Happy Friday!

I'm cooking up a contest that will start next week. There will be prizes, very delicious prizes!

Check back next week for details (and possible clues if I get creative) and have yourself a fabulous weekend.

By the way, what's your favorite day of the week, and why? Mine is Friday. Friday evening, specifically. I love that it's the end of the work week and I know that for 2 straight mornings I don't need to be anywhere on time. Our new Friday night tradition is homemade pizza and fruit smoothies.

July Muse Day: The Darkness Of Gardening

There's no shortage of gardeners
waxing poetic about the magic of gardening
but I'm here to tell you
gardening has nearly ruined my life.

Till I started gardening
I was content with my career
Now, I walk through those doors
each morning
wondering how much of my soul they'll steal
before quittin time

Why's this happening to me

Has gardening opened some poltergeist door
into my artistic side
I've been sucked in

Or is it a simple case of narcissism
I love to garden
therefore I must bitch
and complain
and quit my job
so I can garden, more

Collecting Allium Seeds

I'm a big fan of Alliums after planting the bulbs (or whatever they were, I can't remember) last fall and watching them bloom for the first time this spring. 

I was really surprised how long they lasted and how they looked like they were standing guard over the Spirea. 

This has got to be the easiest thing on the planet to collect seeds from.  I just did nothing and they turned out like this (below). 

 

 

I'll collect the seeds and let them dry then hope like heck somebody tells me how to grow more Alliums from seed. 

 

MBT - I need you! 

Technorati Tags: allium,seed saving,gardening,purple flowers

Broadening My Blogging Horizons: Part I

I don't know if you've noticed but even though it's prime gardening season, I haven't been blogging as much.  Not only that, but I haven't been commenting as much on the blogs I've been reading every day. 

I've probably never shared this but I enjoy writing almost as much as I do gardening.  I suppose all us bloggers do.  I actually took a creative writing class last semester at the university and I loved it. But, it certainly created a writing competition between what I needed to write for my class and what I wanted to blog about my garden.  That's all finished now - I got an "A"!  

Then, a month or so ago I got some great advice from Colleen about how I might go about pursuing other writing projects.  (thanks again, Colleen!)  I "tried out" for a few paid blogging jobs and was chosen for two of them.  One is a business related blog and the other is a Going Green blog that is published on a new online magazine called The Hatchet.  I'm particularly excited about the magazine one because I love the direction the editor is taking with this site.  He publishes articles and personal essays that are witty and interesting which I enjoy reading. 

So, I've been working hard to come up with some schedule so that I can fulfill my obligations to the new blogs, and write about my gardening adventures on this blog (my true love blog).  It's not as easy as I thought it would be but I think I'll eventually get into a comfortable rhythm that'll allow me to manage everything without needing to be institutionalized. 

There's one more big thing I'm cooking up and I'm planning to post about that over the weekend.  Thank you all  for being patient with me.

Technorati Tags: blogging,writing jobs,gardening,the hatchet

Cosmic Flowers

I have no idea why I can't just let the flowers be. 

Are these the coolest flowers ever?  I'm pretty sure if flowers grew on the moon these two would be in there somewhere. 

 Eryngium Blue Sea Holly

 

A creeping Sedum whose name I cannot recall.

Technorati Tags: sea holly,sedum,succulents,gardening,cool flowers

It's Sunday And I'm A Sourpuss

Sourpuss - a person having a grouchy disposition that is often accompanied by a scowling facial expression.

The best thing about today is that the Geranium J Snappy gave me is about to bloom.  Other than that, I'm not happy.  In keeping with the list theme from my last post, here's a list of the crap I'm crabby about.

1. The weeds in the front gardens are insane.  I ran out of plant markers therefore I did not mark all the seedlings that I planted a few weeks ago therefore today I'm pretty sure I ripped out newly planted seedlings along with the weeds.
2. I was caught in a hail storm during number 1.
3. I've got writer's block.  Or maybe I just have nothing interesting to say.  Or at least nothing I think of seems interesting to me so I can't imagine it'd be interesting to you.
4. I have several books to read but instead of reading them, I just keep buying more books to read.
5. I'm mad that my rain barrel is black and Garden Rant is sporting a cool terra cotta looking one.  I'm also mad about my shallowness regarding wanting a cooler rain barrel.
6. I'm sick of looking at the winter sowing containers filled with seedlings, but not sick enough to plant them all.  I despise my laziness!
7. The Yarrow I bought for 75% off and planted last year is a freak plant that belongs in a big field and not in my backyard fence border.  I wish Bruce thought it was a weed!  The stuff is already almost as tall as the 6 foot fence and is crowding out my poor replacement Weigela Wine and Roses.  I wish death on thee!
8. It's my weekend for laundry.

Man, we could be here all night.  Somebody pass the happy pills!

Technorati Tags: organic gardening,lists

Growing Challenge Update: Green Beans

There's been another bean sighting! You may remember that I planted the Bush Beans indoors way back in March (yikes - what was I thinking?) in the coconut fiber pellets but they grew way too fast and ended up transplanted to the composter. You can see and read all about the renegade beans here. It's ashamed that it took me until I was 40 years old to understand Jack and the Bean Stalk but I get it now.

So, round 2 started last week when I planted more bean seeds out in the raised beds. I basically just shoved the bean down about an inch into the soil with my finger. I'm still amazed that an entire plant comes from that one little bean. In the picture above, you can still see half of the bean where it split open to sprout. Isn't life amazing?

I also have Yellow Zucchini and Cucumber Lemon seeds planted for the Growing Challenge but they are not photo-worthy yet. Be sure to check out the other gardeners participating in the Growing Challenge and if you haven't planted your beans yet, get to work!

Stay tuned for an update on garbage can potatoes.

Potted Lettuce

This is going to be my new patio table centerpiece. It will soon be filled with lettuce from the seeds that I sowed in a shallow terracotta pot I had sitting in the basement. The patio table is white and I think the contrast of the terracotta pot and the mix of lettuce leaves is gonna be great!

Anybody else have an interesting edible centerpiece?

Columbine: The Witch Flower

If I was a witch (a wicked one) and I had a garden, it would be filled with all kinds of columbine. For some reason this flower always makes me think about witches. Does that make me crazy? I mean look at those spiky petals. Don't you think they look kinda evil and spooky?

Can you think of any other spooky flowers? Or does anybody have a witch garden?

Creative Water Conservation

This is the dehumidifier in my basement. It sucks the water right out of mid air into a nice collection device. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? This is the container that the water collects in (below). It's pretty big, I'd say about 2 gallons. In the summertime this thing sometimes fills up every other day. I'm always amazed how crystal clear the water looks when I pour it out.

So I was thinking instead of pouring the water down the sink in the basement, I could use it to water my garden. It's sort of like having an indoor rain barrel!

In Defense Of Big Box Stores

I'm all for a good boycott and I really want to shop at smaller privately owned businesses. I get it. But the big box stores make it very difficult and I don't feel like the little guys are doing all they can to get my business.

Case in point, plants from Home Depot (or Lowes) versus plants from J&P. Last summer I purchased 26 Simplicity Hedge Roses from J&P and was very pleased with them. They arrived in good condition, and all 26 bloomed profusely all summer long. See below.But 3 of them did not make it through the winter. J&P says I can only return them within 60 days and that they can't be responsible for harsh weather or neglect, so I'm stuck with these 3 dead roses. Is it reasonable that I selectively neglected 3 of the roses in the middle of the 26? Or that the weather was harsher on those 3 than the other 23? Doubtful. My problem is that, had I purchased these from my evil neighborhood big box store, I could simply yank them out of the ground and return them for a refund, or exchange them for 3 new ones. But unfortunately I do not have that option.

As a consumer, how can I justify buying from this company in the future? Must I rely solely on my willingness to take a bigger risk for these non-big box stores. Shouldn't these companies meet me half way on the sacrifice? I'm even willing to pay higher prices and travel further to shop but when I don't get a quality product and the return policy doesn't even allow me an exchange, I struggle to justify it.

I don't expect smaller companies to be able to offer competitive pricing but I do expect them to have the best quality plants and buffing up their return policies so that they match the big box bullies seems like the least they could do. And if they are not willing to do that, then I'm not sure I'm willing to make the sacrifice.

Am I wrong about this? Somebody, please, help me see the light.

How Gardening Changed My Life

Please bear with me but I'm feeling very sappy and I'm overcome with the urge to write a big ole corny post about gardening.

Tomorrow (May 21, 2008) my blog turns a year old. I really can't believe how my life has changed over the last year as result of gardening. Actually, some of it has been more related to blogging than gardening but the two are so blended that I almost can't see doing one without the other. It's like blogging has just become another step of gardening, like putting away your garden hose when you are done.

Here's my very first blog post that was written the same day I planted my very first kitchen garden. I really cracked up looking back at the birth of some of my flower beds and the transformation of some of my first plantings. For the next few days I think I'll make these transformations the focus of my blog because I'm telling you some of this stuff cracks me up.

Somebody get the violin!

Gardening has changed my life in the following ways (in no particular order)

1. I've established new friendships that I think will last a lifetime with people who share a love for gardening. shout out to GB!


2. I've crossed e-paths with some really great gardeners across the world who have been so helpful to me for reasons I still don't understand and even met one in person. Thank you all!


3. I've found a great way to de-stress that does not involve drug abuse. HA


4. I've learned more about the environment than I ever thought possible just from paying attention to my dirt.


5. I've gone way outside my previous comfort zone building all sorts of crap and even though I've made tons of mistakes I've had so much fun doing it! Plus, my confidence about DIY stuff is out the roof and I'm pretty sure I could build a house or something. (OK maybe not a house)


6. I've been inspired to explore some other creative outlets that I hope to tell you about soon.


7. My yard is prettier and I know how to grow food!

I think my blog (and my life) will be changing in some very big ways over the next year and I can't wait. I don't have some big master plan other than to keep on gardening but I believe we should all be moving forward so that's what my garden and my blog will be doing.

Next up I'll be showing you how my Dwarf Bell of Georgia Peach Tree went from shabby to chic.

Happy Birthday to me!

I'd Rather Be Gardening, Or Blogging About Gardening

My day job is standing in the way of gardening and garden blogging and I'm pissed off about it. Ever since I got this new job I've been working later than usual and I'm back to being obsessed about work, even when I'm at home.

Today was a typical day. I worked until almost 7:30 - by the time I get home I can't even see the garden, let alone work in it. I haven't picked a single tomato this week so I'm assuming they are rotting on the vine. Not only that, but I'm having a really hard time keeping up with all the blogs I love to read as well as writing on my own blog. Gardening Bloggers - I MISS YOU!

The weekends are mostly devoted to doing crap that simply prepares me to work my ass of the next week - laundry, grocery shopping, blah blah blah. This sucks! I need a gardening vacation...
On a positive note, I'm going to the bulb sale at the Botanical Garden with GB this weekend. YAY!

If anybody has any suggestions on how I can blow off work to do some gardening without getting fired, please email me immediately! If by some wild chance my boss is reading this blog - I NEED A FREAKIN VACATION! I'M STRESSED OUT AND MY PLANTS NEED ME DAMMIT!

Frivolous or Frugal?

I found this picture on the internet. I want some of these but I just can't bring myself to spend 30 dollars on plastic shoes.I'm not normally particularly frugal but when it comes to the garden, I really have a hard time spending a chunk of money on any one item. There are a couple of possibilities for this.

1. This stuff is going to be outside, getting rained on and snowed on and lord know what else
2. I'm not convinced that I'm sticking to this gardening thing for the long haul. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm loving gardening, still, in August. BUT, if you know me you know that I obsess about things and as quickly as I became obsessed, I can lose interest.

I think that the Peach Tree I bought this spring is the most expensive thing I've purchased for the garden. It was 19.99.

Are you a frivolous gardener or a frugal one? What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought for the garden? I'll be honest, I hope to hear about some awesome frivolous spending that will inspire me to go out and buy some of the more pricey items that I really want.