Carol from May Dreams Gardens (Zone 5), Mary Ann from Idaho Gardener (Zone 6) and I decided, this year, to exchange letters from our vegetable gardens.  We hope to give everyone  an idea of how gardens grow in three different USDA hardiness zones.  I garden in Zone 7a, where it has finally warmed up. Dear Carol and Mary Ann, Greetings from sunny north central Oklahoma!  Week 12.  Can you believe it?  I really can't, but I'm so glad we decided to write these letters. It's made me think more about and take better care of the vegetable garden than I have in years past. Week twelve is one of harvests.  The weather is beginning to be too warm for lettuces, so I'll be harvesting the remaining 'Black Seeded Simpson' and the others before they bolt or become bitter.  When the lettuces start to get long necks, they are bolting.  Also,...

The past two weeks were devoted to end of school mothering activities including ASW's eighth grade graduation.   My head is full of many things including the fact that my boy will be attending high school next year, and I'll be driving only Bear to school every morning.  As everyone says, time has flown, and not so very long ago, he was just my little boy.  Now, his voice is deep and he's becoming a man. Yesterday, on her last day of school, Bear had a field trip with her "little chum" to the bowling alley.  I'm a chaperone, which sounds funny if you ponder it.  He's six, and she's ten.  I think, with over 100 children, I was just there for crowd control. This morning, with all school activities fini, I'll be in the garden mulching everything before our trip to Chicago and the Garden Bloggers' Spring Fling.  I can't...

Carol from May Dreams Gardens (Zone 5), Mary Ann from Idaho Gardener (Zone 6) and I decided, this year, to exchange letters from our vegetable gardens.  We hope to give everyone  an idea of how gardens grow in three different USDA hardiness zones.  I garden in Zone 7a, although this spring, it feels more like 6b.  Brrr. Dear Carol and Mary Ann (and all of our other friends), Well, another week, and more rain.  We received another two inches combined from Thursday and Friday night thunderstorms.  Thunder and lightning rocked the house. I know this sounds like great news, but we've gotten a lot of rain, and my garden is soaked.  I must get the mulch down this week so that the weeds will be hampered a little bit while we're in Chicago and Branson, respectively. In spite of the damp and cold, the squash seeds and beans are up,...

Every so often, usually in early spring, I receive items to either review or use in articles.  A couple of months ago, Troy-Bilt asked me to review their new, 7lb, lithium, ion trimmer. First, I want to be clear that I will always tell you if I'm given something.  Also, know that I am always honest with you about my experiences with plants, composters, rain barrels, or whatever I'm sent.  One of the things I like about Troy-Bilt is their desire to hear the truth about their products.  They take this information and then work to improve their product line. First, what I really like about the trimmer: Because it uses a battery, it produces no emissions, and therefore doesn't hurt the atmosphere. The lithium ion battery is rechargeable which is wonderful.  I don't know how long the battery will last, but I'm sure replacements can be purchased through Troy-Bilt....