Things are moving right along in the garden so here's a few pics to bring you up to date. Master Gardener D has been working hard and lovingly on vegetables and flowers, fertilizing, arranging, trimming, etc. and we continue to enjoy the results of color and textures. This is the garden area after the winter garden plants were removed. The irises were in full bloom. This year's colors are lavender and purple. These plants started as a handful of tubers given to me by friends in Elk Creek. We have three times as many now as the tubers can be divided and replanted. If left alone they will multiply on their own. Love the colors.
Master Gardener D working on his creation for a tomato support. This year we're not crowding the plants since they grow quite tall and rangy. If there's no support the plants will fall over with the weight of the tomatoes.
Each string is measured and tied. Patience is definitely a virtue here - this is fun for MGD, he says and satisfying, too - the orange wild flowers - Wow!
This is the garden today - we planted a few marigolds to help deter bugs. Bugs, slugs, and sometimes mice love backyard gardens. Besides the tomatoes, we've planted squash, peppers, pumpkins, eggplant, and leeks. There is nothing better than eating a tomato right off the vine. A little salt, please.
Two new additions to the flower garden are Asiatic Lilies - One yellow and one red-orange. These plants are perennials so we'll get to enjoy them again next year. Again, the colors are outstanding. MGD also planted a Stained Glass Lily and when it blooms I'll put it in the next blog.
On to the knitting. My good friend, J, gave me a couple of skeins of wool yarn and just about the same time "afghans for Afghans" , an organization that sends warm, wooly hats, mittens, socks, sweaters, blankets to children in Afghanistan who must endure very cold winters, announced their current campaign for hats, mittens, and socks. They ask for items to be knit from wool or mostly wool yarn because it provides the maximum warmth. So with that in mind, these hats were created. Thanks, J.
This hat pattern is one of my favorites. In fact I'm working on a fourth hat right now. It's a free pattern called Grammy's Mitts and Hat - at Tanis Fiber Arts. It can be knit flat or in the round, uses worsted weight yarn, and has sizing for adult, child, and toddler. I've knit these in the round because I'm getting better at it - practice, practice.
This scarf was created using variegated sock yarn and another light weight yarn - solid color in the broken rib stitch, another one of my favorite stitches. Just an experiment - but I'm very pleased with the results. The stripes appeared because of the pattern in the sock yarn. I'm going to keep this scarf for myself to wear this winter. I also have two neck warmers in the works - will show them in next blog after I attach the buttons.
Finally, Mother Nature amazes me again. This succulent - cactus welcomed Spring/Summer with it's own variety of flower. I'm sure others like it in the Arizona desert are doing the same thing - just that time of year. There will be more blooming cactus in the next blog - they're in the works.
If you are a knitter or a crocheter, there are many opportunities to knit for charities - I've mention some in previous blogs, and lists can be found through Google. The colors for the Special Olympics 2013 Scarf Project should be announced soon. I'm sure my friend J and I will again knit up a few scarves for this one. It's fun to see the scarves that were made for the 2012 games. Just go to their web site or Red Heart's web site and see the huge variety. It's exciting to me to be a part of this. I know the scarves are appreciated. What a great idea!!!
Keep knitting and crocheting - it brings peace of mind.
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