| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jun 01 2023 : 11:53:04 AM
Howdy from South Carolina! I'm Tara.  My husband and 2 Siamese cats live in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Garden zone 7B.
I named my property Sweetgrass Pond. I love Sweetgrass and want to plant some in this space. I'm going to add a cottage garden to part of small space between side porch and corner of house. I thought I'd bring you along for my journey. This is my project, I'll be doing all the work myself. And this project will take months. I'm waiting on a potting bench to be delivered and that will go under the 2 windows. I have to work around meters, hose reel and cable lines. The 165 gallon pond has been installed in the back yard, 1 of many projects and my husband and I added a small beachy area.  I'll take a picture of the pond and share it with ya'll soon. I'd like to plant flowers in colors of peach, coral, pinks and white
I love seashells, sea turtles, dragonflies and frogs. I can't live at the ocean , but I'm happy to be in the mountains again.
And I may share pictures of other projects or what's happening on the property. Suggestions are welcome for garden ideas..jpg?v 99761409)
Today's good mood brought to you by coffee
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jul 09 2025 : 1:16:29 PM
Tara your herbs and veggies are beautiful. Today we have been blessed with low 80s for most of the day and now at 3 p.m. it's 88. Low for Texas in July. I hope your area cools down so you can enjoy gardening again.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jul 09 2025 : 11:11:52 AM
Sara, I feel our summer is rougher than last year.
Garden blessings: .jpg?v 45984114)
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jul 07 2025 : 05:50:33 AM
Tara, I understand about the heat & high humidity doing a number on our bodies and brain. Outside work now is for early mornings and dusk. I don't know if dusk is used anymore, it's when the sun is going down right before darkness.
I've never used store bought apple juice to make apple jelly but I have used it to make jalapeno pepper jelly. I can see where it could be too sweet for apple jelly but your jars sure look pretty.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jul 07 2025 : 04:39:55 AM
Where have I been? The summer heat is bothering me more than last year. I am outside early and then inside rest of the day. The heat and humidity make me feel tired and even my brain is too tired to think.
I haven't shared many photos. I'll be more mindful of sharing what is going on here at Sweetgrass Pond July 5th I made apple jelly from store bought juice. A new adventure for me. There is a bit left over and into the frig to enjoy this week. A bit too sweet. The half pints are gifts.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jun 13 2025 : 12:08:19 PM
My husband and I went hiking last weekend. We went to the Va Creeper Trail in Damascus Va. Hurricane Helene caused major destruction of this trail. The hurricane wiped out the trail from an area known as Taylors Valley. The day was quiet. Also took a few steps on to the Appalachian Trail. We went into down town Damascus to walk around and visit some of the shops. We saw Morgan Wade walking out of a grocery store. She is a country singer and lives in the area. If you want to see the damage look up Beautiful Virginia on YT. My husband and I make a brief appearance about 11:15 into the video named Creeper Trail clean up, Yeti race June 7. That is me in the pink hat across the gorge. We also saw a young bear run out of woods.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| nndairy |
Posted - Jun 01 2025 : 10:37:17 AM
WOW! 10 feet!!! I didn't know that tomatoes could get that tall. Your raised bed looks wonderful.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - Jun 01 2025 : 09:09:08 AM
Thank you so much Tara, how interesting it all is. I do not blame you for not wanting to climb a ladder to pick tomatoes. Thank you for sharing.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jun 01 2025 : 05:51:28 AM
I started the seeds. Hillbilly variety is similar to a Mr Stripey in color. This tomato is very meaty with few seeds. I'm trying German Queen again as last year plant didnt produce much. But also another meaty variety. The Abe Lincoln is a salad tomato, although I will use for soup. I live in Upstate SC. The plants can grow about 10 feet, but I'm not getting on ladder to pick tomatoes. I keep plant about 6 feet tall. This year I added water spikes to help keep soil moist. Drop irrigation not in my budget.
Just trying growing 1 tomato plant. When you are successful, you'll feel confident to grow more. I have 35 tomato plants this year. I had hundreds of volunteer tomatoes, and I only replanted 16
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - May 31 2025 : 11:12:58 AM
I have never heard of the Hillbilly, German Queen or Abe Lincoln. Of course I still consider myself a novice gardener. Are this particular plants sweeter, bigger or just over all good? Where do you find such tomato plants like those? I do not even think I have seen them in my yearly garden catalogs but I could be wrong.
Have a Beautiful weekend everyone.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
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| YellowRose |
Posted - May 31 2025 : 10:57:57 AM
Nice looking tomato plants. Haven't heard of the Hillbilly kind. I like your raised beds.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - May 31 2025 : 10:11:04 AM
One of the raised beds. There are several different tomato varieties, Hillbilly, German Queen and Abe Lincoln. Tried not to over crowd this year .jpg?v 13664521)
Behind I planted basil. I have tomatoes scattered all over garden
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 28 2025 : 12:34:26 PM
Tara, your harvest looks amazing! I have only been able to collect strawberries. I look forward to the rest later in the season.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - May 28 2025 : 05:14:52 AM
Tara your harvest is beautiful.
Heather your 2 radishes are a sign there's more to come.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| nndairy |
Posted - May 27 2025 : 6:53:08 PM
I pulled 2 radishes today!
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - May 27 2025 : 08:16:16 AM
 
Blessings from the garden. Zero luck growing summer squash in 2024, bugs were intense.
What are y'all harvesting?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| nndairy |
Posted - May 18 2025 : 6:33:33 PM
How pretty!
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - May 18 2025 : 09:28:05 AM
Tara,I am with you that living in the mountains of S.C. brings some beautiful wild flowers and trees that cannot survive in the warmer areas of the state that are hotter more months of the year. Your flowers and experience of this different climate has been a true example that in one state, the diversity of the topography will yield amazing differences to enjoy. I grew up in Virginia in the foothills of those same Blue Ridge Mts. and the difference between here and north central Florida was a shock to me. But, I have a Satsuma orange tree that is old but keeps giving me the sweetest oranges every late November and neighbors have lemon trees and some grapefruit trees. There are amazing plants everywhere and it is fun to become acquainted with these surprises when you move.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - May 18 2025 : 06:03:01 AM
Tara, great idea to plant flowers in your garden. Hope you have a lot of bees & butterflies. So far this year I haven't seen one bee or butterfly around my flowers. So sad.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - May 17 2025 : 12:20:11 PM
Wildflowers growing in my garden. I planted a lot more flowers in garden to bring in the pollinators.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 12 2025 : 2:46:10 PM
Janette, that is a short growing season. Do you grow other things or just zucchini?
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| VegiChik |
Posted - May 10 2025 : 6:46:46 PM
Can relate to the very short growing season here in N Michigan. Like zucchini, kale grows very well here, but none of our friends like it. We have to threaten them: “you don’t take the kale, you do not get any tomatoes”! So they agree to one leaf!!!
When asked “How are you?”, I reply, “Better than good!” |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - May 10 2025 : 6:34:43 PM
Jeanette, your growing season must be very short?
Sadly a lot of the herbs have flowered or gone to seed. I just harvest the seed and will sow in late Aug for an Autumn harvest
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| PrairiePearl |
Posted - May 09 2025 : 7:27:14 PM
Up here, in the great white north, the perennials are starting to flower. The rule of thumb is not to plant until around the first of JUN....we usually get snow the May long weekend. Short, challenging growing season BUT zucchini's grow VERY well! The saying is that there are so many zucchinis that if you leave your car unlocked in the summer and early fall, someone will put a zucchini(s) in it! LOL. I am envious of your southern growing seasons!
Jeanette
Farmgirl Sister #8699
~Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. ~ Corrie Ten Boom
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 09 2025 : 1:24:32 PM
Its about the same over here as it is at Heather's. I have my potatoes, carrots, onions, radishes, beets, and peas growing outside. Inside I have some tiny chives, lavender, and rosemary seeds growing. About 1 more week and I will be able to plant the rest of my garden.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - May 09 2025 : 1:06:11 PM
sorry about the double post |
