Monday Magic - Landscape Design App

Spring is coming, and I'm excited that gardening season is here again.

Every spring I make plans to finish landscaping the front and back yards, but I never quite get it done the way I like it.

Darling Hubby gets frustrated because I'm always changing the plan so this year, I thought I'd do something different.

I searched online and found a few free landscape design apps. I thought I'd post about them so you can try them along with me.

First up is Neighborbrite, an AI powered landscape design app that is always free to use unless you decide to upgrade to the pro version for more control and custumization for plant types, placements, and some other features. 

HOW IT WORKS

Neighborbrite uses advanced AI technology to help you design. Upload a photo of the outdoor space  you want to design, choose a garden style, and get design ideas for your space.

That's it. There's nothing to download and install since it's an online site to use. You don't need any special tech skills or knowledge because it's designed to be user-friendly and intuitive.

To learn more before you try, check out their FAQ page.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm photographing my yard front and back. I'm excited to try this, and I hope it's as easy as it sounds. I'll let you know next Monday when I post another free app blog. Let me know if you also try Neighborbrite.

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All About Azaleas

At last, my azaleas are blooming! I was afraid the sudden cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago destroyed the buds.

In case you didn't know, Houston is famous for its azaleas. Every year, thousands of people flock to the Azalea Trail. This yera it runs from March 6–8.

Organized by the River Oaks Garden Club, it  features tours of private gardens in the River Oaks/Tanglewood areas and the historic Bayou Bend and Rienzi gardens.

ARE AZALEAS RHODODENDRONS?

Azaleas are not Rhododendrons, but they are part of that genus that has over 10,000 varieties.

These gorgeous shrubs thrive in acidic, well-drained soil with dappled shade, and they're known for spring blooms. They can be evergreen or deciduous. Amazingly, they've been around for 50 million years. They symbolize femininity, passion, fragility, and temperance and are native to Asia, Europe, and North America.

You should know that all parts of the azalea plant are poisonous to humans and pets because they contain grayanotoxins. They can grow from small dwarf shrubs to large bushes reaching 8–10 feet in height and are often called "royalty of the garden."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Most of my azaleas are the Formosa variety shown above—large shrubs covered with blooms. I have some medium height azaleas that bloom red.

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Ordinary Marvels - Navel Oranges

I slept late today because I stayed up late watching Olympic highlights. Amazing athletes doing amazing things.

Like many, I particularly love the ice skating events. Maybe that's because I've never ice skated before, and I'm in awe of those who do.

TODAY'S TOPIC

I'm not here to talk about the Olympics. I want to talke about things that are ordianry yet amazing.

Like the navel orange I peeled for breakfast. I was stripping away the rind from the orangish-pink flesh when I started wondering how the navel orange came into being. I was pretty sure that it had to be have been created by some kind of hybrid technique so I looked up the history.

Yes, it was a hybrid—created by Mother Nature. Surprise!

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

In 1820, in a Brazilian monestary garden, someone saw a mutated orange growing on a tree. This was a  seedless mutation, possibly derived from a Selecta orange tree.

The mutated tree produced a small "twin" fruit at the base of the fruit—something that looked like a human navel thus the origin of the name.

Horticulturists began grafting the mutated tree to other trees until there were enough for export. It took more than 50 years for the navel orange tree to be introduced in the U.S. 

When the newly-formed USDA received 12 cuttings from Brazil, someone there gave 2 cuttings to  Eliza Tibbets of Riverside, California. She planted them in 1873 which gave birth to a billion-dollar industry.

TREE TRIVIA

The mutation of the orange tree means its fruit is seedless and sterile so all navel orange trees are technically clones of that original 1820 tree,  continued through grafting.

The trees planted in California were named Washington Navel Oranges because they came from the USDA in Washington, D.C.

The trees planed in California thrived because the climate was perfect for the, and the citrus industry in the state simply boomed.

The "belly button" at the bottom is actually a conjoined twin fruit that aborted during development.

The original tree planted by Eliza Tibbets is now a California Historic Landmark.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Learning all this made the sweet navel orange I ate even more delicious and satisfying. Have you eaten an orange lately?

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BEST LAID PLANS FOR SOIL AND SUN

Background Image by Jill Wellington, Pixabay

As you can see, I'm still not back in the office full-time.

We have various home improvement projects going on which require my time and attention.

With the mornings finally cooler, I've dived into the landscaping projects we've had on the drawing board since the spring.

When we moved into this house 4 years ago, I drew up a landscape plan. Every year has been so busy and has had so many unexpected interruptions that the plans have never reached reality. This year I'd planned to change that.

My determination grew as each month brought new challenges—selling our country home and moving all contents into storage, transporting the furniture a few pieces at a time to a consignment shop, and so many other events that cropped up.

Through it all, I vowed to get my landscaping plans accomplished. 

In order to make that happen, it means all the other things I do must wait their turn.

By next week, I hope to be back blogging, working on another new book, posting to social media,  sending out my monthly newsletter, and so much more.

THIS WEEK'S GARDENING TRIUMPH

I thought I'd make myself accountable by relating my gardening accomplishments here. So far, I've removed the paving stones from a small garden patio in the back corner. That space will be the new home for a transplanted fig tree with the paving stone laid behind the garage as a platform for the generator.

I've transplanted Purple Shower Hibiscus from a giant pot into 3 patio pots and Darling Hubby planted 2 loquat trees to anchor the landscaping in the garden that spans the back yard.

Tomorrow, we transplant azaleas and plant some new ones.

Why change landscaping as if one is moving furniture around in a house? I guess it's like Emilia Fox  said, "When I go into the garden, I forget everything. It’s uncomplicated in my world of gardening. It’s trial and error, really. If something doesn’t work, it comes out, and you start all over again."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

In a complicated and confusing world, uncomplicated is awesome.

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First, They're Bright And Delightful

At first, autumn leaves are brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. Still attached to trees, they're Nature's masterpieces painted against a sky blue background.

Then the leaves begin to drift lazily down, kissing the ground below—some land on shrubbery, some on  sidewalks, streets, and driveways.

In a few days, they're brown and brittle, with nothing to commend them—until someone walks on them.

Delightfully, they crunch beneath our feet, sounding like drum brushes on a snare drum.

DELIGHTFUL DESCRIPTIONS OF AUTUMN LEAVES

"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar." —Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing

Adjustable Rake on Amazon

"It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon." —Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost

"Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release—it’s what the trees do." —Ka’ala

"And all the lives we ever lived, and all the lives to be, are full of trees and changing leaves." —Virginia Woolf

"The leaves are all falling, and they’re falling like they’re falling in love with the ground." —Andrea Gibson

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." —Emily Brontë

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Now, with yard broom in hand, I reflect on those lovely words as I go forth to do battle with the brown, crunchy detritus covering the patio and driveway.

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Snakes in the Country

I thought I'd share this on social media, but also here on SlingWords.

We left the hot city and went to the also hot country.

For some reason, sitting on the back porch here is tolerable when sitting on the patio at home is suffocating.

Yes, we are back at our house in the country. My Darling Hubby found this copperhead in our front flower bed.

These snakes are common in Texas and are highly poisonous. Fortunately, Hubby saw it before he saw my husband.

Take a good look at this copperhead so you can identify it in case they're also common where you live.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Growing up in the South and living in Texas—not part of the South as some think—one is accustomed to dealing with snakes.

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The Color of Spring

"Happiness? The color of it must be spring green." —Frances Mayes

I'd be willing to believe that if happiness had a color, it would be the green of emerging leaves.

Yesterday, I spent a lovely half hour walking through a garden center. The most beautiful fragrance floated through the air, and the sun was warm on my face.

SPRING ARRIVED—LET'S TAKE A BREAK

While no one was looking, spring sneaked in, but I—and the hundreds of other customers at the garden centers—recognized the lovely visitor.

I'm always happy to take a break from the routine. No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just going to garden a little every day because Spring is my favorite season. That's my way of dealing with spring fever.

Funny how the phrase Spring Fever has become the name for many things including college festivals, triathlons, mixed drinks, perfume, several movies, poems, and books. For thousands of years, spring equinox has been celebrated in pagan rituals. (I guess one could characterize  college spring break as a bit pagan too.)

Humans haven't changed much since cavemen hunted T-Rex. Even today, we look forward to similar pursuits that involve shedding winter wools and slipping on tee shirts, shorts, and sandals.

SEASON OF YEARNING

My grandfather always said spring fever is when "a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love." I looked up spring fever in the dictionary. It defined spring fever as "a feeling of languor or yearning brought on by the coming of spring."

Since I'm a romance author, I write about yearning all the time. In my novels, a man and a woman yearn for each other—often against their better judgment. That's what creates the push-pull in a relationship that can be quite funny.

In the end, all that really matters is that winter is over and spring is here. Hurray. Go forth and celebrate! 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

By the way, if you don't garden, try it. It's like Luther Burbank said, "Flowers always make people better, happier, more hopeful."

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Regenerative Agriculture? Watch Kiss the Ground!

If you're concerned about the environment, climate change, and other planetary calamities, you really need to watch Kiss the Ground, narrated by Woody Harrelson and now streaming on Netflix.

This 2013 documentary addesses all of these concerns. 

More importantly, it offers a much simpler solution than some of the outlandish suggestions offered.

Even better this way to heal the planet would work faster than anything else I've read. Personally, as the daughter and the sister of farmers, this documentary makes total sense.

I've seen firsthand what happens to the land with cutting down the trees, growing single crops, using expensive chemical fertilizers because the soil becomes so depleted, etc.

Farmers can't make a living in today's world, and the so-called "traditional" methods of the last 60-70 years have killed the soil.

Once the top soil is gone, death ensues—death of micro organisms at first, but eventually all the way up to humans and to the planet.

PEOPLE SMARTER THAN I KNOW THIS

Don't take my word for what happens when the top soil is gone. A group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians believe this to be true.

They've joined together in a global movement, Regenerative Agriculture, which has these goals: balance the climate, replenish the vast water supplies, and feed the world.

If you're thinking this is something impossible to do simply by restoring our top soil, then you're mistaken. It's something anyone who has farmers in the family knows.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you want to save the world, it may be easier than you think, but education about the problem is key. Please watch the film which is available on most streaming services—just Google Kiss the Ground. Even more important, tell others about the film.

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10 Gardening Tips for Fall

Fall is coming. This is a great time to get your garden ready for fall and winter.

Presently, it's 6-8 weeks before the first frost date in most parts of the country.

This gives you plenty of time to plant cold weather crops if your climate supports that, or time to put your garden to bed for winter. 

10 Gardening Tips for Fall

1. Analyze what's going on in your garden. Does it need to be cleaned up with spent flowers and dead vegetable plants removed? Is the soil in good condition? If not, add compost and/or a good organice fertilizer. Does it have any kind of infestation of vegetable-damaging insects or slugs? If so, clean up the site and take care of the creepy crawlers.

2. If you use some kind of edging around your garden, check to see if it needs to be repaired or replaced. If you don't use garden edging, maybe this is a good time to add a stone border or something else durable and attractive that suits your yard decor.

3. Till the soil well. Pull oout those pesky weeds by the roots.

4. Water the garden well to let the soil settle.

5. If you have perennials in your garden that need dividing and/or transplanting, this is a good time to do that.

6. Personally, I love a mix of flowers and vegetables. Plant some cold-weather veggies like kale, mustard, spinach, carrots, and turnip greens along with some blooming flowers that love the cold like pansies and mums.

7. Now is the time to design a watering system for your garden. Cool weather is a good time to lay water lines for drip irrigation so that next summer watering isn't such a chore.

8. Prune shrubbery and trees. If you have fruit trees, pruning in the winter means vigorous growth in the spring.

9. Now is also a good time for you to tend to your gardening tools. Clean them well and dry them. Sharpen the edge of anything that cuts with a file. Sand off any rust spots. When they're all clean, fill a bucket with sand and a bit of oil and mix well. Insert the business end of the implement in this bucket of oily sand to protect them from rust. By the way, this is something you should do each time you use them.

10. Last, layer mulch over the entire garden. That's like laying a blanket over a bed to stay warm in cold winter nights.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a good vegetable gardening book, you can't go wrong with Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up by Master Gardener Stephanie Suesan Smith.

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Spring Gardening with Blooms and Lights

I'm so excited. Today, at our house in town, the first bloom on a border of day lilies that we transplanted from our house in the country opened.

A couple of months ago, we dug up a dozen clumps of day lilies, divided them, and planted them in a border in our front yard in town.

They've exploded in growth. This first bloom is on the smallest clump.

The fig tree cutting we took from my brother's farm is now growing by leaps and bounds. I'll post a photo of it next time.

We've had strange weather this spring, but the weather seems to be moderating now.

I've transplanted some herbs—sage and basil—and have some vegetable seeds to plant. We've decided on the perfect spot to move our vegetable garden so we're going to try to get that finalized next week.

I've laid out an outline for my rose garden. Now I'm thinking of buying some outdoor lights I saw on Amazon.

I couldn't resist scrolling through garden items and found these lights even though I knew I should be doing something more productive.

I think these "fairy lights" would look magical in the day lily border.

They're called Tonulax Solar Garden Lights and they're sold in 2 to a set for $19.98.

They're Prime so I can return them if they don't look as charming as the picture shows.

That covers my outdoor plans from now to the middle of April.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Do you have any gardening plans or goals?

Joan Reeves participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon.

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Sunday Thoughts About Spring Flowers

Our brief glimpse of spring was ended when the cold front came through Friday, but the weather is warming again today.

When it's mild and sunny outside, my thoughts turn to spring flowers.

Many of you in colder parts of the world have expertise in tulips and other bulb plants that require cold dormancy in order to bloom.

Some gardeners here in Houston dig up bulbs and store them in refrigerators for months to achieve that same cold result.

When February arrives, these energetic gardeners rush to put their bulbs back in the ground.

Here in Texas, lazy gardeners like me celebrate the nearly year-round growing season by planting trees, shrubs, and plants that automatically burst into bloom beginning in late February. It's simply spectacular.

FAVORITE SPRING BLOOMS

I don't know your plant nursery situation so I'll give Amazon links to some of the most beautiful spring blooms for a garden.

Check your growing climate to see if the ones I mention will work in your area.

Dutch Iris (A start of these came from my mother-in-law's garden many years ago. Any time I've moved, I've taken a starter of them for my new home. 

I don't know the varietal name of the ones I have, but this picture looks like the ones I have, Dutch Iris Miss Saigon (16 bulbs) 

They're $9.45 for 16 bulbs, and they ship from Pennsylvania. They're in stock now.

These beautiful perennials give such vibrant color to the garden. If you don't like purple, you can actually get Dutch Iris in other colors too.

Day Lilies (A start of these came from a dear neighbor about thirty years ago. Thanks again, Carol!)

There is nothing that shouts "Summer" like a yellow day lily.

The variety I have looks much like Stella D'oro Yellow Daylilies which are sold usually as bare roots—most day lilies are sold this way. That means you need to pop them in the ground or a flower pot as soon as you receive them.

I have day lily borders in the yards at both of my houses, and they're stunning. Even though the bloom lasts only a day, each flower stalk may have as many as 4 blooms. Where I live, they'll be blooming this month. In colder climates, check a planting schedule. I imagine you'd put them in the ground fairly soon and expect blooms in early summer.

Azaleas

If you want your yard to look like a garden in Paradise, plant azaleas. These acid-loving shrubs come in every color and hundreds of varieties.

They're in bloom now all over Houston, and they're jaw-droppingly beautiful. They thrive under and near pine trees. They love pine needle mulch.

The variety we have is an old one called Purple Formosa. Amazon offers Formosa in a live shrub in a pot except for some states as listed in the description.

We wanted to see if a long-established azalea could be transplanted and live so we did one last year after the blooms were gone. (You never want to prune or transplant until the blooms fade. Then do it immediately or you may end up cutting off blooms setting for next year.)

The result is an azalea that's a deep pink rather than vibrant purple. I think it needs some amendments added to the soil. 

Flowering Trees

These are a more expensive addition to a garden, but they're worth it if you've got the bucks.

RedbudTrees are the first colors to pierce the gloomy gray of winter. 

Here they begin blooming in February. I love driving down the boulevard and seeing the striking hot pink color of the redbuds next to the white flowers of the dogwood.

Amazon offers several price points of redbuds from a growing tree for $80.00 to bareroot trees for less than $30.00 and even seeds for a bargain if you've got plenty of time to nurture a tree to maturity. Check out the Eastern Redbud Tree that arrives as a dormant bare-root ready to plant.

White Dogwood Tree

Many people haven't heard of the dogwood tree, but they're stunning. They come in red and white flower.

I like the white. They're amazingly beautiful. I couldn't find a good source on Amazon at an affordable price for an actual tree.

The White Dogwood shown at right illustrated a tree that is available for delivery at $83.49, but there was a 1 star review for the product. I'd say check all the Amazon listings. There are seedlings offered, and you might find a 1-gallon pot.

Based on the fact that they grow native here in Texas, it may be that they're relatively rare in other parts of the country. Plant a white dogwood between 2 redbuds, and you have a display that will make you proud.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I once read that your front yard is your gift to the world, and your backyard is your gift to yourself. Plant something that creates beautiy, and you'll enjoy it whether it's in the front or the back.

Joan Reeves participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon.

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Flowering Shrub for Narrow Spaces

We actually had a rain today. I think that's the first one in almost 3 weeks. Yes, most of Texas is in a drought.

Three weeks ago is when I transplanted my Purple Showers (the flowering shrubs for narrow spaces that I have had in pots for nearly a year.

Then came the dry HOT weather. Even with sprinklers, growing things do better with Mother Nature's moisture.

When we sold our previous home, I potted some of the Purple Showers and moved them to my new yard. I can hardly believe they survived in pots through the heat of last summer and the freezing nights of this past winter.

Purple Showers is what we call them these tall flowering shrubs here in Houston. According to whichever website you visit, you'll find other names for them like Rose of Sharon or Paraplu Violet Hibisicus. (The Amazon link is embedded in case you can't find these wonderful shrubs in your area.)

In my previous home's yard, there was a narrow strip of dirt between patio pavers and a brick wall. This was outside my kitchen window. I searched for a couple of years before finding something that would grow in a bed only 15 inches wide and wouldn't be bushy. 

Purple Showers, aptly named because of their abundant blooms, were perfect for that 5 foot long growing bed. They grow up, not out, and they have pretty green foliage and beautiful blossoms. 

They've been in the ground for 3 weeks. I cut them down to about 6 inches when I transplanted them. They've grown a foot since then, and they've already started blooming.

Takeaway Truth 

If you have a similar narrow area of dirt you'd like to grow something beautiful, try these flowering shrubs. You'll love them as much as I do.

Unplugged Is Difficult—Gardening Is Easy

Hello, Readers! I've been in no WiFi land for a while now.

Darling Husband and I have been at our house in the country more frequently than in town.

We've been up in the air about whether to sell this property, but discovering we no longer have sufficient cell phone service to achieve a Personal Hot Spot made our decision for us.

In my business of writing, I simply cannot be unplugged every day and night. The backlog of email plus being unable to communicate with my writing and reading communities makes my life too difficult.

I use Dropbox for quick access across all my devices for writing, my spreadsheets, my graphics, etc., but I can't get it to load without WiFi or a strong hot spot signal for cellular data.

I have to drive up to the stable on a nearby hill to get 2 bars in order for the hotspot to be "hot" enough to get a good internet connection. Forget streaming anything.

Now that I've updated you, I'll open a couple of files from Dropbox, save them to my local computer, and work on them later.

Gardening in the Country

Yes, we are gardening today—cleaning up the winter kill and weeding the flower beds.

We already have purple Dutch iris, blue agapantha, and three varieties of lantana—orange/yellow Radiation Lantana, pinkyellow Silver Queen, and bright yellow New Gold—popping up.

I want to get those weeds out before they get a foothold.

I'll see if I can post some pictures tomorrow. Here's one of the Dutch iris. Larry's mom gave me a start of those about twenty years ago. I've transplanted them to the yards of every house we've owned and shared them with friends and family. I'm taking some with me when I go home today to plant in my current yard.

I'm sorry I can't send a clump to you. They're resilient, beautiful, and bloom for a 4-6 weeks here. I never have to dig them up in my growing zone, and they spread every year.

I looked on Amazon (they seem to have everything)and found you can order Dutch iris bulbs. I've embedded the link here: order a 10-pack of Dutch Iris Mixed Colors, in case  you'd like to plant some in your yard.

Takeaway Truth

It's beautiful here in the country, and I hope it is where you are too. Have a wonderful day.

Book Spotlight: Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up by Stephanie Suesan Smith

Please welcome my friend Stephanie Suesan Smith who is a gardener extraordinaire.

Join us as she answers 3 questions about her new book, Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up. Her new book is available digitally and in paperback.

Stephanie is not only a Ph.D. and a Master Gardener but also a professional copywriter specializing in writing about gardening.

If you check out her Garden Writing Portfolio, she can see some of the hundreds of articles she's written for print and digital publications.

I was thrilled when she published a book about Vegetable Gardening since so many discovered during the first wave of CoVid, the joy and pride of starting a garden.

Find Stephanie Online

Stephanie's Vegetable Blog 

Garden Writing Portfolio 

Like her on Facebook 

Stephanie's Goodreads Author Page

 
Stephanie's BookBub Author Page  

3 Book Spotlight Questions

Q1: What inspired you to write the book?

SSS: I see new gardeners set themselves up for failure because they don’t realize all the things they need to take care of before they plant anything. They become discouraged and decide they can’t grow their own food. With just a little bit of guidance, they can.

Q2. What expertise do you have in this area?

SSS: I have been a Master Gardener since 2001. Master Gardeners are volunteers who work with the horticultural extension agent to teach people the best way to grow vegetables, ornamentals, and anything else they want to grow. 

I have to take continuing education every year to stay up with the current best practices. I have advanced training in growing vegetables and entomology but learned to grow vegetables from my Dad. He let me “help” him plant and harvest when I was young. When I got a little older, he made me help weed and water, too.

Q3: What do you hope readers will get from the book?

SSS: I hope they will be able to grow their own vegetables. Lots of people do not have enough money to eat healthy food. In addition, children are more likely to eat vegetables they help grow. Finally, gardening is good exercise and most people do not get enough of that, either. Everyone, even apartment dwellers, can grow fresh vegetables if they want to. I hope this book teaches them how.

 Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up is available as a Kindle ebook for $2.99 (It's also a Kindle Unlimited Free Read.) or in paperback for $7.99.

Stephanie has been kind enough to say she'ls happy to answer any gardening questions readers may have. Just leave your question in comments.

Takeaway Truth

I'm a gardener, and I think everyone should experience the joy of gardening. Studies have shown that gardening lowers blood pressure, helps one de-stress, and actually contributes to longevity. All that aside, gardening is pure joy. Get your copy today of Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up.

Random Friday Facts About Roses

Since Valentine's Day is 10 days away, here are some facts about Roses since most guys give roses to their sweeties on that day.

Red Roses symbolize love, romance, courage, and beauty.

Yellow Roses symbolize new beginnings, joy, and friendship.

Orange Roses symbolize desire, sensuality, and fascination.

Deep Pink Roses symbolize gratitude and appreciation.

Pale Pink Roses symbolize sympathy as well as admiration.

White Roses symbolize innocence, purity, reverence, silence, and also secrecy.

All Flowers Have Meanings

It's true. All flowers have meanings. Your sweetheart may prefer Stargazer Lilies over Roses.

If you'd like to learn more about the symbolism of flowers and the various colors of the respective flowers, try The Language of Flowers.

It's a nice book to add to your home library especially if you're into gardening.

Takeaway Truth

Of course, many women have their own favorite color of roses or variety of flower. Do yourself a solid and find out what color rose or flower variety your sweetheart likes, and give her those. That will make her Valentine flowers even more special. 

Sprouting Seeds: Shortcut to Vegetable Gardening

In a recent post Second Chance Reads for January, 

I mentioned a post on growing sprouts and gave the link for it.

As I was compiling that post, I thought I should talk more about how easy it is to grow sprouts and how nutritious it is.

I've been doing that for a long time, but I always used a piece of cheesecloth over the wide-mouth jar opening.

In looking at all of the sprouting jars and accessories on Amazon, I decided to upgrade. *g* 

I treated myself to a 2-jar with stainless steel strainer lids and rings. They're supposed to be delivered today.

Since I also ordered 1 pound of organic mung beans, I'll set up those 2 jars along with my usual wide-mouth jar and cheesecloth. Now I can grow 3 different kinds of sprouts. Since I hate kale, I'm going to sprout kale seeds and see if they are more palatable in a stir-fry than the leafy green itself.

Why Eat Sprouts

Nutritionists recommend 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day which amounts to 6 servings.

Most people can't even squeeze 1 or 2 veggies into their diets.

Sprouts make it easy. A handful in a salad, a handful on a sandwich, a handful or two in a stir-fry. With different kinds of sprouts, you don't get bored eating the same thing every day.

Before you know it, you've had  the recommended servings.

Are Sprouts Nutritious

Absolutely. They're rich in important nutrients. Depending on the type of sprout you eat, you get different ratios of nutrients. Most are high in folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin K. 

Interestingly, most sprouts have higher amounts of those nutrients than the fully-grown versions of the same plants.

How to Start

You need this for equipment:

1. a wide mouth canning jar

2. a stainless steel strainer lid or a piece of cheesecloth

3. a stainless steel ring to secure the lid or a rubber band to secure the cheesecloth

4. sprouting seeds

Most people start sprouting with Mung Beans because they germinate fast. That kind of sprout is what you usually see in Asian cooking.

Mung bean sprouts were my introduction to sprouts of any kind when I first went to Japan many years ago.

You can get a pound of them at Amazon for $9.99. Since you only use about 1-2 tablespoons of seeds, all sprouting seeds last a long time. Store the unused seeds in a closed container in a cool dry place.

I ordered these because they're organic: Chimes Garden Organic Mung Beans for Sprouting, 16-Ounce Pouches. I haven't tried this brand before, but they're USDA organic so I assume they'll be perfect.

How to Sprout

I don't believe in reinventing the wheel, so I'll give you the link I referenced in my Second Chance Reads post: How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar. The post on TheSpruce website has illustrations and clear directions.

Basically, you soak the seeds overnight. The next day you drain and rinse the sprouts and set them aside. Every day thereafter you do the rinse and drain process twice, setting the jar aside after draining. Stop when the sprouts are the size you want.

It takes about a week to have sprouts ready to eat. They're best when they're small and just starting to turn green.

If you have some wide-mouth canning jars, all you need is cheesecloth or strainer lids. They come in plastic, but the stainless steel strainer lids (just the lids by themselves) are my choice for something that lasts a very long time which also helps me avoid plastic.

Yucky Vegetables Better as Sprouts

I'm not fond of kale, broccoli, and a few other veggies that are being included in everything at the supermarket. (You couldn't pay me enough to eat cauliflower-crust pizza!)

Surprisingly, these Superfoods aren't objectionable as sprouts.

This pound of Microgreen Mixed veggy sprouting seeds will be what I sprout next.

Takeaway Truth

I may learn to love kale and broccoli—as sprouts.

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