[Bush Lady]

Hi Myrna

We had, I think, 10 bushels of potatoes. We grow Yukon Gold every year. One of the potato farmers in Azilda is were we have been picking up our seed potatoes.

When you have been eating home grown potatoes. And in the spring, when the potatoes start to get soft. And you have to go in the grocery store and buy those, "so called potatoes". WHAT ARE THESE POTATOES

And you asked about the name. It is with a "K".

We had snow here to. My brother got up a 5:00 a.m. to clean the driveway with the tractor, so he could go to work that morning.

I should put some fresh pictures up on Facebook. And show the mountains of snow the tractor made.

[oil painter]

Hi Erika
Sorry for the misspelling

Oh you mean the ones they call new potatoes that have sprouts on them !!! yuck
Maybe misstaters or almosttaters--you come up with a name. They sure don't taste like our own. Why do you think we started eating them right after they flower.I didn't know they grew Yukon gold in Azilda. We have bought some from potato farmers in the valley but they usually sold Kenebecs Now Bill buys his seed potatoes at Levack Home Hardware. The superior has yellow flesh much like Youkon gold.

What else do you grow?
I must admit I don't do much anymore in the garden except to help harvest things. That's my husbands territory I do grow tomatoes and such in the greenhouse, but Bill plans the garden the way he wants it and does most of the work in it.

I take care of the flower beds and greenhouse

[Tuppence2]

Thanks for the advice about gargling with salt water, Myrna. I hadn't thought of it for a cold. I do use it when I havem outh ulcers, etc. I know that asparagus stays for many years but hadn't though of it as invasive. I've not made up my mind yet to actually plant it. I would get the crowns and not plant from seed. I'll take a look at the supplier on line.

Yes, potatoes are in the offing, Bushlady. I'm growing "Red Duke of York", "Hermes", "Seline" and "Coleen", or will be. They're not planted yet.

A cold but dry morning. . I'm off to church and then have painting to continue indoors as I'm decorating the hall so probably won't get out on the garden. I saw this morning that I have a first daffodil about to flower - new bulbs I planted last year.

I've just noticed to blue-tits taking an interest in the bird box I put on the trellis in the back garden. They are busy little things.

[Bush Lady]

Hi Myrna

I grow a lot of things in the garden. The first thing I put in every year, is onions. Then the carrots, the peas. Can't go a year without fresh peas. Usually have a small cabbage plants started outside in a little home made green house. That we take apart every year. Last year the cabbage plants wouldn't come up. So I didn't have that, but I have so much sauerkraut jars in the basement that I don't have to worry.

Green beans is what I also grow. I at least would like them to be green and not yellow. The COOP in Verner sells seed in bulk at the store, but they are only yellow beans. I have been growing yellow beans for a few years now. But last year I went to the green house in town and picked up some green beans. I kept the dried up beans from last year, so I don't have to buy any seeds this year.

I tried growing spinach last year, and am going to do it again. I also have seeds for that this year. So I will not be buying any of those.

You can't use your seeds every year, evenually you will have to go and buy fresh seeds. I have noticed that when I was always trying to use the cucumber seeds from the previous year. After the third of forth year, you will be buying new seeds.

About the potatoes. The place I pick them up is on the same street were Belanger Feed is. I just don't remember the name of the place. We just have a phone number. And we will not be buy any this year any way. Have enough left for planting.

[oil painter]

Hi Everyone:
Penny your house will look like a showplace when you are done--new bathroom and Painting too!!
It will be a couple of months before my daffodils show their heads--it must be nice.

Erika:
I buy almost all my seeds through seed catalogues. Check out T+T seeds on line..Their prices are cheaper than what you pay in the store and you can buy in larger quantities and they mail your order to you. They have a $4,95 shipping fee if you order just seeds and an extra $4.95 if you order plants and things. Since I only order seeds I only pay $4.95. Because they are in Manitoba you pay only 5%GST and no provincial tax so that nulls the shipping cost. It's too late for this year but they usually give you a 10% discount if you order before Feb. 15th. Even wthout that though I think you come out ahead and you can choose the varieties you want. If you order now you will have them before planting time.

If you order try the purple beans. They turn bright green when you cook them, have good flavor and none of the stringiness of green beans. My husband who is the green bean eater--I prefer the yellow ones--wouldn't go back to the green ones since he tried them.

My son grows spinach because he likes it for salad. but the thing about it is that it bolts fast, so you have to plant it every month or so. We grow swiss chard instead.

[Bush Lady]

I cook my spinach the way my mother did. I still have some in the freezer. I blanched the spinach. Keep some spinach water, because I need it for what I make with it. I melt butter in a pot, add flour. Then add some hot spinach water. What I have then looks like a thick gravy. I then add the spinach I have. (which is ground up fine). I use a small meat grinder. I cook potatoes. We have spinach with potatoes for supper with a fryed egg.

Oh yes, then spinach needs to have a bacon flavor, so if you don't have bacon, add some liquid hickory smoke, or some simulated bacon bits.

It tastes great.

[ymfoster]

Hi Everyone,

Sounds like you're all going to have a head start with your vegies this Spring,


Here are a couple of shots of my Belladonna Lillies at the moment, ....

[Tuppence2]

Hello Yvonne. Nice to see your lovely lilies. My daffs are beginning to flower, the miniature and full-sized ones. Crocuses everywhere. I went to Wells yesterday to see the Cathedral and look round the town and passed swathes of purple crocuses and there are snowdrops everywhere. I've just been out winding rose stems round the trellis - they are all in bud. If the weather stays dry, I might get to dig some of the garden at the weekend. Hope you are well.

[oil painter]

Hi All;
Nice to hear about flowers blooming somewhere, while I look at the pile of snow in my yard.

Nice lilies Yvonne: How tall is that variety? it doesn't look too tall but pictures can be decieving. I'm looking for a low growing lily. I have stella d'oro and that's about the height I want. I pulled out all my asiatic lilies last year. I got tired of fighting the red lily beetle.

Did you get all your painting done Penny? Nice that you can get out and have things coming into bloom

[Tuppence2]

Hello Myrna.

No, the painting's still on the go. I'm not feeling like doing much as I'm still full of a cold. Decided I wouldn't go to volunteer in the charity shop today because of it.

I was given "day" lilies yesterday and planted them. Just been out to water them. It is nice to be able to do some gardening. Apparently, the lilies are white, that's all I know about them. When they flower, I'll post a photo so they can be identified.

My greenhouse panel still hasn't been replaced by the building contractors. If it's not done next week, I'll contact them as I'll want to start using the greenhouse soon.

My "Tete-a-Tete" daffodils are in flower. Really pretty. Such sweet little things.

[Tuppence2]

Here's the "Tete-a-Tete" with peony shoots and an infant aqualegia just showing.

[oil painter]

Nottawasaga Daylilies

[Tuppence2]

Thanks very much for the name of the site with the lilies, Myrna. What lovely flowers. Hope mine grow well.

[oil painter]

Hi Penny:
Nice picture. What color are your peonies. I have a beautiful white one. It opens up a creamy white and then turns white with a yellow tinge in the center.

My daylilies are Stella D'oro, and they are classed as ever blooming. They give a flush of bloom and then a few for the rest of the summer.

I don't have columbine anymore but they are a beautiful flower.I just got tired of fighting that little green worm-I think it might be the cabbage worm at least it looks like it. Do you get that too? They can strip the leaves in short order if you don't catch them on time.

I like your small daffodils. They are on my list of things to try but I haven't yet.

Well happy gardening all. I'll join you in a month or so, as soon as we get rid of this cursed white stuff

[Tuppence2]

Hello Myrna. Thanks. Pleased you enjoyed the photo. The peony is either a red or pink one.. It's new, this will be it's second year. It didn't flower much last year. I have old red ones that my mother planted, it must be 50 years ago, still in the garden and another pink one on the other side of the path. That's a big, blousey flower, very showy.

I'm looking forward to the day lilies. Does their name indicate that they flowers only last a day or so, or does it mean they open in the day and close in the evening?

I think "Tete-a-Tete" are technically narcissus, but I call them miniature daffs.