July 23, 2012 by Born To Organize

Garden Log: July 23, 2012

Here’s what’s happening in the garden:

As the pale pink cosmos wind down, this bright pink beauty emerged nearby. Could it be the start of a whole new crop?

Our tall clay pot is a Hodge-podge of color. A few seeds, a few cell packs and a volunteer or two add up to Snapdragons, Vinca, California Poppies, Begonia, and a couple of Birdhouse Gourds.

This pumpkin is literally hanging by a thread (see insert). It measures 35 inches in circumference, about 11 inches across.

One of the few surviving pumpkin transplants. Its funny shape reminds me of a large acorn. What do you think?

The darling of the pumpkin patch. It measures 52 inches in circumference, about 17 inches across.

This ill-fated pumpkin sprout has lost its way. It’s growing in the middle of the lawn, no doubt planted there by a squirrel.

I’m hiding indoors from the hot afternoon sun, but will check on the emerging Lacewings at dusk.

How does your garden grow?

June 27, 2012 by Born To Organize

Tweet-tweet: Self Watering Gadgets

Watering Hole

Unless you live in Kauai, Hamburg or Seattle, you probably have to water your outdoor potted plants. This holds true for indoor plants that don’t get the benefit of seasonal rain. It’s a fine line between over-watering which can drown the roots, or under-watering which can quickly kill a summer annual. The mix of shallow roots and rising temperatures dry out plants. Mulching helps, but plants still need a regular drink of water. Further, seeing water pour out of the bottom of the pot on to the deck or walkway is a water-conservation no-no. What to do?

We’ve been experimenting with various self-watering devices, a misnomer since you still have to fill the reservoir with water. Our first self watering gadget was a glass globe about the size of a baseball. It came with a porous clay reservoir that you staked into the soil. After filling the glass globe with water, you quickly upended it and inserted it into the reservoir. They looked pretty, but presented two problems. The opening was narrow and hard to fill from a watering can. When I carried them to and from the sink, I worried I would drop them. Once full, you couldn’t set them down.

Next, my husband came up with the idea of using plastic apple juice containers, the ones that are about the size of a large apple. The opening was larger and they had a flat bottom. They worked, but they didn’t look nice after several weeks in the sun. When empty, they were light enough to be knocked out of the container by a squirrel…or a gardener… and often ended up under the shrubs.

Pictured below are our current watering stakes. The ceramic bird has a built-in reservoir in the back made of clay but molded into one piece. The stake remains in the soil and you add water from the top. Isn’t it cute? The verdict is out at this point. I like the ease of use and the little pop of color but I’m not convinced that one per pot is enough.

The baby bird or BORDY, is also molded in one piece but you add water through the mouth. For some reason it reminds me of a dolphin more than a bird. What do you think?

Do you have a favorite self-watering gadget? Please share in the comments, below.

Tweet-tweet

Scheurich BÖRDY

June 24, 2012 by Born To Organize

City Picker Update: Tiny Green Tomatoes

Early Green Tomatoes

As the pumpkin vines continue to populate the vegetable patch, I was once again grateful for the City Picker boxes. I simply rolled the entire planter box of tomatoes to another sunny spot, and let the pumpkin vines continue to grow. (As if I would stop them!!!)

Unfortunately, one of the two boxes leaks when I fill the watering tube. I can’t do anything about it now, but I’ll investigate at the end of the planting season to see what’s up. I planted three starter tomato plants on one side and a variety of seeds on the other. Eventually, I thinned the plants to an even six to the box.

Here’s how they’re growing:

City Picker Tomatoes: June 23, 2012

City Picker Tomatoes: May 23, 2012

City Picker Tomatoes: May 1, 2012

Help! There’s a pumpkin vine chasing me!!!

City Picker: Grow Tomatoes on your Porch, Patio or Deck (gardeningnirvana.wordpress.com)
City Pickers Update: Week Three (gardeningnirvana.wordpress.com)
Staking Tomatoes (gardeningnirvana.wordpress.com)

June 18, 2012 by Born To Organize

The Joyful Gardener Turns 12

Harvesting his first watermelon

My cheerful, insightful, smart and creative son turns 12 today. As an infant we joked that he was born with the “happy gene” as he soaked up his surroundings with a positive, mellow and inquisitive outlook. His tantrums were few, even at two. When he fell, his cries lasted a few seconds. My son was joy, personified.

As it turns out, he was also born with the “gardening gene.” Sure he liked the toy aisle at Target, but the seeds were his favorite. We came home with many a packet of sunflower, pumpkin and carrot seeds, full of optimism and good spirit. His grandfather would be proud. During the Santa years, I mail-ordered his pumpkin seeds so they looked just a little different from the seeds we bought in town. The jig is up, but the pumpkin-seeds-in-the stocking tradition lives on.

Here are a few pics of my joyful gardener over the years.

The first watermelon

Starting his garden

Reading to his pumpkin plants to help them grow

A little music never hurts either

11, years, 364 days old

Happy birthday, M!

June 9, 2012 by Born To Organize

Ornamental Grass: Feathery Wisps, Garden Gifts

A few years ago, a landscape designer mentioned the benefits of using ornamental grasses in garden design. I wasn’t sold on the idea. A few years before, I read an article on invasive grasses in our state, nearly impossible to destroy and prolific to the point of taking over native plants. Would my garden also be overrun by the invasive grassy beast?

One of our neighbors had a beautiful ornamental grass in her garden, but it eventually overtook an entire corner of her backyard. It required heavy pruning which in turn created a homely plant. Well.

As you may have guessed, I eventually reconsidered! We now have several varieties of ornamental grass, each uniquely graceful and one of my favorite garden elements. The shortest of the grasses is a stand-out for its lemony-green striped leaves, soft and no more than six inches tall. Known as ‘Aureola’ Japanese Forest Grass, the plant grows low to the ground but spreads about two feet wide. It turns brown when dormant, but bounces back to its beautiful self in the spring!

‘Aureola’ Japanese Forest Grass

Along our property line, we have a swaying wall of New Zealand Flax. Full at the base, the plant gives way to tall, feathery grasses that change color with the seasons. Last fall and winter they were golden-yellow. The Flax now boasts several deep shades of purple with a bit of gray.

New Zealand Flax

We have a single specimen known as Giant Feather Grass bumping up against the steps. The grass arches over the top half of the ramp and catches the afternoon sun. It reminds me of an over-sized dandelion with its tall stalk and ball-like grassy top.

Giant Feather Grass

I’m always trying to capture their beauty with my camera, but the movement and wistfulness make for a lot of blurry pictures.

If your climate supports growing ornamental grasses, I urge you to consider one native to your area. The constant movement and the play of light are stunning.

June 6, 2012 by Born To Organize

Squirrel Abating Screen-saver Update

In my last-ditch effort to keep the squirrels from decimating my sunflower crop again I came up with the idea of using sliding window screens and a bit of twine to create tents over the planting boxes. Guess what? It worked!!!

I completely replanted two boxes, but had a few surviving plants in the third. I tossed in a few extra seeds, in order to hedge my bets. In just three weeks, the seeds sprouted and most have set true leaves. The earlier plants are now as tall as the screens. Originally I thought I would completely remove the screen-savers once established. Now that the plants are up, I decided to leave them in place. I loosened the twine and lifted the leaves to the outside and they continue to thrive. I’m so happy.

The leaves have the same holes as they did last year, though I never saw the culprit and assumed snails. The damage, while not pretty, didn’t seem to hinder the plant’s growth. A friend stopped by this week and said she had seen birds pecking away at the leaves of her sunflower plants, so that could be it. I’ll keep you posted.

Here’s the screensaver on May 13th:

Screen saver: May 13, 2012

The screen saver today, June 6th:

Screensaver: June 6, 2012

Hee-hee…you can’t get me!

You can find my screensaver tutorial here:

June 5, 2012 by Born To Organize

Front Garden Remodel Turns Two

Two years ago this month, we “remodeled” our front yard. For years we talked about adding a front deck or patio. We live on a neighbor-friendly block with kids galore so we were often out front socializing. We chatted with friends standing in the driveway or sitting on chairs in the garage. We eventually added a bench and then a swing, but what we longed for was a full-sized patio or deck.

Around the same time, it was becoming more and more difficult for my sister to access our home. Our entry way consisted of two concrete steps, original to the 50-year-old house, and her MS made it difficult for her to come and go.

We hired the talented team of Bergez and Associates and Natural Bridges Landscaping, to create our suburban paradise. We’ve found so much joy with our outdoor room! My sister can come and go unassisted, a boon to her independence. We also realized that the ramp will allow us to age in place since the house is now easily accessible.

It’s amazing to look back at the newly installed garden. The plants established beautifully.

Here’s a look:

Garden and Deck, June 2012

Garden and Deck, June 2010

Near the Magnolia: 2010/2012

Kitty Corner, With Special Thanks to Candace

May 21, 2012 by Born To Organize

Garden Guests and Pests and…Anarchists?

I respect all creatures, even the garden pests so I’ve learned to garden around them. Our garden is free of pesticides, baits and traps. That doesn’t mean I’m not annoyed when I round the corner as I did last week and find the squirrel feasting on our pumpkin plant. Grumble, grumble, grumble. As a society, we’ve encroached so much on nature. Who am I to refuse a bit of my garden bounty in return?

Garden pest…

Slippery Snail

Garden guest…

Relocating to denser shrubs for safe keeping

Garden guest and occasional pest…

Neighbor Kitty, Everybody’s Best Friend

Garden guest, pest and anarchist…

Please, help yourself

Who drops by your garden uninvited? Have you discovered humane solutions to keep them at bay?

May 18, 2012 by Born To Organize

Friday Already?

Progress? It’s my middle name. But…still much to do.

Swing:

The swing needed a good cleaning so I scrubbed it twice to remove the winter muck. It looks and smells better, but now it’s wet and drying in the sun.

Swing Cover:

In between scrubbing, I took measurements and cut the fabric for the swing cover. Instead of re-upholstering the entire swing, I’m making a slip cover that will fit snugly but remove easily for cleaning and off-season storage. Imagine my delight when I found wide elastic in the two colors I need, green for the front and tan for the back. The plan is to secure the cover by crossing straps over the back and around the middle, like a belt. I’m going to experiment with a few scraps of elastic to give it a more upholstered look by stitching it to the back side of the seat cover to emulate tucks.

Fabric and Trim

Garden Bench/Buffet:

My former garden bench now serves as a buffet or side bar, sitting next to our outdoor table. I’ve considered sanding and repainting it, but I’ve grown fond of the bench’s slightly battered charm. The earthquake kit resides inside the bench, but the top is the perfect surface to set up drinks. I found three inexpensive place-mats at Target, that when placed side by side, make a perfect surface cover. They can be wiped clean and stored off-season as well.

Side Board with New Place Mats

Close Up: I like the matching chevron

Fairy Garden Redux:

Back in April when we planted the back garden, my son wanted to add a small fountain nestled in the rocks near the fairy garden. He was gracious about it, suggesting we relocate the fairy garden to the other side of the yard. The big rocks were the ideal location for a fountain, he reasoned, and I agreed. Since the wee garden was more about creative expression than any thing else, I let him go ahead and experiment with his own creativity. He used the small water pump from one of his building kits, an old Tupperware bowl and a trash bag, creating a trickling waterfall and a fountain. Just as quickly, he lost interest.

Earlier this week I removed the sheet of black plastic used for the fountain, unearthing an ant colony. Hundreds of ants scattered everywhere. I waited for the nest activity to settle down Then I pulled a small clay pot and a plant saucer from the side yard, added a few Impatiens and created a portable fairy garden in its place. I reused the hydroponic clay and the “stepping-stones” from the earlier fairy garden to create a mini patio.The table stand is a peat pod draped with a fern table-cloth, accessorized with a pair of magnets. The chairs are part of a stacking game.

Portable Fairy Garden

Fairy Garden Close-up

Flower-Power:

Mike brought home a bouquet of mixed flowers yesterday, and to my delight and surprise, there are exactly two, long-stemmed yellow blooms! They’ll look great in the cobalt blue beer bottles I set aside, along with the pink flowers tucked into one of my soy candle jars.

My sewing machine awaits!

May 16, 2012 by Born To Organize

Garden Spruce Up Continues: Old Swing, New Discovery

It’s a busy week! Since I can’t sew and plant and take pictures all day long, I fit things in when I can. Yesterday I pre-washed my garden swing upholstery fabric (goodbye sizing, hello softness) and today set up the ironing board. I had about ten minutes to plot my pattern strategy, also known as winging it, when I heard rustling in the orange tree. I thought I might catch a glimpse of the squirrel entering or exiting the nest but no luck. (They are probably out front trying to outsmart my screen saver).

After three minutes of neck-craning, I ran inside for the camera. A powerful camera lens trumps my aging eyesight any day of the week. Camera in hand, I still couldn’t make it out! Was it a bird nesting or eating? I caught a glimpse of gray and wondered if the mourning doves were back. We don’t see them as often as we used to, and in this month of crow mating season, they are even scarcer. Whatever was up there was clearly enjoying a long drink of orange juice.

Sated, the gray one made its move. Methinks a rat..or a mouse…or a rat. In broad day light! Shouldn’t they be sleeping in the middle of the day instead of snacking on oranges?