SPRING 2015 PREVIEW!

Tags

Angels, bouganvillia, Easter, gardening, God's gift, hay bale gardening, Jesus, Joel Karsten, straw bale gardening

He is risen! Happy Easter everyone!

I’m getting ready to plant a vegetable garden.  Yes, a real one.  I’ve got big plans this year.  I’m trying hay bale gardening.  Really, it’s supposed to be a straw bale garden but nobody in this area bales straw anymore because it just isn’t in demand.  People used to use straw to bed their animal stalls with, but with wood shavings so easily available, the use of straw has faded in the south USA.  So I ended up with hay, Bermuda hay to be more specific.  I imagine this hay will sprout before too long and when that happens, I’ll just have to do my best to ward it off.  The benefit of not having to dig in the low down ground (Our soil is horrible) might be worth it.  We will see, and then I’ll let you know how it goes.

I set the bales up on a north/south orientation as recommended by Joel Karsten in his book, Straw Bale Gardens.  At first, I lined them up into three rows, then kind of bridged them together with additional bales.  With that, I was able to run a soaker hose along the top of the hay bales without interruption. I haven’t planted my seedlings yet.  That will happen after Easter.  But I have purchased them already;  tomatoes, red, yellow, green bell peppers, onions, strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, watermelon, banana peppers, parsley, basil, lettuce.  Yes, I AM expecting success!

The potting soil is recommended by Joel Karsten to use for planting medium. It doesn’t take much in the bales.

Cool, huh.

Moving on…

My lettuce is growing! I hope it’s not too late in the season.

Indian Hawthorn, day lilies, and lorapetulum also known as fringe plant. I chopped it way back after it started blooming – maybe an epic mistake!

My friend Janet and I “made a pass” through Forest Hill, Louisiana the other day.  It’s been said Forest Hill is the nursery capital of the world.  I can’t say that’s the truth, but I can tell you there are more nurseries than you can shake a stick at.  Probably hundreds.  While I didn’t get everything I wanted, I did get everything I needed for a jump start on getting my place planted up and looking pretty for Easter.  That is important to me, folks.  Why?  Because it’s the one gift I can offer my Lord God on this very special Holy Week.  He gives us many good and wonderful gifts and what we do with them is our gift to Him.  I know you’ve heard that before, probably more in the context of using our assets to help the poor, etc.  For me, it also concerns my efforts in manipulating the land, the plants and seeds, our landscaping.   It’s not the Garden of Eden, more like the Garden of Weedin’.  But considering our poor soil and my limited knowledge of gardening, I am happy with the way things look.  Compared to some, I don’t have much, but compared to others, what I have is heaven.  I offer it up with love and hope He is pleased.  Please enjoy the following photos.  Remember it’s just the beginning of Spring.  I’ll post more pictures as the season progresses and the plants grow.  And I’ll keep you updated on the hay bale garden – success or failure!

I love this part. Purple and lime green sweet potato vines.

impatiens

Bridal wreath

knock out roses

double impatiens and variegated sweet potato vine.

That’s us.

She looks happy!

Day lilies need thinning. Need some?

double wide palace

What I love most about my home is who I share it with.

New bed, see my Great Aunt Kathrine’s hostas coming up?

new butterfly bush

verbena

comfy little fellow.

this is where my seedlings will stay until they go into the hay bales.

begonias, caladiums, wave petunias

You can see the top of the old bbq pit hanging under the pergola. It is planted with all kinds of gorgeous flowers. can’t wait till it fills out!

my basil is coming up!

This is an old bbq pit I turned into an herb garden. I have green onions and parsley planted in it.

This succulent reminds me of my Grandmother. She used to grow these very successfully. I get my love of gardening from her.

I’ve had this old fashioned rose bush for nearly 20 years. I even drug it to St. Landry when I moved here 14 years ago!

And they smell heavenly!

My sweet sugar baby angel.

Any and all comments and suggestions are much appreciated!  Blessed Easter to you all, and don’t forget to pray for peace!