Confession...

I am petrified of driving on I-20. I admit it.

Today, I must journey to Athens, Georgia to be installed as Corresponding Secretary for the Azalea District here in Georgia. I suppose the installation will be good, but hearing & meeting Alan Armitage tonite will be my true reward. Hoping that Mr. Armitage will sign one of my favorite books...Specialty Cut Flowers.

Take a peek at the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers' website. You'll definitely find a treat there.
Report from hotel on Armitage tour & talk...

see you
ML

April Garden To-Do's

Get Busy!

April is really the beginning of gardening season here in Augusta. Masters guests are arriving & "The Garden City" looks like a fairyland. We could still have some cool weather, but warm temps are around the corner. Check posts here daily for garden updates.

Garden To-Do's for April

Veggie Time

okra (seeds are easy)

southern peas- blackeye, pinkeye, cream, crowder, zipper

bell peppers (transplants best)

hot peppers/hot sweet peppers(transplants)

sweet potatoes (mid April) (slips in garden stores now)

tomatoes (heirloom & hybrid transplants in garden stores now)

watermelon (seeds)

canteloupe (seeds)

corn (seeds)

pole, bush & lima beans (seeds)

cucumber (seeds)

eggplant (transplants best & in garden stores now)

Culinary Herbs

basil

rosemary

parsley

chives

mint

fennel 

dill

Tips

keep tall & vertical growing plants toward back of your garden space

buy zinnia seeds & plant...zinnia is National Garden Bureau's flower for 2011

be creative! plant some veggies among your front yard landscape plants

use containers!

Refer to UGA's Vegetable Planting Chart for varieties specific to our area!

Blessings from the Garden. 

ML

January To Do's

Yes, it's cold (or is it? today?), but there are plenty of things to do in the
garden and in preparation for the upcoming growing season...









Here are a few things to keep you busy:

• feed the birds!
  
• dream. dream of what you'll be doing in the garden Feb/Mar.
• make a list of veggies, herbs and flowers you did not plant in 2010.
• prepare your garden beds now to be ready for planting in late Feb/March
  
• start a garden diary or blog. Make a sketch of your garden spot now, and add in what you'd like to plant this spring.
• plant fruit trees when available.
• buy seeds: beets, carrots, lettuce, english peas, radishes, spinach for planting late this month, early Feb. Get seed trays ready for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to be started indoors.
  
• keep your pansies, snaps, and ornamental kale watered!
• don't massacre your shrubs yet unless you want to look at it until warm weather arrives!
• send me some of your garden goals for 2011.
• join us for "TheDirt" video chat on Thursday, January 20th at noon.

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Garden Goals

It's time for goals and resolutions!

I just directed Robert and the kids to formulate 5 goals each for 2011 then email them back to me. Having resolutions, goals, and lists to review intermittently helps keep me focused rather than aimlessly spinning through life!

The focus for my 2011 goals (both gardening and personal) will be on purpose.

I will focus my energy on accomplishments with meaning and mission.

Garden goals from 2010 included sharing my passion for gardening with children, growing more food, joining a Community Supported Agriculture, designing 2 lasagna beds, and preparing for the 2010 Sacred Heart Garden Tour. I look back at these goals satisfied that I completed 3 of them and worked toward the other two.

Here are my garden goals for the New Year 2011:

• Re-work herb bed to include statue or fountain as focal point

• Start fresh cooking herbs from seed: basil, rosemary, chives, garlic, dill, cilantro and lovage


• Draw new sketch of garden plan for 2011 to share with garden clubs & readers. Review progress every other week.
  


• Plant 3 evergreens to hide unpleasant view!


• Continue to involve family in garden activities via Master's Table Soup Kitchen, home garden and farm garden.
  

Share your goals by commenting in the comment section below.
Blessings from the Garden.
Happy New Year!
ML