tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87885329856440670382024-03-12T17:00:40.045-07:00As My Garden GrowsYou're invited to be a companion in my country garden. Tending plants is in my blood. Either you'll find me in a garden, greenhouse or buying plants.
Blogging seems a great format for sharing one of favorite hobbies. Hopefully this will encourage you to get outside, maybe connect with God and enjoy nature. So what are you waiting for? Go out and grow your own healthy food and beautiful flowers. May it bring healing to your soul as it has done for me.Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-31860580793406813532011-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:002011-05-15T12:06:07.833-07:00Garden Party Recipe- Cornbread SaladCornbread Salad (recipe from Sandra Stuckey)
8-inch skillet or one batch of cornbread12 slices bacon, cooked crisply and crumbled3 cups tomatoes chopped1 cup bell pepper, chopped (green, red, yellow or combination)1 cup finely chopped onions½ cup sweet pickles, chopped¼ cup of sweet pickle juice1cup Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
I just crumble the cornbread and then mix all the other ingredients togetherLaurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-32919366318872391992011-04-28T06:14:00.000-07:002011-04-28T06:14:01.483-07:00Trials of a Texas GardenerRight now where I live in Central Texas we are in a Exceptional drought. One of my new mantras is, "You can't be faint of heart to be a gardener in Texas." between no rainfall an the constant winds and pests that threaten to destroy my garden plants I want to encourage everyone not to lose heart for doing good.
This is what I am doing in my own garden to help insure a harvest: Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-41210111238226959522011-04-15T09:07:00.000-07:002011-04-15T09:09:51.386-07:00More Craft Pictures of Maranatha Garden FriendsNelda Hunter working on her garden glove umbrella design
Me teaching the ladies, Carolyn Guillotte, Jennifer Porter and not in pic, Marguerite Corbello how to paint the Carrot Gloves. Betty Isabell showing off her original glove decorating with ribbon and buttons.
Marguerite and Carolyn both working on their carrot gloves
Betty's gloves
Nelda's gloves
Nelda's decorated fan Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-53025054705942386382011-04-15T08:45:00.000-07:002011-04-15T08:45:06.009-07:00Painted Carrot GlovesBunch of Carrot Gloves
Finished pair made by Jennifer Porter
Our garden club, "Marantha Garden Friends," met yesterday at member Cheryl Luce's home, April 14th to decorate and paint several garden items: paper fans, hats and gloves. Here is the instructions for the cute pair of “Carrot Gloves,” by artist, Sue Bailey.
PALETTE
Folk Art Acrylic Colors: Hunter Green, Ivory Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-82316014668027596722011-02-01T15:33:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:33:37.011-08:00Greenhouse Project of Fall 2010If you have been wondering why it has been so long since you heard from me, it is because I have been busy building a greenhouse. This project begun 2 years ago in my thoughts as one day I was looking out my art studio window. Thinking how I needed something pretty to inspire me when I looked out that window. A greenhouse and garden came to mind. So for the next few years I collected items from Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-29220253013752389082010-09-15T04:29:00.000-07:002010-09-15T04:38:15.634-07:00How to Store Seeds
Start with dry seeds: When collecting seeds from your garden make sure that they are completely dry before trying to store them. If the seeds develop mold then they are not usable. For additional tips on drying seeds go to http://www.organicgardening.com/) I wash mine to remove any pulp and then place them on several layers of paper towels. Then put them in an area with no direct sunlight but Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-75794798434824991332010-08-23T16:40:00.000-07:002010-08-23T16:40:21.926-07:00Fall Vegetable Planting Guide for Central TexasYou can almost taste those fresh Fall veggies, and feel the cooler weather. Well at least with a good imagination. Eventhough the weather is still so hot, it is not too early to plan your fall garden.
Here is a list that I took from Texas Extension. If there is no notation next to the plant variety then direct sow seeds.
Beans, Snap and Lima Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-76298948465242638582010-08-20T14:27:00.000-07:002010-08-20T14:27:52.262-07:00Love of Gardening Even In The HeatYou know that one is a die hard gardener when the actual temperature outside is 109 degrees and you still have the desire to be outside and garden. I feel very couped up inside, like in the dead of winter when I cant get out and do some type of gardening. So I have decided to not stay in completely but be smart about when I do get outside. In this heat we really need to rememberLaurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-45350610807443086412010-08-05T18:10:00.000-07:002010-08-05T18:10:51.185-07:00Summer SurvivalIt is so hot here I read that you definately could fry an egg or maybe a chicken or two. My poor birds are trying to keep cool. This one I caught dusting herself,
Others I have seen seeking shelter under my covered porch. Bless their hearts they still are laying eggs, though not as many as usual.
One of my cats I caught napping under a chair on the same back porchLaurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-63518213210275164402010-08-05T17:52:00.000-07:002010-08-05T17:52:50.725-07:00Plants that handle the heat and butterflies loveZinniasTithonia or Mexican SunflowerRed Sage
These are all plants that survive even our most brutal summer temperatures and another bright surprise is the beautiful butterflies that visit them throughout the day. Especially in the morning hours when the temperatures are much cooler, swarms of these beautiful insects visit my garden. So nice of a treat when everything else is Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-35779597281338177942010-07-26T12:25:00.000-07:002010-07-26T12:25:24.580-07:00Been Much Too Long Between VisitsI know that it has been much too long between visits on this blog. I have been busy in the garden and in my artwork, therefore have been dedicating my time to my other blog, "Inside the Studio with Onetallartist." Today I have decided to finish what I have slowly been doing, eradicating plants from the garden. Some of them have done all they could to serve me with fresh Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-85350288100815437772010-05-08T15:18:00.000-07:002010-05-08T15:18:18.127-07:00Deer Resistant Plants
There are really no tried and true plants that will completely banish deer from your garden, but there are many that are least bothered by them.
SHRUBS:
Agrarita, Boxleaf Euonymus, Bush Germander, Ceniza/Texas Sage, Silverberry, Esperanza, Evergreen Sumac, Firebush, Goldcup, Gray Cotoneaster, Japanese Boxwood, Japanese Yew, Nandina, Oleander, Pineapple Guava, Pomegrante, Primrose Jasmine, Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-2796862254609538982010-03-22T15:58:00.001-07:002010-03-22T15:59:34.445-07:00Plants To Naturally Attract Hummingbirds One way to enjoy the company of hummingbirds is to use natural plants in the yard and garden. All of us know how laborious it can be to continually fill, clean and hang conventional feeder, especially when the birds are migrating. Sometimes I have had to do this chore up to 3 times in one day to keep up with the hungry fellas; especially when using the birds favorite treat - add 3 drops of pure Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-13091957150871030652010-03-22T15:41:00.001-07:002010-03-22T16:02:02.124-07:00Butterfly Garden Plant List NECTAR PLANTSTrees:Chinaberry, Chaste Tree (Vitex), Black Cherry, Mesquite, Mexican Plum and RedbudVines:Coral Vine, Honeysuckle, Sweet Pea, Wisteria, Passionflower, BouganvilleaShrubs:Butterfly Bush, Red Buckeye, White Honeysuckle, Mist Flower, Lantana, Agarita, Yellow Bells, Mexican Buckeye, Buttonbush, Hop Tree, Hibiscus, Flame Acanthus, Bird of Paradise, Turks CapHerbaceous:Globe Amaranth, Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-12019222058952695802010-03-22T15:33:00.001-07:002010-03-22T16:03:11.567-07:00Some Herbs for Cooking There are so many different types of herbs and ways to use them and in cooking there is no exception. Here is a very abbreviated list and their uses.Parsley: Although often suggested for winter gardens, parsley will grow through the summer months if it is given some shade. It is a biennial which means it will flower and then set the seed the second season. Both Curly and Italian varieties grow Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-15637216407616614822010-03-22T15:19:00.001-07:002010-03-22T16:03:29.888-07:00What is Organic Gardening? Organic gardening can be defined as a practice of re-cycling earth's products to produce a more natural, healthy life for, be it a plant, animal or human life. It usually involves the art of composting and using the composted material as a mulch or medium for growing almost anything. The word, "compost" is derived from the Latin verb "componere" which means; put together. It also involves the Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-71972883097745420272010-03-22T15:04:00.001-07:002010-03-22T16:04:02.464-07:00Making Herb Vinegars Herbal vinegars are one of the great ways to use and enjoy many easily grown herbs. Not only are they useful, but have few calories and can make great gifts. There are many different flavor combinations, but the fundamental steps are all the same. To begin think about what type of flavor do you want? Using white wine or apple cider vinegar is most often used and makes the best base, but regular Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-77133389580081988942010-02-27T14:56:00.001-08:002010-02-27T15:00:16.189-08:00Meeting Notes for February 20, 2010We had a small group meet this time, seems like our Saturday obligations are already getting heavy. Those of us that could make it discussed a joint seed order from Henry Fields seed company and a field trip to Antique Rose Emporium and either Brenham for lunch and siteseeing or Marthas Bloomers on the way home for some tea and dessert.The tenative date is set for Saturday, April 24th. This mayLaurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-77540516900520691272010-02-27T14:17:00.000-08:002010-02-27T14:30:09.841-08:00Spring Is In The AirGardens can be so restorative, especially when you are under the weather. Today I am trying to get over a very nasty cold and decided sitting outside in the garden was just what the doctor ordered. I have to take advantage of days like these when I can. For it is hard to believe just four days ago, we had about 4" of snow covering the garden. With everything so white and the temperature so Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-54387613230516448302010-02-07T15:40:00.000-08:002010-02-07T15:47:08.221-08:00Too Many Days Between VisitsJust like this blog it has been too many days between visits to the garden. I don't know about you but the gray, cold winter days don't beckon me to go out into the garden. Although, I have been there just a few days ago to pick some greens and herbs to use in my family's chicken supper it is not yet again a regular ritual.I am ready to see the plants grow in the warm, spring time sun, poking Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-56486189993589968932009-12-07T06:03:00.000-08:002009-12-07T06:12:12.551-08:00Hiding In The Hay One of our cats, Hodgey, was so happy when the hay was laid in the garden in preparation for our first upcoming winter storm. At first all I could see was the back end of the cat, then I went around the hay and his head was peering out. I wondered at that moment, did he realize he could still be seen, or really didnt care but was enjoying playing? Until next time. Happy Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-30534201055582908352009-12-07T05:41:00.000-08:002009-12-07T06:03:49.006-08:00First Winter Ice 2009Living in Central Texas we normally don't see such frigid temperatures. We had our first hard freeze due to an Artic front. Temperatures got down to 22 degrees at my home. The day before we were told to expect 1-3 " of snow, but I guess we were a little too north of the moisture coming from the coast. Houston and the Gulf area saw record snows.Here are a few photos my husband took of my garden Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-29512588220862729702009-11-30T09:04:00.000-08:002009-11-30T16:41:34.450-08:00Ode to the "Okra" TreeThese photos are of my okra that grew in my garden. I planted 6 seeds back in April 2009 and they just sat there no more than 6" tall. So many times I wanted to pull the plants up thinking with extreme triple digit temperatures and drought, these plants were done in, but I just left them in the garden. What would I loose. Anyway I think that when we finally got cooler temperatures and rain in Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-84844764964334251442009-11-15T19:17:00.001-08:002009-11-15T19:17:19.556-08:00Taking Care of Roses in the FallMore about roses..............If buying potted roses best to buy two gallon pots....Hybrid Teas should have 36" center..............minimum of 30" centers.Felco pruners are best. Goat Skin Gloves best....can be purchased for $9.00 at Lowes Elmers Glue seals canes after pruning. Roses should be pruned in the shape of a vase and open in the center and don't leave stubs on bud union. When Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788532985644067038.post-11003767243033873832009-10-22T12:36:00.000-07:002009-10-22T12:46:59.748-07:00Planting Wildflower Seeds in TexasI don't know how many times I have been dissapointed to plant seeds in the Fall and in the Spring few if any new plants showed up. So here are a few tips that were published in the "Wildflower" magazine Fall 2009 issue on Planting Wildflower Seeds.They say there are really only 4 steps to sowing wildflower seeds1) Remove any existing weeds, grass and break up the soil surface. Broadcast the Laurie Grawlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326601395223148010noreply@blogger.com0