UBER Dropplets!

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! The Celtic Gardens are greener than ever with the whopping 2"+ rainfall we've had this weekend so once again many thanks to mother Nature for her showers of blessings! Seriously, the rain barrels are once again full and the bird bath graciously held out its Celtic arms and is at maximum capacity. The bird bath is at the center piece of the Celtic Garden for a reason: its kinda like having a pool in one's back yard - all the neighbors want to come swim! Its an eye catching garden feature but also serves as a major water and bathing source for our feathery friends. Plus it provides beaucoup tweety bird entertainment! Speaking of tweety birds, a pair of yellow finches were recently sighted accompanied oddly enough by a female hummingbird. They enjoy grazing in the zinnia, drinking from the bouquets and feasting on seeds.  These beautiful yellow and black birds are familiar Celtic Garden friends and their return is an auspicious homecoming!  Hopefully I'll get a picture of them since they are so captivating.
  
While planning our gardens sometimes we achieve undesirable results. Recently the Celtic Gardens received a much needed mulching. As all gardeners know, mulching provides as both a weed barrier as well as moisture retention which in addition to its clean look is a win-win all around.  Research and choose wisely for the kind most suited for your Xeriscaping needs. As for me, I choose a compost mulch that biodegrades well for soil amendment. However prior proper planning should be utilized, specifically in regard to drainage. Mulch was applied to the new serpentine shade bed and wild indigo crescent bed. During the mulching madness application, drainage troubleshooting was discussed. But we went ahead with the plan.  Friday evening's thunder storms were a sure test. After scouting this area from the deck during the storm, flooding indeed ensued to include the entire area beyond the wild indigo bed, surrounding the Japanese Persimmon tree and flooding clean down to the garden gate. The torrent of rain streaming off the roof line took the usual run off path along the foundation under the deck into the garden and/or driveway but was greatly impeded - by a bunch of horse poop! So this week's task will be to install the suggested pea gravel along the roof line and spread the excess mulch to other areas after flooding necessitated the immediate manual removal during the storms. Yea we're still drying out!

Despite the live and learn mulching event a personal gardening victory has been achieved!  Up until this point the elusive lupine has escaped the Celtic Garden.  Many plants have been tried and much investment has been made into plants that failed to thrive. Various locals were tried throughout the garden but to no avail. Until this little number came into the picture.  May we present: Wild Lupine! Many thanks to LITFM for sharing seeds and as you can see successful germination has taken place! YIPEEEE!!

While not yet rated by the motion picture association upon review it may prove risque for I'm sure you'll agree the carpenter bee is having a field day to say the least getting his buzz on in the bee balm crack!

Now these Rudbeckia Hirta Green Eyes were featured in the last post but I simply couldn't help but include their happy shiny faces in this one either. 

  

Obviously this is a soap making photo bomb! Patchouli you are a free spirit, indeed!

Capping off this weeks blog is a series of sunset photos taken Sunday evening. I'll let Mother Nature speak for herself ~ no words necessary.  : )

 

 

And as always may happiness be a ray of sunshine in your mind, body and soul!


UPDATE: Project completed! With a quick jaunt over to the local Lowes pea gravel was procured. The unruly mulch was raked into other garden spots freeing up the run off path. Now that the gravel is down hopefully this will solve the issue. 

A Drink of Cool Cool Rain

Greetings wild indigo readers! How be ye? Well we at the Celtic Gardens are thrilled with the recent rains Mother Nature has poured down upon us ~ to the tune of 2.5" in the last 48 hours! To celebrate here's a little Who's Who of thanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbAtWpoA6k

So now that the Celtic Gardens have drunk their fill I'd also like to include a link to LITFM blog which details the in's -n- out's regarding Mother Natures load of NITRO energies our neighborhoods with prized copious lavish greenery! Yes, beginning Wednesday night around 10:30 pm on and off through even this morning, all told our locality has received over 2" of rain.  I was so happy to hear the droplets that I even shot a picture as they began filling up the water collection chambers!

Although I'm still tweaking the daisy chain for both rain barrels at this moment they are at full capacity and ready for the next span between storms which I hope won't be too long seeing that we're still in store for another week of heat advisory double digit temps! Drink plenty of liquids and avoid the heat of the day as much as possible peeps! Now on to more pics.

Have I ever made mention that I love the smell of rain? It reminds me of when I was a little girl.  During late night summer rainstorms you could find me kneeling at my bedroom window cuddling my pillow with my nose pressed to the window screen smelling the air and relishing the sound of thunder and streaks of electricity from the storm clouds. There's just something about that combination of rain, thunder and lightning that thrills me.  Maybe its the rawness of nature and her ability to astound through our senses that fuels my tribal rain worship!

So now that the rains have come, look what's bloomed! Now before the unveiling, everyone say *FAIL!* That's because I have a new phone and the picture of the descriptive card is no more BUT I can tell you that this is a rudbeckia that I purchased at - you guessed it - Big Bloomers.

Notice the petal color which is a golden yellow with lighter tips and green eye!

So with a quick dash of the keys and a Google search, it appears this is a Rudbeckia Hirta Green Eye variety. As you can see it grows in containers quite well.  I also have a few strewn in the bird bath bed which are coming along nicely.

This next flower made its grand entrance just shy of this week's rains and certainly is a one of a kind. 
She is a white balloon flower but her more common violet-blue variety gets more fanfare. They've gained popularity as container and rock garden staples. She stands solo but made it through the harsh winter so she's a keeper!

 

You've heard me ramble on about selling items at our local Fayetteville City Market. Well last week I had plucked these beauties from the ground and they were sold at the market lickity split to good homes (and stomachs!)

These guys were direct seeded into the "root bed" back in March whose soil is very loose and well mulched.  Now it took well over 65 days to mature. I attribute their lengthy growing time to the warmer spring temps resulting in warmer soil temps. As we now carrots prefer cooler growing temps so they weren't grown in their preferred environment but still rock! They were about four inches in length at harvest. Thankfully there's still a few left in the field for personal crunching! I haven't grown such lovely carrots in years and they'll definitely be a yearly garden addition.

So I was at our local Target store recently pursuing the aisles when I came across this little number. I was happy to see this brand being offered commercially since "Mortgage Lifter" is an heirloom tomato which I had considered growing way back in February! How cool it is to see this kind of product being made available! Being the diabetes educator and food label reader that I am, I love the "no added sugar" boasting.

As curiosity would have it, research into the saucy mysteries surrounding this savory sampling was clearly in order! Their website is chunk full of neat vignettes and juicy tidbits to include mention of "The Beekman Boys" reality show and their competing in CBS's  The Amazing Race in 2012 of which they won the grand prize. Now according to their website 25% of the profits are donated to help support struggling small American farmers. If their pasta sauce earnings come anywhere close to their revenues from their tv series then I'd say they've made substantial contributions to some lucky small farmers. Although there aren't any details documenting how and whom has received support let's hope their word stands. Their dreams have been materialized and we applaud their efforts as we slurp down our zoodles drenched in their original recipe!

Finally I'm giving homage to the beautiful sunset Saturday June 13th. Summer's official arrival is this Saturday, a most welcomed visitation.  We may complain about the excessive heat but remembering the long winter we had I'll embrace the heat in exchange for gazing upon the Celtic Garden's pleasantries. In case you're living locally I'll be offering soap and sundries Saturday at the market. I've got sunbalm 30 as well as organic bug spray added to the Sonshine Soaps arsenal. In case you're looking for hot peppers or aloes to cool the burn check out my friend Tom's offerings at our Sustainable Neighbor booth.

And as always may happiness be a ray of sunshine to your mind, body and soul!

Peace out!

Going, Going, GONE!

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! A few pop-up showers are gracing our gardens as I type so I'm happy the garden is getting a drink. We also had some significant atmospheric events Tuesday night as a severe storm passed through our area.  The atmosphere went from neon yellow to neon green and then red to orange.  At first glance it could've been mistaken for the sunset but I grabbed my emergency items and got the hanker down closet ready just in case. Thankfully all is well but keep those emergency items ready folks! So after a few weeks on sabbatical from blogger land I'm back with a pretty picture heavy issue that will knock your flip flops off so let's get to it, strike a pose, there's nothing to it .....!!!!

In case you haven't heard here in these thar parts there's a kickin nursery in Sanford named Big Bloomers.  Not only do they have an astounding selection of plants but thye have a lovely selection of fountains and garden decor to include your truly's Celtic bird bath. As the temperatures are warming up the neighborhood fowls make frequent visits to refresh themselves. Planted around the feathered spa are black-eyed susans which have begun to bloom, asian day lilies and purple echnecia. Just lovin how the color pallet is coming together in this bed. The asian day lilies smelled glorious!

So the garden is changing its shape from the spring plantings on towards the summer offerings. In the far rear bed pole beans are taking center stage while the collards are having their last hurrah.  Believe it or not there's also tomato plants back there but with more time they'll start perking up as their growth is slow but promising. In the right bed the golden peas pictured here are no more for their glory days have come and gone.  They are replaced with Clemson Spineless and Burgundy okra varieties.  Once more collards and carrots and beets are plucked this will be the grains bed. The front bed is burstin with beans and thus far I've picked over 2# worth! The zinnias in the left bed are in bloom, attracting butterflies and other beneficial pollinators.  I'm still waiting to set my eyes upon the yellow canary birds.

Home grown carrot and golden beet. Now gimme a kimchee recipe!

A baby Praying Mantis outside my office window kept me company this week.

Someone suggested I post a picture of the Devils Horned Egyptian onion so here ya go!  : ) Notice the absence of the golden pea crop in the background.

Now plants show up sometimes in the darnedest places! Thanks to a friend who stayed my weed picking hand from yankin this little guy out of the pot, a most welcomed and prolific ground cherry has taken residence in last year's ginger pot.  Hmmmm ... would be an interesting combination: pineapplie, strawberrish, gingery yumminess!

Now this next plant has taken an unexpected turn for I thought it was merely a mint plant of lemon variety. But as it has continued its vertical span you can see how it resembles bee balm.  Its a welcome addition to the deck garden.

Before we end this weeks installation I've got one more announcement. Now for those who know me as a soap maker I'm expanding my interests and diving into new ventures. This week at the Fayetteville City Market I'll have not only Sunbalm SPF 30, as requested, but a new item of interest: organic bug spray! And boy does it WORK GREAT!!!! There's a few more secrets up my sleeve but we'll keep them tucked away in my magic sleeve for another day.

So as always may happiness be a ray of sunshine in your mind, body and soul.

P. S. The baby cat birds have taken flight not even 30 days since the building of their nest.  Going, going gone! ; )

Rain Drops on Roses

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! The mild spring weather has taken a turn into hot and humid just in time for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend which is the unofficial start of summer! Yay for summer!

This week we had a nice rainstorm Tuesday afternoon which filled up the rain barrels and gave the garden a lovely Irish spring shower. So of course I had to take snap shots.

Drunkards Dream

Raindrops remind me of twinkle lights

Citronella Plant

Golden Snow Peas

Black Fennel

Raindrops looked like Christmas tree ornaments in the sunshine

Georgia Collards

Georgia Plum Coral Bell

Just planted the Clemson Spineless and Burgundy Okra as the golden snowpeas are showing signs that their time is coming to an end.  The squash/melon bed is progressing nicely but I'm hoping to have a photographic treat for you in upcoming weeks so stay tuned!

Until next time may happiness be like rays of sunshine in your mind, body and soul!

Keep calm, breathe deeply and be sustained by the love, peace, joy and kindness of those around you!

Sowin in the Seeds of Love

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! How've ya been?  There's been some wild action here at the Celtic Gardens that I can't wait to share with you but first thing's first:
A Lament to the FSU Board of Trustees.

An Ode to WFSS playin the coolest jazz 'n town,
whose smooth rhythms and blues made ya wanna get down!
Airing sweet jazz tracks since '77 when most present-day students weren't even a livin!
Jazz music fills the mind with soul hard core but Fayetteville won't be hearin them beats no more
'cause Mr. Anderson says it's time to go 'cause FSU needs some dough.
Adieu Kathy Clause ~ thanks for reporting local news and the weather up to date.
Adieu Omega Jones ~ for keepin it real with a DJ style that's smooth and great.
Adieu New Urban Jazz Lounge I'll try to stream ya on Saturday nights
but most of all FSU 's let our Fayetteville community down big time, quite right!


So, with that being said, let's talk turkey ... or in this case cat bird.  Now there's lots of birds and insects flyin around the Celtic Garden as of late and I've had several photo opportune moments so let's get on with this weeks blog!

Meet Momma Meow - Cat Bird, that is! Actually we're still getting acquainted so I'm not sure if this is Momma or Pappa but together they sing a mean "Monday Monday." They have chosen to take up shop and build a nest in the arms of the coral honeysuckle. This is a first for never before have birds felt it a noble habitation site but I'm thrilled they have.  Let's hope they work out a trade agreement with the hummingbirds!

I'm too sexy for my brood, too sexy for my brood, so sexy it hurts!

Yes, yes I know you want to take a picture of me for I am worth a thousand words!

Here's the pair.  Shortly after the shot was taken one looked at the other and said: You look maarrrvelous!

This picture was shot on Monday and you can see below how the nest building had progressed considerably in just two days.

We'll carefully document the new inhabitants of the Celtic Garden and see how many broods they produce.  Yay!

Now, in other garden news, new flowers have arrived! To my delight German Chamomile reseeded from last year! I was about to rip it up nearly mistaking it for a noxious weed when the fragrant waif  argued its rescue. Commonly described as having a pineapple scent its whimsical foliage brightens up this garden spot. Not to mention that the flowers invite a variety of insects to sup, creating the perfect pollination buffet.

Look at that sweet Lamb's face! And the small flowers remind me of little puckering lips!

This is a first for me ~ flowering Lamb's Ear.  Never before have I ever grew this variety to its full course to yield this sassy reward.  In hindsight I've always managed to kill the plant with kindness ~  too much sun exposure. This is a garden staple for both English and Victorian gardens ~ and for Celtic! ; )


The next photo is of an herbaceous "Irish Eyes" Rudbeckia which was planted last fall. The one by the house died but this one survived the cold out by the street bed. Notice the cheery conehead whose golden sunflower color graduates at the ends which finally meet at the distinctive green center. 

A Flock of Seagulls, ahem! I mean Lambs!

So that ends another round of Wild Indigo.  Incidentally, Wild Indigo has been obtained. Stay tuned as the Indigo Grows!

Life Lesson: You are yourself. You aren't your Mother or your Father. You are your own independent being who depends on nothing short but love and kindness to be the beautiful person you are!

Until next week may happiness be a ray of sunshine to your mind, heart and soul.

P.S. Thank you Mr. B.B. King for the full measure of soul you jammed over the years!

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! It's officially May and amidst the dancings around Maypoles we had a most wonderful Sustainable Neighbors Farm Tour last weekend.  Whomever wished for perfect weather received their wish, for the cloudless sky was simply perfect. A sincere thanks to all the hosts and participants who made this event such a success!

There's so much I'd like to write.  So many words are springing from my tongue, many thoughts swirling in my mind .... and just where to start ......  oh my! 

So let's start here: What inspires you? And from where do you draw that inspiration? What is it in your life that stirs awe and wonder? What blows your mind? Can you put your finger on it? What ignites creative sparks of magic within you?

Is it a book that feeds your brainmeats? Answers to the quest you seek? Destiny or the luck of the draw? Is it that which you conquest? Or what rewards you at the end of the day? A long conversation flowered with  eloquent words and creative thoughts? A sunset or the moon? The chance meeting with a hummingbird or the payoff after developing a successful project?

Call me crazy but seeds and plants and their potential of life and bounty send me reeling. They amaze me, thoroughly. After giving them just a little water and decent growing conditions they germinate, releasing their life force into the world and greeting it with a smile for all to enjoy.

Beauty inspires me. So does vivid color and unforgettable aromas. Last weekend we visited the Gardens of Eden here in Fayetteville. But creating your own private Garden of Eden takes time and much patience, mainly in our own trials and failures. You must believe in yourself and in your hands which cast the seeds into the dirt. You must trust the process and flow with it.  Who can control to the nth degree when those seeds will germinate? Nobody can calculate the exact time they rapture into  life. All we know is that under the right circumstances the Garden will grow into its essence of life.

We have all been in the Garden at least once and I believe we'll all return as the colors all fade into ONE. It's only a matter of time. And yes the gates will let you stroll in just leave your ego at the door.

Here are some glimpses of my piece of heaven.  

Until next time, may happiness be a ray of sunshine in your heart, mind and soul.


Everything is everything. What is meant to be will be.  Change comes eventually.  ~ Lauryn Hill

Spring 2015 Sustainable Neighbors Garden Tour

Greetings Wild Indigo readers! April is nearly ca-put but with its plentiful rains it ushers in May's fragrant flowers and another epic event.  In case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard yet, for local dwellers, this Sunday marks the fourth annual Spring 2015 Sustainable Neighbors Garden Tour. We'll be meeting at Arsenal Bridge May 3rd at 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm. From there we'll disperse as each participant is free to tour the gardens of their choice at their leisure.  I'll be closing up shop at 5:30 to join the tour myself. Addresses for all of gardens will be provided at the Arsenal Bridge location so bring your GPS for a fun-filled afternoon of adventure! Not only is Sunday slated to be a glorious day weather wise but us sustainable Neighbors are tickled pink to have you be a part of the tour! As for myself, I personally want to thank everyone for opening up their Alice In Wonderland gardens. Lets see just how far down the rabbit hole goes! For more info the following link will quench your curiosity:

http://www.meetup.com/SustainableNeighbors/events/221504533/


As you can tell, uber high gear is my current modus operandi in getting ready for this weekends event.  In fact the creative juices have been overflowing and the Wild Indigo plans slated for this year's  Celtic Garden are well under way. The wild indigo journey is spilling into the new work as a creative outlet and gateway for contemplative meditation.  Now to just live it out consistently with ever-present mindfulness .... ahhh, there's the rub!

Anyway, as I was tending the garden I unearthed a curious underground dweller.  At first look I thought it a worm but after closer observation (dorsal scales kinda gave it away) I deduced this was no worm Vern!  Here ~ have a look-see for yourself!

Eastern Worm Snake

The underside of this individual was pink which initially led me to believe it was just another squirmy wormy in my garden! Now at least for me rarely so I come across a snake in the garden, especially in the part of the garden this little one was found in. It was small.  The green leaf to the right was a wild violet leaf which might give you a vague idea of its size, well, at least the part of it I hadn't chopped to smithereens! I found the severed tail fragment after turning over more soil which squirmed around headless chicken style in my hand. Cool? Why yes, yes it was!

After some quick research I've determined that this little guy was a Eastern Worm snake.  Although they can grow to the tune of a foot in length, all told this one was barely seven inches. Its non-venomous and burrows using its pointed head (CONEHEAD!!) into cracks and crevices.  They consume worms and larvae and lumps and chunks preferring to dwell underground or in rotting logs. Unfortunately this guy's fossorial multi-pass has just been revoked.

Of course the best of the best of the Celtic Garden will not be pictured this week but to tantalize your visual cones and rods here's a few cursory snapshots.

Eccanachina

Strawberries -N- Green

Dino Kale got wild -n- crazy with Eschscholzia Calfornica .....

Bastard Balm

 

Soap wort and Horehound

.... and these guys were all ears, Lamb's Ears, that is!

For more Celtic Garden mayhem be sure to join us for the tour this weekend and until then may happiness be a ray of sunshine in your heart, mind and soul!