creative jewish mom

Garden Crafts: DIY Rustic Tomato Cage From Sticks

While I have never grown cherry tomatoes, I do know that tomato plants of all kinds generally need support as the tomatoes can get quite heavy, causing the plant to fall over or even break otherwise. So, while the organic tomato seedlings I bought from a local homesteader a month or so ago have yet to actually grow to their expected 1 meter height or provide us with cherry tomatoes just yet, I figured I'd get started on a DIY cherry tomato cage made from sticks, as then hopefully the plant will have more confidence to keep on growing! And even if I wanted to run to the garden supply store and simply buy one of those commercially made wire tomato cages that are everywhere in the USA, well no such luck (fortunately). Instead I get the pleasure of whipping up my own MUCH lovelier version, and I am very happy with the results. I collected a huge bunch of sticks and my husband nearly threw them all out, as it took me over a week to actually get to the this project, but in the end together with the rustic stick garden trellis, I actually used up everything and need to collect some more to make a second tomato cage!  Ah yes, and of course this structure, which isn't exactly a tomato cage, but more like a garden obelisk, can be used for any plant that needs support or something to climb on. This is such a simple project, and will add a nice touch to your container garden or actual garden, so collect those sticks and make a bunch, you'll be very happy that you took my advice, promise!

Garden Crafts: DIY Trellis From Sticks

This year with all the time spent at home as a family, I've had time for some simple upgrades to my container garden due in part to the help of a few teen aged boys! At long last I planted some seeds right before Passover, though the only ones that actually sprouted were the morning glory seeds. This is fortunate as my built in planter (that had to be emptied to deal with water leakage) was looking quite empty, despite returning two standard rose buses to their original spot. Morning glories are trailing vines that need something to grow on, so I collected some long sticks in the forest area near our home, and made several low rustic DIY trellises to encourage the morning glory vines to fill the space below the rose bushes, well initially anyway! Not sure how large the vines will get, so we'll just have to wait and see if additional trellises or vertical supports will be necessary. At the moment the stick trellises are a bit empty, but I suspect that in a few weeks they will be filled with leaves, and maybe even some flowers? In the mean time I'm enjoying their rustic design, and am dreaming of some ladders and other rustic stick structures for my container garden. Want to make some yourself, it is as simple as can be, so lets do it!

Pride Of Madeira Blooms In Northern Israel

One of my favorite non-native yet very Mediterranean garden friendly plants is Pride of Madeira. I found some small plants at a local nursery years ago, and the tiny plants have become woody bushes/trees that bloom every Spring with gorgeous cone-shaped purple flower stalks. This year we had a very wet winter and so all the plants are blooming roughly a month late, which is fine by me, just now that the hot weather has arrived the blooms will likely not last as long, such is life. In any case, I've once again photographed the Pride of Madeira bush in a garden I designed a few years back, and it is lovely as ever.

Interestingly, Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans) is native only to the island of Madeira which lies in the Atlantic, southwest of Portugal. However, its rosettes of soft green leaves and dramatic spikes of blue-purple flowers, together with its drought tolerance have made it a landscaping favorite worldwide, including coastal California. (I have seen lots of it in Northern California, like at the Berkeley marina.) Just beware, as unfortunately, it occasionally escapes gardens and moves into wildlands where it eliminates the native plants that support  native birds and mammals. If you are interested in learning more, check out the link here, with photos of the plant in it's native environment! And if you are not a gardener, then maybe you like to paint or sketch and this one is a beauty to feature, right? Enjoy a little step into a garden in Northern Israel where Pride of Madeira steals the show every Spring.

Wisteria Blooms In Northern Israel

During the Passover holiday my daughter was itching to just get outside, so I sent her down the street to the garden I designed a few years back, with the mission of photographing the glorious wisteria in bloom! Wisteria blooms before there are any leaves on the vine, so it is truly spectacular, the only downside being that it just doesn't last long enough! This year the usual tour groups that gather in this location will most certainly not be coming, so this may be my chance to start the wisteria filled pergola for creating a shaded area with vines! I have seen this before, and it actually works really well, just not sure how long it takes! So with businesses now opening up again in Israel, I think we need to order some wisteria vines ASAP, note to self. How they'll be actually be supported is actually secondary to getting the vines in the ground now that Spring is here! Enjoy these photos and consider giving wisteria a try, if your winters are cold enough that is!

Cyclamen In Bloom For Over Five Months, Wow!

Cyclamen are native to Israel, and a seasonal favorite that is so easy to care for and gives so much more in return! I purchased two cyclamen plants from nursery in Maalot at the end of October, and now five MONTHS later they are still in full bloom with many buds still to open! That is truly amazing, and I wish I had purchased four plants......maybe next year? This year it doesn't look like we'll be doing much summer traveling, if at all, so once the plants stop blooming I will put them in a larger pot and continue to water them and hope to see them re-bloom next year. I'll keep you posted!

A few weeks ago I shared with you photos of all the cyclamen plants in bloom around town, but i didn't get around to sharing the two cyclamen gracing the table next to my front door! Most of those that I shared with you receive sun, so I'm assuming those will not last as long as mine which are in total shade. I do have a few more tips, so keep on reading!

Cyclamen Blooms Non-Stop All Winter In Northern Israel

I bought two pots of cyclamen, a large white variety and a smaller variegated pink variety in October, and just as the nursery promised, they have been blooming non-stop! Cyclamen are native to Northern Israel, and I have seen them blooming out nature not far from our home, so they are especially beloved and a part of Israeli culture. Every year in the late fall the nurseries and flower shops put rows of cyclamen outside, and those who are in the know buy at least a few pots. I have had cyclamen in the past, but acquired them later in the season, so I wasn't nearly as impressed as I've been this year. It is truly amazing how a few little pots of flowers can bring so much joy, right? And while I had planned on photographing my plants, I saw more impressive plantings of cyclamen yesterday when I ventured out with my camera, so I'll be sharing that with you here. Enjoy! And keep this post in mind next October!

Såpnejlika Soapwort Flowers Bloom In Varmdo Sweden

One of the many delights of our travels in Sweden were all the lovely flowers in bloom and especially many that were new to me. Suddenly all the Swedish flower prints and wallpaper that i love made sense! So of course I have many many photographs of all the lovely flowers in bloom that I hope to use as inspiration for my own floral prints, and to inspire you as well, either to grow some or to paint some!

For starters, on our first stop in Sweden in Ramsdalen, in the Archipelagos of Stockholm, there was a large patch of lovely pinkish white flowers on long stalks that made quite a lovely impression in front of our rental cottage, and seemed to be quite hardy. I was very curious to know what these flowers were, so when my own little search failed I emailed the kind owner and they also had to do their own search, which was fortunately successful! These flowers are Sapnejlika, Soapwort, a name that comes from the traditional use of the leaves of the plant as a gentle nature soap! Sure wish I had know that while we were there, I would have tried it! Soapwort might be a great choice for your garden, but do read more about this species before actually committing to it, as it is unfortunately an invasive plant, which on the other hand is why it is doing so well in this spot!

Purple Cone flowers Bloom In Sweden

With Fall just around the corner, you may not be thinking about your garden, unless of course you live in Australia or the Southern Hemispere, or Florida or Southern California, then again, if you love gardening anytime is a good time to plan the blooms you'd like to grow! So, dear readers, most of us know about cone flowers, or Echinacea, but sometimes a reminder is a great thing, so let me remind you, these flowers look amazing, especially a whole bunch of them, and they are drought resistant and just all around great. They do seem to attract a lot of bees though, so keep that in mind.

I took these photos on our recent trip to Sweden (lots and lots more about that to come) at one of the cottages we rented, and there was a nice bed of cone flowers encircling a tall flag pole in the middle of a huge lawn. The scale of the cone flowers (they are largish) was perfect and the splash of color was just lovely. So do give it some thought, and I will as well! Many years ago I did add some cone flower seeds to my container garden with little success, so maybe next time I need to start them in flats, I have a good feeling next year is the time, can't wait! And now, enjoy the rest of my photos, which are great inspiration for some floral paintings as well, note to self!

Look Down: Beauty On The Garden Floor

This week I've been posting all things party, so this natural confetti seemed just right. I love bougainvillea, and truthfully while some may be annoyed by all the falling petals, I happen to think that they look gorgeous, and especially when they are a variety of colors! Here bougainvillea petals are mixed with fallen purple Jacaranda flowers, and the effect is in my opinion just dreamy! If I were to blow this photo up it could be amazing wall art, right? I just might do that, or this could be great inspiration for an abstract painting, Either way, don't forget to look down when you are in the garden, as you may miss something beautiful! I just noticed a little weed that has made its way into the next photo, see if you can find it.........For a look at the Jacaranda trees check out my post here, for a look at the bougainvillea vines check out my post here.

A Mediterranean Style Garden With Arches Of Bougainvillea

Ever drooled over those photos from Greece and Morocco showing bright magenta bougainvillea growing up a white wall next to a blue door? Yes, me too, and the good news is that bougainvillea, and even more specifically the magenta bougainvillea grows really well in our mountain town here in Northern Israel. There are at least four colors of bougainvillea: magenta, deep coral, light orange and white, but apparently the magenta strain in the hardiest, especially important if you live in a location like mine that does get snow occassionally, and of course also important if you are planning to grow bougainvillea in a container, in which case it is less protected from dipping temperatures.

Okay, now back to those visions of climbing magenta bouganvillea. Six or so years ago I was called upon to design a garden in my neighborhood and I came up with a good solution for an awkward overhang— make it into a Spanish style arcade by building arches which give the overhang a reason for existing design wise. It turned out that my visions of stone arches did not fit the budget, so I decided to simply add columns and give the impression of arches by growing bougainvillea up the columns and across the openings. Then I realized that I could add iron arches to help the bougainvillea grow in an arch, and thus this arcade of bougainvillea was born. When I went to the nursery in the Fall of that year to buy bougainvillea plants, they promised me that that vines were all magenta blooms, and come spring it was quite a surprise to find this garden full or white, orange, coral and magenta, as though I had planned it. Truthfully the combination of colors is also lovely, and I'll just have to do those arches of magenta elsewhere, hmmm that gives me an idea for my own garden.....Before you go and put up iron arches for your bougainvillea, there are a few really important things to consider, so lets take a closer look.