Gardening - "This is Where Dreams are Made"

Wednesday, April 11 - Today I went out in my vegetable garden to weed my strawberries as well as water my cool weather crops. The lack of rain in our area has been a big concern. We are 5 inches under the norm in regards to rain water which I am sure this is due to  the small amount of snow we had this winter.

Also, with the low level of rain water, we have been warned we are in a "Red Alert", as the combination of high winds and no rain has caused the concern of forest fires to occur.

As I started to weed part of my garden, I was reminded of a visit from a good friend who stopped by over the weekend. He asked if he could see my garden and as we approached this area, he smiled and said, "This is were Dreams are Made". I replied, "yes, this is my DisneyWorld". We both laughed and then began to discuss the various seedlings which have begun to pop thru the soil.

I thought more of his comment today, and have to agree, that yes, this is what I enjoy the most during the spring time. Working in the garden is so relaxing, therapeutic, and provides a great means for me just to think about what is going on in my day to day life. I often think about what the yields will be once I begin harvest my summer crops.

Over the weekend I plan to take some pictures and post how my cool weather crops are doing. Also, after dinner, my two friends returned, a male and female blue bird stopped by and sat on my sheppards hook while the other birds were eating.

What a great way to end my day seeing these two beautiful birds back for a visit.

Time to Buy My Vegetable Plants

Monday, April 9 - Today I spent the day in Lancaster County Pennsylvania visiting 3 of my favorite shopping areas.

My first stop was the Kitchen Kettle Village. Here you will find many small shops containing food, homemade ice cream, candles, jewelry and clothing. The main shop, known as Kitchen Kettle contains homemade jams and jellies as well as other salsa and various spreads. Samples are found throughout the store which is a great way to try their new and traditional spreads. Also, you can watch the amish making jams as you are shopping.

Here is a picture taken in the back parking lot of Kitchen Kettle.

This is one of many amish farms you will find as you travel the back roads in Lancaster County.

My next stop is one which has become a tradition for me, Ken's Garden. As long as I can remember, when my father was alive, we would make a yearly visit to this garden center to purchase our vegetable plants and annual flowers which were not available were we live.

My wife and I spent a few hours today, going thru  4 greenhouses admiring their annuals and perennials. Once done, we began to assemble the vegetables for our garden planting scheduled for May.

This year, we chose to purchase various heirloom tomatoes as well as other types of tomatoes which will produce at different times during the growing season. We also purchased green and yellow squash, eggplant, broccoli plants to go with the seeds which are growing in my garden, basil and lemon basil, chives and peppers.

Our last stop was directly across from Ken's known as Rohrer's Seeds. Here I purchased seeds our fall planting.

Once I plant my vegetables, I will provide a detail list of all my plants I will be planting.

I thought I would share with everyone a picture of my father. This was sent to me a few weeks ago from a friend and it was taken in 1962. It is funny, as I grow older and deal with the day to day issues of the day, I think of my father and what I had learned from him. Today, I dedicate this blog to him and thank him for all the guidance and wisdom he had provided me while he was alive.

Happy Easter - A day to relax and reflect

Sunday, April 8 - Happy Easter Everyone !!!

Today I woke up early, and began my normal weekend routine by taking our dogs outside and enjoying the brisk early morning. I enjoy this time of day, as it is so quiet and the only noises to be heard are the birds which are beginning to sing. 

With today being Easter Sunday, I began to think about this special time. For those who are believers, it  is the highest religious holiday of the year. The day we all live for; the celebration the risen savior.

I also thought about those who are no longer with us and have been called home. This day comforts me knowing that these loved ones have received the highest gift of all, that being eternal life.

Lastly, it is a time to think about those loved ones who are struggling. Not only physically but emotionally. It is my hope thru prayer and special thoughts these friends and relatives may be able to put those unsettled thoughts aside and work on healing. 

As I am writing this blog today, I have been looking outside, looking at the birds arriving for their morning meal. The male and female cardinals and the red headed woodpecker have started their early morning feast as the sun has begun to rise.
Today will be a day to relax, to spend time with family, and to think about those who are loved and will not be with us. Whether they are alive or not, it is a time to think about good memories and warm thoughts.
I will be taking a day off from gardening. It will be a day to refuel and to get ready for the week ahead. I have included today two pictures, two dogwood trees in my backyard taken yesterday. It is so nice to see them beginning to bloom and to welcome this time of year.
Enjoy this day everyone and take time today to remember those who are a special part of your life !!!!!

Mulching - a great day in the gardens !

Saturday, April 7 - It was a beautiful day here in South Jersey. The temperatures were in the 60's and as the day became older, the breeze became stronger.

I had a great day working outside, spreading mulch in my back flower gardens. As you can see by my pictures, it has added a beautiful touch to my flower bed.  Luckily I do have some mulch left over which I did not expect. I plan during the week to to spread this covering in my front flower bed.

The remainder of the night will be spent relaxing and caring for my aching back. Seriously, it was a day I looked forward to all spring and I am so glad the weather was sunny, warm and breezy.

Mulching and its Benefits

Friday, April 6 - Today I spent preparing my flower gardens for mulching, as you can see, the ground has been weeded and raked. Before raking, I also tilled the ground with a hoe to break up any hard ground. This helps to aerate the soil as well as disturbs any weeds which may have started  to germinate.

There are many benefits to mulching, besides adding aesthetic flavor to your gardens, this type of covering helps maintain moisture during the hot summer months as well as keeping the roots of all your plants and flowers cool. Also, during the winter, mulch insulate your plant roots which provides protection against frosts and freezing.

 As your mulch begins to break down, it provides nutrition to your ground. It serves as a "natural" compost which will continue to fertilize your soil throughout the years. Mulching helps deter weeds to grow and will cut down on weeds provided your prepare your soil properly before putting it down. As I mentioned earlier, the preparation sometimes takes longer than laying the mulch but this time will certainly pay off, especially during the summer growing season.

There are different types of mulch available depending on its preparation and color. No one color is better than the other and should be picked upon personal preference.

Preparation is usually 3 different ways, that being once, twice or triple shredded. The more your mulch is shredded, the easier it is to spread and  lay.

Today I had 5 yards of triple shredded black mulch delivered. This has been an annual event that I look forward to. Not only do I enjoy laying the mulch, but it also reminds me that flower planting is not too far away. Lastly, its fresh smell and the beauty it adds to the garden is a welcome addition to my flower gardens.

Tomorrow, I hope to post pictures of my finished product.

Keeping Deer Away

Wednesday, April 4 - As we had our first frost yesterday and with recent cool mornings we have been experiencing, the deer have been edging closer to our flower and vegetable gardens looking for food to eat. One morning a few weeks ago, I observed two deer trying to get bird seed out of one of our feeders at 4am!!!

I have been fortunate up to this point, that I have had minimal damage from deer. I usually walk my dogs around the perimeter of my garden 2 or 3 times a week. I also have placed cut human hair in nylons and placed this in the garden. Lastly, I have hung from a stake an aluminum pie plate hoping the noise on a windy day will scare the deer away. There are many deer deterrents you can purchase at your local garden center or home improvement centers, however I would recommend one of my suggestions before making a trip to your local center.

Remove Those Garden Weeds

Sunday, April 1 - Seeing that the weeks temperatures will be in the 60's, it appears Spring is around the corner. This week I will  daily check my strawberry and blueberry plants to make sure the cool nights do not affect the early blooms which are beginning to form. It is so important to check the low for each night as a frost or even unusually low temperatures could drastically effect what will be produced during the spring and summer months.

Do not be afraid to cover these plants if the temperatures are predicted to plummet. Using trash bags (or straw on strawberries) is an excellent way to maintain a shield to protect these plants under these conditions.

It is too early to remove the straw from your strawberry plants even if the plants are beginning to "pop out" from you winter cover.

Check your vegetable garden and monitor the growth of your peas. By now, they should have be visible and an early planting may be ready to climb your fencing. Do not be afraid to help the runners attach to the fencing so they can begin to climb your guides.

Make sure to remove any weeds found in your garden, especially around the cool weather crops you have planted. Besides draining nourishment from the soil, they will impede the growth of your crops.

Lastly, it will be a week where I will begin to remove all the weeds from my flower gardens. It is time to prepare for the annual mulch I will be putting down. With the unusually warm winter we had this year, the abundant amount of chickweed has taken over many areas.