Aug. 8, 2008 Blog Housekeeping
Hello,
I just wanted to let my readers, if there are any  , know that I have tweaked my friends list. Please do not take it personal if you have been removed. I wanted to trim it down to those blogs that are nature or Charlotte Mason related. I removed many blogs that I read daily from my rockyridge blog's friends list. You are still my cherished friends, I just like to have my reading of blogs done in different ways. I hope this makes sense. I am just trying to organize things so I can be more efficient with my blog time. It's how my brain works, I guess! This post will be up top for a few days, so scroll down for newer entries, if you are interested.
Blessings,
Jenn |
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Jul. 31, 2008 Garden Update
The Morning Glory is finally blooming, one bloom at a time! I love its rich color. Of course, I long for more blooms, too.
Here is a side-dish in the making, perhaps tomorrow evening?
Cool slices on my next salad perhaps? Now I am starting to feel like a predatory gardener.
The big picture.
The lilies are still going. Last blooms are getting ready for their swan song.
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Jul. 30, 2008 Just a pretty flower Jul. 23, 2008 Garden Update
I feel like the garden has been on auto pilot for quite some time. There are few if any weeds that ever need pulled in a Square Foot Garden. There has been abundant rain and sunshine, too. If only I had more space in that sunshine for more boxes. Oh well, the lovely trees keep our house somewhat cooler, so it is a give an take I suppose. Here are some update photos.
The wild "main" box. We are getting a dozen or so cherry tomatoes daily. Yum!
The "Green Bean, Basil, and Strawberry" box. I need to make some pesto soon. 
Ryan's box with lots of Zennia's about to bloom in the back.
Here's an up close of the Zennia.
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Jul. 15, 2008 Garden Update
Here are some photos of our plants from mid-July.
 These lilies are going strong. I could not water them enough last year to get the same results as all the rain we've had this year. It's amazing.
Here is Ryan's (ds, 10) box. Things are growing well here too with minimal attention.
Another lily.
The Hosta I got at Walmart last year. So lovely!
Here is a view of both garden boxes.
I have decided not to replant anything in the spaces left from the lettuce. The cucumbers are going crazy and need the room to roam. See that one hanging down in front? It started in the back corner.
Does anyone know how long it take for Morning Glories to bloom? I planted them in early May. My dad says they might not be getting enough sun. That could be. Sun is hard to find in my backyard!
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Jul. 5, 2008 My Hummer Friend
Finally I have a picture of my hummingbird friend.  It was at the suggestion of my smart husband that I set up the tripod to try to capture a photo of our illusive hummingbirds. Unfortunately, I could not use flash because of the window and had to use digital zoom, so the pictures were not the greatest, but I finally have them nonetheless.
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Jul. 5, 2008 Garden Update
It's been great fun, having these garden boxes. So far we have eaten some strawberries, green beans, lettuce and a couple cherry tomatoes, not to mention the herbs we use frequently. The carrots are almost ready. We each sampled one yesterday. They had great flavor. They just need to mature a bit longer. My husband is convinced that these raised boxes are the way to go and is planning to build another one on the other side of the stairs next spring. Yippee! I will have great fun this winter planning the two boxes. Here is an updated picture.
The Mornging Glories...  
Be sure to check out the entry below this one. I took some pictures today on our nature walk. |
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Jul. 5, 2008 Nature Photo Walk
We went for a nature walk today at our favorite living history museum. Here are some of the photos. And by the way, I am also learning how to use Picasa Web Albums, so I hope these work!
 
 
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Jun. 27, 2008 Summer Flowers Jun. 17, 2008 Good Quote & Some Garden Updates Jun. 12, 2008 Garden Update: The Longest One Yet!
OK, if anyone is wondering, it is not normal for a garden to look like mine does in June in Indiana. This is what a normal garden looks like this time of the year. (It's my neighbor's.)
I have to say with all the natural water and the superior soil mix (sand, peat moss,organic top soil) my garden is incredible. Even 2 neighbors have remarked about how healthy every thing looks compared to their sparse plots of improved clay soil, which in my humble opinion is an oxymoron because you cannot improve clay! The Square Foot Garden is the only way to go for me from now on. But enough of this, let's get to the proof.
Grace harvested some lettuce for lunch yesterday. She was very excited. She reminds me of a bunny when she eats whole leaves of plain lettuce.
 Look at these tomatoes!
 See this little guy peeking through? There are lots of little green cherry tomatoes now.
 Look at the cilantro. I think the flowers are so pretty. Makes me want a box dedicated to herbs next year.
 The greenbeans and strawberries are doing well, too. Oh, I almost forgot the lone basil in the bottom left corner. It is recovering from some frequent trimmings to make pasta sauce.
Here is one last look at the cucumbers. I found some scrap lattice hiding in the garage. I hope to get these cucumbers to vine on the lattice.
I found some for my Morning Glories as well. (Don't you just love free stuff!)
 My precious lilies are going to bloom soon, too. What color do you think they are? I am thinking a dark orange red.
 Here's another look at the Pictim. I think it is in heaven with all the rain. I've not seen it this lush before.
 We started some Zennia seeds a couple weeks ago. Look at them grow!
One sad note, we had to have the apple tree cut down. It was leaning across the backyard and as it turns out it was hollow down the middle. Here is a view of the backyard without the tree.
So there you have it. I would encourage anyone to give the Square Foot Garden a try. It doesn't have to be big at all. I can be as small as one square foot like my friend Lynn has. I have very little previous gardening knowledge. I just got some books from the library and gave it a go. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy this process with your kids and let nature take its course! |
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The year's first bloom.
I think I have figured out why my Clematis is not as robust as I would like. I have come to the conclusion that the soil where it is planted is probably very impoverished. So my new plan is to spread some of my compost there and see if that helps. Looking back, I probably should have thought of that before I fist planted there. Hindsight is always 20/20. I'll be posting a garden update tomorrow. You won't believe the changes.
UPDATE: Thanks to Michelle's insightful comment, I now know that my Clematis is doing just fine for it's second season. Here is the saying she included in her comment.
The first year they 'sleep,'
The second year they 'creep',
and the next year they "Leap!"
Thanks again, Michelle! |
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Jun. 5, 2008 Garden Update May. 29, 2008 Pressed Flowers
Here are some of the pressings we made last week. Darling Husband is going to take them to work and laminate them for us to see how that turns out.
 I am so glad we pressed some of the Bleeding Hearts because now they are all gone. |
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May. 27, 2008 Garden Update
 Sunday afternoon we planted 2 yellow bell pepper plants and 3 yellow squash. There is still one empty square. I am going to attempt broccoli from a seed since I have them on hand. That will complete this box of 24 squares!
I also planted my shade container.
I could not pass up these two half price trumpet lilies to go with the one I got for half price last year. I still do not know the colors of any of them! I don't really care. They were cheap!
My oldest son, 10 years old, planted his flower box, which is in partial shade, so it was a challenge to find just the right plants.
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May. 27, 2008 A Freebie You Won't Want to Miss
Do you know about CurrClick? They offer a free ebook to download each and every week! This week just happens to be one that speaks to my heart, as they often do! They are offering us the LBC Nature Journal! For free! You have to go check this out. I have already printed off a copy of the first 14 pages which features information about the following topics:
- Introduction to nature study
- Finding delight in nature study
- Charlotte Mason on nature study and nature diaries
- Better nature journaling
- Dry brush technique for nature journals
- Instructions for nature journal
- Nature journal template
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May. 21, 2008 Green Hour Challenge #1
We are way late in joining this challenge that Barb has so graciously hosted these past months. But now that our formal lessons are winding down, it seems like the perfect time for us to get started. If you would like to join in too, it is never too late. Here is the link to challenge number one.
To begin our assignment we were to read pages 1-8 of the Handbook of Nature Study and highlight or underline anything that would be a help to me in guiding my children. Of course re-reading this section was a great encouragement to me. I had never thought to underline in the book.
Next, we were to get outside spending 10-15 minutes outdoors just to enjoy being outdoors. For this part of our assignment, we decided to walk around our yard looking for wild flowers. We took a few samples back inside to study and later press.
After our discussion time inside, we decided that we would like to investigate further the names of some of the wild flowers. We are going to get a book from the library and see if we are able to name them that way.
Thanks for stopping by to read this post. See you next week with lesson 2.
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Here we pulled out an old dead bush, transplanted hosta from the front yard and spread some mulch. This area was almost done for free! 
My new pitch-fork!
Click here to get your free download
"Owl" by Grace age 8
