Mini-birdhouses

My latest project - mini birdhouses to stick into planters.  I think I'm going to give this set to my parents :). 

Edible Flower Harvest

Ok, so I wasn't sure which blog this should fall under - home and garden, or food, because these pics are both!  That's right, EDIBLE FLOWERS!  For the record, I nibbled all of them and they either had no flavor or tasted horrible, so so much for my "flower salad" idea.  But they are pretty AND can be safely used as garnishes to any sweet or savory dish.  Check it out:

Above: Clockwise from top center: Marigold, three nasturtiums, pansies, alyssum and dianthus.  Pretty if not tasty!

 

My latest project - these adorable little birdhouses were only $1.00 (unpainted) from AC Moore in Bowie.  I love them!  Thinking of putting them in my three climatis basins.  Also thinking of painting another trio to donate to the garden club as a door prize..... would have bought more but these were the last of the stock.  Maybe I'll go back next week.  Such a fun (and inexpensive) craft! :)

Most recent crafting project: six dollar purchase from Cottage Chicks: 

BEFORE

 

AFTER:

 

Here's my backyard garden update!  I'm so excited about my new plants.  Take a look!

I can't get enough of the lupines - so pretty!! :D

Back Yard Garden Completed!

Well, my back yard garden is finally done!  I put in the last of the plants and mulched it today.  Have to cover the plants tonight, though, as it's supposed to get down for 40 degrees.  Here are some pics:

In the back row are three lupines (tutti frutti mix), then a row of herbs, then dianthus, and then seedlings and more herbs in the front.  Here are some of the plants I planted:

HERBS:
True Oregano - Origanum vulgare
Pineapple Sage Salvia elegans
Thyme 'Lime Green' - Thymus x citriodorus
French Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Thyme 'Silver Edge Lemon' - Thymus vulgaris 'Argentius citriodorus'
Winter Savory - "Dwarf Winter" - Satureja montana 'Nana' 'Dwarf Winter'
Hardy Sweet Marjoram - Origanum majoricum
Grey Common Garden Sage - Salvia officinalis Gray

I also planted three climatis in pots with trellises:

In my deck garden, in a pot, I planted the following herbs:

Lemon verbena - Aloysia triphylla
French sorrel - Rumex acetosa
Lovage - Levisticum officinale

Also, to my great delight, I found two new scented geraniums (pelargoniums): Apricot and French Vanilla.  I'm hoping to use these in addition to the ones I already have, to make scented sugars for baking.  YAY!

Gardening Update

H'lo, everyone!  Well, I've been busy in my garden, and my garden has been busy growing flowers!  First, an update on the front yard.  Three of the flowers I bought last year @ the Bowie/Crofton Plant sale have come up: two columbines and a bleeding heart.  Here they are:

 Above, the bleeding heart.  Adorable, right?  And I think it cost me all of 50 cents last year, as did the other plants! :D

 Above and below, columbines.  No blooms yet, though.  Maybe next year?

As for the back yard, I am happy to report my trip yesterday to Homestead Gardens was a success!  Have a peek at the gardens on either side of my gate.

 The back row boasts two lupine (mixed colors).  In the middle is a lavender plant, followed by a row of dianthus (Sweet William).  Then, in the very front - you can't really see them in this photo, but they are there, I promise, are seedlings I started from seed.  They include marigold, alyssum and German chamomile. I hope the little fellas survive and thrive!

 I think I'm going to buy one more lupine plant for each side and put it in the middle between the two plants that are already there.  Originally, I was going to put in double hollyhocks, but it is such a small space that I don't want it to look too busy.  Also, I got a flat of the dianthus for $18 (32 plants total) and I have a bunch left over:

I think I'll put these, along with the lily of the valley bulbs I bought, in the front yard (why is it that lily of the valleys are only sold in the spring and not the fall?  Strange).

Then, when May comes I'll buy some more perennial herbs to add to the existing lavender and rosemary, filling out that row.  I have bags of mulch to cover the gardens as well, but didn't want to mulch until I was done planting for the season.

Yesterday when I was planting the gardens, a big fat toad nearly scared me to death, so I moved my toad house to that side of the garden as he seems to prefer it.  I hope he comes back to stay and eats all my garden pests!  YAY! :)

Oh yes, and I bought two cultivars of lavender: English Lavender "Munstead" (Lavandula angustifolia) and Winter Bee Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas, pat. no 20840)