Author Archives: Regina

Hi. I’m Regina Fierke. Welcome to our garden. I have a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Microbiology, but for now I’m just a mom and a gardener. I garden with my husband, our six-year-old daughter, her two older brothers (when they are forced to) two dogs, two cats, a bearded dragon and a small flock of chickens. I guess you could call us suburban homesteaders.

Recently, I have been asked by a lot of friends (and even some casual acquaintances) how I have made my garden, so I thought I would start this blog.

First off, I have to admit that I’m a lazy gardener. If there is a way to do something with less work (especially if it turns out to be environmentally beneficial) then that’s what I do. I’m also cheap. I prefer propagating and getting “pass-along plants” to spending a lot of money. I’ll share some of my cheapest and laziest tips and tricks as I go. And, of course, as an environmentalist, I try to go as organically as possible.

My second admission is that I don’t plan a whole lot and I don’t naturally have a green thumb. I don’t plant things that require meticulous and unending care. I’m constantly putting things in, moving them around or yanking them out. I have veggies and flowers (with a fair amount of weeds) all growing together. The garden is never “finished” but it is always a wonderful inspiration.

My third admission is that, even with as much as I garden, I have yet to make myself get out in the August heat to plant a fall garden. Fall is the very best season for gardens here in Texas, but it does take the dedication to brave the August heat and carve time away from back to school preparations to get it planted. Everything perks up in the fall and you usually don’t have the bug problems then that you have in the spring. I swear – this year will be the year.

Our garden has been the source of so many wonderful things to eat and make. We have grown our own sponges, giant platter sized sunflowers, birdhouse gourds and so much more. We have had so many wonderful birthday parties here including a garden tour party that featured a floral alphabet hunt and a cake decorated with flowers from our garden. We have built “sunflower houses” and taken a safari through our own backyard. We have also been certified as “Monarch Waystation number 741” by the organization Monarch Watch (monarchwatch.org).

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Regina

Our Bird Feeding Station

We came up with a scathingly brilliant idea!  We made a bird feeding station! Our bird feeding station has three sections on top.  One section has jar lids screwed down on it to hold jelly for birds like orioles, mockingbirds and others with a sweet tooth.  The second section is just an open space that […]

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Bald Cypress

I love this tree.  Do I say that about everything?  I mean it about the Bald Cypress.  I think it is gorgeous.  It has the shape of an evergreen with lacy leaves, but it’s not.  It turns a beautiful reddish-brown color in the fall before losing all it’s leaves for the winter.  It is always […]

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Coral Honeysuckle

Coral Honeysuckle is a wonderful Texas native and the hummingbirds love it!  It is an evergreen vine and blooms from spring until fall.  It is also drought tolerant. It should be planted in full sun.  I have one that is in partial shade and seems to be doing fine, but the side that gets more […]

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Strawberries

Strawberries increase each year by runner and the Dallas Planting Manual recommends eight plants for a good start.    They require rich, well drained soil, but too much nitrogen will make the berries too soft.  You also have to keep the berries from direct contact with the soil by using mulch.  I like straw that I […]

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Chilled Berry Soup

This is one of the most incredible recipes!  I got it from the Moosewood Cookbook.  We have not tried anything out of this cookbook that has not been incredible. Chilled Berry Soup Much more than just a soup, this refreshing tart-sweet preparation can be a summer beverage, a breakfast dish, or even a desert. Frozen […]

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What’s blooming today?

I think I’m going to make this a regular article on Fridays so that I can keep track of what is happening in my garden. So, for today, pretty much everything that was blooming last week is still going even if some things have slowed down.  The roses had their big flush and now we […]

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Wet Soils – Don’t go there!

With all the rain we have been having, it’s important to remember a few things about working in wet soils.  The number one thing is, well, just don’t do it When soils are wet,  they are much more readily compacted.  Soil particles get pressed together and the air gets forced out of the soil.  Compaction […]

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Happy National Public Gardens Day 2009!

APGA | National Public Gardens Day 2009!. May 8, 2009, National Public Gardens Day is a national day of celebration to raise awareness of America’s public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide. Click to visit the NPGD Facebook page and become […]

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A Community

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.  – Aldo Leopold Aldo Leopold

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Our Pet Possum

We have a possum that has been coming to our backyard to eat the cat food on a regular basis.  We don’t have any problem with this at all since the cats seem to be cool with him and he is actually very tidy and considerate.  They can look a little ferocious though, and the […]

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