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| I took this photo last spring of the front garden. You can see the rows of Aspragus well into it's late stage. The bottom left corner is a part of one of my Rhubarb rows. |
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| This was my 'new' garden last year! It is our farms "Sausage Garden". This is where we grow the herbs for our sasuage blends. Like I said... I dream of new gardens! |
Most of my readers know that I love anything to do with organization and List Making. I could never do without lists... grocery, housework, to-do, seed inventories or packing for trips (not that I take many, LOL). Lists make our lives easier, especially for forgetful folks like me! Today we'll focus on Spring Garden Jobs. Here is my personal list for you to save and print out if/when you would like. You have my permission to use and share it with friends for personal use. LIST IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
Keep a journal! A journal can be your best friend if you let it. Document all the changes you make, take photographs of major projects, renovations and specific growth of particular plants that you want to watch mature over years, like trees. I stand my children beside a newly planted tree and take a photo every year. It is amazing to see how much they both grow and change!
I also go over to see what plants will need to be split, pitched and replaced if died over the winter and what spots need to be filled in. Keeping these detailed notes also allows me to remember who may have given a particular plant along with the who, what and when; no more guessing on age or variety. It also gives you the ability to see what worked and didn't. I know as a busy wife, mother, farmer, market vendor and manger, I could never remember everything that I change, plant or didn't like/work.
Here are a couple really good site's to check out for gardening info!
Gardening Tips and Tricks http://www.facebook.com/GardeningTipsAndTricks?ref=stream
Weekend Gardener at http://www.weekendgardener.net/do-list.htm
Seeds Of The Month Club http://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfTheMonthClub?ref=stream
Be sure to keep posted, coming up in my next post I will touch on DRAWING UP YOUR GARDEN PLAN!
Planning a Plant Exchange is a great
way to share all those 'splits' you will end up with this Spring after
cleaning up your beds. I know for myself, I can hardly pitch a plant, it
just seems mean! A plant exchange is not only rewarding and fun, it's a
great money saver in the long run. As most of you know I also
love to entertain... I don't get to do it as often as I would like, but
when I do I try to make it special for my guests! I gave all the
How-To's last year on hosting a Plant Exchange (XXXXX), so today I
thought I'd focus on some info on
types of plants that transplant well. I have also added tips on division and transplanting. Helpful tips to prepare for the Plant Exchange: (Taken and adapted from Country Gardens Magazine, Spring 2006, pg. 55-57).
How to divide, care for and prepare your transplants for the exchange:
*The best time to divide a plant is shortly after it emerges in spring.
*Try to divide the plants as close to the plant exchange date/time as possible.
*Loosen the soil around the plants perimeter and then use a sharp spade or knife to cut through the roots to divide. Be sure to keep a large root clump with the plant to ensure successful transplanting.
*Put your divisions in practical, temporary containers: paper cups, disposable aluminum muffin cups, tin cans, plastic containers, plastic plant pots/ terra-cotta pots or any other container you have handy. Just be sure to add drainage holes to water tight containers.
*Give a tag/label with each division including: name/variety of plant, sun/shade requirements, mature plant size- height and diameter, water/soil requirements, zone hardiness, perennial or annual. A nice description for 'new' gardeners will be so appreciated.
*Make sure to plant/water as soon as possible once you have the plants in their new location.
How to harvest seedlings:
*Be sure that the seedlings are at least 3-5 inches tall with at least 2 sets of true leaves.
*Get all the plants roots.
*Replant the seedling into a small container with appropriate drainage holes and gently water immediately.
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| Red Oak Leaf lettuce seedling in one of the raised beds along side spinach. |
Plants that divide easily and transplant well include:
*Hosta's
*Day Lilies
*Bleeding Heart
*Peony
*Bee's Balm (Monarda)
*Black Eye Susan, Shasta Daisy's and any Coneflowers
*Columbine
*Sedum
*perennial Geraniums
*Hellianthus
*Purple Bellflower
*any early blooming bulbs that have bloomed and died back at least half way- Snow Drops, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips
~I always say, if in doubt, do without... so if you are not sure about one of your plants, ASK! Or look up in a good garden guild any special tricks that certain plants may have before you divide if you are not sure.
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| I took this photo of my Bistro Garden two years ago in mid Spring when all the hosta's were fully open. In the back you can see my front arbor, which is now completely covered by a Sweet Autumn Clematis... see photo of it on my Dragonfly Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true |
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Here is the same location but taken last year in early summer. Notice the arbor now covered in Clematis... she is stunning when in full bloom... and oh the aroma she gives off. This is an example of taking shots of the same location but at different times and years can give you.  |
This is a very favorite recipe in our home. It was
Neil's mothers recipe that she had made and over the years I have
adjusted it a bit to serve our large family. It is super yummy and worth
the efforts in making!
Chicken Paprika
1 Whole Chicken, cut into pieces with or without skin/bones
1/2 cup Safflower Oil
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 large onion, diced
8 cups water
2 Tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 bag Spaetzel dumpling noodles
1. Put flour in a large bowl; coat each piece of chicken and place in a large skillet with hot oil, reserve left over flour; fry chicken pieces in hot oil until browned all all sides; remove chicken to plate. Put remaining flour and diced onions in pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add to skillet and onions: water, paprika, salt and pepper and cooked chicken; cover and simmer for 1 hour. The water will thicken as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
3. While chicken is simmering, cook Spaetzel dumpling noodles according to package directions so they will be ready when chicken/gravy are done; about 1/2 hour before.
4. When chicken is done, remove from gravy into a bowl; cover to keep warm; add sour cream to gravy and blend in until dissolved.
5. When dumplings are done put them in a bowl and ladle 1/2 of the gravy over top and the rest over the chicken.
Serve immediately.
Happy Day,
Jean
Chicken Paprika
1 Whole Chicken, cut into pieces with or without skin/bones
1/2 cup Safflower Oil
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 large onion, diced
8 cups water
2 Tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 bag Spaetzel dumpling noodles
1. Put flour in a large bowl; coat each piece of chicken and place in a large skillet with hot oil, reserve left over flour; fry chicken pieces in hot oil until browned all all sides; remove chicken to plate. Put remaining flour and diced onions in pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add to skillet and onions: water, paprika, salt and pepper and cooked chicken; cover and simmer for 1 hour. The water will thicken as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
3. While chicken is simmering, cook Spaetzel dumpling noodles according to package directions so they will be ready when chicken/gravy are done; about 1/2 hour before.
4. When chicken is done, remove from gravy into a bowl; cover to keep warm; add sour cream to gravy and blend in until dissolved.
5. When dumplings are done put them in a bowl and ladle 1/2 of the gravy over top and the rest over the chicken.
Serve immediately.
Happy Day,
Jean
| Spring Garden Job To Do List, by Jean Smith | ||||||||
| May be copied and used for personal use only. | ||||||||
| Date | Task | Comleted Y N | Notes | |||||
| Front Porch/Patio Areas | ||||||||
| sweep/ blow/ rake | ||||||||
| put out furniture | ||||||||
| repot planters/ window boxes | ||||||||
| repairs if any- make note is so | ||||||||
| touch up painting- | pots | |||||||
| furniture | ||||||||
| structures | ||||||||
| correct any patio stones | ||||||||
| new project | ||||||||
| new project | ||||||||
| new project | ||||||||
| Flower Bed Clean/Prep | ||||||||
| clean any debres left over | ||||||||
| check for dead plants | ||||||||
| remove and replace | ||||||||
| make note of what | ||||||||
| amend soil/add fertilizer | ||||||||
| make note of what | ||||||||
| Divide plants | ||||||||
| make note of what | ||||||||
| Plant | trees | |||||||
| shrubs | ||||||||
| list what & when | ||||||||
| Direct seed any spring flowering annuals | ||||||||
| Forget me not | ||||||||
| dianthus | ||||||||
| English daisy | ||||||||
| sweet William | ||||||||
| viola | ||||||||
| Transplant | before leaf buds open | |||||||
| roses | ||||||||
| shrubs | ||||||||
| ornamental trees | ||||||||
| Fertilize Peonies when 2-3 inches tall | ||||||||
| Divide and transfer any flowering bulbs after they have died back | and divide flowering bulbs after they have died back | |||||||
| Clean ponds/fountains/water featues | ||||||||
| repairs- make notes | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| Date | Task | Comleted Y N | Notes | |||||
| Vegetable Garden/ Raised Beds | ||||||||
| amend soil | ||||||||
| make note of what | ||||||||
| make note of when | ||||||||
| clean any debris | ||||||||
| plant spring crops when soil is ready | ||||||||
| EARLY | peas | greens | spinach | chard | ||||
| radishes | lettuce | kale | parsley | |||||
| LATE | potatoes | carrots | ||||||
| onions | beets | |||||||
| check trelises/ posts/ fences | ||||||||
| repair raised beds if loose | ||||||||
| add soil if needed | ||||||||
| Potting Shed/ Storage Shed | ||||||||
| General Tidy after winter | ||||||||
| sweep out | ||||||||
| re-organize pots/ labels | ||||||||
| repair any tools that need | ||||||||
| oil/ sharpen tools | ||||||||
| inventory items: | ||||||||
| dirt | ||||||||
| seeds | ||||||||
| flats/trays/pots | ||||||||
| ferilizer/herbicides/ | ||||||||
| insecticides | ||||||||
| labels/ | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| check hoses/sprinklers | ||||||||
| make a list of what you need as you go | ||||||||
| check mower- plugs | ||||||||
| sharpen blades/replc. | ||||||||
| check tiller(s) | ||||||||
| have supply of gas/oil for machines | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| other | ||||||||
| Pruning/ Propogation | ||||||||
| evergreen shrubs before growthj | re growth | |||||||
| spring flowering shrubs after flowering | ||||||||
| propagate deciduous shrubs | ||||||||
| forsythia | ||||||||
| winter jasmine | ||||||||
| Date | Task | Comleted Y N | Notes | |||||
| Weed/Pest Control | ||||||||
| make sure debris is cleaned up to avoid snails and slugs | ||||||||
| as soon as roses start to leaf out, dust with an organic powder | ||||||||
| repeat once a month all summer! | ||||||||
| watch for Tent Worms in your trees, webs in trees | ||||||||
| as soon as visiable, spray with organic spray | ||||||||
| ****use burn technique*** please research this before you do it. | ||||||||
| on sidewalks | ||||||||
| driveways | ||||||||
| garden |
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