MORE ROSEWEED! People can claim all they want that rosebushes are nice, I think they are scrappy and annoying. I yanked them forth after a nice hard rain and tada! The bench corner is now ready for some mass lavendering! So exciting.

Tomorrow I will draw a scheme for the rest of things, but we have a great amount of work ahead. We were given the go ahead for the front yard as well. Time to get working!

Harvest Season

That's right guys its time to start harvesting! And I did so, last night! I began with the bushy globe basil last night. It was the only plant that I allowed to create flowers, because that way I would have busy plants from it from next year. HOWEVER! After much research it seems that I may have harvested too early on that one, but I got 10 black seeds, the rest were white and thus immature when I picked them. But 10 seeds is all I need for next year! They are lovely little things, tiny and round and look just like their brothers in the seed packs! This means I have my very first 2nd generation Tine Seeds! After harvesting that plant, I removed it from the garden, its had its day and we all waved goodbye.

After that we moved on to the coleus, which had tons of seeds to share with me! Lots from only the pink and purple one because I like the multicolored ones and I think it will look nicer net year to have the same kinds in the one pot together. Those seed pods were so interesting! I mean how do you think God decided that he wanted 4 little seeds in each pod and that you'd have to peel the pod apart to get at them, just to replant again next year? Very fun.

After THAT! we hung Emma's basil upside down to dry because its come to the end of its rope. Literally, hehehe.

So yes, the harvest has begun and after I finished writing this! Time to trim back the lavender! If mom doesn't thwart me again...

Sunny with a Chance of Meatballs

Ah a good morning to my plants!

I've had a rather busy last few days believe me you! It was frigid the other night and I simply couldn't in my right mind leave those poor babies on the front porch. It was just far more cold than I would have expected, exactly 47, and I draw the line at 50 for the little plants to be outside, SO! I cleaned up the closet and hung the plant lamp present from my friend and brought them into the house. They spent the night in my well lit warm closet and stretched out.

The Lavender is making new growth as well even though I keep telling momma that it will get woody and will be unable to prune it once we wait too long. But that happens. It does smell great!

However! You know how I said that my closet got cleaned out? Well if you recall what was in there I'd like to report! My sunflower seeds dried and were ripe for the picking. I sorted them appropriately, apparently the only edible sunflower seeds are ones where the husk has white stripes on it. So I picked out all those and put the others in a bag for aunty patty's cardinals and jays. Can't wait to drop that off, but look at my harvest! There are several more sunflowers ready for hravesting when I go back to work on Monday, but we'll see if there's room for them in the closet. WHOO!

Indoor/Outdoor

So I spent today playing soccer and going through pictures so I thought it was time I updated everyone on the beautiful garden! I have tons of new pictures and even a video! Just a panned view of the garden, but here's my outdoor garden and Chris and Kelly's:

Those are my dahlias, and as of Thursday there are five of them! Next year I'm going to try ball dahlias. Those colors are just captivating if you ask me. And the Sunflowers, there's tons of them!!!

My happy little people, they are always asking me to show them flowers and here they are. I even managed to take those sunflowers that were finished and have begun to dry them.

Its a beautiful place that makes me reallly happy. Next time I'm there on Thursday I am thinking I will finish trimming in the backyard and update. I just love it so much. Next year the plan is tulips, hyacinths, and teddy bear sunflowers! God gave us so much, I thank him for that.

THIS! Is my home garden. I just finished grooming a basil and another has met its end. It had the trunk of a tree and was starting to lose all its leaves. There was no harvesting it, but it was so beautiful and brought joy to my home. It is good to have these things around me. Soon they will come indoors. The Lavender will be groomed back to the wood and brought inside next week, to be placed under the lamps that were gifted to me, as well as the baby basils that are beginning to grow. Growing season is almost over... for the outside!

They are growing so fast that I'm going to cry when they start to wilt.

This is the marigold this morning: and this is this afternoon!

The basil is producing flowers and is ready to harvest soon as well! And with that I say! adieu!

of pests and men!

SO! The herbs are loving the out of doors. I sent them out there and check them every hour with a cold water spray bottle and try to scare away the mites. It seems... that along with the mites having left, the plants have taken over. No one seems to mind them. In fact, there is a local stray/housecat I have dubbed 'Hector' who likes to wipe his face all over the lavender. Its cute so long as he doesn't... you know, do his business on my plant!

Anyway sicne these 4 have done so amazing outside I took the next pot out to get the buggies off of that one too. Even so mom thinks I should leave the cured ones outside because they've gotten so strong in the rich sunlight. Its true ^^

SO! I was reading more about my lavender plant since its been saved from the pestilence, and it seems I'm not going to have flowers this year. They flower only on the 2nd or 3rd year. ALSO! I'm suppose to have been pruning them! Because if you don't prune them in the summer than the next year the plant will grow... 'unruly?' Now I still don't know what the 'woody' part of the plant is, but I think I did well when I took my scissors out there this afternoon. These dried leaves will be an attempt at lavender basil tea. I hear the mix is quite nice. I know the smell is!

*dies of heavenly scents*

Anyway lets hope that the plants enjoy some more outdoorsy time and I get to enjoy the nice smells! Guess the shampoos will wait til next year!

Busy with the Buggies

Sooo I failed. I thought that the uggy buggies had only taken over a few of the plants. Well upon getting them off those plants they returned... from the other plants. So NOW! I'm going to eave them out of doors. Well the first bunch I am going to leave out of doors. I have 4 outside now. The Lavender, the second boxwood basil, the mint, and the sweet basil. They are going to be getting the 'cold shoulder' of bug techniques. First they go outside, then! I spray them with chilly water every few hours and sprinkle it all over them until the bugs decide its the worst place EVER to live.

THEN! I move them indoors after washing down the plant area and take the next batch outdoors. I've decided the soap thing is evil because it killed most my plants. Well it ate away at the leaves and its sort of miffing me off so that tech is gone. But this way I'm hoping that I'll get everything all cleaned up and such. Anyway I hope that my wonderful neighbors don't think of this as an opportunity to put their cigarettes out in them. They seem decent enough people. Anyway. Here's hoping.

Poor jail babies!

Home Coming...

Ah its wonderful to be home. Yes its been a few days and all, but that certainly doesn't stop me from taking forever to get back to everyone! I am and forever will be! a slow poke.

Anyway! Upon return from FL, I was shocked to find that m plants had grown magnificently! You have to understand, while I was away I requested for the mother hen to tend the babies and please water them according to schedule. I also requested regular updates, which I did not receive, so I was thinking I would be coming home to a ruined wilted garden! But instead, I came home to this beauteous sight!

And then I went to Nicky's house for memorial day and what did I see but these amazing awesome presents! She gave these to me! Because mine are just so wimpy here at home. She gave me a pot of these things called... coleus! She made them from her very own homegrown seeds from last year and says she wants me to have them for the garden at Chris and Kel's! They look painted! Isn't that awesome!?!?!


Also did a bit of research upon coming home to find that my aloe plant needed mass trimming! Apparently once the leaves drop as low as they had its a strain on the plant, so I now have a cleanly trimmed aloe plant that is nice and gooey.


Oh its been so amazing guys! And to let you go, I have a photo op of my basil plant that is now so big that the leaves are as big as the one at the store! LOOK!







EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!

Replanted my lavenders too in nice new pots. Pictures to come!

More New Additions

Yesterday was EPIC! I started out the day checking out my bank account to realize I had about 50 dollars more than I thought I did, so! I brought home some new additions to my store bought plant family. Its been an awful growing season so far, but its finally starting to look good rather than the bleak sadness that has been going on here.

To start out the happy day, I opened my windows and let in the morning air. The strange thing about that, though I live at a complex with little to know yard, there are outdoor plants that stand about as tall as my window and blew their smell right in. LILACS! It inspired me. So seconds after getting up I whooshed through the house to find a jar and filled it with lilacs to begin the oiling process for the essential oils. Its so cool. I've read that no one makes lilac oils, but I'm going to try and I'm going to succeed.

After that we went to do the laundry like we do every weekend. Between the loads we usually do something so mom took me to the dollar store where I found some more nice candle holders and we gathered some pots for mom since she thinks we should put some flowers in the Chris/Kelly garden and I think she's right. Next step was getting the flowers, of course! That's where we found Walmart, and holy cow, it was amazing. I found dwarf lavender! Something I can grow at home for only 2 dollars! Its amazing. Here it is!

Mom however did not fin the flowers she was looking for, so after changing over the laundry again, we headed to Menards. That was even more amazing because mom found the flowers she wanted and I found, you guessed it, ANOTHER lavender plant! This one was an herbal lavender, meant specifically for the fun stuff, and it was even cooler because they look so much different, I mean look at this!

Its been so very fun! Look at how beautiful. The day just went so amazing. I had this great day and it wasn't going to go unwasted. That wasn't the only thing huh!? We went to my cousin's/auntie's house so that I could hang with the fam. It was so nice to drop by and see my family enjoying the day. Check out what they've got in their front yard.

We were there until 8pm and my goodness it was just nice. I've missed you spring, so much.

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Today! Today is going to be something that resembles, though a home version. I'm going to be replanting today, the boxwood basils that I have been claiming to replant for a week, and after mom gets home I will gathering up some cheese cloth so that I can take care of step two of the dandelion oils. The full day to come, later!