Finally! Introducing guest blogger, Toni Winston

Toni & I met in 9th grade.  In an attempt to keep her age under wraps, I won't bother to mention how long ago that was but it was a very long time ago.  Back then, I was a quiet, really quiet, really, really, really quiet teen who loved school but did my best to stay under the radar.  Toni on the other hand, was a witty, constantly laughing, sometimes loud, always "in the know" kind of girl.  She had a BIG personality that could not be contained.  We met by way of her unapologetic habit of cheating off my paper in science class.  Not just cheating for her own personal good but stealing my answers and then passing them on to others in the class.  It's a story she tells often so I'm sure she won't mind me sharing it with you.  Considering that I wasn't a willing participant in her constant playful mischief and the fact that we're total and complete opposites, it's hard to believe that a long lasting friendship blossomed but it did. Like my other bestie blogger friend, Naturally Pebbles, Toni has been an ardent supporter of all things Tamara which has included trekking to the north for my Providence, RI college graduation, coaxing me across the Twin Span bridge into the Crescent City for my first "real job", recommending me for countless catering gigs and 1000 other things in between.  It's no surprise to me that she would stand with me and lend that same support to TELMORE Gardens but I was truly excited at her decision to join me on the blog.   I am delighted to formally introduce my bestie deluxe and the final third of  the "three Ts", Toni Winston.  I'm confident that as  you hear more from her, you will appreciate her presence as much as I do.

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Hi all! I'm Toni Winston, new guest blogger for TELMORE Gardens. Some of you may know me as the mother of the Dimpled Darling Skylar who has been excited about her gardening journey under the leadership of TELMORE Gardens' own Titi Tam!

My gardening interest developed as a young child who planted marigolds, azalea bushes, squash and tomatoes throughout the years in my Northside apartment complex. When I think back that was urban gardening at its best! I've changed addresses just a bit so I don't quite qualify as an urban gardener but I'll take the title gardener.

This year TELMORE Gardens encouraged me to create a raised bed garden. I had previously planted in this same spot but directly in the ground. It yielded a few tomatoes and various peppers. I was hyped about building this structure in my back yard!  Well I didn't build it but give thanks to my handyman and father in-law Carl Spencer who always comes through for me.

This summer's garden experienced several what I would like to call learning experiences. I've been visited by dog vomit mold, termites, birds and a crop that just wouldn't grow but I still visited the garden every day along with Skylar. We'd tend to it; weed it, water it and some day's just plain ole stare in amazement.

Just recently I decided the heck with the peppers that did nothing; away with the squash and just pluck up what should have been the cucumbers but my tomatoes oh my tomatoes! They have taken a turn for the better. The plants are blooming and some have sprouted tomatoes. I'm excited about what this will bring.  This may seem late to you but while everyone else is eating store brought tomatoes because the season is over, I believe that I will be yielding them through late fall.

Now I'm thinking, what next? I need a fall crop. Tamara had suggested a cover crop, but as she would say "In my mind" I think that I want to try some fall vegetables. My father in law on the other hand wants to rid us of the termites and remove the current structure consisting of untreated wood, a base of untreated mulch topped off with soil, peat moss, manure and compost. I'm thinking that's a lot of work and I will need money to start over. What I do know is that we aren't going to mess with those tomatoes. Once they have run their course we will address the structure and my new neighbors the termites.

Want to know what comes of the tomatoes and the termites? I'll check back in later!

Until then....Keep planting


Toni Winston: iPlan, iGrow, iKnow

You can also visit me on www.d2run.blogspot.com