Summer Arrival in Rochester

Summer Arrival Weekend

Father's Day, Juneteenth and the Arrival of summer....3 important days in the year in one weekend.  I attended a fabulous Juneteenth celebration Friday night online.  It was amazing and inspirational. I Learned so much & enjoyed the celebration of this freedom day with the group. 

This organization hosted Welcome  

What is this you ask?  Juneteenth defined

This is something I know my father would support

BLACK LIVE MATTER always!

Garden

Spent my time watering the garden due to the semi-drought we are in.  I do not remember another June recently seeing the neighborhood lawns look so dry. We are having some extremes of weather in my city that challenge the garden.  Thankfully we have soaker hoses to keep the plants doing well.  These are a new surprise tomato, Indigo Blue Beauty from Harris seeds.Supporting local business is vital right now.  I have used primarily Harris seeds for over a decade. so my garden is celebrating this heat with some stunning yields. 

These are my greens  Kale,  collards& my brussels sprouts.  The lettuce is ding fantastic and my greens are growing quickly

. I kept my focus on forward because memories of Father's Day in my teens were hard.  I lost my Father to Cancer when I was 14.  This event forever changed my life and shaped me. At that time I was not ana adult so I recanted as one would expert in a teenage without an adult role model in my home.  Now as an adult, I understand much of what my Dad taught me and honored hm  by doing things I know he would be proud of.  Father's Day is always hard for me because I do not have him to spend it with. Oh  what I would give to be able to go on a hike with him again.  "Have you had your hug today?" he would often ask. For my dad, please hug those you love today and tell them how much they mean to you. 

 

 

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As a human I need to speak up.  Please join me.

International Womens Day

Yesterday was International Women's Day, how did you celebrate?  I reflected on some fantasict women I admire such as Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Warren, & Kamala Harris.

As we move thru this month, I am beyond excited. It is almost SPRING,  10 MORE DAYS!!! This lettuce from 2017 says it best.



Elizabeth Warren quote,"Choose to fight only righteous fights, because then when things get tough - and they will - you will know that there is only option ahead of you: nevertheless, you must persist "  Her passion is resonating through out these United States of America in the hearts & minds of all of us women. She had the courage to do something some only dream of  run for President of the USA.




As this Mustard in my greenhouse shows, it wants to grow despite the fact it is winter.  The seed was planted last fall and is growing now that it is warm.  I watered it so it can become a full plant &  be large enough for a salad soon.   Followers of this blog know by heart my favorite Susan B quote, " Failure is Impossible "  I feel that here in this green. I did not expect it to have survived the winter but it persisted.

My indoor greens are only sprigs right now.  Three to six weeks  until they can be planted into the veggie garden.  Hopefully the peas can be planted by the end of March like last year.

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Reminder order early for special occasions

Welcome to May

Welcome to May starting off cool and wet here in Rochester, NY. Busy working on a wedding order and Mother's day gifts here in the studio.


Happy to have the spring greens in the ground & they are enjoying all the rain we have had.  Rain, rain go away is often overheard around here.  We have had way too much rain recently after a sever drought last fall.  A rough start to the growing season here.

What are you plans for the upcoming Mother's Day weekend?

I am proud to be participating in the Second annual Right to Run 19K / 5K  in Seneca Falls NY Saturday.  It was fabulous last year and I know it will be amazing this year.  join us and see for yourself.

Join us  Right To Run & bring you Mom or kids.

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Enjoy the rest if this week and celebrate your family in a special way.

April Garden Installed

April is rapidly coming to a close.  The vegetable garden is installed or planted and the growing season has begun. We are happy to have a few greens harvested and enjoyed so far this month. As my regular readers know I am an avid gardener.  My inspiration for my jewelry designs come from nature.

 






Planted in the ground so far are lettuce, mesclun, kale, broccoli, parsnips, leeks, & snow peas.  We have seedlings waiting to be installed:  tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, celery, kale, broccoli, & lettuce.

These lovely garden pics were taken this morning between the rain showers. A beautiful spring day here in Rochester, NY,





With Mother's Day quickly approaching, I have
a few orders to finish and deliver. Jubilant customers and soon to be happy Mothers.

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Dog Days of Summer in Rochester, NY

 

Wrote this back in early August.  I went out to water the plants and it was not posted.  Ab it late but the beauty of the plants are shown. 

This was a visitor to my garden toward the end of August. I believe it is a red tailed hawk.  Hope he is eating the mice and squirrels that seem to be enjoying my root crops.

The summer season ended with a drought and federal disaster area for my county and the surrounding area.

Dog days of summer here in my gardens photos.  New York was in early drought stages, is early August  Seems like we just planted the garden.  We have a happy and prolific garden due to water wise gardening practices.  My most prolific plants have been the early spring crops: cilantro, greens, lettuce, peas, radishes.  As the heat arrived:  lettuce, mustard greens, collards, kale, cucumbers, & yellow beans.

My bush beans are quite happy with the heat wave which lasted the entire summer.  My several days a week watering with recycled rubber soaker hoses keep them happy. We have about 10lbs of beans in the freezer for later, the most ever saved.  They are still producing which is unusual,  normally we take the plants down in mid September.

Another of the prolific vegetables are the bell peppers and the broccoli. A different variety, Jalapeno show below.  Especially with the cooler fall temps now and the much needed rain this past week.  The broccoli has taken off and we are eating it a few nights a week.

Apparently the heat is not done here, yet.  High of 79 forecast for the end of this week.  Grilled dinner outside on the deck is what we will be doing.   Mine as well enjoy the unseasonable warm while it is here.  The leaves are certainly falling and it will back to true fall weather.

The Holiday season is here.  Panda Wear is accepting holiday orders thru 11/1/16 for delivery in December.  Please order early.  

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First Snowfall of the Season

With the Indian summer here it has not felt like fall until recently. Officially it arrived 9/23/15.  Fall has arrived in Rochester, NY.  The leaves have blanketed the ground recently.  This is one of the roses in my garden trying to show off after the first snowfall of this season.   Fall is my favorite season.  It may be the end of the growing season but it shows the beauty in so many plants.  Just think about the first bite of an apple in September or the first taste of toasted pumpkin seeds in October. 

Happy to take order for delivery in December until 11/30.   Show schedule on my website. 

 This is fountain grass ( not positive on the variety) shows off at the end of the season.  It was pretty throughout the summer and into early fall.  To really  appreciate the plant, you need to see it this way.  The look of the seeds at the top with this light dusting of the first snowfall of the season.  I tried to capture the inspiration I get from my garden this time of year.  What do you think?  are you feeling inspired to take a walk outside and admire nature where you are?  When you see the gentle twist of my wire or the spirals I use, they came from something beautiful I have seen in nature.

For those that read this blog regularly, you know this is my backyard pond.  We hand dug this over 15 years ago when were were re-landscaping the property.  This is my pond in fall.  Taken for  the perspective of the the side where the waterfall is on the brick path.  You have seen the pond with the waterfall in summer and the beautiful pink water lilies in full bloom. 

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Flowers from Highland Park Rochester, NY

We have a new feature on the blog.  About once a month we will feature an artist in my "TEAM".  I have been selling my work online and have a great TEAM of people whom I consider my second family. Here you will learn about the artist and their work.  Another team member will be posted next week.  

This s a photo from my Highland park visit last week.