Thursday, December 27, 2012

Sharing Christmas Finds- Garden gifts

I really hope that everyone had a Very Merry Christmas. Here are just a few really cool things we got that I wanted to share with you.


First is this Vega L rechargeable umbrella light from Treasure Garden. You can buy these at Macy’s online. It comes in three colors to match your pole. Black, Bronze or Champagne. This is the Bronze one. You can get them in 8 inch (4 lights) or 9 inch (6 lights) It’s super easy to use.




It’s simple to open and clamp into place. You can aim the lights up for indirect lighting or down (like the photo) for dining or other activities. The cost is about $110 but use your Macys coupons and you should come out a little better.






The box comes with a battery pack and battery charger. Can’t wait to use this one.




This next one is from Womanswork.com. It’s a 5 pack wheel system perfect for a novice and pretty cool even if you are a confident gardener. You get one of each - Bulb, Herb, Perennial, Shade and Annual Garden Wheel. I’ll just give you the basic use of the shade disc which will give you an idea of how all the wheels work. This pack will cost around $36.



They claim by using the wheel your garden will look like it was designed by a professional. First dial a short, medium and tall plant from the inner, middle and outer disks. Line up the plant choices and you’ll end up with a three tiered garden. You’ll need to factor in bloom time, color and shade requirements using the symbols next to the plant picture. One disc offers 500 different plant combinations. The symbols include USDA Zones, Bloom Times, Shade Requirements and Colors. Turn the disc over and you’ll find more gardening information on the back like soil conditions, definitions and special features and tips to create a wonderful healthy garden. The wheels are water proof so you don’t have to worry about bringing them into the garden and getting them dirty. This looks pretty interesting to me.



Lastly our niece Becky and her husband Jim gave us a Gourmet Chia Herb Garden. I have to admit I’ve wondered how well they grow and I promise to report back to you on this one. This set comes with Curled Parsley, Dill, Chives, Basil, Cilantro and Marjoram. The pots are small and the soil compact so there shouldn’t be any mess or fuss. All we need is a sunny window and away we go.



So these are a few of our gardening gifts. I hope that your Christmas was happy and meaningful and that the spirit and goodwill of the season safely carries you through the New Year.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Trees- Decorations

I know that Christmas is over but I had to share these photos with you. My neighbor does a wonderful job of decorating during the Christmas season. Here are just a few of the trees that she and her husband put up for the holidays. Enjoy~



This one is in the Foyer:











The Grinch Tree in the Breakfast Room:












The Dining Room:















The Sun Room:





The Guest Room (Love the cage at the top):






Stack of Boxes is Fun!




Bathroom:






The Pickle Tree in another bathroom:













And one for baby:









Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Odds and Ends Again- Tomatoes on the vine, Yummy Oatmeal, Garden Lettuce




Ever wonder why you can buy tomatoes with the vine attached? I’ve heard that the vine keeps them firm and fresh. Remove the vine and the tomato stops ripening. Ever heard of that? At three times the price...Are they really worth it?







Next time you make oatmeal try using apple juice instead of water. YUM! I mix mine with flax and chia seeds and some dried cranberries. If you make it with water as I did here, you can add some guava syrup if you'd like.









Here are some herb markers my daughter gave me for my birthday. So pretty - Can’t wait to use them next year.







Just went out into the garden and picked some fresh lettuce. It’s washed and all ready to eat. Bibb, Endive and Red Leaf.







The broccoli is almost ready to harvest.








Everything else will have to wait a few more weeks.



That’s a wrap~