It’s officially Spring …. I know the actual date was seven days ago but now that the normal temperatures are back it is time to celebrate! This time of year finds me out soaking up the spring sunshine and out of the house we just spent the cold winter months taking shelter in. Conversing with my non-garden friends I’m finding they are not as excited as I am about raking the grass. I figure anything that gets me outside and making my surroundings a prettier place to enjoy in the upcoming months is where I want to be!
Wide Open Space in my Garden
I know it is a weed but it sure is pretty……
After I’ve raked a good percent of the spots in the yard that seem bare and discolored from winter damage it is time to get pulling weeds. You might consider using a tool like the one I use in the video below to physically remove the dandelions rather then using a chemical.
The last but most important thing to do is to spread the grass seed. I’ve been known to waste plenty of seed by grabbing hand fulls and just throwing it where I felt it was needed. Little did I know that was totally wasteful and didn’t save any spring maintenance time. Last Autumn I was given a new spreaders called a SNAP by Scotts Lawn Care. After using this tool and talking with my friend Emily this maybe my favorite tool that best helps me get my yard ready for summer. I was able to complete my grass planting job in the areas around my gardens in no time flat with seed to spare.
Short video of a few basic grass maintenance going on in my garden right now.
Can you imagine trying to pull all the weeds in that front meadow area featured in the video above? For the past 5 years I’ve been staying away from chemicals in my grass and continue to pull the thistle and dandelion weeds as needed. It is impossible to remove them all by hand but I do want to note that if you make sure you keep up with planting grass seed the weeds are usually crowded out.
I’m excited to hear what you are doing in your garden and lawn this time of year and I hope you will share with me by commenting on this post!
Early this week I spoke with my friend Emily who works over in Marysville Ohio at The Scotts Company. She is new to gardening and I’m excited to share with her some new growing technique growing natural. We talked about the new seed spreader and I had a few questions about the sun & shade seed. Listen in as we talk basic grass maintenance that should be going on in your garden this time of year and I hope it inspires you to think basics and get out and enjoy spring!
Recommended by a blogger friend of my I want to note that the products featured in this blog post today were gifts and I was not paid by anyone to post information.
Last Monday on #gardenchat we welcomed the talented author Geraldine Adamich Laufer (also known as @gardengeri ) as our guest host. It was an hour filled with love as we got to ask questions and learn more about the language of flowers from our #gardenchat friend Geri. If you missed the event and would like to find out more about what was shared please visit the #gardenchat website link to the transcript on featured on February 13.
Could the topic have been any more perfect leading into Valentines Day week? I do believe I wasn’t the only twitter participant that was rethinking ‘roses’ for my sweetheart and going with a container of Rosemary which has been associated with love and remembrance throughout the ages according to Geri Laufer. This writer knows her herbs because she also the Administrator of #herbchat that takes place every Thursday afternoon on Twitter. I’m all for some rosemary on my grilled fish so way not give it as a gift!?! Little did I know the bunch of tulips I picked for my family from my greenhouse forced bulbs as well as a few from the store meant ‘Happy Years – Memory’ according to page 88 in Geri’s book ‘ Tussie Mussies’ – the Victorian Art of Expressing Yourself in The Language of Flowers.
I was honored when my dear Twitter friend who I happen to have met last year at the Garden Writers Association #gardenchat tweet-up I organized in Indianapolis. She is a Horticulturist, Garden Writer, Public Relations & Social Media Consulting for the Plant Industry and you can find out more about her at her website : GardenGeri.com
‘Tussie- Mussie’ can be purchased on Amazon so be sure to click on over and get your copy. WHY PURCHASE this book? I highly recommend this to ANYONE who wants to add a beautifully illustrated art filled book to their library collection. Although I must add that you may never put it up on the shelf because the images will light up your home decor. The book is filled with inspiring images on how to put together flower bouquets for any and all occasions. Before you pick out your seeds to grow a garden of blooms this spring you must flip through this book to get ideas on what you may want to tell your friends with cut flowers you may gift them with later in the harvest season.
Thank you Geri Laufer for sending me your beautiful book.
Does every gardener take to birdwatching in the winter months? At first last year when I started networking the birds I spotted and took photos of from my office window I felt a bit odd. I guess I always thought of birdwatching as a hobby old people enjoyed doing because it was something you could do in the warmth of indoors without much activity involved. Well after a few photo shares of the birds I had captured as they stopped by my Ohio garden, I noticed that birdwatching was something all ages were enjoying. You can imagine my surprise to have a young 4-H Clover-bud who was a 2nd grader comment on a Blue Jay photo I shared on Facebook.
The Ladies Hangout
Nikon D-90 is my weapon of choice. I snapped this image with my Iphone4.
From the comfort of my home office about 15 feet from the window and 10 feet out into the garden, I took this cozy photo of two female cardinals in the late December burning bush. I’ve been keeping my Nikon D90 next to me with the 55-300 MM lens ready to shot at any given time. Natural shots are fun outdoors to and I will journey out to the wooded area of our yard as soon as the ground freezes. We’ve had so much rain this year our property has been Lake front this year in Ohio. The best time to take photos in the woods is later afternoon when the temperature is around 20*f – 35*F . I don’t mind wearing extra socks and using hand warmers to spend hours sitting in the deer blind the hunters left behind for me to use for my hunting with the camera.
It took FOREVER to get that photo of the cardinals on this partly sunny mild winter day. The bird feeder was just filled with a new blend of seed just for the Midwestern song birds I was given to try out in my garden. What gives? The bird feed was yummy! I couldn’t help but try a bite of a dried cherry. Seriously, look how yummy that food looks in the image collage below. My green feeder is filled with Midwestern Bird Blend with ingredients that include: Black oil sunflower, niger, white millet, safflower, peanuts, sunflower chips, raisins, canola seed, cherries. Anything good enough for my guest is good enough for me to try!
Picking out Bird Food Can be Confusing - I went with the Midwestern Blend!'
It wasn’t until I got up to get another cup of coffee that I noticed to the right of the window where I was shooting there was an Oppie Kitty on the prowl. SHAME ON YOU KITTY! I want to note that this kitty is a handicap kitty who had no back claws because of malnutrition when he was rescued and brought to us in 2005. I don’t think he could catch a bird if it was the last meal he ever had.
Shame on you Kitty ..... Oppie Kitty on the Prowl
I look forward to sharing more #birdwatching photos throughout the winter from my garden here in Ohio.
Capturing the rain in my Flat Tire Pot by Flat Tire Decor
It has been my mission to keep it green and as natural as possible in my home and garden and proud to say I’ve been completely green in my year-round greenhouse for over a year. Every day is a learning experience with information I collect mostly online via Social Networking on Twitter / Facebook. Like most gardeners active online I rely on my garden writers who share information about products and how they use them in their home & garden. It really doesn’t matter to me if the product is from a HUGE company or from a small mom & pop business, as long as the writer is being honest with their shares and actually using the items they are promoting on their site.
I was honored to get a message from MrBrownThumb asking if I’d be interested in reviewing a recycled product on my BGgarden webpage.
Capturing The Rain : Eco-Friendly Way
I’ve had this decorative bucket by Flat Tire Decor for a few weeks now and I will be honest with you I’m in love with it. It has had everything from rain, weeds to bunny poop in it while at my place. It is rugged and yet very stylish not to mention it is made from recycled tires!
Eco-Friendly Is #1 On My Potting Table
Tonight on my potting table as the rain continues to fall in my neck of the woods, you will find this bucket collecting more water to be used in the greenhouse tomorrow morning. I love what this company is all about so much that I’ve negotiated with Mr. Brown Thumb of Chicago NOW to give one away via #gardenchat.
If you would like to be entered in the drawing that will take place on Wednesday afternoon please comment on this post what you are doing that is ECO-Friendly in your Home & Garden. Drawing will take place via LIVE FEED on #gardenchat Wednesday afternoon.
I’ve been very excited about the upcoming #gardenchat on Twitter this Monday evening not only because it is a great excuse to sit back after a long day of gardening with my growing connection but because the topic is a sure sign that SPRING has Sprung! Now we maybe enduring winter like temperatures but one look at the quickly greening grass and the early spring bulbs arriving in the landscape and there is NO DOUBT spring has arrived.
Time to open up the potting shed and get out the wheel barrows, shovels, rakes and pruners to prepare for some exciting new and healthy growth. Today I had the privilege to speak with Chris Sabbarese who is the Digital Marketing & Communications Manager for Corona Clipper, Inc. – Professional, Landscape & Garden tools. Chris shares some important facts about maintenance for Corona tool users or ANY OTHER brand you may use in your garden that will help keep our gardens and landscape in top shape this upcoming season. You will find that podcast at the bottom of this blog entry today.
Preparing The Soil For a Healthy Harvest
This is my second year using raised beds for my spring harvest. I can’t wait to harvest some of my families favorites that are easy to grow like a few varieties of peas and lettuce.
The first thing that needs to be done in my raised beds for spring cleaning is to turn that soil. The raised beds right outside the greenhouse I use have a layer of bunny compost on them that was added this winter. The awesome thing about using bunny compost is that it breaks down super fast leaving me the easy job of just turning it with a hoe or smaller shovel. Once the soil has been turned a few times it is ready to plant. I will have to have something handing to cover the seeds once they start to sprout like a sheet or plastic cover because we get nights with frost up until mid-May that can damage those early crops.
#1 Lesson I’ve Learned with Spring Clean Up
If you are taking care of those tools properly as directed in the podcast I shared today with Chris Sabbarese, those tools are extra sharp. Be sure to use caution when operating or transporting the pruners or loppers.
No Stitches Required This Time - USE CAUTION with the properly maintained tools.
