Tag Archives: flowers

Me and My Boring Deck

Posted on May 29, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Every year I make a container garden on my deck. And every year I go overboard. I purchase more plants than I have containers for and by the time I’ve found a place for every plant, we have a hard time finding places to put chairs when we have people over. Still, it looks nice and I get a nice sense of accomplishment when its done.

This year it seems that sense of accomplishment is far away and receding. I have done some work in the yard (perhaps you read my blog post about it). I have purchased a few plants and some dirt. Oh, I’ve been good. In my determination not to go overboard this year, I don’t think I bought enough stuff. That’s OK, greenhouses all over the Mohawk Valley have more. A short trip and I’m set.

I suppose I shouldn’t feel too bad about my so far boring deck. After all, it is best to wait till all danger of frost has passed. I’ve been told to don’t plant before Memorial Day weekend. Why, that was last weekend.

If only I had spent the weekend hard at work. I did get a little done on Monday (when the only blog post I could manage was a Middle-aged Musings Monday). Three largish containers now have flowers in them and half the dill is in a container (I hope to plant dill in the yard as well. Oh, ambitions, they always get me in trouble). Then the sun started to get to me. I have kind of a sensitivity in that area. The rest would have to stay in their original little plastic pots for now.

I promptly forgot to water any of it. Oh dear. That is a cruel thing to do to pretty flowers and delicious herbs. I poured a lot of water on them Tuesday after work, as soon as the deck seemed shady enough (I’ve been told to don’t water plants in direct sunlight). I watered them again Wednesday morning (today), just to be on the safe side.

So my deck is still boring, is what I’m saying. How appropriate is that for Wuss-out Wednesday? I will have more blog posts about my container garden as the work progresses.

Flowers, Tomatoes and Herbs, Oh My!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday I took the first step toward my container garden with a trip to Brick House Acres in Frankfort, NY.

I first encountered the business at the Mohawk Valley Bazaar sponsored by Relay for Life Team Janice at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds. I was especially interested in some potted tomato plants the guy had. He said I could leave them in those very pots on my deck and have cherry tomatoes all summer then bring them indoors and have cherry tomatoes all winter. I was unable to make the purchase at the time but took a business card with a promise to seek him out at a later date.

For once I did the smart thing and called first to get directions. From Frankfort you go out Higby Road about five miles then turn left at the fire station onto Albany Road, go to a stop sign, then right onto Roberts Road. It’s a lovely drive over the hill. We once got lost in a dreadful fog on Higby Road, but no worries about that on Saturday. It was bright and sunny.

The business is housed in a very cool looking old barn. A rooster crowed the whole time we were there, disproving once again the myth that they only crow first thing in the morning.

I remember once reading a story in a children’s magazine (when I was a child) about a rooster in danger of being made into stew because he liked to sleep in and the farmer needed to be woken up. The farmer’s children get the rooster an alarm clock. Now, years later, remembering it, I wonder by they didn’t just give the farmer the alarm clock and let the rooster sleep. But I digress.

We found the tomato plants as well as some herbs. I was very excited to find cilantro. Homemade salsa, here I come! I was also happy about the basil. Love that fresh pesto. We also got a couple of flowers that were on sale as well as an eggplant for what I thought was a very good price (not that I’ve comparison shopped for eggplant recently) (or ever).

We left with two cardboard flats filled with plants. I felt that I had not gone too crazy, which I have a regrettable tendency to do when it comes to my container garden. I have a couple more places I’d like to check out before I’m done. Must spread my flower dollar around, after all.

Brick House Acres is located at 10628 Roberts Rd., Frankfort, NY 13340. Phone number 315-737-5635. You can also Like them on Facebook. You might like to take a ride out there. I found it well worth the trip.

Mums for Mom at Candella’s

Posted on April 3, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to title this one “Mum’s the Word,” but thought it would be unbearably punny.

Saturday my adventures took me to New Hartford. OK, I guess they weren’t very adventurous, but I can’t seem to find the word I’m looking for. Activities? Perambulations? Gyrations? Leads are hard.

Be that as it may, I went home the long way through Whitesboro (or is it Whitestown? Ought to know these things) and Marcy. This made it handy to stop at Candella’s Farm and Greenhouse on River Road, where I hoped by buy a plant for my mother for Easter.

I was immediately greeted by a mother and daughters (at least, they looked like family) and asked if I needed help. I told them I wanted a plant for my mother, preferably something she could later plant outdoors if she wanted to.

I admired a beautiful lily in an unusual shade of pink. The lady said Mom could plant it outdoors but it required a sheltered area without too much direct sunlight. I mentally reviewed Mom and Dad’s lawn. Then I considered some hyacinths. Since I’m Cynthia, I thought a hyacinth would be nice (get it?). I got her a nice pink one a couple of years ago, which I foolishly left on my kitchen table. Mom told me to go ahead and plant it in my own yard and she could enjoy it there when she visits.

The lady also showed me a mum of a new color. She said she had good luck with mums. I liked the look of those but picked an “old” color of burgundy with yellow centers.

Mom was pleased with her present, and I was pleased with my experience at Candella’s. As spring slowly arrives, I’ll have several choices of places to purchase plants for my own yard. I hope to hit them all. I’d better buy a new pair of gardening gloves.

Candella’s is located at 9256 River Rd., Marcy, NY. Phone number is 315-736-9792. You can visit their website at http://www.candellasfarm.com/ or you can Like them on Facebook.

Mohawk Valley Girl

Tag Archives: flowers

Me and My Boring Deck

Flowers, Tomatoes and Herbs, Oh My!

Mums for Mom at Candella’s

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