April is a busy time in the greenhouse, garden and art studio. I’ve been juggling greenhouse and yard chores along with getting ready for all the upcoming art shows I’ve got coming up. The very next one being Funk in the City next Saturday (April 25, 2015)! See the greenhouse through my art studio door in the above pic.
This planting season I’ve decided to grow most of my own flowers from seeds along side the usual heirloom tomato plants I always grow from seed. I always buy way too many flowers (is there really such a thing?!). I really should say I always blow my budget when I buy too many flowers and always want more. I’ve got to finish up paving Studio Gardens, and the budget is even tighter for plants because of that. So this year, I may still want more but really I probably can’t handle any more and my greenhouse is packed with seedlings as you’ll see in the photos below.
But first, here’s a sketch of a sweet little crow admiring her reflection in a pool of water. She is wearing a crown of flowers, bougainvillea to be exact. One artist that I admire, Frida Kahlo, was frequently photographed with flowers in her hair. One of my favorite photos of her she has bougainvillea in her hair and so she is the inspiration for this upcoming painting. If you’re unfamiliar with Frida Kahlo, her story is quite amazing and I’ve blogged a little about it here.
So it’s been not quite 2 weeks since I showed you what was going on in the greenhouse (my last post) and man has it changed a lot already! I’ve officially used up all real estate in the seed condo and even plugged in the spare mini seed condo and now it’s full, too.
Those lights aren’t run by wifi, ever wonder what the back end looks like? Yikes.
Take a look at how much these tomatoes have taken off since you saw them last on April 2. I actually took these photos 3 days ago!
The gang is ready to be hardened off and as soon as the last frost date comes and goes and I always give it a little extra cushion… they’ll be plunked in the garden. Oy vay.
Above is a photo of how I’ve been planting most of the seeds to conserve space. Yes, everyone of those little guys will need to be transplanted and soon! What was I thinking?! I get major flower greed every year. More more more. It’s a sickness I tell ya.
If you look close, you might recognize the little black trays as meat trays. Yep. I repurpose those suckers. Drill some drainage holes in the bottom and they fit perfectly in my tray. I couldn’t believe my luck. Some of you may have been around long enough to figure out I’m a bit of a hoarder and I save anything I think I might possibly use in the future. I had a stack of these meat trays and this is their moment of glory! I knew I was saving them for something! I love it when that happens.
The picture showing my spare seed condo (a few pics above) has styrofoam versions of these – even easier to poke drainage holes in.
This geranium (pelargonium) is happy doing it’s thang. There is a sad, but alive hibiscus that desperately needs to be repotted behind it. Time… If only I didn’t have to sleep!
I’ll end on a cute little picture I posted on Instagram of a geranium cutting I’m rooting in a Taco Bell hot sauce bottle. (See I told you I hoard)
Morning… everything looks so lovely… wow… you sure have been busy… am loving the crow with flowers.. can hardly wait to see it finished.. have a wonderful day..xx
Good morning Kath! Thank you, you’re right, I have been busy, haha! I’m excited about the new crow painting, too. Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂