The Largest Perennial Plant Sale in Middle Tennessee and New Beginnings-A Baby!

Are you looking for a new start this spring? Perhaps you might think your garden needs a pick me up-or perhaps even you might need a pick me up! What better way than to go shopping? 

And since we are mostly all gardeners on this blog what is better than shopping for plants this time of the year? This Saturday, April 6th at exactly 9:00 AM the Perennial Plant Society of Middle Tennessee will be holding its annual plant sale at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville. This is your ticket to fun and good buys! There is no charge for admission to the sale. You will want to come early as the selection of plants and reputation of this large plant sale is legend. 

New beginnings in your garden and perhaps new beginnings for some outstanding perennials such as the ones pictured above. In order from top to bottom are: scilla, candytuft, and an herbaceous peony. You can find some of these plus many more at the sale. Check this link for more information. 

Speaking of new beginnings, we just welcomed our third grandchild to the family on March 24th. This Easter we were able to all visit together. Pictured above are my two oldest children-Elizabeth on the left holding her new baby Everleigh, and Christine on the right holding her nearly sixteen month old daughter Adella....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Treasured Abandoned Gardens and Cute Babies

Have you ever explored an old abandoned garden? I have not-until recently when I visited my daughter in southern Alabama. What a rush of feelings I felt seeing a much loved garden now neglected and overgrown but still growing and still blooming.

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The 'Secret Garden' was located behind this large overgrown hedge of privet. Have you ever thought to peek behind such a monster? Have you dared?

Behind the hedge you will find a long abandoned old home site with a falling down house that has been overtaken by the homeless. This ten acre home site is smack dab in the middle of several subdivisions. Developers have circled the wagons and are trying their best to get their hands on this beautiful land that lays claim not only to the old house, but to old garden gates, a still functional chicken house and other structures as well as what I believe to be an heirloom garden. The garden was amazing. 

My sixteen month old granddaughter Adella was not as impressed by the garden as I was. She, instead, got a kick out of me eating a Cheeto. Each time I would pop one in my mouth I got this cute smile. We should all be so easily amused shouldn't we? 

Her mother (my daughter Christine) took Mr. Fix-it and I over to this garden to look at the plants. I was able to identify several plants to include: laurels, cedars, camellias (in full bloom), daffodils, spider lillies, and an unknown plant that smelled strongly of onions but which had a flat leaf. I am still not sure what it could be but will try to find out. As I walked through the garden I thought of the long ago gardener who had planted the garden. Where is the gardener now? Was the gardener a man or a woman? Does she or he know the garden they planted still grows strongly and blooms? Does she or he care? Was there a vision years ago when each bulb and shrub and perennial was planted in the ground? What will become of the garden? Do others know of the Secret Garden? Perhaps they come there to dream of the long ago gardener just like I did. Maybe they even imagined walking into a stunning perennial garden through the charming old garden gate? I have never felt the pull of gardening so much as on this day....

in the garden....

What do you think about when you explore an old abandoned garden? 

Don't forget about my giveaway-it's not too late to qualify. Check this link found here. 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Visiting Callaway Gardens with the Family

On a recent visit to our oldest daughter's (she is one of two twins and happens to be older by one minute-I posted on the other twin Wednesday) home in southeastern Alabama Mr. Fix-it and I made time to visit Callaway Gardens. On this day we had time to visit just a few of the many parts of the garden, and since it was very cold outside we started at the Butterfly Pavilion. The cute little girl peeking out of the cutout is my thirteen month old granddaughter. You'll see more of her in this post. Her name is Adella.

Inside the pavilion it was warm and cozy. I easily felt as though I was in a tropical paradise like Martinique or something. Butterflies soared all around us but you won't see many in this post. I have saved them for another post to come up soon. There were SO many.

Being right around the holidays poinsettias were front and center in the pavilion. Adella seemed a bit fascinated by this display.

Here is Adella being held by her Grampa 'Grumps'-our fun moniker for Mr. Fix-it (he is not grumpy at all-I promise!). The adults were fascinated with the case of chrysalises but even though Adella was looking toward the case the soon to be butterflies really did not hold her attention. 

But boy were they amazing! I will show more of this display in my butterfly post. These butterflies were all in the process of hatching out of their chrysalises. Once hatched with wings dried they will be transferred to the big pavilion for all to enjoy.

People such as my daughter Christine and her daughter Adella....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Vegetable Garden Update-September 2010

From In the Garden

The vegetable garden is still trucking along this summer, now nearly fall. But the garden has changed quite a bit from last month's update in that all of the cantaloupe and cucumber vines have been removed and disposed of properly-in my case in the nearby compost bins. I have also begun planting some cool season crops as you will soon see. the shot above shows a long shot of the vegetable garden and its surrounding border. I just love the vegetable garden when it is so full and lush! At least right now I do, we'll see tomorrow if I still feel the same way. Gardening is like that, ups and downs, so now let's look at the ups and down of my vegetable garden this month.

From In the Garden

Here we have the circle bed where the cantaloupes used to grow. Last year this bed was full of hardy bananas. I actually had to dig up two volunteer bananas from this bed. Boy, those guys just did not want to go! In place of the cantaloupes broccoli and Chinese cabbage now grow. They are doing nicely despite being uprooted a few times by one rambunctious puppy named Lady. I had to close the three gates to this garden just to keep her out. Grrrrr on the dogs.

In addition to the broccoli and cabbage I have planted lettuce starts. I will soon follow these starts with some seeds. The lettuce is pictured above. It is a delicious buttercrunch variety. I loved growing this in the spring as it seemed that the more I cut it the more it grew! I hope the fall brings the same great results. Onions are also growing along with the lettuce but I have dedicated a whole bed just to onions this year. I have yet to plant garlic but that will come about within the next week or two. Other cool season crops you may wish to grow now are: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and leeks. I'm sure there are more but this is all I can think of right now.

From In the Garden

For warm season crops I still have tomatoes and gourds growing strong. They are it for the summer garden though. Some of the very large and heavy gourds are pictured above. I just love growing gourds and get so excited each winter when I can have a bit of the garden inside the house with me. Gourds are great for that because once the season is over they still require work in the form of curing and preparation for whatever you would like to use the gourds for. In my own home I usually just stain them and have them hanging from my fireplace or in a large basket somewhere near. The form of gourds is very beautiful and artistic and they are so easy to grow!

From In the Garden

Although, the gourd vines can be susceptible to disease. I think this is some kind of vining crop mosaic virus that has somehow gotten onto the gourds. It was probably spread by aphids or some other pesky bug but that is out of my control because I choose not to spray chemicals in my garden. Other than being unsightly this virus has not affected the gourds at all other than to discolor the leaves so that is an even better reason not to spray anything or try to treat this problem. I prefer to let the garden work its own problems out unless something of value is threatened. Rarely does this happen. Sometimes viruses can severely affect vines to the point of killing the vine. But as you can see this one is still putting out new gourds and since it is late in the season the problem is not a major issue for me. The best treatment to prevent this virus is to plant resistant varieties, rotate crops, and ensure plants are not stressed or affected by insects. Even when all is done right you can still get diseases, but it is not the end of the world. The gourds will be fine.

From In the Garden

In fact, the gourds are so fine they have taken over the whole south side of the vegetable garden. The garden fence and A-frames as well as the paths have literally been swallowed by the vines. If it wasn't for some prudent pruning by my lawnmower the vines would quickly devour the grass as well. I show this picture so that anyone considering growing gourds can understand they need lots of room to sprawl. Because my vegetable garden is fairly small I try to grow my vines vertically but sometimes even vertical space gets used up quickly and the vines grow elsewhere.

From In the Garden

I'm going to leave you with one last picture on the vegetable garden. I am most proud of this very large PVC arbor built from 6" PVC pipe. The arbor is 10 feet wide at its base and stands 15 feet tall. I grew Sweet Autumn Clematis on it last year but get fed up with all the seedlings so out it came this year. Instead I planted some hyacinth bean seeds and they have simply taken off. I just love the purple flowers and seedpods of the hyacinth beans on this very large arbor which is a major entry to the vegetable garden. It helps the vegetable garden have a very large presence in my garden; which is as it should be since vegetables are so rewarding to grow in my humble opinion. Hyacinth beans are an annual vine here in my area but they generally self seed each year....

in the garden....

My oldest twin daughter Christine closed on her first house yesterday so things have been a bit hectic here. I want to wish her the best of luck in her new home and tell her we miss her!


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

On Her Way to Iraq

We knew this day would come, but it came all too fast. Christine has shipped out to Iraq and we'll all miss her terribly.

Best wishes for fun travel and a safe mission in Iraq! We all love you and keep smiling!

in the garden....

As of this posting date Christine has made it to Kuwait. She'll be there a few days in-processing then head out to Iraq. The above pictured flowers were going away bouquets given to her; which I am now enjoying.