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Comment by Annie Thomas on January 27, 2013 at 4:26pm

Sentient- I wish you could have snapped your fingers and come to sunny Florida today.  My husband and I did more tilling and sunk eight of the eleven posts for our new vegetable garden fence. We would have loved some help! It was high 70s and partially overcast... perfect weather for heavy labor.

I also want to thank you and the fellow posters here.  I have had raised vegetable beds for several years now, but all of your wonderful photos have really inspired me to take the plunge and do a proper garden plot.  I will have 384 SF in the garden, much larger than I've had in the past, but small enough to be manageable.

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 27, 2013 at 3:19pm

Winter can't end soon enough!  I'm going stir crazy!  Time to get out and plant and dig and weed and prune and graft!  

The ancients should have made a holiday for late January or February.  

I think the Chinese had it right, basing the New Year on the Lunar cycle and making that the major holiday!

Briefly from wikipedia, traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity." On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Plus it's a 15-day holiday.  This year the lunar new year starts on Feb 10th.

Not too far away.  Something to look forward to.  Meanwhile, I can do some winter pruning and hardscaping (construction of raised beds) and soil hauling.

Comment by Chris Breman on January 27, 2013 at 2:25am

A good read, thanks, Sentient!

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 26, 2013 at 3:31pm

Interesting article about the history of figs in the Southeast.  One of my varieties was Thomas Jefferson's favorite.  Figs do well in much of Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Florida, Texas, California, western Washingon, western Oregon, etc.  There is no comparison between dried and fresh, and no comparison between store bought and fresh.  

This pic is from last summer.  Figs are my favorite fruit.  This winter I'm starting more varieties from cuttings, which is easy to do.  If all of the cuttings grow, I won't know what to do with the trees.  Something else for winter gardening.   I'm in zone 8, they do great here.  

Comment by Randall Smith on January 23, 2013 at 8:00am

To Annie regarding "tips on growing corn". Pretty simple: dig furrow, plant seeds, cover, be patient! Oh yes, and deal with raccoons!

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 19, 2013 at 5:27pm

Thanks Sentient Biped, I like this site:

Mushrooms: Your Garden’s Best Friend

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 19, 2013 at 3:35pm

Why Mushrooms might be your garden's best friend - from central Texas garden blog.  This ties into Joan's post about mycelium, as well.  

I don't know if the garden has ONE best friend - I think there are lots.  Mushrooms and other fungi are there, but so are beneficial insects, birds that eat harmful insects, frogs, lizards, and some snakes.  I do like that we look at gardening as a more and more complete picture, as opposed to just sticking things into dirt and adding chemicals to make them grow.  This past year I  have definitely thought more about mushrooms and other fungi, than before.  

Comment by Idaho Spud on January 19, 2013 at 3:22pm

That's beautiful corn Annie.  I may buy some seeds.

Joan, that's a neat looking bug.  At least it looks like a VW bug.  I used to have several of them.  Would be fun to drive that way, what with all the stares & comments it would get.

Comment by amer chohan on January 19, 2013 at 12:02pm

Loved the car Joan. She herself seems to be happy with her present than the past.

And the corn too. Its beautiful.

Comment by Annie Thomas on January 19, 2013 at 11:17am

Sentient-  I can't remember the specifics, but I don't think it is edible.  I thought I would give it a try. If anyone has any tips on growing corn, I'd love to hear them!

Joan- The photo of the green car made me smile!  Thanks for sharing.

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