WINTER GARDEN INTEREST

I love ornamental grasses any time of the year, but especially in the winter months.Whether they are green or brown, they make a big statement in the garden.

I also love the color of the eucalyptus tree in the winter.

WREATH MAKING CLASS

Last night was our MG'S Wreath making class. We had a lot of fun and everyone went home with a beautiful wreath they created themselves. But more important they learned a new skill. We have some people that come every year, not because they haven't learned to make a wreath,just for the fun of being together and creating.

Lot's of fresh greenery-cedar,pine,arborvitae,holly and possumhaw.

Registering for door prizes.

One of the finished wreaths.

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING CLASS

Every Christmas the Scott County Master Gardeners hold a wreath making class for the public. We use live greenery and it is a BIG job to go out and gather the material. Today was the only day we were free to do this. So out to Judy's farm we went. Isn't this baby adorable!

It takes tons of greenery-a lot more than you would think to make wreaths. We have several varieties of cedar, pine and holly. We will also be getting trimmings from the Christmas tree stand. It is all unloaded at my house and sitting in the shade in water . Now it will be loaded  and unloaded yet again at the Extension office for the class.We have cinnamon cider and Christmas music and the MG'S help the participants make their wreaths-lots of fun!

Little Gardener

As Thanksgiving was just around the corner, my daughter, Anna Paisleigh, and I planted bulbs just before a rain. Anna enjoys being outside and in the garden. She is so much fun I am so very thankful to be called her mom. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

HARVESTING COMMUNITY GARDEN

Our community garden is looking great. We have already been harvesting from it.Good looking plants!

GROWING SHITAKES

My first mushroom!This is a mushroom growing kit another MG bought on our recent trip to the mushroom growing operation.I think she got tired of fooling with it and told me to keep it for a couple of weeks.When I went to bed the other night there was nothing here and boom the next morning a big mushroom-now that's the way to grow stuff! All the little white things on the block are where mushrooms were cut off already. They will grow more.

WEEDING THE GARDEN

I recently shared our planting the community garden, well this is what we found when we went by to check on it. NUT GRASS- and WEEDS-oh my gosh! It was time for some serious weeding.

Then a little fertilize and water. Fall is such a pleasant time to garden, of course here you still have to watch out for the fire ants!

MYSTERY FLOWER

Two of these flowers appeared in my garden and I have no idea what they are. The foliage is like an amaryllis or a milk and wine lily.They smell heavenly. I don't even remember planting these or where I got them.

I do know what these are and they are finally blooming after our dry summer. With these and the late blooming roses and the sweet olive, my garden smells like I think Heaven must.Oh yeah can't forget the moon flower-I wait all winter for these!

VISIT TO A MUSHROOM GROWER

Do you love mushrooms-do you wonder how they are grown? Well the Master Gardeners want to let you know-we took a road trip to bring you all the information. We have a mushroom growing operation right here in Mississippi,hidden away in a nondescript building in a small town in the South Central part of the state.The first step is loading sawdust and millet in plastic bags, that after sterilization,will become the growing medium.

The blocks of medium start out brown and change to white as the mushroom spores that are added after sterilization, begin to grow. It takes about three months to get mushrooms. The ones below have hardened like a brick. The plastic is taken of and in seven days mushrooms grow on it. They are then cut of and in 21 days there is another crop. I think our tour guide said they get four harvests from one block.

Sorting those delicious mushrooms. They sell them here to the public as well as to restaurants,etc. They don't waste anything. The bits of dried mushrooms are combined with spices and sold as mushroom dust. Use it for seasoning  as you would any other spice.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

The Master Gardeners have joined up with the Garden Club in planting a community garden. The produce is shared with the elderly and shut ins as well as anyone in need. A lot of the produce will be taken to the local food pantry. We planted broccoli,brussel sprouts,spinach, collards and cabbage. Lettuce will soon be planted as well as carrots. The garden club planted onions and turnips and several varieties of mustard and turnip greens.

FAITHFUL RESEEDERS

Not much blooming in my garden right now. I reallly have neglected the garden this year-it has just been too dang hot!

 These summer poinsettias-or at least that is what I have always called them are always reliable for fall color. They are a tough annual that readily reseeds. A fun old passalong plant.Another great late summer-fall plant, that reseeds.The small bushes are covered with these small blooms.I am not sure of the correct name, I first planted these ten years ago, from seeds I received at a garden setting wedding.

TOUGH AS NAILS

This flower bed is outside the Extension office on the East side. It gets brutal sun reflected off the street and sidewalk. It always looks great, even without water though. The trick is planting tough as nails plants-potatoe vine and sedums.Too bad we have to have that bright yellow curb-it kinda takes away from the look!

MORE GOURD FESTIVAL

A few more photos of the gourf festival.

RALEIGH GOURD FESTIVAL

Visited the Gourd Fest in Raleigh yesterday. Who knew there were so many types of gourds! There were some amazing artists there. Felder Rushing was also there signing his new book-his books are always fun and informative. Enjoy the photos.