Growing Herbs & Flowers

I sowed two types of seed potatoes. One from the nursery, and one from the grocery store. I put the organic potatoes from Lidl in a brown bag to sprout. That worked. Although I’ve read that potatoes don’t need to sprout before sowing, I felt better seeing those sprouts. It’ll be interesting to see how both grow.

Sowing Potatoes I sowed two types of seed potatoes. One from the nursery, and one from the grocery store. I put the organic potatoes from Lidl in a brown bag to sprout. That...

Last week, we went shopping on a rainy day to buy seed potatoes and clay pots. I wanted to try planting organic potatoes from the grocery store, and I knew Lidl would have organic. Immediately after returning home, I put the potatoes in a brown bag for sprouting. The clay pots I’ll use for the deck baskets.

Buying Seed Potatoes & Clay Pots Last week, we went shopping on a rainy day to buy seed potatoes and clay pots. I wanted to try planting organic potatoes from the grocery store, and I knew L...

I’m working in the raspberry bed, removing runners. I did this last week and already I’m needing to do it again. Trying to keep the plants in an area so growth goes up for easy picking. It also keeps the plant out of the paths. I think I’ll have to reposition the bamboo to make the fruiting area wider, and I’m going to try keeping all the good runners for extra plants. I might plant them along the pickets and put some in pots to give away.

Raspberry Bed Maintenance I’m working in the raspberry bed, removing runners. I did this last week and already I’m needing to do it again. Trying to keep the plants in an area so grow...

The garden comes alive in March. Daffodils, herbs, and fruit start emerging from the dormant stage. Some veggies are added while the weather is still cool, the peas that I started inside, and I could have added potatoes and onions. Those I’ll be adding today. I’m a little behind on sweet potato slips and should have started them a lot earlier, but I’m still going to plant those as soon as I can. It’s a small garden, but soon it’ll be very packed with harvest.

Garden Tour March The garden comes alive in March. Daffodils, herbs, and fruit start emerging from the dormant stage. Some veggies are added while the weather is still cool, t...

Let us give Jesus Christ praise this Resurrection Sunday !

The Lamb Of God “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” John1:36 KJVThe Lamb Of God ©℗2022 Terry ParrishSongs for the assembly and personal ...

I used fresh chives and thyme to make this herb and cheese bread. It has a great flavor, but I thought the dough was too watery. One reason is it didn’t stay in a ball but flattened out. I maybe should have scooped the flour instead of spooning it. I also altered the recipe using a packet of yeast instead of a half teaspoon, and I let it rise overnight according to other dutch oven bread recipes. I think just adding more flour or less water would make a better loaf, but it was still very delicious! I’ll have to try it again. It’s fun making recipes my own and using fresh herbs from the garden.

Making Herb Cheese Bread I used fresh chives and thyme to make this herb and cheese bread. It has a great flavor, but I thought the dough was too watery. One reason is it didn’t stay...

I’m w**ding, building a border, and adding organic mushroom compost to the bean trellis area, getting it ready for sowing beans when the weather gets a little warmer.

Fixing The Bean Trellis Area I’m w**ding, building a border, and adding organic mushroom compost to the bean trellis area, getting it ready for sowing beans when the weather gets a littl...

We enjoy visiting a local nature preserve where we’re allowed to walk, photograph, and beach comb. Due to storms, the beach changes a lot, so we never know what we’ll find.

It’s about a half mile walk to get to the beach, and we usually walk a mile or two down the beach.

I look for rocks. The rocks are heavy to carry, so I can only bring home a few. I use the rocks for borders, as weights to hold down row covers, and as plant markers.

It’s a nice time in nature, and I feel I’ve accomplished something in the garden too. I hope you’ll enjoy the walk.

Gathering Garden Rocks We enjoy visiting a local nature preserve where we’re allowed to walk, photograph, and beach comb. Due to storms, the beach changes a lot, so we never know w...

I bought a couple of herbs the other week and decided to root some of the stems. My plan is to fill some deck baskets with the thyme, and I’ll be harvesting and drying it for cooking. I’ve never rooted these before, so it’ll be fun to see how it grows!

Rooting Mint & Thyme I bought a couple of herbs the other week and decided to root some of the stems. My plan is to fill some deck baskets with the thyme, and I’ll be harvesting ...

The w**ds were overtaking the garlic patch. We’ve had a good amount of rain lately. It was time to w**d and add organic mushroom compost. I sowed the garlic in the fall from home seed. It’s doing great!

Rescuing The Garlic Patch The w**ds were overtaking the garlic patch. We’ve had a good amount of rain lately. It was time to w**d and add organic mushroom compost. I sowed garlic in ...

It’s time to thin some seedlings: basil and arugula. I use scissors instead of pricking out. The arugula seed is old. I’ve been using it for years, so I sowed a lot of seed in one cell. Looks like all the seed is still viable. The arugula seedlings look tall and thin, so I’ll see how they grow. I can always sow direct when the weather is right.

Thinning Basil & Arugula It’s time to thin some seedlings: basil and arugula. I use scissors instead of pricking out. The arugula seed is old. I’ve been using it for years, so I sowe...

I sowed cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, yellow squash, and zucchini. This should give a head start to the season.

Sowing Cucumbers, Melons & Squash I sowed cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, yellow squash, and zucchini. This should give a head start to the season.

Using garden veggies: home grown frozen yellow squash soup. Add a topping like crumbled bacon for delicious flavor.

Yellow Squash Soup Using garden veggies: home grown frozen yellow squash soup. Add a topping like crumbled bacon for delicious flavor.

We took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg and found the gardens starting to come alive. Daffodils, herbs, a few tulips and more. We’ll have to go back soon to see all the tulips in bloom. It was a nice visit, and I enjoy all the sounds of the community.

Colonial Williamsburg March Visit We took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg and found the gardens starting to come alive. Daffodils, herbs, a few tulips and more. We’ll have to go back soon to ...

Kale has been in my garden all winter. Because of the recent hot weather, the lacinato kale started to bolt. So it was time to clear the kale and preserve it. My favorite is curly kale. I enjoy it in soups.

Harvesting & Freezing Kale Kale has been in my garden all winter. Because of the recent hot weather, the lacinato kale started to bolt. So it was time to clear the kale and preserve it...

I planted two new heritage raspberry plants. I planted one last year, and this will finish that section. I’m using bamboo and string that I already have to make the trellis. I’ll probably use empty water bottles on top of the bamboo when placing a bird netting over the plants, unless I find something better. It’ll be fun to see how things grow!

New Raspberries & Trellis I planted two new heritage raspberry plants. I planted one last year, and this will finish that section. I’m using bamboo and string that I already have to m...

It’s time to transplant some seedlings. The roots are growing well. I picked up cups at the Dollar Tree for transplanting. You can plant tomatoes deep, and I always do when I put them in the garden.

Transplanting Tomatoes & Zinnias It’s time to transplant some seedlings. The roots are growing well. I picked up cups at the Dollar Tree for transplanting. You can plant tomatoes deep, and I...

It’s easy to dry rosemary. First, wash the rosemary and let air dry. Then I dry the rosemary in my oven at the lowest setting on warm. It doesn’t take long, around 90 minutes, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. Then you may leave it whole or chop. Store in a container. You’ll enjoy the wonderful fragrance while doing this project!

Drying Rosemary It’s easy to dry rosemary. First, wash the rosemary and let air dry. Then I dry the rosemary in my oven at the lowest setting on warm. It doesn’t take long, ...

Is a good time to root rosemary!

Rooting Rosemary It’s a good time to root rosemary!

I built a small bamboo bed last summer. In this bed, I’ll be planting lettuce, dill, spinach, parsley, and arugula. Sowing indoors first gives plants a head start to the season.

Sowing For The Lettuce Bed I built a small bamboo bed last summer. In this bed, I’ll be planting lettuce, dill, spinach, parsley, and arugula. Sowing indoors first gives plants a head ...

I’m sprouting sweet potato slips. It’s a first for me, and I’m excited to see how they grow. Another fun garden experience.

Sprouting Sweet Potato Slips I’m sprouting sweet potato slips. It’s a first for me, and I’m excited to see how they grow. Another fun garden experience.

It was a rainy day, so I made a trip to the nursery. I bought some seed potatoes and herbs. I also stopped by the Dollar Tree and picked up some garden gloves and plastic cups for transplanting some seedlings.

Trip To The Nursery It was a rainy day, so I made a trip to the nursery. I bought some seed potatoes and herbs. I also stopped by the Dollar Tree and picked up some garden glove...

We spread organic mushroom compost on the garden sections that have been w**ded. The compost will feed the soil and suppress w**ds. There’s still half of the garden to do as weather permits. It’s rainy most of the week, so we have to wait for a sunny day to move another compost load.

Spreading Mushroom Compost We spread organic mushroom compost on the garden sections that have been w**ded. The compost will feed the soil and suppress w**ds. There’s still half of the...

I didn’t get all the w**ding finished, but I accomplished a lot. Next, I need to pick up a few plants and bring in organic mushroom compost.

Weeding More Beds I didn’t get all the w**ding finished, but I accomplished a lot. Next, I need to pick up a few plants and bring in organic mushroom compost.

I didn’t get to spread mushroom compost on most of the garden in October. The seller ran out. So some of the w**ds became like sod. It’s tough to remove. So I’m working on one section of the garden at a time.

I moved lamb’s ear out of another section to make a border to the herb garden. I think it’ll be a nice border.

I still have another section to w**d in the herb garden, not as bad as this section, then I need to bring in compost, and plant a few things. Soon it’ll be beautiful!

Weeding The Herb Garden I didn’t get to spread mushroom compost on most of the garden in October. The seller ran out. So some of the w**ds became like sod. It’s tough to remove. So ...

It’s time to plant pea seedlings. They’re just the right size, and the weather is really nice for gardening this week.

I planted along the fence to give the peas support. I think they’ll do really well in this location.

When sowing the peas, I used a Jiffy seed starting kit given to me by my brother, and I topped the tray with seed starting soil. That worked great. The pods worked great. I planted two kinds of peas: shelling and sugar snap. The sugar snap was home seed and grew beautifully.

It was easy to separate the seedlings for planting, and the root system looked great.

Planting Peas It’s time to plant pea seedlings. They’re just the right size, and the weather is really nice for gardening this week.I planted along the fence to give the p...

It’s time to thin tomato and zinnia seedlings. Later, I’ll be transplanting them into larger containers.

Thinning Tomatoes & Zinnias It’s time to thin tomato and zinnia seedlings. Later, I’ll be transplanting them into larger containers.

In this soup, I’m using my home grown garlic that I freeze as cloves, my home grown thyme that I dried in the oven, and fresh kale from my winter garden.

The Parmesan and sausage makes it salty, so you can leave out the salt if you like.

I’m looking forward to using my own home grown onions (and maybe potatoes) in this recipe. Planning now for the harvest.

Using Garden Veggies - Soup In this soup, I’m using my home grown garlic that I freeze as cloves, my home grown thyme that I dried in the oven, and fresh kale from my winter garden.The ...

It’s time to sow onion seed indoors. I’m doing a multi-sow method to save space in my backyard garden. This is the first time sowing large onions. I’ve only sowed spring onions in the past. Looking forward to seeing how they grow.

Sowing Onion Seed It’s time to sow onion seed indoors. I’m doing a multi-sow method to save space in my backyard garden. This is the first time sowing large onions. I’ve only...

I sowed marigolds last Tuesday. Not wanting to waste any seeds that have sprouted, I pricked them out for new plants.

I’ve never grown marigolds from seed, so it’ll be fun to see how they grow.

Pricking Out Marigolds I sowed marigolds last Tuesday. Not wanting to waste any seeds that have sprouted, I pricked them out for new plants.I’ve never grown marigolds from seed, so...