HOE

HOE

to remove (weeds) by hoeing

merriam-webster dictionary

Well, that's what I did this weekend.

The grass and pigweed had just about caught

up with me. Almost told Robert to plow it all

up as I couldn't see any seedlings. Then as I

walked around, there they were! Right where

I had marked the rows(very important!) were

tiny seedlings...

Rows 5, 6, & 7 Zinnia Benary Giant Mixed,

row 4 with Giant Celosia, and rows 1,2, & 3 with

Sorghum, or Broomcorn....

Hope you had a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Blessings from the Garden

ML

ps Home Garden Update tomorrow.

Memorial Day Weekend List

I have a country house full of teens and

lots of work to do this weekend...

* Prep work for Pumpkins ....planting date is

to be determined by the state of the garden

this weekend... possibly June 5th, but

definitely no later than June 12th...

* Determine war zones and techniques against

deer, armadillo, turkeys, etc...any suggestions

would be greatly appreciated!

* Weed, weed, weed flower beds...

* Clean up bee hive and ready for new bees!

* Plant more zinnias, sunflowers. All prep

for FlowerCamp.

In the meantime, I'll be cooking, cleaning, and

visiting the "country cannibal" in town. Will report!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

ps. take a moment or two to remember those

who are in the Garden of Heaven...

Construction

I am working on changing to WordPress, and a couple

other changes to help me with blogging!

Next post is about Llama poop, so get ready!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

English Peas

A reminder to place a label near

plants/seeds when you plant.

After tossing several hand fulls of pea pods to the

compost pile, I realized that these peas are English

peas. Sooo.... I've left them on the vines a bit longer

til they are nice and plump, then gather them by the

shirt full to saute for suppy.

Too bad I wasted so many. I cooked some of them while

still in the pod weeks ago, but they were tough and stringy.

Thinking they were snow peas.

I'm not sure what possessed me to open up the pod to

look at what was inside!

Very sweet and tasty. Just a bit of Smart Balance and

some peas...OH, also good raw fresh in salads!

Blessings from the Garden

ML

More Hummer Info...

A faithful reader found a "misprint" on a hummer food

recipe. The correct mix is 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

Boil the water then add the sugar and let cool. Boiling

allows a longer standing time in the feeder without getting

moldy...especially around here! Thanks Kathy!!

Here is the link to my March 28, 2009 post on hummers

http://www.mlchgarden.com/2009/03/hummers-are-coming.html

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Garden Seminars!

Garden Seminars

A super opportunity to learn more about gardening with no tests, no commitment, no pressure, no prerequisites! Sponsored by the Augusta Council of Garden Clubs, you may pick the topic(s) of interest, register and learn from the most sought after speakers in Augusta! All sessions include a "hands on " garden tour component...here is the scoop...

Blessings from the Garden

ML

The Augusta Council of Garden Clubs will hold a monthly series of gardening seminars

starting June 19 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3185 Wheeler Road.

Sessions are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch included.

Cost is $25 per session.

For information call Judy Kirkland at (706) 556-3417,

or e-mail jukirkland@charter.net.

Here are the topics:

June 19 Soil Prep & Composting, vegetable gardening

and companion planting

July 24 Herbs: Floral and Culinary

August 21 Perennials, Bulbs & Annuals

September 25 New Cultivars

October 16 Native Plants

Novemer 13 Indoor Plants

January 15 Trees & Shrubs

Saturday To Do's

Here is the list for today in the Home Garden:

* Assemble trellis for cucumbers

* Plant "princess"tree (Mother's Day gift!) in a pot

* Shovel up some 4 o'clocks, toss

* Fill bird/hummer feeders...

hummers 2 parts boiled water/1 part sugar

* Buy Diamond Frost and pink petunias for planting

around spiral topiaries

* Pick English peas, plant Blue Lake pole beans

* Re- read 5/21 article in Augusta Chronicle re: Amaranthus

* Set & post date for PUMPKIN planting! Remind RCH

to plow that field...

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Twine

There are several items I keep handy in the

garden. Twine is one of them, especially now

that growth is exponential.

The primary function of twine or jute during

spring/summer(in my garden) is to tie tomatoes to posts.

My toms have grown as high as 8 feet, so I just keep

tying the stems to the posts for upward persuasion.

Jute, which is actually a plant, is much heavier. I used

jute to tie the "teepee" posts together...Jute is too

harsh for the delicate tomato branches/stems.

Here(below) is another way I use twine. An upside down tomato

cage with twine working its way up the cage. My first blooming

sweet peas are appreciating the support! Next up will be

Blackeyed Susan vine. Topped off by small garden pot!

Also, the twine comes in handy to provide support for peas

& beans...Here are English peas growing rampant up a trellis

I concocted...

Buy some twine at your local garden store or big box

home store.

Well,I just counted 30 tomato plants in the Home garden! WOW.

I had 9 plants last year. A LOT of twine!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Farm House Clean Up

I spent most of my day in the car today, and

zero time in the garden. However, I did take

a moment(from my cleaning duties...ugh)

while in Burke County to check progress on

the Farm Garden.

All zinnias are coming up right on time.

So far, I've planted 4 fifty foot rows of Cactus Zinnias

and 4 fifty foot rows of Benary Giant Mixed

Zinnias. Also planted 4 rows of Broom Corn,

one row of Giant Celosia.

It has been very dry there until yesterday.

Seeds will start sprouting since thanks to yesterday's

downpour.

Volunteer Tithonia ( Mexican Sunflower) is

EVERYWHERE! I'll selectively shovel prune

as needed.

Above pic to show the weeding I'll be

doing this weekend. You may be able

to distinguish the rows, maybe not!

All of this in preparation for FlowerCamp and 2 fall weddings!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Rain!

We had a steady rain shower this afternoon so I am out

to the garden to check on things and fertilize. I'll be using

"llama beans" and some 10.10.10. It's a good time to

fertilize as a good rain leaches nutrients from the soil.

I am going to hoe around the Silver Queen corn as the

weeds are starting to encroach. Same with the 4 o'clocks,

they require shovel pruning frequently!

Prepared a calendar for blogging today while it rained. My goal is to blog about SOMETHING every day through August.

I'll have to remember the laptop while on vacation.

Go out and check the garden, you may find a suprise!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

ps. the pic is Queen Ann's Lace that looks like a snowflake to me...

click on it to appreciate.

Sunday Morning Report

Sunday Morning Report

I took pictures this morning as proof

that a bit of heat and some water yield

vigorous growth.

This is Spiderwort, white & blue.

Exploring ways to trellis my cucumbers up the wood

fence as they are beginning to send out "climbing"

tendrils. Maybe a piece of lattice or two poles with

jute similar to pea trellis?

Both Pat Lanza, author of Lasagna Gardening,

and Mel Bartholomew,author of Square Foot Gardening,

recommend vertical growth for vining veggies.

Here are Sq. Ft Gardens 1 &2 three weeks ago, and this morning.

Any ideas on a creative vertical apparatus would be appreciated.

The Romaine lettuce, beets, radish, and

arugula are still looking good.

Silver Queen corn is up and needs

fertilizer.

My ginormous mullein!

Mystery plant.

Huge leaves, sharp jagged leaves.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Flower Camp 2010

FlowerCamp 2010

FlowerCamp is about experiencing flowers, fun, and fellowship.

Surrounded by 180 acres of Southern Pines, Campers will experiment

with fresh flowers, greens and grasses to create their own unique fall designs.

FlowerCamp stimulates the artistic spirit for beginning and experienced designers. Campers are guided by good natured designers and Master Gardeners.

Not only is FlowerCamp for your enjoyment, but it is a method of cultivating your creative perspective.

Here are some details about your morning at FlowerCamp:
Camp begins at 11am & ends at 2pm.

• Directions will be mailed to you. It takes one hour from Augusta to get to Camp.

• Dress comfortably. Tennis shoes, long pants, layers with sweat jacket or sweater depending on weather. May want to wear a hat.

• You will have access to a cabin with a full kitchen, restrooms and plenty of rocking chairs and places to take a break!

• There are no phones at FlowerCamp. Please bring a cell phone if you need to.

Registration is $50 per Camper and includes all materials, sumptuous lunch and

refreshments. Dates available for Camp 2010: September 25th and October 2nd

with only 15 spots available each session! Registration is taking place now, don't be disappointed- be early!

I have a few people on a "during the week" list. If I have 10 to register, we'll do it on Thursday, September 30th...

FlowerCampers will go home equipped to confidently plan a cutting garden and design a creative arrangement.

Please email Mary Louise Hagler at mlchgarden@comcast.net for more information

or specific questions!

Blessings from the Garden.

MLCH

May Day May Day

may to-do's for augusta area gardeners

this is the month that gives gardeners in our

area the "fix" we need to jump start summer!

here are some things to do this month:

* get your veggie garden in

don't worry about being perfect, just do it!

* whiteflies?

insecticidal soap on gardenias,yellow sticky

paper near infested plants,any other ideas?

* stake up tomatoes

maybe put in some teepees with small clay pots on tops..

pinch off little side shoot "suckers"

* plant corn, okra, beans, cucumbers, squash, and

southern peas from seed

* buy some dahlia bulbs to plant for late summer bloom

* sign up for FlowerCamp.

September/October openings won't last.

* mid-June Pumpkin planting time.