I don’t remember how I got interested in gardening. I know that both my parents love to plant/garden. I use to think I don’t have a green thumb – but really it’s not hard. All you need to do is remember to water them and they will stay happy.

Photos of veggies plant late May/ early June (I forgot when I took these)

Results of my hard work:

This is my first time trying my hand at winter sowing (rec'd free 10 packets of seeds from wintersown.org). I found 5 recycle containers - filled with dirt and flower seeds. Hopefully by spring - I won't be disappointed. Joe doesn't really like me gardening - but he lets me do it anyways (only on the deck). And I need to figure out a way to keep the ANTS away - those little bugger!

Simple process for winter sowing:

1. Gather recycles containers (water bottles, soda bottles, etc)

2. Cut in half, put holes in the bottom for drainage, and couple
holes on top for air

3. Fill with dirt

4. Water

5. Add seeds

6. Tape it up

7. Put outside and wait till spring.

It's pretty easy so far. Check out the website above for more information and better instruction on how to winter sow.

Niki's Winter Sow 2008:

1. Deer Park water bottle 1 - Blue Balloon Flower & Stokes Aster

2. Deer Park water bottle 2 - Coreopsis (yellow flowers)

3. Milk Jug - Black Eye Susan

4. Large Salad Box - 6 Beans & Hibiscus

5. Small Salad Box - Hibiscus

Here are my flowers/veg plants photo. Enjoy!!!

African Violet

African Violet

Zucchini Plant

Mint Plant

Asian Basil Plant

Cherry Tomato Plant

I want to think I have a green thumb. Last year - I only grew cherry tomatoes. This year, I've been very successful growing couple cherry tomatoes plants, 2 zucchini plants (only produce 2 eatable zuk) and 4 very skinny string beans (produce total only 1/2 cup of green beans - not enough BEANS!). My basil and mint plant probably will not survive. But it's okie, I can try again next spring. I need a little garden! Joe won't let me garden in the backyard. Though I'm not sure I want to either - there are tons of ants back there.





Next year I want to try this: Composting. It seems pretty easy!

Updates on African Violets:

3 out of 7 African Violets are blooming however something isn’t right. Previous owner mention I should fertilize them every water sessions. Also she said something about "long neck" and maybe I need to repot a few? I’m concern about two of the plants – the leaves are “drooping”. Not sure what to do about it. They all have plenty of water... maybe fertilizing is the key?

Cooking is so hard! I tried my hand at sponge cake and sad to report that it turn out “Egg-ie”. When the recipes say: “stiffly beaten egg whites” – it means use some sort of mixer. I tried to beat the egg whites with this wimpy wisk. Maybe I’m not very good at following directions?


Cooking goal: I’m going go slow and try to make one new dish each month. I’m thinking Vietnamese – a variety of summer rolls. It shouldn’t be too hard.

I received 7 of these African Violet plant from this lady in Maryland - drove 2.5 hours round trip to her house to pick them up. She gave them to me for free (love free things esp. plants/flower) – I found her on some African Violet forum.