June 18, 2013 by Born To Organize

June Bug #2: Happy Birthday in the Fairy Garden

Both of my sons were born in June, so I affectionately call them my June Bugs. My youngest son turns 13 today, and will enjoy a new right of passage in our world of technology: his own YouTube account. He’s already at work on a logo, safety features in place and an awe-struck mom (that’s me) amazed at the things he can do. He loves all things Apple, so this month’s fairy garden theme is my low-tech tribute to a young man who is going places.

Happy birthday, M!

Fairy Garden Birthday

Table coverings, Apple motif

We’re serving birthday cake once again among the moss-covered stones. We hope you’ll stop by for an apple-sized bite.

I like to furnish the fairy gardens with an eclectic mix of ‘this and that.’ It’s fun challenging myself.

The garden table base is the metal twist top from a bottle of champagne.
The table top is the cover from a set of ear-buds, topped with the Apple logo.
I reversed the birthday banner from earlier this month, using iconic black lettering
I re-painted the chairs, featured in last year’s fairy garden, in the boys favorite colors.
The table and chairs rest on part of a broken fountain.
The tiny cake appeared early this month it the post Sweet 16 in the Fairy Garden.

birthday cake in the apple fairy garden

December 14, 2012 by Born To Organize

An Apple a Day, Plus a Candle You Say?

Candle Cutter in Process

It’s fun decorating with consumables. Creating centerpieces from seasonal fruit, ensures a uniquely fresh and original setting at your holiday table. I was delighted to learn how to make a Clementine Candle yesterday. It was easy to do and smelled…well…good enough to eat. Pictures and a DIY video can be found here.

Making candles from fruit reminded me of my clever Candle Carver™. It’s a gadget that carves the perfect, tea-light sized opening in the top of an apple. Since you only remove the top portion, you can eat the rest of the apple centerpiece when you’re done.

I think Granny Smith would be proud.

Here’s what you do:

Select three to five apples with flat, level bottoms. They’ll need to stand firm, so nothing tipsy or top heavy.
Insert the candle carver at the top (or bottom) of the apple, and twist till the base sits level with the opening.
Remove and compost apple top.
Insert tea lights into each apple, light and enjoy

Candle Cutter

Carved opening, sized for a tea light

I used three apples stem side up and two, stem-side down for variety

Apple Candles (or genetically modified Pimiento Olives?)

This also works with pears, oranges, or any other fruit with a firm, supportive center.

Resources:

Tea Lights (Party Lite® Candles burn slowly and cleanly)
Soy Candles
Candle Carver™
Clementine Candles

August 15, 2012 by Born To Organize

Yamagami’s Nursery

Purple Heliotrope

Yamagami’s Nursery, located in Cupertino California, has been around since 1948. In a town known for tech behemoth Apple, inc. the nursery is a delightful throw back to a simpler time. Taro Yamagami originally sold fruit from a stand on the same spot, gradually giving way to plants. It became a full-fledged nursery by the early 1950s and it remains today in its original location. If you ask any serious gardener in the Valley, chances are they’ve heard of and shopped at Yamagami’s.

Glazing Ball (I’m too clumsy to own one)

We actually left empty-handed on a recent trip, but not for lack of wanting. We were in search of beneficial insects and eventually resorted to the web since our request was somewhat obscure. They sell ladybugs, earthworms and Praying Mantis eggs but no Lacewings.

The nursery walkabout is always fun. It’s a spacious two acres, with interesting plants tucked in with gorgeous pots, garden ornaments and a help center. I always feels at home. When we were there in July they posted a sign alerting guests to the nesting bird in a nearby plant: “Shhh quiet please, bird nesting. This plant is temporarily not for sale.” I snapped a photo at a respectful distance. Even the neighboring birds feel at home.

Quiet Please, Bird Nesting

In addition to the nursery, Yamagami’s has a helpful website and a monthly newsletter covering soup to nuts issues around gardening. You can subscribe to their newsletter here.

If you’re planning a visit to Apple headquarters, be sure to visit the nursery as well.

In the meantime, here is a virtual tour of Apple, Inc. and a few more snapshots from Yamagami’s.

Yamagami’s Nursery Collage

March 30, 2012 by Born To Organize

Farmtek: I’ve Arrived

Greenhouse Available from Farmtek®

As a professional organizer, I’ve worked diligently to remove my name from mailing lists. Using Catalog Choice, I’ve stopped most direct-mail ads and over 100 catalogs from filling my mailbox.

So imagine how silly I looked when a catalog called Farmtek® arrived with today’s mail and my heart skipped a beat. Did this mean someone thought I was a farmer? Little did they know I plant on a tiny plot of land in the suburbs of what was once beautiful orchards. Our entire lot, including the house, is only 6,000 square feet. Once home to apricots and prunes, our agricultural heritage gave way to Apple, Cisco, Intel and HP.

It’s unlikely I’ll be ordering grow lights for my (non-existent) greenhouse or an air inflation system, though the idea of both is appealing. Thumbing through the catalog I found a few items for small-scale gardeners, but nothing I can’t buy in town. I’m afraid Farmtek’s® catalog is headed the way of most. It was fun though, getting a small glimpse into the shopping options of a farmer.