Not So Crafty

Category: Gardening

  • Give Chard a Chance

    As I had previously mentioned my first experience with Chard was not a good one. It was so bitter I caught myself wiping my tongue afterwards. While I got lovely suggestions from some fellow bloggers I was still hesitant to try it again. It’s just been growing in the garden to the point that the…

  • Homemade Salsa

    Last Saturday, I ventured out into the backyard and found that several of plants were ready for a mini-harvest. I was able to combine my previously harvested garlic and Walla Walla Onion and combine it with my new tomatoes and jalapeno. About half of my tomato plants are producing tomatoes. Last Saturday, I was able…

  • Little Bouquets

    I’ve been trying to bring the colors of the garden indoors. Here a mix of the little bouquets I’ve created. Bachelor Buttons and Calendula Purple Roses and Carnations: Homegrown carnations are nothing like store bought. They smell spicy like cloves. Calendula and Mums: I bought this plant for a dollar at the end of fall.…

  • Basil

    The majority of the basil I planted in late spring has bolted. I’d be sad if it it wasn’t so pretty. It also gives me an excuse to plant some more. I’m also trying to find some good Thai Basil recipes. I want to be able to use it before it bolts. I was thinking…

  • Sunflowers Update

    The mammoth sunflowers have bloomed. The largest and prettiest has rudely decided to face my neighbor’s yard. I’m still hoping I’ll be able to harvest the seeds once it is ready. I really like the smaller hybrid variety for their variety of colors and multiple flowers.

  • Calendula

    These pretty yellow flowers are called Calendula or Pot Marigolds. I planted them for the first time this year. What I didn’t realize is that these plants have a long and interesting history. These are an edible plant and the petals can be sprinkled on a salad or dish for some flair. They don’t have…

  • Calling All Chard Lovers!

    I’ve grown Swiss Lights Chard for the first time this year. It’s a stunning, easy to grow plant. The one problem is that I’m not sure how to prepare it. I grew it because it’s considered a powerhouse of minerals and vitamins. My research says that you can eat the leaves when they are young…

  • I’m Back! Gardening Challenge Update

    Hello, we are back from a wonderful vacation in Oregon and Washington. It was a good trip but I was happy to come home. The plants flourished while we were away. Tragically the lettuce bolted after the extreme triple digit heat. We have been making lots of salads out of the remaining lettuce. The salad…

  • Sunflowers

    These are my hybrid mixed color sunflowers. They are much smaller than the Mammoth sunflowers which I planted at the same time. The mammoth sunflowers are still growing but these smaller ones have been in bloom all week. Friday Tuesday Friday Tuesday This one is in my backyard and it is a darker red than…

  • The First of the Tomatoes! Gardening Challenging Update

    Weather wise it’s been pretty miserable over here. Spring is officially over and it’s jumped into a major heat wave. Not only that but the triple digit weather is being paired with strong, dry wind which is terrible for people like me with allergies. My garden is the one of the few things that make…