Gardening - grace grits and gardening

my garden in the lusty month of May

May 13, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

I’ve always been a huge fan of strawberries, but today I am celebrating the most glorious strawberry ever. Glorious because I grew it in my garden! My first ever strawberry. I named her Scarlet. Yes I did. She’s plump and lusty and such a vibrant spot of color. Growing strawberries may not seem like a big deal to all you long-time gardeners out there, but Scarlet gives me hope and makes me believe I can do this veggie (and fruit) gardening thing.

Last year I swore I would never again attempt to grow a tomato. I even posted a rant about it on Facebook. That’s how serious I was about the whole tomato debacle. What a difference a year makes, a year with a plot of land in full sun. I have several varieties of tomatoes, and they seem to be doing well (knock on wood). I don’t take full credit. I have rich compost from Promise of Peace, organic fertilizer from Redentas, egg shells from Great Day Farms and Ollas which provide steady irrigation. But still...

All spring I’ve had a bounty of onions and radishes—enough to share with neighbors. And my squash and cucumbers are thriving. So far, so good.

Y’all, take a look at my peppers. Vigorous!

I’m excited. Can you tell?

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairing:

Lusty Month of May – from Camelot

Planting Ollas in my Garden

April 30, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Ollas - ancient irrigation system in my garden

Dripping Springs Ollas

I planted something special in my garden this month. Ollas. If you aren’t familiar with Ollas, keep reading because this is exciting stuff for those of us who garden in hot, dry regions. Like the South.

Simple yet brilliant, Ollas is an unglazed, porous clay pot used for irrigation. Instructions are easy peasy. Bury the pot in the garden. Leave the neck exposed (a lid is included).

Planting Ollas in my garden.

Fill with water a couple of times a week. That’s it. Ollas will provide constant, steady irrigation to nearby plant root systems.

Crafted by Lori Haynes of Dripping Springs, Texas, her clay pot design is based on an ancient method of watering. And bonus…the pots are lightweight and easy for one person to maneuver from vehicle to garden. For more information and details on where to buy visit www.drippingspringsollas.com.

just add water

Now for an update on what’s growing in my garden (besides my Ollas)—three types of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, several varieties of hot peppers and orange bell peppers, basil, dill, strawberries, swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, arugula, radishes, and onions.

And lots of earthworms. Yay!

Everything looks happy in my community plot at Promise of Peace Garden. Magic in the middle of an East Dallas parking lot…

My garden. April, 2014

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
― Margaret Atwood

Musical Pairing:

Counting Crows – Big Yellow Taxi

Simple Spring Decor

April 22, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Raise your hand if you thought spring would never arrive! I know, me too. In Dallas I’ve learned to really appreciate spring because summer brings challenges I’d rather not think about like trying to keep plants alive in blistering days of drought. But right now I’m celebrating cool nights and perfect days, days of front porches, a good book and a glass of white wine.

Okay I’m rambling, but I do have a point, and that point is how simple spring decorating can be. With only a few dollars (or zero dollars) you can transform your home from dull and uninspired to fresh and inviting using items around your house and plants growing in your garden.

Take a look at the centerpiece (below) I arranged for my dining room table. For five dollars, I purchased a bouquet of white gerber daisies at Trader Joe’s and created this natural look using Fostoria goblets (handed down from John’s Godmother) centered inside an antique picture frame layered over a plaid runner that covers my table almost year-round.

The next arrangement is so basic I almost didn’t include it—a crystal vase filled with budding branches. Take advantage of the many trees and shrubs in full bloom now. Forsythia, Redbud, Dogwood, Spirea, Azalea… Snip a few buds or branches from your own yard, alley or roadside. Or maybe your neighbor will share? Ask first of course.

The vintage glass basket (candy dish?) which belonged to my mother-in-law makes a sweet and aromatic arrangement of herbs and flowers from the garden. Only a few snips and it is filled. Keep it nearby in the kitchen, and you won’t forget to use your herbs when cooking supper.