Egyptian Walking Onions

Egyptian walking onions, also called tree onions, belong to the allium genus. They prefer growing in full sun, are an extremely hardy perennial and easy to grow with very little water.
 The bulbs measure only 1/2 to 1 inch in length and look like small purple/red onions. Plant these little bulbs just below the surface of the ground with the green shoot (if there is one) poking out. The image below is a close up of the bulbs.

They can be planted in the Fall or in the spring. Fall is best as they will start growing and give you new plants in the spring. In fact in the Fall they will plant themselves.
The photo below was taken this morning so you can see the amount of growth on the plant already. The bulb sets have not started to form yet. When they do they are fascinating to watch on a daily basis.
 The plant is edible. You can eat either end of the plant, but usually you dig the plant and eat the bulb below the ground, and save the top for planting or sharing. Here is one stem that I just dug this morning. There was quite an 'onion' smell when it was lifted from the ground.
 You can use the greens (stem) like chives, and chop to add to salads or soups. I would recommend doing a taste test first to see if you like the taste before adding to your food.
At the top of each stem a small bulb starts to grow. From this develops the onion for next year. When the plant gets top heavy the stem bends over and the little onions plant themselves into the ground. Do you remember that song "Walk like an Egyptian"? Well after several years if left on their own the onions will "walk" around your garden.

These plants are bending to the wrong way, almost onto the path. So I will pick off the little onion sets and plant them myself so that I can control the "walking".
When the bulb sets are picked I lay them out to dry for awhile before separating them to give them away to friends so they can watch the fascinating growth in their own gardens.

Determined nest maker

The robin is being very determined in making a nest over our back light. This light is between my kitchen window and my back door. I have a feeling that I won't be turning on this light for awhile.

Here is the start of the nest. Some of the back light is still visible.

After a few more hours the light is just about covered in.

You can't see the light at all in this shot that I was able to get while mother robin added some more grass to the nest. I had to go out the front door, walk around the house and sneak up against the wall of the house to get this shot. Thank goodness for digital cameras with lots of zoom.

Ah-h-h now the nest is all cozy and ready to sit on to try it out.

I'm wondering if this is the same robin that made a nest over the lights at the front of the house last year. I'll keep watch over this nest and see if the robin is determined enough to stick it out in a busy spot and raise her babies.

Check out other bloggers with photos of Camera Critters.


Labels: robins, birds, nests, Camera Critters,

Friday's Flower

If you have the time, stop by my blog on Fridays and see some of the flowers in bloom.

Friday's flower for this week is the viola sorbet. I just love it when these little plants appear in the garden centers after a long, cold winter. I can't resist and have to stop by and purchase a pot or two of them. They are the first cheery blooms of spring.

If you carefully deadhead the flowers you will have blooms well into the late spring and even longer if you are lucky. Snip the flower stem as close to the main stem as possible. It is wise to snip the blooms as soon as they begin to droop down as that little seed pod will develop without you even seeing it. When the seedpods develop the plant will stop producing blooms.
This year I chose yellow ones with almost dark red markings. They are in a sunny spot on the deck and when I look out the window they certainly cheer me up.

Scarlet Runner Beans

I have wonderful memories of scarlet runner beans, or phaesolus coccineus, growing in my uncle's garden in England.

They were vigorous climbers that produced many, many beans. What fun to go there as a child and then to take my children there to pick the beans.
I've grown them in my gardens here in Canada but they never seem to be quite the same as his. Our dry, hot summers could have something to do with it.

Hummingbirds love the red flowers so the plant has a double benefit in the garden.

Plant outdoors after danger of frost has passed and weather has warmed. Cover seeds with 1 inch of fine soil firmed down. Plant in rows or hills about 2 feet apart.

Seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days depending on weather and soil conditions. They grow well on a trellis, an obelisk, or up bean poles made into a teepee shape.

This is a great annual vine to grow for both the flowers and the beans.
The beans are edible, once you remove the long stringy bit along the edges and the big seeds from the center. The green pod can be cut like french beans. They taste best when they are younger and the bean inside hasn't developed really big. The bean seed is also edible and can be used in bean salads and soups.

When saving the seeds leave the bean on the vine to dry out before picking.

Labels: Sow then Grow, seeds,

4 o'clocks

4 o'clocks - Marvel of Peru - Mirabilis jalapa

This plant is named because the fragrant blooms tend to open around 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Sow seeds outside in spring after the last frost.
Plant 1/4 inch deep and about 1 inch apart. Cover with about half inch of fine soil.

Thin when seedlings are about 1 inch tall.
Seeds can germinate in 5 to 10 days. Plants will grow in a sunny location and will tolerate poor soil. You can start the seeds inside about 4 to 6 weeks before outside planting date.

Share you extra seeds in this printable seed packet.

Lacy Scarf

I found this lovely pattern for a scarf at knitnthing's weblog. It is knit using only knit stitches and yarn overs (yo). This is such an easy pattern even a beginning knitter will have no trouble, in fact, this pattern tells you to drop stitches!

I know it isn't the time of year for scarves, but it is the time of year to plan ahead and start knitting for gifts. It is so lovely to sit out in the garden and knit. If I like this pattern I'll be doing some more and putting them in the 'gift drawer'. The pattern knits up quickly and I did this bit while watching some of the last episode of Corner Gas.

Labels: knitting, The Crafty Side, scarves

Cosmos

Cosmos are a beautiful tall, annual plant for the garden which produce a multitude of blooms in many colours.

They prefer full sun and rich soil. Cosmos are the perfect plant for the back of the garden. Each year I grow these plants from seed that I have saved the previous year. They will also self seed and I will find surprise plants growing in various places of the garden.

Deadheading the flowers keeps them in continual bloom from July to first frost.

At the end of the growing season let the spent flowers go to seed. When dry you can harvest the seeds, let them dry, and store them for next year. I also leave some flower heads on the plant and the birds will enjoy the seeds. The goldfinches love the seedheads and will be there quickly to eat them up.

Plant seeds outside after the last frost or inside about 3 to 4 weeks before outside planting.

Cover with about 1/4 inch of soil.

The seedlings transplant easily so you can start them in pots and then pick the spot in your garden. Seeds germinate in 5 to 10 days. I use an old fork to lift and separate the seedlings.

I usually try to transplant them after a watering or a rain.

From a few plants you will get an abundance of seeds.

Trade your extra cosmos seeds in this printable seed label.

Labels: cosmos, sow then grow, seeds,

Shoots, Buds and Growth for GBBD

We are finally into the time of year when I have some photos to show for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
They aren't blooms yet ... but are well on the way to becoming blooms.

The honeysuckle vine is beginning to open its leaves.

The hardy perennial Egyptian Walking Onions are showing a lot of growth after the long winter.


The pussywillows have been out in bud now for awhile.


Look at the rhubarb crowns appearing. It will soon be time for rhubarb cake and rhubarb crumble.

The appearance of these shoots pleases me immensely. These are the red trilliums that I planted a couple of years ago. I can't wait to see these blooms appear.

Why not stop over at May Dreams Gardens, see what other bloggers have in bloom. Better still, why don't you join in the fun of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day or GBBD.

Apple of Peru

Apple of Peru - Shoofly - Nicandra physalodes

This annual prefers full sun and moist soil. This plant can be invasive if left to self seed - in fact in some areas it is considered a weed. The small trumpet like flowers are small and pretty to see. This plant is a member of the nightshade family.

Allow the papery seedpods to dry on plant, inside is a small "apple" full of seeds. I make sure I pick all the seed pods before they open and disperse the seeds.

The seeds are small and reddy brown. Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days.
I grow these plants in a large container so that I can contain them and stop them spreading.

Share your extra seeds in a mini zip lock bag and attach this printable seed label.

Labels: sow then grow, seeds,

Pussywillows

I have a little pussy,
Her coat is silver gray,
She lives down in the meadow,
And never runs away,
She'll always be a pussy,
She'll never be a cat,
For she's a pussywillow,
What do you think of that?
author unknown

Just a little hiccup

The lovely spring weather had a little hiccup overnight and today. And when I got up this morning I felt like going right back to bed and hiding my head under the covers.
I was greeted with a thin blanket of snow over everything.


Even Gary the gargoyle had some snow on his wings. He thought he was protected in the corner of the deck beside the last of the winter greenery.

The weather was so nice on Sunday I decided to put my little metal bird out on the deck railing. Poor little thing got it's first taste of winter.

Throughout the day we had rain, sleet, ice pellets, and wind with lots of slush on the ground.

This hiccup in the weather is supposed to be around till Wednesday, when I hope it leaves our area for good and that lovely spring weather returns.

Hm-m-m what is the Monday Mystery?

Edit about 8:30 pm - those that guessed part of a hummingbird feeder were correct. Over the weekend I washed and cleaned out both of the hummingbird feeders in anticipation of putting them outside next week.

Labels: Monday Mystery

A Two Toned Visitor

This spring we have had some different coloured squirrels visit the garden. I know lots of people don't like squirrels in their gardens but we love to watch the antics they get up to.

Apart from the usual black and gray squirrels, and of course little red, we have had this two toned one.

He is very noticeable with his reddish brown tail and black body. It almost looks like his tail has been transplanted from another squirrel. Obviously his parents were different colours.

The squirrels usually forage on the ground under the back trees for food as that is where my husband will leave treats for them.

But more often than not they make their way to the flat hanging feeder for more tasty morsels.

Check out other bloggers that carry cameras all the time and snap photos of Camera Critters.

Castor Beans

The castor bean plant is an amazing annual that grows anywhere from 2 to 5 meters tall which means the plants frequently need staking.

Castor bean seeds are highly poisonous, so keep children and pets away from seedpods.
Sap from seeds and the plant may cause an allergic reaction, so handle seeds with care. Wearing gardening gloves will help prevent any reaction. Wash hands thoroughly after touching the plant.

The seed pod is composed of three sections or carpels which split apart at maturity. Each section contains a single seed. The seeds have very interesting patterns, with no two the same. At one end is a small, spongy part called a carnucle, which helps the seed absorb water.

Sow castor bean from seed either outdoors directly in the soil after all danger of frost has passed or indoors six to eight weeks before your region's last average frost date.

Before planting soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water, then plant it 1 inch deep. Castor bean needs rich, deep, well-drained soil and prefer full sun. Trim faded flowers to promote longer bloom.

About mid April is a good time for me to start these seeds indoors and then I'll have a head start on growing when I plant them outside around the end of May.

Thanks to Janet for letting me know that castor bean plants are a way to keep moles out of your garden.

Labels: sow then grow, seeds

April Arrives

The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy April grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet the backyards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree --
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me.
©Sara Teasdale


April rain is here again;
Hear it pitter, pitter, patter,
On the leaves and on the trees,
See it spitter, spitter, spatter.
Rain, oh rain, don't go away
We need you for flow'rs in May;
Drip, drip, drop and do not stop,
Send a little rain our way.
©Nina B. Hartford

Labels: calendar thoughts