The Garden Year Ends, Not With a Bang But With a Train Whistle

Every once in a while, even as I struggle to get through just the basic maintenance in my garden, I yearn to create something special, something magical in my yard--something with motion and sound that sparks imagination and ignites long-forgotten fantasies. I know it stems from memories of the garden of my childhood. Our home's previous owner left his mark in the back yard in the form of a moss-covered hill topped with a castle and ribboned with a stone-lined brook that ran down the hill into a moat-like fishpond below. It was a feature that appealed to both children and adults; everyone, it seemed, experienced a moment of kid-like fascination when standing before that small world tucked under a redwood tree at the back of the yard.

I don't remember having that kind of experience again until yesterday when I visited the Golden Gate Express Garden Railway at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. This second annual exhibit, created with the help of the Bay Area Garden Railway Society, transforms a collection of plants and a motley assortment of recycled materials into a miniature version of the city of San Francisco, complete with a four-car train and a cable car, each running on its own track.


Every iconic structure in San Francisco is there, from the Golden Gate Bridge with moving cars, to the Transamerica Pyramid and Lombard Street. The Ferry Building, constructed of corks and cutlery, is front and center. A row of colorful Victorian homes made of cereal boxes lines a hill, and mah-jong tiles and motherboards re-create Chinatown's Dragon-Crest Gate.

But this is a micro-world to experience, not just look at. Lights flash, bells clang, the ball-park crowd cheers. And twice a day, at 11:15 and 4:15, the ultimate San Francisco phenomenon occurs--the fog rolls in.

I try to imagine the attention to detail that garden railway devotees must invest in the creation and maintenance of little worlds like this. Beyond the tracks and the structures, every rock and plant is hand-picked and placed just so. Sound effects are recorded. Lights are programmed and timed. If regular gardening requires continual patience, what must a garden railway demand of its creator?

I doubt I'll ever know firsthand; I don't see a garden railway springing up in my own back yard any time soon. But for a little while yesterday I got to enjoy the magic and the wonder and remember that the smallest details that we bend to observe are the ones that can transport us the farthest.

The Second Annual Golden Gate Express Garden Railway exhibit at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park runs through April 18, 2010. The Conservatory is closed on New Year's Day, but otherwise open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:oo a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry at 4:30). Click here for details.

It's Not Just Complicated, It's a Little Bit Fake

The LA Times has a story about how the amazing kitchen garden shown in the new Meryl Streep movie, "It's Complicated," actually came to look so amazing. Hint: Movie magic, it seems, can even extend to horticulture. And don't believe the somewhat mediocre reviews the movie is getting--it's absolutely hilarious!

Anatomy of a Seed Packet

As I sort and sift through my box of seeds, gathering ideas for next year’s garden, one thing has become apparent—there is a lot of room for improvement in the packaging of seeds.

I appreciate that some seed companies are run on shoestring budgets, but I’m not sure that absolves them of the responsibility to provide adequate information about their products. And for the bigger companies, there’s really no excuse. I don’t know if there’s any way to gather this data, but I have to wonder how much money gardeners waste each year buying seeds that they prepare or plant incorrectly due to lack of information on the package.

So in an open plea to seed companies everywhere, here is a list of the essential elements I often find missing on seed packets:

1. A photo. Yes, the botanical drawings are lovely and quaint, but I want a little more reality. And to be honest, I don’t want just one photo, I want two—a close-up of the flower or fruit, as well as a photo of the plant in situ. I’d settle for that second photo to be available on the company’s website, but the more you can show me right on the package, the more likely it is that I’ll be tossing that pack into my shopping basket.
2. The full botanical name. Yes, Latin can be scary, but it helps. Really, it does.
3. Germination requirements. It’s not enough to just state the planting depth and width and when to plant. If seeds require filing, nicking, soaking or chilling in order to germinate and that information isn’t on the packet, you’re inviting people to waste their time and money with your product. Let’s not do that.
4. Harvesting information. I’d be more willing to try new and unfamiliar varieties if the seed companies would give me even the slightest clue when and how to harvest. It isn’t always obvious. What will the fruit or vegetable look or feel like when ripe? Can I expect multiple harvests from one plant? Come on, just a hint...
   
5. "Best Used By" date. Every reputable seed company stamps their packets with a "Packaged for 20--" date. But it would be great if they’d also add a "Best Used By 20--" date to tell me that those 2009 lettuce seeds won’t last beyond 2011, but the 2009 tomatoes could be good until at least 2013.

It’s true that you can often find all this information on the Internet if you go searching for it, but not always, particularly for rare varieties. Call me silly, but I think it should be right there on the package. And who knows this information better than the people who are selling these seeds?

So what company comes closest to achieving excellence in seed packaging? Without a doubt, it’s Renee’s Garden. They don’t usually include the botanical name and they use illustrations rather than photos (although their website includes plant photos), but their packs are well-written and informative, so much so that they even add an extra flap to contain the additional details. They often include general notes of interest about the plant as well as tips for using or cooking the harvest. Their 2009 seed packs include a “Sell By” date in addition to the “Packed For” date—useful for the retailer, not so much for the gardener. Still, the amount of information they provide on their seed packs far exceeds that of any other company I’ve seen.

I understand that Baker Creek is in the process of upgrading their seed packs, going from generic packages to variety-specific packs with photos and more details, to which I say “Amen.” Let’s hope that other seed companies will be following suit.

Seed Heaven in Petaluma

What’s a gardener to do in these damp, drippy days when you actually have a bit of free time to garden but the weather is not cooperating? It’s a time for planning next year’s garden, and that means seeds. And now, thanks to Baker Creek Seeds’ opening of their Petaluma Seed Bank, it means road trip!

It’s a 45-minute drive up Highway 101 to Petaluma, a town once known as the “Egg Capital of the World” that has never completely shaken its aggie beginnings. North of San Francisco and south of the wine country, Petaluma is what would have happened to Mayberry if it had been taken over by ex-hippies, foodies, and antique dealers. Needless to say, it was the perfect spot for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds to set up shop.

Filling an old corner bank building in the quaint downtown area, the Baker Creek Seed Bank is a new experience in seed shopping. Racks and racks of seed packets run the length of the old bank. When I was there earlier this week, manager Paul Wallace and his staff were busy replacing all of the 2009 packs with the new 2010 packs, assuring the freshest seeds possible. And of course, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill seeds, but rare varieties, many of which you won’t find anywhere else. The number of tomato varieties alone is a little overwhelming.

And therein may be the problem. The selection is far greater than any I’ve seen in a nursery or garden store and I wasn’t there too long before brain lock started to set in. I suggest getting a catalog to peruse before going, but you can also pick up a copy at the Seed Bank and relax at a table there while you flip through pages and make your shopping list.

In addition to the staggering selection of seeds, the Seed Bank carries gardening and urban farming books that you're not likely to find at your local bookstore. They know their clientele and don't bother with the Sunset magazine-style garden porn. These are books for people with dirt under their nails. But that's OK, because on the other side of the store you'll find shelves of home-made soaps, along with beeswax candles, honeys, and herb products. But particularly appealing was the line of Clarington Forge garden tools from England. You usually have to get tools of such high quality by mail-order, so it was nice to be able to handle them and check them out in person, and had I not been financially wiped out by Christmas I would have been happy to leave with a new shovel.

In the end, I left with only five packs of seeds, just enough to get my 2010 garden plans cooking. But I suspect I’ll be making the drive back to Petaluma come the Spring. Seed heaven beckons.

The Baker Creek Seed Bank is located at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North (take the Petaluma Blvd. South exit from Hwy. 101). Hours are currently 9:30 to 5:30 Monday-Friday and 11:00 to 5:30 Sunday, but call ahead to confirm before making the drive (707-509-5171).

12/25/09

It May Be California's Oldest Plant But Is It a Native?

There's a fascinating article in the LA Times about the discovery of a Jurupa Hills oak that researchers believe is about 13,000 years old, a good 3000 years older than the mighty redwoods.

One of the most interesting parts of the story, however, is this:

"But the Jurupa oak, researchers reported today in the online journal PLoS One, is unusual in that it is well out of its normal environment, which would be high in the mountains. It took seed at its current location near the end of the last ice age, when the climate was cooler and wetter. As its brethren died out because of climatic change, it persisted.

"If you planted a seedling there now, I doubt very much whether it would grow," said plant scientist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra of UC Davis, lead author of the paper by UC Davis and UC Riverside scientists."

In other words, while this plant would certainly meet the criteria of just about any definition of a "native," if it were being planted in the exact same spot today, it would probably not survive. Hopefully, this will give native-plant purists a moment of pause. The whole native plant issue is just not that cut and dry. (I hate to say I told you so, but...)

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Children's Garden at the SF Public Library

Check out this article in the SF Chronicle about a children's garden that's been installed in an unused patio of the Mission Branch of the public library. As public libraries continue to transition into a more interactive, educational role, this is exactly the kind of thing that should happen. What a great way to make the whole books-learning-life connection seem real and relevant for kids!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

9 Places to Shop for Alameda Gardeners Without Leaving the Island

I hate to say this but there are only six more shopping days until Christmas. If you're feeling the time crunch, I can offer you one big tip for saving time while you shop: Don't leave the island! Although I often hear Alamedans (mostly newbies) complain about the shopping options here, there really are some great places to find what you need, especially if you're shopping for gardeners. Check out these spots for gifts, gear, and goodies for the Alameda Gardener on your list:

1. Encinal Nursery: In addition to the usual plant selection, Encinal Nursery is well-stocked with Christmas trees (including living trees in pots), wreaths, garlands and other greenery. They also have bulbs still in stock, ivy topiaries, and some nice bonsai plants.
   
2. Thomsen's Garden Center: You'll always find a great plant selection here, but they also carry lots of great garden ornaments and pots. They still have some bulbs in stock as well as seed potatoes (something not many of the local nurseries seem to carry). While you're there, stop upstairs at Vines cafe and gift shop, where you'll find great gift-y things and excellent lattes.
   
3. Ploughshares Nursery: In addition to knowing that you're supporting a great nursery that helps train and put people back to work, Ploughshares is a good place to find California natives. Right now they also have a large selection of fruit trees and citrus trees from Four Winds (talk about a gift that keeps on giving!), as well as lots of plants on sale for 50-75% off. Note: Ploughshares is open this weekend and probably only half a day on Wednesday before the holidays, so shop early!)
   
4. Japan Woodworker: Shop here if you want to find the kind of gardening tools that make gardeners drool. They have amazing gardening tools from Japan at reasonable prices. You'll find everything you'd need for aesthetic pruning, or just some cool gear that will make you feel like you know what you're doing.
   
5. Pagano's Hardware: This is the place to find the more pedestrian but nevertheless essential garden tools, some garden ornaments, and fertilizers. A gift card for Pagano's would bring a smile to any gardener's face.
   
6. Books Inc.: Although there isn't an extensive selection of garden books at this otherwise terrific bookstore, they do carry some titles specifically related to gardening in the Bay Area and Northern California. Definitely worth a look.
   
7. Wilmott's Books: This used bookstore is the real deal and they stock a good variety of gardening books, from the practical to the literary. Stop by for a good browse.
8. Urban Forest: Follow the stream of bubbles into this little shop on Park Street to find a wide array of wind chimes, as well as some very cool fountains and garden ornaments.
   
9. See's Candies: This one's self-explanatory.

Happy shopping!

Here's the Winner!

The winner of the garden stool is Rachel (with the yahoo e-mail address). I've e-mailed Rachel to get her mailing address. If for some reason I don't hear from her, I will draw another name.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Update 12/17: I didn't hear back from Rachel, so I randomly drew another name. The new winner is greenTXmom. I've sent an e-mail asking for her mailing address. Hopefully, I'll hear back soon!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Garden Stool Giveaway Ends Tomorrow

There's still time to enter the garden stool giveaway! Just leave a comment with your name and e-mail address on this post. The giveaway ends tomorrow (Monday) at noon PST. I'll post the winner's name tomorrow night.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Another Great Gift Idea for Gardeners--The SF Flower & Garden Show

The people who took over the SF Flower & Garden Show this year seem to be bringing some really fresh thinking to the operation and so far at least, it's looking very promising. For starters, they're offering advance ticket purchases--I mean, really advance ticket purchases! Which means you can wrap up tickets for the perfect Hannukah gift or stocking stuffer right now. That's brilliant!

And here's the second bit of good news. The prices are fantastic. An advance puchased adult ticket gives you entrance to all five days of the show for only $16. I can't recall exactly what prices were this past year, but this seems like a steal. Because the show is now in San Mateo, an entrance ticket that's good for all five days gives me that much more incentive to keep going back.

Check out the show's web site, where they've already posted the schedule of seminars. This show is shaping up to be something really promising.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Win a Great Gift for the Gardener in Your Life (or for You!)

Just in time for the holidays, I'm giving away this garden stool/tool tote (tools not included) to one lucky winner. The stool, courtesy of FortePromo.com, seems very sturdy and is rated to hold up to 200 lbs., and the detachable tote is water-resistant.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your name and e-mail address. You can enter multiple times, but only one entry per day. I'll hold the random drawing next Monday morning (Dec. 14) and post the winner. I will ship the product to arrive by Christmas time. (Sorry, I can only ship within the United States.)

Good luck!

Update 12/14: This giveaway is now officially closed to additional entries. I will post the winner of the random drawing later tonight.

The Green Shoots of Autumn

I'm not so sure I see any "green shoots" in the economy like Ben Bernanke claims to see, but one of the rewards of autumn weeding is uncovering the green shoots of spring-flowering bulbs.

So far I've exposed the first tender tips of the hyacinths as well as countless slender spikes of freesias and dutch and german irises. I never have one of those moments of discovering bulb shoots buried among the weeds when I don't relive that scene from The Secret Garden (by Frances Hodgson Burnett) when Mary experiences her own gardener's epiphany. It's always wondrous, and a fitting reward for pulling weeds on a cold, damp day.

The Native Bees of 2010

If, like me, you're more than ready to close the books on 2009 and start planning the new year, you might want to check out this beautiful 2010 calendar benefitting the Great Sunflower Project (sponsored by San Francisco State University):


The calendars are $14 (including shipping) and must be ordered online by Monday, November 30. Calendars will be shipped to arrive by the holidays. Click here for more information and order form.

I Finally Reported the World's Ugliest Tree

Today I finally made the call I've been intending to make for a couple years. I called the City of Alameda to ask them to evaluate the world's ugliest tree, which just happens to be in front of my house.

I really began to pay attention to this tree a couple years ago when I was taking an arboriculture class and had to do a tree report. For convenience sake, I did the report on this tree and believe me, there was plenty to report on. Poor branch structure, included bark, some old damage to the trunk (probably from a car clipping it), and to be brutally frank, just a general state of ugliness. The pictures here are from that report I did in late 2006. Time has not improved the situation. If anything, it's worse because there are now a couple obviously dead branches.

It'll be interesting to see how the city decides to handle this problem. I realize budgets are beyond tight and removing the tree and replacing it may not be affordable. But I would so love to see this thing gone and some tree with real potential put in its place. The city has recently updated its master tree plan and when I checked it, I found the report made the following recommendations for new/replacement tree plantings on my street:

• Silver linden
• Various American and hybrid elms
• New Zealand Christmas tree
• Chinese pistache 'Keith Davey'
• Scarlet oak

Any of those would be a vast improvement over the current tree, but the last three options on the list would really give some great fall color.

But I shouldn't get my hopes up. If the city decides that removal isn't a priority or in the budget, then the world's ugliest tree and I may still have a long future together.

My Garden Has Me Down

If anyone's wondering why I haven't been posting lately, the reason is simple: I'm a depressed gardener. While my garden would usually be a source of comfort and relaxation, it's been more of a stressor lately, just another thing that's not working out well and it shows. When friends have asked me how my garden is doing, I've answered honestly, "It looks like shit." That pretty much covers it.

The reasons it looks like shit are not uncommon and fall into three categories of varying degrees of severity at various times: 1) lack of time and energy for proper maintenance, 2) lack of money for supplies and more plants, and 3) aphids and their evil partners in crime, ants.

The time and money issues are, I think, slowly working themselves out. And in the past few days, I've decided to throw my budget to the wind, accept the fact that I'll never get caught up on my own, and hire some one-time help to clear weeds in the front yard and prune a neglected and overgrown camellia at the side of my house. I feel a bit better having made that decision, and will, I'm sure, feel much better when it's finally done.

The aphid problem on the other hand is a tougher fix. My plan earlier in the year to do absolutely nothing about the aphid problem in the hopes that the beneficial insects would really go on the attack resulted in my cherry tree being decimated, my plum being later hit so hard that it looks like it has peach curl, and several other plants getting the life slowly sucked out of them. The ladybugs have shown up and in greater numbers than I've seen here before, but clearly they're not up to the task. I'm still refusing to spray chemicals, although I have tried a few home remedy mixes that don't seem to have done much. I'm also hitting the plants with jets of water, which I honestly think just provides the aphids with a temporary Slip'N'Slide more than it kills or discourages them.

And their good buddies, the ants, are everywhere! Alameda's sandy soil must be ant heaven for them--fast draining and oh so easy to tunnel through. I finally realized that I'd never get the aphids under control without controlling the ants, so I've put Grants ant stakes all over the place. It seems to have decreased their numbers slightly, but I know this is an ongoing battle.

All this being said, there have been a few high spots in the garden this year, for which I am grateful. It's been the best year for roses that I've had so far, possibly because I finally have them situated in the best spots in the garden. The salvias (Mexican Limelights, Hot Lips, and Argentine Skies), bless them, have bloomed like mad and (with the exception of the aggressively sharp elbows of the Mexican Limelights) been maintenance-free. The kangaroo paw I put in last year has bloomed non-stop most of the year as well. The Bright Lights swiss chard has added a lot of color and produced enough greens to fortify at least a squadron, if not an army. And the green beans (Roma and haricot vert) have been delicious (in spite of the feeble bamboo teepees I built them).

So my goal now is to do what one should always do when depressed:

1. Take a breath. It's probably not as bad as I think it is.
2. Get some professional help. No gardener is an island (even if my garden's on an island) and there's no reason why I have to go it alone.
3. Face my enemies head-on with the proper defenses. I'm off to buy a bottle of Neem this afternoon.
4. Count my blessings. At least I have a garden to be depressed about!
   

Sale at Flora Grubb

There's a great sale tomorrow (Friday, 7/3) at Flora Grubb Nursery in San Francisco. All plants and pots are 20% off! Flora Grubb has a great selection of plants, especially succulents, so this is a great chance to stock up. Treat yourself to a cappuccino at the cafe there while you're at it--their coffee is as good as their plants.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Forget the Gorgeous Young Man, What I Really Want Is the Garden

Went to see the movie Cheri tonight. It is a gorgeous thing to watch, a truly stunning representation of the Belle Epoque in all its art nouveau glory. It's the story of an aging courtesan (Michelle Pfeiffer) who falls in love with a beautiful young man (Rupert Friend). And he is indeed beautiful, but what I was really lusting after was the garden of the beautiful young man's mother (played by a very wonderful Kathy Bates). Lush, rose-laden, romantic--it was everything you could want a garden to be. But like all good things, it was fleeting--just glimpses here and there and before you can fully appreciate it, everyone has moved indoors. Ah, well. It was nice while it lasted.

CHERI: Movie Trailer - Click here for another funny movie.

What to Do This Weekend: Carnivorous Plant Show

The Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society is hosting it's annual plant show and sale this Saturday (June 20th) at the Garden Center at Oakland's Lakeside Park (by Lake Merritt). Pitcher plants, sundews, venus fly traps, terrariums, and more will be on display in this juried show and there will be plants for sale as well. Shows like these are a great opportunity to get growing advice from the experts on the very particular needs of these amazing plants. The show runs from noon to 4 p.m., but I'd suggest getting there early before all the plants have pigged out and fallen asleep in front of the TV.

Dates Set for SF Flower & Garden Show 2010

After narrowly escaping a complete shutdown, the recently rescued SF Flower & Garden Show now has dates set for next year's show. Mark your calendars: March 24-28, 2010. Once again, the show will be taking place at the San Mateo Event Center rather than in San Francisco proper. Show organizers promise that the show is committed to focusing on the topics relevant to bay area gardeners, including the organic and show food movements.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Propagation Demystified

Ever wondered why those little black seeds you've planted never sprout? (Tip: Most black seeds require some form of scarification.) Or how you can successfully root cuttings from your grandmother's favorite rose bush? Or how to cross-pollinate two flowers to breed an entirely new variety? Plant propagation doesn't have to be so mysterious--you can get these questions and a lot more answered in the Advanced Propagation class at Merritt College in Oakland.

Like so many other places, Merritt College is having massive budget cuts and this class is in danger of being cut from the Fall schedule if at least 25 people don't enroll by Wednesday (6/10). This 2-unit class requires no text, has no tests, and costs just $40. What it does offer is lots of hands-on lab experience with a wide variety of propagation techniques, the opportunity to try your own propagation experiments with some guidance and supervision and a greenhouse, and many informative field trips to propagation nurseries around the bay area for a behind-the-scenes look. The instructor, Susan Ashley, is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I took this course a few semesters ago and learned so much that I've been able to try out in my own garden. And it was really fun.

Click here to start the registration process. The class is LH52 and the class number is 44469 lecture, 44470 lab. Classes are on Tuesdays from 1-5 pm starting on Aug. 25. If you have more questions, you can contact Susan at susanwashley at gmail dot com.

Plant Sale This Saturday

For readers in the Bay Area: East Bay Wilds Nursery in Castro Valley is having its Big Annual Native Plant Sale this Saturday (5/23) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. East Bay Wilds is usually a by-appointment-only nursery, so this is a great chance to get your hands on their amazing selection of native plants. Check out their site for complete information and a plant availability list. Directions to the nursery are here.

Photo: Yucca whippleii (Our Lord's Candle)
Photo Credit: Pete Veilleux/East Bay Wilds

The First Plums

I wasn't expecting the weeping Santa Rose plum tree I planted a year ago to fruit for at least another year or two. But surprise! I've spotted at least a half dozen plums so far. They're well camouflaged among the leaves while their skins are still green, so I'm hoping that there are more that I'm just not seeing. I can't wait to bite into the first one!

Now This I Like

Watch this short video to see a very resourceful, clever, and beautiful garden in Seattle. The composting fence idea is nothing short of brilliant. This is the kind of garden I'm aiming for.

(Hat tip: Empress of Dirt)

Welcoming Back Spring

Enjoy this brief (less than two minutes) animated film from Jeff Scher, courtesy of the NY Times. It's really lovely.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Who Knew You Could Eat the Leaves Too?

I love plants that offer a two-fer. Like Amaranth--you can eat the leaves and the grain. Beets--roast the roots and saute the greens. Or grapes--eat the fruit, roll the leaves up into dolmas, and by all means drink the wine!

And this morning while reading the SF Chron online, I learned about another horticultural two-fer: fava beans. Not only are they great for the soil because they put nitrogen back into it, but it turns out you can eat both the beans and the greens. In fact, the greens are turning out to be one of the latest culinary trends in Bay Area restaurants. Move over, arugula!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Recession Hits the SF Botanical Garden

The S.F. Recreation and Park Department is proposing the imposition of a $5 entrance fee to the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Facing an $11.4 million shortfall for the coming year, this is just one of the fees under consideration by the parks department. You can read more about the proposal in this article in the SF Chronicle.

I hate to hear about things like this because these are the kind of proposals that become self-defeating in the end. You take a venue that everyone can enjoy and appreciate because it's free and impose an entrance fee. Only then, there are many people who will never set foot in it again. Then it becomes a sort of "rarefied" spot, the kind of place that people think isn't really meant for the masses. Which is, of course, exactly what an urban garden should be.

I know a $5 fee doesn't sound like much, and these are exceptionally hard times, but it still sounds like a bad idea to me. Couldn't the city impose other, more worthwhile fees instead? Like for gun registrations, for example? Here's a bumper sticker I'd like to see: "Use a gun, fund an orchid."

We Have a Winner!

Sorry, I should have posted this last night, but I got distracted. So here's the big winner of a free pair of Ethel Gloves-- Christine! Christine didn't leave her e-mail address, however, so I've notified her by way of her blog, Through the Garden Gate. Stop by and congratulate her on her win.

And for those of you who didn't win, don't forget that you can get 10% off your entire purchase of Ethel Gloves when you place your order from their website and use the discount code ALAMEDA. I think you'll really be pleased with these gloves!

Don't Forget to Enter the Ethel Glove Giveaway

Don't miss your chance to enter the drawing for a free pair of Ethel Gloves! You can enter by posting a comment here, including your e-mail address. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow (Friday) at 5:00 p.m. PDT. (I'm extending it from the original drawing time of noon.) Don't wait!

Ethel Gloves Revisited--And a Glove Giveaway!

Eight months ago I posted about trying out a new pair of garden gloves called Ethel Gloves. I gave the gloves a favorable review, but that was only after a week or so of intensive gardening in them.

I'm happy to report that the gloves are still going strong and they remain my favorite gloves to garden in. After eight months there are no tears or holes, no shrinkage in spite of several machine washings, and except for a few small sap stains, they clean up well.

It's good when a product lives up to one's initial impressions and it's also good to be able to try out a product for free. And one lucky reader will get the chance to do just that. The folks at Ethel Gloves will give away one pair of gloves (winner's choice of style and size) to a reader of An Alameda Garden. Just post a comment to this post. Your comment can be about anything garden- or garden blog-related. Be sure to include an e-mail address. The contest will remain open until next Friday, March 20--coincidentally, the first day of spring. At noon on Friday I'll randomly choose one winner from all the commenters and, once the winner has provided a mailing address, the folks at Ethel Gloves will ship out the new gloves.

And, just in case you can't wait for the end of the contest or aren't feeling particularly lucky, you can order gloves directly from the Ethel Gloves website and get a 10% discount as a reader of An Alameda Garden. Just enter the discount code ALAMEDA and you'll get 10% off your entire order. I think they'd make a perfect gift for Easter or Mother's Day! This discount offer is good until Friday, April 3.

Going Green and Off the Grid

Check out this video report from the NY Times on a woman who left the rat race behind to farm in upstate New York. Yes, it's a more extreme (and more rural) life than I would want to live, but I still find it fascinating and inspiring. At a time when most of us seem to be revising our lifestyles, examining the choices that others have made can really open up the range of possibilities.

The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Yes, We Need the Water, But...

There hasn't been a whole lot happening here in terms of gardening because we seem to be having one rainstorm after another and when we had a brief break from the storms a couple weeks ago, I had a cold and was too miserable to do anything. My one big accomplishment was that I bought 50 bare-root strawberry plants (Ranier) on sale at Berkeley Hort and actually managed to get them in the ground before they died. That happened yesterday, in a rush, during another short respite from the rain. The ground was still really too wet, but the plants couldn't wait any longer. So I weeded out the bed (probably losing way too much damp soil with the weeds) and stuck the plants in. Finally, I can feel like I got something actually done in the garden! Except that it's not really done because I still need to mulch the bed.

The forecast is for rain and more rain throughout the next ten days at least. And still they say we are in a drought and can look forward to more water rationing this year. You'd never know there's a drought by looking at my garden. The weeds are positively thriving!

Oh, and check back here soon--I expect to have another giveaway happening in a week or so. Details to come.

Thought for the Day

Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden.  -- Orson Scott Card

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Beginnings (Again)

I've been wondering what it was going to take to wake me from my gardening coma. Mild weather with blue skies and whole stretches of days without rain wasn't enough to do it. The cats luring me out to play didn't do it. And god knows, the burgeoning weed population hasn't done it either. But yesterday a large envelope arrived in the mail--a promotional package from Renee's Garden--and today it did the trick.

The package announced Renee's new seed varieties for 2009, including a couple of beautiful new sweet peas ("Zinfandel" and "Painted Lady"), a honey-scented alyssum ("Summer Peaches"), and two lettuce mixes ("Asian Baby Leaf" and "Ruby & Emerald Duet"). There's more--those were just what caught my eye at first glance. And to entice me further the package contained a complementary pack of the Asian Baby Leaf seed mix.

Renee's Garden is my favorite seed company. Their seeds are reliable germinators and they provide so much more information on their seed packets than most other seed companies. One thing in particular that I love is that they actually provide detailed information about how to harvest--exactly when to cut, how much to cut, and how to get a second growth. Sometimes they even provide information about how to cook the veggies. And if you're not a fan of their pretty seed packet illustrations, you can always go their web site to check out the real-life photos of each variety.

So with my new packet of Renee's Garden seeds in hand, I stumbled bleary-eyed out to the garden today, freshened up a couple of containers with an addition of new compost, and sprinkled Asian Baby Leaf seed mix over the top. Come early spring, these will make easy salad pickings right outside my back door. And while I was at it, I also planted another container with some of the sweet pea seeds from my last year's crop.

It wasn't much of a dent in all the gardening that needs to be done, and I'm not sure the funk I've been in is entirely lifted. But I defy anyone to plant seeds without feeling just a little bit better.

They Should Have Just Asked a Gardener

The LA Times has an article today about a study done at Kansas State University showing that yes, gardening can be strenuous enough to count as a moderate workout and to help keep people, particular seniors, fit.

I'm all for scientific research, but this seems like another one of those cases where a study was done to prove something that should be fairly obvious. Anyone who's ever raked a lawn, dug holes for planting, or pulled a significant amount of weeds can tell you that of course regular gardening activities are equivalent to a workout. While not every activity will get your heart rate up enough to count as a cardio activity, some, such as vigorous raking, will. Add to that the bending and reaching that comes with pruning, planting, and weeding, and you've got a pretty good all-over routine.

For those who need quantifiable proof of things, I hope this study, published in HortTechnology, will put the issue to rest. But honestly, I think it could have been settled just as conclusively by picking up a shovel.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Happy New Year! Time to Have Some Fun Again!

It's a new year and time to turn my attention back to both my garden and this blog. It's shameful the way I've been neglecting both in the past couple months but work and life have conspired to steal my time and drain my energy. I've realized though that there's another, even bigger reason why I've haven't been spending time either gardening or blogging: Neither has seemed very fun lately. And that is a shame, because both have given me a lot of pleasure in the past.

So as I was thinking about new year's resolutions and goals for 2009, it occurred to me that the best resolution I could make is to find the fun again--to make a point of enjoying my time in the garden and blogging about it. 2008 was for me personally and perhaps for the world at large somewhat of a soul-sucking experience. I'm ready for a fresh start and more than ready for some fun.

Happy new year and best wishes for my fellow gardeners, bloggers, and readers in 2009!