koozie's Blog at GardenTenders.com

My new Adventure #6: Where Did the Year Go?

koozie — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:32:43 GMT

Hard to believe 2009 is almost over and my first gardening experience is drawing to a close.
It has certainly been one of the most learning experiences of my adult life. I have learned a good many things, as I know there is more to come. I have accomplished many so many things this year even I can’t believe it. I have even started some of my own root cuttings…..wow. The other day as I was digging up these pretty white flowers from my lawn, I was thinking to myself, I had no idea 3 years ago these pretty little things would be the
worst weed in my lawn to date. My neighbor had to tell me they were stickers. I have never had stickers before. We finally got the fruit trees in. We planted a Sunset Nectarine, Burgundy Plum , Gala Apple,an African Banana and ,just for kicks ,a Fruit Cocktail tree. Two of the grapevines did not survive so we have those to replace. We hope to have fruit in the next year or two and I can then learn how to can and make jellies. I was so pleased with the projects that were completed with the new porch and drive way and with the end of the season I almost don’t know what to do with myself now. But knowing that with all of the work I did this year will be showing itself next spring is almost to much to wait for !!!!! I do have a final project for the year that I will be posting in the next day or so….I couldn’t sit still for long. So , once that is complete , it will be time to resume painting inside the house and do some more decorating maybe refinish some furniture and catch up on some crocheting. I hope ya’ll have a great winter and we all stay in touch while in hibernation…..lol.

My new Adventure #5: Re: I Found A Gold Mine, HELP

koozie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:24:20 GMT

Recently I posted that I found a gold mine of bulbs in my MIL’s flowerbed and have no clue what they are as they have not bloomed in over 12 years. I was asked to post pics so here they are. This is but a handful.
If anyone can help PLEASE do. I would appreciate.

My new Adventure #4: Move Over Joan Rivers !!!

koozie — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:12:30 GMT

It has been a while since my last entry. I am still digging up and killing 4 o’clocks. Some of these root bulbs are as big as a persons head and other roots are as big around as the handle of a shovel and 8 ft. long. Whew, has this been a chore , but my new roses will make me much happier. I have an Ebb Tide wait for it’s new home to be ready and a Deep Secret coming. But I certainly did not want to plant any of my front flowerbed along the front porch with the facing looking so bad. So I figured we could just cover it with some mortar or something, ya know a “lipstick” job. OOOOH NOOOO!!!! The porch is caving in !!! So here come the contractors. As you can see in my picture we have no small porch so the fix is no small cost either. Well we found 1 contractor we could afford with some to spare then the screen door fell apart. Did I mention we paid off the house on Tuesday.Yea right, now it’s falling apart…lol. So while the iron is hot and we have the right man for the job the porch is getting done, a new drive way to be scraped and all trees to be dug up. We will pour the gravel for the drive ourselves , I have fruit trees to be planted , I am going to paint the shutters on the front windows to make my new storm door really pop, paint the front door,and hopefully get started on my fall garden. So no “lipstick” job here, more cosmetic surgery than Joan Rivers going on, haha. WHEW!!!! ANYTHING ELSE.

My new Adventure #3: The Killing Spree Continues And Oh My ,Now An Orchard!!!!!!!!!!

koozie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:54:48 GMT

Well the idea of replacing all the soil in the front flowerbeds proved to be to costly, and my cooking did not kill off the weeds and 4 o’clocks as my husband and son proclaimed would work. I am still working on removing and killing the roots in the beds while I await the bulbs to arrive to be planted ,while we have yet another venture added to our flower garden. We have decided to remove all our trees in the front yard and replace them with fruit trees. I have already ordered a banana tree to replace a crapemyrtle and a fruit cocktail tree is “in the mail”.And we have 6 more to go. At this time we also have 5 grape vines to plant. NOW!!! So I suppose tomorrow I will climb on the garage with a chainsaw and start cuttin pecan trees, dig more of the flowerbeds, mow the yard (oops, mow my mother in laws yard also) finish the laundry, water, pull weeds and my husband will come home from work as always and say” What did you do today ,Love?” to which I will answer ” Oh, I just piddled” I tried some Ortho Weed killer in the flowerbeds and the weeds just loved it.At this point I am force feeding the roots in some areas since I have a Rose bush on the way, there are just so many root systems from grass and 4 o’clocks in the bed that I am havin a heck of a time. I would love any hellpful suggestions

My new Adventure #2: Eviction Notices And Killing Spree

koozie — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:54:19 GMT

WOW the sidewalk flowerbeds are complete and I am feeling so proud since I have accomplished this feat practically all by myself. I also am hoping that I have done it right , I have never done this before and certainly do not have time to study up on the subject…lol.
Now on to the next project. I am sure you are wondering why i have chosen to give this blog the title that I have, well, after digging up the front porch flowerbeds and discovering all the root systems for the weeds I have decided to start from scratch. That’s right I am going to dig up all the dirt and haul it away to the back yard (where we have no grass, weeds are welcome), and filler up with fresh new manure and garden soil. Roots be gone. And the killing spree….Goodbye 4 o’clocks. They are even growing in my yard!
The “plan ” now foe the front is still the Black Magic EE’s but have been steered away from the white feather hosta and the astilbe was not all I thought it would be. Am looking more now for something in bright oranges, HOT pinks, purples and some light colored hostas to fill in while waiting for blooms. Oh ,I have found out one thing, my cats were using the new beds for a litterbox as i was digging but once finished and I covered them with the Scotts Red Cedar mulch they will have nothing to do with it.

My new Adventure #1: A new flower garden for me

koozie — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:17:27 GMT

Oh My Goodness, I have started a new flower garden and I have no clue what I am doing. I do know that I want some white feather hostas ,so if anyone has any to sell please let me know, will pay for shipping. It seems a lot of nurseries are out of stock or want an arm and a leg for them. They are beautiful plants, however my hubby is not sold on them. This is my first year to do a massive flower garden and I want people to stop and take notice but mostly it is for ME. I am finding so much joy in this gardening this I can not even express, this is so much fun.