Category Archives: Flowers

Growing Farmers’ Market Flowers: Part 1

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Those buckets full of $10 bouquets at the farmers’ market get me every time, but I realized this spring that I’ve totally underestimated them. I usually forgo the splurge anyway, unable to justify spending money on the floral eye candy, but I understand now that they are worth every penny. My attempt at growing my own farmers’ market-esque blooms has not been easy and has made me appreciate them even more than I did before.

This whole thing started last September when I went to the Vashon Farmers’ Market and saw these:

rubeckiaI saw these flowers and vowed to start growing more cutting flowers. And so it began. I searched around the internet and found the seeds I pined for – Irish Eyes and Prairie Sun Rudbeckia. As can be expected when seed shopping, I bought a couple more varieties – all daisy-like blooms, all vibrant warm colors. I blew $50 on fancy flower seeds. Yeah, I know.

seedsOnce the tomato and kale seedlings were out from under my indoor light set up, I set up the flats for flower seed sowing. I’d never dedicated that precious grow light space to growing flowers until this spring. I was an overconfident vegetable gardener trying my hand at growing some specialty flowers. It’s a whole other can of worms.

IMG_0747Here’s the thing – fancy flower seeds are particular. Unlike the vegetable seeds I’m used to growing, many of them prefer warm temperatures and light for germination. Keeping that seedling heat mat on for so long causes the soil to dry out quickly. Add in a long birthday weekend away and it’s over. All the potentially beautiful zinnias I planted shriveled up and died. I may be able to salvage the one or two rogue seedlings that are hanging on, but it’s not looking very good.

droughtRIP fancy zinnias, I wish you could have seen my garden. You would have loved it out there. The zinnias were survived by the apricot gaillardia, but they are still as small as they were a week ago. I’m willing them to grow.

echinaceaThe beautiful-looking Cheyenne Spirit echinacea I splurged on ($7.99 for 10 seeds?!) and planted is still invisible except for two spry sprouts. $7.99 is an investment to be able to have vibrant gold, scarlet and orange Echinacea beauties blooming in my pollinator pathway for years to come. Who knew echinacea could be such a challenge to grow from seed!

cosmosThe Psyche White cosmos, the most successful fancy flower seedlings of all, are ready to be transplanted.

rudbeckiaAs for the Rudbeckia, they’re in stable condition, but as small as can be! I’m just now starting to see the seedlings’ first true leaves, which means transplanting may be in our future. Here’s hoping my neighborhood pollinators and I have something to look forward to.

Midwinter Merriment: Plant Identification with Kids

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Here it is – a countdown til spring. From now until the first day of spring, I will post ways to make the dreary days of midwinter a little more merry.

Day 12: Stop and admire the crocuses.

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I showed up to school in a great mood yesterday despite being ridiculously exhausted. I think it was because of the sun in the forecast. In the morning, I snapped a picture of the crocuses outside of school and they were closed up tight. By the end of the day, the sun was shining and their petals were open.

cockroachesIn the bustle of students leaving, I had the most delightful and humorous conversation about them that left me chuckling all evening. It went something like this:

Me: Hey Sarah*, do you know what those are?
Sarah: Dandelions? (Nose scrunched and head tilted)
Me: Those are crocuses! When those come up, you know spring is near! How about those (pointing to the nearly open daffodils)…do you know what those are called?
Sarah: Corn! (Then, rethinking that reply and hesitant) You know, because of that part that peels off.
Me: Yeah, they do kind of look like corn. Those are called daffodils though. Ok, so what are those purple ones called again?
Sarah: Cockroaches!
Me: (trying to hold back my laughter) Um, crocuses.

Yes, clearly, it’s time for a little plant identification lesson!

*Name changed to protect the innocent. :)

Day 13: Plant your backyard berry patch.
Day 14: #dirtonmyiPhone
Day 15: Start seeds indoors.
Day 16: Sew a sassy garden tool belt.
Day 17: A class that keeps on giving!
Day 18: Buy yourself some flowers.
Day 19: Go to the park and play!
Day 20: Plant peas (and sign up for my free newsletter!)
Day 21: Take a gardening class.
Day 22:Plant bare root.
Day 23: Sign up for Seattle Seedling’s Spring Fling!
Day 24: Plant primroses.
Day 25: Get yourself a doughnut and make it “for here.”
Day 26: Frequent the Farmers’ Market
Day 27: Eat Root Vegetables Disguised as Cake!
Day 28: Be a Garden Show Goer.
Day 29: Drink more hot chocolate.
Day 30: Create a springtime “advent” calendar.

Midwinter Merriment: Buy That Girl Some Flowers!

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Here it is – a countdown til spring. From now until the first day of spring, I will post ways to make the dreary days of midwinter a little more merry.

Day 18: Buy yourself some flowers.

4_PikePlace_FlowersI once had a boyfriend who brought me a beautiful bunch of flowers every week from the farmers’ market near his work. I know that may seem excessive and one might think the flowers wouldn’t be as special if you got them so often. Nope. They are. I never tired of having a vase full of beautiful blooms on my table. Of course now, there are usually only bouquets around when they are coming from my garden, but there’s something to be said about splurging on a bouquet from the market. And honestly, I don’t know why I don’t buy them for myself more often. We could all use some pretty every once in a while, especially during the dark days of winter.

Day 19: Go to the park and play!
Day 20: Plant peas (and sign up for my free newsletter!)
Day 21: Take a gardening class.
Day 22:Plant bare root.
Day 23: Sign up for Seattle Seedling’s Spring Fling!
Day 24: Plant primroses.
Day 25: Get yourself a doughnut and make it “for here.”
Day 26: Frequent the Farmers’ Market
Day 27: Eat Root Vegetables Disguised as Cake!
Day 28: Be a Garden Show Goer.
Day 29: Drink more hot chocolate.
Day 30: Create a springtime “advent” calendar.

Make a Microwaveable Neck Wrap

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I can say with pride that I had a bumper crop of lavender last year. There was enough lavender for me and all of the neighborhood bees this summer. I tried to sell some of it, but still ended up with an abundance. I scored over two quarts of dried buds not including the large bouquets that I dried and strategically placed in different areas of the house in blue mason jar arrangements.

IMG_3314Needless to say, I’m having fun with lavender this winter and you can expect to see a series of posts to come on what I’m doing with all of it. The best part is every time I crack open a jar, the intoxicating smell of sweet lavender gives me a big dose of summer. On these cold winter days, I can use all the reminders I can get.

Got any ideas or favorite ways to use lavender? I’d love to hear them! Leave me a comment and tell me what to do with all of this lavender! I will be grateful!

IMG_3750Microwaveable  Neck Wrap With Lavender

(a.k.a Super Easy, but Awesomely Rewarding Sewing Project)

This project reminds me of my mom. She totally had one of these. For mine though, I used some fun, modern fabric to put my own hip twist on it. This neck wrap consists of two parts: a narrow, rectangular pillow filled with rice and lavender and an exterior sleeve that slips over the pillow like a pillow case, which can then be washed.

Lavender13Step 1: Cut Fabric for Interior Pillow and Exterior Sleeve

For the interior pillow, cut two pieces of fabric, about 19 inches by 4.5 inches.

For the exterior sleeve, cut two pieces of fabric, about 20 inches by 5 inches. I used two different coordinating fabrics for the exterior pillow case.

IMG_3410Step 2: Finish Exterior Sleeve Edges

Take one of the strips of exterior sleeve fabric and finish one of the short sides by using an iron to press the raw edge over and stitching a straight line across to hold it in place. Repeat with the other piece of exterior sleeve fabric.

thumb_IMG_3416_1024Step 3: Add Velcro to the Inside of the Exterior Sleeve

Along the finished edge you just created, on the backside of the fabric, add once piece of Velcro. Repeat with the other piece of velcro on the other piece of fabric. I used iron-on velcro in order for the outside of the sleeve to be mostly seamless. Plus, the brand of velcro I used said it strengthens when washed. Bonus!

thumb_IMG_3417_1024Step 4: Sew Together the Exterior Sleeve

With the right sides pinned together, sew the three sides of the exterior sleeve, leaving the velcro side open and obviously, unstitched. Turn inside out to end up with the finished pillow case.

IMG_3743Step 5: Sew Together the Interior Pillow

With the right sides of the interior pillow fabric pinned together, sew along three sides like you did with the exterior pillow case. Since this part will be hidden inside of the pillow case, I left the fourth edge rough rather than finishing it like I did the exterior pieces.

thumb_IMG_3418_1024Step 6: Fill the Pillow

Fill up the pillow 2/3 of the way full with rice. I held the opening of the pillow around the bottom of a canning funnel, which worked wonders for filling. For every couple of handfuls of rice, I added a spoonful or two of lavender buds. This is personal preference. I love the smell of lavender, so I was pretty liberal with the buds I added. I love how peaceful and calm it makes me feel when I use this at night.

No dried lavender buds? No problem! Add a few drops of whatever essential oil you love into the rice and mix it around before you fill the pillow.

thumb_IMG_3420_1024Step 7: Stitch Close the Top of the Pillow

Once filled, stitch across the top to close. Placing the stitches on the outside of the pillow makes it easier to rip out the seam when you’re ready to replace the filling, which should probably be done every six months or so, depending on how much you use it. That way, you can discard the filling, wash the case, refill and stitch it up again!

IMG_3427Step 8: Heat Up and Relax!

Place the pillow in your microwave for 90 seconds. If you want it hotter, continue heating in 30 second increments, checking often. It never feels very hot when I first take it out of the microwave, but always seems to be perfect when I put it around my neck after 90 seconds. Just try it out and see what works best for you! Slip the pillow in the pillow case, put around your neck and chill while your neck gets some much-needed TLC.