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Garden Gate:  Greetings from Sweetgrass Pond  |
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shennandoah
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Shennandoah
La Vernia
TX
USA
126 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 05 2023 : 1:42:20 PM
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Tara your little homestead sounds lovely and I love the water fountain!. I also love fresh lemonade. My daughter and nieces turned me on to adding blue butterfly pea vine flower to make it change colors. It's also an Ayurvedic herb with lots of benefits- it's not just a natural food dye. I grow my own here in South Texas, but you can find it online if you want to give it a try. If you decide to grow it I say do! The bumblebees love it. Pic of the flower on the vine for reference
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2024 : 3:29:14 PM
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HELLO!!! Did you think I had fallen off the Earth? I live near Greenville in SC. My garden zone is now 8A . I'm getting the garden ready for planting. The bed with trellis is for sugar snap peas.
I will share pictures of life going on here on Sweetgrass Pond. Small fabric bag has onion bulbs. Once I have other beds filled I can move them.
I think the garden layout will work. I am waiting on bulk soil delivery to fill raised beds. If I decide to get another metal raised bed it will be once they go on sale. $100 bucks each and several hundred to fill---dang 
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
Edited by - lovecatsandsunshine on Feb 26 2024 3:32:03 PM |
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Tumbleweed
True Blue Farmgirl
1036 Posts
Nancy
Texas
USA
1036 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2024 : 6:16:24 PM
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Hi everyone:
This will be my 3rd attempt at having a vegetable garden since we moved to East Texas 4 1/2 years ago. This week I planted onions and garlic in containers and last week I started seeds for Summer Squash, Roma, Cherry and Beefsteak tomatoes. I also planted seeds for Straight 8 Cucumbers and pickling Cucumbers. I also chitted seed potatoes and hopefully will get them planted in the next day.
We have been ill with that crud virus that went around all over my county. Last few days we have felt great and the weather was awesome. Cleaned all the fallen leaves from my patio and front porch. So nice to be outside and busy.
TW
When life gives you more than you can stand.....kneel !
Grateful, Thankful and Blessed!
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Edited by - Tumbleweed on Feb 27 2024 04:42:04 AM |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2024 : 10:39:52 AM
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 There are 2 Camellias shrubs out front. They have been blooming almost a month.
Also while tomatoes are in the dehydrator I have a few seedlings on the top of machine as it's very warm.jpg?v 96680218)
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2024 : 10:42:12 AM
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Greenville SC now in garden zone 8A.
I saw tomato plants the other day at Lowe's--too early! Almost $6 a plant-wow
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6663 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6663 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2024 : 4:11:37 PM
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Tara, down here in north central Florida, our Camellias are about finished. Our Azaleas everywhere are now bursting out. This time of year is the prettiest time in my yard.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2024 : 03:01:15 AM
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Good luck with the seed starting and enjoying the blooms. I did start some seeds the other day, but nothing is up yet. Waiting waiting waiting.
Farming in WI
Michele
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3139 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3139 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2024 : 06:21:27 AM
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Beautiful flower! I have some daffodils and tulips peaking out of the ground but the crocuses are braving the weather and blooming!
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7230 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7230 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2024 : 1:19:20 PM
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Your flowers are beautiful! I don't have any flowers here yet. It is still too cold. Hopefully not to much longer.
Krista |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2024 : 1:24:48 PM
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I wanted to buy all the poppies at Lowes. I know plants that big won't survive transplanting.
Poppies have a long tap root and root doesn't like to be disturbed. I have a volunteer poppy growing next to 1 of my raised beds-hoping the critters
leave it alone
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2024 : 4:35:32 PM
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I decided to use this old raised bed for onions and garlic. 1rst time growing these veggies.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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VegiChik
True Blue Farmgirl
119 Posts
Sharon L
Gaylord
MI
USA
119 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2024 : 6:13:37 PM
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I find growing garlic to feel so rewarding! Plant one clove & get both garlic scapes then the clove itself. After harvesting & letting them dry, it is fun to tie them together & see them hanging, just waiting for my favorite recipes.
When asked “How are you?”, I reply, “Better than good!” |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2024 : 3:59:28 PM
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I will hope the garlic will grow for me
A few flowers blooming. The sweet alyssum is growing in 1 of the vertical gardens. This flower made it through the winter
I let the violets grow where ever they want
Has anyone made jelly with the wild violets?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3139 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3139 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2024 : 1:33:00 PM
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Last year I went to an herb conference (not a very good one LOL) but the ladies were all raving about wild violet jelly - so I tried it for the first time. It really does taste wonderful! You should try it!!!! I plan to make some more this year.
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2024 : 05:28:51 AM
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I'm sure I'll need many blossoms. There is a patch of the flowers growing on vacant land near by, I shall do dig them up
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3139 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3139 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2024 : 4:56:59 PM
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If you make a small batch to start - not as many as you think! Here's the recipe I used and it calls for 2 cups of blossoms:
https://practicalselfreliance.com/violet-jelly/
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2024 : 1:42:13 PM
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.jpg?v 36581172) There is a grocery store about 50 minutes away. It's a liquidator type. They sell canned items, produce, meat household goods, pet stuff, fencing and even plants. We went to that store Sat
It's a hit or miss, have to check expiration dates, read labels ect.
The stuffing was a great find, 59 cents a bag. This same item is about $7 bucks in a large chain store. I bought all they had, 3 bags.
The stewed tomatoes were 89 cents each. I did find 1 of the big cans of tomatoes, 89 cents, Mustard 39 cents, jars of dried herbs( $7 in reg store) 1.99 each
The sweet potatoes are 48 cents a pound. I buy the huge size and my husband and I split 1
Grocery prices are outrageous!! I wish prices were as cheap as what I bought Sat. Anyone else find a bargain food store?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
Edited by - lovecatsandsunshine on Apr 03 2024 1:44:49 PM |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2024 : 1:07:30 PM
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He is beautiful! Yona(Cherokee for bear) visited us last night. I have a trail camera by pond. He ate some bird seed, stopped to check out
my vertical garden then walked into woods. This is a larger bear than what was seen a few days ago. I live in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains of SC.
Yona is just being a bear.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7109 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7109 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2024 : 1:28:09 PM
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Tara, I can't imagine what it would be like to have bears prowling around. The largest wild critter I see is opossums.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 - Feb 2019 - Oct 2023
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Wanda Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
1248 Posts
Wanda
Murrells Inlet
SC
USA
1248 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2024 : 2:16:38 PM
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Tara your bear sighting is so exciting but also a little scary. I guess it’s all about respecting each other’s space when they come around.
A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.
Farm Girl #3677
Farmgirl of the Month: Aug/2022
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2024 : 3:09:48 PM
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Animals I haven't seen are mountain lion, Bobcat and turkey.
I haven't seen deer in months. I guess because we live closer to a busy high yway and my neighbor further up in neighbor has a nicer shrubs to eat
Deer love tomatoes by the way. Best to plant a few extra far away from your garden to keep them happy
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2024 : 06:21:10 AM
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I love the countryside! I was on my daily walk about neighborhood and found a huge patch of wild strawberries.
On our 1 acre there are wild blackberries. I hope I get the fruit before critters
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2024 : 08:09:24 AM
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First time making canning blueberry preserves
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2024 : 03:21:10 AM
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Wild strawberries make the best jam. They just take a while to pick and to get 4 cups. I have some in the freezer that I picked last year and kind of forgot about. I need to make jam out of those. Hope the bear stays away.
Farming in WI
Michele
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
310 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2024 : 10:59:05 AM
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Michele,
I haven't tried strawberry jam. We were given the blueberries and my husband was wanting the preserves
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
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Garden Gate: Greetings from Sweetgrass Pond |
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Greetings from Sweetgrass Pond
