Easy Gardening Tips for your HOME...

I worked all morning into the late after noon on real estate stuff. It's a bit crazy right now, most everything is getting multiple offers and that drives prices up. We are in a supply and demand market, not enough homes.

In my second home I unwind. For many homeowners, gardening provides beauty to their properties as well as fresh produce. It can be a lot of work.

Some Tips to make it a bit easier:

💮 Whether you grow flowers or vegetables, choose your garden size based on your level of commitment you want to put into it. For gardening in small areas, use space-saving techniques for a maximized yield.

💮 Utilize window boxes, containers or raised beds as they require less bending and kneeling to work. They limit encroachment by weeds and even some pest, which means less weeding and less pest control efforts.

💮 Choose native plants to save yourself maintenance work as they are best-suited for your natural climate. Plant those with similar needs together based on light or watering requirements.

💮 Consider using a drip irrigation system or a timer to water your lawn automatically. Drip irrigation is inexpensive to install, and it doesn't need frequent maintenance. Using timers will also save you the worry of forgetting to water the lawn.

Here's what going on in my 2nd home today...

These are going to go on the green house. I'm doing a mixture of herbs and flowers.

The flowers are starting to grow, I am excited to see their progress

I see many homes and from a Realtor's prospective the way a home owner maintains their property outside as well as the inside makes a huge difference. I have seen many buyers pass up a home simply due the un-kept yard and maintenance on the exterior of the home. Yard work, gardening, all of it requires time. Remember to choose things based on your level of commitment you want to put into it.

Did you know that ???

Besides adding appeal to your yard, gardening significantly benefits your mental health...

Great read if you have the time

https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2020/05/18/gardening-can-influence-and-benefit-your-mental-health/#:~:text=Growing%20greater%20happiness%20by%20gardening,or%20behavior%2C%E2%80%9D%20Hall%20said.

The inside of our Greenhouse March 20, 2021

 When I am out and about I see that the nursery sections in the stores are filling up with plants. Theirs are much bigger as we did get a later start on ours. 

It's okay, we are looking pretty darn good in our little 12 x 12 second home. Today I spent a few hours after finishing up some contracts playing around planting more flowers. I am looking forward to creating a garden like back yard. It may take a few years but I am going to enjoy the process. That's part of the beauty of having a home. I planted Dehlia Pom Poms today and sorted through the seeds I have lining them up to get planted. It was a raining day, a great day to spend in the greenhouse.

Our newest toy...well it's what we love!!!

 Our new addition to the family...2021

I'm still thinking of a name...Any suggestions?

It's been a dream for a few years, we finally did it. I have looked at hundred's of green houses. Let me say there are a lot out there. Trying to find something both Brent and I liked and affordable was the challenge. I guess it's much like shopping for a new house. When showing homes to a couple it takes a few showings to find something they both like. I found that same thing in shopping for our greenhouse.

We ordered it as a kit, and the boys (thankful for Sons) helped us put it together...

Then we had to wait out the snow, run power to it and finish the inside...It's been a few months of getting that done. 

Winter time Food, enjoying warm soup...

 

Seed Time, my favorite in 2020 was Pumpkin on the stick!!!

My favorite in the garden 2020...💚💚💚💚
Pumpkin on the stick...yes I saw these seeds and could hardly wait to plant them in 2020. I actually started them in the house and moved them to the garden area. It's grows much like a bush. They are edible, but apparently not too tasty as to what I have read about them. This eggplant relative is used in some Asian cuisine, but in this part of the world it’s not grown as an edible, but for its usefulness as an autumnal decoration, or pick them off and fill a bowl. The fruits are naturally glossy and will keep their rich hues throughout the season. In fact, the dried fruits last for years, with their color darkening to a glowing russet-brown. I also used them in some of my Christmas decor (painted them gold). 

(Don’t eat parts of this plant unless you have good advice on how to use them safely. I could not find any resources to help with that.) The plant is safe to handle and doesn’t pose any great danger to children. When picking use some shears and beware they have mean thorns much like roses...

Look for “pumpkin on a stick” in the fall. These offbeat dried eggplants are ideal for dried flower display, and easy to grow in your garden next year. I am doing it again for 2021!!!

 

Ya Mon Soaks - stuff for the tub and now your shower!!!

After a long day...I enjoy a good long soak in the tub!!! Now I have found some cool stuff for the shower...

 

My new favorite bath product company, realtor gifts, and what I got everyone for Christmas. Let me tell you a little about John (Ya Mon) and Brenda. I got the opportunity to introduce their product line. I'm not good in front of the camera. I did some late night research on them and arrived early to their location. I was very curious as I am somewhat of a bath product snob...lol.

They make all their products fresh, no inventory. They use premium essential oils and salts. I personally toured the facility which was amazing, clean, friendly, and the aroma was so great that I bought one of everything. Of course they had to make me some as they make all their products fresh. I used one of their bath balms that evening...I was hooked really hooked. My husband and I have 9 kids and 14 grand kids. So I ordered most of our Christmas gifts from Ya mon soaks...They packaged up everything beautifully. I have since received feedback from most of the family who have tried their product. The verdict was hands down they LOVED IT!!! You can visit them online and they make it easy to order...you will love it!!! yamonsoaks.com

 Today I am in Las Vegas, spending some time with those I love but also needing some down time. One of my granddaughters wanted to know how to make my Pepper jelly. This is a very easy recipe and it's delicious. I use it a lot during the holidays. She is wanting to make a Churcuterie board tomorrow with this special treat added to it. Anytime I can pass on down a recipe from Grandma I'm in!!!

Green Pepper Jam

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of green pepper (mixture of any green pepper and jalapeno)

1 1/2 cups of distilled white vinegar & 1 TBSP

6 1/2 cups of sugar

3 ounces of liquid pectin

Directions

In a large pot combine diced green peppers (I dice small) and white vinegar. Bring this to a boil for about 4-5 minutes. I then use a spoon and remove about 3/4 of the peppers.

Add another TBSP of vinegar and your sugar, bring to a boil for 6 minutes stirring constantly. 

Stir in liquid pectin and continue for 3 more minutes, stirring constantly, remove pan from the heat, and skim off the foam from the top.

Ladle jelly into sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2 inch space at the top. Seal and process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.

This jelly has become a family favorite. It goes good on the following, black eye peas, smoked sausages, crackers with cream cheese...

I love growing my own dill, and I use it for making my pickles...

Pickles link...

https://mygardnerguy.blogspot.com/search/label/pickles

Corn is the main thing My Gardner Guy likes to grow and besides loving hamburgers I  think during corn season corn could beat a hamburger out...LOL I really love this recipe, it does not store well but don't worry it's so good it will be eaten thus no worry for left overs. It's really good with a added avocado...if you have one!!!

Corn salad but I like it with chips for corn salsa...

   1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

   1 C corn (from 2 cobs—cooked, or a small can/drained, or 1 C of frozen corn that is thawed.  I like it roasted on the cob.)
½ C chopped pepper (red, yellow, etc.)
½ a jalapeno chopped fine
½ red onion diced
1 C chopped cilantro
¼ C lime juice (from 1-2 limes or bottled)
2 t Pico de Gallo 

3 T olive oil and salt to taste...

Combine all and let set for at least 15 min before serving.  

This year has brought more time spent in the garden and my yard. Let's just say the garden is my yard...I love these flowers called Alliums. I am learning there is quite a few types and the goal is to plant more of these pretty things all in due time. I am really quite thankful for the joy these flowers bring to me. I have pretty much worked from home as a realtor in my home office but like most people due to the Covid 19 I was longing for a break. Keeping my eyes on these flowers daily as they popped out of the ground was a sweet treat. Unlike my tulips and artichokes the deer leave these alone.

Pinball Wizard’ allium is a showstopper in any garden.

‘Pinball Wizard’ allium (Allium hybrid)

This standout cultivar has densely packed flowers, which are easy to see from a distance. Groups of three to five bulbs planted together really pop. ‘Pinball Wizard’ is a slightly smaller version of ‘Globemaster’, which grows a little taller — up to 36 in. If you’d like a similar look with white flowers, try ‘Mount Everest’ (A. stipitatum); it has 4- to 6-in. flowers on 24- to 36-in.-tall stems.

Type Bulb Blooms 6- to 8-in. lavender flowers in late spring Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 18 to 24 in. tall, 5 to 8 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8

How to grow allium

Ornamental onions thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Early alliums need moisture while growing, then dry soil the rest of the year. Later bloomers do well in a typical well-drained garden site. You can buy alliums as plants or bulbs. The onion family includes all sorts of ornamental bulbs for almost every garden situation. Plants are available spring to early summer, and that’s the time to plant and transplant them.

Plant allium bulbs in fall

The time to allium plant bulbs is fall and a stand-up bulb planter can make fast work at planting time. Here are some tips to get you started:

Planting tips

• Space allium bulbs at two to four times the bulb’s width and set them two to three times as deep as its diameter.
• For large alliums that’s about 8 to 10 inches apart and 6 inches deep.
• Smaller allium should be 3 to 4 inches apart and about 4 inches deep.
• After the soil freezes, mulch the new bulbs.
• Fertilize alliums in fall when roots begin to grow. Use an all-purpose bulb slow-release fertilizer that supplies nutrients throughout the growing season.

You Might Also Like: Loving my garden gate magazine, great read!!!
Find the Right Bulb for Your Garden
How to Buy the Best Bulbs
Elegant Spring Garden Bed

Adding some Thrill, fill, and spill in my life...

My Granddaughter is here with me for several weeks and with everything still somewhat shut down working on some yard things has been fun. I have a few pots around the house and wanted to add some flowers. Plus I really enjoy visiting a few flower nurseries to see the flowers, colors and dream... For me it's a heath thing, reduces stress, and it's part of creating working and beautifying your surroundings. When it comes to container flower gardening there are three rules of thumb to use. Thrill, Fill, and Spill...not only does it apply to flower design but I believe you can apply it to your own life...just a thought...
I am a supporter of garage, other people's throw stuff they no longer want. Like this planter and the cherub...It's just perfect for the out side. 

It's a do it yourself look, not expensive out side patio furniture but it works and I quite enjoy it...

Using the Thrill, Fill, and Spill: Three Easy Steps to Container Gardening

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Eric Engledow

Container gardening is a great hobby that can be enjoyed by virtually anyone. That’s because container gardens can be grown in confined spaces like patios, decks, balconies, and even screened-in porches. And with carefully selected plants, they can also be grown in a variety of light conditions, from full sun to partial sun, or even full shade. We discussed the basics of container gardening on WISH-TV’s Indy Style, but we’d like to provide some additional tips on how to create a container garden.

“Thrill, fill, and spill” is a phrase that’s become popular in describing how to arrange a container garden. The idea is to group together various plants with similar growing needs using three key components of design to create a fabulous container garden that will be sure to turn heads. Here’s how it works:

1. Thrill: This refers to the addition of a unique, eye-catching plant—one that usually has some height to it. It should be the showpiece of your container. You can choose to focus on foliage, color, or texture. Some great thriller plants include banana plants, purple fountaingrass, lavender, caladium, or salvia.
2. Fill: This is exactly what it sounds like—selecting plants to fill out any remaining space in the container. You typically want to use shorter plants or flowers as to not take away from the height of the thriller. This is also where you should add color. Annual flowers like petunias, begonias, aster, impatiens, lemon drops, or coral bells work very well as filler material.
3. Spill: The final component of creating a great container garden is adding plants that spill over the edges. You can add more color to complement the existing colors of the container or you can use vining plants that focus more on foliage. Spilling plants include lobelia, sedum, dichondra, wave petunias, trailing rosemary, sweet potato vine, or an ivy.

Using the thrill, fill, and spill technique essentially creates three layers of interest—a structure that is commonly used in floral design. And when the right combination of plants, colors, and textures are used, it can make for a stunning container garden.

Reduce Stress by getting out in the Garden. The rewards are awesome, the food is better, it's fun, share what you grow...a little dirt never hurt anyone!!!

https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/design-ideas/all/reduce-stress-by-getting-out-in-the-garden/