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Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

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I was trying to find some old pages I had written in the online Wayback Machine. Unfortunately, I had deleted them before the old geocities site had been recorded (they only started recording it in 1999). Oh well. I did, however, find the beginnings of my "garden journal" when I was just starting to look into the then-new blogs and blogging. I was looking for something less cumbersome than … [Read more...] about Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

Are Fairy Gardens As Popular As They Once Were?

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A few years ago fairy gardens, miniature sized plots or containers with diminutive plants, little features made from odds and ends like acorns, with tiny statues or their playthings were hot. I know I collected quite a few pins on the topic. The information might not be quite as popular in my site stats, but I think that the whole idea has been woven into our wider concept of gardening. It … [Read more...] about Are Fairy Gardens As Popular As They Once Were?

On The Social Media Front

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It all changes so quickly, doesn't it? I have my ups and downs with Twitter... and have never taken to any sort of "chat", which I blame on my painfully slow typing. But I notice how visual media has garnered more and more space. Now both Facebook and Twitter vie with Instagram and Youtube with pictures, photos, and videos. I confess to not fully mastering this. But I saw old gardening internet … [Read more...] about On The Social Media Front

Autumnal Sweetness

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The door is closing on this growing season. To make up for the sense of loss, somehow the season has incredible sweetness. Frost has that effect on things. On fruits, on the the ground, on our souls. It is as if to placate our mournful sense that the pleasant days of fall will give way to winter's austere lessons of rest, endings, and survival. Sweet Labors I have had a few simply perfect … [Read more...] about Autumnal Sweetness

Video Bits

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Since I started experimenting with video on youtube, and looked into its possibilities, there have been times I also posted a few such moments on Instagram, too. (Usually I would collect those bits and edit them in imovie for a longer length video). You might have seen the shorts I posted here on my chickens, but there are some farflung examples that I thought I would gather together... just so … [Read more...] about Video Bits

Entering The No Frost Zone

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Soon we will will pass the expected last frost dates. Entering the safe time to plant frost sensitive annuals means trips to the garden centers and greenhouses to purchase all my tomatoes and container plants. This has been one year when the temperatures have been quite chilly and I would not have dreamed to try to plant tomatoes early. I did manage a small patch of lettuce which is showing … [Read more...] about Entering The No Frost Zone

Winter Walk

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 I made another video, this time of a walk through the garden. Funny how easily forgotten new technology can be. I had to relearn, but it gave me good practice to create more tutorial types of videos for this coming year. I hope you enjoy the little walk with me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Visit Ilona's Garden Journal on facebook: Click here © 2014 written for Ilona's Garden … [Read more...] about Winter Walk

SPRING BULBS 101 -extended

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Garden Advice: Video About Planting Bulbs Yes, I am a total amateur when it comes to making a video, but I have been planting bulbs for years and have made a couple how to videos. No one has subscribed to my channel or "liked" the videos on Youtube yet, but you could be the first. My friends and family said they liked them :) https://youtu.be/pqXJ0h3fCNc If you'd like to know how to … [Read more...] about SPRING BULBS 101 -extended

Weather Is The Topic Of Conversation

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 I feel like the weather is the main topic of conversation in Ohio this year. It always has its vagaries, but this year just seems extreme. We have had so much rain that I feel like I live in a rainforest. Looking at some of the "flower" beds, the crop of Canadian thistle has become incredibly lush. The last rainstorm cooled things off a bit and I believe I might be able to tackle that job … [Read more...] about Weather Is The Topic Of Conversation

Announcement- But I don’t know why I’m so excited!

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Okay .For many years now I have been planning to create a newsletter.  They fascinate me. But the trouble has been that I didn't want to waste my time or others and just push out stuff that is the result of going through the motions of one more thing to do.Plus I am notorious for starting things and leaving them half crocked, either because it was too big for me, or didn't pan out to be what … [Read more...] about Announcement- But I don’t know why I’m so excited!

The Big Chill: It was a Late Spring

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  Wall flowers from flower mix planted last year As I write this I still have heat on, a fire in the woodstove, although we are promised a summer-like, near-eighty degree temperature today. I covered my basil and the container plantings the last couple days against the frost warnings. Even for Ohio, this fluctuation in temperature is a little untoward. I went to a plant … [Read more...] about The Big Chill: It was a Late Spring