This is NOT GOOD…NOT GOOD AT ALL.

Hello. My name is Miss Poo. I will be your host for today, as my mommy is a little bit busy. You see My mommy works really hard to grow all the flowers…and this weekend something very bad happened to a lot of them…

Ya…that’s right…you are seeing snow. My mom and I, spent all day on Friday making little tents to cover all the flowers, she is very worried….and did not get too much sleep that night. (which means she is a little crabby- but don’t tell her I told you that)

She was very sad when she woke up Saturday morning and the snow was coming down so hard…she had to go outside and shake off the branches of the bigger trees in the garden so that they would not break…and she was not impressed when a huge piece fell on top of her head. I am sure that if she could …she would slap Mother Nature right on the face!

It kind of looks like a campground in my yard this weekend.

A few of my mom’s tents collapsed…but most of them are fine.

My mom is going to cry if this bed is ruined…there are so many plants in there! I hope they are all okay!

I can still sniff my flowers if I have the urge…some of the tents are open on the side…but don’t tell my mom I was walking inside the tents…she might worry about me.

well that is all I have to tell you about my mom. We did get about 6 inches of heavy wet snow and a few of her tents did collapse. She has to fix them all...and she said she doesn't know if she can (but am sure she can) She is just pretty busy right now. I heard her say that she needs to get over and visit all of the FF participants…but I don’t know when she will get around to it. I have a vet’s appointments today…and my mom wants to peer under a few tents and assess the damage.

I am sure she will be around soon with news. For now…I am exhausted from all this typing…hey…I’m no puppy anymore…in August I will turn 12 (human years) …so I will just lay down here…watch my family and have a short nap till someone stops by to kiss me.

Thanks for stoppin by!

The Big Day. Hardening Off –day one

Well….the day has finally come for the hardening off of the greenhouse crop. I have been anxiously awaiting this day for months now.

Hardening off is the term gardeners use to describe the toughening up of the bedding and garden plants before planting them outside. It is when a gardener brings them outside to acclimatize them to the outdoor temps and the sunlight conditions.

I begin slowly. I will haul all of the plants outside…and almost immediately turn around and haul them all back inside so as to avoid a sunburn.

looks different empty doesn’t it?

Yes- plants can get sunburns. It will present itself as silver coloration on the leaves…and in extreme cases…burns. When it is going to be warm enough, I will leave them out overnight.

Each day I pull everything outside…and wait a bit longer each day to bring them back inside.

By the end of this week, I should look like a little old lady…exhausted, a few pounds lighter and crippled! (ha-ha)

Each year I ask myself…”why do I do this to myself every year”…the answer is ….because it’s worth it.

I will be outside doing it all again in the morning…it takes almost and hour to bring them all outside…and an hour and a half to bring them back in.

I have beds to till up…grass to fertilize and weeds to kill tomorrow…it’s a dirty week in Tootsie’s world…good thing my kid’s teachers know I love the garden…I showed up at school to pick Busy up with a petunia bloom stuck in my ponytail today!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

what? when? Where? who Me?

Many many times, I have been asked "exactly what do you plant?" "which flowers are your favorite?" "What is in that pot?"

So I decided to give you all a little directory of what I plant. I could not get it to work as a link feature...so I made my own. I do hope you find it helpful! I also may not have ALL of the plants that I sow in the greenhouse on here yet..a list of this nature is a work in progress! Each year I plant a few that I have never tried before...so this is an ever growing list. ( all yard type photos are from MY gardens...each plant grown in MY greenhouse...by ME!)

Agertatum

Also known as the foss flower or thistle flower.
Likes full sun-except in areas where hot summer sun is an issue....in this case part shade is best. Pinching out tips and removing withered blooms will keep this plant compact and extend it's flowering season. Ageratum comes in several colors, but the color shown is my favorite.
This is an excellent border or edging plant as it is short. Grows to about 6-8 inches tall. Always check the label on this plant, as there is a variety that is not a dwarf. That one will grow to about 2 1/2 feet.

Alyssum

This flower is an absolute favorite of mine. It likes full sun to partial shade, can be used in hanging baskets or as a border. If you plant it as a border it will spread out and mound nicely at about 3 inches tall and about 8 inches wide. ( I tend to plant closer than 8 inches so as to avoid a space in between plants.) If you plant it in a hanging basket or pot it will flow beautifully out of the pot. It has a sweet smell and it comes in a variety of colors such as white, red, purple, yellow, or a mixture of several.

Banana

The large seeded banana is a fast growing and tropical type plant that can be used as a large addition to a planter, or as a house plant. It will grow 2-3 feet the first year, and if given enough light and a large enough pot, 4-5 feet by the second. It likes full sun in a cooler climate, but prefers partial shade where it is hot. It is easily wintered in a brightly lit room. With banana you can control the size of the plant, simply by the size of the pot you use. The larger the pot, the larger the plant will grow. Lower leaves on this plant will naturally yellow and die off, simply cut them off. Be sure to always keep the soil moist, water when dry or you will encounter problems.

Calibrachoa

Also known as Million Bells.

This plant is appropriately nicknamed as it sports millions of small petunia-like flowers all over its bushy, trailing branches. Calibrachoa likes full sun to part shade, and is easy to care for. excellent in hanging baskets, and is available in many different colors.

Coleus

Coleus Black Dragon Coleus Salmon Rose
Coleus is a beautiful foliage plant. It can survive in full sun, if kept moist, but prefers light shade. If you left it in the sun, its colorful leaves will not be as dark. It fades in too much sun. Pinch plant back at growing tip to encourage a bushy growth and remove flowers as soon as they are forming. Coleus is also a good house plant. It will grow 8-10 inches tall.

Dahlia

Dahlias can grow from one to eight feet tall. The shorter varieties are fairly compact plants and they are prolific bloomers. They require frequent removal of the spent flowers to keep the plant attractive. This plant will bloom non stop form June until frost. They like full sun to partial shade. Too much shade will cause a leggy appearance to the plant.

Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos Lab Lab) Also known as Purple Bean Vine

The Purple Bean Vine is a tropical vine that produces blue-green leaves and fragrant purple pea like flowers. This plant is heat tolerant and may be planted against a south wall. I have had better luck with it in a pot and in a lightly shaded area. After this plant blooms the flowers will produce lovely purple pods that resemble peas. Because this is a vine, you will need to provide support for it to climb on. I love using this plant. It is easy to grow, and very showy.

Dusty Miller

Silver Dust

This is a very pretty foliage plant. Having it mixed in among your flowers will help make the color of the blooms pop. It grows to about 8 inches tall, and loves full sun. It also makes a great border plant for those beds that have bigger flowers such as geranium or marigold.

Geranium

Just love the bright colors that Geraniums have to offer! They come in lots of colors and grow to about 8-12 inches tall. I grow them in full sun or partial shade. They require some dead heading (removal of spent flowers) to keep them looking nice, but the effort will be well worth it!

Heliotrope

Heliotope is a very pretty plant. The dark green leaves and the beautiful purple flowers are a welcome addition to any garden . The most wonderful characteristic is the smell of the flowers. They smell like vanilla or cherry pie! This plant likes cooler temperatures in full sun or partial shade. It will grow to about 12 inches tall. Pinching back will promote bushier growth. I have to use caution with this plant, as my dog likes the smell and will nibble on it. Heliotrope is poisonous to pets!

Hydrangea

Striking, large balls of white or pink are the most well known characteristics of this plant. Giving them the correct conditions, the blossoms can even turn blue! This plant is a shade lover....never a full sun plant. It loves the cooler conditions that the shade will provide. Deep shade may be too dark. Hydrangea needs to be kept moist at all times, which means vigilant watering. Many of these plants will grow to about 12 inches.

Impatiens

Impatiens like some full sun in cooler areas, but thrive in partial shade. They come in dozens of colors and are a nice low growing plant. They will reach a height of about 6-8 inches. There are many different varieties of Impatiens. Some are known as Bizzy Lizzy....and are used as a houseplant. They are easily grown , but need to be watered daily.

Lavatera

Silver Cups

Lavatera is a very pretty addition to your garden. It is a tall plant that should be planted at the back of your bed. It will grow from 1-7 feet tall. Lavatera loves full sun. This plant comes in many colors but the most common is pink.

LobeliaThere are two main types of Lobelia. The small compact type, and the longer trailing variety. Both make excellent edging or border plants and have profusions of small flowers. This plant will come in a variety of colors, so you can choose what ever color will suit your fancy. I love Lobelia for the vibrant colors it has. It grows well in full sun, but blooms will last longer in partial shade . If you plant in full sun....regular watering is a must. The smaller variety will grow to about 6 inches, while the trailing type will grow to about 12 inches

Malva

Malva Maritiana Malva Zebrena

Malva is a beautiful plant for the garden. It Will grow from 1-7 feet. Malva is directly related to the Lavatera that we discussed earlier. Malva is a bushier branching and aggressive flowering gem for any garden. This plant loves full sun, and is very easy to grow. May re-seed itself the following season.

MarigoldMarigolds are one plant that needs no introduction. They come in a variety of colors and types. Marigolds love full sun but will tolerate partial shade. This plant will bloom profusely for the full season. My personal favorite characteristic of this plant is that cats do not really like the smell and therefore will stay away from them. I have also heard that deer do not like them either. They will grow from 8-10 inches tall and make a welcome addition to any border or garden.

Morning Glory

Morning Glory is a climbing plant. This vine loves full sun and will need to have support to climb on. Morning Glory will flower full season. They close their flowers when the hot sun is out, but in the morning they are open and absolutely beautiful. They will grow 6-12 feet in one season.

Osteospermum

This lovely plant is a member of the Daisy family. It comes in many different and very bright colors. It will do well in a pot or a bed. It will grow to about 12-18 inches tall. Osteospermum likes full sun and will bloom all season long. Removing the spent blooms will make more blooms appear. This plant is a favorite of mine.

Pansy

Need I say too much about this old favorite? Pansy is a beautiful and colorful plant that comes in more colors than I can count. It is an excellent plant for full sun or part shade. It grows to about 8 inches tall and will thrive in beds or pots. I always think of the flowers as spectators in the front row of my beds!

Petunia

Wave petunia The color of blue I didn't get! burgundy Petunia

The petunia is an old stand by. It comes in dozens of colors and types. I use the celebrity series for the beds and the wave series for my hanging pots. The celebrity series will grow to about 12 inches tall and very bushy. It will flower over and over again all season long. The wave series will grow from 18 inches to 3 feet long! They are very bushy and full and prolific flowering plants. Petunia prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. They are easy to grow and care for.

Snap Dragon

Snap Dragons are a versatile old favorite. They come in many many colors are easy to care for and come in a variety of sizes. The small ones are about 8 inches tall, the medium ones are about 12 inches tall and the tallest come up to 18-24 inches! They are a compliment to every garden and the colors are just gorgeous! They like full sun or partial shade and are very easy to care for! They are a hardy plant that will keep blooming even after the first frosts hit.

Swedish Ivy

This plant is a very good basket filler! It will compliment any flower. The foliage in the silver will make the colors pop. It is the hanging basket Dusty Miller. Will grow to about 2 feet long and loves full sun to part shade. An easy and very beautiful plant.

Batat/Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato is an unusual green plant whose leaves grow in differnent shapes and sizes. It is a good plant for training along a trellis or for hanging baskets. It is related to the morning glory family. Will do best in partial shade but will tolerate the hot sun if necessary.

Well there you have it! I am sure I missed a few...but this is the main part of my gardens. Have fun choosing your favorites!
See you all back here for Fertilizer Friday!!!

Luffa/ Loofah/ Loofa/ Luffah... I did Sow..How I wonder How You Grow.

Luffa, luffah, loofa and loofah is a plant with many names. It is a climbing vine related to gourds and cucumbers, and sometimes called the “dishrag vine,” a reference to the sponge-like qualities of the dried fruit. It is also referred to as Chinese Okra.

(the above photos are taken of a Luffa that I purchased at the store)

Six species are in the Luffa genus, and they are widely cultivated for food and sponge uses. The loofah is the only plant source of sponge, and it has been used in bathhouses and kitchens for centuries. When I first saw this plant on a friend's blog, I was instantly enticed to attempt to grow them myself.
I got my hot little hands on the seeds from Trailrider...bless her heart. They are doing amazing for me so far and I am so excited to see the fruits grow...

I am also a little intimidated by much of the information I have collected on this plant. I fear I may not have enough room to grow them!
My plan is this....
I have a couple of HUGE pots that I purchased a year or two back when I was attempting to grow an enormous pumpkin for a friend. These pots are literally large enough to hold me! I will transplant my baby(s) to the pots after the threat of last frost has past.
I know that the Luffa needs to have a warm...very warm and sunny climate. I will place the pot that I settle on in front of the greenhouse...It can use the greenhouse warmth, and the bit of shelter that it will offer from winds etc. It needs to have support for the vines to grow up on...I will "create" something...no worries there guys...haha...you know me!...
Luffa do not like to be waterlogged...but will suffer greatly if they are allowed to dry out as seedlings.
Basically...armed with my limited knowledge…my plan is to wing it! I'll keep you guys up to date as to how well Luffa will grow in Alberta Canada....zone 3! I have no one to advise me in this area...as this plant is not one that I have ever heard of -ever!!! So...my stubborn self is on her own! I plan to keep you posted on any new information…and when the time comes…(if the time comes) we will discuss how to know when luffa is ready to be harvested…and what to do when it’s time.
I'm open to any advice and tips you have for me... really....PLEASE? {8-)