tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:51:16 +0000houseplantsbulbsdayliliesblog awardgarden eventsgarden productsorchidsmailorder nurseriesbirdsinsectsneighborhoodhostasvinesseedsemotionswildflowerstreesfamilypetsmammalswater gardenreptilesperennialsaerogardenfriendsweathermemebonsaisnakesreviewsconservationplanters/potsannualsSeedGROW projectmushroomsmusicworm binsedumjunkcold frameFriday Arkcompostcarnivorous plantsfirewinter sowinggiveawayfoodmason beesfishingveggieshouseholdBloom Dayamphibianscactustopiarytech issuesshrubsGarden Freakhttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (lisa)Blogger516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-1720181214553059781Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:19:00 +00002011-09-24T23:19:04.350-05:00emotionspetsMy view in early August..... ...my view now (at least there's a tree :)  The way we got here....  ....not everyone was happy initially...  ....change is hard, y'know....  ....but eventually creature comforts can be found. This post is the last for the blog called Millertime...I feel that I've taken it as far as it can go. It's been a real hoot, and I will leave it in place for the foreseeable http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/09/and-beat-goes-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-2097594320625698620Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:15:00 +00002011-08-02T21:15:34.472-05:00annualsveggiesSeedGROW projectHere we are into August already! My SeedGROW project plants are doing great, especially considering that none were started early indoors. The 'Garden Babies' lettuce is keeping good company with this cuke.... ...and was harvested a couple days ago for the second time this season. Very tasty, and eating a salad from home-grown lettuce is the ONLY way to fly as far as I'm concerned!  The basil 'http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/08/seedgrow-project-post-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-6368595061041054211Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:20:00 +00002011-08-01T23:52:10.069-05:00annualsveggiesSeedGROW project My GROW project plants are coming along. Some slowly... ...well, the lettuce have been harvested once already.... ...and some others are coming along... ...nicely!! I'm growing with the SeedGROW project. Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/07/grow-project-2011-post-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-6459162314866737641Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:20:00 +00002011-07-02T01:49:03.510-05:00annualsplanters/potsveggiesSeedGROW projectWell the time has come for another fantastic garden bloggers SeedGROW project, courtesy of Renee's Garden! This year's project promises to be three times the fun with three varieties of seed: basil 'Italian Cameo', lettuce 'Garden Babies', and marigold 'Summer Splash'. In this first planter I planted the marigold on May 9th, along with beans, peas, and a nasturtium... ....and the marigolds are http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/06/seedgrow-project-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-2673248873834810508Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:28:00 +00002011-05-31T21:28:12.569-05:00reviewsRecently I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of their products.  Easy Canvas Prints allows you to take a picture and turn it into a canvas print. One thing I really loved about their website is how easy it is to use. Just a four step process to create a masterpiece. The picture I selected is intended to be a gift for my best friend, whose http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/05/beautiful-canvas-creation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-6385576904015112076Sat, 30 Apr 2011 05:47:00 +00002011-04-30T01:12:18.594-05:00bulbsAt long last I have blooms! First blooms of the year...really! Much later than last year, it's been far too cold and rainy up here for any springtime action (heck, we had snow less than a week ago!)  I decided to bring a few in before the deer find them, as I cannot afford my Liquid Fence deer repellent this year. At least I get to use one of the cool flower frogs I picked up awhile back. http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-alive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-7683543550762988248Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:04:00 +00002011-04-15T03:04:49.649-05:00planters/potsveggiesSeedGROW projectThis area consists of two dual wash tubs, fantastic antiques from the days of labor-intensive laundry equipment. Now they get to decorate my yard and grow veggies! The set on the ground was planted up on May 22nd with a combo of indoor-started and winter-sown plants. This side has cucumber 'Crystal Apple', broccolini 'Atlantis', broccoli 'Packman', and chinese cabbage 'Soloist'. Cutting celery 'http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/04/last-season-veggie-review-double-double.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-8882287636409209052Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:31:00 +00002011-03-23T06:14:12.472-05:00planters/potsveggiesWell I'm certainly blogging slowly this spring! My last year garden review posts are about to crash into this year's activities. Ah well, sometimes life gets too hectic for regular blogging...hopefully now I can keep up :)  Anyhow, last year's windowbox plan was a departure from pretty flowers and into pepper production. In this box we have (from left to right): dichondra 'Silver Falls', hot http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/03/last-season-garden-review-windowbox.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-5773258512135689565Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:03:00 +00002011-03-06T16:03:49.250-06:00reviewsAwaiting the arrival of spring can make a gardener fidgety. Sure, you can force bulbs, start seeds, or play with your houseplants...but I'm looking for a creative distraction. Enter Build A Sign ! You can design your own bumper stickers...see what I did?You can also design your own signs! They are available in a variety of materials, my designs are in alumium for durability... ...I used the clip http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/03/creative-outlet-for-gardeners.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-1266810237051976817Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:37:00 +00002011-02-13T13:38:14.797-06:00planters/potsveggiesThis setup was a very late season afterthought, both because I'd just acquired it and because I had some sad un-planted straggler tomatoes. Being a wood desk it may only last a few seasons, but it amuses me plenty in the meantime. I planted it up on August 19th.Realizing how wood can dry out, I used these handy SoilMoist sheets in each drawer to hold in moisture. In this bottom drawer is tomato 'http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/02/last-season-review-white-desk-planter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-5962150464795058864Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:23:00 +00002011-03-06T15:59:52.321-06:00birdsreviewsAwhile back I saw an advertisement for a new birdfeeder that's designed to help keep itself clean. Amazed and intrigued, I contacted  Wild Birds Unlimited to see if they'd be willing to send me one to test drive and review on the blog. And here we go! The first thing I noticed is how well-constructed it is, with a thick plastic body tube, metal perches, and sturdy metal lid.The label explains thehttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-birdfeeder-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-1615227591743500064Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:12:00 +00002011-02-26T23:48:49.256-06:00seedsmailorder nurseriesWhile preparing my posts to review last year's growing season, I've been planning for this year as well. The catalogs have been coming in since December, and they always put me in a good mood reading/daydreaming about the new varieties I'd like to try. Although I have been doing review posts for websites and products that I like in the past year or so, my assessments are always brutally honest. http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/02/seed-catalogs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-3336731272252048928Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:44:00 +00002011-01-27T06:44:42.807-06:00worm bin This worm bin project has been one of the most enjoyable (and luckily successful) garden experiments I've ever taken on! And after a bumbling attempt at bin migration last time , I finally got it right! It seems that you have to wait until both bins are full to harvest the castings from the bottom bin, otherwise you leave too many worms behind. So after separating the bins, here's my prize-a binhttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/worm-bin-update-migration-done-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-7590269082395453686Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:26:00 +00002011-01-14T18:55:00.165-06:00mailorder nurseriespets...."Really?!"  Naw Gizmo, I'm just kidding. I'm simply frustrated with my slow internet connection, and busy with other things lately. But I'm excited for the upcoming growing season... ....particularly since the catalogs have begun pouring in. I mean, just look at this purple swiss chard!  Plus I still want to blog about last year's season! I'm just rather overwhelmed lately, so if you can justhttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/mehim-kinda-off-plants-lately.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-2685660783538570265Fri, 24 Dec 2010 05:35:00 +00002010-12-23T23:35:03.256-06:00annualsperennialsweatherpetsNow I love snow....I really do......but while looking through some pictures today I felt a twinge of wistful desire for something really different this Christmas.I felt that a glimpse backward might be nice.... ....maybe a colorful blast of sunshine.... ...I mean, we all seek it from time to time.........that delightful color explosion..... ....we just want to immerse ourselves in it..... ...http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-do-you-want-for-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-8588225804767779270Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:26:00 +00002011-02-08T20:17:03.559-06:00reviewsHere's a gift idea for the gardening and outdoor-loving friends on your Christmas list, courtesy of my friends at Allsop Home Garden products : Solar glass string lights!The website says:  "Are you preparing for the holiday season? The Aurora Glow Solar Glass string lights are a great alternative to the traditional Christmas lights! You can string them along your eve, hook them around your deck, http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/12/just-in-time-for-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-3430737707290002540Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:55:00 +00002010-12-13T04:09:08.141-06:00weatherpetsWow, I certainly haven't been here in awhile! Looks like things are getting kinda dusty, like this squirrel........oh wait-that's snow (and LOTS of it!) Guess it's time to work on my gardening "year in review" posts.... .....this could take awhile. May as well get comfortable! http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/12/cheking-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-7539164335545018200Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:41:00 +00002010-11-25T22:55:17.039-06:00insectsIt's a Yorkie! This super-fuzzy caterpillar was hanging out in August....... ....and when I discovered his ID it all made sense: this fella will turn into a Milkweed Tussock Moth! Looks like I discovered yet another amazing resident of Milkweed City! In this stage of development (the "third instar"), he has the same colors of the monarch butterfly...kind of a theme in their milkweedy habitat. Thehttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/11/theres-dog-in-my-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-1286219911015288928Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:17:00 +00002010-10-25T04:26:26.283-05:00houseplantsHere's proof that some houseplants can do well in spite of their grower. This is brugmansia, (a.k.a. Angel's Trumpet),  this particular cultivar being 'Frosty Pink'. I bought it from Select Seeds way back in 2003. All these years, it has merely survived because I never gave it enough sun or food. This spring, it began as the gangly stick at left...growing and blooming to become the 7 foot+  http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/brugmansia-makeover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-8418239938384393414Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:49:00 +00002010-10-15T01:49:35.222-05:00insectsWhile removing the protective wire cover from my unsuccessful lone cauliflower plant, look what I found! Another chrysalis! After spotting the last one way back on August 4th, I'm surprised to see this one so late in the season on October 7th. (This is the first year I've noticed one at all, and I was uninformed about the multi-generational aspects of the process until finding this link.) Just http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/encore-encore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-7346974341677603006Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:07:00 +00002010-10-23T09:35:13.296-05:00annualsweatherveggiesThis was the foreboding forecast on October 2nd, signaling the beginning of the end of my veggies... ...so the rush was on to bring in anything edible! There were a bunch of green tomatoes.... ...along with a nice assortment of peppers, eggplants, teeny zucchini, red asparagus beans (the long ones), broccoli bits, and even a squash blossom. I collected every speck of edible anything!     Then http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/late-season-spr-summer-progress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-9050354829861774322Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:00 +00002010-10-08T21:22:52.308-05:00annualsplanters/potsAlong with the SeedGROW project, I'd planned to (and did) grow several varieties of nasturtiums around the yard as companion plantings to my vegetables. This has worked out very well, as I haven't seen a single significant insult from bugs on my veggies. Anywhere. So here are the other nasty stars of my 2010 veggie planters....first is "Alaska Fancy", with beautiful mottled and variegated foliagehttp://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/rest-of-nasty-story.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-1605361893422870889Sun, 03 Oct 2010 23:08:00 +00002010-10-23T09:57:02.461-05:00annualsSeedGROW projectOctober here at Millertime has come up with some chilly night temps, making my veggies quite unhappy. However, my 'Spitfire' nasturtiums laugh at the cold.... ...perhaps more easily done when you creep along the ground under the planter. In this group, 'Spitfire' has rambled in and amongst the veggie and squash foliage very successfully... ...and with the extra sun exposure asserts itself as a http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/seedgrow-project-october-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-7764152767221756517Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:42:00 +00002010-11-02T13:19:54.929-05:00weatherveggiesLeaves are turning... ...peppers are ripening... ...and veggies are the stars in my kitchen! Lately I'm busy playing "beat the frost", be back soon.... http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-is-falling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30483234.post-5285689986820230232Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:55:00 +00002010-09-08T23:09:30.988-05:00insectsweatherOk, I knew it was coming...but now? Our lows are suddenly in the 40's at night, and highs only in the 60's all day. They keep saying that it will warm up, but it simply hasn't. I still have peppers to harvest, perennials to divide, houseplants to take in, tomatoes to see ripen...what will I do? This little bee seems to share my sentiments exactly! C'mon summer, gimmie just a couple more weeks....http://mrimomma.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-is-back-ack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (lisa)11