
It’s time to hit up all the local garden centers for clearance plants.
I have the perfect spot to add one more Sedum to the edge of the garden.
life in and around the garden

It’s time to hit up all the local garden centers for clearance plants.
I have the perfect spot to add one more Sedum to the edge of the garden.
Lot’s of planting and pulling weeds this week as the garden gets going.
Remembering that I have garden aprons to lessen the dirt that I bring indoors,
I rummaged through the potting shed to find this linen apron.
I designed and sewed this apron for Country Gardens Magazine a couple of years ago.
The pattern and images appeared in the Fall issue of 2014.

It was a dream come true to travel to the Better Homes And Gardens Test Garden’s and
co produce the story with my friend Kate Carter-Frederick.
I ended up having to model for the story, and though I was in the most lovely gardens,
was completely out of my element!

This image looks simple enough.
I first held a watering can.
The pot was tilted many angles.
My shirt was unbuttoned-just one more!
The pot got really heavy!
They cropped this image-perfectly!

5 years ago I started this blog to share the story of my little garden.
From seed to harvest and each lovely step in between.
Thank you to all who stop by to visit, leave lovely comments or choose to follow along.

Yes, fresh Herbs are back!
Prepping for a demonstration at our local library this weekend.
Using Herbs to make fresh salad dressings in 60 seconds.

I’m itching to get into the garden.
It will be weeks before plants and seeds can be dropped into the raised beds,
but getting the beds ready with new compost and some new mulch around the kitchen garden can happen just as soon as it stops snowing!
The greenhouse needs new paint and some repairs this spring,
Rabbit Run Cottage is changing it’s colors this year,
and the empty chicken coop is going to undergo some changes.
I am opening up the little garden to a few Garden Club tours this summer,
so the pressure is on!

Mother Nature responds with sunshine, calm and a promise of nearly 70 degrees!
Rolling up my sleeves for a day of work.
This trellis needs work from some winter damage.
The list goes on from there!

The time of year when we have Spring one day,
Winter the next.
We are all caught in the middle.

I learned how to grow Nasturtium while working at a small garden center.
Working in the greenhouse I was instructed to drop 5 seeds into each little 4″pot.
Within no time, the little lily pad leaves were emerging.
I loved how quickly they grew and their slightly messy, trailing vines.
That was the first year I planted Nasturtium in our window boxes.
I don’t believe I have missed a year since.
Nasturtium is one of my ‘must haves’.
What are yours?

Little critters moved into the greenhouse this winter.
Despite several attempts at location and eviction notices,
I couldn’t get more then a glimpse of the squatters.
Yes, I ran from the greenhouse with a few small screams, more then once!
Several times I brought in reinforcements.
My cats just lounged and cleaned their paws.
Last Saturday, the sun warmed to near 50 degrees and I announced it was ‘the day’,
I was going to find that mouse!
I bravely–stood on the little stool and poked at everything with a garden hoe.
Nothing moved, nothing scurried, no mouse.
Until I opened my toolbox!
How dare they–yes, they–take up residence in my toolbox!
Waiting for the next warm day to decontaminate EVERYTHING.

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
Robin Williams