The Garden Buzz

The "Golden Hour" at P. Allen Smith's 2013 Garden2Blog

2013-05-21T08:57:08-07:00

Beer bottles clink and laughter rises under the monumental oak that stands sentinel before the Garden Home Retreat at Moss Mountain Farm. Garden bloggers chatter and whoop, someone picks up a chicken and poses for a picture. A gathering of musicians strum and bow at the periphery. It is a testament to P. Allen's easy-going attitude to entertaining, a well-orchestrated but effortless hospitality I wish I could pull off in just a small way someday.

I've wandered away from the party, camera in hand to go back down the garden path to capture the evening light as it washes over the pavilions that punctuate the flower borders, espaliers and edibles. The gardens are empty, the vistas are clear of visitors and sound is muffled below the terraces. It is a time I've come to treasure in my second time at Garden2Blog. It's the "Golden Hour".

The golden hour comes twice a day for photographers, right after sunrise and just before sunset. It is that fleeting moment when light is soft and diffused; shadows are longer and colors are warmer. Ordinary scenes are transformed, extraordinary ones transcended.

I run into Allen coming out of the house and I confess I'm sneaking back for a few photos. I don't add that, "I need a little break". You see, I'm an introvert. Actually I'm an adapted introvert. I'm better at speaking to a group of 200 than three people at a cocktail party. Sometimes I'm just plain awkward. After two days of enjoyable but intense socializing, I'm looking for the exit so to speak.

But don't get me wrong. I am so grateful for these times at Garden2Blog. Once you see the scope of Allen's work, the breadth of his knowledge and the attention to detail, it's not hard to think you're witness to a modern-day Thomas Jefferson. Beyond that it's a priceless chance to meet all your blogging peers and peeps, exchange ideas and see what's up in the gardening community.

This year we talked about how the way in which gardening knowledge is shared has changed or been lacking in recent years, how the inter-generational chain of information has missing links. I'll be adding my thoughts in the next post.

For now join me on this stroll through the gardens while I re-charge. I'll head back to the party in a while, ready to eat dinner and tap my feet to the band.

An allee of irises, shades of Monet's Givenchy?

The circular lilypond is a favorite of mine

Evergreens at attention

Pavilion interior

Wisteria blooms on the posts of Allen's painting studio

Grasses glow along this border

A path beckons beyond the "rose bowl", a rounded area filled with fragrance

Snow Long, I'm Leaving...for Garden2Blog13 at P.Allen Smith's Place

2013-05-04T09:08:21-07:00

My favorite Facebook quote of the week went something like this... the only blizzard you're supposed to get in May is from Dairy Queen!

Maybe if I leave town spring, perhaps summer, will move in for good while I'm gone.

It's exciting to be invited back to Garden2Blog with P. Allen Smith and twenty or so of the most engaging garden bloggers in the country. I'm honored. And hopefully the weather's warmer in Little Rock.

Garden2Bloggers at the Governor's Mansion

P. Allen filming at Garden2Blog

It's not a walk in the park, in fact last time I was there we dodged tornadoes while touring gardens and participating in all manner of gardening challenges and shenanigans. This year we received lots of pre-P. Allen "homework".

Scary weather looms over the container contest.

Bonnie Plants asked us to design an edible container garden in three containers; 24", 18" and 14" in size. I attempted to design something different from the winning garden themes of last year, but maybe I should have gone with something more tried and true. Nevertheless I had fun fumbling around with the color markers I managed to find around the house during one of our snow storms.

Edible containers are a great way to grow food in small spaces

I'll let you know how I did next week when we all meet up and see what our collective genius came up with. Meanwhile, an email arrives telling us to choose our preferred color Le Creuset French Oven. The catch? Pick a winning garden-to-table recipe for the pot, cook and shoot photos, then send to Allen. He'll be posting the creations on his blog where you can vote for your choice. I made our family's favorite Shrimp Corn Chowder; it's tasty, full of veggies and quite colorful. Visit P. Allen's blog to see all of the entries.

Vote for my Shrimp Corn Chowder!

More competitions to be announced. Follow all the fun and great info on The Garden Buzz facebook page (you can like it above) and Twitter @thegardenbuzz!

Anguished Gardeners Amid Too Many Snow Days

2013-04-18T08:23:39-07:00

During our chilly, frozen spring this local frame shop has the right idea.

The birds are singing their hearts out yet the forecast for today is 3-6" more slushy snow. While everyone is tired of "Sprinter", the name coined for this fifth season, it's us gardeners that are feeling most on edge, and ok, maybe those kids who can't start school sports cuz their playing fields are covered in SNOW!

Ice not quite out on Lake Calhoun

What to do when the ground is still frozen hard in mid-April? Well, here's a bit of what I've been doing while digging is on hold.

This month I headed out to Fergus Falls, MN, not that far from Fargo, to speak at the West Otter Tail County Garden Day. I was honored to be included in this big event that featured 46 garden speakers from all around MN and even ND. They requested I talk about "Ten Tips for Better Garden Photos", elaborating from my magazine article of the same title. Everyone was so nice, the classes were full and the event ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to the organizational genius of Jan Brooberg and her band of hard-working Master Gardener volunteers.

During a break between my two talks I was able to check out all of the garden vendors. Seeing blooming plants and garden paraphernalia was kind of shocking to the system after you become resigned to an Arctic existence.

One vendor stuck out from the rest. This guy was a natural born salesman; he engaged the customer with a personable introduction and a firm handshake. He was knowledgeable about his product and knew his target demographic. And he was just 10 years old.

Master tomato cradle salesman Jacoby Bolgrean

Jacoby explained that their "tomato cradles" were designed, patented and built by his grandfather using re-purposed crates. I love the idea of new concept for tomato supports, and this one looks like it will indeed gently cradle your tomatoes while they grow. If you're interested in more info check out www.tomatocradles.com

Back in Minneapolis this week, I headed over to Magers and Quinn Bookstore to attend Amy Stewart's stop on her "Drunken Botanist" book tour. She was good humored about giving her talk while the snow and sleet pelted down outside, since she was booked for Miami the very next day. Her book has been a crossover success on all the bestseller lists. Only in a couple of chapters I can already recommend it.

Amy Stewart talks botany behind the booze.

It's an in-depth look at the botanical ingredients that made and make possible all the alcoholic drinks throughout history. As she says, look behind the bar at your favorite restaurant and all it really is, is distilled plant material. However, the book is a much more romanticized and wonky journey into the botany behind the booze.

Meanwhile planning for the 2013 Hennepin County Master Gardener Learning Garden Tour continues. As always we are cooking up lots of great ideas for the tour. This year we feature gardens in Edina, Bloomington and south Minneapolis with Master Gardeners on hand to answer your questions while you glean inspiration and information. It's Saturday, July 13 from 9-4. Check out the Hennepin County Master Gardener webpage for ticket info.

So it looks for now like all we can do is talk and dream about gardening, but surely spring and summer will eventually arrive, someday, right?

Wishing for Warmer Weather Giveaway!

2013-04-01T08:59:16-07:00

I just returned from my morning walk around the lake, ok, halfway around with a stop for a croissant and hot tea at Rustica, and back. What can I say about the weather? Well, here at our house, we call wind that cold, "bite-y". Keep walking and your face goes so numb you don't notice as much.

Easter Sunday found the snow melting in the brittle sunshine, leaving the ground a still sodden mess. It's gonna be a while before any planting can commence. So what to do? Throw a giveaway,what else!?

The lovely folks at Serenity Health and Home Decor have generously offered to sponsor a giveaway at The Garden Buzz this month. I've chosen a Mayan Double Hammock as the prize, hoping that we will soon have hot hammock-relaxing weather soon. I can't think of a better way to unwind than swaying in the backyard to the tune of songbirds in the sunshine.

Here's their description of the hammock and a photo, it retails at $47.99

"A fun way to relax on your porch, in your backyard, or even when you're camping. Bright, multi-colored hammocks, they are handwoven from a cotton material making the hammock bed soft as well as extremely comfortable. The hammock ends are composed of a nylon material to make it tough when hanging and fitting the hammock with durability, so you can enjoy it for years to come.

Each hammock is handwoven by native Mayan craftsmen in Central America. Though given a working design, the sizes and color patterns may vary due to the individual's artistic expression."

To enter send an email or leave a comment below. To avoid spammers I have to ask that you leave a short note telling me how you relax in your garden. The giveaway runs from April 2 through April 9. I'll choose one winner at random and notify the lucky person immediately. The hammock will ship directly from Serenity Health and Home. (If I haven't heard back from that person within 7 days, I'll choose an alternate winner).

Good luck everyone!

Growing Frustration With Longest Winter Ever, Ever

2013-03-22T06:59:50-07:00

I know. I was gone for most of the winter. I have no right to complain. But that snow isn't going away for a very long time and there's no big warm-up in sight.

Bachman's Garden Center plant bays still snow laden :(

This is a time when I agree with the notion that Facebook makes you feel bad. It's not the exotic vacations and high achieving children that are making me green, it's the green that the gardeners south of here (and that's most of them) are seeing in their flower beds and veggie plots. They're killing me.

So I set out yesterday afternoon to a local garden center with the hope of seeing something growing besides the snow pile by my driveway. Of course the outdoor nursery section was sad and snow-covered but inside among the potted pansies and purple crocus I found hope of brighter and warmer days.

Crocus anyone? The Garden Buzz

Entering the greenhouse and feeling the humid air, smelling the damp soil, yes, that's what I needed. I almost swear the garden chemical section had a somewhat nostalgic odor that cheered me up, see that's how far I've fallen into this frozen funk!

I thought I'd share a few photos of some clever ideas I discovered on my jaunt.

Upcycled baby pram with fairy garden The Garden Buzz

Love the red door, sap bucket address numbers The Garden Buzz

How cute are these felted woolly bird houses? The Garden Buzz

Succulents in sieves, brilliant! The Garden Buzz

Northern Gardener Magazine Goes Digital-Free Access Right Now

2013-03-11T08:21:08-07:00

Rain. Ice. Sleet. Slush. Snow. Repeat.

And we're melting, melting. I hear it in my head in the voice of the bad witch of Oz.

March is not a pretty month in Minnesota. I'm back from Savannah just in time to witness the great thaw. How was a kid from Southern California to know she should learn to ice skate, that it would serve her well in the future, for simply getting down the sidewalk? It's slippery out there, be careful!

Many garden bloggers are posting pics of their first daffodils, some in the deep south are already harvesting peas, you might say I'm pea-green with envy. Patience, my dear.

I can't report any gardening going on but I can tell you that a great gardening magazine has gone digital. Yes, more ways to read Northern Gardener....and me.

Find out how to subscribe at digital.northerngardener.org

The March/April 2013 issue finds me full of beans. So what else is new you say? The humble bean has fueled armies and explorers for centuries. Now it's time to think beyond green beans and discover all the beautiful beans, both edible and ornamental that you can grow (as soon as the ground warms up to 55 degrees) in your garden.

Check out my article "So Many Beans", and be prepared to realize I only scratched the surface on this subject. Tasty heirloom beans with colorful names like Jacob's Cattle and Turkey Craw will entice you to try a few and delve deeper into their histories.

And is it too late to talk about mulch? When is the right time to remove it come spring? In the March/April issue my column, "Pushing the Zone", I discuss the warm and toasty insulating properties of mulch and how it can help you extend your growing limits. Well, actually I compare the whole process to having hot flashes, maybe too much information, but it makes sense.

But it's definitely not all about me. This issue talks about "Magical Magnolias", U of MN seed trial results, making a difference in the world with your garden, beautiful container combos, and much more.

The digital magazine will eventually be available only as an added benefit for MSHS (Minnesota State Horticultural Society) members and subscribers, but for the first three issues of 2013 access is open to everyone.

Cool Discovery in My Father's Florida Garden

2013-02-25T07:39:18-08:00

I can only describe my 81 year old father this way; he's a crusty ex-Marine with a soft, gooey center.

At one time he liked landscaping and plants but that is long in the past. Now his yard is simply something he maintains with the help of friends from his church. It is a typical Florida front yard, a scraggly lawn dotted with anthills, a few azaleas, a crape myrtle (that has been crape murdered), a few palms and one live oak tree that provides a kind of constant mulching with its continual leaf-dropping, all surviving on a thin sandy soil.

There's the neighbor's grapefruit tree that grows over the backyard fence. It's an old tree that produces old-fashioned, not-ruby-red-inside, globes of fruit that taste good even though they are dusted with a sooty, fungusy, but not-quite-fatal condition. He saves the ripe ones that are within reach for his friends since grapefruit is forbidden with his medications.

On this visit my daughter and I followed our usual routine with my dad; breakfast at Panera's, a few handy(wo)man projects he can't do any more, sharing of photos, family history discussions, and poking around his stuff. On our way out to the shed I noticed something I'd never seen before.

A Collage of Lichens The Garden Buzz

Two sides of the backyard are surrounded with relatively new popsicle-stick shaped boards. But to the other side there is an aging stockade fence. Arranged on this fence as only nature can, is an assortment of lichens and moss that would put any Jackson Pollack painting to shame.

These lichens grow in a subtle collage of grays, greens and silver with a small splash of sulfury yellow against the weathered red wood. Viewed singularly they are like a carefully styled still life, from afar a beautifully blended tapestry.

Lichens Still Life The Garden Buzz

The fence reminded me of my father. At times blunt and abrasive with a complicated and compassionate soul hidden just beneath the surface.

My father The Garden Buzz

After a quick search on lichens, well that's not possible, turns out there are hundreds of them, I did identify a few of the lichens yet not down to their scentific labels. Some lichens will only attach to stone, some to wood/plants and some to both. They can be an indicator of air quality with some sensitive to nitrogen and others not. Fascinating stuff!

At first I figured the pale green beardy growth was an another epiphyte (air plant) similar to Spanish moss that also grew in sprigs on the fence. However it is called usnea, or "old man's beard". It is a fructiose lichens. Crustose lichens are the flatter kinds and foliose varieties tend to be leafy in appearance. They "bloom" in all colors. Lichens are a composite life form combining a fungus with an algae. Beyond that I'm still in the novice category but curious to learn more.

Bearded, leafy, scaly, lots of lichens The Garden Buzz

That leads to questions. Do we consider this part of the garden or just collateral nature since it's not intentional? Can we encourage and tend lichens in order to give our gardens an aged patina? Do they harm other plants and hardscape? Are they a symptom of other plant disease?

How about you? Do you have lichens in your garden and how do you regard them? Let me know in the comment section...

Is There Such a Thing as a Camellia Bug? I Think I've Been Bitten

2013-02-05T06:25:51-08:00

I guess it was bound to happen. See enough beautiful camellias and even though you know they're out of your zone, you start to wonder, what if?

During my "winter break" I love to look at the camellias blooming all over Savannah, in the squares, in courtyards, on traffic medians, just about everywhere. Until recently I've managed to remain detached. I've maintained a "this is an exotic treat to be appreciated only here" attitude.

But in the meantime I meandered through the Camellia Trail at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens (at the Historic Bamboo Farm) while researching a story for Savannah Magazine. So many colors and shapes, such welcome color in winter. With their silky petals and golden centers they are very much like peonies for southern folk.

Although camellias weren't the topic of my article, I found myself doing a little quick self-taught camellia course, just to satisfy my curiosity. At least now I know the difference between the two most popular species; Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica.

Camellia sasanqua blooms first from fall to early winter, and tends to have smaller blooms and a looser habit, while Camellia japonica blooms in winter to early spring, with bigger, bolder blooms and a stiffer, upright stature. Both are broadleaf evergreens with handsome dark green foliage.

The flowers of Camellia japonica fall off the plant whole when they're done. It's not only a tidy attribute, the spent blooms carpet the ground below make for an attractive mulch of sorts.

Around Savannah you'll see where people have placed these blooms for display in unusual places. Often when I pass by the courtyard of the Gordon Low home (he was father to the founder of the Girl Scouts) I see tht someone has placed a bloom upon every step leading up to the stately home. At other times you'll come upon a few flowers simply sitting on a stone bench. So southern, so Savannah.

And then I read two things that made me think, hmmm...perhaps I might grow a camellia in Minnesota.

--Turns out plant breeders have been working on cold-hardy camellias, Monrovia sells Ice Angels, 'Winter's Snowman', 'April Remembered' and 'Spring's Promise'. Only hardy to zone 6, they won't work for me where zone 5 is only a safe gamble sometimes. Darn.

--Reading a NY Times review of Tovah Martin's new book, The Unexpected Houseplant, I was struck by something she said, that any plant (within reason) could be adopted as a houseplant given the right conditions. Conservatory-grown camellias flourish, so why couldn't I grow one outdoors and bring it in just as it's about to bloom?

Sounds possible, but several sites say that camellias don't like change (well, who does?), and will drop their buds when moved or if conditions vary even a little. I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences with this idea?

Spanish Moss: Pretty Parasite or What?

2013-01-30T08:37:35-08:00

Even if you don't live in the south chances are you've been a bit curious about Spanish moss, that ubiquitous fixture of southern landscapes, like a thousand trailing gray beards through which lace curtain light filters the heavy humid air. It's the gauzy, dreamy stuff of stories gone southern Gothic.

While it loves live oaks with their ambling lateral branches it seems to attach itself to anything not moving, you'll see it hanging in just about any tree or shrub.

But on a practical note, is it a parasite? Does it kill trees?

In a word, no.

Neither moss or lichen, Spanish moss is an epiphyte, or air plant, a member of the bromeliad family and a cousin of, off all things, the pineapple. Although it attaches itself to trees, it absorbs nutrients and water from the air. It can grow so abundantly that it shades out a tree's foliage and decreases growth, however it won't kill the tree.

In the old days Spanish moss was used for stuffing mattresses and car seats, before that it was woven into clothing. Nowadays you'll see it used in floral arrangements, craft items and oddly enough in reptile cages for bedding.

No matter, I love how it performs a little visual alchemy romancing even the most ordinary street. I love the jarring effect of its grizzled gray scarves draped from autumn leaves or better yet the waxy blooms of the tulip poplar tree.

You can order live Spanish moss to grow your own. The websites profess that all it takes is regular misting with water, even claiming you can grow it outside its southern range. Whether this is the case, I guess the question is, would you really want to?

Garden Sleuthing: Down South for the Winter Again

2013-01-14T08:52:26-08:00

After some tense moments at the parking permit office, I now feel settled in my "Savannah Getaway", where they advertise you can "live like a local". I'm in an upstairs apartment across from the Colonial Cemetery so when I walk the dog at night the ghost tours keep me company.

Parking here is important mostly because you walk everywhere and that car needs to sit some place while you do it. Now that the secondary residential sticker is firmly planted on my car I can breath easier and save my quarters for extra-large iced teas (with a splash of pineapple lemonade) from Parker's.

Last year I was a bit giddy getting away from the winter, although it was the winter that never quite was, but this year is different. I have mixed emotions, as I miss my new neighborhood and there's the matter of the house we are building in it. Hopefully all the big design decisions are behind me while I escape the cold. And note to potential burglars, I may be gone, but someone's home.

It's still winter here but my garden sleuthing has already begun in earnest. Henry-dog and I just found a sweet little "tree lawn" planting. For those of you that aren't familiar with this term, the tree lawn is that narrow strip of soil between the closely plotted homes of the historic district and the often bricked or cobbled streets of Savannah.

With space at a premium, those with a bent for gardening, grow what they can in these petite spots, packing them with annuals, tropicals, palms and azaleas. I thought this one was certainly maximizing theirs in a charming way.

Charming tree lawn planting in Savannah The Garden Buzz

So when we think there isn't room in our gardens for one more plant, maybe we aren't looking hard enough!

While I'm in Savannah I'll be posting lots of pics of great gardens that may be southern but still have lots of ideas that are totally "tranplantable". I have lots of writing projects to work on when I'm not I larking around. I may have a very interesting announcement...hmmm.

Of course my daughter ( thesis project is close to finished she tells me) and I will be eating our way through the city and surrounding areas. And I'm sure there's a Charleston trip ahead with all those beautiful windowboxes among other garden inspirations. Stay tuned.