winter gardening

Well our winter storm has come for 2008.  This year they are calling it Arctic Blast 2008.  I love the news coverage we get in Oregon.  I have been busy covering all the plants I do not want to lose.  Moving plants into the garage and greenhouse and covering the worm bin with a blanket.  We made sure the chickens' combs and waddles were covered with bag balm today.  I made sure my neighbor Natasha's hardy fuschias were covered.  Don't forget to take care of those wild birds as well.  Give them water and seed.  There are things to do in the garden every month of the year in the PNW.  The picture here are some birds my dad captured in there yard in front of their Forest Pansy.  

Sustainability

My friend Danielle and I have talked a lot about this topic. We get really jazzed about it. I thought it was an appropriate topic on my garden blog. With the state of affairs in our government and the world we must rely more on what we can grow in our yards and what we can trade with our friends and neighbors. In the spring we got chickens. Our lovely ladies lay us eggs nearly everyday. I believe we could have 3 more to really have enough eggs. We eat a lot. Perhaps I wouldn't name the next 3 so that we could eventually eat them. Although if my cranky chicken attacks me one more time she may become stew but that is another topic. We also had quite a bit of food growing this year. Next year we will have even more. We are ripping up our front yard and will have a bounty there as well. Some worry that food will be stolen. I figure if someone needs it that badly then by all means help yourself. Hopefully leaving me a bit as well. We had so much basil this year I was happy for neighbors to help themselves whenever. By growing our own food we are being responsible for our own sustainability. We know where it comes from and what is put on it. Only sun, water, compost and love in our case because we garden organically. Using worm tea as a fertilizer. By being able to grow and trade food we save money and we protect the earth. We are not relying on trucks to bring us our food. Our children know where it comes from and appreciates the work that goes into growing healthy food. If I am able to grow food as well as I can grow fuschias we will be in good shape next year. I am posting a picture of our heirloom tomatoes that we grew this year. We planted six plants. I have saved the seeds and will plant more next year and share many of the plants with neighbors.

Fuschias

It is a rainy day in October. Halloween to be exact. My fuschias are starting to fade. This year I really went nuts over fuschias. It all started with a fuschia my mom gave me about five years ago. A lovely upright f. magellanica. A delicate yet very hardy fuschia. Dark pink with purple corollas. Fuschias are such a wonderful addition to a garden. Many people think of fuschias as basket plants that you get in the spring and throw out at the end of summer. There are 1000s of different types of fuschias. Many are hardy and do great in the NW in our climate. I have I think about 19 different kinds. Most are in the ground and over winter just fine. Some do better if brought into my cool greenhouse or kept under cover. Most you can just mulch well. A good tip about fuschias is to plant them deep. Dig the hole twice as deep as you think you should and cover that plant half way up. Cut them back in the spring hard. This way they will become bushier and not get leggy. You can continue each spring to mound compost around the base of them. It is also a myth that fuschias need to be in shade. Some of mine do better in part to full sun. I have two called "golden gate" The one plant that is in the sun has done much better. It is bigger and brighter. I have another in full sun called checkerboard that thrives in the sun. The truth is that they like warm feet rather than wet feet. Many people over water their fuschias as well. They do need water but down drown them. There is a great fuschia farm in Woodburn called Monnier's. If you ever get a chance to visit it is quite a treat. The best time of year to go is in September. Sometimes they visit Joy Creek Nursery in St Helen's off of Hwy 30. Check out Joy Creek's website.

Fragous

So the last few days have been absolutely FRAGEOUS. Yes I said it FRAGEOUS. Not many people know this word. My mother taught me this word. I will explain. A day in October when the morning is crisp. The sun breaks and the day is 60-70 degrees yet the air still feels brisk. The colorful leaves are on the ground and flowers haven't quite disappeared. The sunrise is pink and Mt. Hood can be seen at 6:30 am. The other day I could see Mt St Helens, Mt Hood and Mt Adams. It was a blessing.

Vermiculture

  As many of you know I am a worm farmer.  I love worms.  I love vermiculture.  I love that I can have these darling creatures turn my waste into glorious dirt.  Many don't share my love of worms.  My friend Natasha shares the same love.  My mom digs the worms as well.  When I went out to check on my precious darlings today I discovered they had delivered 3 gallons of glorious tea for me.  The castings that they produced were like black gold.  If I could figure out how to make a necklace or a coat or even use it as a facial mask I would.  I wanted to post a picture of the product but felt I could not do it justice with my photography skills.  My big dilemma now is where to distribute the black gold castings.  I want to be careful as to where I put it.  What area of the garden deserves it?  I will stew on this a bit.  

Cement Leaves by Pop Sid

So my Pops made these beautiful cement leaves. I tried to put these photos on my blog awhile ago but something went hey wire. So without further ado finally they leaves....

Weird Bug

I think this guy was eating my Clematis. But he is so bright and happy.