Back In The Garden After Time Away for Inspiration

Now that the perennials that we have planted, including the Apple Tree and Grape vine has had time to mature, I enjoy going to the back yard to watch spring bloom. The trees have been given a small garden below them to help nourish the tree, which now means we will have to trim it, as it is getting large and a bit overgrown, it does help shade the back yard where the grass grows. The trampoline has taken on a new look this year, one I hope this will encourage growth and longer growing season, we will be able to put the canopy on in the fall to protect the plants from frost. See this picture from a few years back when every thing mentioned in the previous was in the planning stages. 

The trampoline area has taken on many shapes and forms, I think we are finaling getting to something permenant that will work. (See photo later in blog)

The 4x4's beyond the gate have given us so much harvest in the last ten years, and with a couple classes and books were are learning what works. Although this space does get shade from the neighbors tree it still is a great place for herbs, and beans and sometimes tomatoes and squash, they seam to grow any place you plant them. 

The plans for the back yard take shape each year, as it grows as the changes needed are recognized, we  make our way to Lowes and pick up the supplies to landscape. The seedlings this year were started in April which is a little late, they did well in the new hydroponic planter that Jack bought, then after germination I repotted and put under lights. They were put outside after Mother's Day, which is usually our last cold weather spell, and now with the greenhouse we will be able to start earlier in the spring with harding off the plants. The next thing is to learn about the soil and make sure the plants are getting the nutrients they need to produce. We are composting all year, and a project I started with a kitchen composter was a fail, after the compost molded when it got wet. I don't know how I can use it now that I have seen this.

SUNNY PLOT

 On occasion I would enjoy a sunny afternoon hanging out on the trampoline, with a towel and sun glasses I would gaze into the sky, enjoying the warm mat and the quiet that surrounded me. The tree next to me creating the fantasy that a sail reached up into the sky and I would sail there on my boat in a sea of calmness, enjoying the clouds and the allusion that I was moving through the day at a leisurely pace.

I have even enjoyed, moving about, twisting and flipping with some discretion as someone maybe watching me, since now I am over fifty and probably would be hurt badly if I were to misstep and put myself into the springs. With grace I would practice old favorites and enjoy the life it puts back into this older, but still in pretty good shape body. 

Through the years this is has been a sanctuary of mine. Many hours spent, with friends, family and most often alone just doing this exercise that I came to find so enjoyable. The first time I tried it I was hooked, it provided so much to the success of my fitness over the years and after owning two trampolines in my life time I can say that over thirty years of my life have been with this piece of equipment sitting in my back yard.

About two years ago I found bad rust in the mat that could not be fixed and the springs were coming out. The mat had been sewn about ten years earlier, that was not the problem a new place on the mat was now giving in to time, I would have to replace it or throw  it out. So I took the mat and springs off and left the frame in a sunny spot that I had claimed ten years earlier when we moved into our first new home. 

I have since given this place in the back a new life, the last two years this particular spo has inspired me to build on the gardening place I have been working in for the last ten years. I needed a full sun spot for vegetable gardening, there were trees blocking my 4x4 that have provided many years of successful harvests, just not the room for the variety I had been missing out on.

 

Here at the fence I put in three 4x4's that run just below the yard, since the start of this garden in 2010 I have added two pallet planters for different veggies and herbs. At each end an Elderberry bush is at the corner and one small flower garden grows beautiful Columbines, Iris, the Lavender that I dry and cook with. This space did well, although much sun was blocked out due to the large trees near the fence. The tree had died a bit through the years due to lack of care, allowing morning and late after noon sun in  making for great gardening spot. 

With time I was able to start my seeds in the Spring of 2020, which is best, saving money and being sure you have no fertilizer or pesticides you didn't put on your self, I use a natural water, garlic onion and natural soap heated and diluted down as a pesticide that works well into the next year. I also find that natural composted from my own kitchen is a great pre-bloom fertilizer. The down side is the handling of these small seeds and the room it takes up in the laundry room, now set up with lights and water from the tap available this is a good working space. From previous years I learned I liked having my own seedlings and that with good transplanting techniques the plants thrived all summer into the fall.

Here you see the full fence 4x4's with a cute gate we picked up at a garage sale, with the grapes Jack started a couple years ago, on the right. Looking east at the end is the Elderberry bush and on the lower left my 4x4 flower garden pictured above, and in the upper left is the first year attempt of the trampoline sunny plot that will be the vegetable garden.  The seedling I started took well and we had yellow squash all summer with some to spare. I made yellow squash muffins, meals and at one point a yellow squash bunt cake. See the progress, these in the lower garden without full sun, for the most part, morning and after noon sun only. 

The hardening off was good for these six plants, I chose this 4x4 because I had not grown squash here, it is best to rotate plants to different areas in the garden year to year, so that bacteria does not develop. 

Here after good fertilizer, the plant flowers then the fruit comes in, then it's best not to fertilize after that. The plants kept producing squash for weeks before the leaves got to big and had to be trimmed.

I clean and keep them in the window to ripen. Its a great way to enjoy them before eating.

This is the fixins for muffins and bunt cake, I like to make a mental picture. Just as much fun as growing.

The bunt cake was only yellow squash and was a good way

to break up the old routine of muffins, which were
just as good, we just

ate so many that year. LOL.

The trampoline garden was off to a slow start in 2020, I used the trellis boarding to fence in the perimeter and used that space for tomato plants and cucumbers. It was a good space and safe from dogs and raccoons. Only problem was the air flow wasn't great and the plants didn't get as big as they could have.  I had another green house I had worked with for a couple of years that incorporated into the space and it came in handy when the weather turned colder., That was moved to the side of the house the next year to utilize the full 7x14 area of the trampoline. Here are the 2020 and 2021 garden plots from the design the corner of the frame is cut to allow entrance into the space. 

The space worked well for container gardening, see here on the left cucumbers that crawled up the fencing. and in the upper corner the tomato plants. The other green house shelve there on the right. 

I have tarps attached to the bar, in case of hail. I have rotto tilled and put down weed barrier in two large areas for plants. Good compost this year allowed for good plants. Bottom are the tomato's and on the right the Zucchini that we bought and planted. This project took some money, the tiller and dirt and then we bought plants this year. I do not plan on buying plants next year. 

The Zucchini enjoyed the full sun, as you can see here, they got much bigger than the yellow squash last year with out it. 

Emberly got to help too.

 After she helped in the spring with all the yard decorations, Emberly enjoying visits every other week, to see the progress of the flowers and she also enjoyed running around in the grass and playing in the sprinklers.

We played bubbles, and catch with Marley the older mini Aussie, who does good with Emberly, he helped teach her to run and play, they have fun together. I think with late summer and the great fruit that grew is when Emberly enjoyed the back yard the most. We all went out and picked apples and grapes. Emberly would find a few raspberries that grew and would eat them right off the plants. 

This summer I made, Zucchinni muffins, apple pies and apple sauce. Elderberry jam with Chia seeds, Elderberry Tart. Green Tomato relish I think that is it. We had some lettuce and Kale, a few good pickling cucumbers early in the summer, I think I made about four jars of pickles this year as well. 

The fall prep for the trampoline plot will mean covering the ground to keep out the weeds and picking up around the area to keep it in good repair for next spring. We will utilize this space more, with some more tilling and some reorganization I will have a full vegetable garden, sunny plot. 

The rest of the 4x4's were used for herbs this year, I did some drying and difussing, in all I was very pleased with how that turned out. 

Tried growing Stevia this year, did very well. Shown here all the herbs harvested for drying.

CARRYING THE CARDS

 

 It just so happens that you can eat right on vacation  by planning to budget and eat close to the norm. As I hurried out the door to catch the bus to the train station I found myself  grabbing something to eat as I usually do. I feel that most of the week went that way. I was lucky the fist morning in PA, there was a great Continental breakfast, fruit, waffles, juice, coffee, yogurt, eggs,  and bacon. Wish I had received a text from Amtrak letting me know that my train was delayed. Monday  I had to leave 15 minutes before breakfast to make the train on time. Train delayed  an hour and a half. Breakfast Monday: juice, water, almonds. Grabbed a breakfast sandwich as soon as I was settled on the train; more almonds. Lunch was skipped, had cheese and crackers with a glass of Pino Griego. Later train handed out more snacks and water complimentary ot Amtrak due to more delays. Arrived in Boston 11:30, went to Longwood Inn to bed. Next morning, treated myself to a three egg omelette.
  Making my way toward the city, traveling the train to Boston knew that breakfast would last till I could site see and make my way to the airport to pick up the car. Made it to the pier after parking the car near the Aquarium went to Legal seafood for a quick meal. The seafood combo with a crab cake, grilled shrimp and  scallops. Kept me for two sails and a walk to Paul Raveere's home. One or two glasses of champagne to call it a day. Good day sailing on nostalgic Boston harbor.
  Drove the day to New Hampshire, don't remember eating anything, once checked into the Radisson made my way to the Shade grill for clam chowder. That was it till my next day, road trip up 293 on  the coast of Maine. Shades made me breakfast,  two eggs, bacon, taters and toast, ordered a side of lettuce and tomatoes and packed a BLT for the road. Once in Maine grabbed a drink till I could find the George Cleevey monument. Then made my way over to the  Desails for Oysters on the half shell with a glass of Pinot Degrigio. Dessert was a Maine grown blue berry pie. Great food, fun atmosphere and great pictures of the boats sailing in and out of the pier front.
Did the same breakfast the second day for the drive to  New Hampshire, with a BLT sandwich to go.
Finally making my way to Londonderry and Henniker to see the town now celebrating 250 years. Celebration on August for a small yet very influential place in my life. I may go back in the winter and ski at Pat's Park, or Centipeed. Making my way through the day on just a sandwich and a glass of wine. The day ended with a swim and a salmon dinner at the Surf. Last day, Saturday was scrambled eggs and toast. Made it to Chicago where I ordered Clam Chowder once again. Late night home to Colorado and in bed by 11.  I did finally cook Sunday my self had to try the Legal seafood combo,  grilled shrimp, scallops and stuffed crab, with a side salad.
  Total spent for seven days eating out with bar tab and tipping was $350. I'm sure  I ate more, skipped a few lunches I don't recall all the salads and extras I ate. Now cutting back a bit to lose those five extra pounds.

Spring Showers bring May Flowers

I have started the spring flower garden, got the bulbs last fall and planted Daffodils and Tulips in the back and front. This is a first for me, and it was easy enough, patience was the key, and choosing a good place. They did look great once they bloomed, here shown the tulips out front.

I started a program for my health in July with Maximized Living, a wellness center that incorporates Nutrition, exercise and chiropractics to help with nerve supply and minimizing toxins in the system to correct spinal injuries and bad curvature. Growing some of my own food, and shopping organic has helped keep me on the core plan for nutrition. Continuing throughout the year with the prescribed exercised, some very basic stretches and some neck isolation work I have managed to loose twenty pounds. I dried herbs this year as well as drying lavender for the second year now. With good dirt from the composting that we have started doing, the fall harvest was very good this year. Shown here are the weekly picks from the garden out back. 

We managed to find a great looking succulent at Home Depot and I found some coal, sand and cactus dirt to do some transplanting at the end of the season, I divided the succulents into four glass atrium s and gave one to Madison. One of the three I still have in the house. I will try again next year, they are somewhat sensitive and need special care. Here is my first attempt at succulent transplanting. 

A mystery as to where the Apples went

By taking the advice, starting plants in doors, after loosing at the end of the year, because of a slow start, I made a couple improvements to my small suburban garden. Moving it out of the shade of the neighbors tree by a couple feet, and fertilizing with the egg shells, also spraying the natural insect repellent made from cayenne, garlic and natural soap with a water base, my garden thrived, and no bugs which made harvesting much more pleasant. I started the beets, squash and tomatoes under the lights and had them in the garden by May. The new design allowed for more dirt for root vegetables and planting every few weeks I was able to keep a continuous harvest in the late summer and fall.
I had a section set aside for herbs, actually a couple small gardens for herbs, and had more mint, and parsley than I needed, so the mint was used in several recipes and drinking water.

I very surprised how grouping the plants helped in the fruit I had, the bell peppers and tomatoes did
well when planted together. The root vegetables did well with the extra dirt and the squash were given extra growing room, without a border which allowed them to grow as they needed.

I didn't get as many squash as I had wanted, even with the pollination that I provided with the flowers and bees in the 4x4 directly above. There were plenty of blossoms and we ended up eating some, a first for everything.


 I did do something new that I haven't done before, after a squirrel or raccoon took off with the few apples the newly planted tree had growing on it, we researched the berry bush growing on the property. It turns out that we have pruned and watered these two bushes for several years without taking advantage of the berries or blossoms that it produces. We had two very large Elderberry Bushes which grow wild around the Rocky Mountains, these particular bushes were planted here, and this year we harvested quite a few berries. I made jam, and pie, the berry is actually poisonous if not cooked. A long process of picking, cleaning and cooking. The out come was a delicious pie with a mouth full of berries in every bite, and jams that I shared with family and friends.

We were also able to get the flowers to do well this year, with thinning and transplanting some Iris, and pruning of the lavender. The wild flowers were reseeded, something Jack likes to do. The vining Morning Glory did well, and several potted flowers that we transplanted from store bought to pots.
 The spring rains helped so much, at one time in May we had so much rain I was having to drain my potted flowers. It tapered off and the watering was kept to a minimum. Had a good year and I am going to take what I learned to help with next years planting.
Dried some of the Lavender from earlier in the summer and found a organic recipe for brownies. Yum, treats from the garden.



I have started the spring flower garden, got the bulbs last fall and planted Daffodils and Tulips in the back and front. This is a first for me, and it was easy enough, patience was the key, and choosing a good place. They did look great once they bloomed, here shown the tulips out front.



I started a program for my health in July with Maximized Living, a wellness center that incorporates Nutrition, exercise and chiropractics to help with nerve supply and minimizing toxins in the system to correct spinal injuries and bad curvature. Growing some of my own food, and shopping organic has helped keep me on the core plan for nutrition. Continuing throughout the year with the prescribed exercised, some very basic stretches and some neck isolation work I have managed to loose twenty pounds. I dried herbs this year as well as drying lavender for the second year now. With good dirt from the composting that we have started doing, the fall harvest was very good this year. Shown here are the weekly picks from the garden out back. 


We managed to find a great looking succulent at Home Depot and I found some coal, sand and cactus dirt to do some transplanting at the end of the season, I divided the succulents into four glass atriums and gave one to Madison. One of the three I still have in the house. I will try again next year, they are somewhat sensitive and need special care. Here is my first attempt at succulent transplanting.

Fresh means Fresh and green....

A great lesson learned this year, in the vegetable garden where in years past my zucchini and yellow squash has done so well. Learned that the seeds make all the difference, and starting plants under lights can make them strong and larger. The local Greenhouse was my source when it came to the Cucumbers that we greedily bought too many of, after the great luck with the single plant last year. Way over did it this summer, about six plant, and with plants many cucumbers. I have jars of pickles piling up, I've even had to give them away.The plants I did start from seed, and not under lights turned out to be a disappointing vegetable crop due to old seeds.

  I booked it up to Nebraska to visit my brother, where the fruit trees did so well, I came home with two variety of apples and a bunch of plums. With Apple Plum butter and Upside down apple plum cake, I have yet to try Plum Pudding and Apple Sauce.

 Well, the 2014 season is over with just a few beans, peppers and the tomatoes and Kale still producing it seems to be the end of this season, and I learned a great deal about the seeds used, and the preparation and beginning of each plant, that makes all the difference in the end. 

So, I pledge to start, with fresh seeds, under lights and to keep the variety in my garden.

Rain or Shine

 When it rains we do not ride the bikes, and this spring was a wet and cold one, the bikes finally came out in May. I think I have gotten to a point now that I don't want to put as much time into caring for the yard, find me some free pallets to rethink the vegetable garden, and I will build it, bigger, taller and more convenient to work in. I think the lack of rain last year made rethink the whole garden senerio, and when spring brought moisture I knew, somehow that I needed to start my seeds and get the vegetable seedlings under lights. Yes, once June got here and the plants needed to be transplanted I needed to buy flowers, cause you see the flowers are late bloomers in my garden, and to make it look complete we had to do some shopping. Only about $150 for dirt and flowers, which is half what we spent in 2011 when we were first starting the vegetable garden.The returning Columbines and Iris made for a beautiful spring bloom. The Merigolds, Lavender and other perennials finally made an appearance in July. See that seems late to me, the stores already had Lavender blooms and mine were just filling in, I have the bees buzzin now, the yard is a sactuary of greens, pinks and purples. 

 With two 15" zucchini, which my daughter calls on steroids, we started eating well. My favorite Zucchini bread with ginger and poppy seeds was the first bake Sunday project. We have our own Kale, and we drink that in our Nutribullet shakes in the morning. With only one bean plant I thought I was going to short supply, remember these all were started from seed in March, and only the one bean survived and it took off, crawling the fence winding around to the east morning sun, I have so many beans, we eat weekly at dinner. 

 The radishes are the first things to come out of the garden in the spring, and now late summer I have my first broccoli and a few small peppers of different varieties. Yellow squash and tomatoes are now making an appearance and we should have quite a few at the end of August.

 Jack, with his enthuisasm in flowers for the front yard, also got into the mood in the vegetable category. He bought a small cucumber plant and put it in the fenced garden with the other vinning plants.
Seen here are three of some of the first that Madison and I divided up to make pickles. Very easy recipe found on line. 2 cups water, 2 cups distilled vinegar, 1/4 cup of Kosher salt, bring to a boil. Cut cucumbers as desiredshape add to Sterile canning jars with red chile pepper(1/4), fresh dill, garlic clove and red chile pepper flakes. Add boiling water,vinegar and salt to top off jar, seal, let cool and then refrigerate for two days before eating.
We only used a quarter the red pepper and I removed

 mine after 12 hours, and they taste just spiced enough, not so hot that you can't swallow.
Just had my first one tonight, it was good.

Madison, with some of her own time and energy made these delicious Red Velvet Cup Cakes topped with chocolate dipped strawberries. Very Good I had two.

I would like to make Salsa this fall, I had a great time doing that with my brother last time. If the peppers keeping coming in we may have enough to add to the salsa. 

We will be eating the first successful broccoli this week with more green beans.