Succulents, Garden Markers, Dinner, and Gardening Partners!

This is a hodge-podge blog! 

SUCCULENTS

Any of various plants having fleshy leaves or stems that store water. Cacti and the jade plant are succulents. Succulents are usually adapted to drier environments and display other characteristics that reduce water loss, such as waxy coatings on leaves and stems, fewer stomata than occur on other plants, and stout, rounded stems that minimize surface area. – American Heritage Science Dictionary

Growing up my mother had a cactus garden. I remember the day she started putting in her cactus plants and the long lecture I received about “leaving the cacti alone”.  We looked forward to their beautiful blooms each year. I’m now making future plans for my own cactus garden. However, planning a cactus garden is something one must do with absolute certainty on location. In the mean time, I’ve picked up a few succulents from a newly discovered nursery close to my house! Most people plant them much closer together in beautiful creative containers, but I’ve had several unused mismatched pots sitting around my work space for years. I’m hoping these succulents will take over these pots and maybe one day be transplanted into my cactus garden. I don’t know the different names of each type of succulent, perhaps those with more experience can educate me!

Succulents!

HOMEMADE GARDEN MARKERS

Currently, I have 22 heirloom tomato plants! Sadly, I lost the Cherokee Green yesterday due to early blight. While out in my garden I snapped a few pictures of my garden tags. To make these I simply found a Word template that I thought was pretty, typed in the information, and then had them laminated. For the sticks, I used paint sticks that come with the purchase of a gallon of paint. I then duct taped the laminated card to the sticks. Andrew actually went to Sherwin Williams and asked if they could spare a few and they gave us all we needed! The sticks won’t hold up for the long haul, but the laminated cards should do fairly well. I will note this was a very rushed process. I only decided to make elaborate garden markers the night before putting tomato plants in the ground. Next year I may snazz it up a bit…

  FRESH TUNA WITH HOME GROWN HERBS

My father and I eat seafood like the sea is in short supply. We live 2 hours from the beautiful North Carolina coast, and we love love love offshore fishing. Yesterday, a family friend went fishing and brought back a couple fresh tuna steaks. My dad grilled the tuna in olive oil, butter, and I added fresh rosemary and dill. Simple, quick, and D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S

 MY FAVORITE GARDENING PARTNER

Though I cherish the times spent in the garden learning from my father and uncle, laughing and making memories with Andrew, planting and chatting with a lazy useless Great Dane, my most favorite gardening partner of all is my youngest sister, Ellie. Kindred souls, we are

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