quote:

Originally posted by Domitella:
I can't wait to move to this place in York - it has a conservatory!

*is jealous*

Have you got housemates, and if so, are they already doing the garden, or do you have to start from scratch?

This is my favorite houseplant-- it's a cactus plant called an "echeveria," but I call it a Sneetch because it looks like a plant that Dr. Seuss would invent.



Here are it's lovely little blooms...they look like the flower version of kisses!

quote:

Have you got housemates, and if so, are they already doing the garden, or do you have to start from scratch?

I have two, and I don't think they have done any gardening! But it would be nice to get some herbs OH DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY!

I listed 18 jam jars on freecycle last night, and the bloke who came over to collect them two minutes ago gave me a jar of homemade jam! In urban London, he runs two allotments and so bottles tons of produce! I'm very impressed.

That's awesome, Hive. Homemade jam is the best!

I had it on toast for lunch. It was excellent - I'll have to email him and tell him so. People are often so nice on freecycle - there is no expectation that anyone brings you something in exchange (especially as they are doing you a favour by taking away your junk every bit as much as you are doing them a favour by letting them have it), but quite a few times people have bought something. I gave one couple a fireplace (complete with original deco surround and real marble inserts) and they brought me six bottles of really, really good wine!

We planted the 1st flowers in the yard yesterday!

lovely wedgewood and indigo delphinium


and some very lovely smelling stock!


Since we had frost for the beginning of the week they stayed inside and smelled up the place nice!

gorgeous! I love blue flowers.

As for myself I love the color blue, so of course flowers that are adorned with any shade of that hue is ace by me.


Note use of the word ace, this is something Domi has infected me with and I am not sure that's a good thing

A real live pic of my yard!



they look kinda sad now, but I have hope that they will be glorious!

Hal says: they look purdy

whee! one of my pepper plants has already got flowers coming on!

decided to make a couple of upside-down tomatoes.. homemade style.. it's rather easy.. the hardest part for me was getting the large plastic bottles (2 liter)...





if you like, I can tell ya how it's done..

^ I want to know!

okies Step by step then..

1. cut the bottom off a plastic two liter soda bottle. I used the lable as a guide to cut around the bottle.

2. punch a couple holes about an inch down from the cut end.

3. Thread a cord or strudy wire through the holes to make a hanger.

4. Thread the roots of the plant through the bottom hole ( bit of a challenge, but possible)

5. line the inside of the bottom hole with a piece of plastic to help keep the dirt and most the water in until the plant can create a "mat" or roots

6. fill in the pot with dirt, lifting some of the roots up so the soil can be tamped around the base of the plant.

7. water.. put a container under the plant to catch the water (see 5), as the soil settles, add more soil and water.

8. monitor daily for moistness, water as necessary with the container underneath for a few waterings..

The plant will look like it is trying to grow upwards, that is normal.

I fear that the bottle is really not going to be big enough/hold enough dirt to keep a tomato plant happy. maybe a cherry tomato. it really should be in a bucket.


The cabbages are in the ground - I checked the salad patch, I have some lettuce and peas just starting to poke out. the san marzano romas have been moved into cups, still have the regular romas to move. I have a flower bud on one pepper plant and the peppers that I brought in last year have lots of flowers and peppers growing. whee!

I wonder if a bucket would work better- you'd have to punch a decent-sized hole in the bottom to thread the roots through, but it would already have a hanger attached!

they should be alright in a bottle so long as they're fed right, I've seen decent size ones growing in that sized container.

I wanna do it with chillies!

well they do sell upside down planters on TV.. my mom said to use an old coffee can.. but this is an experiment.. we'll just see..

Something mysterious started growing in a pot of dirt left on our balcony over the winter. Anybody have any idea what this plant could be?