Growing, growing, growing.

1. Yes I measured it. 

It now measures almost 8 feet

My friend Rosemary tells me that it is a Verbascum.

When will it stop?  It's even growing side shoots

.

A new plant is waiting in the wings. 

No doubt our upcoming winter will test its character. 

This is also a Verbascum. 

It grew in my garden a few years ago. 

In the meantime, at the back of the house, my Asters are making a show. 

These are Asters which come from seeds I collected more than forty years ago from a fence near Lake Maggiore, Italy.

The first time I planted them was when we still lived at the old farm on weekends.  

I broadcasted the seeds over the old pig pen and hoped for the best.

Come early Spring I walked over to check, not really thinking that it would work. 

  

Mr G knew that it was a success because he said I had a big grin on my face.  

We had a frost a couple of weeks ago.  I was not ready to lose my flowers.  I covered them all, moved some into the house and some into the barn. 

It was worth it.  

My apple trees and pear trees are loaded with fruit.  

We ae having an apple pressing day in a few days.  

Hope you are well. 

Take care, Gina 
 
 

The hopeful gardener.

Will it ever look like this again?

Asters blooming from seeds collected in Italy many years ago. 

New soil did wonders. 

And then I had the soil removed because a nasty little worm had invaded my flower beds.  

The good soil was replaced and I have struggled for two years to improve  the top soil that was delivered. 

Come Spring, I will begin again. 

Happy planning dear friends. 

Seed catalogs are arriving.  

Gina 

He will never make it!

This little upstart of a Lakota squash.

There he is, only 2 days old.

Little further up on the stalk is a blossom wilting and the newborn, one day old squash. 

There are only a few blossoms in my Squash Patch.  All of the energy of the plant is going into making great big and beautiful Lakota Squash.

This fellow is one of the smallest. 

Those out in the patch are way too big.  I couldn't carry even one into the house.  

 Cucumbers "got away from us".  These are too big to eat and so they will go to the pig farmer down the road.  

My Asters showing off. 

As you might recall, I collected these aster seeds more than forty years ago.  

The Ancestors of my asters were growing through a fence by Lake Maggiore,  Italy.    

Little worms were eating my Salpiglossis, a flower I must have in my garden. 
 After removing all of the old soil, so far, the little beasts have not shown up this year...but they will, they always do. 

The "sky blue"  petunias have the most intoxicating scent.

It is easy gardening when your flowerbeds meet you half way. 

They go all the way around three sides of our house.  

"Madame Butterfly" snapdragons add a burst of color. 

Cosmos are taller than I am (which is not saying much). 

And I'm off to Paris.  

Thank you for reading me and thank you also for sharing with me your time and your creativity. 

Gina 

Seedlings, precious gifts.

Now is the time you might find.

Tiny seedlings, precious gifts from your garden.  

Such as this Hollyhock seedling.  Only about 4 inches tall and ready to transplant. 

Hollyhocks develop long tap roots and seldom survive a transplant.  They are 
 Bi Annuals blooming the second year.  

Transplant them when they are four inches tall, or less.   You will be rewarded with flowers the very first season.  

Unlike Hollyhocks, Aster seedlings are easy to transplant at any stage. 


Look around in your garden.  The wind, birds and bees may have left a present or two for you.

Have a great remainder of the week my 

dear friends. 

Gina

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Asters with a past.

Asters growing in my garden from seeds gathered almost Forty Years ago at Lake Maggiore, Italy.

They were growing through her fence. 
The young woman watched me from an upper story window.

She smiled and waved.  I thanked her with a smile and a wave. 
She knew.

Hand painted muslin bag filled with Aster Seeds. 

Now almost forty years later and going back to Italy.

It's been raining for a few days.  Good for our pastures and garden. 

A good time to paint a few tiles.  Tiles as simple as Asters. 

Also time to make a few Pear and Champagne Grape Preserves. 

Asters from my seeds are growing in many gardens. 

I'll save some seeds for you.  


Have a great remainder of the week and a wonderful weekend. 

Gina

Going back

This little hand painted bag holds a Treasure

This little, hand painted muslin bag holds a treasure. A treasure I snatched from across the ocean 36 years ago. Now it is going back. But first I will show it Paris and then I will let it smell the salty sea of the Baltic. And then, and only then will I take it back to its home, Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Next summer, when it is in full bloom, will it know that this was its original place? Will it stretch its charming little face toward the sun and sway in the familiar breeze? Will it greet the strangers strolling by?

Of course, I am the one who will take it back. I am the one who snatched it away in the first place. And I am the one who painted the little muslin bag so it would have a proper presentation upon arrival.

And after I have completed my mission, I will go back, to my home, to my little Italy in Spring City, Utah.

Buon Viaggio

Gina

Asters from Lake Maggiore

Strolling along a side walk, Lake Maggiore, Italy, beautiful Asters were growing through a fence. I am an expert seed collector. Knowing when to harvest them is part of the success in growing them. These Asters were ready.

They were growing through the fence, right along my path. I picked one seed head of each color. Looking up toward the house I noticed a young woman watching me. I smiled and waved, she smiled and waved. She knew what I was doing and she didn't mind.

Little did she know that her Asters were going to America. That was 36 years ago. Lake Maggiore Asters are growing in the gardens of my friends and in mine.

Gina