Sunday Potager Ramblings #38 (Family Gatherings & Early Summer In The Garden)

Well, hi there! I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

We have had a crazy busy week with Dr’s appointments (finally getting my new hip!), some birthday prep (yours truly turned 60 this weekend), a bit of cleaning and prepping for out of town guests… Everything happening at the very same time, as they are wont to do.

That said, it has also been such an amazing week and I have been incredibly blessed.

A woman holding a small puppy while sitting at a table with a variety of food, including fruits and drinks, in a bright room with large windows. — My neighbour took this picture of Emmy puppy and I. We had the most lovely ladies get together in my potting up shed, with wine, coffee, fruit tray, cake, and an amazing charcuterie board form Bougee Charcuterie in Red Deer.

The birthday arbor that my brother built while I was off having a mani/pedi! And my daughter decorated so beautifully for our family dinner. So pretty!

A cluster of blooming lupins in a garden with green foliage and a wooden fence in the background.

How grow your gardens? My baskets and planters are finally starting to grow, flush out, flower, now that we are getting sunshine, heat, and rain showers. Things are starting to look amazing.

We had to take down 2 mountain ash trees by the fence line, but these lupins were hiding behind one of them, and sure do help to brighten up that corner. They give no privacy, hahaha, but are so very, very pretty.

Gardening Info & Bits of Inspiration…

Bright purple echinacea flowers in a garden, with green foliage in the background.

Echinacea – how to start it from seed, how to grow it, how to care for it.

A short 2 minute video with Alan Titchmarsh about how to deadhead roses. Tis about that season.

And another 2 minute video on how to water plants.

In the garden, all around Alan in that video, you will see beautiful blooming verbena. I do so love verbena! Here is a how-to about deadheading verbena.

Grow these 5 plants to attract ladybugs (or ladybirds, as they call they in the UK).

How to keep lavender blooming. deadheading now is a great idea, btw. Airdry the lavender in readiness for gifting, in some form, in the holiday season, and you will get another big flush of blooms coming along real soon. The hardiest lavenders are Hidcote and Munstead. They really are nigh on impossible to overwinter here in a zone 3, but if you have that perfect sheltered nook in your garden, and you mulch… well, maybe.

Close-up of blooming petunias with dark centers in a galvanized metal planter, surrounded by light foliage. — *Galvanized Planter Ideas – Rocky Hedge Farm*

These beautiful galvanised planter ideas. Stunning. Right up my alley as I love all things rusty and rustic.

Regenerative earth friendly gardening.

From Martha…. 8 plants you should always grow near apple trees.

Scented plants that mosquitoes hate. I am not sure I buy that, but I love all these flowers : )

How micro-clover can save your lawn… and your weekend. I so want a lawn like this.

Designer tips for creating a beautiful small kitchens.

How to make a scallop edged clay flower pot. This is so cute.

I get adverts for these magazines every so often. They have the most lovely ideas sometimes. I thought I would share this idea with you as I think it is super sweet. Either make a version of your own (this is what I am going to do) or order the magazine and stamps (so tempted to do this for Christmas ideas now).

A collection of creatively decorated envelopes featuring vintage stamps, handwritten addresses, and artistic embellishments, arranged on a dark background. — *Decorating Envelopes for Snail Mail – Live Laugh Rowe*

Decorating envelopes for snail mail. This is something I would totally do!

Long table settings. Inspiration for your big 60th birthday bash ; )

A wheelbarrow filled with a large harvest of red tomatoes, with a sprig of green herbs alongside. — When I sold my organically grown heirloom paste tomatoes at the acreage, I always threw in a bundle of basil because they just go together so well, eh? They grow well together (basil is said to make tomatoes taste better) and they taste great together.

Recipes/ Foodie Inspo

Bumbleberry Crisp with Saskatoon berries, rhubarb, and strawberries.

These crispy, chewy, chocolate chip cookies get rave reviews.

Basil pesto recipe. My basil is finally starting to grow. It stalled out for the longest time, just sitting there, not growing. Was probably hating that cold wind as much as I was. Now that we had several days of really good rainfall, everything is thriving. The basil in the greenhouse is doing well, of course ; )

The best zucchini relish recipe. She says it is sweet and tangy, can even be a bit spicy, if you want. Sounds pretty delish!

Would you like to start making sourdough bread but don’t have the time, patience, or confidence to make your own? Here is a Canadian company that will send you some 1898 Yukon Gold Rush sourdough starter. I mean.. yes, please. That sounds fab!