Plan Your Perennial Garden Now and Designing Plot Plans

This is a photo of one of my garden journal pages. It shows a section of  my
front porch and gives details on several things purchased!

"If ever I loved thee, my garden 'tis now..." Yes, I am longing for the beauty and relaxation of my gardens in these cold Michigan winter months. The garden is my place of rest... it's where I go when I feel weary, when I need to wind down, when I long to escape the stresses of life... It is my Eden here on earth. Many people have strolled through my gardens in awe wondering when and how I manage to care for them all with my busy farm and market life. I always say, "This is not work! This is where I come to get away from the work!"  But alas, that is not true for all.  If you are a die hard gardener or someone looking to create your own little Eden, it doesn't have to be difficult and it surely won't happen all in one season. My gardens have been born over a period of seven years and they will continue to grow, change and flourish in my tender loving care for many more.  Now is the time to start planning and designing your new dream gardens. You may feel like how do I begin? What plants should I choose? Where am I going to put this bed?  The next couple months will give you ample time to decide on what, where, how and when and whether to order plants or wait for the nurseries. These are all important questions that need to be addressed before the big day of breaking ground. That day is right around the corner...don't let your dreams sit stagnant and lifeless, start planning now.
     



Here is The Side Garden in early spring. You can see there are several Archi-
tectural elaments- picket fence, antique feed cart, step stones. Notice the thick
mulch cover early in the season. I will not have to worry about the weeds get-
ting a hold on me.  2012

 In the next few posts here I am planning on giving my own 'renditions' of my garden's. I will show all the photo's of them at my blog spot.  Hope you are inspired, enjoy friends!

There are several factors to take into consideration when you start the process of designing your garden plots.
1. Decide on Location: This is the first step. It will determine what type of plants you will purchase, whether irrigation will be necessary and if so, what type.  Will it be up against a building? In the middle of the yard? An extension of an existing garden?
2. Type of Garden: Do you want a perennial bed/border with a few annuals as fillers? Is this a small bed that you would like to plant up with annuals each year to have it different and versatile? Is it to be a split of both annuals and perennials?
Will it be a formal garden, herb garden, rose garden or kitchen garden?  These are all important factors that need to be made early on.
3. Plant Selection: Once location and type are determined you can start choosing the plants. Take into consideration if this is a shady, part shade/ part sun or direct sun all day location.  This will play a huge factor on plants. Decide whether you will order some and/or purchase at nurseries. What about getting started with plants from family and friends when they split their plants this spring?
For an extensive list of perennials follow this link: http://www.gardenguides.com/perennial-plants-flowers/
4. Architectural Elements: This is very important, but type of garden will determine what those elements will be. My gardens are Cottage Style, so I get to use all kinds of what I feel are cool Garden Junque items! Stone statuary, bird baths, arbors/trellis', iron work, picket fences, wheel barrow, crates/drawers, buckets and boots... and the list can go on! Determining what you like can help in choosing the type of garden. Will you have walk ways? If so, what will be the stepping stones?
5. Irrigation: will you use sprinklers/hoses, underground sprinkler systems, above ground drip lines, soaker hoses?
6. Mulching: is so important! Mulch will help maintain moisture and hold back weeds. Again what you choose should fit with your garden style.  Mulch- what color, lava rock, white marble stones, bark, etc.

 

Documentation is a key element in helping you along the garden design path. I highly recommend that you Keep a Garden Journal for specific notes on what was planted where, where the plant was purchased, and any other important details.
1. Draw your Garden Plan layouts (see mine attached). This will give you something to work off. It may change from the original design, but having a place to start is so helpful. 
2. Keep all tags and receipts from plants that have a warranty in your journal. This is especially important for large, expensive items such as trees, shrub's/bushes and fruit bearing plants. It is very frustrating when you loose a year of growth when a plant doesn't make it through the winter. But if you have that receipt, at least you won't have to 'buy' another one!
     

This was one of my first plot plans. At our first farm I had decided to tear up the entire front yard and design a 9 part garden with a pond in the center.  I then drew up each of the nine sub gardens as well with details.  This helped in all my planning.

3.Photograph your gardens. I suggest doing this in the early and late parts of each season (spring-fall). Each year you will have a wonderful and accurate account of how things grew.  If you really liked a particular planting or arrangement you created with annuals, be sure to include the tags with a photo of the bed, along with where you purchased the plants. It is very difficult to remember the varieties and where you got them. Not all nurseries/catalog's carry the same items. 
4. Keep Ideas: I often see planting designs and architectural items in other gardens that I would like to replicate in my own. I take photo's to put in my journal otherwise I would never remember everything. I also photocopy ideas out of gardening mag.'s and store them there as well- I don't like to rip pages out!

My garden journals have been such a help to me over
the years.  They are not just helpful, but a lot of fun to
go back and look through.

When we purchased our farm seven years ago, it was an empty, foreclosed mess with not a flower bed to be found. Just one bare patch of dirt stared me in the face every time we walked into the back door.  This was the first bed I planted and I foolishly did so without a long term goal.  I wanted color and I wanted it now.  After the first year and the war against me from the quack grass, I was forced to dig up all the plants and do it again.  This time I did it right! We laid black ground cover over the dirt, set  rocks around the perimeter and then filled in with rich soil. I was able to replant most of what I had there while adding several new plants.












Here is my rendition of The Side Garden as it appears now. No longer a bare patch of dirt, but a work of art. Legend For "The Side Garden" please see attached drawing. This bed is just under 200 square feet.

The Side Garden is lined on both sides and the front with boiling ball size rocks. The back side is sloped down with pieces of slate about the size of a sheet of paper.
1. Peony- 3 plants, 2 Varieties- 1 early bloom and 1 mid bloom
2. Hollyhocks- Because these reseed prolifically I only allow about 7 plants. They are single flower pale pink and pale yellow.
3. Iris- Root beer
4. Hosta- 1 'Blue'
5. Aster- 3 in back center and 1 behind the antique metal feed cart - all purple
6. Lavender- Hidcotte, 2 plants on each corner
7. Creeping Phlox- 2 plants, both pink
8. Hardy Geranium- 3 plants, all pink
9. Lily- Tiger 1 plant
10. Sweet William- 3 to 5 plants, multi colors
11. Sea Lavender 1 plant
12. Calendula- multiple plants that flow over the side of the rocks along with Sweet Allysum
13. Double Pink Petunia's are planted each year in this Antique Feed Cart that I pulled out of a junque pile behind a barn several years ago. It has moved three times with me.
14. Jack Mani Clematis growing up an Antique Iron Gate purchased at an Antique shoppe!
15. Several Terra Cotta clay tiles and a Chimney flu are planted each year with different annuals.
16. An old wooden chair has a tin bucket with geraniums planted in it.

Here are several shots of the side garden during different parts of the season.

Early spring in The Side Garden here. In the above photo you can see the tops of the Peony plant and spring tulips.  The photo to the left has a good shot of the Sweet Williams, Hosta, Sedum, Lily, Iris's and the Terra Cotta clay tiles.  2012 and 2011

Once the Peonies start to bloom this garden gets quickly filled up.  The Hardy Geranium makes a wonderful ground cover across the front.  2012                 

Side and corner views show the growth of the gardens.
These two shots were from 2011. Photo to the right shows Lavender starting to bloom and Sweet William in bloom.

Above below left photo shows the bed nicely. Along the front corner under the Lavender you can see Alysum growing. I planted it the first year and have never had to again. It is a prolific reseeder. I have it through all my walkways and cascading over just about all the gardens. 


 Here we go in the fall! This is one of the Asters that is planted behind the Antique Feed Cart. Last year I planted Zinnias in it... but never again! I love Zinnias, but they have near the impact that I usually have with the double Petunias. The orange in the background are both Calendula (up front) and Nasturtiums in the back.




Here's a sneak peak of the next garden I will show you all... The Bistro Garden!
Happy Day,
Jean

 

Creation Of My Potager

I am in love with gardening...and I am in love with writing about and sharing my gardens with others. My desire is to instill this passion in that person that is drifting out there... dreaming of just a tiny little piece of it... yet not knowing where to begin. I want to inspire the lover of dirt and blossoms to create yet something new and different... I want others to indulge in this romance... show how gardening can bring joy to someone that has sorrow. Gardening whether on a small or large scale, on a balcony or in an acre field affords a luxuary that is so pure.  It doesn't need to cost a fortune or be an emaculate English garden... your garden should be an extension of your heart and soul. I hope that today I can stir that up in you... enjoy friends.

Be sure to check out and 'Like' my Facebook page for Dragonfly... and please share it!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true

I thought it would be interesting to show you the process of how our Potager came to be.  It's quite interesting the way I got to give my daughter her 'kitchen' garden. You see we raise hogs here at The Garden Gate Farm along with poultry, eggs and produce. Well, one day (although there's been many others!) the pigs got out! Pigs love to root up the ground and they made quite a mess out of this area. So much that Neil looked at it as 'too much too repair, go ahead and make another garden!'... don't need to tell me twice! So I gave the good news to Taylor and what better spot than right outside the back door! Good pigs ;-)

So, three years ago we started. It has evolved and grown... quite a bit actually.

Photo #1 2010

Photo's 1 and 2 are not quite the beginnings of our Potager. Though camera happy I am, I never took any shots of what it looked like after the hogs got through with it! I was too excited to get going on this project to worry about the 'before' pics I guess. So we started with black ground cover, then rocks and then added the rich composted pasture dirt of our beef farmer neighbors. In the front, left to right:
Three day lilies, tulip bulbs planted in between.
Back row- several containers which will hold herbs- concrete drain tile, wooden drawer, 4 plastic pots burried half way, antique tool box.
In the far back behind the lilac bush up against the garage there is an elevated garden that holds our Mint Garden Tea.






Photo #2m 2010

In this photo, you can see the raised beds in one of my gardens. This now is where our hoop house sits. You can also see the black ground cover. We have a terrible time with 'Quack Grass', (devil weed in my book!). It is necessary to have this or the whole garden would be taken over with very little hope... especially with organic means.

Photo #3 2010

Here we have erected the Pergola and I have started the Rose Garden on the other side.  This is the same year but later in the summer.  I have now planted a 'Miss. Kim Lilac Bush in front corner, Purple Bell Flowers, some Tulip bulbs. Sage, Thyme, Creeping Phlox, Sweet Autumn Clematis and several climbing Rose bushes along the length of the Pergola.

Photo #4 2010

Here is another shot from a side angle. You can see the step stone path and beside it are two Russian Sage. These are covered with honey bees all summer.  You can also see some tulips blooming. 2010

Photo #5 2011

This photo is year two 2011. The lilies have matured, the sage is blooming and the clematis' are growing.

Photo #6a  2010

The Rose Garden 2011! At least that's what it will be along with many other things growing in it.  We soon started getting the ground cover laid, rock's around and dirt down.  Although the planting didn't begin until much later...

Photo #6b 2010

The beginnings of The Rose Garden 2011 still... Please note that there is a white climbing rose bush at the center of the pergola. You will see a photo coming up of it last summer when she bloomed for the first time. 

Photo #7 2010

Again black ground cover was laid, rocks and then dirt. Stage 3 will be right beside this.

Photo #8 2010

#8- Summer 2011. Starting to get some plants in the Rose Garden. Front corner has a beautiful David Austin Shrub Rose, Peony type. See below photo for one of it's blooms from last year. I have sedum, more sages, bee's balm, creeping phlox, thyme, purple bell flower and lavenders planted in this garden.  The greatest challenge I had with this spot was managing the weeds in between the perennials.  I added straw from our barn as a thick mulch to help.

Photo #9 2012
This is a shot of the rose in the front corner, above photo last summer 2012... She is absolutely stunning!  She will be 3 years old this summer!

 

Photo #10 2011

Here is a shot of the Herb Garden in the Potager. This was taken in 2011. As you can see things are filling in nicely.  I always put Basil in the 4 pots, parsley in the tool box. Oregano is growing in the drawer. I like to use stone word markers with the herb names on them.  Adding structural elements to the garden gives interest to the garden and creates a natural feeling.

Photo #11 2011

Late Spring 2011. The clematis are starting to grow up beautifully and by the end of this summer they had tripled in size. Sweet Autumn is an aggressive climber and quite invasive if left unmanaged.  The rose in the front bottom right corner is growing beautifully.   Compare to photo #3

Photo #11a 2011

Here is the pergola walk way it's first year with the mulch before I removed and replaced it with the pea gravel. See photo #7.  Didn't even have our patio yet!  Spring 2011

Photo #12 2012

Here is a photo of The Rose Garden from the back side. This photo was taken last summer (2012) early summer.  The sages are only about a third of the size they will get, sedum's, shrub rose, iris's, and a new boxwood in the front right corner. Also in this garden, chives and some new Hydrangea starts that will be big and beautiful in a couple more years. As you can see I have covered the ground in straw as a thick mulch to hold back weeds and retain moisture.

Photo #13 2012

Here is a shot of The Rose Garden from the front about a month after the above one was taken.  The large plant front right beside the wheelbarrow, which BTW is for decoration, is a Comfry plant. You can see her tiny buds ready to open. 
Also, remember that little rose bush in photo #6 & 8? That is her in the middle - the whole thing! She was spanned about 8' in width. 
Watch for a shot of the garden bike covered with nasturtiums coming.
Also note our NEW hunter green steel roof!

Photo #14 2012

This is a shot from the back side of the Potager last spring. The roses are just starting to leaf out (front left corner), the tea bed is growing lovely. The purple haze in the back left corner is the Russian sage in bloom. I mulch with straw to help with weeds. 

Photo #15 2012

Photo #15 Front of the Potager last early summer.  #16 was spring when the creeping phlox was in bloom. See the patio in the background?

















Photo #16 2012

You can see in #15 & 16 the growth of the clematis on the pergola. Also, purple bell flowers & the Russian sage blooming in 15.

Photo #17 2012

This photo was taken at the same time as #15. If you compare to photo's number 3, you can see it just about 2' tall, then in #11 jut growing to about 5'. She is a beautiful climber that by the end of last summer had canes that bent right over the top of the pergola- which is 5' wide.  There are two Sweet Autumn Clenatis' here. Each section is 8' wide- just 3 three years old.  You get a lot of bang for your buck really quickly with this beauty. Plus you get the bloom in fall!

Photo #17 2012

By summers end the clematis were grown right over the top of the arch's. When we originally put down the path, I used mulch. Big mistake! The chickens loved it and continually dug holes and scratched it all over the step stones. I happened to be paging through one of my favorite gardening Mag's, Country Garden's and saw a garden path just like this! I shoveled up all the mulch- about 20 wheel barrow full which I used to mulch the beds. I then ordered several tons of pea gravel and wheel barrowed about 20 full to fill in- no more chickens!  The path leads to our back patio which you can see in photo #15 and then also bends to the right leading to the hoop house, greenhouse's and hog's.  I used slate for the paths.

Photo #18 2012

Here I used the slates to make images in the path... a sun and a daisy.  You can be as creative as you allow yourself to be.  My motto in decortating both my home and my gardens is to make me & my family happy and comfortable.  Again, your gardens should be an extension of your heart and soul!

Photo #19  2012

This photo shows the empty space that you see in photo #7.  This area now leads through the arbor you can see in photo #7 as well.
I planted nasturtiums on the edge of this side of the garden... it just poured over and climbed all over my garden bike! It was spectacular. See below for the shot of that.  You can actually see the plants right behind the tires.

Photo #20 2012

See the bike seat... truly amazing what these plants will do when given the room to sprawl. I love them for both the beauty they give and the fact that I can add them to my garden salads for a peppery flavor.

Photo #21 2012

Remember that rose bush? here she is from a frontal postition. The white blossoms are hard to see, but they are there.  Unfortuntely we had just had a rain, one of few, and it knocked down the sages, left and right in photo.  For sake of perspective, I am standing right in front of the garden bike taking this photo.

Photo #21a  2012
Here is a close up of the white rose... so simple yet so elegant.



Photo #22 2012

Here is a shot of the Rose Garden and Pergola from the corner back side. The sedums were just beautiful and you can see the purple haze of the sages. The bright color of the nasturtiums is so radiant.  Also note that growing along the rocks are thyme and creeping phlox.  You can also see the pink rose bush beside the sedum. This is a shrub rose. I am standing in front of the hoop house here.

Photo #23 2012

Here is The Potager late summer last year. It is very full and overflowing from this perspective. Tomatoes, kale, onions, lettuces, potatoes and more growing behind the Herb section.  This is a very productive garden and we enjoy being able to slip out the back door and grab those fresh picked yummies just before we are ready to eat them raw or cook with them. There are a few things that I don't grow here due to the size of the finished product- sweet corn and vining squashes. I do typically include either a yellow squash or zuchinni bush type, but not both because of cross polination.  I will succession plant lettuces, beets, green beans and scallions. I don't bother with certain crops here because I grow so much of them in my raised beds. For example, chard and spinach.  Along the front of the rocks is not weeds... what you see is creeping phlox, thyme and calendula spilling over onto a narrow piece of grass. As mentioned earlier, the clematis has just about covered the entire Pergola across the top and side. At the far end is yet another one.  This whole mass is only 3 plants that started out with about three 2' vines only three years ago! At every post, which is set 6' apart there is a climbing rose bush.

Photo #23 2012

This is a small bed that hold's a larger quantity of sage and oregano. There are also, a couple day lily, bee's balm and lavender. In the far right corner growing on the back post is a Chinese Wisteria. My goal is that this will cover the back side and over the side of the pergola eventually running in with the clematis. This will give my spring and fall bloom.  This bed is directly behind the Rose Garden. In photo #18 of the step stones, this would be to the right.  The next photo of it has the Rose Garden to my back.

Photo #24 2012

In this shot you can see the now in place hoop house with raised beds filled with beautifully growing lettuces and cherry tomatoes.  This shot is late spring to early summer. Notice the lavender in the front left corner loaded with buds.  I also have a Blue Fescue in center front. The Bee's Balm is beuatiful when in full bloom!









I am looking forward to the coming season when I can once again go and have some quiet moments in my gardens... I hope you enjoyed seeing the birth and growth of our Potager, but more importantly, I hope it inspired you!

Happy Day!
Jean

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

Spring Jobs 'To Do List', Plan a Plant Exchange, Successful Plant Division and Yummy Chicken Paprika!

 

I took this photo last spring of the front garden. You can see the rows of
Aspragus well into it's late stage. The bottom left corner is a part of
one of my Rhubarb rows.

For me and I believe many others, Spring holds a promise for newness of life! It's when I look out and dream of new flower beds, anticipate the coming springs first crops of asparagus and rhubarb...savoring the memory of their here today, gone tomorrow presence. I scan the yard and think of all the jobs that I will have to get done as soon as nicer weather affords me time in my personal Eden. I anxiously await the first buds to pop on the lilacs... those small, brave tulips and daffodils, reaching up out of a cold, hard ground to the warming sunshine ready to burst forth into simple beauty! I love to meander out to my potting shed and start cleaning out and reorganizing...strolling through The Potager scanning for baby lettuces sprouting from scattered seeds... imagining the bounty and longing for my quiet time that I am able only to have in my gardens. If you are an avid If this is your first year or the beginning of one more of many, lets look to those promises and plan on a great new gardening year!  Enjoy friends!

This was my 'new' garden last year! It is our farms "Sausage Garden". This
is where we grow the herbs for our sasuage blends.  Like I said... I dream of
new gardens!

Be sure to check out my new Facebook page for extra recipes, links, photo's and more.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true

Most of my readers know that I love anything to do with organization and List Making. I could never do without lists... grocery, housework, to-do, seed inventories or packing for trips (not that I take many, LOL). Lists make our lives easier, especially for forgetful folks like me! Today we'll focus on Spring Garden Jobs. Here is my personal list for you to save and print out if/when you would like. You have my permission to use and share it with friends for personal use. LIST IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.

Keep a journal!  A journal can be your best friend if you let it. Document all the changes you make, take photographs of major projects, renovations and specific growth of particular plants that you want to watch mature over years, like trees.  I stand my children beside a newly planted tree and take a photo every year. It is amazing to see how much they both grow and change!
I also go over to see what plants will need to be split, pitched and replaced if died over the winter and what spots need to be filled in.  Keeping these detailed notes also allows me to remember who may have given a particular plant along with the who, what and when; no more guessing on age or variety. It also gives you the ability to see what worked and didn't. I know as a busy wife, mother, farmer, market vendor and manger, I could never remember everything that I change, plant or didn't like/work. 

Here are a couple really good site's to check out for gardening info!
Gardening Tips and Tricks  http://www.facebook.com/GardeningTipsAndTricks?ref=stream
Weekend Gardener at   http://www.weekendgardener.net/do-list.htm
Seeds Of The Month Club  http://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfTheMonthClub?ref=stream

 

Be sure to keep posted, coming up in my next post I will touch on DRAWING UP YOUR GARDEN PLAN!

 

Planning a Plant Exchange is a great way to share all those 'splits' you will end up with this Spring after cleaning up your beds. I know for myself, I can hardly pitch a plant, it just seems mean! A plant exchange is not only rewarding and fun, it's a great money saver in the long run.  As most of you know I also love to entertain... I don't get to do it as often as I would like, but when I do I try to make it special for my guests! I gave all the How-To's last year on hosting a Plant Exchange (XXXXX), so today I thought I'd focus on some info on types of plants that transplant well.  I have also added tips on division and transplanting. 

Helpful tips to prepare for the Plant Exchange:  (Taken and adapted from Country Gardens Magazine, Spring 2006, pg. 55-57).
How to divide, care for and prepare your transplants for the exchange:
*The best time to divide a plant is shortly after it emerges in spring.
*Try to divide the plants as close to the plant exchange date/time as possible.
*Loosen the soil around the plants perimeter and then use a sharp spade or knife to cut through the roots to divide.  Be sure to keep a large root clump with the plant to ensure successful transplanting.
*Put your divisions in practical, temporary containers: paper cups, disposable aluminum muffin cups, tin cans, plastic containers, plastic plant pots/ terra-cotta pots or any other container you have handy. Just be sure to add drainage holes to water tight containers. 
*Give a tag/label with each division including: name/variety of plant, sun/shade requirements, mature plant size- height and diameter, water/soil requirements, zone hardiness, perennial or annual. A nice description for 'new' gardeners will be so appreciated.
*Make sure to plant/water as soon as possible once you have the plants in their new location.
 
How to harvest seedlings:
*Be sure that the seedlings are at least 3-5 inches tall with at least 2 sets of true leaves.
*Get all the plants roots.
*Replant the seedling into a small container with appropriate drainage holes and gently water immediately.

 

 

Red Oak Leaf lettuce seedling in one of the raised beds along side spinach.

 

 

Plants that divide easily and transplant well include:
*Hosta's
*Day Lilies
*Bleeding Heart
*Peony
*Bee's Balm (Monarda)
*Black Eye Susan, Shasta Daisy's and any Coneflowers
*Columbine
*Sedum
*perennial Geraniums
*Hellianthus
*Purple Bellflower
*any early blooming bulbs that have bloomed and died back at least half way- Snow Drops, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips
~I always say, if in doubt, do without... so if you are not sure about one of your plants, ASK! Or look up in a good garden guild any special tricks that certain plants may have before you divide if you are not sure.

 

I took this photo of my Bistro Garden two years ago in mid Spring when all the hosta's were fully open. In the back you can see my front arbor, which is now completely covered by a Sweet Autumn Clematis... see photo of it on my Dragonfly Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-Dragonflies-And-Me/550000798362651?skip_nax_wizard=true

Here is the same location but taken last year in early summer. Notice the arbor now covered in Clematis... she is stunning when in full bloom... and oh the aroma she gives off. This is an example of  taking shots of the same location but at different times and years can give you. 

Last summer I bought a yellow climbing rose bush to give to my son as a token of 'our friendship" He planted it and then I took the phot of him and it... in a few years it will cascade and cover this side of the picket beside the front arbor.


 

This is a very favorite recipe in our home. It was Neil's mothers recipe that she had made and over the years I have adjusted it a bit to serve our large family. It is super yummy and worth the efforts in making!

Chicken Paprika

1 Whole Chicken, cut into pieces with or without skin/bones
1/2 cup Safflower Oil
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 large onion, diced
8 cups water
2 Tbsp. Paprika
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 bag Spaetzel dumpling noodles

1. Put flour in a large bowl; coat each piece of chicken and place in a large skillet with hot oil, reserve left over flour; fry chicken pieces in hot oil until browned all all sides; remove chicken to plate.  Put remaining flour and diced onions in pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add to skillet and onions: water, paprika, salt and pepper and cooked chicken; cover and simmer for 1 hour.  The water will thicken as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
3. While chicken is simmering, cook Spaetzel dumpling noodles according to package directions so they will be ready when chicken/gravy are done; about 1/2 hour before.
4. When chicken is done, remove from gravy into a bowl; cover to keep warm; add sour cream to gravy and blend in until dissolved.
5. When dumplings are done put them in a bowl and ladle 1/2 of the gravy over top and the rest over the chicken. 
Serve immediately.

Happy Day,
Jean

Spring Garden Job To Do List, by Jean Smith
May be copied and used for personal use only.
Date	Task			Comleted Y N		Notes
	Front Porch/Patio Areas
	sweep/ blow/ rake
	put out furniture
	repot planters/ window boxes
	repairs if any- make note is so
	touch up painting-		pots
			furniture
			structures
	correct any patio stones
	new project
	new project
	new project
	Flower Bed Clean/Prep
	clean any debres left over
	check for dead plants
		remove and replace
		make note of what
	amend soil/add fertilizer
		make note of what
	Divide plants
		make note of what
	Plant	trees
		shrubs
		list what & when
	Direct seed any spring flowering annuals
		Forget me not
		dianthus
		English daisy
		sweet William
		viola
	Transplant	before leaf buds open
		roses
		shrubs
		ornamental trees
	Fertilize Peonies when 2-3 inches tall
	Divide and transfer any flowering bulbs after they have died back	and divide flowering bulbs after they have died back
	Clean ponds/fountains/water featues
		repairs- make notes
	other
	other
	other
Date	Task			Comleted Y N		Notes
	Vegetable Garden/ Raised Beds
	amend soil
		make note of what
		make note of when
	clean any debris
	plant spring crops when soil is ready
	EARLY	peas		greens		spinach		chard
		radishes		lettuce		kale		parsley
	LATE	potatoes		carrots
		onions		beets
	check trelises/ posts/ fences
	repair raised beds if loose
		add soil if needed
	Potting Shed/ Storage Shed
	General Tidy after winter
	sweep out
	re-organize pots/ labels
	repair any tools that need
	oil/ sharpen tools
	inventory items:
		dirt
		seeds
		flats/trays/pots
		ferilizer/herbicides/
		insecticides
		labels/
	other
	other
	other
	check hoses/sprinklers
	make a list of what you need as you go
	check mower- plugs
		sharpen blades/replc.
	check tiller(s)
	have supply of gas/oil for machines
	other
	other
	other
	other
	Pruning/ Propogation
	evergreen shrubs before growthj		re growth
	spring flowering shrubs after flowering
	propagate deciduous shrubs
		forsythia
		winter jasmine
Date	Task			Comleted Y N		Notes
	Weed/Pest Control
	make sure debris is cleaned up to avoid snails and slugs
	as soon as roses start to leaf out, dust with an organic powder
		repeat once a month all summer!
	watch for Tent Worms in your trees, webs in trees
		as soon as visiable, spray with organic spray
	****use burn technique*** please research this before you do it.
		on sidewalks
		driveways
		garden