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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Scent of Sweet Peas












I have to tell you. It's 80 degrees out in my garden today.I won't mention it again. Promise. I went to Farm Supply yesterday afternoon and bought a bunch of sweet pea seeds. I like to soak them overnight because the seeds are so hard. The package said on the back that in my area they can be planted before St. Patrick's Day. Last year I had the whole fence coming up the pathway to the house in sweet peas. And I am doing it again this year. When you walked in the gate on an early summer afternoon you were greeted with the scent of sweet peas. AAhhhh. I planted all differnet kinds. Wedding Blush, High Scent, Streamers Mix,Sweet Dreams Mix,Cupani,Singing The Blues, Butterfly,Miss Willmott,Old Spice Mix and Painted Lady.

My gardening tool is my wooden spoon from the kitchen. The handle is the perfect thing. I just pick a spot, start poking holes with the spoon and drop in a seed. Some sweet peas all already up . They must have re-seeded from last years garden. I also planted some Dahlias. I got the big ones called Dinnerplate. I had them last year and they were HUGE. I planted the bulbs, not the plants.Put in alot of soft pink and lilac colored ones.The yellow were already sold out. Might have to try another nursery. I just love how old fashion they look in the garden in summer.

Soaking more sweet peas tonight..so you know what that means for tomorrow.....

50 comments:

  1. I am a little pea green over here right now...with envy! Oh to be able to sink my toes in the warm mud and plant something. Thank you for the vision of what will be in my future...right now it is snowing again.
    ♥, Susan

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  2. Great startings! I too will be digging and planting seeds. Today, potatoes. Tomorrow, peas and sweet peas.

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  3. No idea what 80 Fahrenheit is, but it sounds a lot nicer than the -5 Celsius we are having right now. I am truly sick and tired of snow, and I guess the birds outside feel pretty much the same.
    The day I will be able to leave the house without my heavy winter coat and NOT freeze instantly, I am going to celebrate!

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  4. You know, Kary, the best year for sweet peas for us was when we planted a mixed packet like Tasha Tudor planted at her farm. We bought them at Agway and they were just glorious. It is a favorite smell in our garden. Trying to enjoy your 80 degree day! A pat for Buddy!

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  5. Oh, I am soooooo jealous! Because as much as I am totally loving this amazingly beautiful snow, I am totally craving my garden!!! Oh well, guess I will just have to hibernate a little more!

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  6. How wonderful! I LOVE the smell of sweet peas. Real ones, not the fake spray kind :) So, so happy for you and your wonderful weather. Grow some for me! I'm desperately awaiting spring (and I've never uttered those words before!!)

    Happy Tuesday,
    Jen

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  7. How lucky you are to get to start some gardening! Those look like they will be some beautiful blooms. I am drawn to the colors of Sweet Peas and purple Dahlia's too. The handle of a wooden spoon for planting seeds? NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT! What a great idea that's going straight in my mind bank! I just LOVE LOVE Botanical Interest seeds & the flower art on the packages inspires me to no end. :-)

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  8. 80 degrees?!! We're lucky if we get such temperatures at the height of the British summer!

    Sweet peas are lovely, your lilac dahlia is too.

    Something fragrant and understated is blooming here in cold February - the pretty shrub, Daphne. Bfn, Lesley

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  9. sweet peas are beautiful! I can't wait to see your pics once they bloom. Oh and your little flip flopped feet are super cute.

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  10. SO JEALOUS! It's in the 40's here all week.

    The Pecan Chicken Skewers and SO GOOD Gravy can be found at this link:

    http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/food/recipe.html?viewrcp=y&rid=429

    I got them from a "Best of the Year" publication that has all kinds of comfort food with neat twists. I didn't change the recipe in any way, so I just linked to it from my blog. I will gladly email it to you if this link won't work. It's such a fun way to eat chicken fingers and the gravy is divine!

    Khan had so much fun in the snow. His nose was constantly cold and white. He insisted on digging in it until he located ALL of his favorite sticks across the yard. Thought of you in your flip-flop weather!

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  11. I can't believe you're planting in your flip flopped cute little feet, while we're buried under a huge blanket of snow!

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  12. Say what? 80 degrees? ...that does it...I'm moving to sunny CA! Lol...oh well...enjoy it for both of us :)

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  13. I want some sweet peas really bad now! But first I want to see the ground again. Melt snow Melt. You lucky gal, enjoy! Cindy

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  14. Oh, my! Can't wait to see it all bloom♥

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  15. Your killing me with the 80 degree weather and all those gorgeous flowers! It is snowing here and sooo cold...LOL! Well, I will think Spring thoughts and covet your lovely packages of flowers:-)

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  16. Love your garden tools.....whatever works best huh? I close my eyes and I'm walking in your garden and smelling the sweetest smell....ahhhh! Love it!

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  17. Oh, how wonderful!! I think I am going to start some plants from seed indoor soon. It's still too cold to plant anything outside. I can just imagine what your garden looks like in the summer and how good it smells!! Is it normal that it's so warm where you are right now? Here, it's unusually cold. Below freezing again tonight...

    I hope that you and Buddy are doing wonderfully!! Much love, Silke

    P.S. Coming here always inspires me to garden and cook (and eat!)

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  18. I'm not jealous. Who said I was? And flip flop too. I'll be back in the spring. Thank you for the lovely tea party.

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  19. I love pictures of little feet. ;) I'm glad you're enjoying warm weather. I would have moved to CA a long time ago, but the Gypsy Fortune Teller told me if I did, it would start an earthquake.

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  20. And I was feeling all puffy cuz Kim weed wacked.
    AND I planted out violas. not from seed.
    already blooming in fact.
    tail tucked from this

    donkey in the pines

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  21. I have an answer for your Tasha Tudor question on my blog. ;>}

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  22. I adore sweet peas! Their colour, their scent, and the deliciousness of their little curly tips in a salad!

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  23. I love Sweet Peas...that was my Mother's nickname : )

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  24. hello dear Kary:),

    I cannot wait to see how your lovely blooms turn out. And I also cannot BELIEVE that you are wearing flip-flops!! **sigh**

    I hope that you and Buddy had a nice weekend. I look forward to seeing more photos of the beautiful Cambria... it's snowing here in MA;).

    xoxo,
    Blair

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  25. You have a wonderful blog going here! There is so much to enjoy, good writing and photography AND all kinds of food stuff etc. I'm so glad that you found me so I could find you back. The shot of Julia brought a tear to my eye... please don't tell.

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  26. Sweet Pea Scent's and Dahlia Dreams is a wonderful combo. Beautiful garden beauty ahead. Reaping what you've soon.

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  27. oh how beautiful that you will have these - can't wait to see them grow - hope you take lots of pictures

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  28. 80 degrees??? How wonderful! Please enjoy it for me :) I would give anything to be able to dig in the dirt :)

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  29. Khary your photos make me dream about Spring! e We are still under snow cover and freezing temps and flip flops and planting seeds are a long way off! I shall enjoy your garden through you until I can plant mine. :-)

    ♥ Pat

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  30. I planted more sweet peas, but not from seeds. I would like to try some dahlias they are such lovely flowers. Give Buddy a hug.

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  31. I would be happy to go get the seeds for you, Kary. Just let me know!;>}

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  32. You are makin me very excited, spring is around the corner for us here in Oregon I can't wait.I just really got into gardening this last year.I will now have to try Sweet Pea's.Dahlias are my Fav! Enjoy~Kim

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  33. I'm trying not to let myself be envious!!!
    I can't wait to see all those sweet peas in your garden. Oh sweet friend, how I wish we were able to zap over to one another's homes whenever we felt like it. You are going to be soaked in sweet fragrance soon. :)
    Yesterday the sun shone a little here and the birds were singing like it was spring! I'll post photos and all about it asap.
    I love you and am sending sweetpea kisses,
    Dawn

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  34. This will look so nice, once they start to bloom!
    Lovely colors!

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  35. Oh Kary! I've just caught up on your favorite places, i so enjoyed those posts! I would LOVE to join a cooking class and wander through those apple orchards... and Big Sur is one of my favorite places in the world.

    Now this post is my favorite since sweet peas have always been my favorite flower. i've planted vintage varities every year for their intense perfume and color even though they are smaller than other varities.

    I have some reseeding in my garden too, although i've not planted any yet. I am completely inspired now, i can't wait! We have been experiancing the same weather, i think many plants are confused into thinking its really spring already!

    enjoy your muddy(cute) feet!
    ♥ lori

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  36. 80 degrees??? Our ocean is frozen and we are below freezing for the 2nd month now. I would be happy with just 40 degrees.;) Just a few above freezing please.;) I do not mind if you mention this often. In fact can you please wrap some of those warm degrees and send them to me?;)) Please?
    xo
    Zuzana

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  37. It will be wonderful when all of them bloom and you post the pictures, here ! You will be on Spring and I will be on Autumn :) Crazy and amazing world !

    Blessings,
    xoxoxoxoxo

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  38. 80 degress!!! It's 0 degress here...yuck! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt...I've never planted Sweet Peas...but I'm gonna check to see if they'll grow in my zone.

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  39. Oh I so want to be out in my garden too...Sweet peas are my favourite! I had a huge arbour of them one year...so so sweet. Enjoy the warmth. xoxoxo

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  40. Your garden is going to be lush! I love the name sweetpea - I used to call our cat that before he grew into such a beast it no longer suited! And my ex sometimes because he looked like the baby from popeye! :) xxx

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  41. Rub it in...

    Flip-Flops
    Sweet Peas
    Dirt under your nails

    What more could you ask for.

    Can't wait to see your spring. It will be earlier than ours, that's for sure.

    Plant on-
    Kate - The Garden Bell

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  42. Thank you for your kind words! I love Sweet peas too; they are my favorite flower & food to eat!

    I haven't planted mine yet, but I plant them on my balcony in an old gutter. They take over the balcony for a few glorious weeks & are so beautiful! Cant wait to see images of your in the summer.

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  43. 80!! I'm being tortured in Georgia. It's a high of 37 today. I feel like I'm living up North again. This is why we moved!

    I have a package of Sweet Peas to plant but I have to wait a few more weeks at least. Lucky you! I'm so jealous right now!

    Manuela

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  44. How very fun! I have sweet peas that come up on their own every year and grow on a trellis...beautiful! I don't have any dahlias though...don't know why, since I love them! :) Soak up some sunshine for me!

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  45. How lovely :) I am waiting for my delivery of herb and flower seeds to arrive, I bought so many sweet peas and I cannot wait to plant them! xoxo

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  46. Aloha,
    I have to say that sweet peas are a favorite of mine! I too have enjoyed them in my gardens past.
    I love visiting you, it always reminds me of good times in my life, I think I am still just a farmgirl at heart even in Paradise
    Aloha wishes from across the sea
    Brandi

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  47. I'm not quite as jealous of your weather today because it is warm and sunny here (in the 40's, that warm for February). I adore sweet peas! I haven't planted them in my yard for quite some time, but you've convinced me that I need to get some this year!

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  48. I miss gardening so much. I moved to northern VA two years ago because of my job and the only thing I can afford is an apartment. While I have plnats inside, I do miss digging in the dirt, deadheading, and just plain puttering around a yard with growing things. Sweetpeas are one of my favorites, and I can't wait to retire so I can start a garden. I hope it will be as wonderful as yours. Please post updates on your sweetpeas!

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  49. First of all, I like how your text color goes with your flower packets. I've had sweet peas before, but they did not have any scent. Is there such an animal? Now I want to try what you have planted, it sounds wonderful. I know just the place for them. Before I got my green thumb, my mother once asked me if I liked Sweet Peas, and I said I really didn't care for the taste of peas. LOL... I thought she meant the veggie.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I appreciate all your kind comments more than you can know.