gladiola to be home

When we returned home from our vacation several weeks ago I found that the gladiolas and dahlias I had planted for the first time this year were blooming.Unfortrunately, the gladiolas quickly tip over as they start to bloom. My hubby said a friend at work said she cuts them right away because she has the same problem. I figure I planted them in too much shade so they go searching for sunshine. I also found this website that says they should be planted deeper and staked off.


http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/gladiola.html





I also discovered that I hadn't gotten anyone to water my vegetables in time and some of my tomatoes got blossom-end rot and there were lots of buds whose growth was stunted and they never became tomatoes. After a couple of weeks of TLC they have recovered quite nicely though and we have lots of new flowers and tomatoes. My peppers and herbs continue to do well and we've already had some very tasty salsa!

tragedy and triumph

I sadly neglected my pretty little yellow rose bush this year. I have in the past sprayed it at the first sign of june beetles and it bloomed for many months. But this year I noticed that a few leaves had been munched and I was all out of spray and kept forgetting to pick it up. Two days later, nearly every leaf was gone. It only put out about 4 or 5 blooms and was done. Next year I promise to do better I will spray early and often and give it lots of rose food.

On the upside our potted tomato plants are doing fantastic this year. Thank goodness for Miracle-Gro tomato plant food. It really helped stave off blossom end rot last year as well.

this little blog

I find a simple joy in small things that come from the earth.

Like these little pansies in my flower bed.

I want to be a great gardener but I am slightly handicapped by lack of available planting space. Recently I have discovered lots of bloggers who are sharing what they do in small and big spaces. So this little blog is my way of taking notes from them and my own experience to prepare me for the day when perhaps a little bigger patch of soil comes my way-and in some ways to help me enjoy my little patch(es) just a little bit more.