Sprung

Spring has sprung. Trees are budding, grass is greening and I am day dreaming of flowers, plants and gardens.

However, I am not a gardener. My mom is. She has skillz I can only dream of. So instead I hope that she has enough time to work in her gardens and help me with mine!

Rich and I would love to have a full-fledged garden, but I can't seem to conceptualize where I would put it. Thus, this year we will attempt container gardening. We tried tomato plants at our old house, but squirrels and chipmunks harvested the fruits of our labor before we could. At our new house we have a different layout that I think will lead to more success.

I don't know what types of crops we'll plant - but for sure there will be herbs. And I've got a head start on those already!!

Last Sunday (3/28/10) we bought this herb kit. By Saturday (4/3/10) we had germination and growth of basil and the start of chives. And Monday (4/5/10) we had full on cotyledons!

Come on parsley! Get growing!!

Random Thoughts

I am a bad story teller. I always provide way too many details. Here is a prime example.

The long: This past week we received snow in Minnesota. I can't think of a time in the last 10 years when it snowed in early to mid-October; if it happened, I don't remember it. Anyhow, as a result of the snow my beautiful pots were met with an untimely death. Thus, I spent this weekend ripping out frost-bitten plants and readied my pots for winter.

The only survivor: my rosemary. I decided to transplant it and try to raise it indoors over the winter. I thought it probably needed some nourishment so after searching high and low for fertilizer, I gave up and headed to Menard's to buy some. Right next to the fertilizer {which is apparently not in season... odd :) }, was this display.

{The short: Is it wrong that I was really happy to see Christmas decorations and even browsed for a bit?}

This year will be the first time in 4 years that Rich and I will have a Christmas tree. In fact, this will be Malin's first Christmas tree experience (and only my second time with a real tree!). I can't wait to get it set up and am trying to convince myself that now is too soon to put tree toppers in my newly emptied pots.

Second thought, and this one is short.

{what do you do when there is this much wine left in a bottle and you've already had 2 glasses?}
*Transplanted Rosemary in the background...

Okay - last thing: Tomorrow I am going to offer a fun opportunity for a few readers...

Pretty, Pretty (belated) Birthday Pots Post

It snowed today. And it snowed yesterday. I wanted to take pictures of the snow but forgot my camera at my parent's house. So instead, I'm thinking back to July when I was gifted with these beautiful pots that I never posted photos of. Enjoy. I'm heading out to make snow angels. :)

Happy Herb Pot

Remember my "saddest pot of herbs ever" post? Well... look at them now!!
I've actually harvested the basil on several occasions, in addition to the rosemary. They are thriving and I love it!! To me, nothing says summer like fresh herbs... oh! and tomatoes straight out of the garden.

*Happy, Happy*

saddest potted of herbs ever

This is the saddest pot of herbs you will ever see. I just bought the basil, but the rosemary and lavender I have had for a few months. I just re-potted them all into a large pot and added some fertilizer. So hopefully they start to thrive.

I'll post another picture in a few days after they've had a bit of time to settle into their new homes. I love, love, LOVE fresh herbs in the summer!! If they make it, look for these bad boys in subsequent recipes this summer!

Spring Has Sprung

**These next few posts are back-posts. While I had a lot to type about last week, I didn't have the time.**

Finally it is beautiful here - warm, sunny and things are greening up!! I took a half day from work today to work in our yard.

We raked all of the remaining leaves from the yard and those that blanketed the berm and landscaping we put in last year. We applied new mulch and put down grass seed & fertilizer throughout the backyard (that's all of the bright green stuff on the lawn).

And of course - planted pansies and violets.

I also managed to find a need for an additional assortment of plants for my favorite blue pot.

This is our first year with a perennial garden and landscaping to care for. I'm excited to see what comes up!!

Bring your own pot, grow your own...

This weekend my mom, aunt and I went shopping at Bachman's to find some fun stuff for the house.

After looking at african violets and primroses, we happened upon herbs. What a perfect addition to our kitchen!! So we picked out three small herb containers (rosemary, lavender and parsley), went in search of a larger pot to hold them and... VOILA!!

I think they look great! Plus, this is so us to have herbs on hand in the kitchen. I haven't used them yet... but will soon. Hmm... what do you use lavender for... ?

Here is the arial view:

Love. It.