What I'm Growing

As promised in previous post, here are the photos of my plants from seed and those that I did not have seeds for (better yet my compulsion to buy starts).

Seedlings Before (store bought Swiss Chard in the lower right)

Store bought starts

The after....It is a lot, but believe it or not, this year I am cutting back what is going into the garden (unless I come across something that I can't resist, WINK WINK).

Store bought plants

As of yesterday I transplated all the tomaot plants that were moved to the 9 oz cups to 16 oz cups.  I hope to put everything in the ground next month when hope of all frost should be gone.

I started these from seed:
Started 01/21/13:

• Jelly Bean Hybrid Tomato (2 seedlings)
• Black Krim Tomato (1 seedling)
• Black Plum Tomato (2 seedling)
• Early Girl Hybrid Tomato (2 seedlings)
• Jubilee Tomato (2 seedlings)

Started 02/13/13:

• Poblano Pimento Pepper (1 seedling)
• California Wonder Pepper (2 seedlings)
• Jalapeno Early (1 seedling)
• Jalapeno Hot (2 seedlings)
• Salad Slicer (2 seedlings)
• Tender Green (2 seedlings)

I purchased these as starts:

• Serrano Chili Pepper
• Santa Fe Grande Chilli Pepper
• Cubanelle Sweet Pepper
• Phoenix Hybrid Tomato
• Husky Cherry Red Tomato
• Super Sweet 100 Tomato
• Pink Girl Tomato
• Mexican Tarragon
• Ichiban Japanese Eggplant
• Lying Saucer Summer Squash
• Black Beauty Eggplant (2)
• Quimalt Strawberries
• Cilantro (I currently have a pot with seeds, but just in case they don't take, plus when it is gets too hot it bolts)
• Rainbow Swiss Chard (already planted)

White Dinner Plate Hibiscus.  First time starting these from seed (could not find the actual plant at my local nursery).  Luckily during a Christmas card swap with gardeners in a group I was in last year, these were added to the card.  One plant took and now that is over a month old it looks great.

That little plant above was the only one that made it from about 10 seeds planted and now look her below.  I still plan to do this again, so that eventually, I could have a row of Hibiscus along the side of my house.

What's in the garden:

Amaryllis



Multiplying onions, given to me by a fellow book club member.

Ice King Daffodil

Pride of Barbados

My agave plants that reside on my front porch are doing great.  I am not sure if the stalks that are coming out the center will be flowers or if it is making more spines.  In researching them, I "THINK" mine are americana, I could be totally wrong. 

I am going to try again growing blueberries and blackberries.  Last time I tried, they only fruited a tiny bit, then ants invaded the container they were in, however in looking at them yesterday there are leaves forming, so after I kill off the ants, I will transplant them somewhere else.  In the mean time I planted last month the plants below.

Things seems to be progressing quite well.

Happy Gardening...



Quilting-Hand Work

I am venturing into more hand work. In 2012 I did my first applique project along with joining a hand applique club at my local quilt shop.

This wall quilt top just needs to be quilted.  I am not sure if I should hand quilt or not.  If I did I am not sure if I should do just cross hatching or something else.  If you have an opinion, please pass along. 

I came across this quilt called Rhapsodie Coloree II by Ricky Tims while searching for Hawaiian quilts, not quite Hawaiian, but it is a start.  I have completed the center and now working on the second circular section, which I only have about 3 more to do.  I am doing the entire applique portions by hand.  The center was the hardest.

I have also decided to do a whole cloth quilt by hand (always need a project to do while watching TV or listening to an audio book).  The center section in the first picture below was copied from a book, however as I go along, I am adding different motifs and making it up (either on my own or finding motifs to incorporate from books, etc.).  It is a slow progress, but I am enjoying the learning experience.

Happy Quilting...



Quilts from QuiltCon

I was lucky to be a Super Volunteer at the inaugural QuiltCon event.  To learn more about the modern quilting movement click here.  Enjoy some of the quilts I was able to squeeze in time to photograph as there were a ton of them (if you call it photography from my IPhone).  I do know on the web if you search for quiltcon you will find hundreds of photos.  Also try other social sites like instagram, flickr just to name a few.

Double Edged Love, Victoria Findlay Wolfe "American Quilters Society Best in Show"

Sing It Out Loud, Karen L. Anderson-Abraham "Coats & Clark Quilting Excellence Award"

The Local Quilt, Carolyn Friedlander "Stitch Magazine and Quilting Arts Magazine Best Machine Quilting"

The above winners at Quiltcon.

Super Volunteer Goody Bag

Happy quilting....