Welcome to abloom's Member Page

See my Clippings        See my Journal        See my trade list        Send me an email

I live in an old house in a small town in rural Illinois with my husband, 2 children, and nice old dog. We publish 2 weekly newspapers our of our front parlor, so things get pretty chaotic, but at least I can work at home. I steal as much time as I can to garden. Some years, the weeds prevail, but every Spring is a fresh start.

Our house is on a big corner lot and it had my husband's idea of a great garden when we moved here - a lawn. But he lets me do what I want with it, which over the years has included making paths of recycled brick and dividing up the yard into a smaller lawn, vegetable beds, a raspberry patch, and an oval garden with a bench, a few apple and pear trees, and old garden roses.

This year I'm planning to get a reel mower and take over from the guy who blasts through on his John Deere. I'm trying to reclaim more of the lawn so there's less to mow. My sod-stripping days are over - too much work - so now I just cover the grass with newspaper (I have an endless supply!) and then straw. It works pretty well and I like the way the straw mulch looks - very natural. I want to make lasagna beds and plant strawberries, pumpkins, gourds, watermelons, and lots of flowers, which I've been winter sowing (my first year).

My biggest problem is weeds. This old prairie land is very fertile and it wants to grow grass and giant weeds . I believe in mulch (my best hope when I get too busy to weed). I compost and I try to stay away from chemicals. I like to plant things to attract birds and butterflies. If the bunnies like to nest in all the straw, that's okay too.

The garden is my greatest source of comfort and peace.

I live in: United States

My zone is: z5 Illinois

My favorite forum 1 is Winter Sowing.

My favorite forum 2 is Cottage Garden.

First registered on February 26,2005.