About Bren
Bren, a freelance photographer based in the Midwest. Social media #gardenchat guru who is passionate about growing, maintaining, harvesting and preserving food from a 2400 sq/ft traditional vegetable garden. Bren has various gardens through out her country property that included shade/ woodland gardens and developing herbaceous borders in full sun.
Website: http://www.bggarden.com
Bren has written 402 articles so far, you can find them below.
Filed under Gardening in zone 5b by Bren on March 31, 2010 at 12:01 am
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On my recent visit to Hoens’ Greenhouse in Holland Ohio I was impressed with their selection and creative presentation of the current trend in mini-gardening. Hoens’ gives Fairy Gardening a whole new meaning.
Little cottages and little pathways for someone with a big heart for gardening.
Wonderful selection to create the perfect Mini-Garden.
You know I grabbed a few of these treasures for the mini garden I am putting together with some items a friend at Two Green Thumbs has sent me to try out. Stop by their Fan Page on Facebook and see what they are sharing this spring for the mini garden lover! My garden is going to be a ‘ Bunny ‘ garden rather then a “Fairy’ Garden.
From the looks of it … Hoens’ Greenhouse has planted just about anything! Love the grill miniture garden I featured above in the collage.
I think mini gardening allows us all to remember and find the little girl inside of us.
I hope to share my little Bunny Garden soon so be sure to check back on my blog. – Bren♥
Filed under Gardening in zone 5b by Bren on March 28, 2010 at 11:50 pm
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Images taken at Black Diamond Nursery in Perryburg, Ohio
It was a rainy cold Sunday when I shared this warm Spring break images.
Spring Changes so quickly in Ohio – Trying to snap it as it blooms. I hope you enjoyed this quick Spring Break!
Filed under Gardening in zone 5b by Bren on March 27, 2010 at 12:11 pm
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Filed under Gardening in zone 5b by Bren on March 26, 2010 at 11:25 pm
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*Note that this is a blog entry from my first blog shared in August of 2007.
Today was the day to do some old fashion ‘hot bath method’ canning. Not only did I have a full bushel of fresh tomatoes from my veggie garden, it was a cool breezy day in my neck of the woods. A welcoming change from the humid weather we normally have in late August. This was the day. In this heaping bushel I had collected Roma and a few heirloom tomatoes from Italy. These were perfectly organic tomatoes that didn’t need any extra flavor by using spices and herbs. They were hardy and packed with a sweet bold flavor. I had pulled my canning supplies out a few weeks ago doing inventory of what I may need to prepare for this event. I did have to purchase a few lids but I was able to reused the jars I have had for the past five years.
Brandywine Tomato is like a picture from Tuscan Italy to me.I didn’t use the 1/2 bushel of Brandywine tomatoes I had collected today for canning. We did however enjoy one at lunch on a BLT and in the pasta sauce I made for dinner.
Had to share a photo of the beautiful veggies I grew in my veggie garden this season.
You will need to boil the clean tomatoes for about 5 minutes or until you can see the skin start to peel. The blue funnel and the carrying tool are useful to have while doing the canning process.
Once the tomatoes have come to the boil add them to a bucket that is filled with cold water. Let them cool in the water so they can be peeled easily. After the skin is removed you can add the tomato to the container that they will be cooked in.
Bring the prepared tomatoes to a boil and then simmer for at least 20 minutes before adding them to the clean jars.
While the tomatoes are cooking I prepare the jars and lids as instructed on the box that they were purchased in. I would recommend Ball jars but I have also used a no name from the Big Lots store as well. If you are entering the canned goods in a fair or contest you might want to stick with the brand name product because sometimes they fund the prizes at these events. You can only win at our local county fair if you use the Ball products and the Sure-Jell name.
Add the product to the hot jars. This all must be done at one time. NO walking way from a canning job. You will lose all your product because it must stay hot during this process.
Jars filled with the hot tomatoes. DO NOT fill all the way to the top. Be sure to read the box from the manifacture for canning safty guildlines.
Place the lids that have been starilzed on the jar to seal before putting it in the hot bath.
The jars are put in the hot bath ( boiling water) for at least 15 minutes. You may hear the lids start to pop during this step so don’t be alarmed. It is the jar sealing.
Removing the extremly hot jars from the boiling water. Be careful during this time not to bump the glass jars . You should hear the lids all ‘pop’ showing they have sealed and are processed. IF the lid does not seel you can redo the hot bath method. Read the Jar box for directions!
Loving the rich red color and looking forward to enjoy the hard work I put into these this winter.
Filed under Gardening in zone 5b by Bren on March 26, 2010 at 7:19 pm
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Today is just a Gerber Daisy kind of day!
Happy Friday Everyone – Bren ♥
Filed under Inspire by Bren on March 26, 2010 at 1:34 pm
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I first came in contact with ‘the Bee’ earlier this year when I stumbled upon her inspiring photography at her site ‘The Photo Garden BEE’. Thrilled to see that there was another girly out there touring the garden scene and sharing it on her blog like I do. You can imagine my surprise getting an email from her saying expressing her enthusiasms about my site as well. We had just made the Garden Connection!
Next thing I know I am a HUGE fan of hers on Facebook at: The Photo Garden Bee and sharing my excitement about her wonderful garden tour shares on another favorite social network Twitter. *photo above via thePhoto Bee.
One of my favorite things about Britt’s website is her Daily Flower Share. She has a way of sharing the color of a bloom in Black and White! It was no surprise to find she is a painter as well as a photographer. *photo to the right is via thePhotoGardenBEE
When she headed off to the Philly Garden show in early March it was as if I was there with her snapping away with all the fabulous images she was sending via her Iphone. It was not only wonderful to experience the show via her images but I learned so much questioning her HOW SHE was able to over coming the horrid photography lighting at most Garden Shows.
Britts’ photo from one of her Garden Shows. It is as if you were actually in the garden ready to enjoy a good book. *photo above is via thePhotoGardenBEE
Meeting ‘the Bee’ and making that Garden / photography connection has been a true blessing for me. I have not only learned important techniques for using my camera at garden events I have also made a wonderful friend. Britt truly inspires with her vision from the garden world. This is truly the power of Networking!
Prayers and thoughts go out to
Britt next week as she is away for surgery. I am honored to help fill in at her blog at The Photo Bee. I hope you will be so kind to stop by one of her network sites I listed in this blog entry and wish her the best. – luv ya Britt! ♥
