today today I sowed: lobelia cardinalis red flowerd lupin blue purple campanula cup and saucer mix playcodon grandiflora balloon flower coneflower Tomato soup coneflower Hot Lava coneflower Hot papaya monarda ruby red gaillardia goblin

I was able to plant a few more jugs this weekend and have more to add: I think too much sun impeded sprouts. Some jugs are very big, with half in the shade most of the day and half in the sun. You can actually see the line!! NO sprouts in the sun side. Cutting a milk jug through the handle, leaving a bit for a hinge works really nice for carrying jugs, but some sprouts, if the seeds are sown heavily, get beat up at planting time - unless the "lid" is removed. The handle indents on my milk jugs and a clean removal hasn't yet occurred. Since I loved the handle/hinge for carrying, and I'm reusing my jugs next year, I'll continue to sacrifice a few sprouts. My sprouts are (today) teeny tiny compared to what I could buy, so I did buy some plants. However, no way could I have the varieties I am growing without GW seed swapping and WSing. I killed almost EVERY sprout that I started GUL. Almost every WS sprout that's been planted is growing in my garden:)) The rabbits have snacked, but since I have little idea what I've planted (too many new-to-me-varieties in each jug), I haven't fallen in love with anything - yet. Although I am HOPING HOPING HOPING I have hairy balls;)

I have approx 300 square feet for a family of 5, three of those teenagers, one of those a boy teenager:) I took this year to experiment on what will give us the biggest bang for our buck. I originally planted 4 SF of lettuce with an additional 6 succesion plantings in ohter beds, this was a huge amount of lettuce for us, even with the family loving salads. I have 8 SF of Zuchs, 8 SF of yellow squash, 16 SF of yellow onions, 16 SF of broccoli, 6 SF of cauliflower, 22 SF of tomatoes, 22 SF of herbs, 16 SF for strawberries, 8 SF cukes, 8 SF peppers, 18 SF swiss chard, 12 SF beets, 5 SF of carrots, 2 SF radishes 4 SF of fennel,12 sf green cabbage, 4 SF red cabbage, 6 SF green beans, 8 SF peas, 32 sf melons, at least 24 sf of marigolds mixed in, along with various little experiments like my habanero peppers. I can tell you this: not anywhere near enough green beans or peas. I had never grown them before, so I just wanted enough to try:) Too much lettuce, but neighbors like it. Probably too much room devoted to melons, as they don't grow too well here, but I had to try in my first SFG. I am happy with everything else. I have to tell you though, I don't follow exact planting instructions for the SFG method. My carrots are planted in rows along a few squares, I like to plant them a little thicker and thin as I go. We like to eat the thinnings;) Weird huh?? I love the versatility of the greens from the beets and chard for salad, which is why the lettuce was too much. The swiss chard is a favorite steamed, but I wasn't expecting to be using the greens in the salad bowl - slipped my brain. Also, I used one bed as a little greenhouse, so I could plant in April then transplant to other beds, that worked really, really well. I don't know if this helps, but I can share any other info if you need it. Also, we too have a local food distribution center I was fortunate enough to be able to serve at. They give grocery type foods to the needy. They have a section just for those of us who can donate fresh garden veggies and fruits. The people were so grateful, I figured any extra will be well used:) My garden is set up in a big square space, but my husband used the space really well. I love my corner boxes, they are very original. I will put in a pic at the bottom. Just to the left in the picture is the area we will add rows of corn and lots of pumpkins next year. I also have some blacklace and some American Elderberry bushes just starting. The blacklace ones are in the front of the pic outside the squash box. This year putting in beds was enough of a project;) We will also be adding to our two apple and one apricot tree. Two peach and two pear trees, along with raspberries, grapes and blueberries (if I can get them to grow in Idaho). Someday, maybe more..... Have a great day, and happy gardening!!!! g Sorry this was so long, I like to gab - hence the name:):) ...

bpgreen, thanks for helping me remember what RTF is. Steve said "...She'll eat some pie, but it's all about the crust for her.... I have to eat a whole pie myself!" Sounds like torture. I'd suggest you keep making 'em. Maybe one day she'll acquire a taste for it. I used to be a crust person myself. I discovered that I have 'superior' taste buds and now love the pie filling too. I just use much less spice. It was irritating to me to eat apple pie that tasted like cinnamon instead of apples. Many recipes call for too much spice, IMHO. I have a good no-sugar-added pie filling recipe.. I adjusted the spices to suit myself and, this year found a good low fat crust recipe. I'd never realized before having fruits fresh from my own trees, just how good they would be. The apples from my Fuji are different than those from a grocery store... more flavorful and even crisper. Don't rub in my lack of nectarines, Steve. :-( The thought of a juicy fresh nectarine or peach (or even frozen in a smoothie) sounds delicious! One year we got a box of nectarines fresh from a friends tree. Great fresh, needless to say, and the low sugar jam I made from them was fabulous! Parrots: Part of the reason I grow organically on my property..... I mostly have African parrots but also have a couple of Blue & Gold Macaws and a flight of 3 older cockatiels (2 well into their 20's). The "Psittacine" in my online name means 'of or pertaining to parrots'. I was a 'psittaculturist' (raised and studied them) for almost 30 years... retired from the "raising" part a few years ago. They definitely aren't for everyone because, if their needs are truly addressed, most are higher maintenance pets than a dog or cat. I've raised many species of parrots, or have studied them. I've also raised barn swallows, a killdeer, sage thrashers, humming bird, magpie, a starling (fun bird! much like a Magpie) and a common sparrow (Twiggy, one of my favorites)and maybe others I've forgotten. Have never been able to save a common robin, though. What species of conure was yours? Steve said: "Always wanted a falcon, though! Maybe someday..." Not an easy thing to get a raptor license. There is a guy that lives a few blocks from me who is a falconer and has a raptor rehabilitation license. His golden eagle died of West Nile Virus last year, (he now has a new one for his education program). They are beautiful animals. Crystal