Sharing Nature's Garden Archives | Page 88 of 124

Hi from my hiatus…

No photos today, but I’m going to try to snap some tomorrow.

I’m thrilled to report that the Double Pink German Brugmansia is growing new leaves like crazy already! She likes the greenhouse and adapted faster than I’d have ever guessed, give the roughshod way I handled getting her out of the ground. I thought she was a gonner for sure.

And while I was spreading out 3 flats of green tomatoes to ripen in the sun out there, I had to rescue 5, yes 5, butterflies in about 10 minutes. They were all interested in checking out the plants but couldn’t find their way out. They would have eventually — the 4 windows and doors were open, but I hated watching them all aflutter.

It dropped 21 degrees while I was running errands this afternoon in about 2 hours’ time. And the gusty-gale-force winds are back, too. Sigh. I really could live without the wind.

Tested chicken salad to go into the puff pastry shells for the party today – yummy. With craisins, pecans, and some grainy mustard with the mayo. It will be really tasty. And I made two pans of Buckeye Bars. They are essentially homemade peanut butter cups in the shape of a bar. Omigosh. They may not make it to the party 🙂

I’ll try to post some party pictures if I don’t get anything photographed before Saturday.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:44:43-05:00December 9th, 2008|Blog, brugmansia, christmas party, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Phase one – Texas style, or Brrrr!

Carol of May Dreams Gardens told us about all the complicated preparations for winter that they undergo up north before the snow comes and the ground freezes.

She wrote of bringing in bird baths and patio furniture and lots and lots of, well, work.

Here in Austin, the ground doesn’t freeze. But sometimes the air does,and so there are a few things we have to do to protect our plants, pipes and pets (as the weather folks are fond of saying!)

Last night is was 30* at my house. Brrrr.

The plants were already in the greenhouse, so I took some sheets out to cover my lettuce and my leeks, and I picked all the remaining green tomatoes and lemons.

I brought in an overflowing bowl of tomatoes, probably 80-90 of them, and 25 more variegated lemons.

While I was picking the fruit, I talked to the plants — thanking them for their bounty and letting them know how much we enjoyed our harvest. (It seemed the right thing to do, knowing the tomatoes at least were facing imminent death).

While carrying the haul in, I realized with horror that the Brugmansia – German Double Pink, was still blooming and I hadn’t yet dug it up for potting and overwintering in the greenhouse.

GASP.

So, I put on my clogs and got out the shovel and dug ‘er up. (Boy, did she have some roots for a 9-month old.) And she almost didn’t make it into the greenhouse, she cleared the peak of the ceiling by only about 2 inches! I hope she survives so I can find a better home for her next year. Her blooms are a pretty color, aren’t they?

I ordered her from ebay (I know, don’t laugh!)

I found her on a google search and fell in love with the picture, so I forked over way too much money for one big ‘ol bulb and clicked, “BUY NOW.”

She’s my first, so I had no idea what to do with her and I just stuck her in a hole where I could see her and where I had some room (and safe from deer).

I put her next to the Datura, as they are similar, but it turns out that was much too sunny a spot for her to be happy. I watered her by hand daily in the 100 degree heat and she looked very sad many days.

Then someone (probably a grasshopper) ate all of her leaves all the way up the stalk. How rude!

There’s Tanner, in his favorite perch, watching over his property as I prepare to dig.

I’d hardly call her blooms pink, though. They are very peachy. And now they are full of beetle bites. These little yellow and black beetles the size of lady bugs have been having their Thanksgiving feast on her.

After being overheated and too hot in the sun all year, she has to suffer the indignities of bug bites just as she’s finally coming into her own. Oh well, maybe it will make her stronger! Ha ha.

But my Christmas Cactus is about to burst into bloom. Just in time for our humongous holiday party. Oh, and I made two pans of ginger bars today. Tomorrow I’m testing out some chicken salad filling in puff pastry shells…I’ll let you know how it goes!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:51-06:00December 5th, 2008|Blog, brugmansia, Christmas cactus, freeze, Sharing Nature's Garden, tomatoes|0 Comments

Frost on the pumpkin … I mean window!

My DH took this beautiful photo of frost on the windshield of the car this morning here in the beautiful heartland of Indiana.

Really cold mornings give way to sunny, cold days, but throughout our time here, it was bright and crisp and delightful. I love Texas, and the Texas sunshine, but it’s good to get a few extra seasons besides summer and almost summer!

We hit the air again tomorrow as we head for home. But it’s been good to be home and spend time with family and to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:45:05-05:00November 28th, 2008|Blog, Indiana, Sharing Nature's Garden, thanksgiving|7 Comments

Clear and crisp…

It was 19 degrees and clear this morning. No snow, but a little bit of frost on the ground made for a pretty sight on the farm as the sun was coming up in Indiana.

Turkey day preparations are well underway — they have been for days as my MIL prepares for the wonderful feast she makes us every holiday we are lucky enough to share together.

We wish you many blessings and peace on this day – the day of giving thanks.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:45:05-05:00November 27th, 2008|Blog, Indiana, Sharing Nature's Garden, thanksgiving|0 Comments

“We’re leavin’…on a jet plane!”

Can’t you just hum that in your head?

We’re off to Indiana tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving with my DH’s family. They live just north of Indianapolis, so it will be a cool and chilly welcome, with a high of about 40 expected there. Slight chance of snow flurries, and Kallie has her fingers crossed!

So, this is where we’ll all be tomorrow … on a jet plane!

I will try to blog some from there, though the connectivity is rather limited out on the farm sometimes.

In any case, here’s wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I certainly have a lot for which to be thankful, including my garden and my blogging friends.

Peace and turkey!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:51-06:00November 24th, 2008|Blog, Sharing Nature's Garden, thanksgiving|0 Comments

Are my deer sheepish?

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Does this look like the remnants of a little rutting going on in my front yard on MY MAGNOLIA TREE???

(Can you tell I’m annoyed?)

Of course, it’s the girls that I’m feeding, and this was the handiwork of the young boys the other night when it was very cold out.

Unfortunately, this means that my Magnolia, should it live to a nice, ripe age, will simply not have those full, traditional low branches that we love in the structure of the Magnolia. Mine will look like an fruit tree, instead!

Oh well.

Okay, Carol, I’m “embracing” my bucks!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:51-06:00November 19th, 2008|Blog, deer, magnolia, Sharing Nature's Garden|0 Comments

Sharing Nature’s Garden

Hi from my hiatus…

Phase one – Texas style, or Brrrr!

Frost on the pumpkin … I mean window!

Clear and crisp…

“We’re leavin’…on a jet plane!”

Are my deer sheepish?

Escape in the garden