Saturday, June 06, 2015

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - This & That


This has been the most unusual season of garden planting I think I've ever had.  I would usually have the entire garden ready by Mother's Day but this year I finished it today (June 6th).

It wasn't only our vacation "out East" but the weather has been cold and rainy so often that everyone is behind in planting.  Some farmers may have to replant corn crops which are flooded.  Then I hear farms just an hour or two from us are dealing with not enough rain.  Go figure...

But the Garden 2015 is now planted, including our "out of the fence" experiment.  Literally.  I plan to take photos very soon and have a garden post next week.  I also have cut down the number of deck flowers a lot.  Once again, pictures soon.

I was at my favorite nursery in town this week to get a few veggie starts and checked the nursery section of Walmart.  With the odd weather this year, both the nursery and Walmart's garden section still had a lot of plants and flowers available.  It is that time of year (in my part of the USA) to check back for sales and then clearances.  I bought two geranium plants at my favorite nursery for only $3.00 each.  Hopefully even better sales will show up soon.

Walmart also had a lovely hanging basket of light colored coleus on clearance for just a few dollars.  It was overgrown for hanging but perfect for sitting on a plant stand on the front porch.  I just took the part that is used for hanging the planter off and set it in the plant stand when I arrived home.  It looks beautiful!  I love how re-purposing items can workout to make beauty for cheap.

Now that the garden is in, we can turn our attention to finishing the landscaping projects.  A little at a time.  Slowly but surely.  After struggling with the bushes and perennials at one side of our house, we've decided to tear everything out but one evergreen bush.  We should have done this years ago.  Just because you inherit someone else's landscaping, doesn't mean they have to stay forever!  Especially when they get overgrown.

So the garden will get a post all by itself.  As it should.  Soon.

LINKS
I thought this a very interesting article from The Rural Revolution website.  I don't recall what link I followed but it took me to this article about being prepared for any emergency.  It was so good, I had to share it.  Just mosey on over... here.

Photo:  I was looking through some old digital photos and came across this one.  Hmmm... I still have that container Stephanie gave me.  Now I just need to get creative about what to put in it this time.

5 comments:

Vee said...

Perhaps you can create a much smaller garden elsewhere with the good perennials... And perennials also look great potted. Both my sister and I have discussed how much smaller our deck flowers will be of necessity, Not enough money to buy a lot of annuals and not a lot of energy to care for them. Looking forward to seeing all you've been up to. I planted my garden today...two zucchini plants. Done! =D

Annabel said...

I love my garden! We do not have snow so I cant imagine having to replant things. The only annuals I grow are basil, parsley.... Im not even sure what else! So I think it must be a big expense needed to re start.
I grow my parsley from the last plants seeds to that one is ok. That just leaves basil to buy once a year.
Otherwise I grow flowers and herbs and vegies together. Out the front I have roses that are well established and ground covers etc underneath. I recently added garlic in between.

I have heard of people moving potted plans undercover when it snows but I dont really understand what plants survive being frozen and what do not. Here if there is a frost it causes a lot of damage.
Where we live plays such a big part in how we grow things, grow our vegies etc. It is really interesting!
I didnt know what Collard Greens were until the other day when I asked.
Just now we are in winter so things are going along slowly in the garden.xxx

Anonymous said...

Vee, if you're like some gardeners I know, you may end up with a big garden after all with two zuchinni plants. They tend to be very prolific. Sharon D.

Deb J. in Utah said...

I like to buy "nearly dead" plants on the clearance cart and do my best to save them. Some of my favorite plants in my yard were from the "nearly dead" cart. Interesting website you linked to. I will have to spend a little time carefully reading and thinking about that one. Thanks and have a great Sunday!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see your garden pics. I like the milk container. Pam (SD)