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/ big duck gold marigold

big duck gold marigold

Annual Index | Annuals | From Seed | Gardening

Rediscovering Marigolds – A Newfound Appreciation

I’ve held out hope for many years that these climb

I’ve held out hope for many years that these climbing roses would bathe my arbor with gorgeous cabbage-sized blossoms. All I got were thrip-ravaged buds, rose canker and disappointment. Life’s too short to suffer for a pipe dream! #hereshegrows #gardenlife #keepingitreal #chicagogarden

I couldn’t wait to assemble my @vego_garden Ultima

I couldn’t wait to assemble my @vego_garden Ultimate Grow Light System!

It came with everything I needed to put it together. Despite the suggestion that it was a two-person job, I did it myself in less than two hours.

I’m stoked about the options on the grow lights. I can dial in the light based on what I’m growing - seeds, greens, fruit, etc. Light intensity and duration are just a touch away. And I can raise and lower the lights as needed.

Now for the seeds!

#vegogarden #growlights

They’re baaaack! As soon as it warms up, the bees

They’re baaaack! As soon as it warms up, the bees will be swarming my Little Twist cherry tree. Let’s hope the flowers last until then. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 #floweringtrees #springtrees #cherrytrees #smallspacegardening #hereshegrows

Cheers to another year around the sun surrounded b

Cheers to another year around the sun surrounded by the loves of my life. #thisis52 #itsjustanumber #familyiseverything #birthdaygirl #hereshegrows

I’m so glad I got out there last fall and planted

I’m so glad I got out there last fall and planted crocuses in the lawn. The honey bees are too! #springbulbs #crocuslawn #crocuses #chicagogarden #hereshegrows @gardenmedia

You know you got a good one when what’s important

You know you got a good one when what’s important to you becomes important to him too. #mygardenlife #marriage #hereshgrows #brugmansia #coldclimategardening

This is the exploratory phase of my shed dream and

This is the exploratory phase of my shed dream and for that I need a good visual. I also need to sit in it, let the idea marinate before jumping. It involves easements and one VERY important, scratch that, the MOST important consideration. Can you guess the determining factor on whether or not this little 6’x8’ make-believe shed can come to life? #sheddreams #gardenshed #chicagogarden #hereshegrows

My Royal Purple smokebush has had haircuts but nev

My Royal Purple smokebush has had haircuts but never one that took it to within a foot of the ground. I hard pruned it, also known as renovation pruning. Yes, I’m sacrificing “smoke,” as Cotinus blooms on old wood, but I’ll get a better shape and larger foliage and I’m here for the burgundy foliage. This type of cut can be done every year if you’re so inclined. Right now is a good time to prune Cotinus since it’s still cold and the sap isn’t rising just yet. Speaking of sap, Cotinus is related to cashews and poison ivy and though it’s not poisonous, the sap can be a skin irritant so wear gloves. #smokebush #pruning #hardpruning #cotinus #hereshegrows

I’ve started gardens many ways over the last 25 ye

I’ve started gardens many ways over the last 25 years. From sheet mulching, double digging 😩 (I’m dating myself with this one.) and just top dressing bare soil and letting the worms 🪱 do the heavy lifting, it all comes down to building soil. My native soil is heavy clay so starting each garden with several inches of compost is how I begin. Then I choose plants that can handle my soil because clay soil always wants to be clay soil, no matter how much compost you add every year. #livingsoil #gardensoil #chicagogarden #compost #hereshegrows

Spring is finally knocking! I potted up a bunch of

Spring is finally knocking! I potted up a bunch of tulips and daffodils in containers last fall and kept them in the garage all winter.

And here we are, days from meteorological spring, and they’re waking up! 🌷🌷🌷

While spring bulbs have everything they need to get going as soon as winter releases its cold grip, a quick feed as they wake, especially for container grown bulbs, is helpful in my experience. And I really wanted to get out there on this gorgeous day and garden. So the spring bulb containers were my focus!

I grabbed my @true_organic_ liquid bloom boost fertilizer and gave them a drink and a feed then set them on the driveway to soak in the sunshine for the afternoon.

The NPK ratio for the bloom boost has a slightly higher “P” or phosphorus content which is fine if it’s what you have on hand. The All Purpose liquid fertilizer would be great too.

Isn’t it incredible what a few green nubs do for the spirit after a long cold Midwestern winter?

Happy Spring!!!

#trueorganic #truecrew #springbulbs #hereshegrows

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