News

This year, I decided to volunteer once a week at a high school greenhouse in Wyandotte, MI. I have never had a greenhouse of my own, so I was really excited to help out and learn more about growing in greenhouses along the way. Every week I go, there's always something new and exciting going on! I usually get to work with a couple kids and help them start and transplant seedlings. The kids sell the plants at the school as well as at the Wyandotte farmer's market, and are part of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) program. I thought I'd share some photos, so I hope you enjoy them!

To view more photos from the greenhouse or larger photos of the ones below, check out my flickr album, Roosevelt High School Greenhouse. Every time I go, I wish that I had a greenhouse of my own!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello all!

Welcome to the NEW GardenHoard.com! It's been months of planning, tweaking, and adding products – and now it's finally released. We are still working on little things here or there, but I just couldn't wait any longer!

The site is much more interactive, colorful, and easier to use. Look around, share it with your friends, spread the word. Don't forget, FREE SHIPPING on all seeds within the United States and Canada.

There are still several things that I'd like to incorporate into the site, but that will have to be a surprise when it happens.

I want to thank everyone for their continuous support and for sticking with me. I would especially like to thank my husband, Christian, for all of his hard work making this website become a reality.

We are having some technical difficulties getting all of my old blog posts into this new site, so please hold tight until I get them all back. I had written lots of seed saving and seed sowing posts, along with many other posts, and they should be back within the month.

If you find any weird things on the site that shouldn't be there, please leave me a comment so that I can fix them as soon as possible. Thanks!

Fall is a GREAT time for planting! Perennial plants adjust much better in the cooler weather, and it's less stress on you too! You'll have bigger and healthier plants next year if you plant in the fall.

I know that this weekend's theme isn't really a theme, but I'm having a HUGE sale on my perennial plants! The season is nearing the end for Garden Hoard, and we'll only be selling plants and seeds for 3 more weekends, with our last day being on October 8th. So, all of the perennial plants that I have left are $1! Yep, you read right. I'd rather sell them all for $1 than having to squeeze them all into my garden. It's packed with too many plants as it is!

Check out Wilson Barn’s website to get directions and information. We'll be there from 8AM to 3PM!

I've been ridiculously busy with my gardens and plants, which is why I haven't been posting as frequently as I should be. This winter, get ready for TONS of new blog posts filled with tons of tips and ideas!

We'll then be at the barn for Pumpkin Fest, which starts October 1st, on Saturdays and Sundays through October 30th. They have tons of activities planned, so check them out, and check us out! I'm making all kinds of creepy wreaths, scary signs, spooky bird cages, pin back buttons, potion bottles, gift tags, and a ridiculous amount more for the Halloween season starting October 1st. Hooray!

We are no longer at the Redford market on Sundays, as I don't have enough plants to sell this close to the end of the season. My email is available on my Garden Hoard Facebook page in the info tab  if you need to contact me about absolutely anything! Or, just come see me at Wilson Barn. :)

So, what are the plants that I'm bringing that you can get for a buck? Here's your list of what I have left!

Perennials ($1 each):

Bee Balm 'Dark Ponticum': These are cuttings started over 30 days ago. Notably dark green leaves and stems with a minty-orange scent contrasted by pure violet purple flowers. Plants are compact, upright and sturdy. Makes a dramatic show for butterflies and hummingbirds. When crushed, the foliage will release a spicy fragrance and the leaves can be used to make a delightful herbal tea. (Only 4 left!)

Blanket Flower 'Arizona Sun': A Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner with large fiery orange red blossoms tipped by a ring of rich flame yellow. The flowers are large, many-petaled, and lovely. Expect them to reach 4 inches wide and to crowd one another for space on compact plants 12 inches high and 10 to 14 inches wide. They begin blooming in late spring and won't quit until nipped by fall frost! (Only 2 left!)

Bleeding Heart:  The common name of this plant, bleeding heart, comes from the heart-shaped flowers which have a longer inner petal that extends below the 'heart'. Pendulous flowers on slender stems grow from clumps of fernlike foliage in the spring. The flowering season is from early spring to mid summer. (Only 2 left!)

Confederate Violet: NOT THE WEED! The common name of this violet refers to the resemblance of the color of its flowers to the color of Confederate uniforms during the Civil War (pale greyish blue). Good groundcover for under trees or in other shaded areas. The blooms are edible and rich in vitamin C. The flowers are dipped in egg whites and covered in sugar to make 'candied violets' used to decorate pastries. The leaves can be boiled and eaten as 'spring greens.'

Daylily 'Stella de Oro': By far the most popular Daylily selection of all time, because it flowers for months on end. Excellent for massing, edging, borders or in mixed containers and tubs. Forms a dense clump of grassy green foliage, w/ upright stems of fragrant, golden-yellow trumpet flowers. Early repeat bloomer w/ compact habit.

Feverfew: Perennial Medicinal Herb. Feverfew is a little known plant with small daisy-like flowers. It has been used for generations in herbal medicines very effectively. It’s not only attractive in the garden, but is a very potent medicine. It’s a great remedy for headaches and migraines, and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It lowers blood pressure, aids the digestive system and much more! This herb, unfortunately, doesn't seem to be of any help once a migraine has manifested. Its greatest benefit is through regular, preventative use. (Only 2 left!)

Field Mint: Like the cultivated mints, Field Mint can be used to make a pleasant herbal tea using the fresh or dried leaves. An essential oil from the plant is used as a flavoring in sweets and beverages. The leaves of this plant may be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are also often used as a domestic herbal remedy, being valued especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestion.

Hostas - Various Varieties: Perennial. Great as an accent plant or as a groundcover under deep-rooted, deciduous trees, in a mixed or herbaceous border, or near water. Grown for foliage.

Hyssop 'Liquorice Blue': ‘Liquorice Blue’ produces blue flowers and strong anise-scented foliage that attracts bees and butterflies. Great for cut flowers and in potpourri. The leaves or flowers are edible and can be used to sweeten tea or flavor sugar or muffins. (Only 1 left!)

Iris 'Monsignor': Forms an elegant clump of tall, deep green sword-like leaves, with flowers on long stems that open above the foliage. Very hardy! Be sure to plant your bulbs in the ground before winter hits, with the top part of the bulb showing above the soil. (Only 2 left!)

Ladybells: Perennial flower. Excellent for borders or in open woodland. Hardy, strong stemmed, voluptuous producer of massed purple bells in summer. Foliage this year, flowers next year.

Marjoram: Perennial Herb. Use fresh or dried leaves in salads, dressings, meat, sausage, lamb dishes, beans & soups. The warm, sweet flavor of marjoram makes it one of the best culinary herbs. Perfect for edging or in rock gardens.

Mountain Bluet 'Amethyst in Snow': AKA Perennial Cornflower. Rhizomatous, mat forming perennial with densely wooly stems. White flowers have a purple center, are 2” across and open from late spring to midsummer.

Obedient Plant: The Obedient Plant got its common name because you can bend the individual flowers in any direction you like - a nice feature for floral displays. The flowers form along spikes, in four neat vertical rows, and begin opening from the bottom up. Once in the ground, they tend to form a clump and will grow more leaves up their stalks. (Only 2 left!)

Oregano: Oregano's power to heal and preserve was well known in the ancient world. Today's use is to spice up various Italian dishes, tomato sauce, pizza, fish, salad dressing and meats.

Passion Flower Vine: The passion flower is native to southern Brazil and Argentina. The plant is a twining vine that can grow to 40 feet. The blooms of passion flower are multi-colored, with a mint scent much like the fruit of the pineapple guava. The white and purple-blue flowers which appear in summer may be as large as 4 inches across.

Sage 'Broadleaf': Broadleaf Sage is a shrubby perennial with broad, dusty green leaves which have a savory flavor and tempting aroma. Traditionally used as a poultry stuffing and to season meat. Beautiful silvery foliage and an early summer blanket of tiny lavender flowers make a showy addition to any herb garden! Used as a digestive and nerve tonic.

Sedum 'Golden Carpet': Brilliant flowers complement neat, attractive foliage. Wonderful as ground cover, in the rock garden, along walkways or cascading over stone walls. Easy to maintain. Thrives in hot, dry locations. Also called golden carpet or gold moss stonecrop.

Stonecrop (Pink Sedum): Pink Sedum has clusters of tiny pink blooms. Folklore states that the essence of the sedum flower is a cure for broken and wounded hearts. It’s a popular backdrop for featured flowers in any wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement. Once in the ground, the plant tends to form a clump and will grow more leaves up their stalks.

Thyme 'German Winter': Thyme is essential for a cook's garden. Don't let the tiny leaves of German thyme fool you - they're packed with more aromatic oils than many larger-leaved varieties. Also called winter thyme because it is one of the most cold hardy thymes. A small, upright plant, it is great for containers.

Zebra Grass: This grass displays green and yellow banding on the foliage which is held all season. This ornamental grass can be use as an accent, specimen, or mass plantings. (Only 2 left!)

Basil Herb Plants for Indoor Fall & Winter Windowsills ($2 each):

Cinnamon Basil
Dark Opal Basil
Sweet Basil
Thai Basil
Thai Siam Queen Basil

$3 Houseplants:

Aloe Vera: the aloe plant is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. The Aloe Vera is a great plant to have around. When the leaves are broken open a gel is released that works wonders on sunburns, cuts and even bug bites.

Haworthia (Zebra Succulent): MY FAVORITE! Unique clump-forming succulent from South Africa. These plants don’t require much—just water once every 2 weeks and keep it in a room with bright light (NOT direct sun). It can also be outside in the summer in the shade. As the plant matures, offshoots will appear around the base of the plant.

Jade Plant: This plant is also commonly known as the friendship tree, lucky plant, or money plant. It is native to South Africa and is very easy to care for! This plant can be used for bonsai and is popular as an indoor bonsai. Water these plants every 10-20 days during the summer, and once a month in the winter. Letting the soil dry between waterings is essential for a healthy jade. (Only 3 left!)

Kalanchoe - Yellow: This native of Madagascar was introduced by Robert Blossfeld in 1932. It produces clusters of small flowers above green, waxy leaves. Kalanchoes are pretty low-maintenance plants, thriving in the low humidity of winter households. This is an indoor houseplant that needs a window seat as it requires bright light to do well. It can even tolerate direct sun. (Only 2 left!)

Kangaroo Paw: Evergreen, clump-forming tender perennial. Stems bear unusual, 2-lipped, yellow tubular flowers, thought to resemble kangaroo paws. Will die in temperatures below 40°F, so keep in a pot to bring indoors for winter.

Spider Plant 'Variegatum' and Spider Plant (solid green): AKA Airplane Plant. Clump-forming tender perennial that bears 6-petaled flowers in early summer. Will die in temperatures under 40°F, so be sure to keep it in a container or a hanging basket during the summer to bring back inside for the winter. Very popular as houseplants year-round.

Fun Extras:

Seed Packets ($1): I am also trying to get tons of seed packets ready for tomorrow. I will separate the packets by spring planting and fall planting so it's easier for you to find what you're looking for!

Dehydrated Bhut Jolokia Peppers ($4 each): One of the hottest chili peppers on EARTH! Dare to experience its smoky, searing heat! 5 times hotter than the Habanero. We strongly suggest that you proceed with caution when consuming and handling this pepper.

Halloween Pin Back Buttons ($1.50 each or 4 for $5): Inspired by vintage Halloween cards and vintage books

Halloween Hair Clips ($3 each or 2 for $5): Flowers with various spooks in the middle!

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas Gift Tags (5 for $1): Embellished and stamped hand-punched gift tags for all seasons!

As always, I am very excited to see everyone at the market each weekend. See you tomorrow!

If you’re not in the area, but would like to order from me, I am happy to ship nationwide. Just leave me a comment with your email and I’ll be sure to NOT publish your comment with your information. I’ll contact you shortly! Thanks!

You've been asking about it week after week, and now the time has finally come. The theme for this Sunday is... HERBS!

I've got both medicinal and cooking herbs that I'll be bringing to the market. Some are common, and some are very unique.

You may have noticed that I wasn't at the Wilson Barn farmer's market last Saturday or today. Simply put, I was getting far too overwhelmed with gardening and had a few nervous breakdowns. I needed a couple of days to get my mind straight about what still needed to be done and to organize myself more for the upcoming days at the market. I truly do work with gardening issues every moment that I am awake, and haven't taken a break in months. So, when you see my plants or produce at the market, you should know that they are bursting with love and are taken care of very well.

On a happier note, I got 3 new plants last weekend. My husband wanted to commemorate my quarter of a century birthday with, my favorite, plants. I am now the proud owner of a popcorn plant (a plant that smells like popcorn), a parrot plant (a very rare plant that I accidentally killed months earlier), and a starter peach tree (for my love of peaches). All are perennial, so I hope they last a long time. The parrot plant and the popcorn plant are tender perennials, so they will be coming into the house for the winter months each year. They were also all under $10 each, so I am truly happy that we were able to find such awesome things for such a low price. The peach tree should start to produce in only 2 years. I am very excited!

In other news, I tried selling at the Redford Township Market at the Marquee this past Sunday. It was really cool, and I am planning on being there for the rest of their season as well. The Redford market is on Sundays from 10 to 3. So, I will be selling at the Wilson Barn market on Saturdays and at Redford's Market on Sundays. Double Whammy of selling my awesome plants!

Now, for the list of what I'm bringing to the Redford market tomorrow (Sunday). If you haven't visited me before, check out Redford Township's Market at the Marquee to get directions and information. Since I missed today for Wilson's Barn, I will be bringing my herb plants along with me for next weekend instead.

HERBS (plants): Full instructions on how to harvest come with each purchase.

We are also bringing plenty of hand-picked and dried herb seeds. Yay!

Basil: $2 per pot, perfect for the fall and winter months on your kitchen windowsill!

• Cinnamon Basil
• Dark Opal Basil
• Sweet Basil
• Thai Basil
• Thai Siam Queen Basil

Sage: $2 per pot

• Broadleaf
• Pineapple

Confederate Violet 'Priceana': $2, perennial, the common name of this violet refers to the resemblance of the color of its flowers to the color of Confederate uniforms during the Civil War (pale greyish blue). Good groundcover for under trees or in other shaded areas. The blooms are edible and rich in vitamin C. The flowers are dipped in egg whites and covered in sugar to make 'candied violets' used to decorate pastries. The leaves can be boiled and eaten as 'spring greens.'

Common Mint AKA Field Mint: $2, perennial, like the cultivated mints, it can be used to make a pleasant herbal tea using the fresh or dried leaves. An essential oil from the plant is used as a flavoring in sweets and beverages. The leaves of this plant may be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are also often used as a domestic herbal remedy, being valued especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestion.

Common Milkweed: $3, this plant is an important food source for the Monarch butterfly and is a preferred host plant for them. The flowers have a great fragrance when blooming, somewhat like hyacinths. It's important to also note that it is not only a preferred host plant, but milkweed is the ONLY host plant for Monarch caterpillars. The Monarch larvae/caterpillars cannot survive without milkweed as a food source. These plants are edible for humans as well, but note that the plant is deadly if not prepared properly. The shoots can be eaten like asparagus when the leaves are still ‘hugging’ the stem, the flower bud clusters can be eaten like broccoli, and the immature pods (like okra) are edible. You can also eat the mature flowers as long as they haven’t started wilting. When harvested at the proper stage of development, you can eat these parts of the plant raw, steamed or boiled with no danger of being poisoned. Indians used to eat it as a vegetable. You MUST speak with a professional and know what you are doing, BEFORE eating any part of this plant.

Fern-leaf Tansy: $2, AKA Death Plant. Ornamental herb with lacy leaves topped with buttons of gold flowers that dry nicely in arrangements. The strong-scented foliage is used to repel flies, ants, moths and mosquitoes. Excellent for rock gardens and border edging. Eating tansy raw is deadly, but it is a safe culinary spice so long as it is exposed to sufficient heat, such as in a hot frying pan, or baked in a custard or quiche. It can be dried for just such culinary uses, serving as a substitute for nutmeg, cinnamon, or ginger. A traditional Easter custard, no longer popular, was spiced with tansy & feverfew, in imitation of the Jewish Passover tradition of bitter herbs eaten as reminders of hardships in the wilderness. Clumps spread by underground rootstocks and can spread relentlessly in rich soil. Give it plenty of space in the garden or plant it in containers. You MUST speak with a professional and know what you are doing, BEFORE eating any part of this plant.

Feverfew: $2, Perennial Medicinal Herb. Feverfew is a little known plant with small daisy-like flowers. It has been used for generations in herbal medicines very effectively. It’s not only attractive in the garden, but is a very potent medicine. It’s a great remedy for headaches and migraines, and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It lowers blood pressure, aids the digestive system and much more! This herb, unfortunately, doesn't seem to be of any help once a migraine has manifested. Its greatest benefit is through regular, preventative use.

Eyeball Plant 'Peek-A-Boo': $4, AKA Toothache Plant and Para Cress. Astonishing golden globes with rich red-bronze eyes perched on mounds of bronze-green foliage. A very unusual accent plant. Spilanthol, a chemical with effective local anesthetic action has been identified in the plant. This action works surprisingly fast. If you have a toothache and rub a leaf on the gum area of the toothache, the area tingles and then goes numb within a few seconds.

Balloon Flower 'Sentimental Blue': $3, a dwarf version of balloon flowers reaching to only 6-8". This heavy bloomer has very large blue flowers that begin in the shape of a balloon before opening, hence it's name. Forms a low, neat mound. 'Sentimental Blue' is the most disease-resistant variety of the species. The balloon flower roots are still widely used in traditional herbal medicine as an expectorant for pulmonary disease and as a remedy for respiratory disorders including bronchitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, and suppurative dermatitis. It can be taken as a tea or a tincture. The balloon flower root has also been used to prevent obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The root is also used in Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cooking for salads. The root is soaked in water before cooking to remove the bitter taste and to soften the fiber. The radical leaves are said to be slightly toxic so only the top leaves should be used for eating. Old leaves are powdered and are used as a flavoring. The roots can be eaten in soups as a tonic vegetable if it’s cooked. It is also peeled and pickled or preserved in sugar. You MUST speak with a professional and know what you are doing, BEFORE eating any part of this plant.

Daylily 'Stella de Oro': $3, by far the most popular Daylily selection of all time, because it flowers for months on end. Excellent for massing, edging, borders or in mixed containers and tubs. The flowers of daylilies are edible. They are slightly sweet with a mild vegetable flavor, like sweet lettuce or melon. Their flavor is a combination of asparagus and zucchini. Chewable consistency. Some people think that different colored blossoms have different flavors. To use the surprisingly sweet petals in desserts, cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Also great to stuff like squash blossoms. Flowers look beautiful on composed salad platters or crowning a frosted cake. Sprinkle the large petals in a spring salad. In the spring, gather shoots two or three inches tall and use as a substitute for asparagus. You can eat the roots and the flower buds too!

Celery 'Sedano Da Taglio': $2, RARE Italian Heirloom Cutting/Leaf Celery. Non-heading celery. Nice for cutting. Use like an herb. Use in soups, salads and garnish. The leaves are finely cut and resemble parsley.

Parsley 'Extra Curled Dwarf': $2, Biennial Herb. Wonderful flavor and an excellent source of vitamins. This variety has finely cut, curly leaves on very compact plants.

Chives: $2, Perennial Herb. Produces dense umbels, 1” across, of up to 30 bell-shaped, pale purple flowers in summer. Cut leaves for salads, potatoes, & soups. Good for growing indoors year-round.

Marjoram: $2, Perennial Herb. Use fresh or dried leaves in salads, dressings, meat, sausage, lamb dishes, beans & soups. The warm, sweet flavor of marjoram makes it one of the best culinary herbs. Perfect for edging or in rock gardens.

Rosemary: $2, Evergreen, shrub-like plant has gray-green, needle-like leaves and pale-blue flowers. Widely used to season meat, poultry, vinegars and to make sachets. Bring indoors in winter for a nice house plant. Annual if left outdoors, perennial if brought indoors for winter.

Lemon Bee Balm: $2, this bee balm has a citrus smell when crushed, reminiscent of the fruit of the actual lemon plant, and which has purple flowers that prove irresistible to both bees and hummingbirds. Sometimes, especially late in the season, the odor is described as resembling oregano more than lemon.

Ladybells: $3, Perennial flower. Excellent for borders or in open woodland. Hardy, strong stemmed, voluptuous producer of massed purple bells in summer. Foliage this year, flowers next year.

Oregano: $2, oregano's power to heal and preserve was well known in the ancient world. Today's use is to spice up various Italian dishes, tomato sauce, pizza, fish, salad dressing and meats.

Canna 'Indian Shot': $3, a nice ornamental Canna native to southern Belize and other parts of Central America. A stunning plant with large tropical-looking leaves and red flowers. Used as a landscape item, it will make a nice focal point to give any patio or courtyard a taste of the tropics.

Marigold - French Dwarf Double - Mixed Colors: $1 each, Annual Flower. Fully doubled flowers in shades of yellow, bronze, and gold. Plants are compact with attractive deep green foliage. Excellent planted in vegetable gardens as it’s a natural insect repellant.

PRODUCE: (Yes, we FINALLY have something to bring!)

Tomatoes:

Nature Sweet: $3/quart or 2 quarts for $5, a small variety of a cherry tomato that is twice as sweet as other tomato varieties.

Peppers:

Sweet Banana: $0.25 each or 5 for $1, Hungarian Sweet Pepper, rather thin-walled, but they have a nice, tangy flavor. They get sweeter as they ripen. Popular for salads, frying and pickling. A great way to boost your Vitamin C intake!

Serrano: $0.25 each or 5 for $1, a small fiery hot pepper with medium to thin walls. A favorite in sizzling hot salsas, sauces and Mexican dishes that is 5 times hotter than the Jalapeno.

Be sure to check my blog every Friday and Saturday night to see what I’ll be bringing on Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re not in the area, but would like to order from me, I am happy to ship nationwide. Just leave me a comment with your email and I’ll be sure to NOT publish your comment with your information. I’ll contact you shortly! Thanks!

Many people were sad that they missed flower day since I didn't get a chance to post about it, so I'm bringing many of the flowers back on Saturday. I do still have a few veggie plants that need good homes, so they will be coming along as well!

Check out Wilson Barn’s website to get directions and information.

This past weekend, someone donated 10 rose of sharon plants to me. Since the varieties are unknown, I will have to wait until next year in order to see what I have so that I can share!

Sal, a seller that sells fruits and vegetables at the market, graciously donated over 100 pint containers to me so I could get started with selling the produce from my gardens. I was extremely grateful and I can't wait until my tomatoes and peppers are ripe so I can start selling produce. We won't have any produce this week, but I think it should be very soon! Tons of peppers and tomatoes have formed, but they just aren't ripe yet.

When we got home on Sunday, we opened up our local newspaper and were excited to see that we were in it! We looked pretty awesome that day, in our Pac-Man shirts, haha. Actually, Christian's photography teacher from college spotted us there, and he was also the head of photography for the paper, so we got lucky. Pictured on the bottom right is Sal, and on the bottom left is the head of the farmer's market. Two totally awesome dudes! You can click on the photo to view it larger if you'd like to read the story.

There is also another photo of our corn plants in the online version of the story, so we were pretty psyched about that.

Herb Day is scheduled for August 7th, and Succulent Day is scheduled for August 14th. As always, I'll post on Friday exactly what I'll be bringing. I have some really unique things, so I hope you can make it!

Anyways, here's what I'm bringing this week. If I have 6 or less, I'll let you know so you can come by early before they're gone.

Flowers:

Balloon Flower 'Double Blue': $3, Perennial Flower. Balloon-like buds swell and open in the garden to large fully double bell-shaped blue flowers with clearly defined darker veins, only 3 left!

Balloon Flower 'Sentimental Blue': $3, Perennial Flower. A dwarf version of balloon flowers. This heavy bloomer has very large blue flowers that begin in the shape of a balloon before opening, hence it's name. Forms a low, neat mound, only 4 left!

Bee Balm 'Fireball': $3, Perennial Herb. A compact form with fiery red flowers throughout the summer. Shows good resistance to powdery mildew.

Canna Lily ‘Indian Shot’: $1 for cannas potted (bulbs that are growing already), or U-Pick Cannas, where you pick out 10 canna bulbs for $5 that you plant yourself (they should pop up out of the ground in 1-2 weeks).

Daylily 'Stella de Oro': $4, forms a dense clump of grassy green foliage, w/ upright stems of fragrant, golden-yellow trumpet flowers. Early repeat bloomer w/ compact habit.

Forget-Me-Nots: $3, this biennial is great for borders. It blooms early and reseeds freely. Bears saucer-shaped, yellow-eyed blue flowers. Foliage this year, flowers next year from spring to early summer.

Globe Amaranth: $3, ‘Las Vegas Purple’ (only 5 left)  and ‘Las Vegas White’, cheerful, 1” flowers bloom freely on sturdy plants. Versatility in the landscape or in containers makes these varieties a sure winner & it draws in plenty of hummingbirds & butterflies. Also excellent for cut flowers & drying!

Kangaroo Paw: $4, Evergreen, clump-forming tender perennial. Stems bear unusual, 2-lipped, yellow tubular flowers, thought to resemble kangaroo paws. Will die in temperatures below 40°F, so keep in a pot to bring indoors for winter.

Ladybells: $4, Perennial flower. Excellent for borders or in open woodland. Hardy, strong stemmed, voluptuous producer of massed blue bells in summer. Foliage this year, flowers next year.

Marigolds ‘French Dwarf Double Mixed Colors’: $1 for a 4-pack, or $1 for a larger single plant that’s potted, excellent in veggie gardens as they repel bugs! Also beautiful for borders and edges in the garden.

Mexican Hats: $4, Perennial Flower. Resembles a Mexican sombrero. Brilliant red flowers outlined in fiery yellow. Lasts 10 days after being cut, so an excellent choice for indoor floral arrangements, only 1 left!

Million Bells - Hot Pink: $3,  AKA Mini Petunias. Annual. Intense pink flowers, The plants are compact, low growers with fine foliage and 1 in, trumpet-shaped blooms that open nonstop until hard frost without need of deadheading.

Passion Flower: $4, Perennial Vine. Multi-colored blooms with a mint scent much like the fruit of the pineapple guava. The white and purple-blue flowers which appear in summer may be as large as 4 inches across, only 5 left!

Rose Bush 'Bonica': $6, Perennial Shrub. Vigorous shrub rose of low, spreading habit, with dense, glossy, rich green foliage. Large sprays of cupped, fully double, rose-pink flowers are 3” across.

Rose of Sharon: $4, flowers are white with dark red centers

Spider Flowers: $3, ‘White Queen’ (only 5 left!) and Purple/White Mix (only 1 left!)

Sundrops: $3, Perennial Flower. Michigan Native. Fragrant yellow blossoms flower throughout the summer. Drought tolerant. Excellent for hillsides, ground cover, prairies. Prefers dry conditions, only 3 left!

Tobacco 'Scherazi': $3, Regal plants adorned with sprays of captivating, pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. The leaves make a strong-flavored, premium quality smoking tobacco from Iran, only 6 left!

Peppers:

‘Aci Sivri’: $3 ENDANGERED Turkish Heirloom Hot Chile Pepper. Great for salsa, salads, drying & pickling. Ripens from green to red. Produces well under cool conditions, so excellent for northern gardeners, only 6 left!

‘Cayenne’: $3, Hot Chile Pepper. High-yielding, super hot pepper with a multitude of uses. Great for salsa, salads, drying & pickling. Slightly hotter than Jalapeños. Ripens from green to red, only 1 left!

‘Long Red Cayenne’: $3, Heirloom Hot Pepper. Great for salsa, salads, drying & pickling. Long fruits are fiery hot, often curled and twisted. Great for drying, processing, or sauces, only 3 left!

‘Japones’: $3, Japanese Hybrid Hot Chile Pepper. Great for salsa, salads, drying & pickling. Long, narrow fruits that mature from green to dark red. Provides spicy heat to sauces, marinades, stews, casseroles & meat dishes, only 1 left!

Pumpkins:

‘Big Max’: $4, huge pumpkins, up to 70” around, often weigh 100 lbs. or more. Pinkish-orange skin covers 3-4” thick bright yellowish-orange flesh. Excellent for contests. These pumpkins are popular for huge jack-o-lanterns and are delicious for pies, only 4 left!

'Connecticut Field': $4, Considered to be the original Halloween pumpkin, this heirloom variety produces large, bright-orange, slightly ribbed fruits that range from 15-30 lbs. & above. The sweet, orange-yellow flesh is also used to make great pies, only 2 left!

‘Jack-o-Lantern’: $4, Home garden standard because of it’s medium size. Great for Halloween carving as well as cooking, only 5 left!

‘Small Sugar’: $4, Heirloom baking pumpkin. Produces good yields of bright orange-yellow pumpkins with meaty, sweet, fine-grained flesh.

Tomatoes:

‘Better Boy’: $3, Hybrid Tomato. Plan on growing plenty of bright red, 16-oz. fruits perfect for slicing, canning & making into sauces, only 6 left!

‘Black Krim’: $3, ENDANGERED Heirloom Tomato. Large brownish-red fruit. Juicy, seedy and tasty. Potato leaf. Delicate skin, green shoulders. Originated in Krymsk on the Black Sea, in Russia, only 3 left!

‘Costoluto Genovese’: $3, Italian Heirloom Tomato. Produces good yields of large red tomatoes. Outstanding flavor, the best for making homemade tomato juice, slicing & canning, only 5 left!

‘Early Girl’: $3, Hybrid Tomato. Meaty, medium-sized fruits. Good flavor. Produces continually in season. Great for slicing, only 3 left!

‘Isis Candy’: $3, RARE German heirloom cherry tomato, only 5 left!

‘Snow White’: $3, ENDANGERED Heirloom Tomato. Spreading plants with large number of fruit. Medium-size cherry; white to yellowish-colored skin. Very flavorful, only 6 left!

‘Sweet n’ Bright’: $3, ENDANGERED Heirloom Tomato. A small salad tomato, slightly larger than a cherry, w/ great disease resistance for early & mid-season harvest w/ cascades of bright red glossy 2-3 oz. round fruit. Heavy producer, only 3 left!

Other Fruits and Vegetables:

Eggplant ‘Long Purple’: $1, heirloom, oriental type with gorgeous dark purple coloring. Plant produces good yields of tasty 12″ long by 2 ½” wide eggplants. Very flavorful and tender. Plant produces 8 or more eggplants.

Escarole ‘Florida Deep Hearted’: $1, broad leaves with a large, deep heart. Bitter lettuce taste. Vigorous plant. Slow bolting. Great for greens or salad. Best success is by picking outer leaves frequently for use or for freezing.

Raspberry 'Boyne': $6, Consistently produces deep-red, medium-sized berries that are easy to pick. The medium sweet, aromatic flavor makes them great for freezing and jam or eating fresh, only 2 left!

Be sure to check my blog every Friday night to see what I’ll be bringing on Saturday.

If you’re not in the area, but would like to order from me, I am happy to ship nationwide. Just leave me a comment with your email and I’ll be sure to NOT publish your comment with your information. I’ll contact you shortly! Thanks!

I LOVE oranges. I always wanted an orange tree, and didn't think it was possible to have one since I lived in Michigan. Meemsnyc suggested Logee's Greenhouse, since they have decent prices and were having a sale at the time I wanted one. I learned that I could keep this specific orange tree in a container, and would just have to bring it inside for the cold months.

Here are a couple descriptions of this orange tree:

From Logee's Greenhouse, "The best of both worlds – pink flesh similar to a red grapefruit yet all the sweetness of a navel orange. A sport of the Washington navel that originated out of Venezuela, the highly fragrant flowers arrive in late winter followed by ripening seedless oranges in December. These are grafted plants that often begin flowering in their second year. Full sun, grows to 1-3’ in container, minimum temperature indoors 50°."

From Wikipedia, "The Cara cara navel, or red navel orange is an early-to-midseason navel orange believed to have developed as a cross between the Washington navel and the Brazilian Bahia navel. Discovered at the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela in 1976, the parentage is apparently uncertain enough to occasionally warrant the distinction of a mutation, with only the tree on which it was found—the Washington navel—being an accepted progenitor. Cara caras did not enter the U.S consumer produce market until the late 1980s and were carried only by specialty markets for many years thereafter. This medium sized navel is sweet and low in acid, the flavor is more complex than most navel varieties and has been described as evoking notes of cherry, rose petal and blackberry."

When receiving my Cara Cara orange tree in the mail, I was just as excited as Meemsnyc when she got her dwarf fig tree from them.

Here's the box. Super awesome! I literally ran to the silverware drawer to get a knife to cut through the tape.

Upon opening the box, everything was packaged very nicely. I always wondered how companies shipped plants to people, and now I know! I ship my plants similarly, except without the soil and pot. Instead, I wrap the roots of newly dug up plants in moist paper towel, and then with plastic over it. I then secure it with a rubber band, and wrap the entire plant in newspaper to keep it safe. You can read all about how I package plants on my website. Logee's Greenhouse shipped the orange tree in a 4" pot, covered the soil with shredded paper, and then put a little tarp over it with a slit that went around the plant's stem. It was secured on with a rubber band. After that, it was wrapped nicely in newspaper. They also included instructions on what to do with the plant. I thought it was really neat!

I watered it and stuck it on our kitchen windowsill.

After a week, I transplanted it into a larger pot so that it could form more roots. Since transplanting, it got larger leaves and I think a few new ones. The plant came with a stake, but I still can't get it to stand up very straight. I will have to do some research on how to train an orange tree from this young stage. I would like it to be straight!

One thing that I didn't realize about orange trees, is that they have thorns. This caught me off guard as I was transplanting the tree. Don't worry - no blood was shed!

Here is a close-up of the leaves. I find them very interesting in the way that they have a 'little leaf' followed by a big leaf.

I've never grown citrus in my life, so I am really excited about this plant. This will definitely be a learning experience in raising this tree, and I hope I don't kill it. It's supposed to begin flowering in its second year, and I think it will be worth the wait!

On April 10th, it was warm. What a glorious day that was! It's very rare to get a warm day in Michigan at this time in the season, so I took advantage of the day.

I finally was able to set up the mini greenhouse that my dad bought me for Christmas. I believe it was from Aco Hardware, but I can't seem to find a link to it online.

It only took me an hour to set up and I put all of my winter sown containers inside of it. One thing I'm noticing is that the containers are drying up really quickly, since it's much warmer in the greenhouse. So, I have to keep watch on them much more closely and water them more frequently. It zips up and down to open and close and has 3 tiers. It came with stakes, so we staked it into the ground on the back side and put some heavy rocks on the bottom front side to weigh it down. So far, it hasn't toppled over, so that's wonderful since we've been having 20-30 mph winds lately. It's not a huge, official greenhouse, but it works, and I love it!

We also set up our first composter behind our garage. It's about time! We are now composting everything we can. It holds up to 120 gallons of composting material, and so far that is more than enough for us. We also bought this miniature green garbage can that we leave right outside our side door to throw compost material in. Every week, we take the mini can to dump into our big composter behind our garage. Hooray for being efficient! You can see in our composter photo that there is a huge heap of grass behind it. It's from when we used a sod cutter to remove all of the grass for my new garden last summer. We're hoping that in another year or so, the grass will be totally composted so that we can start using it!

The mini garbage can comes up to right below my knees, and we bought it at Wal-Mart for around $6. The large composter was at Home Depot for around $50. Not bad, eh?

2 weeks ago, I got some coupons to use at Home Depot. One was for Buy 1 Get 1 Pack of Bulbs, and the other was for $5 off some titanium pruners or loppers. My pruners are constantly going dull, so I thought about getting the titanium ones.

When getting to the store, I saw that there were 'off-brand' titanium pruners, which would be cheaper to buy even with the coupon for the Fiskars ones. So, I decided against using the Fiskars coupon and will buy some new titanium pruners in the next couple months. From what I've read, they are worth the money! However, I did buy some new bulbs.

Please welcome Tricyrtus 'Blue Wonder' and Dahlia 'Color Spectacle' to the hoard!

I am a Dahlia collector, and 'Color Spectacle' really caught my eye. It's a cactus dahlia and it looks super bold! As for the Tricyrtus, I had never heard of them, so I wanted to try them out. They look really interesting, don't they? From doing a quick search, its common name is the Hairy Toad Lily. They can tolerate full shade (which is amazing for such a gorgeous looking flower) and I won't have to dig them up in the fall since they are hardy perennials here. Very cool!

To look at the progress of all my seedlings, check out my facebook album, Seedlings in 2011. I update it around once a week.

Last fall, I picked up a ton of different daffodil bulbs (along with too many other bulbs to name) on super clearance. It was WAY too cold to go outside to plant them at the time, so I stored them in the basement. This past weekend, I went downstairs to get them and they were already starting to grow!

We picked up some simple pots at the store to plant them in, since I didn't want to disturb anything else in the garden from coming up.

There were 10 bulbs in each packet, except for 'Ice Follies', which had 40 bulbs! We didn't want to spend any more money on pots, so I just put them all in a pot. I don't think crowding was the best idea, but I needed to put them somewhere! I'm sure they will come up just fine, and then will be transplanted to a permanent location after they flower.

Unfortunately, the squirrels have found the new pots and are very excited about digging them up. I'll just have to check on them every day to make sure they stay in the soil!