Two Sisters Gardening

Friends of the Garden -- the Birds and the Bees

2012-05-25T09:14:00.001-07:00

When I moved to my home in 1993, I planted a large strip of mixed wildflowers close to the garden plot. Little did I realize then I was doing a big favor to my yard and garden by attracting alot of birds and bees with the flowers. Over the years, some of the flowers died out but the most prevalent and aggressive still come back every year with zero maintenance. Pictured above are "Mexican Hats" and it's easy to see how they get the name, as they do resemble a large brimmed sombrero to include the pointed crown.

Pollinators like honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees and butterflies are attracted to bright colors like blues, yellows, reds and violets. These "Black-Eyed Susan's" pop up everywhere in the yard even where I have to mow the grass and I cut around them when possible. Pollinators are crucial for high yield and quality fruit and vegetable crops, strawberry, squash, melons and apples to name a few.

I also planted day lilies close to the garden but I don't remember the name of this variety, I just love the color.

Fragrant herbs like this basil deter many unwanted insects in the garden. The pink flowers in the background are wild primrose. This is just a small sprinkle that appeared at this location. There is a bigger grouping on the right side of the garden. Pollinators are important to set seeds and set fruit in the initial growing stage. How do they do it? They light on the anther (male part of the flower) and collecting pollen on the mouth, body, antennae or legs then light on the stigma (female part of the flower) and deposit the pollen and so on and so forth.

So, how do you attract them? Diversify, limit pesticides and leave flowers blooming in your yard and garden when possible, unless disease or insect infestations are a problem. These bok choy above have bloomed and are now seeding, but we won't cut them back until the pods fully ripen and then turn brown because they are attracting the pollinators we need for our garden. Plus we will harvest the seeds and plant them in the fall.

Another wildflower close to the garden that comes back ever year is this white yarrow. Although it's not my favorite I do love the fern like leaves. Yarrow comes in a variety of colors and can be used live or dried for arrangements. Plus, it also attracts pollinators.

I've talked about the bees, but now I'll give the birds some credit for being friends of the garden. Birds are not only fascinating to watch and sing beautiful songs, but if you let them and attract the right kinds, they will control unwanted bug populations. For several years, I have let the blackberry bushes around our garden grow until the crop ripens then cut them back. Why? One reason is so we can make a blackberry cobbler but another reason is to give my birds a tasty treat.

Also, I have a fig bush growing within yards of the garden, another attraction for the birds. And a plus to make preserves or dried figs to use in other recipes. Just like bees, birds need staples to attract and keep them close to your yard and garden. They need fresh water, shelter, food and the absence of strong chemical pesticides. All these staples are easy to purchase at a local garden center like Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.

All in all, the birds and the bees are some of the best "Friends of the Garden" and the yard for that matter, so I hope you take steps to attract them at your house.

Monday is "Memorial Day," so, please pay some tribute to a family service member, friend or someone in the military you may not know, regardless of past or present service.

Until next time.....

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Stand up and garden

2012-05-24T07:44:00.002-07:00

More and more people are trying to garden but have problems when it comes to the backbreaking part of it--like tilling, weeding, hoeing and digging. Here is a book for those of us that want to garden, but just can't because of health issues. It is also a method for those who just don't have the time or desire it takes to have a traditional garden but would love to have one if it were easier to do.

This method takes raised beds to new heights--essentially waist high and puts it on the same level as a kitchen cabinet so you don't have to bend or stoop. The method is kind of like straw bale gardening but is more permanent.

There are also suggestions to garden vertically and ideas for mulching, watering, and container gardening. I really liked the suggested idea of planting tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets--a cheap but effective idea for growing America's favorite vegetable.

This book is an easy read and could save you tons of backbreaking work. If you have a secret desire to raise your own fruits and vegetables but your head spins and back aches when you think about it, read this book. You just may be inspired to join the raised bed and vertical gardening movement.

Garden Update

2012-05-22T11:02:00.002-07:00

After a rough start this spring with some of the craziest weather I've ever seen our garden is beginning to look like, guess what, yes, a garden! The bean poles are up, the cucumber fence has been installed and the biggest tomatoes are caged. Ahh..to sunshine, fresh air and beautiful rain.

Pictured above are giant Alaskan Sugar Pods. They need picking today and this will make the third crop we've picked. You can eat them off the vine while you gather them, chop them in a nice salad, saute in butter or olive oil, add them to your favorite stir fry and they keep a long time in the frig.

The yellow and zucchini squash look good now, knock on wood, as for two previous years we had problems with squash bugs and vine borers. As, seen on an earlier blog we used a row cover until the blooms appeared and the plants grew too large. Also, we've sprayed them multiple times with BT Worm Killer to proactively keep these pests from destroying the produce.

The red cabbage look good and are heading, as they should. BT has been applied to keep cabbage worms away. But growing an organic garden means using a heads up approach which means monitoring the plants daily for any trespassers.

All the hot peppers like the "Chili Red" pictured above are developing just fine. Most insects or small animals don't bother hot peppers, we just watch out for blight and similar problems. I can't wait to stuff one with cheese, batter it, then bake or fry it...yummy.

Due to the 80 degree weather in February the red and white rows of potatoes did not fare well, but as I like to tell everyone, we have one potato, two potato, three potato, four....and that's true two red plants and two white plants.

However, this year we planted a row of sweet potatoes and they are doing great. I've always understood that sweet potatoes are better for you and I love pies and fries.

Jerry's watermelons look good, too.

We use a fence to grow our cucumbers. Last year we had success, as they seem to like running on a fence. It deters small animals from nibbling and helps to prevent mold and rot.

This year instead of the usual "Kentucky Wonder" green beans, we planted "Rattlesnake." They are a Georgia local favorite, just hope the name doesn't attract snakes up the poles. They look good and so far haven't encouraged pests.

Our lettuce is crisp and ready to pick now but it won't last long in the summer heat.

The two rows of heirloom tomatoes have basil, coriander and dill mixed in the rows. Also we planted some at different time intervals so our tomato crop wouldn't produce at the same time.

Last but not least, seen above is a "Bonnie" bell pepper growing in the sweet pepper row. Bell peppers have so many uses in ethnic recipes around the world.

This is a back view of the garden and now I've got to run to do some work, pick some produce and enjoy the serenity.

Until later....and another garden update..........

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith.

Snakes, Lizards and Frogs -- Good for Yard and Garden

2012-05-18T12:04:00.001-07:00

I grew up in a rural setting with snakes, lizards and frogs, so I've never been afraid of them and always had respect of their job in the yard, garden, woods and Georgia eco-system.

Cleaning up after the yard sale at the site, Todd (my Chiweenie) cornered this snake, who was minding his own business moving across the driveway. Since I didn't recognize the species, I decided to take it home and look it up. If it was poisonous, I would dispose of it and if it was beneficial to the yard and garden, I would let it out.

Researching the species took me back to recollections of my youth and what my dad taught me, how cold blooded reptiles like snakes and lizards and amphibians like frogs and salamanders, help humans in the yard and garden. Snakes keep the rodent population in check and poisonous snake venom is used, not only to cure snake bites, but used in lots of different kinds of disease research. Small lizards, as seen above, help to keep unwanted insects around the house, yard and garden to a minimum.

If you're interested search the web for the benefits of these amazing creatures that live at your house.

Frogs are also beneficial, eating mosquitoes, nats and other pests. It's hard to tell from this photo, but this guy is only about one fourth inch (the big one got away before the photo). They reside under the plastic pots growing our seedlings to plant in the garden. Searching the web, I learned an amazing fact. Frogs and toads are different, frogs have smooth skin and toads have rough, bumpy skin and most likely, toads are the ones living around our house and garden.

Although, I am not scared of most snakes, I don't suggest that you put one in your trunk. I'm sure this is a rat snake, but it is still in my car! I really gave my friends, family and me a good laugh with my debacle. Just hope I'm not driving when it comes out from under the dashboard.

Regardless, without these yard and garden friends, rodents and insects would be a bigger problem around our houses, yards and in our gardens.

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Orchids -- Gotta Love'em

2012-05-15T13:00:00.001-07:00

My sister, Deberah gave everyone a great tour of the Hills and Dales Gardens in Lagrange, Georgia, the Crossroads Garden Club visited, May 5th. I knew she would share a fantastic blog and take pictures, so anyone blogging could join our walk through the gardens. I enjoyed every step and every view into each different type of garden spot. But one section I enjoyed the most was the green house and the magnificent orchids in bloom.

One of the most prevalent orchids, I recognize, as seen above, is the "Cattleya", named after, William Cattley from Barnett, England, a collector and botany patron, who lived around 1832. Today there are sixty plus varieties ranging in colors from whites, creams, pinks, violets, purples and even in darker shades of each. This variety is a favorite of American florists and garden centers due to price, availability and color schemes. Florists use them in corsages and arrangements, retail garden centers use them for pot and hanging basket sales.

The "Cattleya" orchid originated from Central and South America, introduced to England in 1818, but other genus of orchids have wide spread origins from Spain, China, to Australia and even a cousin, the slipper orchid from Cyprus.

Although, I have tried in the past to grow this gorgeous plant, I have never had success. Maybe it was my ignorance or maybe a certain fear and belief that a green house was needed to maintain and grow an orchid. After, a little research, understanding the steps to care for this orchid doesn't seem as hard as I thought. Grow in a five to ten inch pot which has excellent drainage (one of the keys), use commercial orchid soil or use a mixture of course peat (size of a pea), ground bark and charcoal. Water regularly during the growing season (blooming), sparingly during winter. Maintain at 70-80 degrees, mist to maintain humidity at 50 percent (another key element) throughout the year and keep in a window with good non-direct sunlight. A humidifier placed close by, plus misting should solve any humidity problems. Use a weak fertilizer, once a week during the growing season and consult the internet or knowledgeable grower, if you have questions or problems.

Regardless of whether you want to take a challenge to grow orchids -- you "Gotta Love'em" because the flowers are magnificent and bring a beauty to our earth to enjoy and share with anyone in your life!

I tried to share the photos with Tia this afternoon but she wasn't interested and took a nap....she can enjoy the blog later.

Next time I'll give you an update on the two sister's garden. Until then......

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Our First Annual Crossroads Garden Club Yard Sale

2012-05-14T11:10:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend we had a Crossroads Garden Club Yard Sale. We asked our club members to donate garden (or yard sale) items for the Garden Club and invited members set up tables around the barn to set up their own yard sales, too. Above from left, Wilma Smith, Paul Boylen and Deberah Williams in front of the Crossroads Garden Club table.

Charlotte Nelson displaying her wares. She brought garden items she had made to sell and her booth was a big hit with customers, especially her china bird feeders and her terrariums. They were perfect for Mother's Day presents. Charlotte normally sets up on Saturdays in Newnan where she sells canned goods, extra vegetables, plants and her beautiful handcrafted items. You can pick up these items on market days at the old Fairgrounds in Newnan.

Garden club member, Angela McRae also set up her table in the shade and enjoyed visiting with other members while waiting on customers.

I want to thank all the members who brought items to sell at the Yard Sale. This was a last minute endeavor but even with very little time to prepare, we made a nice sum of money and enjoyed visiting with one another--and our steady stream of customers. We even met some prospective new club members!

I sold many of my extra pot-bound tomato, pepper and lavender plants. We sold cuttings from a gardenia bush and we also had some very nice plants of various kinds grown by club members. We had old pots, annuals, perennials of various kinds and I even bought some much needed hostas to plant in my landscape.

Some of our members also made money for themselves and cleaned out old yard sale items--and that is always a good thing.

After packing up, we decided it was a very successful event and we would like to do it again next year. This time we will have plenty of time to prepare!

Hills and Dales Gardens

2012-05-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

When you do to Hills and Dales they immediately tell you that its history includes two families. The Ferrell story and the Callaway story. As we were touring the gardens, it was evident that the timeline of the story began some 180 years ago as Sarah Ferrell moved to her mother's home and began to expand the garden using slave labor. Every where you look you can see her desire to glorify God using religious symbols grown in boxwoods surrounded by flowers, trees, statues and religious topiaries.

The history might have ended with Ferrell except for two things. The Ferrells opened their gardens to the people of LaGrange and therefore to a young son of a Baptist minister, Fuller Callaway who often visited the gardens walking with Mrs. Ferrell and discussing spiritual matters. In 1911, after Callaway proved to be a successful businessman and Ferrell had passed away, he purchased the property deciding to keep the gardens intact and build a new home for his family.

At this point, Ida Cason Callaway became the garden keeper of their new Italian Georgian home and gardens. Mrs. Callaway not only tended the gardens but expanded on them.

As we walked around the back of the house, we could tell we were in a more modern garden. Ida Cason Callaway tended the garden from 1911 until her death in 1936 and Alice Hand Callaway because the garden tender for the next 62 years. After her death in 1998, Hills and Dales and Ferrell Gardens were bequeathed to the Fuller E. Callaway Foundation to be used for education and enjoyment.

I imagine that each garden tender had her own ideas for improvements to the gardens, yet each new tender respected the hard work of her predecessor keeping much of the previous gardener's design ideas intact.

Behind the greenhouse are several cutting gardens with flowers appearing to grow wild everywhere. I don't know who started these gardens, but I can imagine that Ida Cason Callaway used them to keep her new home filled with beautiful flowers all year. I am sure Alice Hand Callaway and later the Callaway Foundation found this to be a good practice.

I loved the row of pots with tomatoes lining one of the cutting gardens.

I loved the twig arbor in the cutting gardens. It is something I could build myself and it was charming right next to the old bird feeder with the rusted tin roof.

It is such a wild, yet controlled area.

The work house next to the greenhouse is made pretty with its vine-covered wall. This was built by Ida Cason Callaway and remodeled by Alice Hand Callaway.

The herb gardens in front of the greenhouse look quite modern.

Looking back over the area between the garage and the greenhouse you can see the gardens at the back of the house and it is a lovely view.

I really, really loved the yarrow that is between the new and old parts of the garden. I noticed that they dried the yarrow to use in arrangements. It is really beautiful and useful--great for the butterflies and bees, too.

The view of the house made me feel I was in the gardens of an Italian villa with the Italian Cypress evergreen spires around the house.

We walked down the Florida walkway to the oldest part of the garden.

Arriving at the Church Garden or Santuary, it is obvious this was created many, many years ago. It is surrounded by boxwoods. Four Chinese firs with wisteria vines growing to form a canopy.

I have seen this in other old gardens and it is always a beautiful sight.

As you walk away from the Church garden you seed the canopy and a maze of boxwoods including Dwarf English, American, tree, Spanish and curly leaf boxwoods.

Another China fir shades more of boxwood walkways.

The centers of the boxwood groupings surround profusions of flowers.

A number of walkways, including lover's lane are still a beautiful place to stroll.

I can't help but wonder how gardeners get into the circular hedges to tend the plants in the center without damaging the hedges.

Many of the hedges are shaped in religious symbols like this lyre and the cross below. A famous grouping of boxwoods I unfortunately didn't photograph are the grapes. Sarah Ferrell's inspiration for these topiaries was from Numbers.

This area of the garden was redesigned by Fuller Callaway Sr. and Alice Callaway added this statue of St. Fiacre to the area. It was originally Sarah Ferrell's Maze garden.

The large fountain next to the house was added in 1916 when the house was built.

A circle of small boxwoods surround the fountain and a row of calla lilies, a favorite of Ida Cason Callaway.

I don't know who is responsible for the sunken gardens and the curved bench that is the central feature. The curved sofa in the living room of the house is said to modeled after this bench.

The God topiary is next and it is a beautiful grouping of hedges with flowers growing in the center and spelling out God. This was also designed by Sarah Ferrell. If you will notice, the hedge that looks like it has a dip growing above the God topiary is the tea hedge, camellia sinensis. This hedge probably provided tea for the Callaway family.

It is very pretty and I think amazing that a something this large could spell the letters so perfectly.

The bird gate was designed by Alice Callaway in the later years and though it was a later design, it fits the garden perfectly.

After we finished the garden tour, we went around to the back of the house for an al fresco lunch under the oaks. A perfect meal before a tour of an Italian villa.

Visiting Hills and Dales in LaGrange

2012-05-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Members of the Crossroads Garden Club took the opportunity to tour Hills and Dales Estate and the Ferrell Gardens in LaGrange, Ga. this past Saturday. The photos above are a screen captures of Hills and Dales from their website.

When we arrived, we watched a short film about the history of the gardens and the families who built the beautiful estate and keep it in trust to share with visitors and the surrounding community. Above, Wilma Smith, Jerry Williams, Janell Taylor and Sam Merrell look around at the beautiful surroundings.

We were dropped off at the front portico of the three story home described as an Italian Georgian design. Fuller Callaway, Sr. who had the house built in 1915 asked for an Italian villa to complement the gardens he had purchased from the Ferrell family in 1911. He demolished the house but kept the gardens intact and added to them over the years.

Beginning he garden tour, Mike Carnicom, Mary Miller, Wilma Smith, Merlene Smith and Jerry Williams.

The former pool house and swimming pool have been turned into large patio overlooking the terraces that were once used for farming and raising cattle.

Calvin Horsley, Mike Carnicom and Mary Miller view the beds of summer ornamentals and the
Southern Magnolia espaliered on the side of the former garage and chauffeur’s quarters, framing the arched windows.

Photos of the Ray garden by the second generation of the Callaway family that was formerly the family vegetable garden.

The old Fuller gardens begin on the west side of the house. It is amazing to enter the 1840 world of Sarah Fuller who expanded her mother's garden into what was described as one of the best gardens in 30 states by 1865 with boxwood lined walkways and Christian themes interspersed with beds of flowers. More about the Fuller part of the garden tomorrow.

Before walking into the gardens we toured the greenhouse, built in 1916. We saw some of the most beautiful orchids we have ever seen. They were surrounded by beautiful ferns and succulents.

I also saw the cutting gardens grown behind the greenhouse. These gardens were very important to keep the house supplied with fresh flowers each day.

We were a bit late to see the roses in full bloom but they did still have blossms here and there.

All of this and we had barely started.

Fighting nutsedge

2012-05-07T10:13:00.001-07:00

If you have a garden, lawn, or just about any kind of place where weeds are a problem, you probably have been fighting nutsedge (commonly called nut grass). It is an invasive weed we battle year after year, especially in our summer garden. We primarily have yellow nutsedge that forms little yellow balls of flowers which reminds me a little bit of stinging nettle as it matures.

According to all I have read, it is a perennial problem not only in our area but around the country. If you have someone fertilize and de-weed your yard, you probably don't have such a problem there but in vegetable gardens it can be a real pest. It grows up almost everywhere and if you are trying to grow an organic garden, as we are, the fight continues each and every year.

There are some really good weed killers on the market and many people can keep the nutsedge pretty much at bay using these but when you have a garden where chemicals are a no-no, just the words "weed and killers" are bad words. In a lawn where children and animals might play or roam, it is not such a good idea to ever apply weed killers.

There are some chemical-free ways to help control nutsedge. Tilling in the spring can help because it disrupts the growing process but it will not be a permanent solution.

Our battle method of choice is to mulch and pull. The best way is mulching and then pulling up any nutsedge that sprouts up. When I say mulching, I mean mulching heavily. Adding several layers of newspaper or a layer of kraft paper can help. The black cloth that some use for weed control is good, too. None of these methods are foolproof, though. This is a weed you will have to always fight.

Above is an example of mulching around our new squash plants. This year we are working a hard as we can to keep things mulched but as we go along the rows we pull up the nutsedge as fast and as early as we can. If left alone, this weed will reproduce up to seven times from the roots and spread like wildfire.

I prefer to pull them up after a rain when the ground is softened because I am then more likely to get the rhizone underneath. It helps to get the above ground plant but you can't stop it without getting the nut-like rhizone that grows from 1 to 6 inches underground.

If you have yellow nutsedge as I have, you could even eat the football-shaped, nut-like rhizone. (Though I have no plans to do this!) If you have the purple variety the roots are a bit different and are not edible. The purple kind (an African variety) is even more invasive than the yellow. It is, of course the kind with purple flowers.

I have also read that if you spray a mixture of straight vinegar and molasses on the plant when it is young, this will kill the top of the plant and the rhizone will not be fed resulting in an eventual death of that plant. This will also take repeated applications. It is just a tough plant to fight.

I hope this helps. We are not as bothered by it as we were when we first started our garden. After a few years we also feel we have more control. It is just something we must fight. Sometimes we win, sometimes the nutsedge wins but it is a constant struggle to win out over the weeds.

Posted by Deberah Williams

One Plumbing Drip that's Good for the Garden

2012-05-03T18:43:00.002-07:00

Trust me, when I say, lately I've had my share of plumbing leaks in my house. I just had my kitchen facet, half bath sink facet and toilet guts replaced. A drip doesn't take long to develop into a flood, but a drip in the garden can be a good thing! This year we are trying soaker or drip hoses to water plants in the garden. So, far we have bought six hoses at local dollar stores for eight bucks a piece for a total of $48.00.

At first we had four hoses and Deberah found this connector at a building supply/garden center. It connected the four hoses and as you can see to use one garden hose to supply water to the four soaker hoses. The connector cost, approximately, $16.00 bringing our total cost to $64.00.

These hoses are fifty feet each and as seen above, placed around the crown of the plant, then drip, drip and drip some more. This feeds the water onto the roots, keeping fungus and mold from growing onto stems and leaves. Also, these hoses save water and don't water weeds that spring up in the middle rows saving time tilling and pulling weeds.

Today I found a two hose connector($10.00) that will allow another garden hose to be added to the water supply. Four more drip hoses can be added depending on the footage needed to cover the garden rows. But for now, we only need a two hose connector for the soaker hoses that we also bought at the dollar store for $2.00. This makes for a grand total of $76.00 to install a drip irrigation system of 300 feet in our garden.

As mentioned in a previous blog, "No Tilling -- No Kidding", we took the advice of Master Gardener, Mike Cunningham who owns "Country Garden Farms" to utilize drip irrigation in our garden to save time and money in the long run. The tomato plant seen already seems to be benefiting, but I'll keep

you informed on the next garden update......until then

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Foxglove -- Good for the Heart!

2012-04-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was elated to see this foxglove (planted last spring) blooming in a shady flower bed in my back yard. Of course I always knew foxgloves were great for my heart but I thought it was for their beauty. Little did I know, they actually have medicinal qualities used in the production of digitalis, a heart rate regulator and diuretic.

However, prior to researching information on foxgloves, I found a great supply at a local garden outlet and bought two to add to my shady bed. They will grow from two to five feet and make a perfect plant to put at the back of a shady garden spot.

Included in this spot is an old (but beautiful) terracotta pot that once was hung on my breezeway wall but broke where it anchored and now it is used as an ornament in this flower bed, as Deberah mention in one of her "Everyday Finesse" blogs

In this shady corner at the back of my house, I also have a gardenia bush, balloon flowers and hostas. Around the gardenia, I added eight Lilly of the Valley tubers that love shade too.

Next, I added new soil, as seen above. I used a garden soil that will feed for three months since no fruit would be grown. Dumped it, spread it and worked the new soil into the existing soil.

As you can see above, the spot needed the boost from the new garden soil, as underneath there is red clay even though new soil has been added for years. I always dig the holes two to three size of the new plant, depending on how pot bound the roots appear in the new plants.

The history of the foxglove is ancient. It dates back prior to King Edward III when the myth was told that fairies or little people slipped the flowers over foxes feet making sure they could quietly raid poultry roosts. Then the name "foxes glafa" was given to the plant. Foxgloves grew wild on hills in front of foxes dens which gave more credence to the myth.

The scientific name "Digitalis Purpurea" is still connected to the myth and the word digitalis means "finger-like." In 1785, William Witherling, an Englishman published "Account of the Foxglove" describing the medicinal properties used to treat heart conditions and other physical illnesses.

Foxgloves grow well in part to full shade. They like moist and humus soil (leaf loam) and depending on the climate and location will re-seed, even though the first year will not produce flowers. They are one of the honey bees' favorite flowers and attract hummingbirds, as well. And hopefully even though I don't need their medicinal properties now, they certainly help make my heart happy with their beauty.

as always....

Happy Gardening 2012!

posted by Wilma Smith

No Tilling - No Kidding

2012-04-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Imagine growing vegetables and flowers without tilling or hoeing every year. Well that is exactly how Mike and Judy Cunningham grow their plants at Country Gardens Farm located at 2050 Hwy 154 in Newnan. Mike was the speaker, Monday evening at the April 23rd meeting of the Crossroads Garden Club. His presentation explained the basics of "No Till Gardening."

This gardening technique begins with preparing permanent raised beds, approximately four feet wide and six to ten inches in height. This is accomplished by shoveling the dirt onto the row from the walkway in between the rows. Next, Mike and Judy lay Kraft paper on top which they buy from a local seed store (These are bought in rolls and spread end to end to cover the row like wrapping a present). Then they lay a thick layer of mulch on top to keep out the weeds. They use regular wheat straw for their mulching material.

Above is a picture of carrots and daikon radishes grown using this gardening method. Wow!

Drip irrigation is used to water their rows on top or in ground depending on how previous rows were made. I bought 200 feet of drip hose earlier this year at the local dollar store that we plan to use in our garden. Drip irrigation saves water and applies moisture to the roots not the fruit eliminating fungus to develop on both.

Pictured above is a young bok choy plant in Mike and Judy's garden. Another trick they use to keep weeds out is to lay landscape fabric in the walkways between the rows. Other materials to substitute is cardboard (cheap and effective).

You may ask what are the benefits to such a way to garden? Mike explained it so perfectly. Tilling disrupts the microorganisms in the soil. Also, it disrupts one of gardening's best friends, the earthworm. We don't see everything going on underground even though there is a lot going on that effects our above ground efforts to grow plants.

As seen above, "It's All About the Soil." Mike and Judy, don't waste discarded plants or fruit, but compost to add back the nutrients to their garden. This includes not pulling up spent plants in their permanent rows, but cutting them off at the crown and letting the old roots compost in the row. I know the worms love it! Even their animal manure goes back to the garden.

Look at all the vegetables they grew for the market. Double Wow!

"Cock-a doodle-doo," if you use the "No Tilling Gardening" method you'll be able to sleep longer and work less. This prize rooster lives at Country Garden Farms. If you would like to visit or need more information about the farm, go to www.countrygardensfarm.com.

As always....

Happy Gardening 2012!

--posted by Wilma Smith

Crossroads Garden Club meets tonight

2012-04-22T19:13:00.002-07:00

The Crossroads Garden Club will meet tonight at 3072 Hwy 154, Newnan at our regular meeting place in a restored barn.

Our speaker is Mike Cunningham from Country Garden Farms and his topic is "No Till Gardening." I am really looking forward to his presentation because he is a very talented and knowledgeable gardener. When he speaks, his love of gardening shows through.

Our planning committee recently met and have a few upcoming events to present at our club including a May trip to Hills & Dales in LaGrange. More will be presented at the meeting tonight.

It is such a pleasure to meet with fellow gardeners and we would love to invite anyone who shares that same love to join us at 7:00 pm for our meeting.

Give a Hoot -- a Garden update

2012-04-17T13:39:00.001-07:00

The weather this year has been pretty strange planting a spring garden, wet and hot, enough to make apple trees bloom in February. You really have to care (give a hoot) and be persistent to grow the vegetables you love and although some of our earlier crops like carrots, beets and potatoes didn't propagate so well, it gave us an opportunity to plant some of the favorite crops we each love best. Above is our garden owl that watches over the garden spot everyday.

Green beans are one of our favorite. In years past, we always planted "Kentucky Wonder" but this year we tried "Rattlesnake" green beans." They look good just hope the name doesn't attract snakes.

This is the first year we've planted sweet potatoes. Bake'em, mash'em, fry'em, make some pies and casseroles what a treat and better for you than regular potatoes.

We all agree garlic is a must in the garden. These look good and healthy and we add in most dishes for added flavor and health value.

One of my "give a hoot" plants in the garden this year is strawberries named "Sequoia." Produces spring through fall.

Another is sugar snap peas, however this year they haven't grown up the fence like last spring, probably a product of our crazy spring.

Jerry likes hot peppers. This year he bought and planted "Mammoth Jalapenos." Also, he finished his row with cayenne, regular jalapenos and hot bananas.

Watermelon is Jerry's give a hoot plant this year. This variety will yield dark red fruit.

Deberah loves eggplant. This is one of her favorite plants to care about in the garden this year.

And of course above is another of Deberah's favorite vegetable, kale. She sautes it, uses it in salads but likes to add it to a healthy shake of fruit, nuts and other tasty ingredients.

Above is our row of sweet peppers.

And this is a sweet cherry tomato variety. We haven't planted the majority of our tomatoes, as they are not big enough yet. Deberah planted heirloom tomatoes this year from seed and we are hoping to save plenty of seed for next year.

Above is an overview of the garden. I will keep you posted with updates as everything grows. We still have more to plant and even more mulching to finish.

Really, Tia and Todd don't give a hoot about the garden. They just like to play and watch us work.

So, until the next update.....

Happy Gardening 2012!

posted by Wilma Smith

Early Mother's Day Tribute

2012-04-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day is May 13th this year, so although, this tribute to my mom seems a little early, today it was cool and breezy in the yard and I decided it was a good time to work in the house. After, vacuuming, mopping, dusting and cleaning toilets, I kept going back to enjoy my mom's art and the picture above of mother, Woodrow (French Partisan Basset hound) and me. And then the light bulb went off in my head, share your mom's art and remind everyone that Mother's Day is May 13th.

My mom has always been an artist and crafty in any endeavor. Her father was a baptist preacher, her mother a seamstress. She was always a great cook, sewed our clothes (three girls) and was there to take us to piano, guitar, dance, basketball or any lessons, thanks mom! Seen above are some of the first pictures she ever painted. These are rustic oil paintings and the frames were made by my father.

After my dad passed away, mother began to take water color lessons, joined the Coweta Art Association, and began a new journey. She took lessons and began to paint....and paint and learned new techniques....and painted some more. Above is one of her first, "Sunflowers."

In my dining room, I hung "Daffodils" above and others below. My mom not only painted these but learned to mat and frame her "masterpieces." Sorry, I know these pictures don't do justice to the art.

"Dogwoods and Poppies", also in my dinning room, (great frame).

I gave mom this pot, she gave it a beautiful addition with the blue window in the background and the goblet and jugs on the side.

"Lilacs", mother loves lilacs, and I do too, I love all her paintings, but this is one of my favorite.

Not only can mother depict flowers, landscapes and buildings beautifully in her paintings, she has a gift to capture animals. Above you see mom's painting of my dog Woodrow. Woodrow was sixteen years when I lost him. She did the greatest job for me!

The "Donkeys" picture hangs under the yoke my dad gave me in my living room. I treasure all my mom's art work but I treasure her the most.

Hope this early tribute to my mother reminds you to do something special on May 13th to do something special for yours...and until later.....

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith.

Blackberry Winter Makes for a Bigger Piece of the Pie

2012-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

As long as, I can remember growing up in a southern rural setting, there has always been a blackberry winter prior, during, or right after the Easter Holiday, depending on when the Easter weekend falls each year. This year we had warm weather, so early, but I think you will agree the last six or seven days that the nights have been cooler, and I think this is the warmest blackberry winter, I have ever felt, usually the temperature will fall to thirty-five or below. Above is a stand of wild blackberries in my yard. The best part about wild blackberries is that they are sustainable with zero maintenance, except to cut them out of your way when they get in your way.

For the last three or four years, I've let the blackberry bushes grow up and down my driveway or anywhere in my yard until they produce. Then I'll cut them back and dispose of the foliage.

In 2009, the yield was good and Deberah (the true chef in my family) made the most delicious cobbler that only my mother could have topped when I was younger. But for the last couple of years (2010, 2011) due to a drier spring and hungrier birds, we didn't bake a pie.

But due to the blooms seen above and the moisture we received this spring, I'm looking forward to a bigger piece of the pie than 2009, maybe two or three pies and pieces, 2012. I'm not sure what the blackberry winter adds to the blackberry crop, maybe it's just a coincidence, maybe not, but I do know it happens every year around the Easter Holiday weekend.

For me, the plus to regular old wild blackberries compared to varieties you buy are definitely awesome, no planting, zero maintenance, except for trimming, but you must do that with varieties you plant, they are native, birds and insects are drawn to the blooms and fruit, the seeds are smaller, the fruit is more tart for making pies and jellies.

Happy Gardening 2012!

posted by Wilma Smith

A Little Help for a Friend and Gardener

2012-04-06T10:30:00.004-07:00

One of the biggest things I love about gardeners (regardless of knowledge or experience) is that we love to share and help one another. After a discussion with my friend and fellow gardener, Dianne, about a barren spot in her front yard, she expressed the need for some color that would last longer than just one short season. We put our heads together, looked at the spot, and slept on the plan to transform this spot into a colorful flower bed that everyone will enjoy throughout the spring and fall seasons, whether it be Dianne, Mike (her husband), friends and family or just someone driving by on the street.

Our quest began shopping at the local garden center to select plants that would add color and blooms, spring through fall. There were hundreds of options, but seen above, Dianne selected a trio of Knock Out Roses, "Radrazz," cherry red/hot pink blooms, disease resistant, drought tolerant, with little to no maintenance, black-spot resistant and blooms from spring to early frost for the back-drop of her garden. Great choice Dianne!

Next, the real work began. We placed the plants where they needed to be planted insuring the spacing and grouping worked with the space. These roses were bought in one gallon containers and as seen above hole diggers and a sharp edge shovel were the right tools to complete this job and make the work easier.

Dianne bought 30 pounds of garden soil to mix with the original soil in her garden spot for added moisture and nutrients.

We dug the holes, three times the size of the one gallon pots and used approximately, ten pounds of garden soil combined with the original soil to guarantee the success of each plants' growth.

Water was added to each hole prior to planting and as seen above, we checked each plant to insure that the dirt did not cover the crown of the plants where the roots and stems meet. This just required adding soil to the hole until the plant was in position.

I think these knock out roses are a good start to fill this space for my friend's need for color. Often, just like decorating a room, too much, too soon, won't give you the ambiance or feel you want for the space. So, let's see what Dianne adds to grow her space later.

Like the classic song, "A Little Help From My Friends", I'm glad to help a friend and fellow gardener because I know that sooner than later, "I'll get a little help from a friend." As Dianne put it so eloquently, "This makes it fun and easier when we help one another!" So, if you get a chance.....help someone in their yard or hey, at any chore.......and as always

Happy Gardening 2012

posted by Wilma Smith

Plant Shopping Spree Ends in New Varieties & Plants for 2012 Garden

2012-04-04T11:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I went plant shopping twice, once in the morning with my friend and neighbor Dianne then in the afternoon with Jerry, my brother-in-law (the backbone of our garden). Although, it's hard to count all the plants in the picture above there are approximately 204 of them with several new varieties and several new types of plants that we've never planted in the garden.

Sweet Peppers -- Included in the 33 sweet pepper plants bought were 12 of the old stand-bys, green bell, red bell, sweet banana and pimento but I'm excited to see how the new varieties of Italian Roasting, Cubanelle and Giant Marconi grow.

Hot Peppers -- Among 17 of our favorite hot peppers are cayenne, hot banana, and jalapeno and added this year, we'll see how Poblano Ancho, Mammoth Jalapeno and Chili Red will fare. Si, si, senor my mouth is already burning!

Seen above to the right are 36 sweet potato plants, "Beauregard." We've never planted sweet potatoes and I can't wait to see how they produce. Last week we did plant red and white potatoes, so this year our "spud" harvest should be very interesting and I'm proud to say less discriminating than last year.

Several other plants we will add to our garden this year are strawberries (7 seen above) and asparagus (not shown). This is new territory for our garden experience, as both are perennials and both require some maintenance and care throughout the year, however, if done right the benefits will far outweigh the work.

I could continue with pictures of this shopping spree but my muscles are already sore from the work needed to get these plants in the ground by Friday....Good Friday, April 6th. But I will finish the list with the following additions:

4 eggplant
9 cabbage
13 basil
29 tomatoes
24 onions
24 leeks
8 Lavender

Plus, I bought these four Lantanas to add to my flower collection for 50% off...$1.74 each at Lowe's in the back. Yep, I'm a sucker for flowers on sale!

We have already planted alot of vegtables and flowers in the garden and will keep you posted on the progress......until then

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

2012-04-02T10:57:00.001-07:00

This year it seemed as though we jumped straight from a mild winter to summer! At least that is what everyone is saying days. It does appear to be true. The wisteria I have photographed for the last few years has already shed its blooms and started putting on leaves and my saucer magnolia was a total non-event this year. It is good I have photos from previous years.

A lady at our lawn service said she thought our area lawns were a full month ahead of what they should be. She may be right. It seems like I can remember a few warm winters, springs and summers a few years back, though the trend was certainly going in the other direction the past couple of years.

When you are a gardener or wanna-be gardener like me, you are more affected by early springs, too much or too little rain, or almost anything to do with the weather because to a certain extent, it controls what you are able to do.

I do think we are about two weeks ahead of where we normally are -- weather-wise. I have looked at photos I have taken in the past few years of my garden and we do seem to be ahead.

What does this mean for our gardens this year? I think we need to be prepared. The pest situation may need to be controlled earlier than usual. I am expecting more problems with worms, beetles, aphids and other pests. For those like me, who are trying to raise organic produce, I am expecting more beneficial insects, too.

We have planted much of our warm-weather crops we would generally save for planting around Good Friday. The way things are trending, we thought it a good idea. We could have a little frost before spring has officially ended but I can't see us having a very hard freeze.

We have decided to grow much of our squash crop under row covers and in between the squash plants we have planted marigolds to discourage pests. We saw this practice used in other organic gardens. I don't know what our results will be, but if it doesn't work to deter the pests, I am sure it will be lovely.

We have also planted our beans, a few cucumbers and are considering putting in some plants. Our tomatoes, raised from seed are about ready to go into the ground and we do have everything plowed and ready to plant.

I may wish I had been more cautious later, but it is looking more and more like early summer. I just hope it is a good thing for our apple, peach and fruit trees. A frost now could be a disaster for our fruit tree crops. Call me crazy, but I just think warm weather is here to stay.

Our friend and fellow garden club member, Charlotte Nelson said at our meeting, "I plant all my summer crops on April 10." She has done this for a number of years and hasn't had a bad crop since.

That is why even though I might feel the need to a bit early, you can't go wrong on waiting just to be sure.

Posted by Deberah Williams

Finding 4 Leaf Clover Odds Better than Mega Millions Win

2012-03-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found a four leaf clover? I don't think I have but I know I've never won any big lottery! Your odds to find a four leaf clover is 10,000 to 1 and what I understand about tonight's Mega Million drawing is that the odds of winning are about 176 million to 1, so you definitely have better odds to find a four leaf clover.

I have known people that have been lucky enough to find a clover leaf with four petals, my mother found one and showed me hers pressed in a book for safe keeping. I had a friend that found one. And I saw them encased in paperweights and bubble rings when I took a trip to Ireland. But, I've never been so lucky. Truth is I didn't feel lucky today and even though I had two dollars I could of spent on Mega Millions, I passed.

I think, I'd rather find a four leaf clover for the meaning of the four petals. The first for faith, second for hope, third for love and the fourth for luck. However, I want to wish anyone and everyone who bought a lottery ticket, good luck and hope you win!

If you don't still hope you find a four leaf clover ... and ... if you don't find one of those ...

Happy Gardening 2012

Posted by Wilma Smith

Grow Vegtables and Flowers in Record Time

2012-03-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

Last night the Crossroads Garden Club held it's second meeting with one of our own club members (Charlotte Nelson, seen above), as the first guest speaker. Charlotte is quickly becoming the expert in Coweta County for her method of "Straw Bale Gardening." Not only is she beautiful and a great speaker, her method of gardening is beautiful and "speaks for itself" to create, grow, and reap the rewards in record time with less sweat and toil than any traditional garden technique.

Her presentation, explained in detail how anyone without access to a tiller or a simple hoe can create a vegetable, flower, herb or any garden in ten to twelve days with straw bales, fertilizer, water, sun, seeds or plants and a little potting soil and of course a little love. She also beautifully explained, how this method produces more and lasts longer (into November), with fewer insects and disease. This is her fifth year of using the straw bale gardening method and her experience was apparent last night. In ending her presentation, she raffled a prize of two canned treats from her last year's garden to the winner, Janelle Taylor, a first time attendee and new garden club member.

Thanks Charlotte, everyone is buzzing about your presentation!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Garden Club Meeting Tonight

2012-03-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that Crossroads Garden Club Meeting will be meeting tonight. The time is 7:00 pm and the place is 3072 Hwy 154, Newnan, Ga. We are meeting in an old barn building that was once a craft store.

Our guest speaker will be Charlotte Nelson. She was featured in last year's gardening section of Newnan-Coweta Magazine. I have been to her straw bale garden and have witnessed her many gardening talents. She is also a club member and we are so happy to welcome her as our guest speaker. Even though our garden is a little more traditional, I think the straw bale garden is one I hope to use in the future, perhaps with my squash if I continue to have problems with vine borers!

Charlotte is a delightful speaker and I am really looking forward to this event.

Crape Myrtle pruning

2012-03-23T09:04:00.001-07:00

We have finally done it and pruned back our crape myrtles to about the size they were when we moved into our house. They may be twelve inches or so taller than they were at first. We still like them and think they are a valuable asset to our landscape, but I have finally stopped listening to the experts who say I am "murdering" my trees by cutting them back so much. Am I committing a pruning "sin?" Maybe, but I am doing what is best for the health of my sod and my hefty investment in my lawn.

These crape myrtles (there are three) are part of my small mailbox garden. They originally were surrounded by some low-growing cedars. Last year we had to take action because the crape myrtles and the cedars, combined with some other towering trees had ruined our small lawn. There was just too much shade and all those roots that had become invasive. Our re-sodded lawn is now looking good and beginning to green up, but we don't want to make the same mistake and create too much shade for our lawn

We also had to cut down some large trees shading our lawn but decided to leave the crape myrtles, realizing that we were going to have to prune them harshly from now on. I think at first I felt a bit guilty but now that I see my grass doing so well, I feel much better about my "crape murder." Since these trees have been here for more than 20 years and are still thriving, I think they will be fine if we prune them back. If I had it to do over again I would never have planted the crape myrtles in this spot but I now have to deal the best I can with what I have.

I am looking for some perennial shrubs or plants to plant around them but I don't want to plant something that will get out of hand so I am taking it slow and I want to invest in something that is native and noninvasive to my sod. Any suggestions?

Posted by Deberah Williams

Mystery Solved -- The Winner Is......

2012-03-20T13:03:00.001-07:00

The mystery of the yellow vine at the end of my driveway is solved, thanks to Charlotte from Newnan. Thanks, Charlotte for your help! Below you can see the comment she made on our blog, "Two Sisters Gardening". Obviously, she knows plants and/or knows where to look for the right answers.

"I believe you have the state flower of South Carolina growing in your yard. It is the gelsimium sempervirens or commonly known as the "yellow jessamine," it is suppose to have a wonderful fragrance."
happy gardening!
charlotte from newnan

Although, Deberah and I had not planned to give a prize, just recognition, we decided Charlotte deserved a prize, a heirloom tomato, "Chianti Rose" and a couple of heirloom basil plants, "Genovese," that Deberah raised from seed and I transplanted into a bigger pot for planting.

Yellow Jessamine is South Carolina's state flower. A member of the gelsemiaceae family, it is native to warm tropical climates and originated from Guatemala, a southern neighbor to the United States (probably brought my way by a large blue heron that stopped over to feed on little fish in my lake either going north or traveling south). Related to the yellow jasmine it reminded me of this plant and has evergreen leaves and attracts pollinators with it's blooms and fragrance. It also has medicinal properties for health problems like measles, tonsillitis and headaches, to name a few.

Tia and Todd are happy the mystery is solved and that the winner is Charlotte from Newnan because now they can stop searching for the answer. Thanks again, Charlotte and hope you enjoy your prize!

Happy Gardening 2012!

Posted by Wilma Smith

Tilling

2012-03-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

There seems to be more ways to prepare your garden for spring vegetable planting than any other gardening topic. I think everyone does it a little differently. We have a tiller and I don't even know the brand name. It's kind of old but it still does the job.

We usually till in the fall to plant our winter garden and that seems to turn much of the mulch and debris from the year before underground and turns it into a rich clay soil. The soil in our area of Georgia is mostly red clay -- our county has a few places with different kinds of soil, but our garden is red clay that has been heavily amended with compost and it seems to be richer, and darker every year we plant.

There are many things you can do to help "sweeten" soil. Our region has acidic soil and using lime helps to balance the pH. To benefit from lime, you really need to treat the soil for the next season because it is an amendment that is slow to act. We added lime at the end of last year's summer season because we wanted to help our spring garden.

We have found that tilling until the dirt is not clumpy is a big help. My husband is the designated "tiller" and he goes over any area to plant at least three times to make the ground soft. If the soil is too damp, it will clump, but you can till again in a day or so to break up the clumps.

He also believes that if you till in the fall, then early in the spring you will expose some of the weeds to frost, which will kill some of them. I have also read that the more you till, the more you help the weeds. I don't know which way is the correct way. I believe that weeds will be there no matter what you do and the only way to keep them at bay is by mulching heavily, and often. We like to put down newspaper and mulch to block large areas from sun. I believe mulching is very beneficial because you will keep the weeds at bay and also add compost the soil.

However, don't think you can keep weeds away for good by mulching. The wind, birds and insects will bring the weeds back. It is a battle you must fight every season. You can greatly help the weed problem but I haven't met anyone yet that has conquered it without working every year to control their weeds.

Another thing you can do: Till more deeply when planting root crops so that the roots will have more room to develop. This seems particularly good for carrots.

There are so many methods you can use besides tilling, like square foot gardening, raised beds, lasagna gardening, straw bale gardening. I think all these methods are good. I think one of the reasons we like tilling and composting is because we do have the area for it and it is the least expensive method for our needs at this time. We also are healthy enough to do the hard work that comes with tilling the soil. For now it works and after this weekend I have sore muscles, but I feel good about what we have accomplished.