February 11, 2013 by Born To Organize

Blogging vs. Facebook

Do you have a Facebook account? I have a handful of friends who are hold-outs, but the number of account holders globally is staggering. Many of my readers land here as a result of Facebook. More and more though, other social platforms are sharing the love.

When I sit down to write Gardening Nirvana, I’m generally armed with photographs, possibly research and the seed of an idea. Writing a blog every day is hard work, but it grows on you…just like gardening!

Some days my blog “writes itself,” but more often than not it takes work. While I’m busy procrastinating, I leave a window open with Facebook. You never know what might inspire you, right? WordPress is all business, offering editing prompts such as “Save Draft” or “Add Media.” I’ve noticed lately that Facebook is much more touchy-feely:

How am I feeling? Well…I made the mistake of reading a comment in my Spam Folder. Honestly, I really ought to know better. Most of the “comments” are advertising ploys but this one had the sense of legitimacy. Here’s what it said:

“The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought you’d have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.”

My Facebook tribe set me straight while at the same time piling on the loveliest comments. Most of my blog readers are the same. I’m feeling better with all that support. I’m also sorry for anyone with so much negativity in their heart.

Let’s see…well, the broccoli is looking really good. It’s dark green, pest free and almost ready for harvest. The cauliflower didn’t survive the frost, so I finally yanked it out and tossed it into the compost heap. I tried an orange from our tree today, but it wasn’t as sweet as I would like. I’ll try again in another week. I see a gallon of fresh-squeezed juice in my future. Be sure to stop by for a glass.

One of the tulips is popping up between the potted cyclamen. I’d forgotten all about it. Otherwise, is sure looks like winter out there. Brown, cold, dry, repeat. Not a drop of rain in sight, either. [heavy sigh]

Note to self: I hope no one interprets that heavy sigh as whining.

Gardening Nirvana reader. What’s happening? How are you feeling? I’m so glad you stopped by.

February 6, 2013 by Born To Organize

Craft it Forward: Did I Say Five?

I never was good at math. What I meant was, ~~five~~ seven of my fellow readers can take part in Craft it Forward. Since Catja was nice enough to let me in on her pay it forward, even though I was number six, I decided to pay forward her generosity as well. Without further ado, the following readers win the Gardening Nirvana craft-it-forward prize.

You can read more about the Pay it Forward (Craft it Forward) concept in my February 1, 2013 post. In return, please pay it forward by offering the same deal to five other people, via your blog, Facebook or Google +. I created a ‘Craft it Forward’ button, below. Feel free to use it on your own post.

I’ll be in touch privately if I don’t already have your snail-mail address. Thank you for your wonderful comments. I’m already having so much fun.

Craft it Forward button

May 28, 2012 by Born To Organize

Gardening Nirvana Turns 1!

I launched gardening nirvana a year ago today. It’s been fun! My fellow bloggers are a wonderful inspiration and through them I’ve learned a lot.

Early this year I challenged myself to post every day. The discipline is wonderful. In addition to posting from home, I’ve posted from hotels in Las Vegas, Cupertino and Santa Monica and look forward to posting from LEGOLAND® this summer. Wherever I go, so too goes my blog. It feels like a good friend

Thank you for reading, for commenting and for clicking the like button. It’s such a compliment when you share my words on Facebook or Twitter.

With appreciation,

Alys

P.S. We joined our friends Doug and Laura for a tie-dying party this afternoon. They have an amazing garden, with unique specimens tucked into every corner of the yard. Here are a few of my favorites:

Doug’s Garden

Flowering Cactus

Otherworldly

Doug and Laura’s Cactus Garden

February 12, 2012 by Born To Organize

Punny Garden: Garden Jokes and Puns

Plastic Surgery Gone Bad

I found a gardening pun on Twitter today and thought it would be fun to share. I’ve compiled a few more, and welcome any additional puns or quips in the comments section below. Here’s hoping they tickle your green thumb.

A Nod to Theater:

Compostaphile and Compostaphobe — To rot or not to rot . . . David Hobson’s Garden Humour

“I should love to perform “There Are Fairies in the Bottom of My Garden” (Bea Lillie’s signature song), but I don’t dare. It might come out “There Are Fairies in the Garden of My Bottom.” – Noel Coward from Musicals101

One-liners:

What do you call it when worms take over the world? Global Worming. The Deep Middle

What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
Pumpkin pi. Organic Universe

My wife’s a water sign. I’m an earth sign. Together we make mud. – Rodney Dangerfield from Garden Digest

Puns:

The new weed whacker is cutting-hedge technology. Twitter

My wife works over-thyme in her herb garden before she decides it is time to cummin.
Don’t expect a bonsai tree to grow the miniature planting it.
I will cut the grass only when I get mowtivated.
The research assistant couldn’t experiment with plants because he hadn’t botany.
Old gardeners never die they just vegetate.
Gardeners like to plant their feet firmly.
If you’re a gardener you might call yourself a ‘plant manager’.
from David Hobson’s Garden

The real meaning of plant catalog terminology:

“A favorite of birds” means to avoid planting near cars, sidewalks, or clothes lines.
“Grows more beautiful each year” means “Looks like roadkill for the foreseeable future.”
“Zone 5 with protection” is a variation on the phrase “Russian roulette.”
“May require support” means your daughter’s engineering degree will finally pay off.
“Moisture-loving” plants are ideal for landscaping all your bogs and swamps.
“Carefree” refers more to the plant’s attitude than to your workload.
“Vigorous” is code for “has a Napoleonic compulsion to take over the world.”
“Grandma’s Favorite” — until she discovered free-flowering, disease-resistant hybrids. Garden Digest