Backyard Bliss

Wordless Wednesday! Fall

2011-10-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Garden Tomatoes Galore!

2011-07-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings garden lovers! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Hopefully you have lots of delicious garden gems to enjoy! ♥

Back in April, we picked up a few tomato seedlings at a Tomatomania sale at Descanso Gardens:

Sungold
Cherokee Purple
Mario's Roma

They were supposed to be the best varieties to handle extreme desert heat... and they are growing like I have never seen tomato plants grow before! Last year, my best tomato plant had maybe 6 tomatoes total... for the entire growing season!

But these varieties are amazing! There have been so many tomatoes... I have not been able to keep count!

'Sungold' variety

They are so delicious... wayyyyyy better than grocery store tomatoes any day!

'Cherokee Purple'

'Mario's Roma'

Does anyone know of any other tomato varieties that thrive in extreme heat?

Bright Summer Zinnias!

2011-07-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

I apologize for not posting a garden update in a while. In addition to starting my health coaching business & staying on top of my coursework for Integrative Nutrition, I also just got a full-time job for 6 weeks!

In what seemed like a blink of an eye, it is already the middle of July! The plants in the garden have tripled in size! All of the sudden, we have patty pan squashes, ripe roma tomatoes, and a baby cucumber!

But today's post is about zinnias! They are so bright & beautiful! ♥

According to Wikipedia:

Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae, originally from scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the American Southwest to South America, but primarily Mexico, and notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors.

Zinnia leaves are opposite and usually stalkless, with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and pale to middle green in color. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.

Zinnias are popular garden flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun. They will reseed themselves each year. Over 100 cultivars have been produced since selective breeding started in the 19th century.

Good Morning 'Morning Glory!'

2011-06-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

Greetings! ♥

I hope you had a great weekend, and are having a great Monday morning!

Yesterday a.m., I was ecstatic to find that I had a morning glory flower blooming! The best part? It was grown from a seed! ♥

The plan is to have the vines growing up a sunny side of the fence. I can't wait to have more purple blooms! ♥

Sunflowers and Squash Blossoms!

2011-06-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow garden lovers! ♥

This week has been very warm, high 80s - low 90s. But that is nothing compared to how hot it will get! But the garden loves it!

My plants are growing like crazy! I've been harvesting garlic, strawberries, lemon balm, figs, basil, and oregano. And very soon... TOMATOES!

Here's a photo update: Sunflowers & 'Peter Pan' Squash
(They were both grown from seed!) ♥

'Hello!'

What's thriving in your garden this week?

Purple Delphinium!

2011-06-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Greetings! ♥

The other night, Jon and I ventured into the garden center of a local home improvement store...

and these purple delphiniums immediately caught my eye! ♥

I think this might be my favorite flower! I adore the color... I definitely see these lining the brick retaining wall in the backyard.

And, they are a perennial... which is perfect! (save $$ on next year's plants!)

Have you ever planted these?

Harvesting Garlic!

2011-05-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday fellow garden lovers! ♥

I have really been missing blogging about gardening lately!

This month, I officially started my health coaching practice! It has been the subject of all of my time, energy, & attention.

Anyways... I was able to take a break today, so I spent some time in the backyard. ♥

I had plenty of seedlings needing to be upgraded to bigger pots, and all of my plants just needing attention in general...

But, there is one plant in particular that received the most attention!

Garlic!

Rumor has it, once you've have fresh, homegrown garlic... you never want to go back to the store variety!

You might recall... last October, I planted a bag of garlic gloves! (At the time, I could not even picture what garlic would look like growing!)

But it's pretty simple... just stems (about 2 1/2 ' tall) growing out of the bulb! :)

Apparently, the ideal time to harvest garlic is mid-summer. According to About.com, the stems growing out of the bulb should be turning brown.

However, I was impatient (I wanted the gigantic pot they were growing in for the 'Big Max' pumpkin!)

So out they came! This fall, I will make sure I plant the cloves (saved from 1 or 2 of the bulbs from this year) in a pot I will not be needing for another plant until July! :)

Have you ever planted garlic? Or enjoyed a friend's home-grown garlic?

Fresh Strawberries!

2011-05-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like stepping out into the backyard and picking your own berries for breakfast! ♥

Snapdragons and Strawberries!

2011-04-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday garden lovers!

Are you enjoying your weekend?

This morning I walked for MS and then enjoyed a relaxing, delicious lunch with friends... salad with juicy tomatoes, honey-dipped baked sweet potato fries, homemade agave-sweetened lemonade, and fresh basil pesto! The afternoon was spent weeding and taking care of the garden. ♥

What's blooming? Snapdragons and strawberries!

Last year's strawberry pot is taking off! I followed the advice of "The Girl's Guide to Growing Your Own: How to Grow Fruit and Vegetables Without Getting Your Hands Too Dirty" by fertilizing my strawberry plants with seaweed!

The author recommended a liquid seaweed feed, (what?! sounds scary...) but I decided to try kelp, from the local vitamin store in the form of capsules, which I opened and sprinkled on the strawberries! Between the 2 small plants, there are 25 strawberries!! (Last year I got maybe 7 berries total?) I will definitely be using kelp powder again this year! ♥

What's blooming in your garden? Have you ever used seaweed as fertilizer?

Wordless Wednesday! Easter

2011-04-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Lavendar and Lemon Balm!

2011-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

I have not posted in a while, as I've been spending a lot of time focusing on building my holistic health coaching practice!

In May, I will begin taking on clients as a certified health coach! ♥ Specifically, I will be supporting women with attaining their ideal weight, increasing their energy, and creating a healthy lifestyle!

Anyways... here is a backyard update.

Lavendar in full bloom!

Lemon balm (grown from seed last year!)

Lemon balm tea, anyone?

Well... what do we have here? :)

Beautiful Desert Flowers!

2011-04-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday! :)

Have you been enjoying some nice spring weather? This morning I planted the tomato plants that we found this weekend! But I am holding off on planting the rest of the seedlings... as it looks like it will be chilly again this weekend.

Anyways, today I wanted to share some photos of what the hills around the Antelope Valley currently look like!

Can you believe this is the desert?!

When most people hear the word 'desert', flowers are not the first thing that usually comes to mind! ;)

Descanso Gardens in April!

2011-04-02T17:47:00.000-07:00

Hello garden lovers! I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

I wanted to share some photos from Descanso Gardens. ♥

It was a beautiful day! ♥

Tomatomania was having a tomato seedling sale... we came home with 3 baby tomato plants! They are supposed to be able to handle extreme heat...

Sungold
Cherokee Purple
Mario's Roma

Merlin!

2011-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, I found Merlin... taking a nap in my indoor plant!

He looked so peaceful and content, not to mention cute! I just couldn't move him...

Spring Walks

2011-03-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

This is why I love spring walks... ♥

Daffodils and Baby Cucumbers!

2011-03-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday fellow garden lovers!! ♥

Spring is almost here... and I can't wait until I can go crazy in the garden! Right now there are beautiful daffodils blooming in random pots (planted back in November)! I love their cheery little faces!

Baby Cucumbers!

In my "office", are baby cucumbers! Along with tomatoes, morning glories, eggplants, orange peppers, peas, and calendulas! They are crowding each other out under the grow light... so I can't wait until I can take them outside!

I think April 14th is generally the last frost date in the Antelope Valley. Just 4 weeks to go! :)

Have you started your Spring garden yet?

And, do you ever start planting before the "official" last frost date? The weather is beautiful... I am so tempted! ;)

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-03-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Late Night Racoon Invasions!

2011-03-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! We've been having backyard visitors!

Between 9:30 and 10 pm, we often have 2 raccoons prowling around the backyard. They dig up the pansies, break pots, tinker with the water fountain, terrorize my cat, and dip their little paws in the pool!

And they are very bold... they do not seem to be intimidated by humans, or pets!

Jedi says "Whaaaaaat is this?!"

We did some research and found out that they will actually eat cats if given the chance!!! Needless to say, Jedi is staying indoors! Last summer, when the dog door was in use, he would sneak out of the house for late night escapades. (such a little stinker!!) But not anymore...

One would think that we live in the country... or a forest. But we live in a track home, in the middle of the desert! So, the question is... where did they come from?!?

Does anyone know if raccoons eat fruits and vegetables?

It has arrived!

2011-02-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

Guess what finally arrived?

Heeding Potted Farm's advice, I ended up purchasing this grow light from Amazon! I also ended up getting this heating pad!

I set everything up yesterday... and I swear the peas have already grown (overnight)!

I am so excited... :)

Indoor Kumquats!

2011-02-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Do you have fruit trees/plants growing in your house? A lot of people enjoy having house plants, but... why not enjoy ones that give something back?

I recently read fun book, Growing Tasty Tropical Plants. It talks about growing all kinds of tropical plants in any home... including bananas and pineapples! Did you know there is such thing as a "Peanut Butter Plant?!"

Anyways, we've been enjoying plenty of kumquats over the past few weeks. :) The plant/tree is just about 2.5' tall and 1/5' wide... but there were 45 kumquats total!

What types of "houseplants" do you have? :)

The (Ever-Blooming) Amaryllis!

2011-02-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

True Story:
Last year we had an Amaryllis... you know, the kind that are marketed as Christmas gifts?

Anyways, it seemed to take forever to bloom, and once it did, it was finished almost as soon as it started!

This year, however, the "Christmas" Amaryllis bloomed in about a month! And, guess what? It's already had 6 blossoms, and is about to have 2 more!

I am amazed!

I am curious to hear your experiences with Amaryllis plants... is it normal to just have one bloom? Or multiple?

Also, is anyone familiar with saving bulbs? :)

Seed Starting!

2011-02-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday fellow garden lovers! ♥

I love seeing so much excitement in the garden blog world this week about seed starting! It is making me want it to be spring even more! :)

I am planning on growing most of my plants from seed this year, verses last year when I purchased a lot of seedlings from gardening stores.

Reasons:
*Saving $$
*Unique varieties
*Classic heirlooms
*Avoiding Monsanto
*Gratification! :)

Currently planted are:
*Purple Basil
*Peas
*Calendula
*Orange Pepper
*'Summer Feast' Tomatoes
*'Garden Candy' Tomatoes
*Italian Eggplants

Even though they are sunbathing near bright windows and windowsills, I have a slight uneasy feeling that they really need is some kind of grow light system. There are 2 things holding me back from this:

1. Cost
2. Where to put it?

Discovering that I truly enjoy gardening, I guess I would not mind investing in something that would last me for years. So the biggest barrier is really where I would put it... I am somewhat of a 'neat freak' and don't want to necessarily look at it all the time. I would love to hear your thoughts/ideas on this...

Are you starting seeds indoors? If so, what are you growing? And, do you use any sort of lighting system?

Purple Pansies!

2011-02-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

What's blooming? Purple Pansies!

Luckily, they don't mind freezing temperatures!

That's a daffodil in the background! ♥

Narcissus ♥

2011-02-01T07:54:00.000-08:00

Good morning! I hope you are having an amazing week!

Confession: I used to scent my house with fragrance and candles. However, after becoming familiar with the not-so-amazing effects of synthetic fragrances, things have changed.

Pure essential oils now replace the synthetic fragrances. :)

However, at the moment... my room is beautifully scented with these elegant Narcissus!

They were planted as bulbs... and less than a month later, beautiful indoor flowers blossomed!

Buds about to blossom...

Do you use natural scents in your home? And, what are your favorite flowers to grow indoors?

I hope you have a beautiful & amazing day! :)

Central Coast Charm!

2011-01-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

Good morning! I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!

Today I wanted to share some inspiration from the central coast! Jon and I enjoyed the weekend in Cambria. The weather was beautiful... it felt like spring!

It was wonderful to be back in the area where we went to college... and met! ♥

I am getting so excited for spring! ♥

Have you ever been to the beautiful central coast? What inspires you to garden?

Backyard Winter Wonderland

2011-01-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow garden lovers!

So...apparently there is snow on the ground in 49 states! Read about it here! Palmdale still has snow in the foothills! However, the white blanket covering the backyard has melted.

But here are are few more photos of the recent backyard turned "winter wonderland!" :)

Do you currently have snow on the ground? :)

Winter Gardening: Purple Kale!

2011-01-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Have you been paying much attention to your garden lately? I must say... I haven't been. The cold weather has been keeping me inside.

However, I did manage to plant a purple kale plant about 2 months ago! It has lasted through rain, snow, frost, wind, and ice! :)

Point of story: If you want something growing in your garden in the winter, but don't want anything high maintenance, plant kale! :)

Merlin the Snow Cat!

2011-01-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

The other morning, my significant other, Jon, and I came looked out the window to find 4 inches of snow!!!

Yes, we know he is not normal...

It rarely snows in Palmdale... so needless to say, we were very excited!

And so was Merlin!

The last time it snowed was 2 years ago... and it was then we learned that Merlin has a strange affinity for it. What cat loves snow?!?

Most cats would prefer being curled up next to a warm fire. But not Merlin! He stands by the door, begging to me let outside.

So, we let him have his way...

Poor Merlin... he had a tooth removed the other day, hence the missing fur on his neck.

Please tell me Merlin isn't the only weirdo cat that likes snow? :)

The Kumquat Tree!

2010-12-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Greetings! I hope you are almost ready for Christmas!! :) It's coming so fast...

Today I want to share photos and a story of the beloved kumquat tree with you! Technically, it is my significant other, Jon's tree...

(It is currently a houseplant!)

Jon rarely eats fruit, but he loves kumquats!! So I got him this tree earlier this year as a housewarming gift.

However, for whatever reason, it was not doing so well in his backyard. (Perhaps it was because he wouldn't water it every day?) ;) Anyways, we moved it to my house so I could pay more attention to it...

Get this: When we got it from the nursery, it had about 10 small kumquats on it. After a month of being at his house, almost all had fallen off. The very next day after transplanting it to my backyard, there were 30 kumquats!!! Granted, they were smaller than my pinky nail, but they were still kumquats!

It is currently neighboring the Christmas tree. :) It will go back outside when spring arrives.

Do you have any "outside plants" that become houseplants in the winter?

Wordless Wednesday: December!

2010-12-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2010-12-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Happy December! Have you decorated yet? :)

The Fig Tree...

...is now a Charlie Brown Tree! :)

The First Snow!

2010-11-29T23:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning, the backyard was covered with a light dusting of snow!

It was sooooooooo cold! But I managed to snap a photo of the mint, which has invaded the backyard... (my mom was not kidding when she said make sure to never let it get out of the pot!) I don't know what happened...

Apparently, it lives on through at least several freezes (and now snow!)

Anyways... welcome winter! Please bring lots of snow this year! Maybe even a white Christmas? :)

The Day the Leaves Fell!

2010-11-28T17:35:00.000-08:00

I must say... I have thoroughly been enjoying my daily walks around the neighborhood. :) Especially because I ♥ Fall!

Since the moment Fall arrived, I've been walking almost every morning. It's amazing what just 20 minutes walking outside in nature will do for your well-being!

Thanksgiving was the day the trees in the neighborhood finally lost their leaves! The night before, the temperature dropped to around 19 degrees F. Brrrrrrrrrrr!

The sidewalks were completely covered...

My mom and I had a blast crunching through them! It was a perfect Thanksgiving morning. :)

The Last of the Bell Peppers

2010-11-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

Good morning!

Does anyone have anything left from their summer garden? I don't (aside from the perennials)...

These bell peppers were the last vegetables to be picked! (They needed to be picked before it was too late!)

About these bell peppers:
For some reason... back in August, they were not really "taking off." The plants had plenty of leaves, but just a couple (and very tiny) bell peppers.

So, on a whim, I decided to cut off most of the leaves along the length of the stems, leaving only the ones near the tops of the plants...

My mom thought I was crazy for doing this!

I was thinking that with less leaves to worry about, the plants could put more effort into growing the peppers...

And, I am completely serious... the very next day, the bell peppers began to grow!

About a week later, there was an almost-full-sized pepper on one of the plants, and many others that were almost just as big!

Learn by doing! ;)

Nature Inspired Gifts!

2010-11-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Today I want to share a nature-inspired gift idea with you...

White Chocolate Cranberry Almond Candy

Last minute, I realized I could make it to a "going away" party.

Even though the couple requested no gifts, I still wanted to bring them a little something. ;)

It took simple ingredients and just minutes to make...

Ingredients:

Almonds
Dried Cranberries
White Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Spread almonds and dried cranberries over a baking dish (covered in wax paper or aluminum), melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler, pour chocolate over pan, then sprinkle a few more almonds & cranberries over the top. Let cool (I set outside!) and cut into pieces when solid.

Idea inspired by Disney's "Family Fun" magazine.

Indoor Gardening! Perfect Year Round...

2010-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Indoor gardening is great year round... but it's even better when it is cold outside!

Earlier this year I picked up some cleanrance rack! plants. They were 50% off!! I will admit, they were not as vibrant as the others, but after a little attention and water... they completely came back to life!

My favorite is this Golden Pothos plant... it is making its way across the room!

Did you know that houseplants even have benefits?

They improve air quality.
They provide a calm & relaxing atmosphere!

Is it Really November?

2010-11-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Is Thanksgiving really less than 3 weeks away? This week the temperatures have been in the mid-80's!

(The average for this time of year is 70 degrees F.)

The garden seems to be just as confused as I am... The roses are still in full bloom!

And so are the marigolds...

At least the fig tree is showing signs of the season!!

"Pumpkin Patch!" Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ready, Set, Go Plant Garlic!

2010-10-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

It is the time of year to plant garlic bulbs!

I just picked some up from Home Depot today! And I have something to admit... (and I may not be the only one!)

Until this year, I had no idea (or ever really thought about) how garlic grows! I even image-googled "garlic plant" because I didn't even know what it would look like!

(I guess I am a perfect example of how disconnected one can be from their food when you depend on the grocery store for everything. Earlier this year, while watching an episode of Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution," I was shocked to see school-aged kids not knowing the names of simple fruits & vegetables... and of course did not know where they came from.)

When planting, apparently you break apart the bulb and plant the individual cloves 5' apart. They should be ready to harvest by mid-spring!

Cauliflower!

2010-10-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Cauliflower is a cold-season crop, and apparently has a reputation for being hard to grow. It prefers a soil pH of 6.0 - 7.0. (I have not yet actually tested my soil; usually I will just add some coffee grounds if I want it to be more acidic.)

Anyways... I've never attempted to grow anything during the cold months (never really thought about it!)... but here goes! :)

The Last Days of Basil...

2010-10-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

The temperatures are dropping, especially at night. It is inevitable that the basil plants will eventually see their final day...

So I want to enjoy them as much as I can while they are still outside growing! I know I've said it before, but I will say it again- If I had to grow just one plant... it would definitely be basil!

I came up with a list of some of my favorite ways I've used basil this year:

Basil Lemonade
Vegan Basil Pesto!
Carrot Basil Salad
Basil Tea (great for digestion!)

Let me know if you have any other ideas! I need to use up a lot before it freezes... :)

Winding Down...

2010-10-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

Can anyone believe it's halfway through October?! Where has this year gone? It's almost 2011!

The reason there have not been as many posts lately is because well, things are winding down in the garden. But the eggplants are still hanging in there! (They are loving this intense heat we are experiencing! Really... halfway through October?! It can cool off anytime now!)

Anyways, the roses and marigolds are still doing fabulous as well!

I am contemplating what to do with the fig and kumquat tree once the temperature drops. The kumquat tree is most likely going to become a houseplant. And the fig tree? It might get moved closer to the house and covered with a blanket when it freezes...

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-10-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Backyard Appreciation!

2010-10-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

Today was officially a "Backyard Appreciation" day! The past few weeks have been hot. Very hot. And spending time in the backyard with the blazing sun was not exactly my idea of a fun time. (The lack of attention definitely showed.)

But today it finally seems to be cooling off... it is October, right?

Anyways... after a walk around the neighborhood this morning, admiring the fall leaves and enjoying the cooler weather, I set off to work in the garden! Just in the past few weeks, the sunny areas and the shadows have changed drastically. So I rearranged accordingly... in addition to the usual trimming, transplanting, composting, harvesting!, cleaning, and organizing.

The end result? So much better! A little TLC goes a long ways. Now, I can get on with decorating for Halloween!!

Happy October!

Backyard Sage

2010-09-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

I must admit... the sage plant has not been getting very much attention this season. It definitely seems to be very low maintenance, which is a plus! It's been in the back of the garden... just kind of sitting there. But all of the sudden, it seems to have just taken off! And I want to start using it!

The other evening I used it when I made roasted pumpkin squash. And it was delicious! All I did was sprinkle a few leaves over the top of the cut & sliced pumpkin, drizzled with olive oil, and baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. So quick! And simple.

Does anyone have favorite delicious, fun, or creative ways to use sage? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! :)

Garden Update~ Pumpkin, Zucchini, & Tomatoes!

2010-09-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

The heirloom pumpkin plant (from seed!) is growing like crazy, growing along the length of the brick planter! However, even though it has beautiful yellow blossoms... there are no pumpkins! And I am trying to figure out why! I've seen bees pollinating the flowers, the soil is decent. (I think?) It was the organic one from Lowe's. (Next year I will have compost!!) What else could it be? (Sigh)... I had to improvise:

This monster of a thing is the biggest zucchini I've ever seen! I was house-sitting for a few days, so I wasn't able to pay much attention to the garden. When I came home, there it was!! Growing stealthily under the gigantic leaves. Zucchinis seem to grow so quickly, they seem to appear out of nowhere!! I bet you could even there for a few hours and actually watch it grow! Perhaps now would be an ideal time to learn to make chocolate zucchini bread? :) Yum!!

As for the tomatoes: I have a feeling that tomato season is coming to an end... so I definitely appreciated them in a delicious salad yesterday!

I ♥ Jedi!

2010-09-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Does anyone else find themselves going out of their way to cater to their pets? I once read a book called "Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes," and it talked about the growing trend of "pet children." So I am pretty positive it is not just me! :) I laughed when I read that chapter... because that is sooooooooo my relationship with my cat (Jedi). He is so spoiled... and he has me trained! Most people train their dogs, but cats seem to have a talent for training their people!

Partially because Jedi has me trained, I found myself growing cat grass and cat nip!

{Cat Grass}

Anyways... my "pet child" loves being outside in the backyard with me. If I am outside, he will sit by the door and politely meow (knowing he has me trained) until I let him out. He doesn't go far... he mostly just meanders through the potted plants and rolls around on the cement... cats love doing that?!

{Bad kitty... birds are not for eating!}

Sometimes he high tails it into the bushes and come out with a bird or mouse a split second later! I definitely would rather him not participate in violence, but he obviously cannot resist the call of the wild! Of course, I still ♥ him!

Does anyone else have "pet children"? :)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Juicy September Strawberries!

2010-09-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

After an awesome vacation, it was exciting to come home to bright red, juicy strawberries growing happily in the backyard!!

"The Girl's Guide to Growing Your Own" says to fertilize strawberries with liquid seaweed every few days. Maybe this was why the strawberries didn't thrive last year? Hmmmmm... Anyways, this year I've been fertilizing with kelp tablets. Powdered seaweed should work too, right?

As far as I can tell, the kelp has been helping greatly!! :)

Apparently... Eggplants Love Compost

2010-09-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently... eggplants LOVE compost! Homemade compost that is!

Last year, the idea of composting in the backyard sounded completely scary...

However, it really is not scary at all! And it is actually quite fun!! A few months ago I started one in an large plastic container. I only put in "innocent" things such as plants, leftover fruit & veggie scraps from juicing, and paper. There was absolutely no "scent!" As far as the critters... it attracted just small ones (ants, tiny beetles, and little worms)!I can handle that!

And the eggplants are growing like crazy!

Can't wait to make more!!

Zucchini!

2010-08-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Today I picked a giant zucchini!!! The reason I am so excited is because it came from a seed! This was my first success with growing a plant from seed!

Another reason I am excited: it finally cooled off!!! I love fall more than any other season!! I am so happy! :) The cooler temperature is making me want to bake something in the kitchen... I am thinking zucchini bread? Or muffins? Hmmmmm... what else can I do with this zucchini...

Pomegranate Potential!

2010-08-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, my grandfather's backyard has always been home to bright red, juicy pomegranates. Some of my earliest memories involve picking these interesting fruits and picking out the seeds.

The other day, he brought over a baby! A baby pomegranate plant that is! :) I did some researching, and learned that pomegranate shrubs can grow to be 20 - 30 feet tall!! They are adaptable to areas with cool winters and hot summers (perfect!), and usually begin producing fruit after 3 years.

Neighborhood Apples

2010-08-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

Apple season is here!! The other day, I spotted an apple tree growing happily in a neighbor's yard!

Apples were covering the ground and rolling into the street! Wouldn't it be awesome if everyone's yards were overflowing with fruit?

I've been wanting an apple tree so badly... but I wasn't sure which variety would actually do well in a desert environment. However, this one seemed to be doing excellent! Then it dawned on me... why not plant the seeds from this one?!

Fall is Right Around the Corner!

2010-07-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow is August 1st... can you believe it?!? August is one of my favorite months though... I love knowing that summer is on its way out, and fall is right around the corner! :) To my delight... the backyard is already starting to remind me of the coming season ahead. Cooler weather, longer nights, autumn leaves, cozy sweaters, pumpkins, and relaxing by the fireplace with a cup of tea... just a few things to look forward to in the coming months!

More Eggplants!

The pumpkin plant is doing well. And it was grown from seed!

This pumpkin bloom is ALIVE! Looks like a hungry mouth!

Yellow Orange Peppers... Salad, or Stir-fry?

2010-07-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

I forgot what kind of peppers these are... but anything goes in a stir-fry, right? Or a salad! A salad will probably be destination for these cuties, since turning on the stove in this summer heat is pretty much the last thing I want to do. :) It will be so interesting to try these... I have never enjoyed peppers like this before!

Roses in Bloom!

2010-07-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

May was a beautiful month for the roses... and now they are blooming again! This little rose bush is doing so well... despite the fact that it barely survived the college years (when I had tendencies to forget about plants... oops!). Back in March, I sprinkled Epsom salts around the base of the plant. Supposedly the minerals in it, sulfer and magnesium, are highly beneficial to plants. Some say that Epsom salts make the plants produce greener leaves as well as more flowers. :) It seems to be working!!

Benefits of Basil!

2010-07-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

If I had to choose only one herb to plant... it would definitely be basil. It has a heavenly scent and looks great in the garden! I picked this one up at Trader Joe's... for just $2.99! I add it to my salads almost daily. :) And, it is perfect for making Basil-Lemonade! Haven't made pesto yet... but I intend to tomorrow! By the way... did you basil has many health benefits? According to WH Foods, it's an excellent source of vitamin K and a very good source of iron, calcium, & vitamin A. In addition, it's a good source of fiber, manganese , magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties! Just make sure to "pinch" back the center set of leaves to prevent flowering (as this causes the plant to taste bitter.) It also encourages the plant to become fuller and produce even more basil!

Backyard Beans!

2010-07-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Just 3 months after growing beans from seed, the vines are taller than the fence, with beautiful beans just waiting to be picked! I've enjoyed them on a salad... so fresh and delicious! And even better... they came from my backyard!!

Fig Update!

2010-07-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Happy July!! I cannot believe how quickly 2010 is flying by!

An update on the fig tree... it is producing fruit like crazy! Almost every morning, I enjoy this delicious fruit for breakfast. Interestingly, figs are considered one of "The World's Healthiest Foods". In addition to vitamin C and fiber, they are also excellent sources of potassium, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, and even iron! By far the best gardening decision I have ever made. :)

The "Accidental" Sunflower

2010-06-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

This sunflower sprouted from a random piece of bird seed! It's amazing that such a beautiful thing can grow accidentally from a tiny, random seed.

Mmmmmm... eggplant!

2010-06-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Who knew?!? Eggplants grow fantastically in the high desert! Back in March, I purchased a 4-pack of "Millionaire Eggplant" seedlings... mostly just as experiment, to see if they actually would grow. Just 3 months later, I have 4 eggplant-producing plants!

Backyard Bounty!

2010-06-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

It's only June... and I am already picking fresh produce from my backyard! Back in April, I made an upside-down tomato planter. It was so easy to make! Supplies needed: any type of container, chain, and a drill... things you probably have around your house already! :) Anyways... my tomatoes seem to be loving it! Tomatoes get to hang with no supporting or unnecessary tomato cages involved! And even more exciting... I have basil and marigolds growing in the top... lots of growing going on in a very small space! :)

I ♥ Marigolds

2010-06-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

I absolutely adore Marigolds! Not only do they add vibrant color to an outdoor space... but they keep insidious insects from devouring your precious plant babies! My poor eggplants were under attack the moment I set them outside. However, as soon as I rushed to Lowe's and planted marigolds by their side... the biting of leaves came to a halt! Needless to say, marigolds are now planted throughout the entire garden. :)

Gardening Improves Well-being!

2010-06-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Gardening and spending time in nature are such great stress relievers! There are so many studies about how spending time in nature irmproves overall well-being. Here are just a few of the positive benefits... hopefully they will get you excited to get out there and grow! :)

Sunlight: Just getting out in the sunlight can actually improve your mood! (In fact, there’s a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder that affects some people during Winter months when there is less sunlight.) Sunlight also provides an influx of vitamin D, and the fresh air that that goes with it is good for your health. Getting outdoors to work with your garden is a great excuse to get more of this good stuff.
Getting In Touch With Nature: Being in touch with nature and the great outdoors can help you feel more removed from the stressors of daily life. With the amount of time we spend indoors (at work, watching t.v., etc) many people feel an urge to connect with nature that goes unfulfilled. While you may not have the time to go camping or take a nature hike each day, having your piece of nature right outside your back door can help you feel some of this connection.
Creating Beauty: The beauty of nature is a great stress reliever in itself. (Just think of how many times relaxation has been connected with pictures of stunning landscapes or recordings of nature’s sounds.) Having your own bit of beauty available as a place for meditation, contemplation and relaxation can provide quite a bit of relief from stress. It’s all part of making your home a have from stress.

Source: About.com: Stress Management

Growing beans... from seed!

2010-06-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Pole beans are some of the first plants I have ever (successfully) grown from seed- organic, of course... and they are taking off! Many previous attempts with starting plants from seed did not go as planned. However, I told myself... that 2010 was going to be the year my garden actually thrives! :) They have already climbed to the top of the bamboo poles... tomorrow I am going to make a trellis for them by tying several bamboo poles together.

Glorious Geraniums!

2010-06-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Geraniums are quickly becoming a favorite flower of mine! They seem to bring the backyard to life... and so far they seem to be doing very well!

My pride and joy...

2010-06-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

Last summer I enjoyed my first fig... thanks to Abundant Harvest Organics. It's hard to believe I had lived my entire life without enjoying this exotic fruit. Since (fresh) figs have limited shelf lives, they are not typically sold in stores. How wonderful... I thought to myself, would it be to walk out into my backyard, and enjoy a fig from my very own tree? I was so excited when I found a "Peter's Honey Fig" tree in April. When I brought it home, I was excited that it already had 7 figs on it! Just 2 months later, the count is up to 26!!

My Backyard

2010-06-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my backyard! You might not guess it... but it is in the middle of the high desert! We have extreme temperatures here in Palmdale, and it most ALWAYS windy! But that doesn't mean you can't have a garden! :)

Backyard Bliss

Wordless Wednesday! Fall

Garden Tomatoes Galore!

Bright Summer Zinnias!

Good Morning 'Morning Glory!'

Sunflowers and Squash Blossoms!

Purple Delphinium!

Harvesting Garlic!

Fresh Strawberries!

Snapdragons and Strawberries!

Wordless Wednesday! Easter

Lavendar and Lemon Balm!

Beautiful Desert Flowers!

Descanso Gardens in April!

Merlin!

Spring Walks

Daffodils and Baby Cucumbers!

Wordless Wednesday!

Late Night Racoon Invasions!

It has arrived!

Indoor Kumquats!

The (Ever-Blooming) Amaryllis!

Seed Starting!

Purple Pansies!

Narcissus ♥

Central Coast Charm!

Backyard Winter Wonderland

Winter Gardening: Purple Kale!

Merlin the Snow Cat!

The Kumquat Tree!

Wordless Wednesday: December!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

The First Snow!

The Day the Leaves Fell!

The Last of the Bell Peppers

Nature Inspired Gifts!

Indoor Gardening! Perfect Year Round...

Is it Really November?

"Pumpkin Patch!" Wordless Wednesday

Ready, Set, Go Plant Garlic!

Cauliflower!

The Last Days of Basil...

Winding Down...

Wordless Wednesday!

Backyard Appreciation!

Backyard Sage

Garden Update~ Pumpkin, Zucchini, & Tomatoes!

I ♥ Jedi!

*Wordless Wednesday*

Juicy September Strawberries!

Apparently... Eggplants Love Compost

Zucchini!

Pomegranate Potential!

Neighborhood Apples

Fall is Right Around the Corner!

Yellow Orange Peppers... Salad, or Stir-fry?

Roses in Bloom!

Benefits of Basil!

Backyard Beans!

Fig Update!

The "Accidental" Sunflower

Mmmmmm... eggplant!

Backyard Bounty!

I ♥ Marigolds

Gardening Improves Well-being!

Growing beans... from seed!

Glorious Geraniums!

My pride and joy...

My Backyard

Wordless Wednesday