Friday, July 14, 2017

Gardens


Hello.  I have had a couple of more blooms from the Chocolate Garden I wanted to share. 


Nasturtium.   


Dahlia "Chocolate Sundae"

Here are a few of my other flower beds.





I kinda love Coneflowers.









My smokehouse got a new roof last week. The old one was over 25 years old.  I wish there was a way to instantly weather them.  I didn't realize how bad the old ones were!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!
Blessings...Melissa

Friday, July 7, 2017

Blooms and Furry Friends

Hello! I've decided to take this rainy day and show some updates of chocolate garden. When I planted them back in mid April, they looked so tiny and I wasn't sure they would make it.  It was so cold and rainy for the longest time and they just wouldn't grow.  It finally warmed up, but became so dry.  I was always out watering.


  So finally, the weather has evened out a bit and they are beginning to look good.  I was disappointed that more of my seedlings didn't sprout, but I really don't think I would have had room for them all if they had.  My spacing could have been better when I transplanted also, but they were so little!!  

I have Nasturtiums in the front that I started with seeds in the garden.  Behind those are a couple of Sweet Williams.  I had trouble getting them to sprout and grow so I only had a few to transplant.  Next are the chocolate flowers. They are doing very well!!   Then there are the Dahlias.  They are budding right now so soon there will be flowers.  The Rudbeckia are next.  They are growing very well, but I'm thinking since they are perennials, they probably will not bloom this season.  I will definitely have to do some transplanting since they are too close together.  Next are the chocolate wild carrot that have a few buds as well.  Finally, the chocolate sunflowers are in the back.  They are just the perfect size and have the  most beautiful blooms.  


The chocolate flowers are supposed to have a chocolate scent, but I don't really notice it.  My little friend, Felix, is posing.  Someone dumped him and his brother, Oscar, off in the middle of the night.  So, now we have two more kitties!  They are sweet little guys.  



Chocolate Sunflower.


In the front is one of the Sweet William flowers.  I made the little bird bath "cat water dish" a few years ago.  Schmitt, another newbie this year was too shy to look at the camera.  He was a "town kitty" who showed up at our son's girlfriend's house. They have dogs so he came to live with us.


I have a couple of pepper plants and tomatoes mixed in as well.  Next to this garden is my Herb Garden.  I have always had a few herbs but never in one spot.  I have 3 barrels that I have Chocolate Mint, which smells as good as it sounds, regular Mint, and Lemon Balm.  The barrels keep them under control as they really spread.



My Cilantro (top left)  has now become Coriander and needs to be trimmed back.  I read to plant cilantro seeds every two weeks to keep a continuous supply.  I may try that or just put it in a pot so I can keep it out of the hot sun.  It is a cooler weather plant.


Next to my Herbs sign, I have a Pineapple Sage plant.  It smells heavenly!!


The bunny sits in a patch of Thyme.  



Here is the new crew.  The little black one is named Hannah.  Our daughter's friend found her along the road, but couldn't keep her. Apparently we run a cat sanctuary here!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Blessings..
Melissa

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Progress....

Hello!  I wanted to post a picture of the progress my Chocolate Garden is making.   As of today, almost two weeks since planting, the Chocolate Viola is the only plant that hasn't sprouted any  seedlings at all!!  The germination on those is a little later, so I'm hoping that is why they aren't up yet.  It has been cool, so today I put a heating pad under the tray for a bit to warm them up!!  I have been spritzing them with a water bottle a couple of times to keep the pellets wet.  




I am ready to get outside and start working on flower beds.  The cool and rainy weather is getting rather tiresome.  I purchased a few pansy and viola plants yesterday that I need to get potted in the next couple of days.  The bright pop of color that flowers bring is a welcome addition to the spring landscape.  


Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!!
Until next time...
Blessings....
Melissa

Friday, March 31, 2017

Chocolate Garden

 A Chocolate Garden?  Sounds like something only found in Heaven!!  This garden will be a feast for the eyes (hopefully)  more so than the palette (with the exception of a couple of plants).  What gave me the inspiration for this new project was a plant I purchased at the end of last summer.  It was a cute perennial with little yellow flowers and brown centers that promised the fragrance of chocolate.  I did a little searching on line and found a wonderful site.  Chocolate Flower Farm. 
www.chocolateflowerfarm.com.  How did I never hear of this before??  I decided to purchase the Chocolate Garden Favorites bag that comes with seeds for 6 flower varieties as well as a delicious chocolate smelling votive.  In it were seeds for more Chocolate Flowers, Sunflowers, Violas (edible), Hollyhocks, and Sweet William.  It was to include Pincushion Flowers as well, but Chocolate Wild Carrot was substituted.  I was excited about this because I really wanted those  but didn't get them because I thought there was a large extra shipping charge associated with them.  When I told my husband, he said, "That's a weed, you know?".  Leave it to the farmer!!  Anyway, I also purchased seeds for Nasturtiums, Dahlias, and a beautiful Rudbeckia 'Green Wizard.  


Each variety comes packaged and labeled so well.  There are also sowing instructions included with each .  There are six of them that require they be sown indoors 6-8 weeks before planting.  I was going to start this last week but didn't get to it.  Hopefully they will first actually sprout, and then more importantly, grow well enough to be transplanted outside.  I tend to over care for plants by giving them too much water.  I promise to be more careful this time!!


I purchased this little Jiffy Greenhouse for my seeds. I followed the directions to add water and boy do those little pellets take so much in!!  Within a few minutes, they were ready!!



I'm sure there is an appropriate tool that "real" greenhouse gardeners use to fluff up the pellets.  I don't have one of whatever that is, so toothpicks it was for me!!  I used them to push back some of the mesh, fluff up the dirt, and gently cover the seeds.  


Since many of these seeds are super tiny, I also used the tip of the toothpick to pick them up and put them into the pellet.  I put two seeds in some of the pellets because I only had another large greenhouse and I didn't want to use it for just a few seeds.  I'm hoping I don't regret that.  


All planted, labeled, and ready to be placed in our south facing bow window!!


Obviously, it will have to be lot sunnier outside than it is today for the poor little things to sprout!!  I put Winston in charge, but he's too busy napping in his bowl to be much help!!


Wish me luck!!  I'll keep you updated with pictures!! Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend. 
Until next time..... 

Blessings...
Melissa

Monday, March 27, 2017


Merry Monday!!  The sun was peeking through a bit ago, but I'm afraid it gave up!!  I decided to share a bit of sunshine from around my home instead. Here are just a couple of my spring gatherings. 


Back door guests are best!!  A cheerful welcome!

 I found this little bunny recently at TJ Maxx. Love that store as well as Marshalls for cute little home decor.

 A display in my kitchen.

After first appearing back in February when it was unseasonably warm, my mini daffodils must feel safe enough now to start blooming. I just love these.

Until next time...
Blessings.....
Melissa


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Spring Time Wax Goods

Good afternoon.  After a long absence from blogging, my hope is to jump back in and share some of the projects I am working on.  In the time of my absence, I have been busy with life as we all are.  Our son, the baby, is a senior this year and we have just finished up an amazing season of basketball.  As freshmen, the varsity team was 1-21.  Each year since has shown steady improvement.  This year they finished at 23-2.  League (12-0) and Sectional Tourney Champs.  It has been a wonderful ride.  Now that it is over, the scramble to finish his scrapbooks and plan for a graduation party are on the agenda.  I keep thinking if I don't plan, he won't really graduate and we can have a do over!!!  

I have also been busy in my Etsy shop, Farm Field Primitives, with new Blackened Beeswax items.  Here are a few that are available. 

Antique Bunny


Chocolate Bunny


Cotswold Sheep Cupboard Hanger



Primitive Crow



Large Easter Eggs


Mini Eggs


Sitting Bunny


I have some new plans for my flower garden this year.  I will share some of those in future posts!  Thanks for stopping by.  

Blessings....
Melissa