Maturity (in the garden, not me)

My garden is yielding to maturity. But not me, no sir-ree. Okay, well, maybe a little. Seed heads are drying on their stems. Flower blossoms too. And it's time to start gathering them for an abundance of free spring sowing next year.

Dill is one of my favorites to gather. I love to plant a large grouping each Spring. I touch, sniff and fondle them regularly. Remember, I lack maturity.

Cosmos seeds are a must. Their blooms help bring pollinators to the garden and their dill like appearance so wispy and light is hard to resist.

And marigolds, are good bullies in the garden. Undesirable pests avoid their natural repelling nature. I collect the whole dry heads easily for next years bumper crop of sunny blooms.

Finding ways to bring a little garden to the table? Me too. I try to find ways to bring some to the table by searching out some mini varieties of my favorite herbs and veggies. I planted miniature romaine lettuce among some of my potted plants on our patio to nibble at will. And I'm completely smitten with tiny Basil Pistou. Their lovely herbal fragrance would charm the socks (or pantyhose, maybe girdles. Wait, folks don't wear those anymore do they?) off wedding guests attending summer nuptials! Maturity forth coming, I promise.

I treasure my wire gate. It's a fine sturdy trellis in our garden. It's flanked on one side with light and fruity lemon cucumbers and zinnias on the other. It's rarely in the same place each year but that's what I love about my found wire gate, it's versatility and constant up-cycle-ability.

Whoa, I can't turn my back for one minute!

Way too much maturity happenin' around here!

Frugal Gardening Tip

My mind is atwitter as every few days it seems, a new, bright, shiny, crisp seed catalog arrives in my mailbox. I love JANUARY! Rally I do darling. A little preview of my favorites and some sharing of one of my best frugal gardening tips. Grab some tea and join me.

Territorial Seed Company

Territorial's website presents you right at the get go, some nifty ideas and suggestions. Like the great idea of using seed packets as stocking stuffers at Christmas. I would be giddy to find a packet of their organic DRUNKEN WOMAN FRIZZY HEADED lettuce seeds in my boot sock, er, stocking I mean. Fun.

Nichols Garden Nursery

Nichol's website opens with words from the Gardeners Pantry. Expressions of the founders fertile philosophy the company is rooted in. I've met Marie and her husband when they gave a free presentation on container gardening. Delightful folks.

I like supporting both these small family companies as they are Oregon grown and experts on gardening in the Willamette Valley.

But other catalogs have bunched in my mailbox from larger standard companies too like Johnny's Selected Seeds of Winslow Maine. They have some enticing offerings as well as from good old Burpee of Warminster Pennsylvania.

I'm glad for the catalogs in early January. For reals. It takes time for this cottage woman to plan out what I can really logically (if that's possible) and physically aspire to in the garden for the coming season. I need to consider what is already put up in the pantry. Like pickles for instance. I have way too many jars of pickles. Enough at least to last 2011. So maybe just some slicing, lemon, or other specialty cuke will do.

But while I and hopefully you are getting your gardening groove revved up for spring, I want to share this frugal gardening tip. Try saving up your toilet paper and paper towel tubes over the year. While snuggled up all toasty warm for the winter you can create your own 3"by 2" seed pots. Here's how.

1. Start saving up all your toilet paper and paper towel tubes. Larger families of course can have an ample supply in no time.

2. Cut them into 3" sections.

3. Take a section and press it flat. Open and press flat the opposite side. Your round tube section should now have 4 corners.

4. Cut approximately 1" from each corner to make flaps.

5. Fold each flap in, overlapping to make a small box.

There you have it! a perfect paper seed pot.
Humdinger!!