by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 13, 2005 | Uncategorized
First, let me apologize for the slightly fuzzy flower photo. When I took the picture, the wind was not cooperating. Let me also apologize for the prison-camp fencing designed to keep puppies out of forbidden areas. They jump the fence like track stars now, so I suppose it should come down…
Took my first trip to Eisley Nursery in Auburn yesterday. What a nice nursery! First of all, it’s big. Inside the main building, they sell a dizzying array of garden gifts, supplies, seeds and bulbs. Outside, they currently have a nice selection of: color, herbs, perennials, peonies (herbaceous and tree), strawberries, asparagus, and more.
Nice pottery selection too! My friend splurged on 2 gorgeous glazed mexican wall pots. I got a nice (and very decently priced) trio of what I always think of as “British herb pots.” They’re like normal red clay pots, only taller. Since I had nothing in mind for the pots, I had to buy a lavender wallflower, yellow alyssum and edible Johnny Jump Ups (as seen in the above photo).
We both admired the soothing bamboo wind chimes (not at all annoying like some metal ones) but decided we’d already done enough damage to our wallets and would likely be back some other time.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. One staffer even gave me driving directions when it turned out I was on the wrong side of Auburn, with Hwy. 80 in between. She was pleasant and patient, something I don’t often encounter with nursery phone inquiries. More times than I’d like to remember when calling a nursery, I’ve been told by the harried clerk, “I can’t help you because I’m with a customer.” Makes me think, “What am I, chopped liver? Last time I checked, my money’s just as green as anybody else’s. I promise, when I open my dream nursery, phone customers will be treated like real live customers.
Let’s see, what other plants did I buy? Oh yeah, a little dill plant and a ‘Magic Mountain’ basil plant that made me swoon when I breathed in it’s pestoriffic scent. And lettuce! Why did I buy lettuce? It’s getting too warm for lettuce. I couldn’t resist the fact that it was a variety six-pack and figured I might be able to squeeze a few sandwiches out of them before yanking the plants to make room for summer stuff.
Oh, and a 4″ ‘Jelly Bean’ grape tomato plant!
Seeds I bought:
Cosmos ‘Bright Lights Blend’
Nasturtium ‘Dwarf Jewel Blend’
Nasturtium ‘Mahogany’
Nasturtium ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’
Chinese lantern
Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields’
‘Milas Rose Queen’ Corn cockle
Pastel Blend balloon flower (blue, pink, white) (Platycodon grandiflorus)– flowers the second year after planting from seed, but I’ve had a heck of a time finding single blue balloon flower plants in stock at area nurseries. There seems to be a preference these days for the doubles, but I prefer the singles.
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I almost forgot to mention, if you get hungry while shopping, hep yer sef to Eisley’s free popcorn, hot out of the large popcorn popping machine. There’s a soda/candy vending machine too!
by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 10, 2005 | Uncategorized
… or there’s a turkey walking across the lawn!
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by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 7, 2005 | Uncategorized
Dan and Annie had a blast romping in the yard today. Now that I think about it, this is the first truly spring-like day of their lives! Oh, and don’t feel sorry for little Annie (white & black one)… her brother may be bigger, but she’s the boss. Just like me and my brother…
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by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 7, 2005 | Uncategorized
Even dogs like ‘Sugar Snap’ peas. Matter of fact, mine eat ’em right off the vine. I’m not kidding!
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by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 3, 2005 | Uncategorized
Potted 2 of these ‘Blue Jacket’ hyacinth and alyssum combos in lovely pots from Target. The pots developed this really cool algae scum aged look that adds character, I think. The buds were still kind of tight when I took this picture. They’re even more spectacular now.
Martha would be proud. Oh yeah, Martha’s about to be sprung! Woo hoo! White collar criminal or not, I like Martha.
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by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 3, 2005 | Uncategorized
These little 10″ cuties are blooming now. They open up to reveal a bright yellow center.
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by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 2, 2005 | Uncategorized
In the greenhouse:
Chinese foxglove
Cleome ‘White Queen’ (free bonus)
Tomatoes (Black, Copia, Azoychka, Believe it or Not)
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard
In Place:
Detroit Dark Red beets
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard
Got my son to plant his own sixer of Cerinthe a few days ago, by the way. He claims not to be interested in gardening, but neither was I, really, at his age. I told him I needed his help planting some seeds. Little does he know, what I’m really hoping will germinate is a love of gardening. Some seeds just need a little help breaking dormancy, I figure.
Sure, when he was younger I dressed him in little denim overalls and bought him tiny gardening tools… even fancy kids’ gardening gloves… but that ended up being solely for my amusement. He gets good grades in a challenging school program, so when he chooses to spend his down time playing Xbox and GameBoy games, I can’t really complain… or compete. My new plan is insidiously subtle. I’ll let him see how much I enjoy watching seeds sprout and grow, ask him to help every now and then, and let nature take it from there.
To be fair, he gave up on me as a video game partner. Video games are so boring to me I’d rather scratch my own eyes out than play them. Now, if they made a gardening video game, it might be a different story…
by angela@diggingbliss | Mar 1, 2005 | Uncategorized
Got some free tomato seeds with my tomato seed order. What a shocker!
Azoychka #3680 (30 seeds) $2.10
This is a delightful small yellow beefsteak tomato that matures so early it will be one of the first varieties to ripen in your garden. Beautifully smooth, lemon yellow fruit weighs about 8 ozs. and is very flavorful, rich but pleasantly sweet with a delicious hint of citrus. Heirloom variety from Russia. Our stock seed is from Craig Le Houllier. Indeterminate. 70 days.
I’ll also be planting a grape tomato variety… long story… may explain later.
Who cares if garden space is limited, right? Tomatoes are irresistable. After all, a very wise woman once said, “What’s a sandwich without a good slice of…”
Oh, nevermind.
by angela@diggingbliss | Feb 24, 2005 | Uncategorized
In the greenhouse…
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia ‘Torch’)
Nasturtium ‘Whirlybird Cherry Rose’
Nasturtium ‘Vesuvias’
Yesterday, I started some Cerinthe major ‘Purpurescens’
Am soaking seeds of Love-in-a-Puff and still need to start more seeds, time permitting. I’m trying to be good about labeling everything, which isn’t my usual haphazard, “adult ADD” approach to gardening… So far, so good… well, except for my ‘Roma’ and ‘Yellow Pear’ tomates which got mixed up in the heat of the moment. As soon as they fruit, I’ll sneak little labels on them to restore the illusion that I possess both enthusiasm and discipline. 😉
Just ordered more plant tags from Peaceful Valley. I think I’ll go pat myself on the back now…
by angela@diggingbliss | Feb 23, 2005 | Uncategorized
I’ve already got Roma and Yellow Pear growing in pots (they were free bonus seeds, so what the heck), and finally reached a decision on the others I’ll grow this season. From Tomato Growers Supply, I ordered the following:
(descriptions are from Tomato Growers Supply)
Black
Compact plants bear plenty of wonderfully rich, dark mahogany-brown tomatoes that average about 4 ozs. Fruit is smooth and somewhat elongated with a pointed tip; in fact, this variety is what some gardeners grew as Black Prince years ago. Black tomatoes have a delicious blend of sugar and acid and a distinctive, complex flavor that is to be savored. Some folks say this variety is one of the best-tasting black tomatoes and prefer it also for its nice, medium size. Russian heirloom. Indeterminate. 80-85 days.
Believe It Or Not
What is unbelievable about this plant is an exceptional set of very large, bright red tomatoes that can also claim excellent flavor. Fruit is smooth in shape, which is special for an extra large variety that can easily reach 2 lbs. This makes a wonderful sandwich tomato as well as a good all-around garden variety. Full, sweet tomato flavor and plenty of juice. Indeterminate. 85 days.
Copia New!
These very beautiful tomatoes are a stunning combination of fine-lined golden yellow and red stripes. While visually exciting, the real treat comes when you cut them open. Their gold flesh is streaked with red and is very juicy, flavorful, and sweet. A stabilized cross between Green Zebra and Marvel Stripe, these tomatoes weigh about one pound each, They were named in honor of Copia, the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts, in Napa California. Indeterminate. 85 days.
Celebrity VFFNTA Hybrid
A 1984 ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS WINNER. Absolutely incredible set of exceptionally flavorful, firm 8 to 12 oz. fruit on strong vines with good cover and outstanding disease resistance. Large clusters of consistently large, beautiful tomatoes. Determinate. 70 days.
This selection leaves a little room for impulse purchases, dontcha think?
