Now that I have planted my tomato seeds, I’m trying to decide which ones will go in my two Topsy Turvy planters. Two years ago I ordered them and paid $46.07 for them. You can buy them now two for $19.95 plus $7.98 shipping and handling. I’m trying to think of a place I can put two more.

The first one above is on the front deck. It’s hangs lower there so I can easily add soil and water as necessary. The directions say to add all the soil at the beginning, but then it is heavier to move. As you can see the tomato is growing up, but soon the weight of the tomatoes makes the vine start to straighten out. Before that happens I put them on the back deck (second picture above) where it hangs higher. Even then the plants reach the floor of the deck.

The green sieve on the top did not come with the Topsy Turvy. The first year a nest of wrens hatched in the top of one. I enjoyed the wrens, but the tomato suffered because I didn’t want to water the mother and hatchlings.

It’s so easy to go out on the deck to pick the tomatoes. They also have less blight problems than the ones in the garden, and I don’t have to stake them. Now which tomatoes will I put in them this year?

Today I planted tomato and squash seeds indoors in the Bio-dome. The pre-dibbled holes in the sponges really made it easy.

Now I just need to keep 1/2 to 1/4 inches of water in the bottom, and watch the humidity,

a simple task with the two adjustable vents. There are snow flurries outside but I’m ready for spring!

The seeds have sprouted, and the Bio-dome is a wonderful environment.

Lemon Grass_______Basil Minimum_____Cilantro Delphinium______Parsley__Purple Basil

I planted the parsley and purple basil about a week later to fill the Bio-dome. The only problem was that the marking sticks grew mold. The Bio-dome really keeps it humid, but I adjusted the two vents on top and that helped.

Soon they will be taken out so that other seeds can take their place. When their roots fill the compartments then it will be time to put them in larger pots until they can be placed outside.

For year-round beauty my favorite tree is this Blue Spruce. It started out as a two-inch twig, a gift from Lissa.

Another tree that came one Christmas from Jenna is this Italian Pine. It was from Trader Joe’s, decorated with little ornaments.

Another special tree is the first one we planted when we moved here almost nineteen years ago. My younger son brought it from school when we were renting a house. We transplanted it when we moved.

Behind it, and much too close, is the Bradford Pear Bud brought over for my fiftieth birthday.

Many pines have been planted, but this was the only one here. Too bad it was planted so close to the driveway. That’s why some of the limbs were cut.

I continue to plant the seedlings that appear everywhere. Pines give year-round privacy.

In the spring the numerous dogwoods bloom. They are North Carolina’s state tree. But my favorites are the Redbuds, which are Oklahoma’s state tree. My older son and I were born there, so I’ve planted several of them.

Once planted, there are lots of seedling.

So many trees are gorgeous in the fall, but this Japanese Maple ( a gift from Hazel) seems to have every color.

Now for the bad:

The white on this hemlock is Woolly Adelgid. It will kill the tree if not treated. This stump is all that’s left of a lovely Frasier Fur that was attacked by a cousin of the adelgid.

It’s now a trellis for a clematis.

And the ugly?

Not only is this Black Walnut right in the view all year round, but the web worms added to the unsightliness.

My lumberjack (one of his many talents) older son (below cutting a Jack pine) cut it back about fourteen years ago. Is it worth $1000.00 to have a tree service do it again?