Kim's Backyard - Garden

Herbs--Cooking

Sat, 21 Aug 2004 19:21:41 -0500

Humans have been using herbs in food and as medicine for thousands of years. Herbs add flavor and dimension to the foods we eat and can have powerful healing properties, when used correctly. When used together in combination, herbs become the basis for a whole culture of cuisine. The taste of a single herb can define a dish.

Featured Flower : Calendula (June, 2004)

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 20:38:38 -0500

Calendula : calendula officinalis : hardy annual / reseeding.

Also called "pot marigolds", these study annuals have been used medicinally in salves since the early 1600's. The flower petals are edible and add bright color to salards. Many great herbal skin remedies have calendula as a main ingredient. A well-loved and reliable garden favorite, they range in color from pale yellow to vibrant orange. They do well in pots and borders.

Growing Flowers from Seeds

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 20:33:36 -0500

For a long time, I bought seedlings and live plants from the garden department of various home improvement stores. Growing flowers from seed seemed very hard, and with some things it still is. The only things I still buy every year are lobelia and fuchia seedlings. These are too hard to get going from seed and are pretty cheap anyway. Using a plastic seedling tray with a clear lid, most seeds can be started indoors with light from an east or west facing window. These seedlings can then be hardened off by taking them outdoors for a couple hours a day, increasing the time gradually until big enough (different flowers take deffent amounts of time to mature, adjust according to individual directions).

Featured Flower: Marigolds (June, 2004)

Sat, 21 Aug 2004 19:17:02 -0500

Marigolds are an old standby and have been for generations. They are easy to grow in pots or flower beds. Now available in a suprising variety of shapes, sizes, and shades and patterns. The colors can range from palest yellow to orange to blazing red. While they are said to repel many insects in the garden, I have found that they are highly susceptible and attractive to slugs, so you might want to use slug bait if you put them in the ground.

Growing Flowers vs Vegetables and Fruits

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 21:11:48 -0500

While it is tempting to want to grow your own food, it is alot harder than it looks. I have several reasons for sticking mainly to flowers: First, I don't have alot of room. Second, the soil in my yard is poor, and living in Tacoma, possibly contaminated with a variety of toxins. Third, I believe if you have access to a good organic farmer's market or store, you should purchase your produce from the good folks who go to such trouble to grow it. You can cetainly justify the slightly increased price when you think of the extra work and expense involved with just getting certified as organic. Of course, you'll want to verify - when possible - the source as cetified organic.

Gardening For Beginners

Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:22 -0500

At first, gardening can be frustrating. But if you start with easy-to-grow varieties of plants and flowers, you can get reliable results without alot of work.

Growing Flowers

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 20:55:47 -0500

Here is a table of flowers organized by difficulty in growing. You can refer to this for an idea of what types of flowers you could start growing.