• Gardening

    Gardening 2016

    gardening,cherry tomatoes
    cherry tomato seedlings

    We thought we would try our hand at growing our own food. Last week we started seeds for lavender, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. Its a week now covered under store bought seed trays. We bought two tray of Jiffy brand soil pellets that had to be rehydrated and then we planted bell peppers and lavender. We had a fe bell pepper seeds left so we started on a different type of tray, one where we had to add the soil. So we did that and added the 9 bell peppers and filled up the rest with cherry tomatoes. Then we had a few cherry tomato seeds left so I scrounged a few plastic bottles and made a few makeshift seed cups.

    Overnight last night the tomatoes sprouted (above). The seedlings grow very quickly. During the week I had been rotating the trays and on Wednesday I stacked the tomato tray and the lavender tray. The tomatoes were on the bottom.

    I don’t know if its the loose topsoil for the tomatoes, or the fact it was under the tray of lavender, or if its just the tomato seedlings sprout faster.

    I can’t remember now if I am suppose to take off the lid, once the seeds have sprouted.

  • Gardening,  Landscaping

    Planted a couple apple trees

    gardening,landscaping Red Gravenstein and Red Gala apple trees
    Red Gravenstein and Red Gala apple trees

    July 12 2015 (updated Jul 15 2015)

    We spent Sunday morning preparing the beds for two apples trees. I have always wanted apple trees, and finally have the time to get some and plant them. The root ball on the Gala is a bit concerning, as we had to cut it out of the bucket. Not because it was root bound, it looks more like the main root has broken away from the root ball.

     

  • Gardening

    The Earth continues its bounty

    wild berries,strawberries,gardening,landscaping
    wild strawberries

    With a little bit of TLC on  patch of wild strawberry last year (basically let them grow, weeds and all) and did not mow over them which (I usually did).  This year the plants grew very well, like 6-7 inches tall with full leaves. This year I pulled weeds occasionally. The result is we have been picking sweet strawberries since early June. …

  • Gardening

    What bugs you?

    Out of the corner of my eye, down by the wheel of the BBQ I seen this little flash of luminescence this morning. About an inch long, I have no idea what type of bug it is. With my eyesight, it looked like a smooth greenish colour but with the camera up close, it sure does look different.

    green,luminescence bugs,insects,outdoors,gardens
    Not exactly the green hornet!
  • Gardening

    Wild and Free

    wild strawberry plants,strawberries
    drive-by strawberries

    Our drilled well is in the switchback in our driveway. Wild strawberry plants started growing there a few years back near the grass edge. No berries though. The last year or so we’ve been careful not to mow/step over the small area (6-8 sq ft). Still no berries. This year, …