too hot to garden!

it's hot! how hot? that hot! I did a little weeding... covered the potatoes' new growth with compost and soil...thinned the radishes...transplanted some basil seedlings...and that is all I could do in the direct sun! oh: I was going to water everything since they look droopy but the mister's huge truck is parked on the hose and the hose nozzle has been smashed:(

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flower power

spring is all about flowers! celebrate it with the spring stool manufactured by wildspirit from sustainable bamboo and shown at the international contemporary furniture fair: instant pouff!

via comtemporist 

and the new arugula is...

last year it was reported that dandelions were the new arugula...i am not buying any at whole foods because i certainly have a good supply on hand! but something happened with the weather (hellish winter to immediate spring) and everything went from nothing to well, blooming...and dandelion leaves are a bit bitter for my palette after they bloom...really. so what i am trying to say is, i missed the dandelions again this year...but i was ready with the old arugula: arugula. the seed sprouted in three days, and it wont bolt like lettuce despite the 92° today.

love arugula: tangy, not bitter.

bird watching

today is my admin day: i clear emails, muddle through my in-box, organize myself with lists, clean my studio and get generally organized. because it was warm yet overcast, i did most of my work-on the computer, of course-outside...and spurred on by the world series of birding, i decided to count all of the birds i saw while doing it. the first bird i saw was a pileated woodpecker, who cruised through the trees right in front of me. the last bird i saw was a ruby throated hummingbird-the fist of the season!- which i had (somehow) anticipated, and made a double batch of nectar for earlier in the day. in between, i saw the great blue heron, 8 or so osprey, titmice with chickadees, cardinals, american goldfinch, eastern bluebirds, two red bellied woodpeckers, various crows, harbor gulls and a white breasted nuthatch that cracked kernels of corn from the bird feeder on the loblolly pine. another bird-y thing happened when ot and i went to the beach: i heard the crazy call of a pilleated woodpecker...then a second...and then many many more: i dont know how many, but a lot! from the trees these birds were screaming for about 3 minutes..then silence. wow: it was cool! purple martins should show up any second since the sun is setting soon. the highlight of the day was definately the hummingbird-who is buzzing me right now, coincidentally- because it's arrival signals the beginning of summer, a week before the unofficial start during memorial day weekend. i love summer!

first strawberries

I picked -and subsequently ate- my first home grown strawberries of the season! yeah, I know: there are only four, but they were delicious! looking forward to more...

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strawberry pot

the mister snagged these huge concrete pots from a demo site he was working on right before the backhoe dumped them into the trash: nice job! with my huge oak gone (r.i.p.), the berries are flourishing and taste delicious. i just hope i can pick a few before the birds eat them all: cant believe i cant find my critter cover! i must add a note to my master gardener app: clean the shed.

how to make an umbrella from a plant

from my friend barry at sunshine farm & garden comes this wonderful shade loving 'american umbrella leaf' plant, Diphylleia cymosa. reminds me of a may apple, and rightfully so as they are related, but barry says the umbrella leaf is like a may apple on steroids, though! i love the idea that woodland creatures and birds take refuge under the umbrella-like leaves during rainstorms. the plant sounds easy to grow and propagate as the umbrella leaf is native to several southeastern states and apparently is hardy in all 50
(even hawaii?!): wow! 

front porch

my neighbors love to hang out on their front porch all the time: i think its a great idea, so im trying to make mine more like a sitting room. i found this vintage metal and wicker table at a tag sale and covered it with my cactus and succulent collection from inside the house: hoping they wont get sun burned! the pansies are still looking pretty good and give a little privacy when im sitting out here: they will soon be replaced by sweet potato vines and nasturtiums. all i need now is a pretty indoor/outdoor rug and a baby gate to keep the dog in.

please stop and smell the flowers

may flowers are delightful...

it seems like winter was so long ago.

house and garden pilgrimage

the annual maryland house and garden pilgrimage is in talbot county today. tour homes and gardens of nine featured properties, from waterfront gardens, historic and modern residences, to a historic church. talbot county is the fifth of six maryland counties participating in the 2010 pilgrimage, which has been on going since 1930. the pilgrimage tour has raised over a million dollars since it's inception, and is a central component in the non-profit's mission to preserve and restore architecturally significant properties throughout the state of maryland. go spend an awesome day on the eastern shore.

capitol riverfront market

last week was the opening of yet another farmer's market in washington dc: the capitol riverfront farmer's market at new jersey avenue, se and m street, se (navy yard metro). the new farmer's market will be open every thursday 3-7 through november 18th. there will be fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, breads, baked goods, herbs, spices, pickles, olive oil, jam, honey, flowers, prepared food and more! the goal is to feature local produce and raise awareness of local speciality products. 

is purple rain next?

some people saw snow yesterday...if it didnt sound so completely toxic, i would love snow to be purple: that would at least make it less offensive (to me), and maybe a little more fun for everyone the next time we get 45", which i hope is never. 

national cathedral flower show

one of the highlights of spring in washington is the all hallows guild's annual flower mart at the national cathedral, which starts today 10am-6 and runs through saturday 10-5, rain or shine. you can buy cool plants, eat great food, climb the cathedral's tower or take a ride. the admission is free, but vendor proceeds go toward the cathedral's gardens, grounds and woodlands.

green thumb apps in taptilt magazine

attention app-happy gardeners: taptilt on-phone magazine app for the iPhone and iTouch are live in apple's app store right now! i authored/produced the section on green thumb apps, completing work on my second app (master gardener was my first one). taptilt is a different type of app though: it is designed to take full advantage of the iPhone and iTouch's multimedia capabilities, and conveys information while exploring topics conventional magazines cant even conceive of. the gardening section includes articles, an interactive calendar and a video. may is the first issue and in addition to my gardening section, baseball, painting app brushes as well as music and gaming are covered. read more about taptilt app for iPhone here, then go to the app store and buy a copy!

tree ring paintings on etsy

fellow etsian tracy melton paints what she sees when out in the woods...she paints tree rings on tree rings.

i like the woodsy modern appeal.

incredible clematis

one plant I have had zero luck growing is clematis: never even grew a leaf, because they just shrivel and die. i cant seem to find the right balance between cool feet and hot head, i guess. my neighbor, on the other hand, grows incredible clematis: they don't look real!

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gather round the may pole

 you should take your kids to the audubon nature fair at woodend nature sanctuary today, 11-5. there is a lot going at this year's fair, which has a green living theme. i like the wildlife ambassadors: my favorite is the tiny owl.

gardening apps for the iPhone

the last few weeks i have been working on a new app for the iPhone, completely different from the master gardener app i developed with my brother. taptilt, the on-phone magazine for iPhone and iTouch is currently awaiting approval from apple for inclusion in the iTunes store. the premier issue-may- covers, baseball, art, gardening, and a lot more.  i contributed the gardening section. please look for it soon!