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Tag Archives: plants

I’m glad it’s still summer

04 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by Julia Monroe in flowers, gardening

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Tags

begonia, flowers, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, plants, summer, vinca

It’s September 4th but I’m rejoicing in the summer cicadas, the sun’s heat on my skin, the tomatoes that are still trying.
1 late summer 14

Dragon Wing Begonia

Dragon Wing Begonia


Trailing Vinca

Trailing Vinca


4  late summer 14
Out of four vigourously growing Heirloom tomatoes, only one bore fruit, much to our dismay. But the flavor was so spectacular that we will try again next year.

Out of four vigourously growing Heirloom tomatoes, only one bore fruit, much to our dismay. But the flavor was so spectacular that we will try again next year.


New growth is appearing at the base of one of the Heirloom tomatoes.

New growth is appearing at the base of one of the Heirloom tomatoes.

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We planted strawberries in the hanging planter

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in gardening, Uncategorized

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Tags

container gardening, gardening, hanging plants, nature, planters, plants, strawberries, strawberry planter, strawberry plants

Honestly though, I’m not optimistic. My husband brought home a box of 20 “Strawberry Plants” from a discount store. Inside were two plastic bags of dirt and not a green leaf in sight. It took me a while to figure out the mass of mulch-looking matter actually contained some roots. I had no idea how the tangled mass was 20 plants so I just played in the dirt a bit until 20 little “pony tails” fell out.

The strawberry plant roots were all tangled together in a mass

The strawberry plant roots were all tangled together in a mass


I figured the plant end must be the part that was not the root end. I’m really a beginner at most gardening so this mass of root was new to me. ha
Strawberry plant... which end is which?

Strawberry plant… which end is which?


We’ve had the Hanging Strawberry Planter “As Seen on TV!” for several years but have never used it. I’ve never seen it on TV but bought it when it was steeply discounted in a toy catalog. Not exactly a move a seasoned gardener would make, eh?
We put dirt into the planter up to the middle of the first holes and lightly pressed it down. The directions said to press the roots of strawberry plants in through the hole, being careful not to damage the fragile leaves. But all we had was a lumpy stump so I did it opposite – I pushed the hard little stump out of the planter and spread the pony tail roots inside.
Good planting soil is shoveled into the hanging strawberry planter.

Good planting soil is shoveled into the hanging strawberry planter.


We slowly filled the planter with dirt and kept adding plants. Some plants had to share a hole.
Here you can see the roots spread out over the soil and the "not root" end sticking out the hole.

Here you can see the roots spread out over the soil and the “not root” end sticking out the hole.


Strawberry Planter 5
Strawberry Planter 6
Strawberry Planter 7
We continued laying plants and soil until the planter was full. After the last plants were added, we filled the planter up with soil.
A last layer of soil is added to the planter.

A last layer of soil is added to the planter.


One of my strong sons lifted the planter up to the sturdy hook in the roof. It’s the sunniest spot on the deck and the strawberries should fare ok there.
The planter is lifted up to the sturdy hook.

The planter is lifted up to the sturdy hook.


Strawberry Planter 10
We measured a gallon of water and poured it in.
Strawberry Planter 11
When the soil settled, we added a bit more and then added more water. We must water once a day.
Strawberry Planter 12
And now we wait.
It's not the prettiest addition to our deck, but it is promising.

It’s not the prettiest addition to our deck, but it is promising.


I’m going to watch for leaves. I’ll give these plants a week or so before making a judgement. If they don’t make it, now that we know how to use the hanging planter, I’ll go to a garden center and get “real” strawberry plants. Since I’m still a beginning gardener, I need a back-up gardening plan like that. We suspect that more knowledgeable gardeners must spend way less money on gardening than beginners like us with multi-layered back-up plans.

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Figs!

17 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in gardening, nature

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Tags

fig, fig tree, figs, gardening, plants

The first year there were no figs. Last year there was barely one spoonful of tiny figs. But this year, after a mild winter and plenty of cool, spring rain, there are figs!

We do not know what kind of fig tree this is. The figs are plump and healthy. And within the reach of any hungry deer… which I am praying does not happen!


We don’t know what species this fig tree is either but it’s much taller than the other one. We will need a ladder to pick the figs when they are ripe.



“A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
“And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”
From Luke 13:6-9


The first year there were no figs. Last year one tree had no figs and the other had one taste. This year is promising.
We just had to wait.

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