Both my parents served in the Navy during World War II. My father was a pilot and my mother was a nurse. They told me many stories of rationing and victory gardens, and the creative ways they stretched foods. My father's favorite was peanut butter imitation pork chops.

As I have gotten older I have appreciated my parents' stories more and more, and have tried to do research so that I could talk to my father about that time in his life. While doing the research I have found some interesting links about Victory Gardens.

Victory Gardens Handbook

The War Garden Victorious

Dig for Victory Leaflet

Another Seed Order

If I can contol myself, I have placed my final seed order for spring. I always seem to order more than I ever plant. I guess I am dreaming of an acre under cultivation. This order is from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

Beans

White Christmas pole lima bean
Chinese Red Noodle asparagus bean
Turkey Craw pole snap bean

Eggplant

Rosa Bianca

Lettuce

Jericho

Sweet Valentine

Squash

Seminole winter squash
Costata Romanesca zuchinni

Tomatoes

Amish Paste
Mortgage Lifter
Tropic
German Red Strawberry

Rutabaga

American Purple Top Yellow

Seed Orders

I have started ordering seeds for next year from Renee's Garden and Seedman.com. I took advantage of the Seedman.com half-price sale and ordered most of the new seeds for my spring garden. Both companies have fast delivery.

After looking at my list, I realise that I have missed some things that I really want to grow. My garden is getting larger every time I look at a seed catalog.

Amaranth
Golden Giant Amaranth

Beans, Bush
Slenderette Bush Beans
Burpee Early Bush Italian Beans
Fordhook Lima Beans

Beans, Pole
White Greasy Pole Bean

Beans, Best for Canning/Freezing
Burpee Early Bush Italian Beans

Carrot
Tonda Di Parigi Carrot

Cucumbers for Eating Fresh
Straight Eight
Satsuki Madori
Lemon Apple

Cucumbers for Pickling
Homemade Pickles

Eggplant
Pandora Striped Rose

Herbs
French Culinary Thyme
Lemon Mint
Sweet Basil
Holy Basil
Gigante Parsley

Kale
Red Russian

Lettuce
Black Seeded Simpson, leaf
Paris White Cos, romaine
Summer Bouquet, Butterhead/Boston

Melons
Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon
Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
Planters Jumbo Muskmelon
Ambrosia Melon
Savor French Hybrid Melon

Okra
Clemson Spineless Okra

Peas, Southern
Cream 8
Mississippi Silver

Peppers, Sweet
Chocolate Beauty
Tollies
Sheepnose Pimento

Peppers, Hot
Rio Grande Hot Chile
Corno Di Toro Red Pepper

Peppers for Pickling/Grilling/Cooking
Pepperoncino
Spanish Spice
Tollies (Paprika)
Sheepnose (Pimento)
Tennessee Cheese

Spinach
New Zealand Spinach

Squash, Summer
Early Prolific Bush Squash

Squash, Winter
Calabaza Squash
Sugar Baby Pumpkin

Tomatoes for Eating Fresh
Sungold, Cherry
Heatmaster
Arkansas Traveler
Pineapple

Tomatoes for Canning
Heinz
Italian Tree

Tampa Area Gardening Classes

The Hillsborough County Extension Service offers many free gardening classes. If you are interested in improving your gardening skills, check out the new schedule of classes.

The University of South Florida Botanical Garden also offers classes, many discounted if you have a membership.

My Dream Rose Garden

I love roses. Over the years I have grown many roses in Florida, but I was limited by space and finances. If I had unlimited space and money, I would grow each of these roses. They have either been grown by myself, friends, or recommended by local rose societies.

• Abraham Darby
• Alister Stella Gray
• Allamand-Ho
• Aloha
• Alnwick Castle
• American Beauty
• Anna Oliver
• Apricot Nectar
• Autumn Damask
• Baby Alberic
• Ballerina
• Belinda's Dream
• Blush Noisette
• Bon Silene
• Bride's Dream
  
• Buff Beauty
• Cajun Moon
• Carefree Beauty
• Carefree Celebration
  
• Celine Forestier
• Charity
• Charlotte
• Chrysler Imperial
• Cinderella
• Cecile Brunner
• Clotilde Soupert
• Comtesse du Cayla
• Country Dancer
  
• Cramoisi Superieur
• Crepuscule
• Crystalline
• Dolly Parton
• Don Juan
• Dortmund
• Double Delight
• Ducher
• Duchesse de Brabant
• Earth Song
• Evelyn
• Fair Bianca
• Fairy Queen
• Felicia
• Fragrant Cloud
• Gemini
  
• Golden Celebration
• Granada
• Gruss An Aachen
• Habitat for Humanity
  
• Isabella Sprunt
• Jaune Desprez
• Jean Bach Sisley
• Jude The Obscure
• Kronprincessin Viktoria
• Lady Banks
• Lady Hillingdon
• Le Vesuve
• Louis Phillipe
• Maggie
• Mary Webb
• Medallion
• Melodie Parfumee
• Memorial Day
• Mirandy
• Mme. Alfred Carriere
• Mme. Berkley
• Mme. Joseph Schwartz
• Molineux
• Moonstone
• Mr Lincoln
• Mrs B R Cant
• Mrs. Oakley Fisher
• Nacogdoches
• New Dawn
• Oklahoma
• Old Blush
• Paul Neyron
• Peggy Martin
• Perle d'Or
• Perle des Jardins
• Pinata
• Prosperity
• Portland from Glendora
• Reve d'Or
• Rival de Paestum
• Safrano
• Saint Patrick
• Scepter'd Isle
• Secret
• Sexy Rexy
  
• Souvenir de la Malmaison
• Spice
• Sterling Silver
• Strike It Rich
• Sunflare
• Sunsprite
• Tamora
• The Prince
• Valentine

Here are some good places to purchase roses.

• Amity Roses
• Antique Rose Emporium
• Ashdown Roses
• Bay Gardens
• Central Florida Rose Society
• Chamblee’s Roses
• Cool Roses
• Heritage Rose Foundation
• Nelson's Florida Roses
• Pickering Nurseries
• Seminole Springs Antique Rose and Herb Farm
• Tampa Rose Society
• Vintage Gardens