Here it is, mid October in Western NY, and I still found a bit to harvest this morning. Usually, I'd have turned it all over by now. With encouragement from some other bloggers, "One-Hundred-Dollars-A-Month, The Garden Geeks, and Shawna Coronado,"  I have not only extended my veggie garden grow time, but have planted late harvest of carrots. The changing climate might have a bit to do with it.

Now you may not think this is a big deal, but for me it has given me the courage to move past traditional local  thinking, and move into uncharted territory for me. I am going to try to start a small spring green house as well, stay tuned.

I cant seem to comment on most other comment boxes, on other's blogs. A few I can, but most don't go through, can anyone help me? I cant expand my viewing audience, if I cant comment on others.

The Impatient Gardener: The Garden Appreciation Society

The Impatient Gardener: The Garden Appreciation Society This is the view from my kitchen breakfast counter.  Thank you for allowing your readers to share.

Change of Front Entry

This was the first color and and original clear glass. We have no foyer, so you can see right into my house. After a couple years, I thought we needed a change, something more private.








This is the new leaded glass we had installed to still let in light, but filter the view.  The color of the door was changed as well, its a sort of green with a gray/blue cast.

I am not a fan of rambling front yards, but this one on the Garden Walk was lovely. The groupings of plants lead the eye to restful patches of grass. The grass frames the plantings, with  well groomed shrubbery highlights.

I love this chart, I got it from a post on Face Book. Think I have to go out and move some bulbs around, before the squirrels get to them.

Shade Garden Patch, stay tuned....

New plantings next to shed, there is some sun filtered though the trees in this area. I am no expert in any of this, so it's an adventure in shade gardening.

Parkside Garden Walk

 This was one of my favorite houses, on one of many Garden Walks in Western NY. This backyard in North Buffalo is "L" shaped. The home owner, also owns a rental property to the side street. That property  had a very large yard, and half of it was added it to the main property.
Old neighborhoods give us the opportunity to see well established shade gardens.

A few years back this section held a children's tree house, with exercise equipment below. With children grown, the space was turned into a restful repose.

                                                  The property has a conjoined driveway,                                                       and the space between the garages was                                                          converted to a whimsical reading spot.

This is the view toward my house. I planted a butterfly garden a path across from my veggies to draw bees.
There are 2  (8 x 4) raised beds. Next spring i may try to add 2  (4 x 4) beds and try SQUARE FOOT GARDENING.

Mid Summer Veggies

This view is looking toward my neighbor's yard. This development is just about 5 years old, so we are all adjusting to the elements and soil conditions. From left to right I have planted, green bush beans, which have done very well, lettuce, beets, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, parsley, and some waning leaks.

The parsley has come back, on its own, for 2 years, and so have the leaks. The cage is to keep 4 legged visitors out.  

I grow enough crops to supply my neighbors and myself with salads for the summer. This garden is 4 years old and I freeze tomatoes, make sauce, and put up pickles 2 years ago.

These were some of my most recent summer friends. The Hibiscus made a very splashy showing this year. 

Sunflowers popped up all over my yard, thanks to the squirrels, and made friends of their own.

Summer's End

It's Labor Day week-end here in Western NY and I finally have 

Bell peppers and some  Better Boy tomatoes turning red.

If I had to sustain my family on my veggies, they'd starve.

I planted some carrots a few weeks back, and they are doing fine so far. The cucumber plants have literally hit the dust, as you can see, to the left of the tomatoes.  My husband made a sturdy ladder for those cucumbers to climb. The sun rises to the left, and next year I am moving things around to give the tomatoes more direct morning sun. 

Lunch with garden eye candy

A visit to a private club's garden. Mostly shade plants.

Dispite the lack of rain, I have beets, letttuce, and sunflowers, at the left end of the box.

A view from my kitchen door to my back garden. I have finally reach the point of having to divide plants. It took 3 growing seasons.

Red door with clear glass, changed to new color, and leaded glass. The new color was suppose to be dark grey, but it's kind of greenish blue. I put white primmer under, but I like the color very much. The house will be four years old in the Fall.
I changed the glass for privacy. It also makes pretty, ligjt prisms, in my foyer.

THE FOLLOWING WAS SO GOOD I BORROWED IT FROM 'THE CASUAL GARDENER"

Secret Recipe For Drought Tolerant Container Garden Soil Mix

Monday, June 25, 2012

Secret Recipe For Drought Tolerant Container Garden Soil Mix

This has been one rough season for container gardens in the Midwest. Hot. Dry. Sweltering. No rain. That has been the forecast day-in and day-out. I have done rain dances, prayed to the gods, and of course drank margaritas; all with very little success. One thing that has really helped my containers hold on this heavy drought season is my super-secret container formula and planting techniques which have kept the containers fresh even though I water them only about three times per week.
Above you see by one of my containers that my technique is a success. The container is a mix of Proven Winners annual plants - Supertunia Watermelon Charm, Superbells Grape Punch Calibrachoa, Superbells Yellow Chiffon Calibrachoa, and Illusion Midnight Lace Sweet Potato Vine.
When you shop at a nursery and buy a pre-planted container, chances are the containers will be planted with the soilless mix that the nurseries need for their specific growing conditions. In other words, they water very heavy every day and do not want the soil to hold the water in the container so the plant will not suffer root rot. Therefore, when I get a pre-potted plant, I always tear the planting apart and replant it in my own secret fantastical soil mix which holds water close to the roots longer and helps build a healthier plant.

SECRET SOIL MIX FORMULA

1. 1/2 Organic Potting Soil (I use Organic Mechanics)
2. 1/2 Rotted Composted Manure
3. Organic Fertilizer (I use Jobe’s Organic Granular All-Purpose Fertilizer)
4. Actino-Iron Soil Additive

Here is why I add each item in the secret mix:
#1 is REAL SOIL, not a soilless mix, so potting soil is usually a healthy mix of ingredients that will hold water consistently.
#2 is compost with a nitrogen content and some amazing microbes mixed in. Composted manure is always a great water retentive product that is beneficial to both containers and ground plantings.
#3 is a fertilizer. Annuals such as petunias, geraniums, and calibrachoa can always use a little extra oomph to help them grow because they are heavy feeders.
#4 adds Iron and a fungicidal bacteria called Streptomyces lydicus that strengthens the roots. It enables the roots to uptake both water and nutrients better, by enhancing the root structure.

Above is a video of the television appearance I made in New Mexico last week demonstrating container planting techniques. If you want a planting demonstration, please watch the video.
Special Note – Because the FTC requires it, I am letting you know that Proven Winners, Organic Mechanics Soil, Jobes Organics, and Natural Industries supplied the plants, soil, and soil additives I used in this garden post. I donate a large portion of the vegetables I grow in my soil-improved garden to the local food pantry when harvested.

Many new bugs in the garden.

Can anyone tell about these beautiful beetles. They are gold and green iridescent, with a circle of glistening diamonds. I am sure they are harmful.

Hypertufa

Hypertufa is popular for making garden ornaments, pots and land forms. Hypertufa is relatively light compared with terracotta or traditional concrete and can withstand harsh winters, at least down to −30 °C (−22 °F).
Hypertufa is an anthropic rock made from various aggregates bonded together usingPortland cement.

 
 http://www.youtube.com/embed/RcRJ2XbPA3I

A pause in the day's occupation...

It never ceases to amaze me how fast the veggie garden grows. In a matter of six weeks I will be harvesting cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, radishes, beets, and lettuce, from this tiny garden. The neighbors can't wait either.

It seems more like July, then the end of May here in Western New York, and the bugs think so as well.
Battling Japanese beetles, and slugs, are already a challenge.

We've come a long way since 3 years ago, testing and moving plants for more or less  sunlight for growth.
We discovered that the slope of the land causes the water to run down, and allows for better growth in that area. No matter how much we water the plants and shrubs in the higher area, they still do poorer then the ones in the lower area. So we are planting accordingly. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

Something pretty

A few left over bits of color from an arrangement, to color up a cold grey winter day.

Thanksgiving

What beautiful word, "THANKSGIVING."  We give thanks for all our blessings, and remember  to give to those who need. Wonderful time of year to center ourselves.

A couple of faces of Fall, the last of the color before nature changes it all to shades gray.

Hibiscus adorned a patio restaurant along the Amalfi Coast, in Italy. A cup of coffee , a cookie, and an ocean view, beautiful day.

This was the garden of our Hotel in Sorento, the path to the right goes back to the pool area. The wall to the left, is the remines of a fort. The whole site sits on the bank of a gorge, that  was created by a glacer.
Top photo shows the gorge below.

Veggie stand in a small piazza

Beautiful veggies in morning farmers market, along the streets of Venice. Those are peppers and the white floating things are mushrooms.