Watermelon Drink for Summer

A SIMPLE SUMMER DRINK TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST:

BLENDER-WATERMELON WITH FRESH LIME JUICE- add water to thin if needed

  GARNISHES: MINT & WATERMELON SPEARS

June Garden Guide

GARDEN PLANTING GUIDE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 

*SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA*

BEANS- Bush and Pole Types, 

BEETS

CANTALOUPE

CORN

CUCUMBER

LIMA BEANS

OKRA

PEPPERS

PUMPKIN

RADISH

SUMMER SQUASH

SUNFLOWER

SWISS CHARD

TOMATOES

WATERMELON

Sugar Baby Watermelons are small and easy to grow

It was a great Sweet Pea season

Another successful year of Sweet Peas grown in my garden. All seeds purchased from Renee's Seeds sowed directly into the garden in November gave me about three months of blooms. I soak my seeds overnight the day prior to planting for higher germination rate. Amazing color, scent and beauty.

Southern California May Garden Planting Guide

MAY PLANTING GUIDE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

BEANS: Bush and Pole
BEETS- these can be bought in seed strips which makes planting very easy
CANTALOPE- yummy
CARROTS- you can buy carrot strips for easy planting
CORN- a fun garden plant for kids
CUCUMBER- try patio snackers variety
EGGPLANT- a great purple color in the garden- try the Nadia Eggplant 
LIMA BEANS- only if you have to- do southern californians really eat Lima Beans?
OKRA- do you think Oprah likes Okra?
PEPPERS- I typically will get peppers as plants vs. seeds
PUMPKIN - try Carriage Pumpkins
RADISH- try rainbow radishes
SQUASH- winter and summer can be planted now
SUNFLOWERS- from miniature to 8 foot tall growers- they are all amazing
SWISS CHARD- easy to grow and beautiful colors
TOMATOES- I grow yellow pear and cherry tomatoes every year + roma and heirloom
WATERMELON- sugar baby is a great small melon for backyard gardener

COMPANION PLANTING- TRY GROUPING TOGETHER THESE COMBINATIONS:
Why companion plant? 
* It helps and improves plant growth by enriching the soil. 
* Plants help eachother grow by placing tall plants next to smaller plants that need shade.
* It can help with pest problems with the aromatic scents of marigolds and other herbs.
* Attract the good insects "beneficial" insects- plant attracting pollinators!

BEANS - RADISH - SUNFLOWER- EGGPLANT- ROSEMARY

TOMATO- BASIL- CARROT- PARSLEY

CUCUMBER- PEA - SUNFLOWER- MARIGOLD- RADISH- CARROT

SAGE - THYME - TOMATO - BASIL- DILL- MARIGOLD- LETTUCE

Heirloom Sweet Peas

END OF THE DAY GARDEN PHOTO: HEIRLOOM SWEET PEAS

Create your own beauty- plant a flower garden!

Garden seeds purchased from Renee's Garden

Antique Sweet Peas

Queen of the Night

2014 Encinitas Garden Tour Photos

The Encinitas Garden Tour this weekend was wonderful. Here are some photos of the beautiful gardens and also the Encinitas Unified School Gardening Program gardens.

School program garden tour

Artichoke in bloom

Mosaic Tile made by homeowner

Espalier Trained apple tree

Garden tags and tiles

Succulent Planter

Mermaid Garden

Rain Chain with slat wood border wall

Vertical Garden home entrance

Succulent raised planter

TIME TO PLANT SUNFLOWERS

FOR BEAUTIFUL SUMMER BLOOMS- PLANT SUNFLOWERS THIS MONTH- 

The garden stores are showing a large variety and plenty are in stock.

Last year I grew these Van Gogh ornamental sunflowers, they were amazing.

This year I am planting Sunzilla- 12 foot tall sunflowers!