pirl said: So nice of her!

Yes, it was! She is also one of the grocery staff there that I give eggs to about once a month. She is just one of the "characters" that works there. It's always nice to see them when we go shopping. They feel like friends.

We had some nice warm days but today winter feels like it has returned. Both Lily and I had our Winter coats on for our exercise walk and it was still cold.

No gardening going on today, it is too cold to stay outside.

I went out to pick up a chair, blown over by the wind. That was enough for me!

pirl said: I went out to pick up a chair, blown over by the wind. That was enough for me!

The saw horses with a no dogs allowed signs that are at the gates of the park are blown over by the wind. Either that or someone got mad and turned them over!

I think this new medication the DR started me on is making me whacky. I thought I posted this already. I probably wrote it and forgot to hit "Finished". So, take two...

I stopped at the local Odd Lot to look for 3 reasonably priced pots to put herbs or flowers in around the top of the pond. Look at these great ones I found for $2.98 each. They are 2-gallon, flexible plastic, with their own handles. They seem like they will last a while. All I need to do is drill a hole in the bottom of each and put a tray underneath to catch any runoff. I may go back and buy a few more.

Enjoy the hyacinths...I love their sweet scent.....oh, nice pots....You could plant summer bulbs like caladiums or elephant ears in them...

I don't know if I posted this here, but I know I posted it on my Permaculture Thread at The thread "My PA Food Forest" in Permaculture forum

Long story short...you may have noticed in a few pictures that I no longer had the PCM's on the wall where the reflectix is. I thought they seemed extremely sluggish in melting, and the temperature had to be higher than they advertised. Turns out they sent me the wrong ones (mis-marked for melting temperature-they make PCM's with several melting thresholds). I contacted the company and sent one square back for testing (at their expense). They confirmed it wasn't melting at the temperature it was marked for. They told me to dispose of all 63 tiles (over $1000 worth) and sent me new ones. I just haven't put them all in the greenhouse yet, since it is already getting warmer. The ones you see in the picture are some of the new ones I just put in today. All that initial work down the drain. I was so happy the company readily took responsibility and did the right thing.

Here is what I did today:



And I have to start cutting and applying black contact paper again for better heat absorption when the sun hits the tiles.



Even though I planted Yellow Yarrow seeds for the greenhouse for attracting beneficial insects that eat some pests, I decided to accelerate that process and dug up ONE of the Yarrow I started two years ago and has been growing in the Food Forest. It is just starting to come back for another season. This is from one plant.



The greenhouse is coming alive for Spring!

Oh, how frustrating to have that waste of time and effort and materials, Jim! Glad the company tried to make it right. I wonder why they don't sell black or dark green ones instead of white...

Can't wait to see your new baskets all planted up!

critterologist said: I wonder why they don't sell black or dark green ones instead of white...

Thanks Jill. I actually asked them the same question. It would make more sense to have them a darker color for a greenhouse. They told me that they melt at 65. They don't depend on the sun, but the heat in the greenhouse. However, I have found with the dark contact paper, they seem to melt faster when the sun is on them.

Around here I only have my tomato seedlings coming up under lights in the house.

Reliable company to make amends so quickly....I love Yarrow, but mine never stays the purchased color, it turns back to white flowers in a few years.

RobinD said: Reliable company to make amends so quickly....I love Yarrow, but mine never stays the purchased color, it turns back to white flowers in a few years.

That's very interesting. I'll have to watch mine and see what happens. My oldest plants are just beginning their third season.

Newyorkrita said: Around here I only have my tomato seedlings coming up under lights in the house.

How many tomato plants are you planning this year?

We have only planted 6 pots with Tiny Tim's and 6 pots with Mountain Magics. No others this year, not even San Marzano's. We always plant too many tomatoes, and we have a couple of cases of 12-large cans of tomatoes in the cellar that are expiring soon. They will be good for a while, but you can't use them years down the road like a lot of canned foods because of the high acidic content.

I hope to plant 80. No more than that.

I always plant too many to take care of!!!

Newyorkrita said: I hope to plant 80. No more than that.

I always plant too many to take care of!!!

Ain't it the truth!

While I have cut down on tomatoes, I am planting more of other vegetables and flowers than usual and trying a few new things.

It's a disease. Symptoms include dirty fingernails, rough hands, aching back, and a sense of urgency like there is never enough time to get everything done.

Medication: More gardening!

I did buy seeds of zuchinni. I have not had summer squash in about 5 years but plan to grow somee this year. So in the garden it is always something.

I like to try something new every year.....I only plant a dozen tomatoes...80! Wow. This year I'm trying a new pickling cuke, but I can't remember its name...will have to look in my seed box.

80 is cutting back for me!! But then again I do grow tomatoes to give away to the entire neighborhood.

This year besides the tomatoes I started seeds of sme Sweet Banana Peppers and one variety of eggplant. I have 8 basils staeted from seed. THe plants are tiny as I sowed at the same time as my tomatoes.

I will plant cucumbers. Probably just direct sow the seeds. THen I ordered some zuchinni seeds so I plan to have some zuchinni this year.

I have sworn off eggplants. Too many years I've been disappointed. Sweet banana peppers sound good. Might have to pick up a package if they have them in the stores. I have tomatoes and peppers starting to peek through the soil in their cups.

I really love sweet banana peppers. These are my very favorite peppers and easy to grow.

Eggplants for me are finicky until I get the plants in ground and really growing. Once that happens they are extra easy.