Seeds 2011 – The Year of Corn (Korn)

 

Some of the seeds for spring/summer were started today while other seeds were ordered last night.

Started:

Lettuce:  A couple of varieties will be started indoors.  When they are transplanted, I’ll sow additional lettuce in place.  Those seeds have been ordered.

Brune d’Hiver, Baker Creek

Iceberg, Baker Creek   (I thought Iceberg might have a better chance if I start in indoors first.

 

Tomatoes:  Last year the tomatoes were started on March 1.  My planting of fall crops was delayed because the tomatoes were still producing.  My hope is that this early start will translate into a better start for fall crops.

Tomato Cour di Bue, Baker Creek

Beefsteak, Baker Creek

Ordered:

Carrots:  I have some carrots seeds left over from the last planting and wanting to add a different variety.

Red Cored Chatenay, Terrior Seeds

Corn:  2011 is the Year of Corn in Maybelline’s Garden.  2010 was the Year of the Tomato.  I hope to have a successful year and stock my freezers with sweet, yellow corn along with enjoying cobs during the summer.

Golden Bantam, Terrior Seeds

Lettuce:  A few varieties look like they may work in the salad bed until I plant squash and sweet potatoes (pondering this one).

Merlot, Terrior Seeds

St. Anne’s, Terrior Seeds

Tom Thumb, Terrior Seeds

Pumpkins:  I’ve grown Cinderella in the past and liked the shape and color; but I never ate any of them.  This year I’m trying a blue skinned pumkin.

Jarrahdale, Terrior Seeds

Since this is the Year of Corn here at Maybelline’s Garden in Bakersfield, California (Oildale specifically), I would like to offer a homegrown remedy to rid your garden of varmints.  Below I have embedded a little ditty from our hometown fellas, Korn.  Take a laptop out to wherever varmints are a nuisance and turn the volume up as loud as the law allows.  This should rid you of those pests.

 

See.  We have more than Buck and Merle.  I enjoy all of them.  You are welcome.

 

Special celebrity note:  Granny has helped Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of Korn, a few times with his purchases of strollers and other baby items.  Imagine,  Jonathan is a daddy (3 times!).  Granny can connect with Jonathan since he is a Highland High Scotsman and played the bagpipes.  Granny is very hip that way.

Progress

January 12, 2009

Two years ago the garden was under construction.  The bareroot fruit trees had just been planted and had yet to be trained in espalier.  The gravel hadn’t arrived yet for the paths.

 

April 7, 2010

Currently, the garden is growing with much success.  The trees, fruits, and vegetables continue to provide produce, entertainment, and exercise.

This blog was started to help keep track of what was going on in the garden.  It was a source of communication for my father to enjoy the progress of the garden.  He wasn’t able to get around very well and rarely could come into the garden to experience what was going on.  The internet is a wonderful thing.  My father has since passed away and so has a beloved garden pup.  The garden continues to grow and evolve though.

2011 should be a great year in the garden.  I intend to conquer grafting and successfully grow yellow corn.  Small goals but I’m satisfied.

Now I have seed catalogs and a couple of gardening books to enjoy during these comfortable winter months.  Before I know it, it will be time to gripe about swamp pants.

Fresh New Year!

 

In summer, the Watermelon Crepe Myrtle is in full bloom with confetti like petals.  They grow really well in zone 8-9 and are extremely tolerant of the dry heat.  Some gardeners don’t like the mess the petals make; but I don’t mind the crinkly pink confetti floating around the yard.  By the end of August, evidence of the crepe myrtle is most everywhere.

Before 2011 hit, I wanted to make sure to do some cleaning.  A couple of bedrooms and the laundry was on my list.  The recent rains had wrecked my windows and they really needed to be cleaned; so that task was added to my list.  The type of windows we have make cleaning super easy.  The outside can swing inside for cleaning then swing back out to secure in place.  Pretty convenient.

As the windows were cleaned, remnants of the summer of 2010 were revealed.  Leaf cutting bees seem to adore crepe myrtle petals.  Once they have chomped the petals, they buzz over to the neighboring windows and some how build nests shaped similar to a pencil.  This cycle happens annually.  So as I bid good bye to the old year, the bees from summer provide me with confetti to toss in celebration of a fresh, new year.

Happy 2011!