Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

Hey all, today is well, obviously October 15. But you may not of known is that today is "Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day,"This event was started by Carol who also has a blog. To find her blog just click "HERE." Basically the whole deal with this event is were you post your pics of ALL (or in this case some) of the pictures that I have taken this year. This is my first time I have ever done Garden's Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Here are some pictures of the zinnias that I grew this year. When I was mowing the grass my mower had grabbed one of the flowers and viciously pulled it off. I couldn't make myself throw this flower away, so I decided that I would do a photo shoot. I think I took 192 photos!
These photos turned out great!
I don't know about you all, but I know that my zinnias turned out GREAT this year. They were really beautiful this year.

I also grew a pie pumpkin this year. This was first that I have ever grown pumpkins, I actually grew it by accident. We had actually thrown some pumpin seeds into the compost bin, and there it grew. I saw that plant and left it there, sure enough all of my other squash plants died and this one plant survived and PRODUCED!

I also for the first time I grew Sun flowers, I planted 3 plants and had a great result. They filled up a whole 24oz jar plus one head that I grew for the birds and other animals. They got so BIG, I will be defiantly growing them again next year, and hopefully if I have room, some more too! Maybe later I will post some of the pictures that I have of the sunflowers when they weren't dried. The only thing that I had a problem with, was the spittle bugs that spat all over my sunflowers and basil. I thoroughly despise spittle bugs!

I also grew this year, along with last year, some pink prairie mallow that I bought from Jung's Nursery. That is one online nursery that I really enjoy shopping at! The mallow turned out so nicely this year, with lots of blooms, that just covered the plant. There was an added bonus as shown by the picture, Bees love it! So if you need help with pollination, you may want to consider planting some Pink Prairie Mallow , the leaves are also edible!

I hope you all enjoyed some of the pictures that I posted, I would have put up more (which I have plenty of,) but decided not to.

Oh but I forgot this one, and cannot leave it out. It was early in the morning when I was looking outside and saw at my feeder two finches. I couldn't help but take some pictures, as that my camera is always nearby. Here is one of them!

Saving Seeds, Part V Cucumbers

Alright, don't lie, who doesn't like a good Cuke every once in a while...That is unless it gives you gas! UGH! To dedicate the who cucumber post I am going to be posting my very first video! *Round of Applause* The basic gist of this movie is about how organic foods are better for you in a commical way with a little Star Wars twist! I found this really funny when I saw it on "The Thoughtful Vegan" blog site! The quality of the movie is also great. So without further adue. . .




Now for the seriousness of the matter. Cucumbers are such a fun plant to grow! There are all different shapes, sizes, and colors! The most recent variety that I have grown is an heirloom variety called Lemon Cucumber Cucumis sativus. This is such a fun variety that has interest too, so if you have kids or grandkids, this is something you might want to try to get them interested in the art of gardening!
If you are going to start harvesting seeds from a cucumber you have to make one sacrifice, one that is very hard to do. . .
I don't know if I can say it. . .
No I must say it. . .
Ok here it goes. . .
You have to let it get WAY over ripe! I know it is hard to believe it but it is true. I know that each time I tried to harvest seeds any other way, they were always too unripe! So be sure that you have some really, really ripe cukes!
When you cut it, make sure you cut it horizontal to were the stem was, or if that was hard to understand, cut it like you would cut a grapefruit! Don't cut it the way I cut it in the picture. I must of got carried away, because I cut it the wrong way! This will insure that you do not cut any seeds in half. With a spoon scoop out all of the seeds in the same way you would with a melon.
or anything, the onlyNow cucumber are easy when it comes to seeds, as that you don't have to wash them thing you have to do is let them dry on a paper towel in a room full of air circulation.
Once the seeds are done they should be, plump and firm like the ones that you would plant.