I love gardening and I know I'm not alone in that passion. Whether it's veggie gardening or flower gardens I'm working in, the peace and feeling of accomplishment it brings me is like no other hobby. It's amazing to me...the wonder of a tiny seed sprouting, reaching toward the sun, and with the nutrients from the soil, sunshine, and water, that it can grow to be a beautiful pansy or a large, orange carrot. This summer I planted four garden beds with beets, carrots, zucchini, onion greens, radish, peppers, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro. I enjoyed the veggies as did my family members. Even more though, I enjoyed the planting, the weeding, and the harvesting. I had a lot of stresses these past several months with family members being ill, and at times, only while working in my garden did I feel completely at peace. Reflective. Memories. Problem solving. Calmness. A feeling of being a part of the earth. The big picture. Life.
If you or someone you know loves spending time in the garden, whether they are just starting out or they are a master gardener, perhaps they'll love a gardening theme T-shirt, hoodie, tote bag, mug, magnet, or other item. Gardening theme items make great gifts for anyone who loves spending time in the garden planting, weeding, or just enjoying the sun and the beauty of what they have planted.
Showing posts with label flower gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flower gardening. Show all posts
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Pioneer Days Negaunee Michigan
It's Pioneer Days in Negaunee, Michigan this week July 3-10. Festivities include an Olde Town Festival held on July 3rd with music, lots of food and drinks, and games for the kids. Wednesday was the kids bike parade down Iron St. in Negaunee with a Kids Day after the parade at the Negaunee Ice Arena, offering games, food, and raffles. Other festivities for Wednesday included several high school reunions, a car cruise and sock hop, wine and cheese tasting, and the farmer's market at Jackson Mine Park. Thursday the festivities continue with more high school reunions, a cookout at Super One in Negaunee, and live music in the evening at both the Eagles and Elks clubs. The Pioneer princess pageant is also held Thursday as well as Social Night beginning 8 pm in downtown Negaunee. Friday brings a huge band concert at the Vista Theater along with live music once again in the evening at the Eagles and Elks clubs. Saturday is the big Pioneer Days parade at 11:30 am, Pioneer Days community picnic at Teal Lake, a firefighters tournament at Teal Lake, and fireworks over Teal Lake at dusk.
Ongoing activities include a softball tournament Monday through Friday with championships on Saturday, and Carp River Gardens is open all week as well.
Today I had the pleasure of watching the kid's parade and eating lunch afterward at the Midtown Bakery. The turnout for the kid's parade was good, with a lot more paraders than spectators! The kids seemed to have a blast riding their bikes and scooters, the younger set in wagons or decorated strollers. Lunch at the Midtown Bakery afterward was good. I had a turkey pesto panini sandwich that came with a pasta side and dill pickle. It was very good and I would definitely order one again. We browsed a couple of the antique stores on Iron Street and if you have not visited them yet and like antiques I would highly recommend them to you. I believe there are four wonderful antique stores all in a very small area, all loaded with lots of great treasures. After our lunch we drove to Carp River Gardens. I have been to the gardens several times in the past and it always takes my breath away as it is so beautiful. The greenery, waterfalls, and flowers can make you feel as one with nature, and the smell of flowers and fresh air exhilirates you. Calming and exhilirating all in one. It's located at a private residence and I think it's wonderful that they share its beauty each year with so many people. You can see a few photos I took today, but the pictures far from capture how beautiful it is. If you take a tour of the gardens, be prepared to sit a spell on one of the many benches, chairs, or on the swing and just take in sights, sounds, and smells.
If you haven't been to Negaunee yet this week for Pioneer Days, you might want to check it out for a good time!
Ongoing activities include a softball tournament Monday through Friday with championships on Saturday, and Carp River Gardens is open all week as well.
Today I had the pleasure of watching the kid's parade and eating lunch afterward at the Midtown Bakery. The turnout for the kid's parade was good, with a lot more paraders than spectators! The kids seemed to have a blast riding their bikes and scooters, the younger set in wagons or decorated strollers. Lunch at the Midtown Bakery afterward was good. I had a turkey pesto panini sandwich that came with a pasta side and dill pickle. It was very good and I would definitely order one again. We browsed a couple of the antique stores on Iron Street and if you have not visited them yet and like antiques I would highly recommend them to you. I believe there are four wonderful antique stores all in a very small area, all loaded with lots of great treasures. After our lunch we drove to Carp River Gardens. I have been to the gardens several times in the past and it always takes my breath away as it is so beautiful. The greenery, waterfalls, and flowers can make you feel as one with nature, and the smell of flowers and fresh air exhilirates you. Calming and exhilirating all in one. It's located at a private residence and I think it's wonderful that they share its beauty each year with so many people. You can see a few photos I took today, but the pictures far from capture how beautiful it is. If you take a tour of the gardens, be prepared to sit a spell on one of the many benches, chairs, or on the swing and just take in sights, sounds, and smells.
If you haven't been to Negaunee yet this week for Pioneer Days, you might want to check it out for a good time!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Garden
I bought a house in October after living in an apartment for a couple years. There were two big reasons I wanted to own a house versus renting. The first reason is that after renting for two years I realized I had spent close to $20,000 on rent which could have gone toward a house. Even though my apartment was beautiful, new, had great neighbors, was plowed for me in the winter, etc, I still opted to buy a house. The other big reason that I wanted to buy a house is because I missed having a yard. My apartment had only a small patio. I yearned for a lawn to mow, leaves to rake, digging my hands into garden soil and planting lots of flowers and having a veggie garden. And now, I'm happy to say, I have that!
If you scroll down you can see some photos of my gardens. The people who owned the house before me planted a lot of perrenials and I have to admit I fell in love with this house before I ever stepped foot inside it. In the back of the house we built four large garden beds/planters which are my vegetable gardens. I planted tomatoes, zucchini, beans, carrots, radish, beets, spinach, lettuce, green onions, and cilantro. I've given away bags of spinach and lettuce and onion greens several times and have eaten more than my fill of it. The salads I've made with the fresh spinach and lettuce are beyond good. Radishes are just becoming large enough to eat and yet small enough not to be too strong. I made salsa yesterday by simply adding lots of cilantro, some black beans, diced can tomatoes, shoepeg corn, pepper, and garlic salt to a big jar of storebought salsa. Yummy! Today I pulled out all the rest of the spinach as it had become overgrown in size and replanted. It's so early in the year a second crop is easily attainable. My boyfriend who is an awesome carpenter and handy man built me a wooden pump/water feature, which right now circulates into a big flower pot that I am going to cover with rock in the next few days. We went to a local greenhouse and bought two water plants this afternoon. The plants aren't in these photos as I bought them after I took the photos. I bought a fire pit yesterday and today we laid some circular blocks and pretty red granite rocks to put it on, and tonight we feasted on hot dogs and s'mores. I can't tell you how in my element I was to sit outside as the sun was setting and night falling listening to the chirping of birds, the running water from the water pump, and feeling the warmth of the fire in the fire pit as it cheered up the damp, dewy evening. Ahhh summer!
If you love being outdoors, love summer and vacationing, love gardening...you might like some of these cute summer and gardening theme T-shirts and gifts! Happy summer!
If you scroll down you can see some photos of my gardens. The people who owned the house before me planted a lot of perrenials and I have to admit I fell in love with this house before I ever stepped foot inside it. In the back of the house we built four large garden beds/planters which are my vegetable gardens. I planted tomatoes, zucchini, beans, carrots, radish, beets, spinach, lettuce, green onions, and cilantro. I've given away bags of spinach and lettuce and onion greens several times and have eaten more than my fill of it. The salads I've made with the fresh spinach and lettuce are beyond good. Radishes are just becoming large enough to eat and yet small enough not to be too strong. I made salsa yesterday by simply adding lots of cilantro, some black beans, diced can tomatoes, shoepeg corn, pepper, and garlic salt to a big jar of storebought salsa. Yummy! Today I pulled out all the rest of the spinach as it had become overgrown in size and replanted. It's so early in the year a second crop is easily attainable. My boyfriend who is an awesome carpenter and handy man built me a wooden pump/water feature, which right now circulates into a big flower pot that I am going to cover with rock in the next few days. We went to a local greenhouse and bought two water plants this afternoon. The plants aren't in these photos as I bought them after I took the photos. I bought a fire pit yesterday and today we laid some circular blocks and pretty red granite rocks to put it on, and tonight we feasted on hot dogs and s'mores. I can't tell you how in my element I was to sit outside as the sun was setting and night falling listening to the chirping of birds, the running water from the water pump, and feeling the warmth of the fire in the fire pit as it cheered up the damp, dewy evening. Ahhh summer!
If you love being outdoors, love summer and vacationing, love gardening...you might like some of these cute summer and gardening theme T-shirts and gifts! Happy summer!
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