Gardening

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Grass: The Long and Short of It

Green, green grass of home

Green, green grass of home

Silicon Valley is known for its innovations and mild temperatures, but not for its annual rainfall.  In a good year our arid climate averages 14 to 18 inches of rain. Planting grass should be an extravagance in this highly populated, rain-thirsty climate.

We have healthy, water-guzzling grass growing in our own yard, as do our neighbors, up and down the block. Planting a lawn is a suburban tradition, but one that probably needs to end. For years, a trip down the street of an average neighborhood revealed a vast expanse of green, carefully grown, manicured, fertilized, trimmed and of course watered lawns.

I struggle with this as I’ve become more aware of the toll it takes on our environment. When we redesigned our garden, I was all for a reduction in our lawn foot print, but my husband wanted to maintain an expanse for the boys to run and play.  When they were smaller, they ran around on the grass, tumbling, wrestling or dashing through the sprinklers on hot days.  It was a safe place to play, breaking falls and cooling tender feet. They don’t play that way anymore.  Perhaps a lawn is something we maintain for a finite amount of time, like sandboxes and swing sets.  Once our children are grown, we’re happy to replace those things.  Why not our thirsty lawns?

Could replacing lawns be the next paradigm shift?  Ashtrays are no longer standard in automobiles or airplanes.  Twenty years ago that was unthinkable.  As our consciousness rises, so too will our innovations.  When we say “going green” it will have nothing to do with our love affair with the front lawn.

Cooling Off in the Grass

Cooling Off in the Grass

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Vertical Veg: The Art of Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces

Sprouts

Sprouts

My friend Susan shared an intriguing link to a site called Vertical Veg. It’s all about growing food in containers and tiny spaces.

The site and accompanying blog is chock full of ideas for growing your own vegetables when space is at a premium. Mark Ridsdill Smith founded Vertical Veg because “I love growing food, but also because it ties in with my dream of cities where people live in closer connection with the seasons, nature and their food.”

For years my own garden was also a series of pots, hanging baskets, and containers as I moved from rental to rental.  I grew flowers and herbs, but never vegetables.  Clearly I missed out.

If you’re yearning to grow your own food but live in small or temporary quarters, I suggest you check out Mark’s site.  It’s fun and inspiring exploring what’s possible.

Why grow vertical from Vertical Veg:

  • You’ll have fresher, healthier food quite literally on your doorstep.
  • You’ll save money.
  • You’ll bring greenery, flowers and wild life to your urban (concrete?) neighbourhood.
  • You’ll find a hobby that many find rewarding, relaxing and creative – and that can be good for both mental and physical health.
  • If you’re into sustainability stuff, you’ll find lots of opportunities for recycling (making your own containers, converting waste food into worm compost), reducing your waste food by only picking what you need, and cutting your carbon footprint.
  • If you’re into food, you’ll love the super fresh veg, the abundance of herbs, and the opportunity to grow crops unavailable (or expensive) in the shops.
  • And last but not least, you’ll meet new neighbours – food growing is a shared language with wide appeal across generations and cultures.

It’s hard to argue with that!

Check out Vertical Veg and let me know what you think.

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Blooming Thursday: Pelargonium Stunner

Pelargonium 'Old Bury Duet'

Pelargonium ‘Old Bury Duet’

I fell in love with this Pelargonium on my last trip through the nursery. I was racing to the front of the store with my 4th of July annuals and it stopped me in my tracks. This ‘Old Bury Duet’ was nestled on a table with equally gorgeous coleus which seem to grow well on our deck.

Of course the big question is “where will I plant it?” The snapdragons in the planter at home were healthy, but the companion Lobelia looked tired.  I never have much luck with Lobelia.  Upon further reading, I’ve learned it prefers cool weather.  Once our temps rise, the plants quickly dry out.  So…

Into the cart they went.

Once home, I transplanted two of the snapdragons into a pot with the roses where they get more sun, and moved the rest to another flowering pot out back.  The Lobelia moved to a cooler spot, but they sadly are no more.

Now my trio of front door planters include the new  Coleus ‘Inky Fingers’ and the Pelargonium ‘Old Bury Duet,’ along with the existing coleus and the trailing flowers.

What’s blooming on your Thursday?

Duet of Color

Duet of Color

Variegated Leaves

Variegated Leaves

Torch Like Beauty

Torch Like Beauty

Friend or Foe? Do you know?

Friend or Foe? Do you know?

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A Users Guide to Comments on WordPress

Blogging from the Heart

Blogging from the Heart

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog!

I look forward to your comments and reply to every one of them.  I’ve recently learned, however that many of you don’t see my replies, and therefore don’t know I’ve responded to your comment or question.  That doesn’t seem fair.

Here is a brief primer for following along:

If you are already blogging on WordPress, your comments will appear on your own site when you log in.

If you don’t blog yourself, but enjoy following one or more bloggers, go ahead and create a Gravatar, short for Globally Recognized Avatar so you can easily post around the net.  It’s quick and easy and its free. Bloggers love engaging their readers. Your comments are always welcome.

If you leave a comment on my site, please click on the button below your comment that says you can choose to automatically receive email updates about other comments on a specific post by checking the Notify me of follow-up comments via email check-box that appears in the comment form.

Finally, you can subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Follow My Blog Via Email” link in the upper right-hand corner of  the page.

You will receive an email notification whenever I post. If you subscribe to comments, you will also receive comment notifications.

That’s it! Thanks for reading.

Alys ♥

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Slinky in the Garden

Slinky's Domain

Slinky’s Domain

Slinky Malinki, our shiny black kitty, arrived a few years back. Her haunting green eyes, spoke of unhappy lives; slight moves put her on the attack.

We fed her each day; she would eat and run away, returning each night for a meal.

Should I venture a reach? She would greet me with teeth, trying to pet her lost all its appeal.

Slinky gradually came ‘round, but remains leery and unbound, affection is given with care.

Now she sleeps near my pillow and head-butts my face, it’s hands she continues to fear.  Each passing year, a little less fear, what I wouldn’t give to let her know she’s safe.

Slinky Near the Strawberry Patch

Slinky Near the Strawberry Patch

Like a Sunflower, Slinky Rotates with the Sun

Like a Sunflower, Slinky Rotates with the Sun

Proud Lady

Proud Lady

Making Progress

Making Progress

Did you know:

  • Cats head-butt as a way of showing affection.
  • Feral cats can be tamed.  Here is an informative, compassionate article written by The Lucky Few
  • We named our Slinky after a wonderful children’s book: Slinky Malinki by New Zealand writer Lynley Dodd
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Mason Bees Move In!

I snapped this photo of our Mason Bee Habitat, unaware that several of the tubes were already filled. We mounted the tubes to the side of the house above the vegetable garden last summer, but never saw any activity.

Mason Bee Tubes

Mason Bee Tubes

I prepared to write about my disappointment when the enlarged photo revealed this:

Mason Bee Tubes

Mason Bee Tubes
Space Still Available

Those clever Masons have been nesting away while I had my nose to the ground, planting.

We bought our Orcon PlanBee! kit at Yamagamis Nursery, along with a book by Christopher O’Toole called The Mason Bees, Taking the Sting Out of Beekeeping. Mason bees live in holes like hollowed-out twigs or reeds, so they are easily attracted to nesting tubes like the ones pictured above. Blue orchard and horn-faced bees are spring season pollinators and will only sting if squeezed or stepped on. They don’t have a queen, so no hive to protect.  They are both beneficial and docile.

You can read more about these beneficial Mason Bees and their nesting habits in this wiki article. Resources, below, for buying or making a nesting box of your own.

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Waiting for Tomatoes: Looks Aren’t Everything

Green Tomatoes

Green Tomatoes

All six tomato plants are healthy, sporting a plethora of green tomatoes. We have a heat wave moving through this week, with temps predicted in the 100s three days in a row, a boon for ripening fruit. What’s good for the tomato isn’t good for this fair-haired gardener, however, so I may follow the cats lead and take a nap on the cool tile floor for the entire afternoon. Ha!

Tomato sandwiches were a summer staple growing up. We grew our own tomatoes and used them in a variety of ways. I love eating warm cherry tomatoes, straight from the garden, bursting with flavor in my mouth. I miss those delicious red beacons of summer.

We rarely enjoy tomatoes served in restaurants these days, and find few tasty options at the grocery store. I assumed it had more to do with a too-early harvest, but I learned this last week from our local paper that it’s even worse.

Accordingly to Lisa Krieger of the Mercury News:

“Scientists have caught the culprit behind those tasteless tomatoes. Turns out, tomato growers’ best  intentions over decades are to blame.

By Breeding tomatoes to ripen evenly and harvest easier, growers unwittingly robbed those sumptuous ruby reds of their taste.”

By disabling the GLK2 gene, tomatoes were more efficient and economical to process.  What farmers didn’t know, is that tomatoes with the normal version of the gene are 20% higher in sugar content and 30% higher in lycopene thought to be useful in human nutrition.

What can we do?

  • Heirloom tomatoes retain the gene, along with sweet cherry tomatoes.  If you plant your own, be sure to choose these varieties.
  • Shop at farmer’s markets when possible, where you are more likely to find heirlooms.
  • Take some time to inform yourself of the Right to Know Movement. If you live in California, you can vote to label genetically engineered foods on the Ballot this November. Help ensure Californians have the right to know and choose what they buy to feed their families.

You can read Lisa’s full article on-line at Mercury News.com.

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Growing a Birdhouse

Birdhouse Seeds

Birdhouse Seeds

Though we were out of room in our planter boxes, we went ahead and tucked in a few of these Gourd hard-shelled birdhouse seeds. They were too cool to pass up.

Botanical Interests gourd heirloom seeds grow into the birdhouse shape on the left. When dried, they last indefinitely. Gourds can be carved, painted or drilled. I sure hope we can grow at least one. We have two viable plants, each about 18 inches long. The packet says the vines can grow an astonishing 15′ (5 meters) to 35′(11 meters) long.

The pumpkin vines are about a month ahead in the growing cycle, so as those vines give the last push towards ripening, the gourd vines will have lots of room to grow.

Here are a few pointers on birdhouses:

  • Drill the hole for the size of the intended bird and not a speck more. This prevents predatory birds from following the mama bird indoors. The entrance hole should be high enough that the mama bird can line her nest and still protect her young from view.
  • Likewise, the  perch often shown on commercially produced birdhouses is not only unnecessary, but again allows a predator a place to perch and peer in.
  • Drill a small hole in the bottom of the birdhouse to allow for drainage.

Fingers crossed!

Gourd Vines

Gourd Vines

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Sunflower Success

Early in the season I envisioned a wall of sunflowers growing across the front of the deck. After several false starts, I configured a system of screens, designed to deter squirrels and birds from eating the seeds and seedlings. It worked! All three planters have several healthy plants. I can’t wait till they flower. I can see the plants from my kitchen window as well as on deck, and they can also been seen from the street.

The lower leaves are full of holes but no sign of the culprit…until this week when I saw a bird in the act of pecking away at the leaves. My friend Doug, also a nurseryman, thinks they are trying to get to the as-yet unavailable seeds.  The leaves look tattered, but the plant remains healthy so all is well.

With warmer temperatures, the plants are shooting skyward. I can’t wait till they bloom.

Wall of Sunflowers

Wall of Sunflowers

Broken Lantern Covers Keep the Screen Open

Broken Lantern Covers Keep the Screen Open at the Top

Lantern Cover in Place

Lantern Cover in Place

Sunflowers: Looking Up

Sunflowers: Looking Up

Bird Snack

Bird Snack

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Bonnie’s Organic Strawberry Patch

Our strawberries are popping out lush, red fruit daily. They are delicious, and as yet, untouched by garden pests. I only planted three plants and had a fourth come back from last summer. Now I wish I had planted more. Next year…

Strawberries