Fertilizer Friday at the Garden in Paradise!

It's Fertilizer Friday

again at Tootsie Time. 

I'm excited to have something of interest

to contribute!!

I usually focus

on my various tropical flowers and foliage. 

However, we added our "starter" veggie garden

this year to our Garden in Paradise. 

We were timid since our first attempt

several years ago burned to unidentifiable twigs

in the blazing South Florida sun. 

However, we've researched and studied

since then and felt we were ready to try again. 

This is the beginning in March 1, 2011.

Such sweet little babies! 

And, as all babies do,

they started to grow...quickly!

This photo was taken March 15, 2011!

And the garden this morning, April 8, 2011...

I have to give credit to

Miracle Grow Garden Soil. 

That pains me a little

as I honestly try with all my might

to keep an organic garden. 

But the first, organic and inexperienced garden

shriveled so quickly that

I really couldn't shoulder the failure

a second time...so I cheated a bit. 

I even purchased potted plants

instead of starting from seed. 

But, seriously, the results are phenominal!

Being a flower fanatic,

I couldn't resist capturing some blooms. 

This squash blossom is beautiful

in the morning sun,

framed by some little baby tomatoes.

The squash are already developing! 

I can't wait to harvest these! 

(I'll be able to participate in Harvest Monday!!!)

I like this pretty cucumber bloom

peaking out from behind the green foliage. 

What a perfect flower!

And perfect blooms produce perfect cucumbers!

Look closely and you'll see a clump

of little green tomatoes! 

A basil leaf also snuck into the picture. 

Too bad I can't embed a scratch-and-sniff

of the basil...it's heavenly!

This is another variety of tomato - a little larger.

This Chinese Cabbage s HUGE!!

I have 4 of them! 

Pretty, too.

Here's a Mammoth Jalapeno Pepper. 

You can also see some chives

in the top left of the photo. 

Our yellow and red bell peppers are blooming,

but no sign of baby peppers yet.

And in case you're questioning the validity of the Miracle Grow Garden Soil, check out my watermelon, purchased and planted on the same day, but without the Miracle Grow Soil.

I thought the watermelon would thrive

in the sandy "soil" we have in our yard. 

Alas, in hind sight,

the watermelon would be gigantic by now

if I'd used the Miracle Grow soil. 

Live and learn!

I'm not saying I'm turning from my organic ways,

but until I can amend my soil

enough to make a difference,

I might lean a bit on some non-organic options. 

Remember to check out other gardens at

Tootsies Fertilizer Friday / Flaunt Those Flowers. 

Thank you, Tootsie,

for being such a gracious hostess!!

Happy Fertilizer Friday, all!!

Things That Cheer Me Up

Every once in a while, I have a day...
you know the kind. 
I've been having some of those lately. 
My remedy? 
My garden, of course, among other things. 
I took some photos to share...

After a trying time, I know I can walk outside
and find something to cheer me. 
First, the bright colors of blooms are always a good pick-me-up.

Yellow Snap Dragons

Orange Marigolds

Lady Margaret Passion Vine

Aloe Vera Blooms

Aloe Vera Bloom up close

Fire Bush

The Fire Bush will be the perfect compliment

 for a fence row near a visible corner of our property. 

We're nearly finished clearing the space. 

Side Note:  clearing overgrown fence rows is

the perfect job to release frustration and aggression.

A gander by the new vegetable garden really raises spirits too.

My husband constructed the raised bed

and my daughter and I did the rest

during the last weekend of February. 

We planted peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash,

cabbage, cilantro, watermelon, basil, and chives. 

 Just a few weeks later, the veggies look fantastic!

A couple of closeups bring a smile to my face...

A pepper bloom

A bright and cheerful cucumber bloom

This tomato bloom is a pretty little star, isn't it? 

WAIT!!!  What's THAT?!?!?!

This is NOT cheerful...

white mold on my squash.

I'll need to find a remedy for that.

 And check out this Chinese Cabbage leaf...

vibrant colors and full of life!

Next to the vegetable garden

is my Lady Margaret Passion Vine. 

Looks like we have dinner guests...

 That's OK...these "pests"

are one of the reasons I keep passion vines,

a host plant to this caterpillar...

this is phase 1 for the lovely Gulf Fritillary butterfly,

or the Florida Monarch as many call it. 

As I leave the sunny edible garden,

I move into the shaded portion of my property. 

The mature trees provide a lovely canopy

that my previous paradise lacked. 

I spot a fern frond unfurling....

try to say that 5 times as fast as you can!

These singular fern leaves pop out from the sable palm trunks. 

I love them!

           

  Another view of the same tillandsia.

I love this one...

bulbous at the base with long curling leaves

...so graceful!

Here's a first for me...

seed pods from a cardinal tillandsia...

at least I think it's a cardinal. 

These are protected so I let them fly

where the wind would take them...

hopefully more in my yard! 

A resident among the trees,

this Corn Snake is aggressive but not venomous. 

He was tussled out of his tree top home

while my husband cut old dead branches down.

 His colors and patterns are gorgeous! 

But I'll have to watch out for him

when my sweet little pullets start laying eggs

...he'll enjoy them for dinner!

Cameron, the natural leader of the three girls,

might give an intruder a run for their money. 

We don't have a rooster so her leadership qualities are not stifled.

Henny Penny is the sweetest of the three...

very docile and kind...shes curious, too,

as you can see in this photo...

always checking to see what's going on. 

Penny is the largest of the girls,

although Cameron often appears larger

due to her ego-fluffed plumage.

Gina's speed makes it really difficult

to capture a good photo of her. 

She's the smallest of the three...

her colors are coming out and are absolutely lovely!

It's hard not to smile around the girls...

they're so sweet, fun and lively. 

Another girl who loves to play and tops this club

is none other than the lovely LOLA!!!

What a beautiful girl!!

We take some time out to play. 

She's not biting me...

she likes to swing upside down and back and forth. 

She uses her beak for balance sometimes.

See?  The shot is a little blurry because she is moving...

she swings her head back and forth

 in order to gain momentum,

similar to a child on a swing set. 

She squeals with delight during this activity!!

Lola was having such a great time,

I couldn't help but record a video of her...

she gets pretty wild

when my son plays his 'screamo' music right next to her!!!

Just proving that Lola was Screamo

before Screamo was cool!!!!

Maybe if you're having "one of those days",

Lola can cheer you up too!!