First what does a plant take from the soil

click to enlarge chart

I have a lot to share about gardening. It's hard to decide what will help the most. This is a bit of helpful information to get you ready for the longer posting I've been working on.

I loved Rebecca's garden, a TV show and web site all about gardening. It is gone now, who knows where Rebecca went and why she gave up passing along those wonderful gardening ideas but here is one of her great hints.

Everything you plant will take something from the soil and some plants will give back to the soil. If you know this chemical process for each plant you will help yourself grow the best food you can.

Study the chart and learn to what needs to be rotated

1) make a list of what you'd like to grow.

2) Put your list in their correct growing families

3) Keep the family groups together and rotate every year.

Remember each food family has different soil requirements which I will fully cover in the next posting. You must be sure to amend the soil to fulfill the needs of each kind of plant.

HINTS:

Nightshades heavy feeders: tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes

Roots Light feeders: beets, onions, carrots, turnips, parsnips

Brassicas Heavy feeders: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts

Legumes Heavy givers: peas and beans

Vining crops heavy feeders: melon, squash, cucumbers

There are many other groups for vegetables see the chart below.

Rotating your crops will also cut down on bugs and disease

Compare your list of things to plant to the chart above.

How will you place your plants to make the best use of the soil?

Why I've been too busy to talk to anyone

This is a special dress for my grand daughter

I haven't met her yet but I will be very soon, getting on a plane in the morning and this is Penny who will be given her name and blessing in church on Sunday.......Now you know why I couldn't take any one's calls or help anyone out the last few days........SMILES

Penny and her big brother Flynn

cradle your Easter Eggs

How I loved my Scout leader years! They gave me a wealth of crafts to pass along. Today we have a little wash cloth bunny to hold your Easter eggs.

I don't have any pretty colored Easter eggs to sit in this bunny

I bought a package of inexpensive wash cloths.

It was a bundle of white, pink and yellow. Lucky me!

Starting at a point roll to the center. center

At the opposite point roll to the center.

The two fluted ends become the ears of the bunny Take the roll and fold in half.

The egg will rest at the folded end

The ears and face will be made at the loose ends

The face is made by Holding the ears up and folding the two ends in half.

A small rubber band is then placed over a hand full of the folded ears. This will make a tiny double cheeked face. Make the rubber band tight. If you don't have one tightly wrap string around the face. This is how it looks when the rubber band is around. The face is ready for eyes and a nose

This is how it looks from the side

I glued on eyes and a nose and tied a ribbon on his head, You can use felt for the facial features

Be sure and add a little pom pom for his tail.

Easter Goodies

Click to enlarge and print

I know the recipes look really old but that is because they are! Taken from a Girl Scout magazine from my high school years. Take the ideas and use them with the ingredients you like. I can see the egg in some pastel buttercream frosting. That would be pretty. Or dye some coconut and put it on the cakes. Just be sure and have fun!