Fun Xmas Lights

I have had several wine bottles that I kept thinking I could do something with. Finally, I was inspired by some ideas on the net. I bought thin strings of Christmas bead decorations at the Dollar Store, some bows, and my daughter loaned me a hot glue gun. I also bought very cheap mini lights at the Dollar Store to put inside the bottles. In no time I made one for me. Then I made my daughters one, and my best friend wanted one. I am going to take a picture of one later today and post it. I didn't drill a hole in the bottom of the bottle to run the lights through because I didn't have a way to do it, but it's quite pretty the way it is.

On the houseplant situation, I have been dealing with fungus gnats! I took my daughter's advice and watered with a mixture of left over coffee, dish soap, and water, and I think it worked!!!!

Winter is Blowing In!

Well, winter seems to be making an appearance. We have an approaching storm and freezing temperatures on the way. I went out to the garden and picked cherry tomatoes, also chrysanthemums that were blooming.

This year was so strange as my Moonflowers, Eggplant just recently bloomed. I found a stray bean plant in the compost pile, along with some other plant I can't identify.

My house is full of plants I brought in for the winter. I love having them all in here to look at though.

My winter garden chores will consist of keeping the wild birds watered, and wishing for spring!

Orchid Cactus Bloom

Lots of Rain!!

We've had so much rain this week! It's been great. Although it is getting cooler some things are still blooming and growing. I got one Acorn squash, a few crysanthemums, some cherry tomatoes to bring in. It seems this summer wasn't great for blooming plants. The Hibiscus never bloomed, the Moonflowers also didn't bloom. Very disappointing! Well, there's always next spring.

I have two new plants coming up in the compost pile. I think one of them is a few lettuce plants, and the other, I can't tell yet.

Anyway, I feel sadness, knowing soon I won't be gardening for a while. I will make do with planning which plants I want for next spring.

August Gardening

Well, summer is going to be over before we know it. I had mixed luck this summer with my plants. Some did especially well after our very abnormal monsoon rains, and some just died. I have had some great surprises though! There are things coming up now that I didn't think were ever going to come up. Sometimes, I would just throw some seeds out there and take a gamble, and then when I least expected it-behold!-a mystery plant would come up! Mystery because I couldn't remember what seed it came from. Ha!

I started out with some pumpkin plants in the compost pile, but the mole and Molly the dog took care of that. She dug it all up looking for the little critter!

I have had fun with garden junk this summer. Made a border with wine bottles, I did this last week. I just enjoy doing this stuff. Everyone else probably thinks I've lost it. Ha! That little spot is my haven and my source of peace and quiet.

Oh, a note on my house plants-the Orchid Cactus came up with a bloom, but it died before opening. I just looked at the plant closely and I have at least 5 buds!!!!!! How exciting. Never has happened before!! I am so excited!!!!

I do have some more recent pictures to add. I'll try to do that today.

New Pictures

Here are some new pictures of things growing in the yard. They came out ok.

Explaining the pictures

I am new at posting my pictures. I have more to add, but for now, this is good. These are mainly plants that are in the back yard. I used a recycled wooden trough, and as I explained, I used tires. Then the plants have come up in my compost pile. I think they are tomato and pumpkins.

Anyway, I planted a couple of native plants because I want to have perennials that can survive this climate. I love not having to replant everything in the spring.

My Garden Plants

I am going to attempt to put some pictures of my plants on this blog now. Later, at the end of the summer, I will take pictures again to see how far they've come, hopefully!

Tire Gardening

I found a way to use the old tires I had around the back yard. They are now containers for my vegetables and flowers. I put good soil in them, stacked two or three high, and planted. For some reason the plants grow so well in them. They provide shelter from the wind, and animals can't easily get to the plants. Also, for me it's easier to use them because they are raised up so I don't have to bend down so much.

So, today Jeanetta and Katy bought me two lavendar plants and a trailing rose plant and some chinese lights for the porch. I wasted no time putting the plants in the soil. I planted one lavendar and the rose in the back yard, and one lavendar in the front yard in a container. I also mowed the lawn today and watered it. It looks good.

So, Mother's Day is going to be great, as I go out and look at my new plants tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!

GARDEN

I have been so involved in my little garden! I water it every morning early and watch for things to grow or bloom. In my compost pile all kinds of mystery plants are coming up!! It's so fun to wonder what they will be. They are from seeds and vegetable scraps we have thrown in there.

I have a mole on one side of my garden. he is sure digging up my soil for me. ha! So far he hasn't destroyed any plants. The dogs have made a bigger mess trying to dig him up.

I have seen quail, cardinals, doves, and all kinds of birds out there. I've also seen my wild cat, Lily Thornberry out there hiding, trying to get them. By the way, Katy named the cat Lily, and Billy chose the last name.

So, my front yard containers are doing really well. I have snapdragons, petunias, carnations, columbines, hollyhocks growing. Also, Vinca and snapdragons and morning glories growing in front of the porch.

I just love this time of year!!!

It's Looking Like Spring!!

Finally, I've gotten to plant some seeds and plants!! I planted petunias in some container plants, and moonflower seeds and various other seeds in other containers. I also planted lettuce, and there is a pumpkin seed coming up in the compost pile.

So, now when I go outside I see color and beauty. My vincas are also blooming purple and are beautiful.

I spent some time out there this morning, watering, and the only disturbing thing I saw were signs that I have a mole, and that one of my dogs was trying to dig it up. A big mess I'll go clean up this evening. Every summer there is some garden pest I have to deal with.

So, it's a beautiful day and I am so happy to be able to get out there and garden!!!!!!

Wildlife In The Garden

I have seen a quail family in the garden several times in the past week. They are finally coming back!! Also, doves are coming to the garden to get water. There are also many other birds out there. Soon rabbits will be there so I have a lot of lettuce seeds that I intend to plant all summer so rabbits, etc. will have something to eat besides my plants.

I am holding off on planting container plants out there because of this weather. But in the front yard, all the plants are doing well. As I mentioned before, there is a protected environment for them because of the adobe wall. I figured out that the wall collects heat during the day and somehow keeps the plants from freezing.

I have allotted a day next week to finally burn weeds and clean up outside. I've been postponing it for so long!! It's hard to work, do housework, and keep the yard up. Noone else is very enthusiastic about it, but the yard is my hobby and I have to do the undesirable jobs in order to enjoy it.

My young dog, Bella, (half border collie, half springer spaniel) has sure done her share to mess things up out there. She's at the stage of chewing up and tearing up whatever she can find. I never know what to expect when I get out there. ha!

So, my hands are itching for some new plants and fun!! I just can't wait until I can go look at some plants and buy a few.

WIND AGAIN................

It is again cold and windy all day today. I can't get at all enthusiastic about working outside in this weather. I've turned my attention to spring housecleaning. Washing curtains, windows, moving furniture, and finding plenty of dust!! Living in an old adobe house seems to invite dust.

My outdoor plants are doing well, despite the wind and cold. A hollyhock with huge leaves is coming up in the barrel planter. I think I must have stuck the hollyhock seeds in there sometime last summer. I can't wait until it blooms!!

I am so looking forward to greenery!! Tired of bare branches and brown earth, and of course, blowing weeds, which I need to burn soon.

Snow!

Woke up yesterday morning to snow! None all winter to speak of, and now we have some. There is an old wives tale I heard somewhere, that you don't plant anything in the spring until the snow on the mountains has melted.I guess I'll heed that advice somewhat. I'm so anxious to go buy plants. I'm going to try for some native plants this year. Salvia is a good one for butterflies and hummingbirds. I need plants that can stand drought and heat really well.


Excuse the erratic size of the letters I've been typing. Everytime I made a mistake and corrected it, the format of my blog changed. Or maybe I'm just not awake yet. ha!


I do have some perennials which are coming up and doing well. I love that! Something to look at and take care of, for now.

Spring is mostly here!

Today I went outside and worked for a while. I am dying to go buy plants, but I'm waiting another week or so because I'm afraid we'll have another bad frost.

I put compost in my raised bed, planted some seeds saved from last year in my tire planters, a few other seeds in various spots too. I'm watering more often now because things are growing.

My "garden" is just mainly a place for me to go and find serenity. It is decorated with recycled things, and may not look perfect but it's just right for me. I like to sit out there on my bench and just think.

Now the dogs go out there with me and get their exercise while I work. The cat meows from it's hideout under the shed roof to let us know she wants to be fed.

I saw a quail run across the back of the property today. That was a real treat for me. They haven't been coming to the garden yet for water, but I hope they do this summer.

Raised Planter

Bobby built me a nice high planter. I just can't wait to plant seeds and new plants in it. The rabbits can't get to it at all!! I saved a lot of seeds I want to try out.

We're having rain and it is so welcome. I hope it continues for a while. I have some morning glories coming up because, for some reason, they sprout the minute it rains!

There is a plant coming up in my barrel planter that I think is a hollyhock. I can't wait til it blooms. I had no luck growing them last year. I don't know why.

Well, my fingers are itching to plant!! Shouldn't be long now.

Now the days are much warmer. We suddenly have 70 degree temps, and I'm thinking it's global warming, but could be wrong. Anyway, with this warm weather, some of my perennials are coming up. The trees are budding, so of course, I'm tempted to plant things, but I won't, until the end of March.

I saved a lot of seeds from last year, and got some from my Dad. I have several varieties to plant. I figured it would save money if I harvested seeds.

I have a lot of old tires around. Last year I used them for planters, and now I read an article online about placing them two or three high,making paths around them and using them for a raised garden effect. I am going to do that. The tires provide warmth for the plants, and preserve moisture. Last year, everything I planted in them grew so much and so well, and I will use a lot of my compost for planting soil this time. That should make a difference too!

It is getting warmer! I have been putting change in a jar in my room so when the time is ripe I'll have a little nest egg to spend on plants. I can't wait!!!!! Here in NM we do have the spring winds from March until at least the end of April. But I can plant things anyway, when the danger of frost is past.

One of my cleaning clients threw away a live houseplant, and I have rescued it. It seems to be doing well. I have an OCD issue with saving plants. That's why I have over a dozen houseplants. If I see the dying plants being sold cheap at Smiths, I will buy them and doctor them. I have a lime tree in the house that I saved over ten years ago.

On the homeschooling front, I am taking my grandson to his homeschool classes today. He enjoys the interaction with the other kids, and especially likes the PE class. I think it's great that we homeschoolers can have our own little special school!

I need to remind myself to get a camera so I can start taking plant pictures to post here!!

READY FOR SPRING

I am so ready for spring! I actually commented this morning that I'm ready for summer. That made me laugh because in the heat of the summer I'm asking for winter. I'm just grateful that we have distinct seasons here. It makes life more interesting!!

I have a few plants still alive, and trying to grow, out in the yard. I try to water them when I remember. I remain excitedly waiting for warmer weather and with garden daydreams continuing to keep me hopeful for a gardening adventure this year.

In the meantime, my houseplants in front of the south facing window in the front room are growing so well!! I bought some dying plants on sale at Smiths and they are thriving!

Hope to be posting some pictures here soon.

One more month of winter?

It has been in the 20's at night. Too cold! But the days have warmed up a bit. I am anxious for spring!! I keep thinking about buying some new plants and getting the soil in the garden ready for planting. A friend told me about putting blood meal around my plants to keep the rabbits away. I am definitely going to try that!!!

My wild cat now stays under the roof of the shed. I just bought some more food for it. I like that kind of cat-one that stays outside. ha!!

I found some garden plans on the BHG site, and printed one out. I'm anxious to try it.

Outside more

I've been getting outside a little more. It's hard to come back in the house when the days are warm. I have a little bench in my garden where I sit and enjoy the sun. I have a significant other who loves to do yard work and knows about landscaping. Every woman's dream! We're getting a lot done.

I have a stray cat hanging out around the shed and the front porch. I've been feeding it for a while. It allows me to pet it occasionally but it always lets me know when it's hungry. By the way, I think "it" is a female. I need to find out. Katy named it Lily.

On the gardening front, not much is happening. Just keep watering things as we've had no snow or moisture for so long. I look forward to March when I can start to dig up the garden and plan for what I want to grow out there. The Snapdragons and chrysanthemums are still growing! That's great!!

On the homeschooling front, I am still helping teach my grandson. We started again on Tuesday. In February, he will be going to classes with the other homeschoolers every other Thursday for the day.