December 24, 2012 by Born To Organize

Dove Bomb Surprise: A Recipe for World Peace

Please Note: This recipe is not for pessimists or doomsayers.

As with all good recipes, the ingredients are critical. Do not settle for substitutes unless otherwise noted.

Gather together the following organic ingredients:

1 ounce of prevention

1/2 pound of genuine hugs

A sprinkle of laughter

Sunshine (to taste)

Optional: season with soothing music or a winter’s nap

You will also need:

1 missile launching kit (available on the Internet)

Assorted bomb casings

A positive attitude

Energy saving tip: No need to preheat your oven. Global warming is sufficient.

Prepare your missile launching kit following the manufacturer’s instructions. Set aside.

Mix one ounce of prevention with a half pound of genuine hugs until smooth. Fold in a sprinkle of laughter, blending well. Add sunshine to taste.

Remove chilled bomb casings from the freezer and carefully fill to the three-quarter mark with the above mixture. Add optional ingredients at this time.

Pop the dove bomb surprise into the missile-launcher and fire away. Upon impact Dove Bomb Surprise will coat the earth’s population. Those lucky enough to be at the center of impact will experience an incredible sense of euphoria. Others, at a more distant radius, will experience an overall feeling of joy and content. Pregnant women will give birth to children addicted to world peace. Warring factions everywhere will lay down their weapons and cast off their anger, wondering why they harbored them in the first place. Hatred will be rendered obsolete. Some nations will decide to share their oil; others will share food and water. Technology will be applied for the good of all humankind. The environment will return to its intended state and freedom will reign for all.

No mess to clean up. Serves several billion.

Olive Branch

Merry Christmas. May your world be joyful and bright. Gardening Nirvana

December 22, 2012 by Born To Organize

Winter Solstice: Near Miss

I guess I missed it.

I’ve been referring to my wall calendar all week and according to the cute little box with the number 22, winter solstice occurred at 6:12 am EST today, December 22nd, 2012. With all the “end of the world” talk this week, I somehow failed to connect the winter solstice and the end of the world on the same day. My calendar was plain wrong.

December 22nd, 2012

It’s no small irony that the calendar producer is a company called Sounds True.

Sounds True Calendar

The rest of the calendar entries were correct this year, so you can appreciate why I missed it. Remaining dates are in good working order as well: Christmas, December 25th. Check. Boxing Day, December 26th. Check. And finally, New Year’s Eve, December 31st.

Here’s is what National Geographic has to say about the solstice:

During the winter solstice the sun hugs closer to the horizon than at any other time during the year, yielding the least amount of daylight annually. On the bright side, the day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days leading up to the summer solstice.

“Solstice” is derived from the Latin phrase for “sun stands still.” That’s because—after months of growing shorter and lower since the summer solstice—the sun’s arc through the sky appears to stabilize, with the sun seeming to rise and set in the same two places for several days. Then the arc begins growing longer and higher in the sky, reaching its peak at the summer solstice.

The solstices occur twice a year (around December 21 and June 21) because Earth is tilted by an average of 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun—the same phenomenon that drives the seasons.

During the warmer half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted toward the sun. The northern winter solstice occurs when the “top” half of Earth is tilted away from the sun at its most extreme angle of the year.

Please join me in counting down to the first day of spring; the Vernal Equinox. For those of us that long to get our hands in the dirt, that’s a date we don’t want to miss. And for all you computer experts who know that the internet is always right, please help me understand why my countdown calendar (right sidebar) it teasing me when it says March 20th is in two months?

December 1, 2012 by Born To Organize

Bottoms Up: Potted Hole in One

The strangest things amuse me. While making the garden rounds this week, I noticed an empty pot near the fence. Tiny baby tears started growing through the bottom hole. I have no recollection of leaving the pot there, but it’s been long enough for the ground cover to take hold. Now I’m compelled to leave it to see how far it grows. It makes me smile.

In keeping with the theme of the day, I noticed a small clay pot, hand painted by my son when he was younger. It “travels” around the garden, a happy reminder of him. I upended the clay pot and left it in one of the patio planters at summer’s end. I didn’t know their was a bulb just below. I guess if you’re used to living beneath the soil line for many months, a little old pot isn’t going to slow you down. The as yet unidentified bulb shot up through the hole an entire foot before I noticed it. It looks so purposeful. I can’t wait to point it out to my son. I know he’ll be pleased.

So, I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be fun to scatter empty pots around the garden to see what populates or propagates? I’m going to give that idea some careful thought.

Bottoms up!

November 19, 2012 by Born To Organize

Watering Cans: A Sprinkle a Day, Keeps the Dead Plants at Bay

One can never have too many watering cans. Sure, you can get by with one, but like scissors or reading glasses, variety and proximity equal efficiency.

Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to quench a garden, but it’s not always practical. Suspended fairy gardens and potted plants need watering the old-fashioned way. Watering cans are useful for filling a bird bath or for topping off a garden fountain. Occasionally they double as a water carafe for thirsty cats or squirrels.

I’ve always loved watering cans. I’m not sure why they hold such appeal. I used to visit the upscale Smith & Hawken stores to ogle their copper and brass cans. My practical streak, however, landed me back at the hardware store where the hard-working watering cans could be found on the cheap.

My favorite watering can was a gift from Nichole. It was so pretty that I kept it indoors in my office like a piece of art. She convinced me that watering cans belong in the garden so I put it to work. It’s faded from the sun, but otherwise in good working order.

I have a small copper watering can once used for my indoor plants. As that collection grew, it was far too small to remain practical. I love the shape and patina, though, so I keep it around.

Small Copper Watering Can

The remaining two cans are high-density plastic. They are easy to keep clean, light in weight and durable. I keep one near the fountain and the other up front near the hose.

The attachments are long gone, but this watering can lives on

If someone gave me a few hundred dollars with the caveat that I could only spend it on watering cans, these would be on my short list:

Achla Dainty Copper Watering Can

Esschert Design

Mouse Watering Can

Kitty Watering Can

What would you choose?

October 22, 2012 by Born To Organize

Is it Safe to Talk About the Weather?

Camellia in the rain

The presidential election in the United States is two weeks from tomorrow.

So…lets talk about the weather. It’s the safest subject I know of, and one everyone can agree on. If it’s raining, it’s raining; if it’s not, it’s not. Right?

If I were a political pundit, I might need to make the case that it rained “really hard this morning,” while my opponent might say “it was really just a trickle.” Was it a shower or a downpour? It all depends on who you ask.

Some may say “It was less than an inch,” while shaking their head in dismay. Others will exclaim, “Wow…we got close to an inch of rain!” while grinning like a Cheshire cat.

A reporter might follow-up with, “Is global warming responsible for this erratic weather?”

“Global warming is likely the culprit,” says one party.

“Global warming is a myth,” rebuts the other.

I walked out my front door today and discovered a cool, wet and long-overdue fall morning. On that at least, the greenest party would agree.

A raindrop clings to the tip of a leaf

Look closely. What do you see?

Azalea in the rain

Halloween Countdown

Heat Map Pumpkins

October 14, 2012 by Born To Organize

Transforming the Garden: Mad for Inflatables

We’re used to seeing cars slow down in front of our house this time of year. Either the driver is smiling, because they love Halloween as much as we do, or they’re shaking their heads thinking “those people are over the top!”

My youngest son has been a fan of inflatables for as long as I can remember. He used to spend hours at the computer during the winter months, bookmarking page after page of inflatable decorations. He printed his favorites, and pasted them in a book. Every year we visit a local “parking lot patch” where he gleefully enjoys the enormous inflatable slides, bounce houses and the occasional obstacle course. One year he received fifty dollars for Christmas from one of his uncles, enough to buy a holiday inflatable at 50% off. And so it began.

Inflatable spider with moving head and his trusty kitty side-kick

My son saves his allowance and the occasional cash gift and “invests” in his inflatable treasures. Each inflatable has a story to go with it. The monstrous cat purchased at a discontinued price, hidden in the back yard until Halloween night so he could surprise everyone. The creepy spider, bought online with an annoying whistle whenever it turns its head. Finally, the pièce de résistance, the inflatable archway, complete with ghosts and tombstones. By the time we saw it in a party store they were sold out. The store agreed to sell us the floor model for, you guessed it, half off. I paid for half, he paid the rest.

Through wind and sleet and Halloween decor, the mail carrier still delivers

My way of decorating before having children was more subtle. I would put out a pumpkin or two, a few fall plants and call it a day. Not any more. As my son ages, he wants everything a little scarier. By Halloween night we’ll have a spider with a moveable head, the enormous cat and the lighted entryway. He’ll stretch spider webbing from shrub to tree and my husband will add lights to the awning. The webbing catches falling Magnolia leaves, that twist and turn in the wind. We toss plastic spiders at the web for a naturalized effect and by October 31st we’re looking downright spooky.

Rocking chair all dressed up

Our garden, transformed.

Halloween Countdown

I’m a Mac Pumpkin

October 5, 2012 by Born To Organize

Freaky Friday: The Garden’s Dark Underbelly

It’s not all Sweet Alyssum and roses. Every garden has a dark side. I’m sure it’s no accident that the spooky celebrations of Halloween coincide with the decay of fall.

Use your imagination and come with me as we travel the more sinister side of the garden.

“Bat Wings”…or decaying leaf?

Spider in the gravel…look closely.

Rats Gone Bad

Hallowed orange or hollow orange? You decide.

Tree Rat or Field Mouse? Helping himself to an orange.

Not What They Seem

The Choking Vine? Snaking and staking the trellis.

Urban Decay

Shrunken Head?

I’m a Stink bug. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Cavernous Lair

Something Wicked This Way Comes: Black Widow Haven

Halloween Countdown

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Lindy-Lu!

September 19, 2012 by Born To Organize

Smiling in the Garden

Smiling is good for you. It reduces tension, helps you relax and promotes overall good health. There is always something to smile about in the garden; sometimes I’m lucky enough to catch it with my camera.

I hope these photos put a smile on your face, too.

Sure, the pumpkin is nice, but will you look at that cat I grew!?

He’s a cheeky little fella

Look, Ma!!! I can fly with one wing!

I think there’s a pooch hiding in the tree. Dogwood???

Bottoms up!

Are you smiling yet?

September 13, 2012 by Born To Organize

Blooming Thursday: Party in the Anemones

Prolific Anemones bloomed about six weeks ago, monopolizing the back garden fence. I’ve been gathering them into bouquets every few days, then bringing them indoors. Little did I know that atop those crisp white blooms and their buttercup yellow centers there was a party going on.

Anemones line the fence

It wasn’t your typical, garden-variety party. In fact, I wasn’t even invited. Apparently you needed four to six legs to attend, and the invites are on the QT. I don’t think my neighbors even knew!

The party host wasn’t available for comment, so instead I snapped a few pics of the guests. Our host has an eclectic group of friends, including elegant grasshoppers, busy-body ants and even the low-brow house fly. I didn’t recognize all of the party goers. A few of their identities remain a mystery.

Mystery Guest

I don’t want to name names, but things may have gotten a bit out of hand. I saw a small spider chatting with a grasshopper, and in the next shot…the spider was gone! Do you think I should say something to the host? One of the spotted guests spent most of his time at the food table, while the ant kept darting in and out of the petals. I think he had too much pollen to drink.