Garden Goals 2010

Tomorrow begins a new decade, 2010.
I admit that for the past 4 years I have set goals
and worked toward them feeling a sense of accomplishment. It seems as each year passes I build on those goals
set 4 years ago.

Writing them down really works!


Today is no different. I will set personal goals related
to fitness, business, and personal life, but will add more
gardening goals, too!




Here's a glimpse of my 2010 Gardening Goals:
1. Share my passion for gardening with children.
2. Grow more food for my family to experience.

3. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

4. Start two "lasagna" garden beds.

5. Prepare my little garden for the 2010 garden tour.

Do you have gardening goals for 2010?

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

SCAT!

Today was beautiful, so I took a stroll through the garden this evening

to check on the veggies and possible freeze damage.

The broccoli, kale,cauliflower, lettuce, pak choi, garlic,

english peas all look great.

Don't you agree?

Everything was fine til I stepped over by the fence(neighbor barrier)

and found this.....

scat!!! What the heck? Has Peter Rabbit

been traipsing around in my garden late at nite?

will report

blessings

ml

The Beauty of Flowers at Christmas

Christmas is such a special time. Even though some

of us might not be "ready" , decorating tends to

boost our mood!

Today was spent with flowers for tables in which

many will enjoy the food, and the design created for

this occasion...

This design surrounds a glass candlestick.

A mix of fresh greens, seeded eucalyptus,

roses and kumquats. Two candlesticks

were placed at the bar.

More blessings from the Garden soon...

ML

Simple Elegance...

Just finished working with beautiful white lillies,

fresh greenery and amaranthus. The combination

is so elegant and fresh. Reminds me of the sweetness

that is all about the birth of baby Jesus.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

WreathWorkshop II Wrap Up

The WreathWorkshops were a big hit.

Personalities of wreaths and their makers

were quite distinct!

The wreaths were made with a mixture of

cedar, fir, cypress, white pine, rosemary, bay

and some greens not yet identified...

Looking for holes that need filling.

Rose brought bright red nandina

berries to embellish her gorgeous creation...

All were proud...

Blessings from the Garden,

MLCH

ps. come back for the 12 plants of Christmas!

More Wreaths...

Oh, what fun it is to make wreaths!

You know, there is meaning to all this-

wreaths are a symbol of eternal life.

The evergreens signify the fact that even

through harsh winter these trees stay green-

the strength of life.

More pics of beautiful traditions...

Blessings from the Wreath Garden.

Mary Louise

WreathWorkshop I

Perfect day of Wreath making by 7 industrious ladies.

Wreath makers had a short lesson on the basics

of wreath making and got right to work...

They chose from a "mountain" of greenery outside the Shed

and used pins to attach the greens to a straw form. Most wreaths

were about 34 inches in diameter! WOW. That is the perfect

size for most standard doors!

All were so proud of their creations!

Blessings from the Wreath Garden!

ML

WreathWorkshop Preview!

I was wrapping up some wreaths today when

Sam comes in for a visit. We chatted for awhile,

then he asked if he could make a tiny wreath for his room.

Well, well, well, he completed his wreath and I have a new helper!

Sam added some greens with tiny pinecones,

and some white pine.

DONE!

Blessings from the Workshop~!

ML

Wreaths!

It is wreath making time again!

I've been busy in the Shed making 34-36" diameter Christmas

Wreaths! The wreaths are on a 20" straw form and pinned with

LOADS of fresh greenery! The finished product puts flat wire

wreaths to shame!

The form is in the picture above with the "back side" finished,

awaiting "front side" pinning. The pic below is the almost finished

product.

Will take pics today of my "wreath garden"!

Pouring rain yesterday,

so no outside pics...

Baby G-Mo waited patiently....

Blessings from the Wreath Garden!

ML

Christmas WreathWorkshop Info

If you are registered for one of the WreathWorkshops

here at TheShed, here are the details:

• bring gloves, my gloves are fleece with the fingers cut out
• dress in layers and wear old clothes, we are going to be in a shed
• comfy shoes
• you are welcome to gather some greens and berries from your yard, place in bucket of water and bring with you
• everything you need to make your wreath will be here
• healthy snack, coffee and water provided
• 10am to 12 noon wreathmaking marathon!
• email me for directions

I am excited for you!

Blessings from the Garden!

ML

Give Thanks...

I leave for the farm tomorrow where I won't be tempted by electronics...
there are none! No wi-fi, no phone, no nothing!
We will enjoy Thanksgiving with our family and friends.

What am I thankful for? There are too many blessings to post!
We are blessed to be here enjoying each day! The people, places and
circumstances are part of the Garden created by God. I am thankful
to be a part of all of it.

The New Year will bring New Blessings.

Life is a Garden, Dig It!

see you.
ML

Garlic Zone 7/8

Today is the day for planting garlic. This is

a "Thrill Seekers" pack from Easy to Grow Bulbs.

www.easytogrowbulbs.com

Suprisingly, I learned that 75% of the garlic

we buy in the US is grown in ...you guessed...

CHINA, along with everything else they send over.

It's too easy to grow in your backyard to pass this up.

Keep in mind, they haven't been too safety conscious

in China!

The proof is in the pictures!

• separate the large garlic cloves from the large bulb
• plant only the larger cloves 2" deep where they will get plenty of sun
• pointy part of clove upward
• cover, water, then blanket with leaves or mulch
• use the smaller cloves for cooking
• wait!

Good luck with your garlic. At the very least, if you are

not growing your own, make sure your garlic is from

California!

Blessings from the Garden!

ML

GoingTeal for TDay.

Most will think I am ridiculous, but I have been made more aware of

the need to become Green or at least a variation of Green.

Teal maybe?

As I plan our Thanksgiving meal for next week and all that goes with it,

plates, napkins, utensils, water(country water is nasty!) and food,

I realize how wasteful this day could turn out to be.

Don't forget, there are probably 50 people coming over for a cozy

Thanksgiving celebration! 50 plates, 50 napkins, 50 plastic forks,

50 water bottles!

Here is my contribution to going Teal Green for TDay:

• Water pitchers
• Biodegradable utensils(have tried bamboo, will look for those) & paper products
• Remember the compost pile!
• Use aluminum foil instead of plastic wrap
• Send leftovers home in guest's containers(everyone is bringing a dish!)

This may be the best I can do. Would invite suggestions without having me go

overboard as I am still "green"...

Blessings from the Green Garden!

ML

Herbs for the Holidays

Herbs are a necessity for decorating, cooking and gift giving.

Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Gifts...

Create an Italian Herb Pot for that hard to buy for person on your list.

This heavy pot is filled with 3 large Swiss Chard plants,

thyme, and violas. You could add: parsley, rosemary, chives,

oregano, and nasturtiums...

Decorating...

Cut bunches of Rosemary, fill vases in your kitchen window,

it will root! Mix Rosemary with other herbs and add to your

floral designs for Thanksgiving/Christmas.

Herb Wreath

Incorporate herbs into a small kitchen wreath like this one.

Camellia, magnolia, holly berries, choke berries make the base

of this wreath. Rosemary and bay are the dominant herbs here, but

you could add Artemesia(wormwood), lavender, thyme, oregano,

just about any herb in your garden will do!

Cooking...

Take advantage of whatever you have growing.

Use rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, and chives for stuffing

under the skin of your bird/chicken. The kitchen aroma is divine.

Herb Biscuits

Buy a frozen package of biscuit dough, let thaw(be careful, it grows!)

pull small pieces out to roll in olive oil, chopped herbs and parmesean

cheese. Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes...

Blessings from the Garden

ML

November To-Do's

Aside from raking up leaves, blowing twice a day, and

being pelleted by acorns, we do have some work to do!

• plant pansies, snapdragons, sweet allysum, use pansy mate (or miracle gro organic) for fertilizing
• time for tree and shrub planting, too
• divide daylillies, monkeygrass(liriope), blackeyed Susans, hostas to fill in or share with someone
• buy seeds to plant now! hollyhock, larkspur, California poppy for envious bloom in spring
• buy and plant spring flowering bulbs! daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, tulips
• plant amaryllis and narcissus bulbs to force inside- great gifts...
• last chance to cut that basil, put inside in vase until ready to make pesto
• sign up for WreathWorkshop!
• Wake me up, I can't believe there are only 2 weeks to T-Day!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Power Potting!

Great day! I had the best team of ladies

potting huge amaryllis bulbs which will

benefit the Patrick Chance Fund for Neuroblastoma

Research.

We were like bees humming in

my backyard shed cranking it out...

from the pebbles in the bottom of

the container, then some soil, topped off by a

colossal amaryllis bulb.

My garden buddy, Kris, has sold over 600 bulbs

this year in the quest to find a cure for this form of

childhood cancer.

Packaged bulbs line the walkway to shed!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Davidson Fine Arts Clean Up Day 1

One of the interesting facts about becoming a

"Master Gardener" is you are asked to help with

many projects! The Davidson Fine Arts Grounds

Beautification project is going to be interesting.

With all the budget cuts, of course there is no

funding for ongoing maintenance on public school

grounds. So we have parent volunteers (through PTO)

and students working (one step at a time!) to get

ths property where it can be maintained.

We will get there!

Blessings from the Garden!

ML