Tuesday, August 02, 2011

SeedGROW Project Post #3

Here we are into August already! My SeedGROW project plants are doing great, especially considering that none were started early indoors.
The 'Garden Babies' lettuce is keeping good company with this cuke....
 ...and was harvested a couple days ago for the second time this season. Very tasty, and eating a salad from home-grown lettuce is the ONLY way to fly as far as I'm concerned!
 The basil 'Italian Cameo' seems to enjoy this metal pot, even though I didn't thin the plants as much as I usually would. The plants were so pretty that I hated to disturb them....
 ....so I harvested the first group only a couple days ago. The flavor is fairly strong, and the fragrance almost reminded me of Holy basil. It tasted great in pasta though, so I'm hoping it bounces back for at least one more good cutting.
 As for the 'Summer Splash' marigolds, I can't say enough good things! Very vigorous plants (even here in part shade)....
 ....and continuous blooms!
 Every plant seems to sport a different shape....
 ....and color-all from the same packet of seeds.
 Even this late-transplanted thinning has grown bushy and commenced blooming!
This is shaping up to be the best GROW project yet!





I'm growing with the SeedGROW project. Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

GROW Project 2011: Post #2

 My GROW project plants are coming along. Some slowly...


...well, the lettuce have been harvested once already....
...and some others are coming along...


...nicely!!


I'm growing with the SeedGROW project. Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.

Thursday, June 02, 2011

SeedGROW Project 2011!

Well the time has come for another fantastic garden bloggers SeedGROW project, courtesy of Renee's Garden! This year's project promises to be three times the fun with three varieties of seed: basil 'Italian Cameo', lettuce 'Garden Babies', and marigold 'Summer Splash'. In this first planter I planted the marigold on May 9th, along with beans, peas, and a nasturtium...
 ....and the marigolds are coming along nicely!
 Here I've planted the basil (also on the 9th), and there's LOTS of good germination going on.....
 ...almost ready to do some thinning as a matter of fact (thanks in part to the grill grate protection from digging chipmunks).
There are 3 other areas with project seeds planted (including the lettuce), but with less progress. NOT the fault of Renee's seeds, however: my weather has been exceptionally cool this year. As a matter of fact, the low was 26 degrees on May 27th!! Frankly I'm happy that any of these plants are alive at all, they're rock stars as far as I'm concerned! :)

"I'm growing with the SeedGROW project. Thanks to Reene's Garden for the seeds."

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Beautiful Canvas Creation!

Recently I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of their products.  Easy Canvas Prints allows you to take a picture and turn it into a canvas print. One thing I really loved about their website is how easy it is to use. Just a four step process to create a masterpiece.

The picture I selected is intended to be a gift for my best friend, whose mother is very ill.

First I went to the website and clicked on the 'Start Designing Now' button.
You select your canvas size (I chose 11x14) and how thickly you want the image wrapped (I chose gallery wrap - 1.5 inches).
On the next step you will upload your image.
Their guidelines will tell you if the resolution is too low or not.
Once you've uploaded your image, you will choose the border.
There are several options (including mirror wrap option, which extends the picture around the sides in a mirror image, or choosing a color for your border), but I chose the picture-wrap which extends the border of the image around the sides.
Finally, you will select image options. You can turn a color photo into black and white or sepia, and you can have minor or major retouching done.
Once you've completed those four steps, then off to checkout! It's really that simple.
A few days later the package arrived, and I am thrilled with the results!





What a wonderful gift for my dear friend, it's a cool way to enjoy this picture!

Disclaimer:  I was provided one canvas print in exchange for a review.  All of the opinions expressed above are my own. 


Saturday, April 30, 2011

It's Alive!

At long last I have blooms!
 First blooms of the year...really! Much later than last year, it's been far too cold and rainy up here for any springtime action (heck, we had snow less than a week ago!)
 I decided to bring a few in before the deer find them, as I cannot afford my Liquid Fence deer repellent this year.
At least I get to use one of the cool flower frogs I picked up awhile back. Hopefully in the next few days there will be even more blooms to enjoy. Happy Spring y'all! :)