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So.....Bring Nature Close to you! Join us each month.
Bring Nature Close is a web page dedicated to bringing nature closer to you in every way. This site tends toward the natural or organic side of looking at the earth. This 14 page site changes every month. I blog on about what is happening in my neck of the woods; gardens, weather, food, fruit and seasonal activities.
There is a Kids Page with introductions to animals, birds, reptiles, anphibians and insects, plus a project every month.
All Around the Barn for tools and handy ideas.
Plantology to explore a new plant every month.
Ask Izzy if you've got a problem with your garden, project or are interested in something and want more information. Ask Me! I might know.
About Us is my history with nature, gardening and the out of doors.
Links to other cool sites.
Books to order. These are my own personal books with information and learning I have gleened over the years. Check it out.
Products to order. Some cool garden and household stuff. Not the normal stuff.
Photos, current every month, some cool shots.
And in case you missed last month, Archived What's Happening?, Kids Page and Plantology.
Love and care go into this web site, I hope you like it!
There is a Kids Page with introductions to animals, birds, reptiles, anphibians and insects, plus a project every month.
All Around the Barn for tools and handy ideas.
Plantology to explore a new plant every month.
Ask Izzy if you've got a problem with your garden, project or are interested in something and want more information. Ask Me! I might know.
About Us is my history with nature, gardening and the out of doors.
Links to other cool sites.
Books to order. These are my own personal books with information and learning I have gleened over the years. Check it out.
Products to order. Some cool garden and household stuff. Not the normal stuff.
Photos, current every month, some cool shots.
And in case you missed last month, Archived What's Happening?, Kids Page and Plantology.
Love and care go into this web site, I hope you like it!
Page and Content copyright 2012/2013
May 2013
It looks like some wonderful weather for the end of spring! I still have to get my Fushias in the green house now and then but the Lilacs are almost fully leafed out, which means not much frost left!!
The trees are all leafing out and the fruit trees are blooming like crazy. A promise of a good fruit year if those pesky frosts didn't nip the flowers.
Early ground covers are blooming and making a bright carpet for Tulips, Daffodils, Narcissus and Jonquils. Bulbs under groundcovers do well. The soil stays moist and the late foliage is nourished longer, producing a good strong bulb for next year.
Phlox is a native to Idaho and grows well with little care. Give it a little extra water and it will take over the ground on dry slopes.
Perinnial Alyssum does well here also and is a good compliment for phlox.
Aubrieta loves hot areas with ample water.
Wall flowers come in ground cover and do well, also in dry sandy areas.
Toadflax is airy but puts up tiny, cute snapdragon type flowers in dry barren soil!
The trees are all leafing out and the fruit trees are blooming like crazy. A promise of a good fruit year if those pesky frosts didn't nip the flowers.
Early ground covers are blooming and making a bright carpet for Tulips, Daffodils, Narcissus and Jonquils. Bulbs under groundcovers do well. The soil stays moist and the late foliage is nourished longer, producing a good strong bulb for next year.
Phlox is a native to Idaho and grows well with little care. Give it a little extra water and it will take over the ground on dry slopes.
Perinnial Alyssum does well here also and is a good compliment for phlox.
Aubrieta loves hot areas with ample water.
Wall flowers come in ground cover and do well, also in dry sandy areas.
Toadflax is airy but puts up tiny, cute snapdragon type flowers in dry barren soil!
Phlox
Perinnial Alyssum
Aubrieta
Toadflax
Wall Flowers
Tulips
Candytuft
Grape Hyacinths
Candytuft
Grape Hyacinths
If you planted them, your peas should be up and doing well. Lettuce and spinach should be up as well. If you have them in a green house you probably have had them all winter!
If you have slugs or sow bugs make traps early and get them out of the garden. Wet pieces of cardboard work well for traps. Just flip them over and pick off the slugs. Squish them and the sow bugs. If you are persistant ( picking them up every day) the numbers of bugs will start to go down dramatically.
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant can be potted and left in the green house to get a bit bigger. Squash can be now planted in the green house. They will get to a perfect size to plant out the first of June or so. I have found that it is no good trying to plant them out too soon. If the weather turns rainy or cool the squash and nightshades just sit there. Then they have a hard time catching up. Best to wait until the ground warms up to at least 60. After transplanting in the correct ground temperature the plants will take right off.
If you have slugs or sow bugs make traps early and get them out of the garden. Wet pieces of cardboard work well for traps. Just flip them over and pick off the slugs. Squish them and the sow bugs. If you are persistant ( picking them up every day) the numbers of bugs will start to go down dramatically.
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant can be potted and left in the green house to get a bit bigger. Squash can be now planted in the green house. They will get to a perfect size to plant out the first of June or so. I have found that it is no good trying to plant them out too soon. If the weather turns rainy or cool the squash and nightshades just sit there. Then they have a hard time catching up. Best to wait until the ground warms up to at least 60. After transplanting in the correct ground temperature the plants will take right off.
Plant out any starts that can take cool wet nights and possibly days. We might still get some rain this spring! These include Pansys, Violas, Snapdragons, Dianthus, perinnial Asters, perinnial Salvias, cold hardy succulents, transplanted Iris and spring bulbs. In the food department, Strawberries, Rasberries, Blueberries, Rhubarb, Sorrel, and fruit trees.
Keep tender annuals and perinnial starts in the greenhouse for a wee bit longer. They usually like warm ground and will take off if you can stand to wait a little longer to plant them. It is always so tempting to get all the little plants in when the days are warm. Try to wait another two to four weeks until the ground is nice and warmed up.
Remember to water them on a regular basis. Unless it rains all night (or day) everything needs water. I have to admit that this is the time I forget to water. So soak everything good at least every other day. These hot days in the Treasure Valley can grow newly planted plants quickly but they need water to survive!
Keep tender annuals and perinnial starts in the greenhouse for a wee bit longer. They usually like warm ground and will take off if you can stand to wait a little longer to plant them. It is always so tempting to get all the little plants in when the days are warm. Try to wait another two to four weeks until the ground is nice and warmed up.
Remember to water them on a regular basis. Unless it rains all night (or day) everything needs water. I have to admit that this is the time I forget to water. So soak everything good at least every other day. These hot days in the Treasure Valley can grow newly planted plants quickly but they need water to survive!