Wall Flower Studio Garden

Flowering Friday - Lovely Luscious Lilacs blooming now

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:28:00 +0000

Don't you just love the month of May? I know I go on about my favourite this, and my favourite that, but Lilacs truly are my ultimate favourite. I don't even mind if the weather stays cool this time of year because those beautiful heady scented blooms or florets will last that much longer.
Have a good weekend!

Roll up your sleeves and join me for a Terrarium Workshop in Haliburton!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:47:00 +0000

Roll up your sleeves and join us for a fun filled afternoon while we play with plants!

For info & registration visit: SufficientlySuffonsified

Spaces are limited! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Spring Blooms for Flowering Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Foamflower, also known False Mitrewort, is a perennial evergreen plant and a member of the Saxifrage Family. I love its dainty little florets. It grows well in shady moist spots. There are quite a few of these around the garden this year. Very dainty!

Here's a little moth I followed around the garden. It was quite pretty, and a welcome visitor to our yard!

Pretty purple Primulas. Such a sunny yellow centre. I wasn't sure if it would come up again this year as we're borderline for hardiness here. Grateful to see it blooming!

The Daffs are still blooming. They're lasting well this season as it's been so cool. Here's my favourite. I love the white narcissus as they're just that little bit of extraordinary!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A few selections of groundcovers to landscape the garden. For wordless wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

A testimony to spring - Dirty broken fingernails

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:05:00 +0000

Every winter my fingernails grow nice and long. It's the one time of year where my hands actually don't look too bad, at least to those who care about such things, and up until this past weekend, I never really gave the subject much thought. However, the thought did occur to me this past weekend when I broke a few of those nails while working in the garden.

The funny thing was that in doing so, I felt kind of liberated. If I were a dramatic person, (which can be a distinct possibility at times), I'd even suggest that it was akin to the removal of winter's shackles!

You see, I can't stand wearing gloves in the garden. Never could! They're way too confining and they make my hands sweat. Plus, I like to feel the good earth. It's always been my feeling that one can't truly know what the soil requires if one doesn't physically touch it, and how can one feel connected to the earth when there is a self imposed barrier placed between ones hands and the soil?

Let’s face it... I live in Canada where one is forced to wear gloves for many months at a time, especially just for going outside to shovel the snow. Because of this too, I just don't feel obliged to wear them during the summer only to make them sweat! Another shackle is gone.

But I digress.. Back to my fingernails... The ones that are left cleaned up well, but at that time in the garden, they were jam packed full of wonderful earth, sheep and cow manure, and who knows what else, and it doesn't matter. A couple of nails chipped so I trimmed them back, and I also have several cuts and scrapes.

But you see it's the most wonderful feeling in the world. All is as it should be! Dirty broken fingernails are a testimony to spring. The gardening season is upon us. And, it's easier to type now, too. ; )

The Spring Garden in Bloom - Bulbs Abound!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:54:00 +0000

Daffs naturalized in the lawn

This cheeky daff seems to be almost saying... "I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille"

Forsythia ovata 'Northern Gold' - A welcome sight!

Scilla siberica - Dainty blue.

A Maple Moon for Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:48:00 +0000

Borage - Not only beautiful and edible, but a great companion plant, too!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:13:00 +0000

Growing Borage, aka Starflower, next to your tomatoes will aid in keeping hornworm away. Gotta love companion planting! Plus, they're really beautiful in the garden, and the flowers are edible, too! I let them wander where they will!
~ Happy Gardening : )

DIY Herbal Bath - Create your own herbal bath tea - from the garden, naturally!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:32:00 +0000

It's very easy to create your own bath teabags with herbs. Gathered together here is some Lavender, Chamomile & Calendula. Then you'll need an iron and some empty teabags. Simply mix together the ingredients, fill the bags about 3/4's full, iron them shut, and you have yourself a packet of herbal goodies that can be thrown in your bath, or shared with friends!

If you don't have any empty teabags on hand, here's another idea. Simply mix together your herbs and fill a glass jar with them. Makes a great hostess gift, too if you tie a little wooden scoop on it with some raffia.

I started making my own bath products and cosmetics when I realized that large cosmetic companies are using all kinds of toxic chemicals in the products I was using. This didn't sit well with me. Not only do I save money on their overpriced, contaminated products, but I have the immense satisfaction of creating this by and for myself.

Have fun and happy bathing!

Peas are sprouting in the garden - They don't mind this cool spring weather

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:43:00 +0000

Pea - 'Golden Sweet' (Pisum sativum)

This pea is really a prolific producer.

It's usually ready to harvest in about 55-65 days. On top of that, it's an ancient variety and I think it's extremely rare.

I've been able to trace it's roots, (pardon the pun), back to the 1600's in France, and from there to India.

I'm happy to say I've been growing, saving and sharing this variety for many years now. It's all about biodiversity!

I sow the seeds as soon as the snow is gone. They don't mind the cool nights, and the location is in the sunniest spot of our yard, so the soil warms up quickly.

This beautiful antique pea offers light purple flowers which the pollinators love, that quickly morph into the bright yellow/green pods you see in the photo.

Not only can this be eaten as a snow pea, but the pea seeds can be dried and used in soup recipes.

The other reason I love this variety is because I've found it's actually somewhat drought-tolerant.
It's not very fussy about soil conditions, though I do like to offer the best loam I can, and I also try to keep the soil semi-moist.

The tall vines do require support and these lovely plants grow to 6 feet. Another bonus? The flavour is sweet. Can't argue with that! ; )

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing everyone happy gardening!

Happy Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:39:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day!

Today is a great day to consider growing some Native plants! Never use pesticides or any chemicals in the garden! We have to help our pollinators; Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Bats and more are dying in droves worldwide, due to toxic poisons being sprayed on crops. We're all part of the same food chain and to think it won't affect us all is just ridiculous lie being pandered to us from corporate interest who don't give a %$*%$ about the planet.

Grow your own food! Shown here are heirloom peas that are originally from the 1600's. I grow them to ensure their continued presence on this planet as we're losing our bio-diversity at an alarming rate! And not only that, when we grow our own food we know what's in it. The government bodies in North America, who supposedly exist to protect consumers from corporate interest like Monsanto, are unfortunately in league with them now. This is one way of knowing what's in the food you feed your family.

Conserve water. Rain barrels are an easy and indispensable way to water your plants outside and save on water at the same time.

Use Rain Water For...

Washing the car

Washing the dog

Washing your hands/feet before you go into the house

Watering the garden

Rain water is free of chlorine, helping to promote a healthy environment for the critters that keep your soil healthy!

More Ways to Conserve Water

- Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators.

- Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge rather than running the faucet until it’s cold

- When it’s time for new appliances, choose high efficiency dishwashers and washing machines.

Composting all that kitchen waste is good for the environment and good for the garden! It's all about the cycle of life. Think about vermicomposting, too!
Worm castings are black gold for the garden!

Save your seeds and share them with friends!

In 2009 the United Nations designated April 22 to be International Mother Earth Day

Today is a great day to not only reduce, re-use and recycle, but
it's a great day to teach a child about the environment and how to protect it.

Happy Earth Day! Celebrate every day!

Taking a wander through the spring garden - Coffee and camera in hand!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:02:00 +0000

Very relieved to see flowers blooming. Discovered another clump of Crocus that I'd forgotten I'd planted!

Crocus clump from above.

The Daffs are poking up now. I love that green colour. Speaks of spring!

As you can see, we still have a bit of snow left, but it sure is good to be able to actually see the raised beds now that the snow has subsided, for the most part.

That's me waving hello, lol. Almost spilled my coffee! Fun with photos. It's still a bit chilly up here,so I have my big cosy sweater coat & hat on.

Hope you had a good weekend where ever you are! Thanks for stopping by.

Flowering Friday - Crocus

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:16:00 +0000

Finally! Something is blooming in my garden. It was a long winter!

Happy Friday, everyone! : )

Gearing up for the gardening season - Creating all kinds of goodies from the garden, naturally!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:50:00 +0000

Gearing up for the Haliburton County Farmers' Market as well as SufficientlySuffonsified at Dovetail Interiors in Haliburton, Ontario. Incidently, I've been asked to create a terrarium workshop as well, so I'm currently putting all of that information together. Details to follow!

I'll be offering fresh cut flower bouquets from my garden

Organic herbal products created from my own garden

Kindling bundles, aka: herbal firestarters

Organically grown Lavender in sachets

Organic Chamomile tea bags, and so much more!

Plus I'll have my seed packet and seed balls, too!

It's a great feeling to gear up for the season.

Happy Spring everyone!

Wall Flower Studio - Our new monthly #gardening #newsletter is #mobile, too!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:12:00 +0000

Mobile devices can scan the QR code above to sign up!

To sign upf for Wall Flower Studio's mailing list via a laptop or tower computer, please click HERE
Thank you!

We'll never share your information. Ever. We just want to share ours!

Don't you just love modern technology?!

Happy Gardening! : )

Create your own! DIY Infused Calendula Oil - Very easy to make!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Calendula Oil in progress

DIY Calendula Oil

Here is what you'll need:

Dried calendula flower petals
A carrier oil (I’ve used Safflower oil, but Olive oil or Sunflower oil will work just as well)
A glass jar with lid. Make sure to clean it first

Here is how to do it:

· All I’ve done is to fill the jar about 2/3 full with the dried petals.

· Next, I slowly poured the oil over the petals, making sure they’re all submerged

· Now I have to wait 4 weeks.

· All I've done is store the jar in a warm dry spot for the infusion to occur. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own homemade infused Calendula oil, too.

· Once the 4 weeks are up, strain the flowers out and there you have it... Your very own homemade Calendula oil.

Calendula oil is great to use after a bath or shower. It makes your skin feel very soft! I also use it in my lip balms, gardener salves and other bath products. Feel free to get creative!

Have fun, and Happy Spring everyone!

Creating Seed Balls and Seed Hearts at Wall Flower Studio - Throw & Grow!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:56:00 +0000

A work in progress! Here is the start of a recent order for 800 seed ball hearts.

Please view the last photo and see the finished product!

This weekend I'm also making the round variety of Seed Balls.

These ones contain about 8 different herb seed varieties.

Trying to get the jump on spring and gear up for my booth the:

Haliburton County Farmers' Market!

Here are the seed hearts in the box, almost packed up and ready to ship.

*They've since been shipped and were well received!

To learn more about Guerrilla Gardening & Seed Balls, please visit: HERE

If you have an event, large or small, I'm happy to create bulk orders of seed balls & hearts. I've created many custom orders for private, not-for-profit, and corporate functions.

It's the organic way to offer a gift that keeps on giving!

Contact me at: sloanartgallery[at]gmail[dot]com - Thank you!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by. : )

Sowing seeds - Showing the love to volunteers: Guerrilla gardening style.

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:04:00 +0000

We still have much snow here in Haliburton, and yet I still get to play in the soil, along with clay & water, too!
Though I'm not quite able to physically be the garden, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Conservation Halton as they would like to offer my seeded hearts as a way of thanking their many tree-planting volunteers. A gift that keeps on giving, year after year.

The seeds I'm using in the hearts are all native to Ontario.
I'm very happy to be able to have the opportunity to to create these 800 seed ball hearts for them. So, off I go to play in the soil, even if it is on the dining room table.

But, just to add before I do, it's more than just Guerrilla Gardening...
it's also about sustainability, urban/rural renewel, and a whole lot more.

Seed balls/hearts solve many of the problems that loose seeds face.
~ wind blows them away
~ birds and rodents eat them
~ the sun bakes their vitality out
~ excessive rain carries them off
The seed ball hearts protect them from all of that.
When the seed balls start to break down, the seeds emerge and are nurtured in that pile of clay and enriched with the nourishing soil. The best part is, seed germination is very high!
--------------
Great fun for kids, too!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Plants can really link us to our roots!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 03:11:00 +0000

Amaryllis vittatum

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything here with regards to gardening. I've missed my gardening friends, except for the fact that many of us are now friends on Facebook and Twitter!... Thank goodness for social networking!
But I digress..
For one thing, I've been covering a maternity leave position which is full-time, so that hasn't left me much time to post, or even garden for that matter. Not that I'm complaining. It's been a great opportunity, but one that will come to a close in the next couple of months, so that means my thoughts are starting to turn to spring, what path I'll choose next, and admittedly, a new focus on the garden.
Having said that, we're also in the depths of winter here in Ontario, so there's not much garden to even speak of, so I guess that opens the door for me to post about a houseplant!
Pictured above is my amaryllis. This plant offers me such pleasure year after year. I've written often about them as they're true heirlooms, having been passed down to me from my great-great grandma who originally cultivated it, (and unfortunately I don't know how it came into her keeping), then to my great-uncle Allan who I miss very much, and obviously, to me.

If you've visited my site before, you'll know that this particular plant is approximately 120 years old. The flowers are in facte much smaller than the 'steroid' sized ones available on the market today, as are the bulbs, which aren't much larger than a healthy daffodil bulb. It's not that I don't like today's hybrids, but they just don't hold me because I don't share a history with them. Call me biased!

This amaryllis is a prolific grower. I'm pretty sure I should repot it this year because the container, which is 14" in diameter, is now pretty full of bulbs. There are lots of little bulblets, too. Some I've potted up in new containers, and though they've yet to bloom, they're all green and healthy which makes me think that eventually they'll produce flowers for me.

As you can see, there are many flowers on the plant. This year was a bumper crop. I had 27 stalks all told, and each stalk had 3 or 4 flowers on it. I cross pollinate the flowers, which means they develop seeds. It's a very easy process, and I've been really lucky with seed harvesting from the plant.
I've started a few little plants from the seeds, as most have sprouted once planted.

The true pleasure of this plant, (and I'm sure most would agree, as many of you have a favourite gem of your own), is the historical links to my family, especially family members who have since or long ago passed on. Just to know that it used to sit in our family's farm kitchen, back in the 1800's, where my great-great grandma cooked on a wood stove, gives me a real sense of self. Plants can really link us to our roots.

This weekend, I think it will be a good time to start some seeds for in the garden. Spring is just around the corner!
Enjoy your week, and thanks for stopping by.

Happy Halloween! Reflecting on the Harvest and Saving Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:10:00 +0000

Funny thing about Halloween... it's become a time of both reflection and planning.

It always puts me in mind of how the garden evolved over the past season, good or bad, what plants grew well, what should be divided next year, (all of my hostas!), and what veggies I want to grow in the raised beds next year.

Seed Saving at Wall Flower Studio

One way I look back upon the season is when I start sorting all the seeds that have somehow, miraculously accumulated before my eyes!

Thankfully I have a very tolerant family who seem to be able to overlook the little assorted dishes, containers and envelopes containing seeds that were collected on the fly, and wait for me to organize when they're perfectly dry, so they sometimes stay scattered around the kitchen and studio for a couple of weeks.

Next, when the seeds are dry, the sorting and packaging begins in earnest!
This is the part that ties in with Halloween because that's usually the time that I'm quite sure that all of the seeds I've collected, especially the ones from September, are dry enough to pack away. Nothing worse than finding moldy seeds in February, just when you're ready to start them indoors!

Just have to mention, saving seeds is also an enjoyable task because it justifies all those trips to garage sales. I'm always on the lookout to purchase little glass containers or spice jars on my travels. Vintage or not, these finds end up being filled and labelled with whatever seed variety goes in them. They're actually quite pretty displayed on a shelf all winter.

That aside, saving seeds is a small way of thumbing my nose at Big Ag, i.e. Monsanto, a company who doesn't believe in our fundamental right as human beings to save seeds and is cornering the worldwide seed market as I type. They want to continue polluting this planet and us with their nasty GMO products, and if you've followed my blog for a while, you'll know I'm not exactly a fan of those corporate criminals... But that's a story for another day. ; )

Finished products! All packed up and ready to send!

From my garden to yours, have a very happy, safe and reflective Halloween!

It's Garlic Planting Season!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:19:00 +0000

Garlic

I'm ready to plant my garlic, and even though it hasn't been placed in the ground yet, I can't wait until next year's harvest!

Last year was the first time I attempted to grow some, and I have to say, I was so pleased with the outcome. To be honest, I thought it would be more complicated, but it was actually a no-brainer. It's just like planting any other bulb in the fall, and then it's just a waiting game. Really, the bulbs do all the work! They just depend on us to give them the conditions with which to grow!

And, not only does planting garlic produce more garlic, but before one gets to harvest the garlic, one gets to harvest those delicious scapes! Cooking with garlic scapes can take the right recipe to a whole new level, especially when they've just been harvested fresh from the garden and used that same night! Perhaps it's also a state of mind.

Seriously, if you can grow tulips, daffodils or hyacinth, you can grow garlic.
Here are a few links to visit for more information about garlic:
~ http://www.haliburtongarlic.ca/
~ http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/09-011w.htm
~ http://www.garlicgrowers.on.ca/

P.S. My Etsy Shop is open again! I have a handful of listings online and will list more as the days go on, so please feel free to stop by Wall Flower Studio to have a look, or just to say hello! : )
Offering organic and natural products, from my garden to yours!

Thanks for visiting, and happy gardening!

Autumn Struts it's Stuff - Parade of Color in the Haliburton Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Vivid Colour of the Haliburton Highlands

Simply can't get over the wall of colour happening now in the Highlands of Haliburton.

It's really the best seasonal show I can recall.

Wanted to share a little taste of that here on this Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.

Incidently, when I stopped my car to take this photo, there were a few wild turkeys in that clearing you see there, but unfortunately I scared them away.

Too bad! Would have been a nice touch considering what time of year it is. ; )

Have a great weekend!

Saving Heirloom Corn Seeds... Thanksgiving Style

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Wishing all of my fellow Canadian friends a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Are you having Turkey or Ham?

I prefer both, but only if they're grass fed and free range.

As a side dish, I recommend some non-gmo, heirloom corn. Pictured above is 'Orchard Baby', and these I've saved from this years harvest, and for this basic human right, I'm always thankful!

Enjoy! ~ K.S.

Wordless Wednesday - Last of the #Heirloom #Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 01:41:00 +0000

The Blooming Season - Flowers and Leaves Still Going Strong!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 23:17:00 +0000

I can't believe the weather this year. Well, not just the weather, but the side effects of a (so far), frost free fall. The flowers just keep going and going, like that Eveready bunny! I'm certainly not complaining.

Normally by now, most of the leaves are off the trees, and the hostas have turned to mush. Not so this year! It's just so nice to coast into the drivewy and still see some colour in the garden, espcecially since I know the monochromatic season, i.e. winter, will be upon us here in the Haliburton Highlands soon enough!

Morning Glory, still going strong. They've put on a really good show this year. Blooming for months.

The perennial mums are just coming into their own. I cut some the other day for a fresh flower arrangement in my kitchen. It's nice to bring the outdoors in!

In the late summer, these Hydrangeas are completely white. I've never seen them go this pink before. Every year I cut some for drying. I still have some in a vase from last year. Great for wreaths and dried flower arrangements.

Here's a mix of flowers. Mums at the bottom left, Gaillardia, (blanket flower) above and Sedum 'dragon's blood', I think, above that.

I hope where ever you are, the flowers are still blooming, too!
Have a good week, and thanks for stopping by!