Gardens Green & Glorious

Have You Tried Container Gardening

2009-06-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

"Have you tried container gardening?" a friend asked me.

I'd never really thought about it. When she explained how this was much easier on her back (she'd injured it last year) and could utilize a small space, I realized it had merit.

You can work at a table on the containers. You can have them set on stands. Keep them small enough so that someone can lift them easily, someone else if you have a back problem.
The containers can be set on a porch that gets the sun and shade.
You can build a greenhouse enclosure.
You don't need a lot of land, so can "plant" them on a rooftop garden, in a small yard area, in a sunny area of your home or apartment.
They're fun for children to "grow," too.

What have you don that involves container gardening?

Gardening Related Home Businesses

2009-05-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

For anyone considering a home business related to gardening in some form or fashion, check out my post at Home Biz Notes, Gardening Businesses Popular This Year.

With the slow down in the economy and with many people out of work or making less income, gardening as away to save money has become popular. So gearing up your business to fill the needs of gardeners seems very viable.

(Amazon image)

Forsythia - a Sign of Spring and Memories

2009-04-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

The forsythia blooms in our yard and around homes throughout the town. This bush, with masses of yellow blossoms adds a sign of spring and memories. With it's aura of joy and sunshine, the forsythia bushes also rings back memories of the farmhouse where I grew up.

A large bush grew at the end of the long porch across the front of our house. When my parents moved to a smaller house, Father took a shoot of this bush and grew a large bush there.

When my husband and I moved to our current home, thirty years ago, my dad brought a shoot here and planted it. Now that bush is large and the blooms each spring bring back memories or childhood and my dad's contribution to our home.

At one point, we weren't sure the bush would survive the harsh NH winters, so my daughter and her family bought another for me on Mother's Day and planted it. So both have memories.

Do you have "memory" plants in your garden?

(Amazon Image)

Do You Want to Copy Mrs. Obama's White House Garden?

2009-04-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Are you blind follower of Michelle Obama? Do you want to copy her White House Garden? (It's called Mrs. Obama's garden, but actually how much work does she do, except for photo ops in her cute designer gardening outfits.)

However, if you want to copy her garden, you can buy, yes, buy her gardening plans and follow her gardening "expertise."

Check Out Some Earth Day Projects

2009-04-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

With Earth Day coming soon, you may want to check out some activities for tots and teens. I have a post at Blisstree, with a Caring for the Earth theme.

Some people get carried away with Earth Day with very impractical activities. However, these seem to be ones which will teach youngsters appreciation...and will be fun.

Google Blogger for Dummies - A Resource for Writing a Gardening Blog

2009-04-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Do you want to write a gardening blog?

However, you feel you need more guidance in doing this. Or you may want to enhance the blog you already have.

Check out Susan Gunelius's Google Blogger for Dummies. Here you'll find helpful instructions for setting up your Blogger blog, as well for enhancing blogs you already have. Learn about monetizing your blogs, too. Read more about Google Blogger for Dummies in my review at Blisstree.

Since blogging is the wave of the present and future, you'll join in the excitement by establishing a blog of your own...with Susan's assistance.

Victory vs. Recession Gardens

2009-04-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

I recently read that the term "victory" garden (used during World War II) is so outdated. Instead, we need to refer to our gardens this year as "recession" gardens as we try to recession proof our food budgets by growing foods.

I still like to use the term "victory." We are going to be victorious. Our gardens will help our budgets and aid us on the way to victory.

If we continue to program our minds with "recession, recession, recession," we have no chance of getting out of the present economic downturn. So by continually referring to our gardens as "recession" ones, we'll only dig ourselves deeper into a hole.

So grow yourself a garden to victory!

The Lure of Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables

2009-04-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Does this date me? Some of the vegetable names listed as "heirloom" were those we raised in our garden when I was a child! Of course, there are others that predate me.

However, since I'm a big fan of history, I enjoy learning about those called "heirloom" and the stories associated with them. Some of these fruits and vegetables were brought over from Europe by the settlers of earlier centuries. Others evolved through grafting and cross pollination.

I'm researching some of those stories and will write about them here.

What do you know about heirloom fruits and vegetables and their stories of the past? Do you grow them, so have stories about them in the present?

White House Kitchen Garden News

2009-03-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, Michelle Obama - Gardening in Style, I introduced the current topic regarding gardening and what's hot in the news about garden fashions. Planting a White House Kitchen Garden, the latest project of Mrs. Obama's and her daughters, has piqued the interest of gardeners and Michelle watchers. Also those who keep an eye on Mrs. Obama's fashions.

If you want to get on the bandwagon and learn more about their experience...and see the chic fashions Michelle gardens in (no grubbies, please), check out these links.

The White House Kitchen Garden and the power of symbolism

Obama Family News: White House Kitchen Garden and Camp David

A Victory Garden for a New Century

Michelle Obama Gardens in Style

Obama Family to pull weeds in new White House Garden

Michelle Obama - Gardening in Style

2009-03-22T04:45:00.001-07:00

It's great that Michelle Obama is encouraging gardening, although this seemed to evolve after news articles and comments appeared that it would be nice the Obamas had a White House kitchen garden and set an example for others. So....I wonder, is this gardening to get points among the people and show off stylish gardening clothes, or really to promote a beneficial practice.

This certainly was a good photo op for Mrs. Obama; some news media spent more time describing the stylish gardening clothes and the names of the designers than gardening. (Great PR op, too, for the designers.) Is the welfare of the citizens the aim or PR for Mrs. Obama? Let's hope it's a little of both...a humanitarian gesture with a spin-off about gardening clothes.

However, how many people really garden in carefully coordinated designer clothes that present a great photo op? Anyway it wouldn't do for the First Lady to grovel in the dirt like most of us who plant gardens and get our hands dirty...and knees and even face.

Gardeners are enthusiastic, the news media is excited to write about something other than political posturing, and the White House grounds will see an agricultural trend perhaps for the first time since the cows and sheep, kept by early presidents, disappeared.

The Theme of Gardening in Quilting & Other Art

2009-03-18T18:27:00.001-07:00

It's amazing how the theme of gardening is carried into art, whether it's painting, collage, mixed media, or quilting. As I was browsing through my quilt books, I noticed a number of patterns named for topics related to gardening...whether vegetables or flowers.

Flowers in a Pot
Forbidden Fruit
Hawaiian Grape Vine
Kansas Sunflower
Melon Patch
Peony
Pineapple
Rose Petal
Sunflower
Tulip
Basket of Oranges
Basket of Tulips
English Poppy
Strawberrie

Do you have any favorite fruit or vegetable patterns, or others related to gardening?

Indoor Gardens Under the Lights - Oh, So Fascinating

2009-03-14T03:26:00.000-07:00

When I came across a catalog of Aero Gardens, I was fascinated. I'd heard about these small, indoor containers for growing herbs, vine vegetables and greens, as well as flowers in controlled conditions under lights, but I'd never seen so many displayed as there are here.

They're ideal for countertops, desktops, and other small spaces in home or office. Have your handy fresh herbs and salad greens, along with tiny tomatoes near your food preparation area.

These also would be an ideal way for children to grow plants and veggies. Something like the container gardens we mentioned previously, only a bit more sophisticated.

Have you tried growing Aero Gardens, or those in a small space enhanced by grow lights? What has been your experience.

Children's Container Gardens

2009-03-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Spring is the time of year when children plant container gardens at school. From kindergarten through about third grade, youngsters learn about green and growing things by planting seeds in paper cups or other containers at school.

Often these are planned so they can bring a growing bean plant, or perhaps marigold home to mom for Mother's Day. My daughter did this in elementary school, as did both grandchildren. Then we waited until we were sure the frost was gone before we planted them in the garden outside.

When I substitute teach in these grades, the children always are ready to show me the "gardens" they have growing in the classroom and want to water them so much the plants nearly drown. However, it's delightful to see youngsters so excited about gardening.

Also, you may want to check out these Gardening Resources for Families.

Books About Daylight Saving Time & Spring

2009-03-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Discover facts and figures (the curious and the ordinary) about Spring and Daylight Saving Time

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau
Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing
Crafting Springtime Gifts: 25 Adorable Projects Featuring Bunnies, Chicks, Lambs & Other Springtime Favorites by Tone Finnanger
Time for Change: Setting Clocks Forward by One Hour Thorughout the Year by Mayer Hillman
The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Ah! A Breath of Spring...and Gardening Seems Closer

2009-03-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

Ah! A breath of spring this morning when I woke up to 44 degree F. temperatures. Such a contrast to the near zero degrees of the past few mornings.

Now I can begin to contemplate spring and gardening as the sun's warmth melts the snow and sends rivulets of water making inroads on the icy driveway.

Even the birds have their spring voices in tune. Don't you notice that the chickadees have a slightly different, cheerier song as spring approaches?

We'll begin looking for buds swelling on the trees and look for springs of grass and greenery as soon as bare patches of ground appear.

Ah! Spring! What a wonderful reawakening after our long winter...even though we may get a bit more snow before the weather truly stays warm in New Hampshire.

How Practical and Economical is Gardening?

2009-03-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

Are you gardening purely for fun or to save money on your food budget? Are you planning to have simply a summer garden? Or are you expecting to freeze, can, and preserve the food grown there?

We come to the question, "How practical and economical is gardening for your family?"

Do you spend time gardening that could be spent on earning a living?
Do you spend a great deal of money for equipment, seeds and plants? (These items aren't cheap if you total all you spend.)
How much money would you save? (Calculate the cost of seeds, plants and equipment, plus the cost of your time...unless this is family recreation. Then subtract what you might spend instead for the same foods.)
If you're planning to preserve food, do you have the containers and other items you need? Or must you purchase them? If purchased, will these be used in future years or are they a one time cost?

This is not to say you shouldn't raise a garden. However, be practical about what a garden actually costs you and what you might spend elsewhere.

What do you think?

Another Seed Catalog Arrives

2009-03-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

In spite of near zero temperatures, high winds, and more than three feet of snow on the ground, another seed catalog arrived in the mail. This gives us hope that spring is coming!

Glancing at the fruit, flowers, berries and vegetables in colorful array throughout, I almost can forget the white covered ground. It certainly brings back memories of childhood when we poured over the seed catalogs in our farmhouse kitchen.

Father generally wanted to try something new each year, so we wondered what it would be. Sometimes we liked it; sometimes we didn't. But there was always the expectation of "let's see."

What are you planning for your garden this year? Are you trying something new?

I Can't Believe It's Garden Planting Time

2009-03-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

As I read Eliane's post, A lovely day for gardening, at her Faites Simple blog, and read about the vegetables she and Tom were planting, it's hard to believe it's planting time. I look out at snow banks here in New Hampshire, USA and listen to the weather report predicting more snow tonight.

But somewhere in our country and the world (Eliane lives in England), it's garden planting time. Before long it will come here, too.

The days are light longer and this coming Saturday night/Sunday morning, we'll be turning the clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time. So then it will stay light even longer, although may be dark when we get up in the morning.

Emotional Benefits of Gardening

2009-02-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

Gardening can be good for your pocketbook, unless you go to the extreme and purchase expensive plants and equipment that will exceed your yield in food. However, gardening has emotional benefits, too.

Our daughter found, when they were going through a family illness, that gardening was a great stress reliever for her. She could work in the out-of-doors midst the plants and flowers, watch the birds and butterflies, and have the children playing around her, too. When her husband was having good days, he could join them as well.

Others have mentioned that working in the soil has "feel good" benefits. At the same time you know you're contributing to the family food supply and relieving the budget.

How does gardening affect you? What benefits do you derive?

Rooftop Gardens in Vogue

2009-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

With the increased interest in gardening this year, people in the city, who don't have adequate space, are looking into rooftop gardens. This also can encompass window box gardens and large pots you sit on your porch or sun porch.

Even restaurants are utilizing rooftop gardens for fresh herbs and vegetables. This story by Krista Simmons relates how some of the restaurants in L.A. are taking advantages of their sunny rooftops to produce edibles.

Gardens Green Blogger Published in Anthology

2009-02-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

Gardens Green blogger, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.

Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999.

In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups. Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer's and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.

I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected some of my stories for inclusion in this anthology. It's exciting to encourage and inspire others with my writing.

Looking for Gardening Suggestions? Resources? Information?

2009-02-24T05:23:00.001-08:00

Looking for gardening suggestions? What to plant? Where to find it? What tools are new and handy?

I coordinate a gardening resource service to help you find what you need in the way of information, sources for your supplies, answers to your questions, encouragement and inspiration.

Check out the information here at Gardens Green & Glorious.

Simply leave your queries in the comments below or e-mail me at me.allen@juno.com.

Also, share your gardening experiences.

Happy Gardening!

Seed Catalog Time

2009-02-23T04:55:00.000-08:00

It's hard to think a garden will be a reality when we seem to experience blizzard after blizzard here in New Hampshire, each one dumping 12 inches or more of snow. However, this is the time of year when the seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail.

During my childhood, this was a time of planning, of paging through the catalogs Father received and looking toward spring. Even though Father bought most of his seeds at the local farm supply store, we did get ideas from the catalogs. Probably he ordered some seeds and plants by mail because the catalogs kept coming year after year.

It was a fun winter activity to look at the various plants (vegetable, fruit, and flowers) in the catalog. Should we try something new this year? Father often got a vegetable we hadn't tried before, frequently at Mother's suggestion.

They still have seed and plant catalogs, because my daughter and son-in-law, who do much of the gardening at our place, have received some by mail. So we're looking at them and deciding whether to grow something new this year.

There even is a Garden Seed Inventory of Seed Catalogs of Non-Hybrid Vegetable Seeds, edited by Kent Whealy

Using a Vegetable Garden Seeder - today & Yesterday

2009-02-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

I can remember my dad and the hired man using a hand seeder to plant smaller farm crops as well as our vegetable garden. Our garden, for our family of six plus the hired man who ate with us, was quite large.

Also, in those days, when we "put up" most of our food for winter, gardens were good-sized plots. Then during the World War II years, more and more people planted gardens, as they're doing this year.

Whenever we could use the seeder for planting the garden, it was much handier than trickling seeds from our hands in the rows across the garden.

Do they still have hand garden seeders? I wondered.

Yes, I found a vegetable garden seeder. You walk behind and push it. It opens the soil for the seeds, plants the seeds, and fertilizes them at the same time, if you wish. It even covers the seeds and marks the rows. So much easier than by hand!

Vegetable Gardens Especially Popular This Year

2009-02-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

I came across an article today that says seed and gardening supply sales are up in spite of the hard economic times. Probably it's because of the hard economic times.

Backyard gardens are especially popular and more people are planning to raise their own vegetables. It's predicted that gardening supply sales will jump 40%. Also, vegetable seed and plant sales are squeezing out the flower sales.

This reminds me even more of the Victory garden era of the World War II years

Are you planning to raise vegetables this year, perhaps even a few tomato plants in pots and herbs in window boxes?

Victory Gardens Today

2009-02-18T05:44:00.000-08:00

These days, with gas and food, not rationed, but definitely at higher prices, along with job losses and cutbacks, more people have been thinking about raising and preserving their own food this summer. The term used during World War II came to someone’s mind, so "Victory Gardens" is used again, as people, who have never done so or rarely, begin planting gardens and raising their food.

Some of these gardens may be no more than herbs, tomato plants and pepper plants grown in window boxes or tubs. For others, people may spade up a small plot in their yard. Sometimes these spaces might be community gardens, whereby residents pay a small fee for a summer's use of a plot.

Do you have Victory Garden memories? Share with us your recollections.

Also, read my previous post, Do You Remember Victory Gardens?, for some insight into the gardens planted 65 years ago.
v
What are you doing for gardening this year?

Do You Remember Victory Gardens?

2009-02-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

In the days of my childhood, during World War II, Victory Gardens were the height of popularity and patriotism. Now Americans’ thinking has come full circle, and I see and hear the term “victory garden” frequently.

Victory gardens, where Americans raised their own fruit and vegetables, often the first time for many, were popular during those war years. Some also planted flowers for cheer in an uncertain world of black-outs and food shortages and rationing.

Our Victory Garden

Although I grew up on a farm where we had a garden anyway, my mom planted one with flowers she called our Victory garden. She painted a large tub red and blue with large white V’s on either side. This, filled with geraniums, she positioned in the center of the plot.

You found Victory Gardens in city and country. They were planted in any space one could utilize, if you didn’t have a traditional garden plot. You might see vegetables in window boxes, front yard, back yard, or side yard. They provided food for a country with shortages. They also made you feel you were doing your patriotic duty to provide food for yourself and others.

The Delight of a Gardening Mystery Series

2009-02-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

I’ve discovered a delightful mystery series by Ann Ripley with a gardener, Louise Eldridge as heroine. In addition to just solving a mystery in Death of a Political Plant, Louise has a gardening TV show near Washington, DC. We also learn much about gardens, gardening, and various types plants in the course of the story.

Included are essays by Ripley on various type of gardens and gardening history. Even though I don’t do so much gardening as I once did, I enjoy reading about various plants and their backgrounds. Some topics covered in the essays: bog gardens, low maintenance gardens, water gardens, annuals, garden tools and more.

I love to visit gardens, whether public ones, historic ones, or those simply growing around friends’ homes. Personally, I don’t have the time or patience I once did to dig and plant around our home. Perhaps one day I will again. My daughter enjoys this when she has time.

Other books in the Louise Eldrider garden mystery series: Mulch , Death of a Garden Pest, The Garden Tour Affair and Death in the Orchid Garden.

Learn Gardening Design from Tracy DiSabato-Aust

2009-02-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

Expert garden designer, horticulturist and author, Tracy DiSabato-Aust, provides many gardening and design tips at her web site, tracylive.com. A particularly interesting post concerns garden design, How do I start to design my garden.

If you are just starting out, want to redesign, or simply need some ideas, check out Tracy's information, complete with photos.

I mentioned Tracy's latest book, 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants, on my Tea Time Notes blog when she had a book launch tea party.

Tracy also has a free e-mail newsletter you can subscribe to.

Happy Valentine's Day from Gardens Green

2009-02-14T14:58:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

May this be a special day for you.

We have been enjoying Valentine's Day flowers, cards and candy. This was a fun day at school yesterday with the Valentine parties.

Today the children in our household are enjoying it, too.

Gardening Resources for Families

2009-02-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

When I wrote the post at my blog, One Book Two Book, Thoughts of Gardening for Young and Older, I planned a companion one with information about books on gardening that might appeal to families. There are some books and gardening resources that may be of interest:

Gardening with Kids by Catherine Woran and Martyn Cox
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy
Gardening with Children (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)
In the Garden with Van Gogh by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Seedfolks, a novel about planting and gardening and neighbors together by Paul Fleischman

ToySmith Garden Tote with Tools
The Rumford Gardener Watering Can with 3 Tools
Children's Folding Gardening Seat with Tool Storage

Check Out the Easy Bloom Plant Sensor

2009-02-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

The Easy Bloom Plant Sensor - an innovative new gardening gadget.

It helps the gardner understand the soil, the temperature and the humidity of his garden. It's great for the beginner or someone who doesn't have much success with growing things, as well as the experienced gardener. From the Easy Bloom, you'll discover if you're over or under watering and whether the sun and soil conditions are good for the plants you're growing.

Easy Bloom also helps with growing herbs and flowers as well.

Have you tried one of these? If so, what's been your experience?

Will Obama Popularize Growing & Drinking Herb & Berry Teas?

2009-02-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Apparently Obama prefers tea, hot and cold, to other beverages. Will this increase tea drinking and tea sales? Will more gardeners begin to raise herbs, berries and flowers that can be utilized for tea?

According to the Bigelow Tea blog, President Obama Favors Organic Tea, especially chilled Berry Teas. So they and other tea companies apparently are introducing new organics.

So, as gardeners look over their plans for this year's growing season, will they decide to raise more herbs and plants they can use personally or sell for tea?

What are your thoughts on this as gardening season approaches? Also, you don't have to wait for a particular season if you grow herbs in pots. These are easy to grow indoors.

Thoughts of Gardening

2009-02-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

Even though the ground around our New Hampshire home is deep in snow, thoughts of gardening spring to mind. In this part of the country, we usually don't start planting until May. Even then, we have to be careful, because frost can kill the plants throughout the month.

The saying has long been, "Don't plant your tomato plants until after Memorial Day. We can still have frost."

That was true, too, where I grew up in the Hudson River Valley of NYS.
However, you still can start plants from seedlings inside the house, as my daughter and son-in-law often do.

If you want to go this route, begin looking around the stores and garden supply centers for items you'll need for indoor garden beginnings.

Indoor Culinary Herb Garden Starter Kit
Organic Sprouting Starter Kit
Glow Panel for Indoor Growing
52" Square Greenhouse with Stand
Greenhouse Gardening (book)
Greenhouse Gardener's Companion (book)

Check Out the Garden Scoot or Rolling Garden Work Seat

2009-02-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of the neatest innovations for gardening, as long as you leave space between your rows, is the Garden Scoot or Rolling Garden Work Seat.

Think about scooting around your garden on a seat on wheels rather than plodding on your knees through the dirt. You also can pull it behind you as a wagon, with your tools, until you get to where you want to work.

Ah! The delights of gardening with modern inventions.

What have you discovered that makes your gardening easier, whether vegetables, fruit or flowers?

Look for a Gardening Boom

2009-02-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

With families out of work and cutbacks in their available money for food, look for a boom in gardening this spring. Even those without gardening experience are likely to try their hand at growing vegetables, and even some flowers.

Gardens Green & Glorious is designed to encourage the gardener and give tips about growing one's own food. I'll also point you to resources where you can learn more about various gardening topics equipment.

I grew up on a farm where we grew a large garden, in addition to a potato patch, sweet corn area, fruit trees and berry bushes. In those days before freezers, Mother canned numerous jars of fruits and vegetables each summer, with the help of my sister and me.

Over the years, depending on where my husband and I have lived, we've had gardens large and small. Sometimes it was only a tomato plant in a large pot and some herbs in a flower box. Other times we had a larger area behind the house.

If we couldn't grow our own food, we've tried to find farm stands where we can purchase it freshly picked.

I'll also welcome your suggestions and experiences.