Sunday, March 26, 2017

Authors in Bloom 10 Days of Daily Giveaways Blog Hop

Happy Spring, Gentle Readers!

Today we are celebrating the 6th AnnualAuthors in Bloom 10 Days of Daily Giveaways Blog Hop.

Here on Vision and Verse you will see some photos of my garden, hints, a garden recipe or two, and my giveaway instructions.

I love my garden. I love to putsy around in the dirt. To the left, my peonies by the waterfalls fell down after a good spring rain. That's okay, they'll perk up again! 
I love that lush greenness of springtime. 


I have a very special recipe for you.  It was my father's "dirt recipe." His flowers were always gorgeous and full of blooms. He used it in his vegetable and flower beds and in his container gardens. If you want to use it in your beds, window boxes, or pots too big to move, it's convenient to mix it in a wheelbarrow, so you can move it around to where you need it. For my deck, I mix it in a large plastic storage container with a lid.



Dad's Dirt Recipe
Equal parts:
   Topsoil
   Vermiculite or Perlite
   Spaghnum Moss

Mix as much or as little as you think you'll need. Now, you MUST mix it with your hands. If you are a fussy girlie-girl type, wear gardening gloves. Thoroughly combine the mixture. It is a good idea not to breathe in when you add the spaghnum moss. 

I make it in big batches, put a lid on it, and keep it on the deck. It's good for houseplants, too. The combination makes a lightweight planting medium that allows rapid root growth and good drainage.

Now, I live in a woodsy, county area and deer and other woodland creatures do find their way into my beautiful gardens. They can be very destructive This recipe will keep them from devouring your beautiful blooms.

This recipe is not my father's. This one comes from a book called Jerry Baker's Terrific Garden Tonics! Jerry has 345 gardening formulas for just about any gardening problem you can think of. It is available at jerrybaker.com.


 All-Purpose Varmint Repellent
1/2 cup Murphy's Oil Soap
1/2 cup lemon-scented dishwashing liquid
1/2 cup castor oil
1/2 cup lemon-scented ammonia
1/2 cup hot pepper sauce (like Frank's)

Mix in a 20-gallon hose-end sprayer.  Spray to the point of run off.  If you apply once a week for a month, the woodland  creatures will cross you off their list of favorite dining spots. 

Wear gloves. Mix it outside. You may have to reapply after several days of hard rain. 


 Sometimes aphids and other little bugs will attack your plants. I know they're disgusting, but they are easy to get rid off if you do it early in the infestation.
How? Soapy water. Water the plant with soapy water. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a watering can and wash away the problem. Do it as soon as you notice the problem, because the insects weaken the plant.

Container gardens are lovely additions to benches and walkways. The key is to group plants together that have the same watering and light needs. Shade plants together, Sun plants together.  Plants like petunias need much watering and need it often, in hot spells every night.  


 I am giving away copy of my romantic adventure novel, BLUE LAKE. It's the first story in the Time After Time series, that follows a pair of lovers through their many lifetimes together. All you need to do to be eligible to win is comment below!! If I get a lot of comments, I give away more. 


I love planting lavender in window boxes. even the slightest breeze will send the wonderful aroma of lavender into your open windows. At the end of the growing season, just plant in the ground. They are perennials and will be ready to go back in your window boxes next spring. 


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Winners will be posted on both the first (Dianne Venetta) and last (BloominThyme) websites. Remember, I will be hosting a Facebook Party, including more garden tips, recipes, fun facts, etc. at facebook.com/DianneVenetta. Feel free to join in, or host one of your own! If you do decide to host a FB or Twitter party for the event, please let me know and I will pass the information along to the other participating authors.



42 comments:

  1. Thanks for the hop. I am introduced to a lot of authors this way
    jwisley(aol)dot(com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations, Joye! You won! BLUE LAKE is on its way to you now. Thank you for participating and commenting.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  2. All of your potted plants are so pretty!! Thanks for participating in this great hop!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Judy. I love to garden. Yes, this is a great hop! Thanks for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  3. i use furniture in the yard add i got 7 trees down last year and ging t use them for potte plants

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we have garden furniture, too. I love to sit and listen to the waterfalls near the pond. Do you place your pots on the tree stumps? A bird feeder would be cute on a stump, too. Thank you for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  4. I like the hint about lavender in window boxes-I'll have to try that

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try it! Even the gentlest breeze will send wafts of dreamy lavender scent into the room,. And they frame the view from inside. Thanks for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. Thank you, Lulu. I used to love to garden with my father, who has passed. I feel close to him when I'm playing in the dirt! Thanks for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  6. I love all your flowers. Thanks for doing the hop. rc12d@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rachael. I always say I'm cutting back next year, but I never do. I love my garden. Thanks for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  7. I love your fairy garden and your flower pics bnc12d@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Belinda, and thank you for participating. You have won a BLUE LAKE Ebook. Please accept mail from Amazon.com. I will send it out now!
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  8. Your book sounds wonderful. I enjoy reading love stories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations, Nancy. You won a kindle copy of BLUE LAKE. If you send me your email address at carolannkauffman@gmail.com, I will have Amazon send it right out. Thank you for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  9. I love all your gardening tips. Thank you for the Hop. catwoman-1(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. Replies
    1. Thank you, Lori. I'll be sharing more gardening tips as the season progresses. Stop back and see us.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  11. Thanks for the hop.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Magic. Thanks for participating. Come back again.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  12. Your flowers look gorgeous.
    Christina / whistleinthewind74@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Christina. Thanks for participating. Come back soon.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  13. Beautiful pictures, looks like a great reading place. Lrskt@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Laura. It IS a great place to read or write or get lost in the spaces between my thoughts.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  14. Your flowers are beautiful! I can't wait to get start planting! Thanks for the chance! turtleemiwee(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emily. And thanks for commenting and participating. Come see us again.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  15. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
    elizabeth(at)bookattict(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Book Attict. Thanks for commenting. Coma see us again.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  16. nice pics

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for participating, bn100. Come back and see us again.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  17. awesome post

    pailofpearls@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, pearls. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  18. Thanks for the giveaway! jeanna_massman@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Jeanna. Thank you for commenting and participating. You have won a kindle format BLUE LAKE. I'll have Amazon send it right out.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway! 💖
    bunnyclem(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Desiree. Thank toy for commenting and participating. You've won a kindle format BLUE LAKE. I will have Amazon sent it right out.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  20. Beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing your tips and the soil recipe.
    cchant86 @ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, cchant. Thanks for participating and commenting. Come see us again!
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete
  21. thank you for the fabulous tips! your garden looks beautiful! vipersweb (at)gmail (dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Rhi. Thanks for commenting and participating.
      Hugs,
      Carol

      Delete