Sunday Potager Garden Ramblings #78

Happy Easter weekend, friends. Though Easter is my second favourite holiday (after Thanksgiving), I am sitting this one out. Hubby is not at home this weekend so I am just puttering and hanging out, catching up on all the things.

I am watching a dozen or more robins outside my window, playing in the snow, looking for food, I suppose? Either way… they are the harbingers of spring, so it is a happy, happy day.

I am really starting to get the itch to sow and grow! Every time the sun shines, I am ready to roll. Every time it snows or rains or is windy out, I am suddenly a hermit again, lol.

On the next lovely day, I will be going out to heel in my echinacea ice cubes and sweet pea seeds for earlier blooms. I just need bare soil that has kind of dried up as we don’t want to be mucking about in wet soil, right? Read about ice cube seeding in tomorrow’s post from the potting shed,

I am getting a weekly post from the NYT that is called ‘The Good List’. A bunch of feel good real life stories to bring you happiness, a bit of joy, something nice in your day. One of them was about asking ‘What’s good today’ instead of ‘How are you doing’ when folks are going through a tough thing. Even if you are in a real funk, having a bad day, if you try to find one positive in your day, it (hopefully) will improve your state of mind. So, in caring for your mental health… What’s good today?

In mine… it’s a real good day (this was yesterday, the weather today is less nice; )

The weather is nice and sunny today. Nice enough that I can leave the door open to let in the fresh air as I putter.
The dogs can go in and out as they please, are loving lying around on the deck and watching the world go by.
Daughter came for a visit, helped me clean out my master closet.
Talked to my son, brother, and bestie.

Check out this stunning planter pot that I saw this week on one of the BC commercial greenhouse pages. Stunning, eh? I am thinking that this I will use this as a bit of a template for my colour palette this summer. It sure does look amazing. So fun!

Psst – If you are local, I will have some of these flowers available for purchase in early May so you can make your own similar planters : ) Message me to know you are interested so that I order enough from our local wholesale greenhouse.

A living room with snake plants, pothos, spider plants... Tables covered in all sort of indoor tropical plants.

This Is How You Do It… (did you sing that when your read it?)

What Adding Coffee Grounds Does to Your Plants
Direct Sowing for Beginners: How to Plant Seeds Directly in the Garden
When & How To Direct Seed In Spring
Ask Wirecutter: How Can I Stop Killing Houseplants? – great indoor plant advice.

A raised bed with hardware cloth on the bottom of it to keep out moles. — *Hardware cloth on the bottom of your raised bed will keep out moles, voles, etc.. We have this at the bottom of our wooden raised beds as moles are a thing here.*

How-To Ideas I Loved This Week

How to Build a DIY Raised Garden Bed: Step-by-Step Guide with Pictures
How to Make Floret Flowers’ DIY Potting Soil Mix – Here is the breakdown for a smaller batch, in case you want to try it.
Planning a Square-Foot Garden: Grow More Crops in Less Space
If you are unable/too busy this spring to build a cage to protect cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, etc… in your raised beds or gardens, to protect against aphids and caterpillars, check out these ready made options. Huh, who knew!

A beautiful pink and yellow honeysuckle vine. — *Gorgeous pink and yellow honeysuckle vine.*

Garden Tips & Ideas I Loved This Week

Honeysuckle is the Best Fragrant Vine for the Front Yard | Homes and Gardens
The Clever Bird Trick that Gives Healthy Roses All Summer (not just for roses!)
Sow These 7 Flowering Seeds Straight Into Gravel or Cracks – I love these ideas for around your pavers. Direct sow into gravel and they will grow. Huh.
4 Simple Garden Swaps to Save Money as Well as the Planet
Inoculate Your Soil Naturally with a Handful of Forest Duff – I’m not sure about taking it from the forest, but it is true that adding different soils, composts, and soil conditions will improve your soil as it gives you more soil life diversity.

Your Birth Month Flower – And The Meanings Behind All 12 – Fun read. My two June flowers are gorgeous and I just happen to have both in my garden. My hubby’s flowers are the two that he dislikes the most – hahaha.