It's time to start tomato seeds in Oklahoma. Why start your own tomato seeds? Because you can control what goes into your plants. If you want to grow tomatoes organically, starting seeds gives you control from start to finish. 'Honey Drop' tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. is the best and sweetest cherry tomato I've ever eaten. Who can argue with that? Why would anyone want to? Repurposed containers for seed planting. On top of the containers, you can see the grit I used that year. Some of the top plants are tomatoes, and others are peppers. If you're going to start tomatoes, you might as well start peppers too. They both grow at about the same rate and require the same conditions. How to start tomato seeds. Starting tomato seeds may seem hard. I was once intimidated by the process, but it's really  not. You do need certain equipment...

Every month Carol from May Dreams Gardens invites gardeners from around the world to celebrate what's blooming for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Check out her website to watch the progression of spring. In 2016, my March garden was way ahead on Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, but in 2015, we were way behind. Such is the life of a prairie gardener. You never know what you'll get especially in spring. In 2017, I was in Italy on a pilgrimage. I do love to travel. Here's what's happening this March for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day at our Little Cedar. Also, I'll give you some tips on garden cleanup. Bear with me on all the brown photos. There are blooms at the end. You see, if you clean up the garden, you get to see the flowers. Ha! The original design for this garden came from Kitchen Gardener magazine, one of my favorite,...

Consider this post, chock-full of eye candy, your garden temptation for the week. Grow something. You see, I really want you to grow something. I don't care how you grow. You can grow on a patio, balcony or deck. Grow plants in raised beds as in my cutting garden or potager or in-ground, but if you have red clay, let's talk. Raised beds may be your ticket to success and happiness. I just want you to get your hands dirty, and I'm hoping a little garden temptation will help. Get some mud on your jeans, or in your hair, as you brush it away from your pretty face. It'll do you and your body good. You don't need a lot of tools. Five-tine Hand Garden Rake by Sneeboer. Photo courtesy of Garden Tool Company. This is my new favorite tool. Start with a trowel, a decent one that isn't too...

It's a windy almost-spring day outside so let's talk about English roses to know and grow in Oklahoma. I probably haven't written a happy rose post in years due to Rose Rosette Disease, but ta-dah!! Here it is folks. Rosa 'The Lady Gardener,' an English or David Austin rose. I haven't seen RRD in my garden for a couple of years, and I've added a few roses recently. I've got a new attitude. Instead of being sad when I find an infected rose, I just eradicate it and throw it in the trash--never the compost pile.  I'm sure my attitude is partly because I'm no longer attached to my heirloom roses. They're all gone, and I'll never have the number I had years ago, but I need a little rosiness in my life. I just do. (more…)