Experiment

To anyone visiting on Wednesday, my 3 blogs, Lola's Victory Garden, Lola's Diner, Fire Crotch Rocket and my fellow blogger meet-up pallies: Patricia @ Subjective Soup, Lin @ Duck And Wheel With String, and Lynne @ A Malaysian Abroad you were all treated to a blogger experiment of sorts. As I mentioned in Fire Crotch Rocket - Chicago Area Blogger Meet-up - A Fly On The Wall, we talked quite a bit about blogging. Keywords came up and we all decided that we would do a blog post on Wednesday with the same subject and then compare results at a later date.

I decided to do a post on all 3 blogs. I had to get pretty creative to write one for Lola's Victory Garden. It wasn't easy. Anyway, we're back to our regularly scheduled programming at Lola's Victory Garden now. No more Tom Foolery...at least not for awhile.

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

Guest Editorial

Jane Curtain: And now, with this week’s Editorial Reply is Correspondent, Emily Litella.

Emily Litella: Thank you very much Jane.

Jane Curtain: What brilliant topic are you going to comment on tonight Emily?

Emily Litella: What’s all this fuss I keep hearing about smoking jackets and smoking flowers? Now why would you want to wear a jacket that’s on fire or plant a flower that smokes? I mean, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Fire burns.

Why, once my neighbor fell asleep smoking cigarettes and burned a hole in his mattress, started the mattress on fire and the next thing you know the whole house burned down. I say there should be no smoking jackets and no smoking flowers!

Why...you could wipe out an entire garden with one smoking flower! They should have No Smoking Jackets, just like No Smoking Sections in restaurants. And they should have No Smoking Flowers because flowers are supposed to smell nice, not like smoke.

Jane Curtain: Ms. Litella…

Jane Curtain: Ms. Litella…

Emily Litella: What? What?

Jane Curtain: Ms. Litella the jackets don’t actually smoke. The jackets are worn BY smokers. They aren’t on fire. And that smoking flower wasn’t really smoking.

Jane Curtain: The clouds above the flower looked like smoke, but they were just clouds. The flower isn't on fire.

Emily Litella: Oh, well that’s different…



Be sure to check out today's posts on my other blogs:

Lola's Diner
Fire Crotch Rocket

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

My Weekend Garden

Anastasia and I went to Lowe's today because I got my election judge check yesterday. She went crazzzzzy! Sophie just had to check out what was going on outside after we pulled up.

This is what we bought:
(8) 8' landscaping timbers
(2) Catawba Grape bushes
(2) Flowering Plants (Picture below in the hanging planters)
(2) Hanging Planters (Picture below)
(3) Rolls Fencing type material to keep critters out of the garden
(12) 12 Stakes for Fencing
(1) Package Bamboo Plant Stakes
(1) Rose Bush Food
(1) Transplant Food
(1) Ginormous Bag Miracle Grow Potting Soil
(2) Large Rolls Landscaping Fabric
(1) Jiffy Pot Seed Starter
(2) 2 packs Tomato Cages

My SUV was jam packed.
Hanging flower planters on shepard's hooks we already owned.

Umm, let me just say for the record that I thought we were just getting landscaping timbers and potting soil.

Our vegetable garden will at the very least be tripling our garden. And I thought I was ambitious when I thought we were only doubling the size. Since I learned how to can jams, jellies, tomato sauce, salsa, pickles and green beans last year Anastasia decided to really increase our garden. I'm hoping I can keep up with the produce once we begin harvesting. I was considering selling the second pressure cooker I got last year, but I'm thinking I better hang on to it. And thank goodness we bought a freezer a couple of months ago. If I can't keep up with the harvest, at least I can freeze some things and can them later.

We are starting most of our plants from seed this year. Even the flowers for our boxes that hang off the deck. I haven't taken a photo of those. They all pretty much look like sprouts at this point. Good thing we labeled them well. Lol!

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

Lola's Victory Garden Contest April 24 - May 10th

This isn't one of those contests that requires you to do 10 different things in order to enter.

It's really simple.

1. Create a post on your blog about your favorite Gardening Tip or Frugal Tip. Please note: All submissions must be in English, as I only speak/read English.
2. Include in your post Lola's Victory Garden Contest banner and link. Click HERE to copy the banner.
3. Leave a comment.
4. Come back to Lola's Victory Garden and at add the link to that post to Mr. Linky.

That's it!

No, you don't have to twitter or facebook. You don't have to power walk backwards around your block. And you don't have to stand on your head while drinking Diet Coke. (But if that's your thing, by all means, don't let me stop you, it just won't count for the contest.)

Just 4 things! 1, 2, 3, 4 how much more simple could it be?

PRIZE LIST

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A Mom's Box Of Crayons Donation: $15 dollars in Avon products. Come enjoy a day and a life with me as I tell you about my life, my experiences, my kids, and the things I sell. Valery's Avon site.
___________________________________________________________________
Guilty Pleasures Donation: 3,000 EC. The things you enjoy in your life: little secrets of cuisine, a sparkle of glam, a dash of culture.
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The following blogs are donating 2,000 EC each:
Things About Computer Computer tips, Latest Tech News, Software News.
Life According to Me
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The following blogs are donating 1,000 EC each:
Answers Without, Answers Within Exploring answers from oracle cards, paht chee analysis, meditative yoga, and more!
A Malaysian Abroad Join a Malaysian/Swiss mutt in Chicago as she observes, compares and celebrates the similarities and differences between Malaysia, Switzerland, the USA and more!
One At A Time - A Busy Mom's Life One at a time. A busy Mom's life.
Everything PLUS the Kitchen Sink Home. Health. Beauty.
Babette's Definitely MAYBE!
Just Keep Trying Contest listings.
Thoughts And Obsessions I am Mys. I write about a lot of things. I talk to you about my passions, thoughts and obsessions. I write about books I've read, shows I watch, blog contests that caught my interest and sites that I find interesting.
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The following blogs are donating 1,308 EC each:
Everything Has A Reason My stochasticity thoughts astir indefinite areas I fancy.
In This Life Of Ours A Family's ventures to be free. Living our life according to the constitution and God. They contradict each other however, pursuing the balance to the correct pathway somehow.
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A Changing Life Donation: 750 EC. I travelled as a child, when my father worked in Africa. I travelled (trailed?) as a spouse, when my husband worked in Europe. I've travelled as a tourist when all else fails. Nowadays we spend most of our time either in France or in England.
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The following blogs are donating 500 EC each:
All Blog Contest Listings of Blog Contests. Win Cash and Prizes.
Subjective Soup A personal diary blog--a hearty mix of daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings, seasoned with just a hint of attitude.
Communication Exchange An education blog. A place where students, teachers, or anyone may discuss any communication-related topic
Dad To Two All the joys of being a dad - times two.
Learn To Earn Money On The Net 'Learn How To Make Money On the Internet with Abdulrehman Agha. Join me as I teach how a 15 year old is making money on the internet.' I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
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Symphony Of Love Donation: 125x125 ad space for 1 month. Symphony of Love is created to share with you the Positive Power and Wisdom in love quotes. This is a collection of some of the best love quotes, love stories, love poems, lyrics of love songs, romantic tips and more.
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Gewgaw Writings Donation:. A one month ad in her PR 4 blog.
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In My Kitchen Donation: 125x125 ad for a month PR3. My family's favorite homemade food.
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Life According to Me Donation: 125x125 ad for 2 weeks on PR3.
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My Vegetables Garden Donation: 125x125 ad for a month PR2. Join me at my garden, see my 12 feet tall corn and 2 feet gourd. Also giving tips and "how to" about gardening.
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Girls Are Made Of Sugar And Spice Donation: 125x125 ad for a month PR1. Talks about everything and mostly about my campaign against socialism, one world order, tyranny, fiat money, taxation and conservation of our constitution. The rights to bear arms, to home school, the sovereignty.
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Please note: Each individual blog listed is responsible for the delivery of the prize noted to the designated winner(s) within 2 days after the announcement of the winners.



Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

My Weekend Garden

Sorry this is late, but yesterday got hectic. I just now ran out between the raindrops and shot this. (You can see the raindrops on the leaves.)

These are "Broken Arse Day Lillies". You may not be familiar with this particular variety, so let me clue you in. Last year I responded to a a local freecycle.com ad for free day lillies. The only catch was that we had to remove them. Because of my back, Anastasia was very gallant and grabbed the shovel and insisted on digging out the first bunch (even though I don't think she had any experience digging up and dividing overgown day lillies). She put her foot on the shovel, promptly slid it off, turned her other ankle and when down hard on her arse. I don't think the both of us ever laughed so hard in our lives. The older gentleman whose house it was, helped her up and then he dug up a boxful for us. Anastasia limped to the car and we went straight home. Anastasia kept complaining about the ankle pain and how much it hurt when she sat. I kept insisting she go to the ER or urgent care. She refused. I threatened to call her sister and have her come over and she finally relented. We went to urgent care. Broken coccyx and fractured ankle. They gave her a boot for the ankle and told her to get a donut. She ended up losing a week of work because of the vicodin and the only comfortable position was lying down.

We don't know what color these will be, but I am happy to see they are nice and green and healthy.

The moral of the "Broken Arse Day Lillies" is, make sure you wear non-slip shoes, make sure they are dry and make sure you have good footing.

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

Container Gardening

Martha at Stir, Laugh, Repeat asked about container gardening because she lives in a condo and gardening is not allowed in the common area.

First off, I would start out by either starting the seeds indoors or purchasing healthy seedlings when they become available. Tomatoes and Green Peppers are well suited to starting indoors. No special grow lights are needed. A florescent light will do just fine and is much less expensive.

My second apartment in Chicago was on the 3rd floor and had a porch. I attached several resin boxes, using Deck Railing Brackets. I grew herbs, green peppers, and beans in long planter boxes. Here is one kind of Deck Railing Bracket:

I actually have planter boxes on my front porch here in the suburbs with more decorative deck railing brackets. I got them from a local nursery. There is no installation required. (No screwing into the deck.)

I grew tomato plants in larger square planter boxes. I also planted Basil with the tomato plants. This is something I always do because Basil keeps pests away from the plants. Basil is also good planted next to asparagus and eggplant. You can also plant them around pepper plants and they act as a ground cover and keep humidity high. See E-How - Basil Companion Planting.

If you are handy, or know someone who is, you can build your own planter box. See E-How - How To Build A Planter Box.

When starting my seeds, I use a seed starter mix. You could make your own mix, but I prefer to go with the mix because I figure it's less mess.

When transplanting outside, in the past I've used a Hyponex Potting Soil Mix and had good success with that. It's a nice airy, light soil mix. Last year I purchased a generic potting soil and mixed it with Hummus. I wasn't particularly pleased with my yield last year. I may go back to the Hyponex Potting Soil Mix if I can fit it into my budget.

In the past I've used one application of Miracle Gro, but this year I'm going to look toward going more organic. I'll be posting more on that at a later date.

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009

Garden Shot - This Is Spring?

This is depressing. In the Chicagoland area we got snow on Sunday. Isn't it supposed to be Spring? This is what my garden looks like today. We hadn't had a chance to clear out the debris from last year's garden yet. We were going to do that on Sunday. Change of plans!

Lola's Victory Garden
©2009