Category: Country Gardens
For the Love of Zinnias
There was a time in my life that I did not care much for zinnias. I have no idea why I didn’t love these easy to grow, colorful flowers. I don’t think I realized that they came in all colors, sizes, and shapes. Now I can’t wait to order new varieties and watch them grow. […]
FALL ON THE FARM
The Farmer’s Almanac was correct. We made it to November here in South Arkansas (zone 8a) before the first frost. The day before the first frost was predicted, I grabbed my phone and took photos. I’m sure I am not the only person who cries the morning after a frost when everything is brown instead […]
GROWING GROUND CHERRIES
I am growing Aunt Molly’s ground cherries this year and have had numerous people comment on their toxicity. It is true that the leaves and unripe fruit are poisonous and even fatal if ingested, ripe fruits are not and can be made into jellies, jams, and sauces. Ground cherries (Physalis spp.), often called cape gooseberries, are […]
GROWING PEPPERS FROM STORE PRODUCE
I am sitting in a restaurant have this amazing avocado bruschetta and I get my first glimpse of these tiny red peppers that had this amazing flavor. I knew I wanted to grow some of these peppers, so I asked the waitress what they were called. I found out they were sweetie peppers. Being the […]
Starting a New Garden on a New Homestead
We purchased a new homestead in January and though we have not made a lot of progress on the inside of the house, we have made progress on the outside. Specifically, the raised beds for the garden. I plan to turn the entire fenced in area of our backyard into food production including putting in […]
NEW TROPICAL LANDSCAPING & WHAT’S GROWING NOW
This has been an amazing spring in the garden. I was making pickles by the end of April and the peaches were large and sweet. Having a warm winter has allowed me to get plants in the ground much earlier than normal. My mother has been redoing the landscaping in her yard in an […]
How to Grow ~ PEACHES
Peach trees are not hard to grow but it does seem like it takes forever before they produce fruit. If you are reading this, it’s probably because you were looking for information on growing peaches. You have probably read several articles ( I usually read at least ten) on how to successfully grow them, planting techniques, […]
Cashews & Poison Ivy and what they have in common.
I think somewhere in my life, I have read about how we get cashews. The thing that puzzles me is why I didn’t remember this information. Seriously, this weird nut grows on the bottom of a “cashew apple.” How can you forget something so bizarre? The apple portion is actually an accessory fruit and […]
Spring Flowers from the Yard
Spring is here and the first flowers have come and gone. Now the second round of flowers are blooming including these roses in the rose garden. The greenhouse is still full of plants waiting for that last frost. Related
4 weeks – From seeds to young plants
It’s that time of the year again. Time to go to the farm store, pick out your seeds, and get them started indoors while you wait for winter to pass. I love our local farm store. Notice my fancy labeling system. Hey, it works. Once the plants get bigger, I label cups with a sharpie […]
How to Grow ~ SNAP BEANS
I am planting green beans (snap beans, string beans) for the first time this year. I go out daily to see how much they have grown while I was a work. It has become a daily routine that is somehow calming to my spirit. I understand that green beans are supposed to be easy to […]
FLOWERS FROM THE YARD
The hydrangeas are beautiful this year. They range from bright pinks to blues to a beautiful variegated variety. I had to grab my camera and get some photos of some of the flowers around the farm. Here is a gorgeous double peach hibiscus. Pink hibiscus Here is one of the many colors of Cannas. And […]
SPRAY DRIFT FROM AERIAL APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES
I’m watching this helicopter make turns over my house while spraying over nearby timberland. If anything actually lives this year (it hasn’t survived in the past) it will no longer be organic and all eggs that my chickens lay today will need to be thrown out. As you can see, the chemicals are sprayed almost […]
How to grow Cucumbers
When to Plant Cucumbers Sow seeds directly into prepared rows or hills one to two weeks after your last spring frost, and make a second planting a month later. Where summers are short and cool, start seeds indoors under bright fluorescent lights two weeks before your last spring frost. If kept moist and warm (above […]
Vegetable Garden Layouts / Plans
I have been trying to plan my new vegetable garden. I have spent hours on Pinterest searching for the perfect layout. I never thought it would be this hard to decide on a garden plan. I have been planting in my little 4 x 8 square foot garden for years but alas, the boards decided […]
How To Grow Cabbage
Spring is here and everyone is back in garden mode, including me. I’m trying to decide what I want to plant, how much to plant, and where I’m going to put my garden this year. The boards around my square foot garden finally gave out so I’m starting from scratch this year. Expect to […]
Garden Tour of Moss Mountain Farm – P Allen Smith
‘m contintuing my tour of Moss Mountain Farms with P Allen Smith here with photos of his gardens. The flower gardens were filled with bright pops of color ; add that to having the Arkansas river as your backdrop and you have a feast for the eyes. Here are some of the photos of his […]
Homesteading On One Acre
I ran across this article on homesteading on one acre in the new Mother Earth News. I sit staring at it trying to decided how much of the plan is actually feasible for me. I love to plant and harvest my fruit and vegetables every year and I love canning, freezing, and drying those fruits and […]
Square Foot Garden is a huge success this year !
This is my fourth year to have this little square foot garden. The first year I had cucumbers by the middle of May but the last two years were hot and dry and my little garden did okay but nothing to brag about. This year has been a different story. I decided to add a […]
Flowers from the Garden
The roses are in full bloom now and are absolutely beautiful. Yellow roses are always my favorite to photograph. The white peonies were the first to bloom and all of the plants are loaded. This is first pink peony to bloom. Related
Daffodils
Daffodils I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in […]
Spring
It Spring! Unfortunatly it’s cold and rainy here so I decided to post some photos that I took a couple of years ago. Hopefully it will wash away some of this pollen.
