Step Lightly..A Garden Grows Below

WELCOME

I do not claim to be an expert gardener. I do however, have several hints about do's and don'ts. Through several years of "trial and error", I have gained some insight into a few things that work and some that don't. I have 2 hobbies, my summer one is my garden and my winter one is my quilts. (Follow a link at the bottom of the page to see my quilts). I love the smell of freshly mowed grass, spring trees that are in bloom, flowers picked fresh from your yard and placed in the house to add a gentle, sweet scent of the outdoors. Who can resist the lure of a strawberry, still dewy and warmed by the morning sun! Yummy! Or the beckoning pull of a ruby red tomato tucked under the leaves of its host plant. Have you ever strolled through an herb garden and suddenly wanted to whip up a culinary masterpiece, using all that nature has to tantalize our palates? If you can say a resounding YES, then you too are a gardener at heart. So come on, pull on those garden gloves, grab a few handsful of seeds or visit the nursery, and lets go plant our flower or vegetable garden and reap the benefits of our efforts.

No matter what you are going to plant, flowers or vegetables, the very most important thing you must do is prepare the area to be planted. Begin prep by eliminating weeds. I use Roundup about 2 weeks before planting to kill all weeds. If you are ecology aware, then remove all weeds by hand, being careful to get all roots. NEVER plant anything until you carefully read directions on packages of weed killers, OR you risk killing what you have planted! BIG OOPS! The ground should be thoroughly roto-tilled or turned up with a spade/pitchfork. Mix peat moss and composted manure into the soil. (The planting medium should be equal parts soil, peat & manure.) Break up any large clumps of soil to form a crumbly mix. Now begin planting according to instructions on the seed packet, or if using plants, place them into a hole as deep as the existing amount of the exposed plant.

The best friend you have in your garden is rain! Mom Nature often times forgets to supply regular amounts, so we need to keep thristy plants watered. They will let you know by drooping their heads. Try not to let them get this dry because it stresses the plant and can cause them not to perform well; OR they will die! This is not good and there goes all that hard work! Regular watering is a must. Be mindful of weeds, an enemy of our garden. Mulch is a godsend! It keeps weeds to a minium and conserves moisture, so be sure to spread a generous layer around your plants. During the growing season, remove weeds by hand or use one of many implements made for that purpose. Get a good fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow and follow directions. Our plants need to be fed to stay healthy and produce the desired results.

With some regular maintainence, you can now watch your garden grow, collect cut flowers to brighten your home, eat scrumptous fresh fruit and vegies or "put up" by canning or freezing for enjoyment long into the winter months. There are hundreds of books with information on just about every kind of plant, flower, shrub or tree. GET A GOOD BOOK, READ IT, then re-read it. Keep it handy and use as a reference anytime you need an answer. Before you know it, you will amaze yourself with new-found knowlege and have a yard or garden that is the envy of your friends. Keep in mind, you must be committed to the project or all your well intended time and money are wasted. I have only scratched the surface here, but I hope I have inspired you to give gardening a try. I find great fulfillment in my gardening efforts.

OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS

Let's not forget the winged visitors who travel many miles in the spring to reside in our yards, bringing natures songs to please our ears and numerous, colorful varieties to please our eyes. Oh to sit outdoors in the early morning hours, dew glistening on fresh mowed grass, a cup of hot coffee and the voice of many birds as they greet the morning. This is nature at it's finest. So, be sure to provide an area where birds can feed and have water. Try to place it in an area that affords shelter from predators, with trees or bushes nearby. You will be delighted as you identify many species of new friends who have found a haven to share in your piece of paradise. The below picture is in my backyard and you will see that I have feeders, water and shelter, but more important, I have many, many fly in visitors to keep me company!

Thank you for strolling through my yard. I hope you have enjoyed the visit.

Please visit my other pages throught the below links and be sure to stop in and see, Grandma George, the creator of the art used on this page. She is very talented and offers her lovely work for free to those of us not as talented as she is. Best of all, her designs are free to use, with a few simplw rules.

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