FROST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!! OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!

So it snowed this afternoon and went down to -2 degrees last night.  Tonight we might get more snow and it's supposed to be -6 degrees.  Luckily it wasn't a lot of snow and it didn't stay on the ground.  I think I jinxed myself in my last post by saying it was so nice out!

Ideally I would have brought the pots inside, but I don't have a spot to put them and well I have a thing about bugs....and outside plants might have little bugs along with them.  I can't say I have seen any yet...but with my crazy bug issues there was no way they were coming in.

I watered them all before the cold and snow and frost.  Then lumped all the pots in a corner of my balcony and covered them with a tarp!  LOL!!  I'm hoping this keeps the heat inside and doesn't make them get too cold!!  Eeeek!!

See the picture below of my tarp garden...

Please let the nice weather come back! 

I want my garden to grow!

...And let the growing begin!

So it's that time of year and all of April was beautiful!  No frost, lots of sun and warmth.  Not much rain, but that will come.  But May is the month for gardens and mine is started!

May 2nd was my 30th birthday and I got some fun garden stuff for my birthday.  So May 3rd the pots were planted!   That's right!  May 3rd!   I wanted to make sure I got started early this year!

Mostly I received a couple plants for my birthday and wanted to get them planted ASAP!

So here is what I did....

• 7 rectangular pots
• 4 round pots
• 1 small square
• 1 large square

I'm sure over time I might actually add some but this is a pretty good start I think!

Check out the pictures and see what I've planted!   Most of them aren't much since I've started with seeds this year.   Hopefully something good will happen and I can have lots of fresh veggies! Mmmm.....

Garden Season is approaching!!!

So its still March, I know.  But with the amazing weather we've been having one can't not think about the gardening season ahead.

Last year I planted and grew my first garden.  I had planned to keep it updated on my blog here, but the summer months kept me busy!  So busy I just didn't have time to keep this up to date!

What happened last years was I had about 10+ containers / pots with flowers, herbs, and vegetables.   I learned SO MUCH!  I did some reading online to find out about things I was not aware, but now that i've done it I know what I want.

Here is what I have planned for this year and things I have learned.  Some seasoned gardeners might read this and laugh, but it's what I've learned.

• More vegetables
• Less herbs and less flowers.
• I'm going to try soiless potting soil - I had too many little bugs that under the pots on the balcony
• Make a table to put the pots on - they need more sun and need to be raised to no longer be blocked by the balcony railing (I only get morning sun - hidden after 11am) - this will give the plants more sun and cause less moving of the pots.
• Put rocks in bottom of planters to allow for more drainage

I will have to figure out more and if you have any tips please!

Day 3

So nothing has really changed. My plants are still alive so that is a good thing. Nothing is anymore wilted than it was when I first bought them. Some look a bit more perky. I am a bit worried about the amount of sun though....

I noticed that after 11am I don't get much sun on the balcony...so.....

Some might be gonzo shortly.

There are no pictures today as nothing is really worth posting. See my previous post and you will see what they look like.

Hopefully tomorrow is a better day. I want to see them grow!!

The Beginning...

Saturday Afternoon, while visiting my dad and step mom at camp, was the day I decided to start my very first garden. They were quickly planting up about 5 pots with flowers and herbs. It looked so easy and beautiful. So I thought, "why can't I have my very own garden." And now I do.

In Canada we don't get enough warm weather so growing from seeds could take too long. Because of this I decided to buy some little plants at the local Canadian Tire. I bought about 15 plants. 9 flower pots. And 4 30L bags of potting soil! I used just under 2 bags and now have 2 extra under the BBQ stand. Bad decision.

I must also mention I have a 3rd floor balcony.

That's right, I only have a balcony. It's probably not the best place for a garden because I have a small roof over top and only get morning sun. I know, I know, morning sun is good, but it also provides limits.


DAY 1
Thursday June 11, 2009
8:40pm

Today was one of the nicest days we've had all year, and I had the day off. So I bought my plants, pots, soil, and gardening tools. I planted up 7 round planters and 2 rectangular ones, thank you Dollarama!

THE MESS:



THE OUTCOME:



WHAT I'VE PLANTED:

POT #1:
HERB: CHIVES



POT #2:
FLOWER: UNKNOWN

(I make sure there was that little stick because otherwise I wouldn't know what they were...and it fell out and now I can't find it! Now I don't know what they were! Geranum? Something else with a G?) Can you help?



POT #3:
HERB: CHAMOMILE


POT #4:
FLOWER: SNAPSHOT MIX (SNAPDRAGON) & PINK PIXIE ASIATIC LILY


POT #5:
FLOWER: DWARF BEDDING MIX



POT #6:
HERB: FRENCH LAVENDER


POT #7:
FLOWER: REVOLUTION (GERBERA) & UNKNOWN

(The stick fell of this small pretty plant too.) Any one know?




POT #8:
FLOWER: SNAPDRAGON (ROCKET MIX)




POT #9:
HERB: MINT & GARLIC CHIVES & GREEK OREGANO & SWEET LARGE LEAF BASIL