Gardening by Inspiration

This lingering bitter cold (20ish degrees by day; zero by night) March 2015 winter weather is beginning to make me wonder what kind of summer conditions we can expect following such a chilly Spring. Cold, short, dry, wet or whatever. Bring it on.
  
Looking back on some photos of my 2014 successful gardening endeavors is inspiring me to inspire you!

 
INSPIRATIONAL FLOWER BED PHOTOS

After many years in the making (lots of TLC) my flower beds are now complete with no muss/no fuss perennials requiring little maintenance; rake in and around some fresh bedding and clean out some over growth and you're good-to-go. Now it's time to pull up a chair, relax and take in their awesome beauty.



Hostas and stella d'oro daylillies circling the wishing well

 

Nice side view

 

A flower bed with a little bit of everything!


 

A small hodge podge to beautify his garage!


 

Black Eyed Susans and Day Lilies for camouflage
 



the front door light which housed a bird nest with eggs!

 

a farm implement for enhancement


 

and now a bit of whimsy....our new kitten hiding in the hosta bed

Finally a full shade flower bed!






 

......AND NOW...

(DRUM ROLL PLEASE)

INSPIRATIONAL VEGETABLE GARDEN PHOTOS

THINK POSITIVE. No matter the weather, take the challenge and plant your vegetable garden; look forward to producing fresh and healthy vegetables for eating throughout the coming summer.
 

Tomatoes are easy.

These plum tomatoes are the best for canning.

Carrots are fun!

 



Peppers are so useful!



 


 Preserving the bounty of a productive garden ensures healthy eating through the winter months.

 

String beans always produce an abundant crop.












And always tomatoes!

And don't forget the carrots!












 

Peppers are easy: wash, slice, bag and freeze.

This is where it all begins for me - starting my plants by seed. There's no going back now!!!



Saving seeds year to year is a fun project and saves $$ too!

...from baby



....halfway there

 

 

 

 

....ready to go into the ground

 

 

 

 

 

this is where all the magic begins after the seedlings get planted

let the games begin: 12 baby peppers and 3 tomato plants




 

At fruition...carrots, beets, onions, swiss chard, string beans

 

 

very productive tomatoes, onions and beets


 

Let's not forget:

the basil

 

the zucchini
 



the rhubarb (comes up every year)

 

the Carnival squash and snap peas (in cinder blocks)

 

the garden gnome?

 

the mint

the cucumbers (growing up on old bed springs)


 

and last but not least....the chives and the blueberry bushes!

bird's eye picture - taken by a bird in flight - sweet!

Did I say last but not least? What was I thinking?

Ta Da!

Now introducing our original garden that slowly is becoming smaller and smaller since the creation of four raised beds two years ago. Future raised bed production hopefully will some day make this larger garden extinct. So far, through my experience planting in raised beds, I find this method to be easier on the back and the weeding and a bit more productive. Another plus: having it closer to the house keeps the deer and other critters away. (I have a hunch that the sound of the barking dogs confined in the yard are keeping them at bay.)

twice as small, very productive but lots of work


 

side view

(netting covering string beans helps keep critters from eating the tops off)



a row of hilled potatoes

1 1/2 rows tomatoes, 1/2 row onions, 1 row string beans

Blue Lake bush beans hiding under netting

a tomato from a saved seed - a miracle

All of these pictures (with the exception of my 2011 rhubarb patch) are documentation of my 2014 gardening efforts.

These garden photos have inspired me to begin my indoor seed planting, and I hope they have inspired you to strive to plant your own veggie garden in anticipation of achieving great results that will impact your health and budget.

 

Plant a perennial and enjoy the serenity of watching it grow!

 

HAPPY GARDENING 2015