This past Saturday we had our first spring gardening class of 2009, Raised Bed Gardening. It was well attended, with both questions and dirt flying. This year we had decided to plan and plant our own little Victory Garden in the raised bed area to the north of the property. Most of our regular gardeners will remember this as the area where our amazing white rose blooms so profusely all summer. Don't worry, it isn't being taken out and re-located - it will be one of our big pollinators as it brings the bees in with it's breathtaking beauty and scent. It is also located directly west of our vegetable and herb selling area, so we thought it would be a great way to showcase what you can do in a raised bed, as well as supply us with well needed veggies for our summer salads on work days. Last year we grew some amazing tomatoes and basil, but this year we are shooting to fill the whole bowl with fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, squash, carrots and ???Our Victory Garden is taking a slight twist over the historical meaning, a kitchen garden planted during wartime to relieve food shortages. Our Victory Garden will take on our personal twist as we fill it with small sticks that have special meaning for the author. What has your personal victory been this day/week/year/life? We invite you to participate as we supply small stick signs for anyone to write on and place in our raised bed when it is completed.
Michelle and I started the class with a little basic information, and then she got the digging going. Over the next hour we were able to get one corner of the bed started as well as hopefully inspire everyone in the class to go home and start planning out their own. We ended the session with a tour out to our worm box, lifting the lid and smiling as we watched the hundreds.....or what seems like thousands, or worms that are growing and thriving in the back garden. Stop by anytime, we will walk you out there to take a peek.
Here is Michelle pointing out the MOST IMPORTANT thing to amend for gardening success in our desert sand/clay area, the soil and the addition of living nutrients.
And what would a class be without our sweet Harriet weaving her way in and out of our fellow gardeners legs, making sure that Michelle and I are doing everything correctly.
And what would a class be without our sweet Harriet weaving her way in and out of our fellow gardeners legs, making sure that Michelle and I are doing everything correctly.
If you missed the class, or just need some helpful hints, click on the link below to take you to the website page where we have summarized much of what we talked about.
Happy Gardening, Susan
We stopped in Carson City on the way home so I could show the girls where I had picked up the amazing new cabinet that we have placed in the Red Zinnia as our new tasting bar. I am a huge fan of used furniture stores, and will share a few of my favorites on a post soon. Lucia had a list of antique/thrift stores in Carson that she had googled and printed before we left, and we ventured into most of them, including another of my "Retail Comrades" the Purple Avocado, a great little gift shop voted favorite in Carson City many years in a row. But the absolute hit of the three days was this next little gem. We had set a time limit before we went in because we wanted to get home before dark to unload the vehicles, and it was a good thing. First one in the door, I turned around and yelled to Lucia, "oh my, you're never going to believe this one" and in we walked. This store is not for the "I must have everything in it's place Pottery Barn" type of person. This is the type of store that is a "retro/used/priceless/antique/junk store/recycled treasures" that is exactly what all of us love. Every inch of the floor, the walls, the windows, the ceilings - are filled with treasures. The five of us circled and circled each room, calling out to each other as we walked through each doorway leading into yet another treasure trove. We kept our time limit, sort of. But we left with all sorts of goodies and a new found friendship with the stores owner, Julie. As is our custom, we always ASK before taking pictures in another person's store. We know how hard it is to work our displays and keep everything looking fresh and inviting. Almost unanimously, not only have photos been welcomed, but it leads to conversation and new found friendships with the shopkeeper. This was the case with Julie, we talked blogs and gift shows, exchanged insight into the retail economy that we are all facing, and picked each others brains on upcoming ideas for spring. This final group photo was taken in front of the mirror that found it's way into the back seat of my truck! It will have a new home at Red Zinnia. I can't believe that I have been going to Carson City for 20+ years and never new about this little diamond, but I guarantee I will be going back often just to see what is hiding behind the next corner.
We are already planning our next little get-a-way. See ya soon, Susan.
If I was allowed to pick only one thing that was the absolute best thing about the Flower Tree it would have to be the women that I am surrounded with on a daily basis. I am one of the lucky ones, I get up each and every day and look forward to where I will be that day. But since we opened the Red Zinnia, here is how my day starts. I lay in bed looking out the window at the trees and say to myself "ok, today is .........and I am at ......(insert Flower Tree or Red Zinnia here) and I get to play with"................but with most of us now being split between the two stores, it also means that you don't get to "play" with everyone very often.
Statue of Snowshoe Thompson, local hero of Genoa
Moon on the way back to Wild Rose that evening after the tasting. Absolutely breathtaking.
