Chicweed in Solana Beach, CA is AMAZING! This outdoor garden shop on Cedros Street is a succulent lover’s paradise and a designers inspiration. Potted succulents and landscape design are their specialty with the potted succulents made on site at the outdoor potting bench. Look around and you will find living Christmas ornaments, outdoor rugs, bistro tables and outdoor showers made with mosaic tiles. The following photos will tell it all… check this place out and then have lunch or dinner down the street at the Wild Note Cafe, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Plant and Gift Shed

Living Ornaments are this seasons Hot Seller!

French Furniture, Vintage Containers and accessories adorn the store

Outdoor mosaic shower

On Site Potting Bench with owner at work

Chicweed - 240 Cedros Ave, Solana Beach CA 92075

Happy Halloween!

Table top or hanging, here are some creative ideas I found on several DIY Blogs.

Any of these can be created to enhance holiday decorating too or given as gifts.

Halloween Votives: DIY BLOG directions

Basic Garden Pots with candles: Image from Google images.

* Use transparent stickers and glitter glue to decorate a re-used food jar or mason jar.

 Frosted glass on mason jars: Follow directions on how to create these by following this link: DIY Lanterns.

 These lanterns look great during the day too:

 Photo credit to : http://hearttheday.blogspot.com

Mason Jar Lantern Votive

Garden Feature Today:

→    Liventhingsup.blogspot.com

Sharing another blog link that featured my succulent gardening and landscaping.

This blogger’s mission is about ” Sharing her passion for design, interiors, art, travel and photography.” 

Thank you for the “shout out” and for sharing the beauty of drought tolerant landscaping

www.nadiaknows.com

A huge Deco Martini Glass full of Plumerias… 

Plumeria Martini

Yellow and white plumerias blooming

This year I decided to fertilize my plumerias every 3 months throughout the year and then 2x a month during the growing season. I have listened other plumeria experts give their advice on low feeding and I had very partial blooms the previous year from too little feeding. This year was different though and by increasing the feeding I in turn received an abundance of blooms.

Potted plumerias arial view

I have them decorating and creating amazing aromas all over the house in flower frogs.  

Plumerias in a Flower Frog

Tips for Plumerias: not expert advice, only what worked for me this year.

1. Lots of water: 2 to 3 times a week . On average they grow best with 1 inch of rain per week. In California we have to simulate the rain with the hose.

2. 10-30-10 fertilizer: Feed every 3 months and 2x a month in the growing season.

3. Keep plumerias in 40 degree or above temperatures year round. This is a tropical plant.

4. Well drained soil. They grow great in pots.

5. 6 or more hours of sun per day. Some partial shade is ideal.

6. Spray with soap spray to rid of pests. 

White Plumeria with Yellow Center

Best tip: Go out and get some plumeria plants, put them in pots and enjoy them!

www.nadiaknows.com

♥ a garden blog ♥

I tried a little experiment this year by planting sweet pea seeds in several locations.

1. Full sun exposure with early morning sunshine.

Full Sun Exposure Heirloom Sweet Peas

2. Second location with only afternoon sun.

Morning Shade with only 3 blooms

The full day sun with early morning exposure won by a long-shot. Prolific blooms and abundant foliage. The one secret that has worked wonders is soaking the seeds overnight prior to planting. This softens the hard outer shell of the seed and allows for quicker growth.

Here is a photo from one of my garden blog followers who experienced the same problem of growing sweet peas with no morning sun exposure. Her photo prompted me to write about this today

withering sweet peas

I have heard it be said that “gardening lessons only need to be learned once!”

Next year  choose a location with full sun in the morning and enjoy!

Notes from Renee’s Seeds Web Site:  Also complete growing and sowing guide can be found on Renee’s web site for Sweet Peas.

Growing sweet peas is really quite easy and rewarding if you follow the basics. In mild winter climates, where the ground does not freeze, sweet peas should be fall-sown in October or November for spring bloom. But if you don’t get your sweet peas planted in fall, you can still get a nice crop, although a little later to bloom, if planted in late January or February. In cold winter areas, plant in early spring as soon as soil can be worked; sweet peas can handle light frosts.

Plant your sweet peas in full sun in a garden spot with well-drained soil. If summer weather is hot very early in the season where you live, sweet peas can thrive in a spot with morning sun and bright afternoon shade. Dig deeply to loosen the soil and enrich it with aged manure or compost before planting seeds. Don’t forget to set up a well-anchored trellis, fence or vertical support for climbing varieties before planting seeds. If all your seeds don’t germinate in 10 days to two weeks, don’t hesitate to plant more as they will catch up quickly. Some gardeners like to soak sweet peas overnight before planting them; others never do it and still have good results. If you do soak seeds, be sure you leave them in water no longer than eight hours before planting immediately.

1. Mulch bare ground and all garden vegetables, herbs and fruit.

2. Consider a water drip system to conserve water.

3.Control pests this month, especially ants. See previous blogs for organic methods of pest control.

4. Plant: Beans- Bush and Pole, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Radish, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips.

To help celebrate the 4th try these Garden Martini’s while browsing the July Planting Guide and planning your summer garden:

Blue 4th of July Martini from: Food.com

Honoring all of our military and their families on this 4th of July

photo at Petco Park

… a special dedication to : Jason L. Paton  who died on 8/22/2007 serving in Iraq. To his family and friends who still hold him dear to their hearts.