Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 194 Entries. Friday, April 10 View Page Always a treat to see wildlife on my walks!   Tuesday, April 14 View Page My choices for planting. It is snowing outside!   Wednesday, April 15 View Page Tribute to my son, Benjamin, and so many essential workers every day in the face of the public. Thank You!   Wednesday, April 15 View Page Forgot to add photo.   Saturday, April 18 View Page Great sunset during my evening walk at Dick Young Forest Preserve.   Wednesday, April 22 View Page So far, none of these have sprouted! Changing course....bummer!   Wednesday, April 22 View Page During a great evening walk in Springbrook Preserve.   Sunday, April 26 View Page My son, Christopher, built me this awesome garden box. Planning out my plants. 64 degrees today and super busy prepping the plants and soil.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Stamped by the creator!   Sunday, April 26 View Page 2 4"x25' drainage pipes with socks installed.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Drainage set and filling box almost complete.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Heat mats....Baby sprouts are put to bed!! Nighty night.   Monday, April 27 View Page Trying to new box with added heat mats and darkness for new sprouts 4/22. Tough start!   Monday, April 27 View Page Great evening walk at Herrick Lake.   Monday, April 27 View Page 57 high and very windy/ 48 low cloudy and rainy   Monday, April 27 View Page Waiting....WAITING....Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ..   Monday, April 27 View Page Garden box almost done!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Maybe some action!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Breakfast time for Great Blue Heron enjoying the beaver's dam.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page 73/50 sunny rain late; setting out a few to harden.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Sneaking an afternoon peek. Under grow lights + plastic!   Wednesday, April 29 View Page 52 and rain...big change from 75 yesterday!   Wednesday, April 29 View Page During my morning walk, I found these for under my containers. Walked back with them in the rain. Awesome find! A bit of cleaning and they're ready to go.   Thursday, April 30 View Page Last day of April and a lot of rain to register in 24 hrs! 55/45 and windy.   Thursday, April 30 View Page Evening walk at Springbrook Preserve. So beautiful!!   Saturday, May 2 View Page 5.44 2 drops liquid kelp+essential plus 101   Sunday, May 3 View Page My 3 kids, Benjamin, Christopher and Melonnie. So nice to have them together to celebrate Christopher's birthday. FYI - Competition in my home from a team member in my home from Marv's "no name" team. I know your secrets Marv!!   Monday, May 4 View Page New seeds sprouted with Root Riot.   Monday, May 4 View Page New seeds in plastic cups, tray, on heat mat and covered. Added purple pepper, purple basil, hanging cherry tomatoes and borage seeded cups for my general gardening.   Monday, May 4 View Page 5.44 McCoy   Monday, May 4 View Page Added extra warmth to 5.44's still cold even on the heat mat.   Wednesday, May 6 View Page Thank you to my son, Christopher, for the wonderful Shari's Berries for Mother's Day!! So proud of you and love you so much!!   Wednesday, May 6 View Page Soaking bush baby watermelon, butterbush and bush master cuke. Trying root riot for germination. Onions hardening outdoor with potatoes. Still bringing them inside with night temps too cool. 66/39. Friday's temps 45/28. Mainly just amending, but have a nice crop of spring veggies sprouted in front containers.   Wednesday, May 6 View Page Used to make my solution for soaking.   Thursday, May 14 View Page Seed germination was very poor; testing with paper towel method, root riot and seed starting mix all resulting in either no germination or weak seedlings. Pretty sad!   Thursday, May 14 View Page Very weak seedlings. Not seen this before.   Thursday, May 14 View Page Seeds purchased at store for general gardening are doing well and getting ready for hardening. Heavy storms today! Amending outdoors nearly done. Busy with working remote, so need to fit in hours after work and weekends.   Thursday, May 14 View Page Seeds at 12 days not sprouting!   Monday, May 18 View Page Space master cukes + parsley companions planted today.   Monday, May 18 View Page Eggplant planted in new garden box made by Christopher.   Monday, May 18 View Page Butterbush + rosemary companions planted today.   Monday, May 18 View Page Red norlands doing well in their grow bags. Covered now 3 times w/aged compost, wood shavings and aged manure.   Monday, May 18 View Page Front flower beds doing well. Planted asiatic lillies from my daughter, Melonnie.   Monday, May 18 View Page My morning walks sometimes have me checking on this soon to be dad awaiting a nest of baby swans warmed and nestled under his nearby mate. Today was cloudy, 62 and really nice. We had a lot of flooding and 2 more inches of rain. More giant tomato seedlings sprouted and patiently hardening a few.   Tuesday, May 19 View Page Lonely, unloved & forgotten Castor Bean saved, loved and transplanted in my front flower bed. Good riddens Christopher!   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Asiatic Lilly comfortable in new transplant location.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Transplants looking ok 24hrs later.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page More transplants all outdoors hardening.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page And more!   Wednesday, May 20 View Page And more!!! Love Essentials+ 101 & Companion Biological Fungicide!!!   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Planted 5.3 McCoy into 5 gallon bucket. Mixed 1 pound aged composted manure with 2 pounds Burpee Natural & Organic Raised Bed and Container mix + 1/2c bone meal & 1/2c blood meal. Drilled holes in bottom and placed weed block and then drilled holes every 1/4 distance around and every 1/3 distance vertically. Seedling is taking the move well.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Planted 5.3 McCoy into 5 gallon bucket. Mixed 1 pound aged composted manure with 2 pounds Burpee Natural & Organic Raised Bed and Container mix + 1/2c bone meal & 1/2c blood meal. Drilled holes in bottom and placed weed block and then drilled holes every 1/4 distance around and every 1/3 distance vertically. Seedling is taking the move well.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Planted 3.83 Young into 5 gallon bucket. Mixed 1 pound aged composted manure with 2 pounds Burpee Natural & Organic Raised Bed and Container mix + 1/2c bone meal & 1/2c blood meal. Drilled holes in bottom and placed weed block and then drilled holes every 1/4 distance around and every 1/3 distance vertically. Seedling is taking the move well.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Planted 3.83 Young into 5 gallon bucket. Mixed 1 pound aged composted manure with 2 pounds Burpee Natural & Organic Raised Bed and Container mix + 1/2c bone meal & 1/2c blood meal. Drilled holes in bottom and placed weed block and then drilled holes every 1/4 distance around and every 1/3 distance vertically. Seedling is taking the move well.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page 4.79 Sandercock planted, but still too tiny. All pots received 1T Azoz and 1T Mychorizal in each hole.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page 3.83 Porkchop planted, but still too tiny. All pots received 1T Azoz and 1T Mychorizal in each hole. This and last pot have Aged compost from our heap and Burpee Natural & Organic Raised Gsrden & Container Mix. Added 1/2c pumpkin power and 1/2c each bone meal & blood meal.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Iris are opening nicely.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Sweet potatoes and carolina reapers doing well with onions.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Update 5.3 McCoy   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Update 3.83 Young   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Asiatic lillies in my front flower bed.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Dearf bearded iris in my front flower bed.   Thursday, May 28 View Page Beard iris in my flower bed   Thursday, May 28 View Page 10 gallon bucket challenge under way!   Thursday, May 28 View Page Small but mighty line up of contenders.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page 3.83 Young and 5.3 McCoy all staked for the 5 gallon bucket challenge.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page 3.83 Porkchop staked.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Potatoes doing well.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Kale and spinach ready to harvest.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Coreopsis opening.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 3.83 Young transplanted 5/25.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 5.3 McCoy transplanted 5/25   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Wellingtons transplanted 5/19   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Lots of hot and sweet peppers.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Potatoes, peas & peppers.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Porkchop is soaking in the sun! Transplanted 5/19   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 4.79 Sandercock transplanted 5/4   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 5.44 Young transplanted 5/25   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Vardaman sweet potatoes hanging out with their hidden companions...carolina reapers.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Cherokee bush pumpkin with lemon balm.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Sugar baby compact H2Os with lemon balm.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Pic1 of my garden box from son, christopher.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Pic2   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 88 and sunny for today with lots of wind.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Sunny 68, rained last night   Sunday, June 21 View Page Yesterday, I fed tomatoes humid acid, liquid kelp and bone meal.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Site seems slow to upload today.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Little bit of downward curling watching this new issue.   Friday, July 3 View Page 66 degrees and going for hot and humid! TGIF everyone. Coreopsis so pretty.   Friday, July 3 View Page Hollyhocks are loving Wow Wallace wonder tea!   Friday, July 3 View Page 3.83 Young   Friday, July 3 View Page 5.3 McCoy   Friday, July 3 View Page Is it 4 o'clock yet? I remember scattering these seeds last year. So nice to see them in bloom.   Friday, July 3 View Page Happy Wellingtons fed kelp & humic acid.   Friday, July 3 View Page Peppers growing...   Friday, July 3 View Page and growing   Friday, July 3 View Page and growing....   Friday, July 3 View Page Norland potatoes in flower   Friday, July 3 View Page and more...   Friday, July 3 View Page Cherry tomatoes supposed to be compact with hot pepper, basil and cilantro   Friday, July 3 View Page Poblanos, thyme, purple basil, potatoes and reapers all doing well.   Friday, July 3 View Page Porkchop doing well. All tomatoes fed today.   Friday, July 3 View Page Orange Sun Bell Peppers doing well.   Friday, July 3 View Page 4.79 Sandercock   Friday, July 3 View Page Vardaman sweet potatoes. Finally, one successfully sprouted zucchini since I had a chipmunk digging all my prior seeds up and eating the insides. Left me shells.   Friday, July 3 View Page 5.44 Young   Friday, July 3 View Page Flowers love Wow Wallace Wonder Tea   Friday, July 3 View Page Cherokee Bush Pumpkin   Friday, July 3 View Page Bush Sugar Baby watermelon   Friday, July 3 View Page Bush Baby Butternut with a first female flower.   Friday, July 3 View Page Garden box doing well. A little pruning to increase air flow between congested areas.   Friday, July 3 View Page Space master cuke is a cucumber monster. Plant is full of cucumbers. Planted these before and never saw this healthy   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Day before someone came into our yard and damaged the pumpkin plant.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Still too hot and humid reaching 99 today. Rain to come...maybe! Sunrise this morning on a bike ride.   Thursday, July 9 View Page 4.79 Sandercock; a runt seedling and now, going strong.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Porkchop - crown removed, fed bone meal & pumpkin power worked into soil all tomatoes, yesterday fed soluble seaweed powder.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Carolina reapers peeking out.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Castor bean doing well.   Thursday, July 9 View Page 4 o'clocks   Thursday, July 9 View Page Borage welcomes my friends, the predatory wasps.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Liatris beginning to open.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Purple coneflowers.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Close up with my friend.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Tiger lillies   Thursday, July 9 View Page Peppers   Thursday, July 9 View Page Wellingtons doing well   Thursday, July 9 View Page So far, watering method is working.   Thursday, July 9 View Page 5.3 McCoy   Thursday, July 9 View Page Hot peppers   Thursday, July 9 View Page Supposed to be space masters? LOL   Thursday, July 9 View Page Cuke flower   Thursday, July 9 View Page Really sad to see this damage, people need to respect neighbor's property!   Thursday, July 9 View Page Garden box so out of control...so nice!!   Thursday, July 9 View Page Bush baby butterbush. Plant is loaded.   Thursday, July 9 View Page 5.44 Young   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Feeding lineup and now the rain. Strong storms with gusty winds today. More pics later.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page My favorite part of gardening is the many choices of flowers representing the changing seasons. My black eyed susans.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page More of their beauty....   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Purple Cone Flowers   Tuesday, July 21 View Page 4.79 Sandercock no flowers yet   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Orange sun bell peppers very nice   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Porkchop flowering so really happy with this!   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Ghost peppers establishing their presence   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Poblano and friends really producing   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Orange Sun Bell almost devastated by a chipmunk seems healthy and happy.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Just sprayed and found my friend jump like a lightening bolt out of my pots....hoping this spray works!   Tuesday, July 21 View Page 5.44 Young no flowers so far   Tuesday, July 21 View Page 5.3 McCoy is doing well and just as aggressive as the last time I planted its seeds.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Decision will need to be made on these 5.3 McCoys   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Wellington1 in the front yard...keep this in mind because I have more Wellingtons to come....   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Wellington2   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Wellington's fruit...set very fast with the heat and humidity   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Backyard Wellingtons which are not too happy   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Same issue, so I am reviewing this issue.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Just not sure if this is leafy curl virus, deficiency or a fungus. Not sure if it is a leaf hopper.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Butterbush and cukes doing well   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Have some great fruits   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Lemon balm guarding the watermelon   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Pumpkin plant recovering very well   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Pumpkin doing well   Tuesday, July 21 View Page 5.44 Young no flowers yet   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Sandhill cranes on my morning walk   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Nice to focus on the positives   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 5.3 McCoy; all were given Companion Biological Fungicide and Liquid seaweed.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 4.79 Sandercock; hopeful and fingers crossed.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 3.83 Porkchop   Tuesday, July 28 View Page Cherokee Bush growing strong; killed all babies!   Monday, August 3 View Page 5.3 McCoy slow, but steady.   Monday, August 3 View Page 3.83 Porkchop   Monday, August 10 View Page Today's tomato feeding. Forecast 90 with storms.   Monday, August 10 View Page 5 gallon bucket 5.3 McCoy   Monday, August 10 View Page 3.83 Porkchop   Monday, August 10 View Page 3.83 Porkchop   Monday, August 10 View Page After a viral attack, treatment and ALOT of TLC, life emerges. Welcome to DAP 3 on the 4.79 Sandercock. Finally!! Maybe this one will help my team!   Monday, August 10 View Page Lunch box for today.   Wednesday, August 12 View Page First grow bag pie pumpkin! 9lbs 15.3oz. Very happy.   Saturday, August 15 View Page 5.3 McCoy still growing   Saturday, August 15 View Page 3.83 Porkchop resting in her hammock   Saturday, August 15 View Page 4.79 Sandercock DAP8   Saturday, August 15 View Page Compact sugar baby watermelon.   Saturday, August 15 View Page Plant fall harvest then sprayed to keep out my favorite friend....chippy! May she enjoy TomCat Heaven!!   Saturday, August 15 View Page This is porkchop taking his nap in a double hammock since he squirted out of his single hammock. He enjoys a large daily feast!   Saturday, August 15 View Page Castor bean is my new shade friend. Wondering what was crawling up my neck and realized the monster leaves now hang over our grill. So standing at the grill is a bit creepy.   Sunday, August 16 View Page This morning I woke to even more rain. Magic tricks to avoid the splits!! Workin' on it!!   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Today, it is with great sorrow, I must say farewell!. My grower axed me. She took off all my friends to help me grow. When she came to me, she saw lots of blossoms. You know what came next! I grew on the 4.79 Sandercock, but will now meet the compost. Lesson learned, look carefully before cutting!!   Wednesday, August 19 View Page 5.3 McCoy looks pretty good   Wednesday, August 19 View Page 3.83 Porkchop still hanging in there!   Thursday, August 20 View Page Shhhhhhhhh!   Thursday, August 20 View Page Shhhhh....naptime.....grow, grow, grow......Z-zzzzzz,,,zzzzzzz   Thursday, August 20 View Page Sugar baby is cookin along   Saturday, August 29 View Page 1.12# chipmunk had her lunch on it on the vine.   Saturday, August 29 View Page 1.6 5 gallon bucket challenge   Saturday, August 29 View Page Nothing better than the inside of my 1.79 Chandler off the 5.3 McCoy seedling. Meaty and really dense. Learned alot this go around and my plant is still healthy even with weather challenges. This one is self pollinated, so seeds will be harvested. Smell is incredible with a sweet and acidic aroma. To the palette, it is smooth, sweet, slightly tart and reminds me of eating my grandma Mayme's beef steaks from the vine like an apple with seeds and juice dripping down my chin. Yummmmm!   Saturday, August 29 View Page 1.79 Chandler seeds soaking.