Gardening

Spring Has Sprung!

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:46:41 GMT

Posted by: winterfirelight

It's been busy times in the garden! I got the last of my cold-stratified seeds planted last night. On Sunday we took on the big project of replacing the old wooden bed out by the street that's been slowly rotting away and was full of grass anyway. It's all concrete underneath, and the bed was too shallow to be able to plant anything substantial, much less anything that I'd feel comfortable harvesting. In it's place we put in four 2x2 corrugated steel beds that are much taller, and there's space for another 3-4 small beds of that size if we decide we like how these first ones are working. Still some cleanup to do from that, but otherwise it's looking much better.

I've gotten the feverfew, oregano, and thyme settled in those new spaces, with the last bed ready for the tulsi seedlings whenever they're big enough to transplant. The nights are still getting quite cold, so I'm waiting a while longer before making the little things have to brave the weather. It's supposed to be a temperate variety that can handle our cooler temperatures, but I've previously only grown the more tropical tulsi, which makes me a little more cautious than I maybe need to be. I'll be curious to see how the varieties differ.

The elecampane officially survived the winter, which I'm very happy to see! I thought for sure I had lost it. It's much slower to wake than the rest of the garden. I'm not sure if that's just how it is, or if it's a function of the place where it's been planted. It seemed to lag behind other plants in growth last year, too, but I imagine the second year will tell me quite a bit about how it feels where it is.

There's plenty of maintenance work to do in the garden, but in terms of plants, it's back to a waiting game. All the big plant sales and swaps won't happen until May, and none of the seedlings are quite ready for transplant yet, so I shall bide my time and be patient. I still haven't quite decided where everything will go, or what else I'll buy when the sales come along. There's a real risk I'll run out of space, but at least the soil is amended and weeded and ready to go. Hurrah for warmer days!

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Worm Dirt Harvesting

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:03:15 GMT

Posted by: rebeccmeister

This is largely cross-posted from my personal blog, since I figure a lot of us spend a lot of time thinking about soil quality and composting! I love worm bins because they can be made to work for all kinds of lifestyles, including people who live in apartments, since a well-managed bin does not smell and can be designed to fit in all kinds of spaces.

I think I'm reaching the stage where there's something of a steady-state for managing my new-ish worm bin bench. To begin with, by myself I generate around 1 batch of kitchen scraps a week that can go into the bin. My kitchen scraps mostly include spent coffee grounds, banana peels, apple cores, and vegetable trimmings from whatever I happen to be cooking that week. Eggshells now get handled separately, and citrus goes into the yard compost outside because citrus is toxic to worms.

( photos and description below the cut... )

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Starting a garden journal

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:01:20 GMT

Posted by: angrboda

The below is a crosspost from my own dw. Has anybody else experimented with a garden journal? What sort of stuff did you write in it?

For Christmas Husband gave me a nice Critical Role notebook as 'something to go with', so I have been vaguely pondering what to use it for. I have now decided to have a go at making it a garden journal.

I have no idea how one does that. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm basically just putting stuff in there and seeing where it goes. I don't even know how long I'll be able to keep it up,* but we're having a go anyway. So far I've put in a list of what's in the different beds off the top of my head, I've put a todo list of tasks I'd like to get done during the spring (lol!),** and I've put in a number of ideas for how I would like to do the terrace pots and a list of other plants I might like to try and plant.

It occurs to me that it might also come in handy when we go to the garden center because I can take it with me and look up what I was considering, which feels far more attractive than a note on my phone, and I could potentially also put in things that I saw at the garden center that might be interesting later on, especially if I remember to also bring a pencil.***

This decision coincides, or is probably partially born from, the effort Husband is currently making to get through a vast stack of garden magazines that have piled up. We tried putting them in a specific place, so that they weren't always lying around on the dining table. This worked splendidly for me because it was more tidy, and not at all for him because the magazines tended to just accumulate and he'd never actually get around to looking in them. So now the magazine storage situation is a bit unclear. Anyway, he's making his way through them, tearing out the pages he wants a closer look at, and I got trough after him and do the same.

On one page, I was mainly interested in a small bit in the bottom third, so in a fit of inspiration I cut it out and glued it into my journal. I had a bit of leftover hobby glue that was still good, so I used that. I discovered that the paper is really too thin for this to be an ideal solution, but on the other hand, I'm kind of enjoying the tactile way the paper has gone a bit crinkly now where it has dried. Might acquire more unsuitable glue and do it again.

---

*But it is giving me some opportunity to use highlighters. I have far too many highlighters. But they come in so many colours, and you obviously have to have one in each colour. I mean, obviously!
**If I do a third of them, I'll call it a success.
***Not a pen. A pencil. And definitely not a mechanical one. An old fashioned one that you have to sharpen. I've been favouring them for years now. I think it has something to do how it feels to write with it.

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National Native Plant Month

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:02:53 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

April 2026 is National Native Plant Month

Please help to spread the word that the month of April is Native Plant Month and plan activities in your community to make a real difference by planting native plants, removing invasive plants, and teaching others about the importance of native plants as a source of food and habitat for wildlife.

( Read more... )

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Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! ;>

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:43:22 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

Soooo,the 1st of the Dwarf Columbine plants I started from seed last yr has come into bloom. Not so dwarf but all deep Blue!!!! There are 2 others from those seeds that have buds and can't wait to see what they'll be.
Only the Yellow Wallflowers survived last Winter and are Blooming. Some of the Sweet William's I started last yr are showing pre-buds. Looks like only one Sanguisorba survived so I'm going to move it to a less Shady spot with less competition. I've been too busy with seedlings so I'm behind a number of chores in the garden. I'm lucky I was able to plant the Fig and the Mulberry last week though they arrived at an inconvenient time to plant by the Moon(my project this yr).
I can't believe that my Mint didn't overwinter. The Roman Chamomile is about half it was last yr too.
Cheers,
Pat

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Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:48:49 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

Today we visited the Charleston Food Forest. These pictures show the front and right side. (See the left side, and the Coles County Community Garden.)

( Walk with me ... )

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Clearing Out

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:21:50 GMT

Posted by: winterfirelight

This past weekend the weather was lovely, so I took on the project of taking out the massive, invasive butterfly bush that was planted by the previous owners. It's been on the to do list for ages, and I'm very happy to have it finally done! We've so much more space now, and we won't have to worry about constant pruning to keep it from growing over the garden path. I thought for sure I was going to have to take up part of the path to dig it out, but somehow the roots were positioned such that it barely disturbed the path at all. I did relocate a number of strawberries and a few bulbs, but I had been planning on moving them anyway, so no loss there.

I also cleared out dead growth from the square plot and found a lot of new calendula coming up, which is always exciting to see. I'm hopeful that I won't need to plant anything new in that bed, and that everything will have either self-seeded or will come back up on its own as the weather warms. My goal is to have most of the garden full of perennials and self-seeding annuals so I've less to do in terms of planting every year, but there's still lots of space to fill, so it'll be a couple of years yet before that's realized.

And in the backyard, I got the nettle potted up! It would be exciting to see that flourish this summer - safely far away from places people walk, and helpfully contained so as not to cause A Problem. I still want a few more pots out there for other aggressive spreaders - I have lemon balm I need to relocate from the front, and various other seeds in the mint family I'd like to plant without them taking over.

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Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:50:13 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

Yesterday I discovered the Seed Library Network. I was delighted to find one near me.

Today we visited the Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange. It's on the second floor. We rode the elevator up, and the display was big enough to be seen from where the elevator lets out. Seeds are stored in drawers, sorted by type. There are sections for flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Some of the really popular ones have their own drawer; others are grouped together. Unopened packets of commercial seed are filed as they are, for folks who want to know exactly what they're getting. Opened packets or homegrown seeds are put in envelopes by library staff. With wildflower and landrace seeds, especially mixes, you may get more surprises.

( Read more... )

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Gardening

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:55:56 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

Seed Library Network
This website has extensive resources on seed libraries and seed swaps.

Seed the Map
Is your seed library open? Take 5 minutes to get on the Global Seed Library Map.

Explore the Map
Search the map to find other folks in similar regions or at the same type of location.

Seed Library Networks
Check out the other seed library networks & learn about how you can create your own.

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It's a Beginning;>

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:35:28 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

Got some Garden-related stuff done the last 2 days. Planted a Saskatoon bush in a container and moved a few seedlings into 3" pots from the trays. My Fig cutting is showing buds along the stem but I'm not tempted to even look until April;>
Giant and Bronze Fennels, Variegated Lunaria(though no sign of it at present). The Giant isn't edible but looks really kewl the 2nd yr when it blooms about 10-12 ft tall! Next week a few more should be ready to bump up to larger pots just in time for the next batch of Stratified seeds to be ready to plant...
Cheers,
Pat

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Seed Starting

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:31:19 GMT

Posted by: winterfirelight

Finally started some seeds this past weekend! A little later than I intended, but given that last year I started them a whole 2 months sooner than I ought to have, I'll take it as a win. More seeds than I had realized need to be stratified first, so those are now chilling in the fridge and I'll get them in pots next month instead.

I'm hoping this week it'll be warm enough out that I can get some compost into the garden so it's all prepped when plants are ready to go in. We've already had crocuses and daffodils up for a few weeks, but we also had a frost this morning, so it's still a little early for most things. Unpredictable March! I've got big plans for some of the space this year, but we'll see how much I actually manage to get done. So far I'm mostly working on clearing out the cabinets so I have space for harvests later in the season. I made some tincture blends on Saturday to consolidate some jars, and used up some oils for salve yesterday. I'll have to spend a lot of time over the next couple of months drinking tea to work through my stash of dried herbs. There are worse fates!

The community garden has gotten started too, and I spent some time there today weeding and clearing out dead plants. I took an extra parsley and some stray borage home with me. I've never gotten borage to take in my garden, but I've tried putting it in a different location this time and maybe it'll settle in.

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Springing!

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 19:29:06 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

Today, weather and health cooperated and I got out to do some gardening! Got almost all of the Winter-killed stuff cleared and part of a bed weeded. Unfortunately, the mini Irises bloomed while I was down. Bummer;>!
My dbl Ice Follies Daffs started blooming. They're finally mature enough to put on quite the show.
I figure next week, everything willing I should be able to plant cold hardy veg seeds like radishes and onions.
I've good germination of the seeds I started indoors so far with the exception of the Giant Fennel. Only got one seed to sprout so far and it's been 3 weeks. In 2 weeks the next batch of stratified seeds will be ready for planting. This batch has the Skirret, Rampion, Sea Kale and Turkish Rocket. Grew Sea Kale about a decade ago but it didn't "do" coastal Florida well.....unsurprisingly;>!
Cheers,
Pat

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Photos: Savanna

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:19:49 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

I took some pictures around the yard today. These are from the savanna. (See the house yard.)

( Walk with me ... )

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Photos: House Yard

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 03:13:23 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

Today's project was creating an enclosure behind the log garden. I dragged some more logs back there so I can dump dead leaves inside. That way, they'll stay put, create habitat, hold moisture, and remain available in case I want some leaf litter during the warm season. This is a good use for old logs if you have any lying around.

( Walk with me ... )

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Photos: Flowerbeds

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:01:05 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

The first crocuses are blooming! I just had to take pictures when I spotted them this morning. Yesterday they were just buds.

( Walk with me ... )

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Almost In....

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:02:51 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

The last Spring orders went out at the beginning of the month and only a few things haven't arrived. All the seeds except 2 that haven't arrived(Ashitaka and Lovage) are being stratified. Hopniss and Oca are planted. Just waiting on the Yacon. I also talked myself into a fruit I'd told myself I didn't have room for but decided to try it in a 25 gallon container; 'Snowbank Blackberry'. Hopefully, it won't be as vigorous as regular Blackberries and the White color will let the birds leave me some;>!
This yr I've decided to go full Lunar Gardening so I won't be starting the 1st batch of seeds indoors until after the New Moon. I've always sort of done a VERY superficial version but decided to go for the whole thing. However, I won't be doing Biodynamic. Not because I'm squeamish but I don't have a good source of animal viscera and parts. Not to mention access to lactating cow manure being fed particular diets. Probably not current practice. These books were OLD and the methods were dictated by Rudolph Steiner himself.
I'll keep everyone notified of progress;>!
Cheers,
Pat

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2026 Project: Personal Calendar...

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:36:27 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

Last month I was rereading one of Alaric Albertsson's books( think it was 'To Walk a Pagan Path') and there was a chapter on creating a calendar meaningful to where you actually live...so I decided that this was going to be one of my projects for this yr.
It's pretty simple; just Journal what happens each month in the natural world around you. I live presently in E Tennessee and actually, the Solstices and Equinoxes pretty well "map" here in Loudon County but we can fine tune things.
This yr, of course, had to be anomalous;>! Normally, within a couple weeks of Winter Solstice we get temps in the high teens. This yr until last week it had actually got to 70F! Now, it's "seasonal" with today in the 40's.Due to the warmth my neighbor's early Daffs budded up and right now they don't look like they'd recover. Me? Mine are breaking ground and at least one Snowdrop has buds, though most are just breaking ground a well.
We've also got Canadian Geese, Ducks and at least one Heron here on the inlet....a BIT early.
Preliminary name for 1st month; "Frikkn Freezing Moon";>!
Cheers,
Pat

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Hopniss

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:48:12 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

I finally got my Hopniss tubers planted today. When I got them it was too cold for me to dig but the last week and a half warmed up unseasonably and I finally had time to get them in.
If you haven't heard of them, Hopniss is a tuber the 1st Nation's peoples, esp east of the Mississippi grew. Supposed to be kind of a sweeter, nutty Russet potato flavor. I used to be big in Food Forest growing bu since I left my lot and a half on the Florida Panhandle I haven't had the space but decided that 2026 sounds like a good yr to start growing food again. I add them to the 3 kinds of Creole Garlic I planted after we had almost a month of no Garlic bulbs at all in any of the markets within a 50 mile range. They're sprouting well.
In Feb I'll start the Oyster plant seeds I've been stratifying as well as some Asian Radishes. We'll see how things go;>
Cheers, Pat

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Three for the Memories Coming Back Next Month!

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 23:18:19 GMT

Posted by: yourlibrarian

3 for the Memories' 2025 session will be open for posts on January 3, 2026 and will run for 3 weeks until January 24. Event participation is as follows:

1) Three photos only per person during each annual session. Members are encouraged to discuss the reason for their choices.

2) Photos can be hosted at Dreamwidth or elsewhere, and should not be larger than 800 px width or height.

3) All three photos should be in the same post. Cut tags should be placed after the first photo.

3 for the Memories is not a competition, and entries are not being judged. Rather, participants are encouraged to share photos they took in 2025 that they find meaningful in some way or which represent how they experienced the year.

Questions? Visit the announcement post at threeforthememories

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Photos: Charleston Food Forest

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:00:16 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

Today we visited the Charleston Food Forest, Coles County Community Garden, and Lake Charleston. These are the food forest pictures. What started out as a beautiful fall day, sunny and cool, clouded over by the time we got out of the house. So the lighting isn't great, but at least the pictures look okay. (Continue with the community garden and the lake.)

( Walk with me ... )

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Saving Tender Plants...

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:02:51 GMT

Posted by: mdehners

Started propagating some of the more "iffy" plants in my garden. Either they're tender in our zone or will rot if the Winter's too wet.
Got a couple of Salvias done: 'Black & Blue' as well as a collected form of splendid(MUCH bigger than the dwarf forms you find in the garden centers). Also collected some tubercules from the Amorphophallus bulbifer plants. They're hardy here but if it's too wet they'll rot(clay soil). I've had no luck blooming them here though in Florida some Winters they would. They look about like a cross between Calla Lilies and Skunk cabbage, pink through purpleish. Smell like roadkill, not skunk....unfortunately;>! Thankfully, only strongly the 1st couple of days opening.
May do some propagating of hardy plants too this weekend. I've a Gardenia and a Dbl Oakleaf Hydrangea that I wouldn't mind spreading around. Cheers,
Pat

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Photos: Coles County Community Garden

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 04:40:06 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

These photos of the Coles County Community Garden came from October 9, 2025. Begin the trip with Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side and Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side. Continue with Seeds.

( Walk with me ... )

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Summer’s end

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 11:42:17 GMT

Posted by: moonhare

The garden is all but done, now. We have harvested as many tomatoes as we can, and only a few green peppers remain. The pumpkins were brought in early because of bacterial wilt and rodent damage. Cucumbers were pulled up in late August due to wilt. All in all, though, it was a good season.

We put up ten pint jars and three quart jars of tomato sauce. Salsa was made from the remaining green tomatoes which wouldn’t ripen: two pints canned and a quart-and-a-half refrigerated.

Onto planning 2026!

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Tribulations

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:16:38 GMT

Posted by: moonhare

Before leaving for a scheduled surgery last Thursday, I gave the garden a good watering and made sure the fences were clear, secure, and operating. Hours after my procedure my wife told me that something had gotten into our plum tomatoes and at least five were chewed and/or pulled off the plants. This was the first time this season that our garden was ‘attacked.’

Upon my return we set up the trail cam between rows to try to see who was enjoying our veggies.

Chippee! (Yes, chipmunk ;o) Not seen are the mice that come by, too.

Obviously, the fencing can’t keep these out. I’ve tried Repel sprays and even dosed the plants lightly with fungicide to dissuade the rodents, but it has had minimal affect on them. Offering them water in little dishes helped a bit. *sigh* Even a pumpkin was fair game :o(

Partial solution: we are picking the tomatoes at first blush. From there we are ripening them in the house in paper bags (adding a banana helps the process). It works.

First batch of sauce!

About eight pounds of tomatoes yielded five pints. One jar did not seal and will be used in a day or two.

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Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 04:56:24 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

These are pictures from the Charleston Food Forest. (Continue with Part 2: Left Side, Coles County Food Forest.)

( Walk with me ... )

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