Bloom Thyme Friday: WaterWorks

Link | June 30, 2017July 1, 2017 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

For as long as I can remember, I have had a “sprig of something” rooting in water on a windowsill. My mom did that. My grandmother did that. My Aunt Myrtle did that.

This process never fails to wow me. Never fails to bring me great joy. I love being able to see the tiny roots form. Showing life. Showing rebirth. Showing re-creation. A good reminder of how simple the needs of a plant and a person can be. Strong roots that start growing slowly and get stronger as they continue to feed on things that are good for them. Basic things … like water.

Life can get complicated, but in reality our needs are so basic. God. Water. Family. Friends. Red Lipstick. Tacos. 😉💄🌮😉

On my potting shed windowsill today I have Coleus, Mint, Wandering Jew, Unidentified Trailing Plant, 3 African Violets (that are just about ready to be potted up) and Lavender (lavender roots best if you get down to the woody part of the stem)!

Not every plant will root in water. Many things I have tried just rotted.

Today I returned home from California to see roots on something I have never been able to root in water before!

DRUM ROLL!

For the very first time, I have roots on a Rugosa Rose cutting! I am just over the moon about this one.

Last week when I walked into my daughter’s California kitchen, guess what I saw.

Her windowsill with plants getting their baby roots. Joy! #happymomma

I even have a “sprig of something” on my kitchen windowsill where it gets little to no light! (Wandering Jew)

Do you like to put “sprigs of something” in water?

PROCESS (It’s Basic.)

Take cutting
Remove last 3 or 4 sets of leaves
Put stem in a tiny bit of root tone
Put in water
For most plants, sun will definitely help!
Watch for roots!

For African Violets, I just take a leaf and suspend it in water. Small jam jars covered in plastic wrap secured with a strong rubber band will do the trick! Cut a slit in the plastic wrap.

Keep putting down deep, strong roots and Happy Bloom Thyme Friday!

Bloom Thyme Friday: Garden 2 Table

June 13, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I love the concept of garden 2 table … cooking with the fresh food you grow yourself. My mother was a great gardener and she grew just about everything we ate. Because she canned and froze the extras we had food from our garden year round. (You can read more about her here.) But, if I am honest, my veggies keep getting inched out by roses and a couple of honey locust trees that are devouring our garden. However, we still have room for herbs and tomatoes — Mr. G makes sure of that. So, around here we are extremely grateful to area farmer’s markets to provide us with the other produce we love.

So many of my friends tell me they rarely cook anymore since their time is so limited! But, good news, there is someone who is inspiring us to get in the garden and in the kitchen by teaching us just how easy, fun and nutritious Garden to Table can be. My friend P. Allen Smith. Allen grows an acre of the most beautiful organic veggies you have ever seen and he is always testing new plants and gardening ideas. PLUS, he is a creative master in the kitchen.

What’s even better is that he shares his garden experiences and his mastery in the kitchen with all of us. Whether it is via his television shows (check out this listing for dates and times in your area.)

Or through his wonderful books, digital publications and you tube videos. Take advantage of all of these easy-to-use resources to be a master in your kitchen, especially if you are like me and spend most of your extra time in the garden and need all the tips and tricks in the kitchen you can get.

Follow Allen’s Garden Home Facebook page here for regular updates on what he’s cooking up in the kitchen and what’s going on in the garden.

SOMETHING NEW AND DEEEELISH

Don’t miss Allen’s most recent video for a Squash & Zucchini Casserole with Quinoa … can you say, “healthy comfort food you can feel good about.” I can’t wait to make this one! Take a look here.

And, yes, I did find enough room in the herb garden for zucchini! 🙂

THIS WEEK IN MY GARDEN

Around here we are having rain every day and boy are things lush even though the blooms are surely taking a hit. I did manage to get some pretty pictures after one of the rain storms earlier in the week…

Coral Drift ... I first saw growing in P Allen's herb garden and just had to have! — Coral Drift … I first saw this rose growing in P Allen’s herb garden and just had to have!

Poseidon Floribunda from the Simply Brilliant collection from Certified Roses. Check out their roses here.

The healthy blooming machine … Amber Carpet Rose.

Another shot of Poseidon. I can’t get enough of this rose!

Etoile des Violette clematis … perfect paring with New Dawn Rose.

Have a fun week in the garden! And…

HAPPY BLOOM THYME FRIDAY!

A Craftsman and His Veggies

March 24, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

With all the rosemania going on in our garden this year (we are adding 75 or so roses … I know, I know, it “seems” excessive but several of them were gifts, but more about that later), Mr. G is getting a bit concerned about veggie space. In an attempt to secure a spot for his veggies, he did one of the things he does best—built something out of wood.

Mr. G is a very good garden assistant, but his “real” hobby is wood working. He has built everything from stage sets to thousands of craft items for places like Michaels (remember the tole painting & craft era?!), to school projects for the kids and garden fences & arbors. And, who could forget the potting shed and the dirt drawer?

When a craftsman wants veggie boxes here’s how it goes…

The project started with a trip to Lowes with Mr. Bennet to pick out wood.

In the wood shoppe there is everything you need to build just about anything with wood… including a laser guided miter saw. (Whatever that is?)

Process…

I think veggie plants will be very happy in these beautiful boxes. However, I must say that I think the mini flora roses on the For Love of Roses website I was looking at last night would fit in there very nicely too. But, we won’t talk about that … at this time. 🙂

Bloom Thyme Friday: The Difference A Year Makes

March 23, 2012April 4, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

One year has made a big difference in my garden. With the temperature in the 80s most days, my garden is beginning to look more like summer than spring! I am seeing things I have never seen before … lilacs and rosebuds in MARCH! No way.

On March 26, 2011 we were laying a flagstone patio dressed in coats, hats and gloves! It was cold, dark and dreary. I kept the coffee pot going all day!

Notice the Dogwood tree in the background … not a leaf. That same tree is almost in full bloom just one year to the day!

FLAGSTONE PROJECT 080 — A cold, windy March 26, 2011 morning!

ROCK DAY 006 — The day before Mr. G and I were getting the “base” ready. Burrrrrr!

Fast forward to March 2012 … look at this!

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I love an early spring, but when summer comes instead of spring, well—I can’t help but wonder what August is going to be like. Maybe I should confer with my garden friends in Zone 7 or 8…

Are you having an early spring too?