BellaCasa

Drip Irrigation System

I simply love, love, love this time of year here at the lake.
Not just because of all the things you can do on the lake, but also with all the beauty of the season.

Yep, I'm talking about gardening again.

Apparently, the bugs like this time of season as well.  They've started on my peppers.

I've tried my hand at a lot of different plants this year like tomatoes, peppers, chives, onions, potatoes, cilantro and so many flowering plants too.

Some of our tomatoes are mere green babies on the vine still, but the plants are producing.  The cinnamon basil is blooming and the mint is thrieving wonderfully.

I'd say all-in-all, my plants are doing very well this year ...especially now that they have a wonderful drip system installed.

Did you know that planting marigolds with/around your vegetables can help keep the bugs away?

Now speaking of drip systems, have you ever installed one yourself?

My husband has taken care of that for me {thank goodness} or I'd have no irrigation for the many plants in pots around my home.  And if you ever plan to travel ...well let me just say ...you will need a drip system, sprinkler, or some type of irrigation system in place or your plants will never survive.

A drip irrigation system is perfect for potted plants too ...requires less water and conserving water is on everyone's list {or should be}.  Small drips of water drop onto the soil rather than a sprinkler spraying water onto the plants leaves and everywhere the water decides to land.

Now all I have to do is fertilize, do a bit of dead-heading, and watch for the bugs that get past the marigolds.  Other than that ...I'll simply enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer.

Till next time,

Jan @ BellaCasa

Ivy Geraniums

Trailing Geraniums ...aren't they just so special?

I received a basket of these beautiful flowers, also known as Ivy Geraniums.  The beauty isn't just in the clusters of colorful petals either ...the leaves are just as showy trailing all about the place.

I've never owned this plant before and was anxious to learn all about how to care for it.  I started by placing the basket in a sunny location on a table in my courtyard.  It looks so at home there.

These flowers are suppose to be able to be winterized in a cool basement or garage (min temp of 50°F or 10°C).  That's awesome too, 'cause I don't have a lot of space to keep my live plants indoors during the winter.

These tough and long-lasting bloomers can be propagated by cuttings or started from seed.  I'm going to keep a look-out for the seeds and will also try my hand at growing from a cutting.  I'd like to use this plant as a ground cover.  Ah, now wouldn't that be delightful!

While my basket currently sits on the top of a table, very soon I plan to hang the basket so that this wonderful trailing plant can grow the way it was intended.

Have a great day!

Jan @ BellaCasa

The garden is positively showing color

Sometimes all it takes is a walk to clear my head ...especially in the Spring.  I take my camera along and go on a hunt for new things to photograph.  Such was the day today.  I captured so much color in my garden today.

It is definitely Spring!

My irises, for example, have decided it is time to show off their beautiful colors and I hate to think that if I didn't like to walk, how much I would miss out on seeing.

It doesn't cost me anything to go for a walk and I always ...always find something to take a picture of too.

I concentrated on the iris in my garden today.  Maybe tomorrow it will be a bird ...wildflowers ...who knows.

This purple iris is from my mother-in-law.  The garden where they are planted is prettier and prettier each year.  This is only the second year it has bloomed ...it didn't bloom the first year.

Last year I clipped off a few of the blooms and brought them inside.  I never realized how fragrant an iris blossom was until then.  You can see them here.

I've been told the white iris is the dominant color.  So far I have about four to five different colors that I will share with you here as they bloom.

Enjoy your day,

Jan @ BellaCasa