by Garden Pixie in It's Growing Jun 20
When I initially started my garden, I was quite worried about killing things. To tell the complete truth, I’ve killed my share of plants (all by accident, of course), but one plant that never ceases to amaze me is the moonflower.
Since planting my first few moonflower seeds, I was worried that they wouldn’t sprout and when they finally did sprout, I worried that they would be too cramped in the container I was using, and when I realized they would grow without hindrance once I’d placed some stakes in there, I worried that the unforgiving South Florida would do them in for good.
Nothing, and I do mean nothing, that I may have done (or not done) could wipe out these darling flowers. Then, one evening after a long dance class and work out at the gym, I came home to the most beautiful sight: two full moonflower blooms beckoning me with their sweet fragrance. Continue reading »
Tagged: climbing vines, moonflower
by Garden Pixie in It's Growing Jun 20
I didn’t think it would happen. In fact, my heart sank when I accidentally uprooted the one and only seedling that showed its tiny head a little over a month ago.
Then, just two days ago while I was watering some of the other plants (wow, South Florida can really go from sopping wet to intensely arid in just the span of a few minutes), I decided to check the seed starter greenhouse thing. Low and behold, seedlings! And lots of them. Continue reading »
Tagged: alpine strawberries, red wonder, yellow wonder
by Garden Pixie in It's Growing Apr 19
The one thing I’ve wanted for my home is a fragrant floral assortment. Sweet peas were my first option, but while doing some research, I came across a flower called the moonflower.
It’s name was the first thing to draw me in — moonflower — it seems so ephemeral. So, mysterious and mystical. On top of it, everything I read about the flowers said they smelled divine and as a bonus they bloom at night. Who could ask for more?
So, I set out to pick up some sweet pea and moonflower seeds. When I got home, I immediately planted the sweet peas and set the moonflower seeds aside. (Which reminds me, I still need to write about the sweet peas. I’ll do that in the next entry.) Continue reading »
Tagged: climbing vines, moonflower
by Garden Pixie in It's Growing Apr 18
Hindsight is 20/20 for sure. When I think about it, I’m wondering why on this green Earth I chose onion chives when I cannot stand onions. Seriously, they make me gag. And onion chives smell just like those same onions which make me gag.
At the time, I decided on it because they were the only kind of chives in the Wal-Mart garden center and I do love sour cream and chive baked potatoes. I figured, what could possibly be better than fresh chives on a baked potato? The answer is fresh garlic chives. Continue reading »
Tagged: chives
by Garden Pixie in It's Growing • Plant Heaven Apr 18
For anyone who’s ever complained about grocery shopping, let this post serve as a testament that it can be fruitful.
On a trip out to Publix, I saw they were offering certain herbs already grown and ready for transplant — my favourite kind. I picked up two: lemon balm and chamomile.
Lemon balm because it smells so yummy and makes great tea, and chamomile because it has pretty mini-daisy (or sunflower) looking flowers and it makes great tea.
From the looks of both of them, they seemed simple enough to grow and maintain, plus they were cheap. That means if something went wrong and they both died, I wouldn’t be out too much financially. Continue reading »
Tagged: chamomile, herbs, lemon balm