Spring 2020: Garden Roundup-Veggies

I've had a lot of time during this pandemic to plan and tend to this year's garden. I can't say I've minded this part, I've actually really enjoyed the time to get back to basics in the garden. Like usual, I started a number of vegetables in the house from seeds and shopped for the … Continue reading Spring 2020: Garden Roundup-Veggies

Sprouts!!

When I was a teenager, growing sprouts was all the rage. Then came an e. coli problem and they went away. My mom mentioned to me a few weeks back that she was growing sprouts (mostly for her chickens but that's another story). I was a bit concerned based on my memories, but soon realized … Continue reading Sprouts!!

2019 Stephi Gardens Holiday Gift Ideas

This has been a very hectic December at my house. Are you as behind in Christmas shopping and preparations as I am? Here's some (slightly late) holiday gift giving ideas from things I love! Friends: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for each sale. All reviews … Continue reading 2019 Stephi Gardens Holiday Gift Ideas

Back From Vacation

May is probably not the best time to take a vacation, but this was a big year in the Stephi Gardens household. My twin boys graduated from college, thankfully, 2 weeks apart! In celebration, we planned a family trip with all three kids, which if you have older kids you know is no small feat. … Continue reading Back From Vacation

Seedlings on the Move

I've been anxiously awaiting Mother's Day, and not just because I get to be the center of attention, but because it signals the official beginning of the outdoor garden season in my area. Generally once Mother's Day passes, I can start planting the warm weather plants without too much fear of a cold snap. Some … Continue reading Seedlings on the Move

Finally Drying Out

I know everything is relative, but boy have we had a lot of precipitation this past week. It started with a snowy April weekend, which I thankfully missed by being up north in Door County. Came home to spring plants that were no worse for the wear. Then it kept raining, bringing the weeks total … Continue reading Finally Drying Out

Finally, Planting Season is Beginning

Finally, I can stop thinking about last year's garden and start thinking about this year's. I've ordered all my seeds, (maybe) and printed out my growing resources from Botanical Interests. I've used these garden resources for years to organize my plantings, both for indoor and outdoor sowing. I thought they didn't have them this year, … Continue reading Finally, Planting Season is Beginning

2018 Garden Recap: Vegetables (Part 1) (aka Attack of the Squash Vine Borer)

In my last post, I wrote about how my flower gardens fared this year. Next up is the vegetable gardens. In a word, this year the vegetables gardens were a disaster. Not for any one reason, just a lot off bad things conspired to really take a toll and make it one of the worst … Continue reading 2018 Garden Recap: Vegetables (Part 1) (aka Attack of the Squash Vine Borer)

July Vegetables

My spring vegetables really took a beating from the rabbits and the weather. Even though I had shored up the rabbit fence around the yard, all it took was a couple of holes and I had a nice happy family of rabbits devouring almost everything I planted. Radishes, swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, kale, beets and … Continue reading July Vegetables

Checking on the Seedlings

Why didn't I buy grow lights before?? My seedlings have always been "fine", but after seeing my mom's lush healthy seedlings under her grow lights, and with a little nudge from my husband I decided to take the plunge. I am so glad I did! I bought two 2 ft Hydrofarm T5 Grow Light Systems. … Continue reading Checking on the Seedlings