Mar 15
This month I’ve got a lot of the same plants blooming as last month – like helebores and snow drops. I’ve also got my daphne ‘Summer Ice’ that started blooming and my euphorbias are close to blooming. For fun, I threw in some photos of shrubs with colorful leaves like spirea and barberry – so pretty! Read more
Mar 7
I imagine this is what my cabbage, lettuce, mustard, kohlrabi and beet seedlings would look like to ant.
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Feb 25
I’ve seen this quote before on the back of a PAPYRUS card and loved it. I just saw it again today and thought I’d share it with you. There’s just something so peaceful and lovely about it.
“Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.” – PAPYRUS
I know they specialize in beautiful/creative greeting cards so you’d expect something unique from them, but the person who created this text deserves a happiness award.
Anyway, I did a quick search online and found many, many hummingbird legends and myths. They are very beautiful, mysterious and quick little birds that have apparently fascinated us for centuries.
Since I don’t have a ton of blooms and I’m still having fun with my Ollo iPhone lens (what can I say – I’m a nerd), I took two shots of each bloom. One normal shot followed by a closeup (and maybe a touch blurry). Enjoy. Read more
Feb 12
Since some of you are chicken people and/or almost chicken people I thought I’d pass along this amazing new book ‘Free-Range Chicken Gardens.’
I should start by letting you know that I am actually in the book (pages 27, 51 upper left, 112, 114-117) – not that I’m keep track or anything. But, that’s not why I think it’s amazing. I like to joke that I wish I had this book when I first got chickens – but then I wouldn’t be in it.
I think this book is amazing because it covers everything I’ve had questions on since I’ve had chickens – in an easy to read format.
And because I still have questions. She also talks about chicken breeds, chicken habitat, plans for coop/yard layout, keeping your chickens safe, how to protect your plants, diseases, and more. There are also examples or bios of people who free-range chickens in their gardens.
Plus, it’s important to me that a book be easy to read. I tend to flip through books more than read them straight through. That being said, I love the layout of this book. The headers and topic headings are easy to spot if you want to read through a specific topic. Overall, it’s full of the information I need while including plenty of chicken/garden pictures and visuals.
Disclaimer: I did get a copy of the book to review. Before that, I already purchased a copy of the book for myself and my besty Keri who has chickens. I’ll simply give one to my mom. Plus, I already mentioned that I’m in the book. Oh, and since meeting Jessi (when she came to take pictures of my chickens and garden), I’ve come to consider her a good friend. She’s the real deal.
Update: This contest is over. This means you need to go out and buy the book now!
FREE-RANGE CHICKEN GARDENS. I have the pleasure of being included in Jessi Bloom's beautiful book (pages 27, 51 upper left, 112, 114-117). Check it out!
THE NEW LOW MAINTENANCE GARDEN. This book by Val Easton is one of my favorite design books.
WICKED PLANTS: Great read about poisonous plants by Amy Stewart.
THE VEGETABLE GARDENER'S BIBLE. My favorite vegetable garden reference book by Edward C. Smith.
GROW. COOK. EAT. by Willi Galloway is a beautiful vegetable garden cookbook. Great recipes and tips on eating ALL parts of the veggie - not just the mainstream parts.
Gardening in My Rubber Boots 