Happy New Year all! It has been a while since I have written here. Busy holiday-ing and hibernating, mostly.
Finally wintersowed some seeds, starting the cycle anew. I love getting my hands dirty while the ground is frozen and snow-covered, not to mention the surprise of peeking into a container and seeing green shoots once the world turns closer to the sun again. Started with 20 containers but plan to add some each week or so.
I will list what I have started and keep adding to it, helps with my Estate Garden record keeping. Anyone else wintersowing? What is your favorite thing to wintersow? If anyone wants seeds, leave a comment and if I have some left I will gladly share.
These photos show the containers right outside the door. It is really cold so I have yet to bundle myself up and move them to the garden. You can see Maddie who turned 18 yesterday in the pics. She has been an indoor cat all her life and despite the cold, she took a little slow patio stroll right past me as I held the door open to take some photos. How she could stand the frigid snow on her tiny bare paws, I don’t know. She still surprises me somehow. She might have stayed out there but I snatched her up quick and brought her inside.
Wintersowing Estate Garden 2014Sown January 21, 2014:
Borage (EG 2013)
Money Plant (Mom’s 2013)
Shallot, “Zebrune” (SSE 2012)
Peony, Pink (EG 2013)
Hyacinth, Grape (EG 2013)
Jewelweed, Yellow (Round Hill Farm woods, 2013)
Sun Poppy (EG 2013)
Elderberry (ladies from Phipps, 2013)
Snow on the Mountain (EG 2013)
Black Eyed Susan (Mom’s 2013)
Job’s Tears (EG 2013)
Rose, Red (EG, 2013)
Rose, assorted (Neighbors, 2013)
Rose, Red Bush (Mom’s, 2013)
Rose, Yellow (BH’s Neighbor, 2013)
Rose, Yellow (Park near aviary, 2013)
Rose, Red Long-Stem (BH, 2013)
Rose, assorted (GS, 2013)
Japanese Maple (Phipps, 2013)
Hemlock (by CVS, 2013)
Ahoy garlic! ‘Tis a fine treasure indeed!Bulbs set up to cure for a few weeks…
The Estate Garden has done well in some respects, not so well in others. More on that later.
Tonight, we shall discuss one thing: garlic!
The garlic was harvested. Of 132 cloves planted in the autumn of 2012, 97 bulbs were harvested this week. I used my handy dandy treasure map to determine which variety was planted where and how many went into the earth to begin with.
Overall, the bulbs were smaller that I had hoped. I did leave the scapes on this year; I think next year I will cut them off when they appear. One variety, Georgia Crystal, did not produce. Not sure if the bulb I had purchased was to blame or if it was just a bad area to grow garlic? Only one other variety, Spanish, was planted in that bed and out of two cloves planted, only one survived to bulb-dom. I think I will attempt to secure more Georgia Crystal and try in this suspect area again as well as another bed and try to deduce what the problem was.
So my next problem is what does one do with 97 bulbs of garlic? Obviously the best bulbs will be chosen for seed next year and we will make some fresh garlic bread, but then what? My Pinterest boards are already clogged with ideas and recipes galore. If you are Pittsburgh local and want some for seed, let me know, I have plenty to share!
Busy making things over here. Making things for Brown Bird Green String, for my family. Hands in cookie dough, garden soil, embroidery floss and pots with strange brews aka natural dyes. Walking to parks, to libraries, to neighborhood shops. It’s a happy busy, a distracting busy, a busy I truly need right now. Taking my mind off of oppressive things of the sort I can’t change.
custom towel for wedding
Yesterday was such a fantastic day! We played in the sun, enjoyed lunch and dinner outside. I finished up a project (albeit at 2AM!). However, the icing on the cake was finding out I was accepted into a great artists’ market in July. The kind where a fancy craft tent is warranted. Big time!
Today, the shimmer wore off a bit, chipped and peeled to reveal the gray behind. Maybe it was the rain. Maybe it was a late night catching up with me. Maybe it was a hike postponed and a longing for green lush forests. Maybe a combination of everything.
The wee and I launched from the estate fairly early, “To Phipps!” our rallying cry. We had snacks. We had umbrellas and raincoats and rainboots and crocs for when one boy became tired of rain boots. We had money! All we needed were the plants.
We arrived and were shocked at how many people were already parked up the street. We drove around to find a spot and the usual place we park, way up the street, was full. We turned into Schenley Park and not one spot! We turned around and drove out of the park and back onto the oak-lined street and there in front of us was an empty spot. After a lovely parallel park we paid for parking and pulled out little red wagon along the sidewalk towards Phipps and the May Market.
I won’t bore you with details about all the plants. Oh, the plants! I will say I like to do a small look-see turn first, determine what items are must-haves, then circle back to make decisions and purchases. After much deliberation the first purchase was made. A lovely Solomon’s Seal from Sylvania Natives was exchanged for $10 and set carefully, gently inside the red wagon.
The wees took a small break from shopping to plant up some zinnias of their very own. Then we went back to the task of selecting and buying. As we rambled along, Wee One began to push on the back of the wagon. I asked him to please stop, as he could hurt our plant. Wee One then gave another push, this time to the seat back that is made to fold down. It folded down, just as it should, snapping two stems on the clump of the Solomon’s Seal.
This was the end for me, a downward spiral I could not climb out of. Tears filled my eyes. We had worked so hard to get here and be here, and now what was the point? I had just bought a plant for $10 that was probably dying as we spoke. I could not justify buying more plants so I told the wees we had to leave, that we could not buy any more plants. Our plant was dying and mommy was sad.
The kicker was this; no one else would understand how truly sad I was. How little things like going out to buy some plants from small local greenhouses and farms mean so much to me. How doing something for myself, for my pleasure, is a rarity these days. How I am being swallowed up by motherhood and feel guilty about everything. Guilty for being selfish, for being a terrible mother who is raising children who do not listen, for just failing at a simple outing, a simple task.
I belted both wees into the wagon, picked up the already-drooping plant and pulled the wagon slowly up the hill towards our parallel parked car. Wee One began crying, he did not want to leave. Wee Too yelled loudly at Wee One and told him over and over we were leaving.
We packed everything back in and drove home. Wee Too fell asleep on the way home. Wee One was quiet. We got home and we tended to the Solomon’s Seal. I cut the two broken stems off, the ones that were also blossom-laden, placed them in a glass of water, put it on the mantel. Wee One watched and assisted in the repairs, then we planted the remaining stems and roots into a shady spot under the blooming azaleas. Then Wee One and Wee Too planted their zinnias into their own garden boxes.
Lunch was inside today, with stormy skies moving in. During nap time, I decided to go get my hair cut. Of course. When one feels out of sorts, it’s most logical to go and get your hair cut, right? When Nature Boy got home, I told him about my day and my need to cut my hair. He understood. Of course he did, he is amazing.
I walked into a salon, thunder rumbling. They were ready for walk-ins. The book I brought to read was opened and then closed before half a page was read. The hair cut was given. I felt euphoric, lighter, walking out. It was now raining. I walked lighter, swayed a little more. I don’t know that the cut itself, the look of it, is the reason. I think it’s more of the feel of it, the notion of it, the point of it. Whatever the reason, I am back on the up again.
It has really been a long time since my last post. I could offer you up all my reasons for this, but that would be a bit too personal for me, so we will just go into what I might have written about over the past couple of months.
The garden is in! I planted out my seedlings in mid-April, along with some seeds. I’ve had to cover the garden twice now to protect from frost and something is out there chomping off my tomato plants (rabbits? cutworm?) but these are so far the worst battles we’ve faced. The beans came up today; peas and lettuce and kale are growing well. In the wintersowing vs. indoor sowing battle, I will have to give the title to the indoor sowing method. While I really wanted the wintersowing method to work, it seems to be a bit unreliable and most plants are way behind in growth, sprouting just as I would be sowing them into the garden anyway. However, it did result in the sprouting of a rose from seed and the Job’s Tears also poked through the soil, two things I’m very grateful for and pleased about. I think I will wintersow some plants again next year and give it at least another try; the process is really kind of amazing and really helped me stay connected with the earth and her cycle through the winter months.
The business is good! Some recent sales on Etsy as well as some craft shows have kept me busy, that’s for sure. The third event in 2013 was this past weekend. When I first launched Brown Bird Green String in January of 2012, the first event I vended at was Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon. I learned so much there last year! I had a small square card table, my display was not very exciting and you could barely read my banner. Oh, and it snowed! This year the weather was perfect and I felt so much more relaxed and just enjoyed the day. I also met some great people and artists and reconnected with some old friends.
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2012
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2013
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2013, passport wallets.
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2013, table closeup
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2013. towels, table runners and purses.
Earth Day in Mt. Lebo 2013…new rings and new display box.
The gaining of strength, I need some help here. I outfitted myself with some new running gear–sneaks, shorts, a new sports bra too. I ran twice. What happened? Working late at night on my business (sewing, sewing, sewing) results in sleeping through my 5:45 AM alarm to get up and run. The weather also got cold and then I got a cold. I’m hoping to get back into the groove with it next week. It really was lovely to be out a pre-dawn, seeing the city come alive slowly. Again, if only I could function on four hours’ sleep, my days would be epic!
From here, I hope to keep up to date on my garden’s growth, my creative pursuits with BBGS and perhaps I’ll let you know how strong I’m getting, if I make any progress there. Running up hills is no joke!
The seed starting continues. If we have a lot of sprouts, the transplanting process is going to be epic. Two days ago, I walked the estate grounds with Nature Boy and we discussed spreading out plantings to some new areas. This is hard for him. He apparently likes grass, for some reason. I don’t really eat the stuff myself so I don’t see much the point of growing it. My plans are foreign, strange. Tomatoes and peppers in the front yard? Flowers in front of the garbage cans? Madness!!!
So in furthering the madness, here is the updated list. New sprouts have been spotted, more indoors than out. Wintersowing, can you come from behind to win this battle yet?
WINTERSOWING 2013
01.01.13
fennel, Florence (from 2012 garden)
onion, bunching SPROUTED 03.05.13
green bean, “Provider”
01.05.13
shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
01.08.13
lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 02.11.13
fern, asparagus (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
fern, foxtail (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
01.14.13
poppy (from 2012 garden) SPROUTED 03.09.13
yarrow (from 2012 garden)
cockscomb (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
red celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
yellow celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
mini chocolate bell pepper (from 2012 garden)
cleome (from Nature Boy’s mom’s garden, maybe 2011?)
coral salvia (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
02.11.13
pepper, ancho (The Garden Studio on Etsy 2013)
pepper, aurora (from SSE 2013)
pepper, king of the north (from SSE 2013)
pepper, mini chocolate bell (2nd container, from 2012 garden)
okra, dwarf long pod green (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
tomato, redfield beauty (from SSE 2013)
lettuce, tennis ball (from SSE 2013)
fern, foxtail (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
fern, asparagus (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
cockscomb, red (2nd variety, trade, from ST, Barbara M.)
columbine, red wild ( TGS 2013)
rose, heirloom varieties (TGS 2013)
foxglove, sutton’s apricot (TGS 2013)
02.25.13 (FULL MOON)
white baneberry (from 2012 garden, native wildflower)
columbine, Barlow doubles mixed, Burpee)
INDOOR SOWING 2013
02.25.13 (FULL MOON)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.01.13
pepper, ancho (The Garden Studio on Etsy 2013)
pepper, aurora (from SSE 2013)
pepper, king of the north (from SSE 2013)
pepper, mini chocolate bell ( from 2012 garden)
shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.04.13
tomato, organic cherry (from 2010 garden) SPROUTED 03.07.13
tomato, redfield beauty (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.05.13
squash, crookneck (from 2012 garden)
foxglove (mixed, from 2012 garden) SPROUTED 03.05.13
lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
rose, heirloom varieties (TGS, 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.07.13
viola, mixed (from 2012 garden) SPROUTED 03.07.13
03.11.13 (NEW MOON)
borage (ST, Avis M.)
calendula, sunshades mix (ST, Avis M.)
canterbury bells, cup & saucer mix (Burpee 2013)
cleome (from Nature Boy’s mom’s garden, maybe 2011?)
columbine, McKenne’s giant mix (ST, Avis M.)
coreopsis, dwarf red plains (ST, Avis M.)
daisy, shasta white knight (Burpee 2013)
daisy (from 2012 garden)
lettuce, tennis ball (SSE 2013)
mustard, giant southern curled (ST, Avis M.)
pepper, Jimmy Nardello (from 2012 garden)
poppy, double shirley (ST, Avis M.)
red currant (ST, Eric T.)
sweet William mix (ST, Avis M.)
I sit, awaiting the first flakes. Winter storm on its way, so says the weatherman. Not to worry, I am more than prepared.
Surely, I must be speaking of rock salt and shovels, bread and toilet paper? Nope, I’m talking spring. I am arming myself against this storm with vernal vestiges aplenty.
Today, the wees and I took a long walk in the sunshine and stockpiled some Vitamin D. A quick check of the wintersowing revealed new sprouts, of the bunching onion variety. Long spindly forsythia branches were carefully cut, exposing their green innards and brought indoors to bloom within the warmth of our walls.
The indoor seeds are also sprouting. Yesterday, shoots of shallot and today, tiny Redfield Beauty tomatoes and foxgloves poked their drowsy heads up.
I feel quite insulated against the cold bones of winter with all this fresh new growth around. I am awake and ready.
WINTERSOWING 2013
01.01.13
fennel, Florence (from 2012 garden)
onion, bunching SPROUTED 03.05.13
green bean, “Provider”
01.05.13
shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
01.08.13
lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 02.11.13
fern, asparagus (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
fern, foxtail (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
01.14.13
poppy (from 2012 garden)
yarrow (from 2012 garden)
cockscomb (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
red celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
yellow celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
mini chocolate bell pepper (from 2012 garden)
cleome (from Nature Boy’s mom’s garden, maybe 2011?)
coral salvia (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
02.11.13
pepper, ancho (The Garden Studio on Etsy 2013)
pepper, aurora (from SSE 2013)
pepper, king of the north (from SSE 2013)
pepper, mini chocolate bell (2nd container, from 2012 garden)
okra, dwarf long pod green (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
tomato, redfield beauty (from SSE 2013)
lettuce, tennis ball (from SSE 2013)
fern, foxtail (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
fern, asparagus (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
cockscomb, red (2nd variety, trade, from ST, Barbara M.)
columbine, red wild ( TGS 2013)
rose, heirloom varieties (TGS 2013)
foxglove, sutton’s apricot (TGS 2013)
02.25.13 (FULL MOON)
white baneberry (from 2012 garden, native wildflower)
columbine, Barlow doubles mixed, Burpee)
INDOOR SOWING 2013
02.25.13 (FULL MOON)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.01.13
pepper, ancho (The Garden Studio on Etsy 2013)
pepper, aurora (from SSE 2013)
pepper, king of the north (from SSE 2013)
pepper, mini chocolate bell ( from 2012 garden)
shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.04.13
tomato, organic cherry (from 2010 garden)
tomato, redfield beauty (from SSE 2013) SPROUTED 03.05.13
squash, crookneck (from 2012 garden)
foxglove (mixed, from 2012 garden) SPROUTED 03.05.13
lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
rose, heirloom varieties (TGS, 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013)
viola, mixed (from 2012 garden)
Beautiful day today! Windy, warmer than it should be this time of year and mostly sunny. Clouds moving fast, their shadows flowing gray patches across the land. Of course, the Wees and I hiked down to the park and enjoyed the playground and a picnic. You don’t often get this kind of day mid-February. The playground (and the walk back home!) wore everyone out so there was a double Wee nap time. I went to work wintersowing.
Fourteen new recycled containers, filled with soil, planted with seeds, taped closed and put outside to freeze tonight, tomorrow and beyond until spring. Sounds crazy, right? Maybe not! Behold, the first sprouts were found today:
Kale sprouts, wintersown 01.08.13, spotted 2.11.13
These little sprouts gave me such joy today. Perhaps my efforts will be fruitful after all? A bit of fresh green growth on the horizon, something to look forward to in the coming weeks when the snow flies anew.
My updated tally for wintersowing:
01.01.13
fennel, Florence (from 2012 garden)
onion, bunching
green bean, “Provider”
01.05.13
shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
01.08.13
lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013)
fern, asparagus (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
fern, foxtail (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
01.14.13
poppy (from 2012 garden)
yarrow (from 2012 garden)
cockscomb (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
red celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
yellow celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
mini chocolate bell pepper (from 2012 garden)
cleome (from Nature Boy’s mom’s garden, maybe 2011?)
coral salvia (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
02.11.13
pepper, ancho (The Garden Studio on Etsy 2013)
pepper, aurora (from SSE 2013)
pepper, king of the north (from SSE 2013)
pepper, mini chocolate bell (2nd container, from 2012 garden)
okra, dwarf long pod green (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
tomato, redfield beauty (from SSE 2013)
lettuce, tennis ball (from SSE 2013)
fern, foxtail (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
fern, asparagus (2nd container, trade from ST, Barbara M.)
cockscomb, red (2nd variety, trade, from ST, Barbara M.)
columbine, red wild ( TGS 2013)
rose, heirloom varieties (TGS 2013)
foxglove, sutton’s apricot (TGS 2013)
Up to 18, yes, 18 wintersown containers chillin’ outside in my garden. Today, Wee One, age 3 1/2, helped sow the seeds. He’s a great assistant and truly LOVES gardening. This past summer, he would take seeds from some of the flower heads, dig a bit in the bed and plant them. He taught Wee Too, age 1 1/2 and they would stand there, side by side, working on their own impromptu flower garden. Some of the seeds grew and they took absolute delight in looking at the little stems and leaves popping fresh from the soil.
Below is my official tally as of today:
01.01.13 Florence fennel (from 2012 garden)
bunching onion
green bean, “Provider”
01.05.13 shallot, “Zebrune” (from SSE 2013)
viola, “Bowles’ Black” (from SSE 2013)
cucumber, “Double Yield” (from SSE 2013)
01.08.13 lavender, English (from SSE 2013)
kale, dwarf curled blue scotch (from SSE 2013)
fern, asparagus (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
fern, foxtail (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
01.14.13 poppy (from 2012 garden)
yarrow (from 2012 garden)
cockscomb (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
red celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
yellow celosia (trade, ST from Shannon H.)
mini chocolate bell pepper (from 2012 garden)
cleome (from Nature Boy’s mom’s garden, maybe 2011?)
coral salvia (trade, ST from Barbara M.)
It has begun! The new year, and the 2013 Estate Garden, via Winter Sowing. Only three containers to be had right now but an auspicious number for a beginning, if any. I used a small drill courtesy of my carpenter partner to drill in drainage holes and a few ventilation holes too. Like some photos I’ve studied, I cut the plastic containers nearly in half, used a small paper punch for to holes to tie it shut and after planting, taped it closed. I started some Florence fennel, bunching onions and “Provider” green beans. As I placed the containers outside amidst 6 or 7 inches of snow, I had to laugh at myself. Thank goodness the neighbors on either side don’t even pay much attention to me and my doings any more! So here I go, trying out a new way to grow a garden. Even if nothing sprouts come spring, the chance to plant something in mid-winter is quite therapeutic. The process itself has me hooked already.
I think this could be a problem. I picture hoarding of plastic containers, sinks filled with draining flats, and lots of lots of springtime plantings (and backaches!) in my future….
Who out there does it? Any advice? Anything you are super proud of growing like this?
brown bird green string 