Joan, you're on my list for those sunflower seeds. I've even tagged those ones so I'll know which ones they actually are when the flower is gone and I'm standing there looking at the seed heads saying to myself, "I know they're right here in this clump somewhere!" Send me a dmail with your info when you get the chance.
Thank you very much Pam. LOL That in turn reminds me of my previous kitty, who used to get up in my window and promptly sit on the cactus, not just once or twice but every time! Then he'd stand up, turn around, lay his ears back and switch his tail, and swat the thing off the windowsill onto the floor :-)
For anyone who was thinking they might be interested in my 'Black Watchman' Hollyhock seeds, I must confess I had a senior's moment when I added them to the list above. I chopped those down just last week so, no seeds. Sorry 'bout that!
--Ginny
Some pics of my gardens
Very nice Ginny. I wish I was as talented as you. Although I've been finding that if I plant the seed and leave it alone, it does ok. When I get my hands in the flower pot, I run into problems. I think because flowers look especially fragile to me, I seem to "over protect", "over water", "over fertilize" and plain "over over everything". :) Vegetables, I'm ok with. I'm learning though.
In that first picture, of the cactus, there is a vine growing around it on the ground. What is it? I've looked for that vine for about 4 or 5 years now and because I don't know the name of it, it's hard to ask for. I've been describing it and that doesn't seem to work.
Anyway, good show Ginny. Thanks for sharing.
Darrell
Hi Daryll. The plant growing around the cactus is, I think, a Euonymous fortunei, but I don't know which cultivar. This plant, as are so many from that section of my gardens, was a gift from my dear SIL. Would you like me to try to root a cutting for you? If that works I'm willing to try sending it if someone can tell me how to prepare a live plant for shipping.
--Ginny
Ginny, the vine that Daryll is talking about is the variegated vinca. It doesn't look like a Euonymous fortunei to me, but I could be wrong.
:) Donna
You're kidding! I'd almost give my eye teeth for some of it. I wish I knew where I could buy some. So, it's either Euonymous fortunei or Varigated Vina. I'll see what I can come up with. I doubt if it will be much, but I'll try.
Thanks a million.
Darrell
Ginny - I really enjoyed your pics, aren't the sunflowers glorious? Putting the hardy cactus in a pot to solve a drainage issue ......great idea!
I ordered some seeds yesterday after seeing your spice garden. I'm going to try my had at growing them. I've made room in the house to start them and after they get going a little, I thought I'd put them in the window. (I have a great window that no matter what I put in it, it always grows well)
You are just as likely to be right Donna. Like I said, it was a gift and I was told it was Euonymous, but my dear SIL likes to say, "I just have plants - I don't know what most of them are!" LOL And now that you mention it, it did get pretty little blue flowers on it this year.
Thanks sanannie, I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. I must admit, I am proud of my gardens and how well they have done in their first year in spite of the drought we have had.
Having an herb garden is great Darrell. I think you'll enjoy being able to just snip off what you want when you want. In mine there is Russian Tarragon (very invasive - you have to stay right on top of it to keep it in check), Sage, Gold Tip Marjoram, Golden Oregano, Common Oregano, Winter Savoury, Thyme, Silver Thyme, Parsley, Lavender, and Ever-bearing Strawberry. I don't think you can see it clearly in the pic, but I used railroad ties to lay out a bed and gave it 9 separate sections using 2 by 4s. Not only does it look nice, but it also keeps each group of plants from invading its neighbours territory. Except for the tarragon, which sends runners through the soil under the dividers, and the strawberry, which sends runners over the dividers. I'll get going on that cutting for you today.
--Ginny
That's a lot of spices!
I can grow vegetable, no sweat. I can "sort" of grow, flowers. I hope I can do these spices. Can I grow all the spices in flower pots, do you think?
I'm thinking that if I planted them in boxes outside in the spring, then I wouldn't really have any spices untill summer or fall. I'd like to have them all year around.
Thanks Ginny for doing those vines.
Darrell
Most spices will do well in a sunny window in pots Darrell. Mostly they're pretty much plant and forget - just water them once in a while and give them lots of space once they start to grow. Snipping them for your use actually keeps them growing nice and lush and healthy. I think the only herb I have never tried in a pot is the Russian Tarragon. It grows like a huge bush in the garden. I transplanted it late last summer when I moved and had three fairly tall (about 2 1/2 feet) single stems. This spring and early summer it just started sprouting more and more shoots and just kept growing until I had a bush about 5 feet high and 3 feet wide that keeps sending out underground runners into its neighbours' territory! Actually, growing it in a pot would probably keep it under control for you. --Ginny
Thanks Ginny.
That Russian Tarragon sounds interesting. What would you use it on? (food wise)
It is a bittersweet herb with just a hint of licorice flavour, so you need to use it with a light hand, but you can use it in most anything - just experiment with it. It adds a unique flavour to food Here's a link to a site with recipes for tarragon:
http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/bltarragon.htm
--Ginny