today's problem: winter

it really has been a decent-not-too-cold winter 'round here. however, saturday afternoon's arctic blast left a bit of snow on my front steeps which was quickly blown away in sunday's 50mph wind gusts.

weekend gardening events

if i could only go to one gardening event this weekend, it would be the seminar on native bees in new hope, pennsylvania.

(bee pendant from my etsy shop)

plants in the hood

crocus!

they are out...they have been out for a week! so ready for spring!

albino hummingbird

last summer this rare albino hummingbird was spotted about two hours from me! i am cleaning up my feeders right now in hopes of attracting one of my own!

how to keep it covered

i want one of these umbrellas makmax fabricated for trailfinders australian garden at last years chelsea show...almost like a cocoon...it would be wonderful to be under it during a (non-electrical) rain shower.

personal space

is this garden open to the public?

how to have greens all winter

one word: arugula!

i started planting arugula a few summers ago as a non-bolting replacement for lettuce when the heat intensified. but here it is, the last day of january and my arugula is still going strong...i mean really strong! this has been a mild winter with little snow, but the arugula has flourished and provided me with delicious salads for over nine months now.

i cant complain. arugula rocks!

today's problem: seed catalogs

january is the beginning of the influx of seed and gardening catalogs: 'porn for gardeners', i call them! they all look so inviting and colorful...and do-able. i love to take a long bath and peruse each and every one.

weekend gardening events

looks like a nice winter weekend, so do something!

Farming in High Tunnels 
Accokeek, MD
Friday, January 27, 2012

Washington Gardener Seed Exchange 
Wheaton, MD
Saturday, January 28, 2012

Monarch Butterflies and Their Miraculous Migration 
New Hope, PA
Sunday, January 29, 2012

plants in the hood

today's plant has got to be the snowdrop! here's the flower: where's the snow? not here, i am happy to report! last year at this time we had over 2 feet of snow on the ground and the snowmagedon was just about to happen. this year: not so much and i am thrilled this winter has been so bearable! i don't want to curse things though because the farmer's almanac is predicting a blizzard for the last two days of this month: yikes!

year of the dragon

happy new year!

aren't deer cute?

my parents just moved to the country: they're still in the "aren't deer cute?" phase. it will be a rude awakening!

today's flower: nasturtium

today's flower has got to be my nasturtiums which i planted back in may in my planter boxes...they didnt bloom at all this summer because i think the soil was too rich and they don't like that, but come halloween, they started to show! now it's almost christmas, and despite several hard freezes, they continue to shine!

merry christmas to me!

concrete evidence

for years i have been wanting to make my own concrete or concrete-like planters, but i havent got around to it. luckily, roughfusion has done the work for me and there's a 20% christmas discount!

today's plant: poinsettia

happy national poinsettia day!

lunar eclipse

i missed the lunar eclipse and will now have to wait several years for the next one...for some reason i thought it was tonight!

modern mailbox

the green mailbox from ahsayane design studio is pure form.

it would be at the top of my christmas list if i could find where to buy it...

today's problem: dirty produce

it is december and organic, local fresh fruit and vegetable selections have dwindled with the impending cold weather. a lot of produce currently in the market has been conventionally grown with pesticides and/or imported and grown using who know what! the environmental working group updated its shopper's guide to pesticides in produce this past summer to let consumers know which fruits and vegetables have the most-and the least-pesticide residues. apples are prolific now-and lead the contaminated list-so it is best to buy apples that have been organically grown because pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems. peeling your conventionally grown root crops will remove some pesticide residues, as will trimming the outer leaves of lettuce, cabbage and other leafy greens. a water rinse will sort of wash off some of the toxins, but i clean my produce in water combined with a little vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to actually get rid of the poisons. it is also important to remember that many organic fruit and vegetables have been grown using manure and this too must be eliminated before eating: not just rinsed off! be healthy: wash your veggies then eat them!

how to make a holiday wreath

every year i dream of making and baking all of my christmas gifts, but somehow, december 25th seems to catch me by surprise and i have no time left for these tasks. this year my plan is to decorate simply, buy handmade gifts from my artist and crafter friends, and finally, enjoy the season! i am going to make a wreath, however! i confirmed this decision as i slipped down the stairs on a recently fallen sweet gum ball and turned my ankle. i had seen a diy project of a white sweet gum ball wreath and i was going to make it! i havent collected the gum balls yet, but i have ordered a straw wreath and floral pins: i hope they arrive today so i can make the wreath this weekend! my intentions are good, but if i dont follow through, i can always order a wreath from etsy:)

hornet hives

the strong winds of autumn have blown most of the leaves off the trees,  and i have noticed these huge paper-y hornet hives hanging in them: i think they might be abandoned housing of bald face hornets.

i believe i may have been stung by a few in my day!

today's weather

the rain has ended and the storm has blown away. 

sunset was lovely!

today's problem: holiday gifts for gardeners

the leaf rake hands are NOT on my wish list...

how to build a green house

i love this house: what a great job at urban guerilla gardening! i like the grey water usage for watering.

today's plant: morning glory

i spend so much time trying to eradicate the bind weed in my yard that i often forget they have some really beautiful members of their family! well, this morning i was reminded.

these lovely pink and purple flowers are from one gnarly Ipomoea purpurea vine around a stop sign.

i dont know what this petite orange variety is called, but i love it!

meteor shower

tonight is the final night of the leonid meteor shower...everyone is worried the moon may be too bright for viewing, but i say "what about the clouds?" 

today's plant: elephant ears

we are enjoying a lovely indian summer here in the mid-atlantic with today's highs in the 70's. today's plant is my neighbor's gorgeous elephant ear, Colocasia esculenta (common taro) which is still looking marvelous despite some recent chilly night temperatures. will it make thanksgiving?

happy veteran's day

happy veteran's day!

weekend gardening events

autumn is a wonderful time to work in your garden...or not!

•there is a fall orchid sale at lyman estate greenhouses in waltham, massachusetts today thru sunday.

•

explore the world of watersheds in richmond. california

(you know: right by the oil refineries in cancer alley).

•winterize your pond correctly saturday at this workshop in woodland, washington.

buy some new plants at mounts botanical garden plant sale in west palm beach.

enjoy!

maximum garden house

vertical gardening has really come into its own, and has migrated from commercial and public installations to the front of your house. and, why not? green spaces are becoming more dear as development takes over every inch of the urban/suburban landscape. the maximum green house (above) was recently completed in singapore, where every inch of land is at a premium. i snapped this photo during my recent visit to san francisco's russian hill, where gardening space is also highly valued.

this gardener may have gone a little overboard, completely obstructing the view of their house (i think there is a house in there!). maintenance of this place must be quite a chore!

today's flower: chrysanthemum

i am not really a fan of chrysanthemums! yeah, yeah: they DO provide fall color, but asters are more my style: mums tend to fall over if not clipped and clipped all summer, and i always seem to forget!

but one of my neighbors obviously knows how to treat them as i stumbled upon this huge poof of lilac-pink ones: lovely!