My Winter Garden

Apparently winter isn’t just a time to browse seed catalogs.  Ordering 6 trees to make an orchard I thought I’d get them in during the fall planting season, but two of them came potted, with instructions to keep them cool and wait ‘til spring. The other 4, well, we had a bout of unseasonably cold weather and we couldn’t put them in the ground. I planted them in buckets and had to repot two after they were flooded under an eave. Dad and I have been hauling the 4 between the outdoors, cellar, and house to give them daylight and keep them temperature controlled.

Dwarf nectarine and apricot, semi dwarf cherries, 2-in-1 pear, and 2-in-1 plum

Last minute I planted a bunch of my mums flowers/plants as houseplants, and have potted different things that were rooted indoors.

A bunch of these have put on a lot of new growth since these pictures were taken.

Geranium

Impatiens

Begonia

Within the past couple of days I was given two new African violets! Yay! I am also trying to root a couple of leaves using two deferent methods--one in soil, one in water.

 

From my mother

From my sister, Sasha

Even with all of this activity I am still dreaming and saving for the next gardening season.

It will be here before we know it!

Dad and Ed

I’m so thankful for our loving herd of pets. :)

Remember to spread the love around to people and pets this week. :)

Digging Up Blue Gold

I started digging my “all blue” potatoes today.

When I had a little stint working at an organic farm I probably dug over 200lbs of potatoes, but I’d never grown any myself until this year.

I am caught between the mosquitoes and impending hard frost. Maybe there will be a windy day soon to blow them away while I dig the rest. :)

Pete helped.

Bit of Brie(Maybe a lot.) I got part of the way through and added some balsamic vinegar as well.

And guess what? They taste like potatoes! The only thing that seemed really different about them was the color. Keep them in mind if you want to liven up a potato recipe and make people go “what?!”. :) Blue potato chips maybe?

My Happy Little Houseplants

I love my African violets…

My grandma used to keep purple ones.

Their shapes,colors,and textures are wonderful.(The fuzzy leaves are cat hair magnets, but that’s not stopping me.)

I hope to root an Aloe Vera cutting from off of my grandmother’s plant next month. Wish me well!

Some More Pics from the Garden

My happy jungle

I harvested my first (ever for me) fennel bulbs today.

Red Delicious on the way

Some of my nasturtiums

Candy Striped Zinnias

I Love these! I need to bring a bouquet in.

Our County Fair 2014

I decided to branch out this year and entered the African violet that I had babied along and a couple of dish settings, one for a tray and one for a table.

Most of these things belong to me and are vintage or antique. :) Some of the flowers are from purple beans and peas.

Some pictures from the parade…

At the Fairgrounds

Have men on horses ever helped you park? It’s a fun sight.

Garden 2014: #1

Just a quick look into the garden…

"Bright lights" Swiss Chard

This is my first time growing this. It tastes like beets.

I used some on a pizza the other night. :)

I just noticed today that the borage has started to flower.

The flowers are supposed to have a mild cucumber flavor. I haven't tried one yet, but am looking forward to it!

This is all for now, but there is plenty more to post later. :)