Living and Growing in Montana

I am a native Californian that moved to Montana 16 years ago for the challenge of starting all over again with my new husband in these wild open spaces, and can now say I am an avid Montanian. A gardener all my life - I went from Zones 8-10 in California, to Zone 4 (Helena) and now Zone 5 in Stevensville. I am a water colorist, Master Gardener, and nature lover. I love to travel and everything Mediterranean.

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Look what I'm doing now. :-)

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I’m back

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Living and Growing in Montana turned 5 today!

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Spring seed catalogues (from late 1800′s to early 1900′s). Not in date order.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library.

archive.org

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Work in the greenhouse today. Nice and warm! Spring is here. Yippee.

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My tomato seedlings....I don't know where they disappeared to in my other post.

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UPDATE Doing lots of cleanup in the garden now. Still too cool to put out any tender plants. Look at my tomato seedlings! Also, made rose potpourri today. Have accumulated many books on this subject. Here they are if you are interested. The recipe I used today is an eighteenth century one, in the book The Scented Room, by Barbara Milo Ohrbach.

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Garden   -    Marie von Zülow , 1920s

Austrian, 1856-1930

Ink and watercolour, 35,5 x 43,5 cm.

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Today. I've had these American Gold Finches at my feeders for the last 3 months and assume they have been living in the trees or thickets here. There are about 12 of them. Except for an occasional feeder visit last spring and summer, I seldom saw them. They are now turning yellow..never witnessed this before. I hope they decide to stay and nest here. Would be a great show..

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Seedling transplant day. Tomatos, peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli. Had to reseed several cells because they did't sprout. ?? Moved my spring flowers inside because of a coming cold front. When I get electrical to the greenhouse I won't have to do this at this time of year if I use a small heater.

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YAY Spring! To celebrate, I went to the nursery and spent too much money. But...my greenhouse is starting to look like a growing zone, and Willie approves.

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The Farmer  -   Guillaume van Strydonck, 1935.

Belgian, 1861 - 1937

Oil on canvas, 75 x 100 cm. (29.5 x 39.4 in.)

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tortoise riding dog

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Broccoli and tomato seeds are sprouting!

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YAY! Started my tomato, pepper, cauliflower and brocolli seeds today! Still lots of construction to do in the greenhouse area (fencing, raised beds, irrigation, electical). So excited to have spring on its way! Happy daylights savings time and spring everyone!

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Gardener juice. Chadonnay works too.

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Deer proofing rather than frost proofing.