Relaxation in the Garden

As summer break begins, I am rethinking my approach and purpose for my garden.  Normally, I am up at 5:30am to water, weed and do anything possible to preserve the flowers and vegetables in growth.   

But for the next few months, my focus is shifting.  I am REALLY going to take the TIME to enjoy my garden.  I planted seed in the spring and have plenty of growth.  Could I continue planting and grow more?  Sure.  Do I really need more?  Not really.  Is it more work than yield?  Absolutely yes.

These are good questions to ask yourself as an Arizona gardener.  The possibilities are endless in our climate where we are fortunate to have two full growing seasons.  Our relentless sun and manageable soil result in little downtime for reflection and physical rest.  You can literally plant and/or harvest something every day of the year.

Take a rest and ask questions like, "What grew best this season and why?  Did I maximize my yield?  Did I plant the right plant in the right spot?  Are pests an issue and how can they best be prevented/treated?  Do I need to test my soil?  Does my irrigation need repairs?  What will I do different next growing season?  The answers to these questions will result in a smarter, renewed approach to your next project.   

This summer, for every minute I work outside, I will spend double those minutes to relax in my beautiful garden.  Isn't that the point? 

"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.  My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.  The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful."  ~Abram L. Urban

Green Tea with Mint Leaves

Yogi Green Tea, Super Antioxidant

Mint is very easy to grow.  It can be invasive so consider planting it in a pot.  There are so many great varieties of mint to try:  chocolate, lemon, peppermint

Fertilizing Citrus

Don't forget to fertilize your citrus trees this weekend!  Citrus should be fertilized three times per year:  around Labor Day, Valentine's Day and Memorial Day.  Here is a great chart with more information on this subject:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcals.arizona.edu%2Fmaricopa%2Fgarden%2Fhtml%2Fpubs%2FMC91.pdf&ei=f-tEUMzQINDSigKM-IGADg&usg=AFQjCNFI4JqpaCVb5R2BOUJ70A45JOhAMQ

Ready, Set, Plant!

It's one of my favorite times of the year - cool season planting time!  Despite our hot temperatures, late August/early September is prime time for planting your cool season veggies.  Over the next couple weeks, spend some time preparing your beds so you have a successful crop of yummy fall vegetables. 

I have cleared 2 of my 3 beds for planting, and am adding some beds to my veggie patch.  Take a look:

In the back of the photo, under the sunflower art, will be a new 3x6 raised bed.  I plan to plant all flowers in here for a colorful backdrop to the veggies.   I amended the bed in the middle of the photo with my compost that cooked over the summer.  This 2x5 bed will soon be full of kale, lettuce, swiss chard and broccoli. 

This is a new raised 3x3 bed that will be filled with soil and planted as well.  It is made of recycled wood and plastic so it won't rot or splinter.  I am going to let my kids plant this one with seeds of their choice.  The more exposure children have to the seed to plant process, the more likely they are to eat vegetables!

If you are unsure of what to plant this time of year, refer to this fantastic Vegetable Planting Guide for Maricopa County:  http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf

Another great reference is 10 Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden: 
cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1435.pdf

Get moving and happy planting!

Sweet Salvage

I recently was introduced to this fantastic store by a friend.  It is only open for four days a month, and is located in the antique district on Phoenix on 7th Avenue.  I just adore this birdhouse I found last week:

It is hard to stay focused and expect a long line if you arrive right at 10am, but don't be discouraged!  The line moves quickly and there is enough merchandise for everyone to find treasures.

Address:  4648 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix  85013
Phone:  602-279-2996
www.sweetsalvage.net

They will be open again on August 16-19, September 20-23 and October 18-21st.

Happy Shopping!

A Gardener's Refrigerator

I recently posted a photo of my car trunk on a typical day.  Well, here is the current status of my second refrigerator. 

This is what happens in my house when your pumpkins ripen a little early.  Yikes!  The good news is I harvested all the pumpkins so I have just enough room to keep them happy until Halloween.

July Heat

Not much flourishes in our 110+ temperatures except for a few sunflowers.  I have four different varieties, but the Mexican Sunflower is my favorite. 

I think I'll spend most of the this month reading seed catalogs and preparing for a large fall planting!

Stay cool.....

A Gardener's Trunk

At any given time, my car is transporting some type of plant material.  Soil, transplants, seeds, empty pots, bugs, garden tools - you name it.  Most people keep car emergency kits in their trunk.  I keep a garden emergency kit:  clippers, a trowel, extra seeds, empty bags for plants, zip-ties and a couple of my favorite plant reference books.

We are selling our old house and I've been busy propagating as many plants as possible from my beloved gardens of the past.  Yesterday, my trunk was full of transplant treasures:

Look closely and you'll see iris, daylilies, pencil euphorbia and osteospermum.  A good day at the office, indeed!