Garden Tours | One Hundred Dollars a Month

Mavis Mail | Gardening in Tacoma – Lisa Sends in Her Photographs

January 30, 2013 12 Comments

Lisa from Tacoma writes:

Ok, I did some digging and found some photos. They are from this last Spring. I don’t have any photos of the current state of the garden because really… no one wants to see that.

The total square footage of both gardens (there’s one in the back yard too) is 3200 sq. ft. I don’t know the total growing space. I also have edibles in various perennial beds and I’ve been known to grow annual herbs in my window boxes (although dill wasn’t the best choice for that).

We started with 2 small 4×4 in ground beds in the side yard and then expanded it to 2 5′x10′ and 2 5′x5′ beds. We quickly outgrew that space and decided to cover up our east lawn. The original plan was for beds all in nice neat rows. Looking back that probably would have been the best idea, but everyone comments on the character of my garden. They would since my east lawn is the majority of my front yard.

Our house sits on a corner lot. The front that faces the main street is grass and nicely landscaped, but turn the corner and you’ll see the vegetable garden. It is flanked on all sides by perennial beds. I’ll have to do a post about the evolution of my front yard. There are only 8 original plants to the whole yard. One happens to be a daylily that I’ve dug up and divided to make about 20 more. There are now at least over 200 different plants in the garden now.

Last year I didn’t weigh all of my produce so I don’t know exactly how many pounds I grew. My guess is a good 500 pounds.

This year we are taking on the experiment of growing a giant pumpkin. The plan is to use my son’s garden (the original 2 5×10 beds) to grow it. From what I’ve read you’re supposed to dedicate a good 100 sq. ft. to the plant, but we’re going to try to cram it into a smaller space. I don’t want it taking over the useful garden.

This is the bed we grew brassicas in last year. My husband rebuilt the bed last year so it was sturdier.

This is a small portion of one of our harvests. The apples came from the Curan apple orchard in University Place.

I don’t know about YOU, but I am totally drooling over Lisa’s backyard garden. Clearly she spends all her free time growing yummy fresh fruits and veggies for her family.

Way to go Lisa!

~Mavis

If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:

Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
Cool Arts & Craft made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.

If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.

Go HERE for the official rules.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening, Mavis Mail Tagged With: garden tours, Gardening, mavis mail, tacoma

Mavis Mail | Gardening in Alaska – Ted Sends in His Photographs

January 29, 2013 12 Comments

Ted from Alaska writes:

My wife and I live in Interior Alaska. Attached are some pictures of winter squash and leeks on top of greens that we produced, only a small part of the average of approximately $850 worth of produce (after expenses) that we grow in the back yard of our suburban plot.

We compensate for our cold ground by using raised beds. We have moved several times and the soil has always been less than perfect so I now have a system. The first year, we use bales of hay to make raised beds, filling the bales with commercial soil. We plant in the soil as well as in holes gouged into the bales.

As you can see, we get a good harvest. After a few years, the straw rots down and we have some great soil. The fall before I am ready to knock down the straw beds, I build permanent wood raised beds (3 feet high, 8 or 10 feet long and 3 feet wide).

All fall and winter we throw compostable materials into the empty permanent boxes. In the spring, we throw the rotted straw and the dirt they enclosed into the permanent beds, right on top of the compost materials.

Over the years the materials under the dirt compost down slightly, but this is compensated for by the new compost I spread around all of my growing plants—which builds up the soil levels at the same time.

Way to go Ted! I had no idea you could grow so many awesome vegetables in ALASKA. You rock!

~Mavis

If you would like to have your garden, or chicken coop featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:

Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.

If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.

Go HERE for the official rules.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening, Mavis Mail Tagged With: alaska, Gardening, mavis mail

Denver Botanic Museum Orchid Showcase

January 27, 2013 5 Comments

denver botanic garden orchid

Yesterday we headed to downtown Denver and visited the Denver Botanic Museum. With over 200 orchids on display, the colors and smells were intoxicating. The museum had all the orchids in hanging planters alongside the wall and we all decided the orangery would be the perfect place for a winter wedding.

mavis butterfield one hundred dollars a month

The room the orchids were in was extremely well-lit, but the temperature surprised me. If I had to guess I’d say it was around 65 degrees. I would have thought the orchids would have needed to be much warmer to flourish, but apparently not.

Here are a few of my favorites.

purple white spotted orchid

yellow orchid

white and pink orchid

hot pink orchid

white orchid

white yellow pink orchid

overflowing planter box

potted purple orchid plants

Which orchid is your favorite? I’d love to have a few potted ones in my kitchen, but I think the white orchid with the pink center is my favorite. How about you?

~Mavis

Understanding Orchids

Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St.
Denver, CO 80206

Open Daily 9 am to 5 pm daily

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening Tagged With: colorado, denver, garden tours, Gardening, orchids

Mavis Mail – Reader Denise Sends in Her Front Yard Garden Photos

January 26, 2013 9 Comments

SAMSUNG

Check out these photos One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Densie from Spanaway sent in, aren’t they awesome? I especially like the bean teepee her son is sitting under.

Here is what Denise had to say:

I have a few pictures of my garden to share. Well, garden pictures from the summer. Now I’m getting even more itchy to plant again after looking through my photos. This cold spell here is getting crazy.

SAMSUNG

In April I dug up a 17 x 30 patch of my front yard for an edible garden. Yay suburbia! It turned out great and I’m looking forward to doing it again. Here in the gray northwest, it’s hard sometimes to get all the sun we need for veggies. It’s all in the front. I was initially inspired by the book The Ediable Front Yard then guided a whole lot more by Steve Solomon, a PNW guru who knows his stuff.

SAMSUNG

Denise your garden is AWESOME and so are all those fresh vegetables. Are you planning on expanding your garden or doing anything different this year? Let us know, we’d love to know more.

~Mavis

For an interesting article on Front Yard Gardens head on over HERE.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening, Mavis Mail Tagged With: chickens, garden tours, Gardening

Mavis Mail – Send Me Your Tips, Tricks, Pics, and Recipes For a Chance to Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

January 24, 2013 12 Comments

chickens isle of man {Betty & Margo, 2 hens on the Isle of Man sent in by reader Angie from The Cinnamon Coach}

I love to get mail from my readers. Lately, I’ve been getting some pretty awesome pictures, recipes, gardening stories and chicken goodness in the mail. And you know what I’ve decided? My readers are so fun and wise, I should ask for their help. So, as things start to get busier out in the garden, I would like to feature some of your ideas to help ease the load. It’s 4000 lbs. or bust people, but I can’t do it alone–I neeeeed you!

garden isle of man {I vote we all move to the Isle of Man and live with Angie. Her children are all grown and I’m sure we could help out around her place in exchange for seeing that awesome view every day.}

Here’s what I’m looking for:

Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
Cool Arts & Crafts - Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.

If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com {take some deep breaths and contain your excitement}.

isle of man

Things to keep in mind when you send me your stuff:

I have major OCD. You do not have to be a professional photographer, but your photos do need to be clear and well lit or I won’t be able to use them.
All photos must be original, and they must have been taken by YOU.
I won’t be able to use or get back to everyone–but just assume that whatever you sent in was awesome.
Be sure to include a little information about yourself, like how long you’ve been gardening, raising chickens, ect. Also, please include your name and what state or country you are from.
If you have a blog and would like me to link back to it, please let me know, I’d be happy too.
Ideally I’d prefer about 5 pictures per submission, so the more the merrier just in case I do not select them all.

Okay, peeps, that about covers it. Whether you submit something or not, thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting, leaving comments, and sending me emails. I could have never imagined when I started this blog back in 2009 it would have turned into what it is today. You.Are.Awesome.

~Mavis

Send your garden, and chicken related pictures with stories via email to onehundreddollarsamonth @ gmail.com {remove the spaces} and be sure and put Mavis Mail in the subject line. Thank you. I’m looking forward to your submissions.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Mavis Mail Tagged With: garden tours, mavis mail

Garden Tour – Wilga Avenue Sydney, Australia

January 18, 2013 8 Comments

street garden in sydney australia

Susan from Australia left this comment yesterday on the A Front Yard Garden: Eye-Sore or Rightful Use of Space article.

Hi from Australia Mavis!

We have a great gardening show on TV here called “Gardening Australia” (available on ABC iview if you can get that app). The host Costa spent most of last year showing us how to develop the verge in front of our houses into vege and herb beds!

Here is a short clip of this street of front yard gardens in Sydney, Australia. To find out more about this neighborhood, head on over HERE.

Ummm, I think I need to hop a flight to Australia to see this in person. Anyone want to join me?

~Mavis

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening Tagged With: australia, garden tours, Gardening, sydney

Laguna Beach California – Laguna Nursery

January 5, 2013 13 Comments

laguna nursery laguna beach california

If you ever find yourself in Laguna Beach, California you should make a trip to Laguna Nursery. It’s about a mile and a half from Main Beach and oh boy is it an eclectic oasis of garden goodness.

citrus trees

The Girl and I stopped by the store while we were on our mini Christmas vacation and spotted tons of different citrus trees and cactus’s around the back of the store. I totally wanted to buy on of the lemon trees and bring it home.

Do YOU have a lemon tree? I totally want a Meyer Lemon tree, BIG TIME. I wonder if I could overwinter it in the greenhouse, or would I have to bring it indoors? The HH would freak if he had to walk by a lemon tree every morning on his way to make his coffee.

native plants to southern california

Does anyone know what kind of a plant this is? I LOVE it! I neeeeeeed it.

white orchids

Spotted orchids.

black and white clock

Art and Antiques.

rain gutters copper

Copper rain chains. {Super cool if you ask me}

abalone shells

Abalone shells.

water fountain

They even have antique sinks for the backyard garden if you have an extra $23,000 laying around.

stuffed badger

Oh and stuffed badgers. We can’t forget about those, I hear they are all the rage these days.
wooden box tulip bulbs

And let’s not forget, tulip bulbs. No respectable nursery would be without bulbs.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Even if it’s a wee bit out of my price range.

Laguna Nursery
1370 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949 . 494 . 5200

Looking for a cool garden book to read this winter? The New York Times 1000 Gardening Questions and Answers: Based on the New York Times Column Garden Q & A is awesome. I own it, and Amazon currently has it in stock.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Travel Tagged With: California, garden tours, laguna beach, travel

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum – Yorba Linda, California

December 28, 2012 12 Comments

richard nixon presidential library and museum and birthplace

It wouldn’t be a family vacation without a visit to at least 1 museum. Yesterday we took a self guided tour {the best kind if you ask me} of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California.

First of all, have you ever been to Yorba Linda? I had actually never heard of it before, but man, what a nice place. The museum was about a 20 minute drive from Knott’s Berry Farm, and they have an In-N-Out there as well. Yee-Haw!

richard nixon presidential museum and Libary california

The property sits on just under 9 acres and it is gorgeous!

tree at richard nixon birthplace

The graves of President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon are located on the grounds near the home Richard Nixon was born in.

richard nixon house home birthplace yorba linda

Here is his home. He father built it from a kit. How cool is that?

richard nixon birthplace presidential library

The inside of the home was cozy, with a piano, couch, hutches, a few bookshelves, and a dining nook. The docent said 90% of the items in the home were original to the family. Wowza!

richard nixon bedroom birthplace yorba linda california

This was the room President Nixon was born in. He would have been born in a hospital, but the nearest one was in Whittier, California, and it was the middle of January and there was snow. The thought of making your way to a hospital while in labor, via a horse and buggy, probably was not to appealing to his mother Hannah {I can’t blame her} so President Nixon was born at home instead.

richard nixon birthplace kitchen

See that grey thing in the center of the picture? That was the family bathtub. Hmm. My guess is people didn’t bathe everyday back then.

richard nixon home house kitchen yorba linda

Check out this kitchen! That’s it man. A sink, an ice box and a little counter space to chop the garden veggies {not pictured is the kitchen stove which sits across from the kitchen sink}. I mean really, what more do you need? I don’t know about you, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE walking through old houses, especially ones containing period furnishings. Clearly, this was a time before computers, and television sets.

richard nixon helicopter peace sign

Have YOU been to any museums or landmarks lately?

Over the years which on has been your favorite one to visit?

~Mavis

P.S. I think mine is the Natural History Museum in London.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Travel Tagged With: California, richard nixon, travel

Mavis’ Backyard Garden Tour – The Best One Yet!

November 29, 2012 7 Comments

Welcome to my super awesome garden tour. Since I’ve already reached my goal of growing 2,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in my backyard garden this year, I’ve decided to let loose a bit and give that evil OCD monster in my head a rest for a while.

After all, it’s nearly December, and that means it’s time to put down the trowel, dig out the stretchy pants and moo moo dresses, and eat cookies for the next month. Right?

But don’t worry, I haven’t given up gardening completely. In fact there is still tons to see in the garden this time of year. For instance…

I have 2 pots of Rosemary growing in my greenhouse. Sure, they’re the only things in there right now, but it won’t be long before the greenhouse starts to fill up again.

This patch of dirt is a great place to meditate and gather inspiration for next years garden.

And check out these garden boxes. Aren’t they looking sweet? Straw is all over the place, some are empty, weeds are popping up everywhere, I bet Martha Stewart’s backyard garden looks exactly like mine this time of year.

Check out all this kale! I thought about pulling the kale up, but decided to wait until Christmas morning. I’m sure the chickens would love finding a giant mound of it under their Christmas tree.

So even though things look a little rough right now, don’t worry, good things are on the horizon. I’m really excited about my new goals for the 2013 growing season, and can’t wait to share them with you soon.

Peace Out Garden Scouts, I’m off to eat another cookie.

~Mavis

Looking for something to do while you wait for Spring? Check out Handmade Garden Projects available on Amazon.com. Projects run the gamut from eye-catching structures, like a pergola made from plumbing pipes, to imaginative details, like a tree-hung chandelier for nighttime ambiance.

You’ll also find helpful plant guides to accompany projects: delectable herbs to fill a stacking container tower, stellar succulents for a vertical gutter garden, glorious flowering vines to climb a bamboo obelisk, and so much more.

Filed Under: Garden Tours, Gardening Tagged With: garden tours, Gardening, mavis garden blog

Garden Tours 2012 – London, Sweden, Napa, Virginia, Maine, Boise + More

November 24, 2012 3 Comments

Maybe I’m weird, but there is something about getting dirt under my nails and breathing fresh air that makes my heart skip a beat.

Even though your garden is most likely packed up for the year, I thought it would be fun to take look back over some of the garden tours I was able to take in 2012, as well as ones reader submitted of their own gardens.

To view any, or all of the gardens, simply click on the link below the picture and it will take you to their respective stories.