Finally peppers!

Look who decided to show up this week - a pepper! It's been a long time coming, but I finally have a few peppers on my bhut jolokia plant. This was the first one and it literally appeared overnight. One day nothing and the next morning it looked like this. Now, there are several peppers on the plant.
Unfortunately, for the past week, we've had some pretty strong evening thunderstorms. The high winds and pounding rain have given my plant a beating. The flowers on the plant (which produce the peppers) are delicate. The slightest touch in the wrong direction pops it right off of the plant. I couldn't tell you the flowers I have lost since it bloomed. But, I can't dwell on that - I have to keep the ones I have alive.
The smaller of the two plants has not even flowered, which gives me some concern, but it still looks pretty healthy. I have been treating them both the same, so I'm not sure what is going on. I just gave them both a dose of fish emulsion (and if you don't know what that is - count yourself lucky!). We'll see how the progress goes in the next week. In the meantime, here are a few other pics from the porch!

A horizontal view with several peppers.

The fuschia pink echinacea in full bloom. What beauties!

The citronella plant has grown into the second rung on the cage support.

As you can tell, even in the heat of summer, the plants are doing well. I find myself asking the constant question - To water or not to water? The general rule is to poke your finger into the soil and test the moisture under the initial layer of dirt. The top coat will dry out and your plant looks like it needs watering. In most cases, it does not. Over watering is a crime easily committed. If you have any doubts about your gardening ability or limited time to look after your plants, the garden centers are full of helpful resources. Invest in a moisture control soil or a watering meter. This will save you some time and money when it comes to keeping plants alive. As always, contact me with any questions : )

Until next time - Happy Gardening and take some time to "smell the roses".

Finally flowers!

I'm happy to report my peppers are doing well. Approximately a week ago, I discovered the buds on the plants had flowered. Small white flowers with purple centers. Absolutely beautiful to me - and encouragement for my fiance (who can't wait to eat a pepper). A few of the petals have fallen off now, so I am watching daily for signs of pepper growth. Bhut Jolokia is slow growing - so patience is key. I'm starting to see evidence of a "potential" pest problem. Not sure if that IS the problem...but it's worth keeping an eye on. (These plants can be susceptible to such pests as aphids, etc.) I read today a light dusting of powdered lime will prevent most insects. If it is an aphid problem (this bugs are known to carry other viruses), then a mixture of common household liquid soap, water and cooking oil sprayed on them should do the trick. It also suggests using a heavy spray from the hose to remove them, but that would disturb the pollen (that helps to create more peppers).
Only time will tell. I don't plan on letting ANYTHING ruin these peppers...unless it's out of my control. And if it's pests, they've had a bad day.

The fuschia pink echinacea plant is starting to open up and it's as beautiful as I expected. Such a contrast from the typical lavender (Magnus) version. I couldn't be happier with the results. When the greenhouse is up and running, these plants will be in the ground and I will add more colors to the two I already have. Maybe a Paradiso Mix from Burpee.

 

 The Citronella plant is growing like crazy! I'm glad I went ahead and purchased a "tomato support" while I was buying the plants. The foliage is beautiful and the scent is great. When I water this plant, the whole porch smells like citronella!

On another note:
Last Friday, I received a fabulous mail art package from Jessica Gowling. (see previous blog) I returned the favor by sending a package back to her today. I'm rather proud of the handmade envelop (made from an old poster  - circa 2005). I also was able to pick up some cool stamps to add to my next mail art packages. After all, you can't send a homemade envelop and have it plastered with a postage label! Canada is currently in the middle of a postal strike (and it has made it to Jessica's area). I hope she receives this package soon - I don't think I can wait to hear what she thinks of it!

Until next time - Happy Gardening and don't forget to send someone a handwritten letter. It really can make their day!

Mail art excitement!

Well, first I see my banner posted on Dolan Geiman's site today and then I checked the mail. SURPRISE!!! First mail art package received (from Jessica Gowling). I honestly didn't expect to be so excited!! I knew it would be cool, but I'm ecstatic!. It completely made my day. I feel like a little kid right now receiving their first piece of mail. As adults, we are so accustomed to getting bills and junk mail, we forget what it's like to receive something great! Although I'm not a Bieber fan - my daughter, 14, loved the sticker (so she got a surprise too!). I'm already thinking of cool things to include in the return package.

Front of the envelop (which I took great care in opening).

Back of envelop (just as cool as the front)

This is one of my favorite things from the package. So weird, yet so cool! And it's a sticker!!

 Fabulous note on the back of her print, welcoming me to "the family."

Thanks to Jessica for making my day and reminding me in a subtle way that I'm a star. I look forward to extending my mail art family and receiving something worthwhile in the mail regularly. 

Until next time - Happy Mailing and remember There's nothing better than receiving a personal letter.

Sharing the blog love

Items listed in Dolan's blog entry for June 8th entitled, 15 Handmade Items: Summer Lovin.'

In May, I posted a "round-up" of the local arts festival, Artisphere, on my blog. I had the pleasure of meeting Dolan Geiman along with several other artists that day. As promised, I sent Dolan a link to my blog entry. He proposed we do a banner swap for our blogs. Share the love as I like to say.
Well, I'm happy to report my banner is up on his site today (I'm in the side rail on the blog). Thanks to Ali Marie for her help and communication.
You can be a part of his site too by joining the Dolan Geiman Lodge Club. (click on the link for more details). Not only are you helping to support a fellow artisan, but you can receive 10% off all Dolan Geiman purchases. And that's pretty good in my book!

Until next time - Happy Blogging/Surfing and share the love!

They grow up so fast!

Yesterday, I took a trip to Lowe's to buy bigger planters for my peppers. With all the recent hot "summer" days, the peppers were filling their black pots and asking for a new residence. I wish I would have taken a photo of these peppers when I received them in the mail. Just tiny seedlings looking for a good home. I would like to think I've provided them with that and more. (They started out in the smallest orange planter, then moved to black, and on to the biggest).
If it sounds like I think of my plants as babies - you would be right. I love to see their evolution. A new leaf here, a branch there - nothing escapes my watchful eye. And while it sounds ridiculous to some, I find absolute pleasure in contributing to a plant's growth. Would it happen without my help? Sometimes yes, sometimes no...but I feel like I've made my mark on the world. Eventually, they will die out for the season and I'll return to my longing for Spring to return. But while they are here, I will enjoy the precious moments I've been given - to nurture and care for them.

The biggest of the two plants getting adjusted to its new home.

My echinacea plant (coneflower) has its first fully opened bloom now.

Before I go, I want to share a couple of things I found on the web about this subject. Both made good points, so I couldn't list just one. (The titles link to the pages I found them on). Enjoy!

Life Is Like A Garden  

Posted by John C. Morgan on May 24, 2007 

I wrote my last newspaper column about what I have learned from my garden. The lessons were simple: You can't control weeds any more than you can control other people or everything that happens to you and that even with the best planning, gardens, like life, have a habit of going their own way. I also pointed out that a garden is the best place I know to restore yourself.

It was interesting to me how many people learned a great deal from their gardens. One person said he learned how to care for others by caring for his garden. Another said it wasn't the weeds in his garden that bothered him; it was the weeds that grew from his neighbor's garden into his. A third person said he had running battles with creatures who wanted to burrow their way into his garden and pull plants out by their roots--a little like having bad neighbors, he said. 

These comments and others helped me to see how much of our wisdom comes from the natural world. We learn about growing and nurturing and even dying from the world in which we live. Nature is an equal opportunity teacher if we respect her. Martin Luther, the reformer, was asked what he would do if he knew the world was going to end. His response? "Plant a garden."

Life is like a garden 

By Rusty Lindquist  

 

Imagine you’ve been given a garden.

It’s you’re garden, and your responsible for its care.
You decide what grows in it. You decide what it looks like.
And you get to partake of the fruit that comes from it.
Like any garden, it’s gonna be prone to sprout weeds.
Undesirable seeds will occasionally be blown in, and you won’t know it until they sprout.
But you get to decide how long those weeds stay. How tall they get.
But be careful, because left untended, weeds have a way of taking over.
In fact, it’s often the case that after prolonged neglect,
we look at our garden and see nothing but weeds.
In these times, it’s easy to curse the garden we’ve been given.
It’s also easy to look at the weeds in our garden, and think that it’s too late, or that this is how it was meant to be, and that there’s nothing we can do about it, at least not now.
When you look at your garden and see only weeds, it’s hard to forget that it’s still a garden.
The weeds do not define it.
They are merely the visible evidence of what you’ve allowed to grow there.
If you don’t like it, change it.
It’s your garden.

Until next time! Happy Gardening and take care of those weeds!

Creative confidence

It seems like ideas come to me in spurts. The creative surges I get last for a short time and then they are gone. But during these surges, I am bombarded by so many ideas. Some things I don't even know if they are possible. (I am sure they are, I just don't know the techniques to make them happen). I keep a notepad or sketchbook handy at all times. Often while riding in the car - listening to music - I have these "surges". My daughter thinks I'm completely nuts when I start digging for a pen/pencil in the bottom of my purse just to quickly scribble something down.
I am desperately trying to find a way to harness this energy. If only I could bottle it up and uncap it when I need it. But, as all creative personalities know, it just doesn't happen like that. I understand and fully believe that doing something creative every day helps. I am currently involved in 30 Days of Creativity project for June. (Go to the website to find out how to participate). Most of the things I have made are small, but they are a BIG contribution towards "cranking my creativity level."
I constantly look at other artists' creations, gaining inspiration, but at the same time feeling a little inferior. I need to learn how to take the inspiration and run. Not to listen to the critic in my head telling me to give up or I'm not good enough. I think we all fight that feeling at times. But, the artwork I make is mine and no one else's. I recently posted a quote on Facebook that says: For a man to be successful he must be confident in himself, what he is and what he does. That is the truest statement for an artist.
 Two nights ago, I finished the mixed media piece above. And while it's not the Mona Lisa or an award-winning piece - I'm very happy with it. I think mixed media suits me well. It reminds me of cooking. A lot of good things come together make something fabulous. I can't say I'll never listen to "the critic" again...but I can tell you sometimes I will ignore it.

Until next time - Happy Creating and tell "your critic" to shove it!!

What a difference a day makes!

I was just telling everyone yesterday how well the bhut jolokia peppers were doing. And the possibility of having to re-pot them sooner than later. Well, I think the peppers heard me somehow! I was checking on them today and saw these tiny buds. This tells me not only are they extremely happy in this heat, but they are ready to flower - which produces peppers!! (Very similar to a strawberry plant).
When first starting this adventure, I told Scott I would do my best to keep these plants alive. The are known to be a very finicky plant - wanting "just right" conditions to produce peppers. I couldn't be happier. I will keep updating everyone and taking pictures of the process. I'm on a learning curve here and I'm taking you all along for the ride!
 
Until next time - Happy Gardening...and be careful in this heat.