Where Have I Been?

I seriously can't believe it's been over a month since I managed to get a post written.

Thank you to all of you who reached out to see if I'm ok.....Yes, I'm ok....Summer's just ridiculously busy for me!

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring has sprung in the mountains and I'm beyond happy!! 

Don't get me wrong...I'm sore as heck. With Spring comes a ton of Spring cleanup, which I've been doing non-stop on the weekends....but I'm deliriously happy none the less! 

My Seed Obsession

I have been ordering seeds like mad this season, in an attempt to create my dream garden without paying a fortune at the garden center.

The Garden On Valentine's Day

There's not much to show in the outside garden at the moment - lots of snow, some ice, and abundant blue skies and sunshine. 

It's gorgeous, but a garden post? How can that be?

The Garden in Late June....and My Critters

Exciting things are happening in the garden these days!

Well....exciting for me, but maybe that's not saying much about me, huh?

The Perennial Bed in Mid June

My perennial bed is certainly not a manicured, mulched space. It's a true country garden, a cottage garden of sorts. 

But even a cottage garden needs to be tamed from time to time, or it will soon get out of control. 

It's Finally Spring!

Spring has finally arrived, in all its glory!

The sun is shining, the trees are leafing out, and the lilacs are just beginning to bloom. 

What could possibly be more beautiful than spring in the mountains?

Planting Around a Tree....and Sweet Memories

I remember when I bought my very first house a million years ago. 

I was so young, just 23 years old. Just a baby myself, and I had two tiny tots who kept me very, very busy.

Gorgeous Garden Combos

I love playing with new combos in the garden each year. There's just something so satisfying to see a couple of plants you paired hit it off so well together. 

Almost like speed dating....but better. 

Creating a Secret Garden

Remember the other day I told you I was working on a project?  

I know, big shocker, right? 

I'm always working on something, it seems.

Even more of a shocker? 

Flowers for a Cottage Garden

The past two nights our temps were supposed to dip down to 31 degrees, which scared me just the teensiest bit. 

Because I've been a naughty girl. 

I've been planting. 

How to Get the Garden Ready for Planting

I'm so excited because I was finally able to spend some time outside this weekend! Not only did the weather cooperate.....for a little while....but my back was much improved yesterday as well!

I can't tell you how good it felt to be outside working in the fresh air, instead of inside nursing a sore back.

Creating an Outdoor Entertaining Space

Our weather is all over the place these days with sunshine and blue skies one day followed by freezing rain and snow the next. 

Thankfully, we know it won't last forever and I'm really excited to get my deck ready for another great summer season in the mountains. 

Progress on My She-Shed Dreams

I'm so excited to get going with my dream she-shed! 

I've been shopping around online, getting some things on order to really start to create the garden space I can visualize in my head. 

I purchased what I think will be the perfect swing:

Early Spring Container Gardens

Many of us are itching for spring at this point and can't wait to get a jump on gardening season. 

I'm anxious to get planting, without a doubt. But I know our last frost is a long way off. Typically in my Zone 5A garden the last frost date is somewhere around Mothers' Day. 

That's like....a million weeks away!

Roses in the Sun - Finding the Perfect Obelisk

What a crazy storm we had last night - thunder, lightening, heavy rains, high winds - whew! The creek on my property is roaring again - I could hear it from the bedroom with all the windows shut!

I jumped out of bed and couldn't wait to get outside. It was lovely and warm out, and although everything was absolutely drenched I had to go for a little walkabout. 

Which of course got me thinking again about spring gardening. 

The folks that owned the house before me came from a family of gardeners - I really lucked out. 

The steps that lead up to my deck walk right up through a lush perennial garden. What a lovely welcome to my home!

August 2015 - Looking up the steps towards the small set of stairs to the deck and kitchen door

It got a little crazy in those perennial beds this summer, as shown in these August photos. however, in my defense, this was my first season in the house and I had to let everything grow to see what's what. 

What's On My Book Pile

I have always been an avid reader. I absolutely love books. One of my favorite places to while away a rainy afternoon would be either in a bookstore....or sitting in my favorite chair, next to the fire, reading a good book. Aside from novels, my favorite books are usually about cooking, gardening, or decorating. Love, love, and LOVE. 

I've been so busy lately that I never seem to get to all the books I want to read. They tend to pile up next to my chair, waiting for that quiet and peaceful day off that never comes. 

It's ok....I get through them a little at a time. There's no rush, I'm not going anywhere. 

In the mornings I love to sit with a cup of coffee before work and either browse around visiting all my blog friends or enjoy a good book. 

Here's what's on my ever-growing book pile right  now, awaiting my attention:

The one on top just arrived yesterday and I can't wait to have a peaceful hour to just enjoy each and every page!

My Tiny Garden on Amazon

I was first made aware of this book by a blogger I have long admired, Marie Viljoen of 66 Square Feet - the cover photo is actually of her last garden, on a rooftop in Harlem, NY.

Flower Dreams

As you may have deduced, I have big time spring fever. 

It's too early, I know. 

But I can't help it. 

I can't do much yet but dream....and order supplies.

Yesterday I was researching starting vegetables from seed. Which is exciting, because I love harvesting vegetables I've grown myself....especially when I've started them from an itty bitty seed!

Today I'm looking into flowers that I want to start from seed. But how on earth will I narrow it down? There are a billion awesome varieties out there and I want to try them all!

But let's be sensible here....that would cost me a fortune. And I don't have room.....or time.....to grow 18 million types of seeds. 

Perhaps I'll narrow it down to just 10 types...that seems reasonable!

Here's what I'm considering at this point:

1. Hyacinth Bean

Via

The flowers are simply lovely and the seed pods and beautiful foliage add an extra pop of purple in the garden. Bonus - all parts of the plant are edible! It's a win-win for me!

2. Nasturtium

Via

Always. I just love this old fashioned flower. I have been peppering my garden with Nasturtium seeds for as long as I can remember. I plant them in my veggie garden and not only do they brighten up the garden but of course the flowers and leaves are wonderful in a salad!

3. Morning Glory

Morning Glory is another flowering vine I always and forever will have in my garden. This simple, old fashioned climber just makes my heart sing when I see it scrambling up and around the fences and trellises of my gardens and blooming away. I know Morning Glory is invasive in certain areas so do your homework before introducing this climber to your garden. Here in the Northeast we don't have that issue....and I bless and nurture each and every 'volunteer' that pops up from the previous year's vines. They are all welcome!

4. Sunflower

Via

Since our growing season is relatively short up here on the mountain top I am going to start my sunflowers indoors this year. However, they do tend to suffer from transplant shock so I'll put them in peat pots to be planted right into the ground when the time is right. 

There's not another flower out there that shouts "country garden" more than a sunflower! How can you help but smile when you see that sunny yellow head bobbing in a summer breeze?

5. Zinnia

I'm embarrassed to say that I believe last year may have been my first year successfully growing zinnias. Or perhaps growing them at all! I'm not sure why....perhaps they never caught my eye at the garden nursery. Last season, however, I picked up a couple of brightly colored varieties and I am now hooked! Those babies bloomed....and bloomed....and then bloomed some more! I had readers tell me how simple they are to grow from seed....and I can't wait to try!

6. Cleome

I adore Cleome in my garden every year. I've been buying starts from the garden center but this year perhaps I'll go back to starting my own from seed. I seem to remember them being quite easy to start indoors, although it has been ages since I've tried. And they are prolific self seeders so once you get a bed of these beauties going strong, there's a good possibility you'll have lots of volunteers for years to come. 

7. Nicotiana

Via

Nicotiana is a fabulous plant to include in your summer garden! The plant can get quite tall but mixes well in a mixed border as it's quite airy. The biggest bonus of this plant is the fact that it releases the most heavenly fragrance in the evenings....so plant it near the place you like to relax at night, such as a favorite swing, patio, or under a bedroom window. 

8. Stock

Via

Ahhhh, heavenly Stock! One of the best flowers to include in a spring container - this plant thrives in the early spring coolness but does not do well in summer's heat. It's worth including it if even for a short time simply to enjoy that sweet, spicy fragrance. This is another plant to include near a favorite evening spot to enjoy the heady fragrance. 

9. Larkspur

Via

No cottage garden would be complete without Larkspur! Another prolific self seeder, plant Larkspur in an area that you won't mind volunteers popping up for years to come. I'm good with that!

10. Lavatera

Via

This one is new to me but I've read about it and I'm intrigued! I always try out at least one new flower each season....although generally more than one....and this year I believe it will be Lavatera. 

I've already started compiling a seed order at Johnny's Selected Seeds.

I can't wait to get started!

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Gardeners' Gold and Weird Women

Well, I did it! I finally decided on a composter! I'm so excited! 

Ok, so I might be a little weird - sorry! That's just me! 

But let's face it - compost is a huge part of organic gardening - us gardeners call it "Gardeners' Gold" for a reason!

It's very simple - feed the soil, not the plant. If you feed the soil, the soil will nourish the plants. 

Via

The magic lies in compost. When we compost our garden waste and kitchen scraps into rich, dark 'gold' for the garden we put back into the soil what the plants take out of it. 

Synthetic fertilizers do not feed the soil. If anything, they leach the nutrients out of the soil leaving the soil worse off than before you added it. You give the plant itself a quick blast of food but you are killing off the biology of the soil. All the added chemicals and salts in synthetic fertilizers are poisoning our bodies via our waterways and our land. 

I started gardening organically many years ago. I honestly can't remember the last time I bought a container of Miracle Gro - it must be 20 years ago. 

I do buy liquid fertilizers to nourish my container gardens and give my plants an extra boost but they are all natural and organic. 

Big Bloom at Amazon

It's great to have a liquid organic food on hand to give the plants a little extra nourishment every now and again. 

I also have turned to the Vermont Compost Company for help with re-balancing the nutrients in the soil in my containers. 

Vermont Compost Plus at Gardeners Supply

This stuff is great - I add a bit to any containers that don't get dumped at the end of the season and it perks the soil right up! It's been a huge help these past few years when I was renting and didn't have a composter. 

But here's where the magic is going to happen from now on:

www.Envirocycle.Com

Meet my new friend. Isn't he gorgeous?

I told you about all the composters I was considering in this post.  Funny enough, this was not one of the ones on my radar at all! That was, until Pamela from Brooklyn Farm Girl left a comment telling me about this composter that she has had for years. 

I looked it up and I was intrigued! The only problem was, it didn't have two chambers. 

I nearly bought another one, one of the ones on my list, but I kept reading reviews and there were a number of things folks mentioned that were really bothering me. 

Yimby Tumbling Composter

1. Difficulty to put it together - ummm, no thank you. 

2. Flimsy materials, would probably not last more than a few years. 

3. Wasps and other flying insects getting into the vent holes. Again, no thank you!

4. Stinky stuff leaking out. 

5. The size of the openings for dumping in waste were too small. 

6. Difficult to turn when loaded up

7. Would not be able to move it easily once it's in place

I kept going back to the Envirocycle. The reviews were amazing, pretty much 5 star across the board. And folks raved about the company's customer service. 

This unit was more expensive than the other one I was looking at but if it's going to last many, many years and the company will stand behind it that makes it more than worth the extra money. 

I decided to purchase one now...and another one in the future. This way I can have two chambers, just like I really wanted. That means one side can be full and 'cooking' while the other side is being used and added to regularly. 

Well.....it arrived within days and sat in my garage for a bit while I waited for a halfway decent day to set it up. 

I set it up last night after work...and I'm delighted with it!

Setup took less than 5 minutes. The unit is most definitely light enough for me to handle on my own. 

Here it is on the corner of my patio next to the veggie garden. Exactly where I thought it should go. 

It's close enough to the kitchen door to make dumping my little kitchen compost bin easy peasy. We like easy peasy!

If I can smell it at all in the summer months it will be simple enough to move it to a different location away from the house, and then move it back for winter. 

I fed it the first bucket of kitchen scraps plus a bucket of dried leaves....heaven knows there are plenty around that need to be picked up!

I love that the opening is nice and large for dumping in waste. And the latch is easy enough to open even with frozen fingers like I had last night!

The unit is in two pieces - the top round part and then the base. 

www.Envirocycle.com

Another plus? The base not only has rollers so turning the top part to mix and aerate the contents is so simple....but it also collects the compost 'tea' in the base! There's a spout with a twist on cap that you unscrew to pour out the 'tea' when it gets full. That will take the place of me having to order liquid plant food online - that means this unit will pay for itself in a couple of seasons!

Pure genius, I tell you. 

See how weird I am? What other woman gets this excited about compost?

Valentine's Weekend Recap

Wow, what a weekend! I don't ever remember temps being as low as they got this weekend....not in the 12 years I've been living in the mountains, anyway! 

It looked so lovely when I walked into the kitchen Sunday morning to start the coffee. The sun was shining, my house was warm and cozy. 

The thermometer on the deck told a much different story - negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit! Are you kidding me? 

The glass on the kitchen door was completely frozen, both outside and in. 

Even my new windows which are quite energy efficient had ice on the inside edges!

My little Daisy, a.k.a. "the Monkey", was not one bit pleased at having to wear her pink puffy coat to go out and do her business. 

"Please help me.....please get this stupid thing off me.....I look ridiculous and can't possibly be seen in this!"

She'll be delighted to see that the forecast has warmed up considerably - and 48 and rain tomorrow - wow! That's a jump of 68 degrees in just 2 days - bizarre weather!!

I turned off the heater in the little garden cottage this morning - time will tell whether or not my little plants survived. 

Meanwhile I feel so blessed to have the most beautiful flowers in my cozy house that will surely brighten up these winter days - thank you, my sweet Valentine, for these gorgeous roses!

They are just so perfect! I'll enjoy them while they are blooming and dry them to enjoy for years after they begin to wilt. 

There are some additional colorful roses in the kitchen, thanks to my daughter's sweet man - aren't we blessed to have these caring, thoughtful men in our lives?

I hope you all had a warm and cozy Valentine's weekend - and just remember, only 34 more days until Spring!

Bring it on - I'm ready!

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Sharing at:

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