Stepping Away from the Edge

A Little Garden Project

My best gardening pal, Sandie, and I spent a glorious afternoon yesterday making papercrete hypertufa containers.

Huh?

We made containers like this one  (Sandie made this one in a workshop last April).

Only three ingredients:  paper pulp (shredded newspaper soaked in water for 48 hours), Portland cement, and perlite (or, in our case, vermiculite . . . because we couldn't find perlite).

Did you know that cement is really, incredibly cheap?  So cheap. . . that the smallest bag you can buy is 94 pounds!

That's a whole lotta cement. . . but what a deal!  Only $9.79 for a 94 pound bag!

Anyway.  We gathered our ingredients and some plastic forms and other oddments, and set up shop in Sandie's garage.

We measured . . .

and mixed. . .

(3 parts paper pulp : 2 parts Portland cement : 1 part perlite/vermiculite . . . with a splosh of water during the mixing up)

and ended up with a bucket of papercrete!

We coated our plastic molds with vegetable spray,

and then just started glopping it in (with a lot of intentional mooshing and smashing).

We ended up with quite a collection of hypertufa planters!

Now . . . we just have to wait . . . for the papercrete to dry, harden, and cure.  In a few weeks, we'll have new containers for yet more succulents!  (And we have enough cement to last a lifetime. . . )

 

The Restorative Power of Soil: A Riff

• The Festival continues.
• We're in the home stretch now; I can see the end.
• But there are still details to manage and vehicles to maintain and shuttles to run.
• And rain in the forecast.
• Which makes me nervous from a flights-on-time standpoint.
• (But I'm trying to just ignore that right now.)
• For me, the Festival is a stamina thing.
• You see, I have a nice, neat little schedule. 
• Normally.
• A part-time job that has major deadlines once in a while.
• And a micro-part-time job that doesn't.
• And then I added this Festival gig to the mix.
• It's tough to jump into full-time-even-weekends-and-on-call-even-when-you're-off.
• I'm not whining or complaining.
• (At least, not at this moment.  I've done plenty of that.  Just ask my Mom.  Or Tom.)
• I'm just stating the facts.
• Maybe I'm just too old for this.  I think that must be it.
• Because I'm really tired. Physically and emotionally.
• Despite the dark chocolate peanut M&Ms.
• And the wine.
• My spirits are sagging.
• Yesterday afternoon, Tom encouraged me to get out in the garden.
• First, he gently nudged.  I think you'd feel better if you got out in the garden.  When I just sat in the chair like a blob and whimpered, he got a bit more stern.  Get out in the garden before I strangle you!
• Not really.
• Not out loud, at least.
• But he did encourage me to get out there.
• So I did.
• I weeded.
• And pruned.
• And dug out some invaders.
• For a couple of hours.
• I feel so much better.
• We're in the final week of the festival. 
• I think I can make it!
• (Pass the dark chocolate peanut M&Ms, please!)

 

Digging for Grubs

The summer that Jenny was a puppy, my garden really took a hit.

Oh, she was adorable and all (which was a Good Thing for her), but she mashed my daylilies flat.  She leaped through my hostas.  She dug out anything new I planted. . . and dragged it through the yard.

She was always, always rooting around in my garden.  From the very first, she had a "thing" for my hostas.  She liked to hide in them.  And then leap out!

And when she crashed, she often crashed in among the hostas!

I thought my gardening days were doomed . . . by an adorable puppy.  But, over the years, Jenny has become my faithful gardening companion.

Oh, she still likes to sneak off with my gardening gloves or an empty plastic pot and run wild through the yard.  But the days of digging up and rooting through and leaping into my plants are over.

Jenny loves to be . . . involved. . . with gardening.

This past weekend, Tom helped me plant (let's be clear -- I pointed, Tom planted) several hostas (generously shared by my Mom and Dad) in a new garden bed.  And who was right there. . . helping every step of the way?

Why, Jenny the Gardening Dog, of course!

I noticed she was doing a lot of nosing about in the upturned soil.  With great interest!

Turns out she was hunting grubs! 

After trying one, she decided to leave them for the robins.  But she did have a lot of fun digging for them, and then just sort of . . . leaving them. . . laying willy-nilly around the new garden bed.

Much better than flattening the hostas, that's for sure!

Road Trip!

When most people think of Michigan. . . they think of cars.

And, sure.  There is that.  But. . . Southwest Michigan is more famous for being the Bedding Plant Capital of the World!

And, what does that mean for me? 

Why, it means I'm in Fat City when it comes to high-quality plant material!  It means that I live smack-dab in the middle of some of the best nurseries in the world!   And it means that I look forward to Opening Day for all my favorite nurseries with the same kind of passion that fuels. . . 

• Hunters awaiting the opening of "gun season."
• Fisherman looking forward to "The Trout Opener."
• Shoppers camping out for "Black Friday."

It means that I collect my Opening Day announcements and Early Bird coupons; it means that I mark dates and times on my calendar; it means that my friend Sandie and I have many strategy discussions over coffee; it means . . .

ROAD TRIP!

Even though we have plenty of WONderful nurseries right here in Kalamazoo, Sandie and I traditionally start the nursery season with a road trip to some of our favorite remote nurseries.  This year was no exception, as we hit the road bright and early Saturday morning . . . discount coupons in hand!

First stop. . .

Hidden Grove in West Olive, Michigan.

Grab a cup of coffee, and come along with us!

Hidden Grove is a wonderful nursey with high-quality perennials

fun little garden tchotchkes and beautiful pots

and aisle after aisle

after greenhouse after greenhouse

of great plants for every spot in your garden!  They also have great demonstration gardens out on their property, although it's a bit early in the season to really explore them.

They also have the most stunning array of succulents EVER.

This is only one of several rows of succulents.  (I may have had a bit of a falling down in the succulent sections.)

They also have a gorgeous selection of begonias.  I think I'll take . . .  THIS one!

Next, we swung over to WW Greenhouses, which is probably my first-love when it comes to nurseries.  (Our first house was less than a mile away from this place.  I spent many an afternoon, dragging Toddler Erin and Baby Brian through WW!)

WW's tagline is "The Perennial People" . . . and they aren't kidding!  They have a great selection of perennials, native plants, pond plants, and annuals that will just knock your socks off!

WW always EXPLODES with color.

Their greenhouses go on for acres!  They do a wonderful job with demonstration gardens -- both inside and out.

Their hanging baskets and containers are inspiring!  The best I've seen -- and, trust me, I've seen a LOT of great hanging baskets at various nurseries in the area.

They even have butterflies and birds.  It's just a delight.

(The Japanese Forest Grass came home with me; sadly, the Red Admiral did not.)

And here's the funny part.  We weren't going to buy anything at WW.  We were just goiing to look.

Oops.

Here's Sandie with her cart!  Mine was significantly less full, but still. . .

We definitely pushed the limits of Sandie's new Prius -- and have dubbed it the Official Flower Wagon of All Road Trips!

Now. . . if only the weather would warm up so we could get rid of the frost warnings!

 

Nature-at-Home

While I'm recovering from all the March Madness* over here, I thought I'd give you a couple of quick Nature-at-Home Updates.

First, this:

(Click to embiggen.  I'm pretty sure that's a word.)

Yes.  It's Finch-Cam!  If I stand on a step stool . . . and then get on my tip toes. . . and then angle the camera just so. . . without bumping the door . . . I can take really mediocre photos of the finch nest behind my dead wreath!  (How cute is that finch?)

Now, this:

Remember Spot?  Well. . . she had babies before she put out her amazing beanstalk bloom!  Looks like five new agaves in all, and three are leafing out!  If you look really closely, you can see that there are actually spots on the leaf on the very far left in this photo. 

The leaves sprout from these little bud-things that emerge from the soil.

The plant-nerd in me is just so excited to see all this happening!

Then, there's this. . .

You might remember my blogging about killing a plant that looked very much like this.  Same charming moss-covered pot.   Same tiny topiary form.  Yes, I decided to try my luck again.  So I bought another "fairy vine" (or whatever it's called) and planted it in the charming pot and started it growing up the adorable little topiary form.  But THIS time, I set it in a bed of stones (to up the moisture and humidity), and I'm watering the heck out of it.  So far, so good!

This topiary, though. . . not so much.

This is an ivy topiary I planted back in February.  The ivy was thriving, and wrapping nicely around the heart-shaped topiary form.  Then, suddently, death.  I planted one for my Mom, too.  Same thing is happening to hers.  I'm thinking . . . it must be the form?   Not really sure what happened, but both my Mom and I are sad about the demise of our ivy plants. 

Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose.  That's how it is with Nature-at-Home!

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* Votes have been tablulated.  Winners have been notified.  Exciting conclusion to March Madness tomorrow.

Yeah. I'm THAT Neighbor.

My neighbors talk about me behind my back.

I know they do.

I am the Queen of Dandelions.  I garden in the rain.  I take pictures of my flowers.  Close up.  And yarn.  And knitted garments displayed along the fence.  I feed squirrels.  I allow chipmunks to run rampant.  I attract bees.  I dig up huge swaths of grass and plant flowers. 

And, now, this.

A dead, brown, WAY out of season Christmas wreath STILL adorns my front door.

I can hear the tsk-tsk-ing from here.

What they don't know. . . is that hidden behind the hideously dead wreath is this. . .

a finch nest!  (Look closely. . . behind the branches.)

I'll take down the wreath when the babies leave the nest. 

For now though?  Yeah.  I'm THAT neighbor!  (And I don't care.)

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It's not too late for you to cast your vote in my March Madness contest!  Voting closes tonight at 9:00 Eastern Time.  Click here to find out more!

 

Shining Star

Yesterday, I met my dear friend Sandie for coffee.  Which we drank outside. . . on the patio of our favorite coffee shop. . .at 9:00 in the morning. . . without coats or sweaters. . . in MARCH!  As you might imagine, our conversation began with garden updates and general freaking out about the extended warm hot spell.

One thing we both noted . . . is that not only are the trees blooming significanly earlier this year. . . but they're more beautiful.  Just stunning, actually.  Everywhere you look.  Weeping cherry trees, magnolias, forsythias -- all in full, gorgeous bloom!

I have a small Star Magnolia tree in my front flower bed.  This is it's third season in my garden.  It has bloomed each year --- but this year?  Wow!

Sandie and I decided that the blooms are so much more lovely this year than in other seasons. . .

because of the unusual, sustained, uninterrupted span of gorgeous weather.

Usually, in a typical Michigan spring, we might have a couple of days (in a row) of sunny days and warm temperatures.  Buds begin to emerge.  But then, nature rights itself and heads back to cold and maybe even freezing temperatures.  Often with rain or heavy snow.  The blooms are thwarted.  (Last year, my Star Magnolia bloomed for about 2 minutes before a storm knocked off all the blooms.  No time for a photo or anything.)

But this year?  No storms.  Just day after day (after day) of sunshine and warmth.  All of the blossoms were able to pop at one time.  And stay that way!

Shining stars!

Be Careful What You Wish For: A Riff

• We're enjoying a really weird weather pattern here in Michigan.
• It's warm.
• Like. . . really warm.
• We've had temperatures in the 70s and 80s (F) for a couple of weeks, now.  A few rain storms here and there, but, for the most part, warm and sunny and beautiful.
• Sometimes, we'll have a crazy-warm day (or maybe two in a row) during March and April.  But, for the most part, nothing sustained.
• Not like this.

• So. . . the weather is gorgeous.
• What am I complaining about?
• I'm trying not to freak out.  But.

• My Star Magnolia (above; as photographed yesterday morning) is about to bloom.  Now.  In the middle of March.  This is the same tree that appeared in Brian's prom photos (way back).  In early May.
• My forsythia are blooming. Already.
• My daffodils are finished.  Finished.  In mid-March.

• Trees and shrubs are budding - and leafing out.  There is spring green everywhere you look.  I have allium and tulips coming up. 
• According to the MSU Extension office, everything horticulture-related is about 6-8 weeks ahead of "normal."
• I hate to complain.
• But this is unnerving.

• Folks are out and about in shorts and tank tops and flip-flops.  You'd think we were a spring break destination or something.
• And the weather forecast. . . looks like more of the same!  (At least for another week.)
• Is this a problem?  I don't know.  But I'm sort of thinking it might be.

• Like I said, I'm trying not to freak out.  But I feel like I'm already way behind in my garden.  I've moved from "having the itch" to get out there. . . to not having the time to "get out there."
• Because my life isn't structured to actually have garden-time in March.  Or April.  I'm busy with other commiments.  And besides, I don't trust this weather. Really.
• And I'm not ready to lug out all my warm-weather clothes yet, either.
• Not.  Quite.  Yet.
• I know I wished for spring.  But this is a bit too much. . . a bit too early!
• I feel like I have suddenly been moved to a whole 'nother climate zone.
• Or something!
• One thing for sure, though . . . it's time for a pedicure.

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And. . . drum roll. . . congratulations to Amy!  She made the 5,000th comment on my blog last Tuesday!  A little prize package is on the way to her.  And thanks to all of you for your comments.  I appreciate your taking the time to step and out and say something here on my blog.  I love you all!

Field Trip

Yesterday, I boarded a charter bus with my friends Sandie and Jackie and headed to Chicago for the annual Flower & Garden Show.  We had a great time!

Sandie and Jackie at the entrance.  (Before we had pinned on our flashing flower pins!)

The Flower & Garden show brings together ideas. . .

Trust me, succulents remain BIG for the upcoming season!  They were everywhere.

This was a wall made of cement blocks.  They tucked pots of fern and moss, and hung little baskets of succulents.  I want one!

 Feeding my current love of the terrarium!

This garden flower was made from a soda can!  They looked so cool popping up here and there in one of the gardens.

charm and whimsy. . .

Bunnies.  In knit cardigans!  Couldn't resist.

Look at theses drawer pulls!  Charmed, I'm sure.

Flower umbrellas hanging above.

Painted tire planters!

Glass sculpture at the main entrance.

and shopping. . .

The shop (in Naperville) is as cool as their sign!

I bought one of these hanging terrariums (only in a teardrop shape), with a few air plants, to hang in my kitchen window.

There are plenty of classes and workshops, too.  (Attended a few; no pictures.)

It was an unbelievably beautiful day in Chicago.  Unseasonably warm (80s).  Who ever would have thought we'd be eating OUTSIDE on Navy Pier in mid-March?  Unthinkable!

It felt like summer! 

It looked like summer!

There were even sailboats out on the Lake!

As an added bonus -- there was a stained glass exhibit on Navy Pier (unrelated to the Flower & Garden Show).  Most of the designs were floral in nature. . .

(This one is Tiffany.)

but there were grids, too!

Back at the Flower & Garden Show, there was an exhibit of aprons created by the a Chicago area fiber artist group, Women's Journeys in Fiber.  Very powerful -- and creative!

The best part of the day for me, though, was being able to see these guys . . . up close and personal! 

Meet Mr. Barred Owl. . .

and Mr. Great Horned Owl. . .

My photos just don't do these awesome creatures justice!  They are just so So SO cool!

So much to see!  So much to do!  As you can imagine, by the end, we were quite weary.   This was a welcome sight. . .

And the bus ride gave me some time to knit!

Just a perfect field trip, and a great day, all the way around!

 

 

Right Plant, Right Place

As you all know, I love plants.  Out in my garden, or inside my house.  I love watching them grow and change.  I love it when they flourish.  I love sharing my space with foliage and blooms and roots. 

I do not, however, fuss with my plants.

Ever.

If you are one of my houseplants, I pay close attention to your light requirements, and I place you in the proper environment.  You get water once a week.  On Fridays.  But only if you're really dry.  In spring, when I'm more motivated, you might get a little plant food once in a while.  Every now and then, I may re-pot you.  I will pinch off your dead leaves and dust you when the mood strikes.  I will give you music, some conversation, and some laughter.

Beyond that. . . well, you're on your own.

A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting our local organic market/health food store and I found this sweet little plant, growing on a mini-topiary form, and I couldn't resist.  I brought him home with me.

This is not a good photo, and I am sorry about that.  Sadly, it is the only one I have.  The thing to note in this particular photo is that the plant is . . . alive.  And thriving.

The care tag on my new little plant looked like this:

LIES!

I put the little guy in my sunny, east-facing window.  I gave him water; a good drenching, actually.

"Keep moist?"  No.  That tag should read . . . "Provide bog-like conditions for this plant.  Water thoroughly every five minutes.  Be sure there is Not One Particle of Dry Soil in this pot.  Better yet, submerge the entire pot in water!"

Because two days after a drenching, this happened:

Dead.As.A.Doornail.

Crispy.  Beyond all hope.  A casualty.

At first, I was disappointed. 

But now?  Not so much.  I have a cool pot and a topiary form.  I'll find another plant to grow in its place.  One that isn't fussy and won't require constant care.  The adorable little angel vine?  Not the right plant; not in my place!