Nadia Knows Gardens

Favorite Garden Moments

nadiaqh — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:43:56 +0000

This is a photo gallery of my favorite garden moments from the last year.

Desert King Figs and Heirloom Yellow Pear Tomatoes

7 foot Sunflower is a smile maker

Strawberries squeezed in anywhere I can find space

Herbs are always so rewarding to grow: Rosemary, Parsley Chives and Oregano

Sugar Baby Watermelon- another first for me in the garden this year- LOVED them

Growing short carrots was fun and great in soups and stews- super tasty

Dahlia flowers that continued to bloom month after month and made a great cutting flower

I planted Zinnia flowers for the first time in a rainbow of colors- very rewarding flower.

Happy New Year 2012

Happy Gardening

www.nadiaknows.com

Wine Cork Garden Tags

nadiaqh — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:25:34 +0000

Recycle and Re-use wine corks from the holidays for your herb and vegetable garden!

Hang them or skewer them! A great way to label home grown produce.

www.nadiaknows.com

Put some garden in your holiday cheer!

Happy New Year 2012

Merry Christmas

nadiaqh — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:01:03 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy Gardening.

Wishing Peace, Joy and Gratitude today to all.

www.nadiaknows.com

Linus and the True Meaning of Christmas

Charlie Brown: “Isn’t there ANYONE who knows what Christmas is all about?!?!

Linus: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ ” (Luke 2:8-14)

“You see, Charlie Brown—that’s what Christmas is all about.”

Chicweed- Dig It!

nadiaqh — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:21:31 +0000

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

Succulents and Seashells

nadiaqh — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:48:53 +0000

♥ At the Encinitas Fall Fair this past weekend a few vendors got clever with succulents and seashells. These were created by “Plant Kreations”.

Echeveria in an abalone shell

Hanging seashells and succulent display

creative shark planter: To order any of these gifts call: Kim at #562-608-6577. She did not have a website.

Vertical Gardens Indoors and Out

nadiaqh — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:12:40 +0000

The benefits of vertical gardens can be limitless. Indoors it can be the ultimate organic wallpaper, or a way to infuse more oxygen in a closed environment. Outdoors, a vertical wall adds more square footage for growing greens or simply creates a living wall. These are some of my favorite photos from the web and garden tours around San Diego. One of the most popular methods of creating vertical greenery on a wall is with : Woollypocket.com This web site has everything you need to get started on this project.

Vertical Garden - google image. Large and leafy plants give this patio "Life".

google images for vertical landscaping outdoors

beautiful indoor vertical spaces *google image*

aria ecoscpes vertical indoor garden ideas

wall planters * google image

Using unique containers for wall planters * photo from the San Diego Fair Garden Exhibit

succulent living wall * San Diego Fair Photo

I am continually inspired by plants and the unique ways that they can add to your life

www.nadiaknows.com

Thanks for visiting!

November Planting Guide: Southern California

nadiaqh — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:01 +0000

What to plant in November:

BEETS – BROCCOLI – BRUSSEL SPROUTS – CABBAGE – CARROTS – CAULIFLOWER – CELERY – COLLARDS – ENDIVE – KALE – KOHL RABI – LETTUCE – LEEKS – ONIONS – PARLSEY – PARSNIP – PEAS – RADISH – RUTABAGA – SPINACH – SWISS CHARD – TURNIPS

Here are some Companion Planting Ideas for the fall: Mixing Vegetables with Herbs

Broccoli and Rosemary planted in a sunny area with good drainage.

Cabbage and Dill planted in fertile soil in cooler weather.

Celery with anything that enjoys being watered well!

Peas and Turnip are a great pair to grow together.

Brussels Sprouts and Thyme

Beet and Mint

turnip garden

Check this out → A fun and creative guide to companion planting: Companion Planting Guide: Soil Mates by Sara Alway

Happy Halloween

nadiaqh — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:53:34 +0000

Happy Halloween!

Sugar Baby Watermelon

nadiaqh — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:16:58 +0000

♥ SUGAR BABY WATERMELON ♥

Watermelon growing in-between planters

These melons were started as small plants vs. seeds in wine barrels with the vine trained to grow over the barrell and on to the ground. If your garden has space limitations then growing the vines on the ground and along pathways may give your vine plants that extra room needed for meandering growth.

Small sized watermelon almost ready to pick

* When a watermelon is ready to be picked it should be ripe and ready for eating. Have you heard that watermelons do not continue to ripen off the vine? This was new information for me so I’m waited to harvest these beauties. Watermelon should have a dull colored rind and a brown dried stem when it is ready to be picked. Watermelon are heavy feeders meaning they need steady watering. The soil needs to be rich and fertile with a healthy amount of calcium in the mix. Trellising is also an option by using small fabric slings to support their weight as they are suspended in the air. Coastal San Diego gets a lot of overcast days with sunny and warm days leading into October creating a late growing season for my melons.

Raised planter: watermelon, rosemary, eggplant, parsley and a few green onions.

Late growing season for watermelon in San Diego. The skin of the melon is a shiny green as it grows, then turns dull when it is ready to be picked.

Super Ripe !

Chula my Chihuahua with a Sugar Baby Watermelon. Watermelon = 7 pounds & Chula = 6.5 pounds

- In Search of the Perfect Muffin -

nadiaqh — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:25:18 +0000

Here is a diversion today from the garden into the kitchen. I have been in search of the perfect breakfast muffin and getting closer to finding one. I am posting this one today with a few diversions from the original Dr. Oz’s : Apricot Pecan Muffin. In a quest for a low-fat, low sugar, high fiber, good tasting muffin that borders closely as being a “plonk” or a “scone” this is the best I have come up with. Believe me, I have made some really bad scones and muffins lately. Now the trick will be to just eat one in the morning! This altered recipe came out great. Post a comment if you have some ideas to make it even better, or share a link of your favorite! Maybe my lovely blogger from Kate’s Short and Sweet can help me find a great Plonk/Muffin recipe…

THE CHANGES I MADE ARE IN RED BELOW NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL RECIPE….

Dr. Oz and Marjorie Johnson: Apricot Pecan Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup all-purpose flour instead I used: * 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour & 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 tsp baking power

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup dried apricots, --instead: 1/4 Cup Chopped Dried Apricots and 1/4 Cup Dried Dates

1/2 cup chopped pecans — instead I used * UNSALTED CASHEW PIECES

1/3 cup canola oil (next time I will try using part apple sauce and part oil) stage #2 of revisions.

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed- instead I used a little less and topped the muffins before cooking them with Wheat Germ and Brown Sugar

Dr Oz & Marjorie Johnson Muffin Recipe

Directions:

1. Put the oats and buttermilk in a bowl. Stir well. Cover and let the bowl stand for 20-30 minutes to let the buttermilk soak into the oats completely.

2. In another large bowl, mix together the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour.

3. Mix in the apricots and pecans. (any nut or dried fruit that you love)

4. Next, add the brown sugar, egg and oil into the oatmeal combination.

5. Add the oatmeal combination into the dry flour mixture.

6. Stir just to combine – do not over-stir! It is fine if it looks lumpy!

7. Pour the muffin batter into 12 well-greased muffin tins.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

9. Remove the muffins from their tray and let them cool on a rack.

Apricot and Date Muffins

Apricot, Dates, Cashews and Whole Wheat Flour - seriously good! Did I mention the buttermilk?

YUMMY and HEALTHY! HAPPY GARDENING AND COOKING!