Starting seeds indoors with fluorescent lights for transplant into raise...

My new gardening hat - A must have!

So how do you like the new gardening hat I just bought? It the perfect size for wearing when gardening or doing yard work.

It blocks most of that harmful sun and if you wear a bandanna under it you can keep the sun off your head since it does let some light through. It cost $9.99 and is so light weight you can't feel it at all, which is good if you spend a lot of time outside.

Back from out of town

A bit of a delay in posting to the garden blog I know. We have been out of town recenlty which hasn't allowed me to post some of the images of what we wereup to before leaving. We are getting ready to pour some alfalfa tea on our plants and trees tomorrow. I have a few images of how to make the alfalfa tea which is supposed to be a great fertilizer!

We had what looks to be a lot of rain while we were gone. This is a great thing, however it hasd made the alfalfa hay and straw smell a bit ripe if oyu know what I mean, lol. It's almost time to put the alfalfa hay into the raised garden beds! I have a lot to add just as soon as we get caught up from our travels :)

Mini garden just for fun

So here is our mini garden. We did this for a fun indoor experiment, but soon changed our minds and put it where the large garden is since it has no soil yet.

We have:
Row 1: Sweet Basil
Row 2: Cat Nip
Row 3: Sweet 'N Early Cantaloupe
Row 4: Garlic Chives
Row 5: Blue Lake Bush Snap Beans
Row 6: Zucchini
Row 7: Cucumber
Row 8: More Blue Lake / Crimson Sweet Water Melon

Our plan is to transplant these into our garden when they are big enough and when we get some soil. We just couldn't wait to start growing something!

It's been about a week since they were panted. I will post and update with pics when there is any growth.

Large spiders crawling around

Found a little scary surprise while watering tonight!

Look at the size of these spiders! They are about 2" x 2", and that female spider with the egg sack must have been almost another 1" longer!

Anyone know what they are called and if they are garden helpers? I let them be for now until I can further research what they do.

LOOK AT THAT EGG SACK! GOOD GRIEF!

I hope they are on my side! lol