The weather has been nice around here lately. I think we hit June gloom a bit late, but I think it is just lovely. The mornings are cool and overcast and the days aren’t quite as hot yet, but I know the high heat is just around the corner. In the meantime, we do as much as we can outside before the high heat makes its presence, so there is a lot of playing, lounging about, and of course gardening.

We have been needing some garden markers to mark all our different vegetables, especially the tomatoes since we have over 20 varieties currently growing. I really liked this one from Terrain and this one that Stephanie brought over from France, but sold rather quickly in her shop, so with a little inspiration from both, I made my own. This was actually part of Ben’s father’s day surprise (I will tell you about it tomorrow). Ben was very happy to have something to mark all his, I mean our, tomatoes! It all looks especially pretty in the garden.

materials:

– 10” paint stirrers

– chalkboard paint (or black paint)

– 1” paint brush

– white china marker (grease pencil)

The easy peasy directions: Paint all the paint stirrers (back, front, and sides) with chalkboard paint (I think using black paint would work just as well, since you aren’t using chalk). Let dry before painting each side. Apply two coats. Voila! Easy, right?

I found the china marker, which is typically used to mark glass, at a local art store.

We then packaged it up nicely as part of Ben’s father’s day gift.

The china marker writes and stays nicely on the paint. Water will not remove the writing, but when it does need to be removed, just wipe off with some baby oil and a piece of cloth or paper towel. Thus, your garden marker can be used over and over again!

Doesn’t it look so sweet there in front of the tomato plant?

And as I was writing out the garden markers, I noticed that some tomato plants have some pretty rad names… Like Cherokee Purple or Pink Firefly tomatoes! Who knew tomato names were so cool and pretty themselves?!!

This was such an easy little project (that I ended up making 60 of them) and is perfect for any garden or as a gift for garden loving friend!

p.s. ben informs me i spelled one of the tomato names wrong. it is dr. wyche’s with a y, not a v. oh well. good thing this is not a spelling tomato names tutorial!

2. i like the smell of soil.

3. i like the feel of soil in my bare hands.

4. june is a horrible time to plant.

5. yellowing leaves means either too much/too little water.

6. i don’t know how to figure out if i water too much/too little.

7. i have to learn to be patient as plants need time to grow.

8. diatomaceous earth is wondrous in getting rid of ants.

9. i like picking flowers from the garden and putting them inside the house.

10. having a garden is like having another kid… it takes a lot of time and energy to grow.

Our little garden is far from being done, like I said above, I need to be patient and let the plants grow as it will be awhile until everything looks nice and full and it really does take so much time to cultivate a garden. I am sure some plants will go kaput and I will have to fill the holes with something else. It is all such a learning process. I just want to go flea marketing to fill up the yard with cute tables and chairs, so we can all relax outside and enjoy our Summer nights. How do you plan on spending your summer nights? And do please share if you have any good gardening tips that you think will be helpful! I definitely can use all the help that I can get! I am sure some of you out there are real gardening pros…

See you all on Monday!

We spent all day gardening… readying the soil, laying out the plants, digging holes, watering, laying out more dirt. It feels good to be working side by side with Ben. True and Brave played beside us all day and Soul was outside a little, but mostly spent the day napping away inside the house. Our garden has come a long way from its weed-filled days, but there is still much to be done.

Preparing a garden has most definitely been blood (dumb bougainvillea poked his head), sweat, and tears for us, but it is our definition of fun. We love doing everything together!

How was your Monday?

We are in the “gardening get the backyard looking pretty mode” so we have been scouring flea markets and antique shops for things to make our outside look nice and cozy. At our most recent jaunt to the flea market, we came across these pretty nice size vintage grape crates. The light bulbs immediately went off in Ben’s and my head and we snatched up the crates and took them home.

A couple days later, Ben bought 4 casters (from Lowes) to go underneath each of the crates and we had an instant rolling garden box. We were going to use it to plant some herbs, but since we are overflowing with tomato plants, that is what we planted inside them instead. It was the easiest garden DIY ever. Well, easy for me to say, right? I didn’t do a thing and Ben is the one who came away with some blood and a scraped finger from screwing the casters in. Nevertheless, I say it looked pretty easy!

Come on, tomatoes! We are so ready for you…

What are you growing in your garden? Anyone have any tips on some easy to maintain flowers?

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last day for giveaway

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Soul and a rainbow swiss chard leaf. Yes, it really is that big!

I seriously hope our Summer harvest of tomatoes will be just as successful as this past season’s harvest. If so, that means we will be having the biggest tomatoes in the whole wide world! Just imagine… tomatoes the size of Soul!!! That would be definitely something to blog about. But for now, we will continue to enjoy the swiss chard, kale, and carrots that we have left (and we are still waiting for the brussels sprouts to be done growing).

My wish this weekend is to make it back to the beach for some breakfast and some playing in the sand, to eat a couple Sprinkles cupcakes, and maybe a trip to Anthropologie (it is a wish) just for some looking around, but if something makes its way to the register… well, it is my day, right?!! Right. Wishes can come true. So Happy Mother’s Day to all the mama’s out there! Make sure you get pampered like crazy by your kids and husband… tell them I said so.

p.s. a new sponsor introduction and giveaway this weekend.