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Garden Gate:  Garden Adventures  |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
 Posted - May 04 2010 : 08:55:58 AM
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I bought a bunch of flower seedlings and some herbs at a greenhouse yesterday. I have to say that I am pretty much a garden novice...I read a lot and am a sucker for books and magazines with pretty gardens on the front, but only my hanging baskets have ever looked good. When I go to the greenhouse or garden center, I get super overwhelmed and usually end up walking out with nothing because I can't decide. So, yesterday, I actually did buy some things (for my hanging baskets, mostly!), but only because that particular greenhouse is way out of town down a dirt road and I didn't want to waste the trip! I'm hoping they survived the night in our little greenhouse. Haven't been outside yet.
I got a bunch of fresh seeds at the supermarket yesterday, too. Most of them are Denali brand, which are chosen to do well in Alaska's short, over-light growing season. Gotta get those out in the raise beds today.
Kris - do you make your own soap? Cool. Someday....
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 11:37:18 AM
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Melissa, you'll have to tell us what brought you to Alaska some day. I would love to go visit up there but now I have so much to keep me here. Do ya'll ever go salmom fishing? I love watching that old show of the guy who built his log house all by himself with no power tools. Richard something. He lived there til he was too old. I would love to go see that house. Wasn't that in Alaska somewhere? And there was another PBS show where some people went and split up into a few people and lived in the wilderness for awhile. Almost killed a few of them but they made it.
I hope your flowers made it through the night. I went to the hardware store in the valley where I used to work to look at flowers for my little bed. They had a nice metal bench inside on sale for $49. and it had a ding in the leg so he said he'd take $10 more off of it. That would happen when I am broke! But if it's there Friday, it's all mine! It will go perfect down in my corner spot I have been dreaming up. And I can spray paint it pink!
I hope it's a beautiful day there in Fairbanks today. It's hot here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 2:41:49 PM
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It sounds like everyone's gardens are really shaping up for the summer. I moved my wash basin planters underneath my kitchen windown and put a cute little wooden garden fence around the bottom. I am going to fill the basins with planting soil this year and plant a mixture of veggies and flowers. I have some lavendar that I am going to plant and I am thinking also some cucumbers cascading down the side would be fun. What do you think?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 2:48:12 PM
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It's GORGEOUS here today, but cool, about 55. My little guy and I planted carrots and lettuce in our raised beds, candytuft and johnny-jump-ups in the front flower bed, and sunflowers for in the greenhouse...to be transplanted in early June.
Yea! All my plants survived happily in the greenhouse!
Kris - my journey to AK is a long story, involving romantic ideas of pioneer life, an intense dislike of Philadelphia's rush hour traffic and a desire not to have to worry about my neatnik mom dropping by unannounced. Now, I'm married to a fellow from upstate New York (whom I met here) who will never go back there to live. I miss being close to my folks more now that we have kids. I also miss things like maple trees and snow-free Halloweens, but I do love it here. Fairbanks is not AT ALL like living in the Bush. We have a Wal-Mart and a Barnes & Noble! :-) But it is definitely more eclectic and independent-minded than suburban Philly. I don't think I'd be considering poultry raising on less than an acre back home!
Keeping my fingers crossed that your bench is still there on Friday!
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 3:42:21 PM
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Alee, that sounds like a pretty spot for what you have in mind. I think cucumbers are pretty on a trellis with the yellow flowers. I had thought about putting a fence through mine. I might yet. Just to keep them off the ground and the weeds away. You should go ahead and do it. I like little gardens with lots of whimsical stuff tucked in. I am getting into the bright colors. I want the Adirondak chairs now in the bright colors.
Melissa, sounds like a great love story. I am away from all my family too way up here. But my parents are buying a house about 25 miles from us. She's already telling me all the things we will be doing. Like walking and taking tennis lessons since the park is right behind their new house. Hmm, I don't know about this. I may have to move to Alaska now!
It is downright hot here. I got a new battery for my redneck mower today!! Yippee! I got the yard mowed. My hubby's here til tomorrow. Poor guy. I already had him out there weed eating and he got plum worn out. He's napping right now. I need to get him up before it gets dark so he can finish. A yard just doesn't look right til it's all trimmed. So I am excited to have the mower working again. Now I just need to keep gas around.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 3:56:25 PM
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Thanks Kris! I think it will be fun, and hopefully productive too. The washbasins are alongside the house of course and in that area the old house owners put gravel fill (I assume they were trying to fix the crumbling foundation but I think they made it worse but that's a long story.) So I am excited to have some "weed free" gardening. If we were going to be there longer I would do the horse trough gardening. I think that would look really cute. I wish I had more of these wash basins as they are the perfect height.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 6:08:27 PM
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Hi Kris, Hoping your bench is waiting for you on Friday! Please keep us posted. Can't wait for you to figure out how to post photo's on here because I'd love to see what you have been up to!
My veggie seeds have not sprouted as of tonight - but keeping my eyes peeled! Some of my flower seeds have come up in a flower pot however. I LOVE Spring! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2010 : 9:03:12 PM
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Ruth, you are alot cooler there right? We are in a valley here and very hot. Right at the foot of Lookout Mt. and Pigeon Mt. Big difference up on the mountain from down here. So they will pop up soon. I sure wish I could post pics here. I hope I can sit down one day with my DD and she can figure it out for me. Then she'll have to write it all down because I'll forget as soon as she leaves. Keep your fingers crossed on the bench for me!
Alee, isn't it funny what some people do? You should see this place. There are still things here that I can't figure out. I made my herd garden out of the big long cattle feeding trough. It took 3 bags of top soil, a big bag of peat moss, and a big bag of MG potting soil to fill it up. It's not as full of plants as I would like so I might throw in some herb seeds. Or flowers.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 09:13:19 AM
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Alee - I don't know how I missed your washbasin idea when I posted last night - sounds really cute!
About houses and what previous owners did to them - I live in a log house that was built by the previous owners in 1950 (which makes it an "old" house, here!). A lot of the crazy stuff we've uncovered was probably at least partly due to the fact that AK in 1950 was not a convenient place to build. No Home Depot or Lowe's, then! They had to make do. HOWEVER, that really doesn't explain the plumbing or wiring insanity! And really, could they not have BORROWED a level and a square? LOL It has LOTS of character.
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 3:15:02 PM
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| Kris, We are cooler here for sure. Our trees are usually 2 weeks behind Blue Ridge. The first year we were here, we were worried that something bad had happened to all our trees. Nope, just 10 miles farther North was the difference. It's amazing. |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 3:16:02 PM
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| Kris, We are cooler here for sure. Our trees are usually 2 weeks behind Blue Ridge. The first year we were here, we were worried that something bad had happened to all our trees. Nope, just 10 miles farther North was the difference. It's amazing. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 3:43:13 PM
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What?!? Snowing in Alaska? I wish I could go. It's blazing hot here today and I am pooped. I have been working outside. My granddaughter Kansas helped me in the little flower bed. And she helped water all the new azaleas I just got from Lowe's. ($1.50 each!) I got 14. I am putting them down the driveway. And I put 6 of them at the foundation of the front of the house along with some really old boxwoods from a little lady we used to live next door to. Our future SIL lives there now and he dug alot up. And now I have them here. I need black plastic now to put down around them and mulch real good and I'll be done with that area.
In the flower bed I got 3 Coreopsis that were marked down. Plus some more dirt. And 3 packs of Thumbelina zinnias. It will look so cute with those in there.
Ruth, my hubby had to be in Blairesville today. Then off to Atlanta. So he was in your area for awhile. It's supposed to cool off some in a few days. Man, I don't know about this near 90 heat.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 4:35:21 PM
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LOL - Kris, I knew somebody'd make that comment! I guess I got carried away, reading about how all your gardens are doing and forgot where I live!
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 3:38:33 PM
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Is it still snowing? I wouldn't mind a little coldness right now here. Good grief it's too hot! I have lots to do out there too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 5:17:03 PM
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It's back to beautiful today, though this morning it was 31F and foggy. It's sunny and 56 right now, but the forecast for over night is 20-30. So, I guess my plants will spend another night in my back hallway (the only spot they fit.) Still, I'm SO not a hot weather person! We get a couple days of 90 in July, maybe, and that's enough for me!
Out to plant my peas (they should be alright with light frost, right, since they're just seeds?)
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 6:13:19 PM
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I would think peas would be ok since they are a more cool weather plant anyway. Mine are finally getting up to the fence and trying to latch on to it. I guess they're about 8" tall now. And they should have been planted in Feb. I hope you get to plant some in your garden soon. I would be going crazy by now if I couldn't plant.
I saw some of the pop corn popping up today. I was a little worried it might not come up. And everything else looks so good so far. The weeds are about to take over but I can't til until hubby tightens up the tines for me. I might need to try to do it myself. I want a nice weed free garden this year. And I think I might be able to do it.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 6:09:26 PM
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| I planted my green beans today, along with some Trumpet Vine my DS gave me for Mother's Day. I see my onions, potatoes, and lettuce are doing very well. I cheated and bought bigger tomatoes and used Wall O Waters. One of my plants have about 5 little peas size tomatoes. That is really ahead of schedule in NW Kansas. I always try to have a tomato by 4th of July. I did some winter planting early this spring and my cukes, tomatoes, and squash are all going to need transplanted soon. Spring just revitalizes and restores the soul. I just love walking bare foot through my garden and digging in the fresh dirt. The dirt even smells good. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 6:59:21 PM
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Melissa, yay for you!!! I am so happy for you! I love sunflowers. They make a garden look so happy.I hope the rest of them are soon to follow. I see alot in my gardens now. It's very exciting to see them.
Kem, what color are the trumpet vine flowers? I think I have the trumpet plant, not the vine. It has huge flowers. I got them from a man at the market last year and I cannot remember now what color they were. I see alot of little ones coming up in the big pot. We always try to have a ripe tomato on July 4th too. That's a goal I think all gardeners have. Some get them sooner though. I wish you well with yours.
My gardens look like the Sahara desert right now. All cracked and parched and very hard. And my tiller is broken again so I will have to wait til hubby gets home in 2 weeks for him to get parts to get it fixed. I will try to get the little one going. But if not I will have to get out there with a hoe.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 8:09:48 PM
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I'm so happy to have them coming up (there are 3 sprouts, now). It's AMAZING to me how fast and strong weeds come up in our climate, LOL - even dandelions, which are not native. I check all my beds a couple times a day. Nothing else really should be coming up yet, considering that I just planted them this past week, but the sunflowers surprised me, so maybe the carrots will, too! Here's my little greenhouse. More of a greencloset, really.
Yeah, I dream of ripe tomatoes for 4th of July, too. Fortunately for me, Safeway can make that dream come true...;-)
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2010 : 12:56:45 AM
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My Garden is not doing much yet either Melissa. We have had so much rain here in Washington for the
past two months that our gardens are soggy for days on end and then the wind blows the next rain system in and the wind dries everything out just in time for another sog-fest! By this time last year we were already eating snap peas and green beans.
Anxiously awaiting more Sunshine,
~peggy
Lady In Red |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2010 : 09:59:47 AM
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I think we might get some rain today. I hope so anyway. But as cold as it is it might just be snow. It's freezing and I am thinking about turning the heat on! And tomorrow is supposed to be almost 90. This is the strangest weather lately. I am greatful for the cooler temps but please! It's cold!
I like that little greenhouse. Just the right size to get seeds started. Where did you get that, Melissa?
PeggyAnn, I do hope ya'll dry out enough to get some garden planted soon. I remember one year I was planting in mud. Sometimes ya just gotta get out there and plant anyway.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Garden Gate: Garden Adventures |
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Garden Adventures
