In my line of work I get at least a daily request for some thing that was found on Pinterest.  The good news is I too have a Pinterest account (you can totally follow me through that link over there —–>).  The reason I have such an account is 1) because I’m a craft junkie 2) I get an almost daily request for stuff found on Pinterest.  Here are a few that I know will or will not work.

Growing Celery From the Stump

Photo Credit

The infamous photo of celery growing from the stump in an Irish oatmeal can is pretty much a staple on the P-interest.  In fact search regrow anything and you’ll get a bajillion hits.  If you ask me it’s all a crock of crap.  At least that’s what I used to think.  My neighbor is proving me wrong and I hate it when she does that.  It is possible to grow celery from the cut off stump, but it is really only successful if you plant it in dirt.  That is true for the majority of the same types of things you see on Pinterest.  If you stick green onion bits in a glass of water they are going to be spindly, slimy, worthless green onions.  At that point you really are much better off purchasing a packet of seeds and sowing them in your garden (or a container).  Green onions are super simple to grow.  Celery… that’s a little more tricky.  But apparently it does grow from a stump in the garden.

Lemongrass

Here’s how this one goes.

“Do you have Lemongrass?” or

I can’t give credit for this photo because I honestly can’t find where the original came from.

“When will you get your lemongrass in?” or

“I saw this thing on Pinterest where you can pot Lemongrass in a giant pot and it will repel mosquitoes and give you great privacy”

I said at one point I can tell what people are doing by what they ask for.  There are the weed growers, the square foot gardeners and now the Pinterest fans.  Ask for lemongrass?  I know you have a P-interest account.

Here’s the scoop on lemongrass.  It is not hardy in the Pacific Northwest.  It comes in puny little 4″ pots, from 1 grower, who isn’t growing it this year.  When we can get it it flounders and will never look like the photo.  I hate to disappoint.

Rose Cuttings in Potatoes

This one makes me cringe.  So much so that I want to shake people who ask about it.  Ok, I won’t shake you… very hard.

Let’s get one thing straight.  Potatoes are weeds.  Seriously.  If you couldn’t eat potatoes I would totally curse their name much like that horrible grass.  Any tiny little bit of potato left in the garden will grow a whole new plant.  Trust me.  I have potatoes growing in nearly every bed in my garden.  I even have them growing in the pathways where I’d dropped a tiny potato-ling last year.

Stick a rose stem into a potato and put it in the ground?  I dare you.  You might get a rosebush, but you’ll also get a lifetime supply of potatoes.  Of course that would go well with your “lifetime supply of celery.”

Of course the warmer weather means one thing in the nursery business… busy.  Not only is it busy, but we’re going into the busiest week of the garden center season, the week before Mother’s Day.

Ask any nursery employee and they will tell you the single busiest day of the year is Mother’s Day Saturday.  I’ve worked in nurseries all over and it is always the same.  We start the day at the ass crack of dawn and if there isn’t a cocktail waiting for us when we walk in the door at the end of the day we get stabby.

Yesterday I started my day at 9:30 (not including the hour of work I did at home) (and Travis started at 8:00) and we left the nursery at 7:45 p.m.  We never sat down and lunch consisted of cold pizza eaten standing at the counter.  I should mention that the pizza was ordered hot.  It just took us a few hours to get to it.

So if tips and tidbits seem few and far between it doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned you.  It just means that I am spending every waking moment at work.  And I love it.

I have been on the hunt for a fully waterproof, light weight garden glove.  It would be the perfect glove for the Northwest gardener.  Think about it.  The person who came up with the idea could be rich!  A glove that is durable.  Where the fingers don’t wear through in a week.  A glove that is waterproof.  Not just the palms, but the whole thing.  Submerge your whole hand in a bucket of water waterproof.  They would be perfect!

I was watching Bunty’s Blog and she mentioned the gloves she wears.  They sounded like what I was looking for.  I did a quick internet search and it just so happens that you can’t buy these gloves in the US.  They are Spontex Garden Comfort Gloves.  Amazon.co.uk didn’t even have this particular glove.  One of the only places I could find them online was Tesco Grocery in the UK.

Hey!  It just so happens that one of my very good friends lives in London!  I made a deal with her.  She buy me the gloves and I will buy her something she can’t get and we’ll swap.  It was a perfect plan.

Yesterday a package arrived from London.  It contained 2 new pair of garden gloves.  All it cost me was a few garden/scrapbook magazines and a little shipping.  I’m so excited!

Happy Gardening.

I’m on a mission this year to eradicate this grass in all of my flower beds.  I’ve lived in my house 9 1/2 years and have battled this grass the whole time.  A few years ago we took care of it in the large corner perennial bed.  Last year I tried everything I could to kill it in another part of the garden.  I sprayed it with toxic grass killer.  It laughed at me.  I covered it with black plastic for a year.  I’m pretty sure it gave me the middle finger.  I finally cursed its name and dug it out.

There are 2 more areas that are infested with this grass.  One such area happens to be right outside my bedroom window.  I wake up every morning, look at the window and see this:

If you look closely you’ll see wild strawberry, sedum rupestre and ivy leaves in that photo.  Yes, under that grass it was once landscaped (well with the exception of the ivy).  This is my beautiful rock garden my husband built for me 8 years ago.  It was one gorgeous.  He built the wall around 3 large green ceramic pots (that I’ve since moved onto the patio).  Friday I decided to tackle the rock wall area, but when I set to it I found the grass was so thick that I could’t take it out without the curse words.

As I dug I found that Dane the Dumbass Previous Homeowner had put down landscape fabric.  Next to this particular grass, landscape fabric is made of pure evil.  About an hour into pulling out the grass I had only gained about 2′ on it.  I elected to pull out the big guns.

You know it is bad when you have to use a pick axe to weed your garden.  I worked all day on Friday and only had 1/2 of the area fully de-grassed.  I enlisted the help of my husband to work the other side.  I should also mention that while we were pulling out the grass we also were pulling out most of the desirable landscape plants, potting them and trying to save them.  We were also pulling out all of the rocks with the intention of rebuilding the wall.

We were finally rained out Saturday afternoon, but all of the grass was removed, a few plants I thought I couldn’t save were spared and the wall is starting to take shape.

This isn’t the best photo of the area since the morning sun was pretty harsh, but I can see such potential for the space.  I woke up this morning and looked out the window and didn’t see any grass.  I could look at the bare rocks all day it was so nice.

Only one more area of grass to go.  I’ll have to wait 2 weeks to finish that since we have to finish the wall and both of our yard waste bins are full.  Now, if I were smart I would build a small moveable chicken run and put the girls in there to take care of the grass for me.  Hmm…

Last year I grew my potatoes in a raised bed.  I can’t quite remember how many pounds I harvested in the end, but it was about a 15 gallon bucket full.  It was enough for us.  In one bed the seed potatoes were planted in almost all soil.  In the other I filled the bed with about 1/2 straw and the rest soil.  I will tell you now that the bed that was primarily soil fared much better.  I don’t personally suggest using straw as a bedding material for potatoes.  Chickens, yes.  Potatoes, no.

This year I’ve elected to go back to my good ol’ fashioned potatoes in nursery buckets.  I’m tired of not being able to get all of the potatoes out of the beds and having to contend with digging out last years crop.  Besides, if I do potatoes in the buckets I have more room in the beds for other things.

I’m fairly certain this is the ultimate in lazy gardener.  Sure, the raised bed method was easy, but even my 8 year old could do this.

First you need to collect a few supplies.  You’ll need a large bucket of some sort.  I use 10-15 gallon nursery buckets that I pick up at my store.  You can ask your local garden center or big box store if they have cheap or free pots you can have.  We sell our containers over 7 gallons for $5 each.  I’ve collected mine from trees I’ve planted in my garden.  You will also need seed potatoes, soil and some fertilizer.

I purchased seed potatoes for 2 of the 5 varieties I’m planting.  Seed potatoes are found in garden centers starting around the end of February through April.  Later in the season centers will sell out of seed potatoes so you selection may be more limited.  I had left over potatoes from last year’s harvest so I used a few of those.  I only suggest this if you did not have any disease issues (blight) on your crop last year.  If you did have diseases DO NOT replant potatoes.  You will only be spreading that disease.  This year I’m planting French Fingerling & Red Sunset (purchased), Russet Burbank, German Butterball & Yukon Gold (Gem?) (leftovers).

The first step is to put a few inches of soil in the bottom of the container.  I’m using compost from the giant pile in my driveway.  You can use planting mix or potting soil too.  I just happen to have this giant pile in my driveway.  About 4″ in the bottom of the pot is fine.

Next sprinkle on a bit of that Dr. Earth Tomato & Veggie fertilizer & mix it in a bit.

Then put in the potatoes.  I put in quite a few for each pot.  Figure you’ll get 5-10 pounds of potatoes for each medium seed potato.  I will once again note that I don’t cut my seed potatoes.  I choose medium sized seed potatoes and plant them whole… lazy.

These were 15 gallon buckets and I went a little crazy with seed potatoes.  Then put a few more inches of soil on top.  About 4″ is fine.  I’ll let the potatoes grow and when the plant is about 6″ high I’ll add another 4″ of soil.  Repeat that process until the soil is at the top of the pot.  Then water the containers regularly.  When the plant flowers cut back the watering by 1/2.  When the plant turns yellow stop watering all together.  Once the plant is totally dead dump the soil out onto a tarp and harvest your bounty.

I decided to experiment a bit with the Yukon Gems.  I am planting those in 5 gallon buckets.  I put 1 seed potato in each bucket and I’m using the same layering method.  The idea is to see exactly how many pounds per seed potato I can get.

Are you planting potatoes this year?  What kinds and what method are you using?

I have to say, I love this series.  In fact, I’m going back through and watching them again and taking detailed notes.  I have serious garden envy.  I would love to pack up and move to her Welsh garden or at least be her neighbor.

Take a few moments out of your day and watch a few episodes.  Better yet, watch it from start to finish.  I bet you’ll learn something new.

Here’s a link to the Year 1 Early April video.  The series starts in January and finished in July 18 months later.

The conservatory opened in 1908 and is one of 3 remaining Victorian greenhouses on the West coast.

The conservatory features changing floral displays that are always beautiful.

One of my favorite things is the grand scale of the place.  It may not be as big as greenhouses in San Francisco or places like Kew Gardens, but for little Tacoma it is magnificent.

A few years ago the conservatory underwent some renovations and it was closed.  It was like showing me a bar of chocolate, but saying you couldn’t eat it.  I could see it, but couldn’t go in.

Since re-opening the plants have thrived and things look much better.  I’m fairly certain that when I retire this is where I want to spend my time.  I don’t doubt that Metro Parks would love to have a volunteer that just sits around and talks to visitors about the history of the place and about all of the plants.  If they don’t, I might do it anyway.

If you ask me, this is the one MUST see when you are in Tacoma.  It’s even better on a cold Winter day.  You can walk inside and get a taste of the tropics.

Urban farmers…

Would I know any urban farmers?  Hmmm.

Why I believe I do.

She said that she was writing a book about urban farming on the West coast.  She is a professional photographer and her artwork has been used in a wide array of publications.

I set up a time for Lori to come visit our garden, but warned her that it wasn’t at its peak since she was visiting in late September.  All 3 of us were pretty excited to have someone come professionally photograph our garden.  I’ll admit.  The thought of my garden being featured in an actual book was pretty awesome too.

A few months after her visit Lori sent me all of the photos that she had taken that day, but I had signed an agreement that I wouldn’t post any of the photos until the book was released.  I’ve had to sit on these magnificent photos for a year and a half.  The only place I’ve shown them is at a very small garden club talk I gave earlier this Spring.  Otherwise they’ve sat on my computer waiting patiently.

I look back at these photos frequently to remember what my garden looked like once.  It has been so modified since that it’s hard to imagine that it was once this haphazard.

The year she came I grew 15 different varieties of tomatoes.  The plants were at the peak and were breaking the supports that held them.

One of the things that intrigues Lori so much about our particular garden was that it was simple.  On the outside it appears to be incredibly complex, but at its very foundation it is very simple.  I plan things for continual harvest, but I also grow plants that are easy to maintain, things we will most certainly eat and things that we can store without using too much effort.

Things I love to grow include tomatoes (you already knew that), dried beans, garlic, onions and potatoes.  Root vegetables come in a close second as does kale and other brassicas that I can overwinter.

Sadly, my garden isn’t one that is featured in the book.  Lori visited so many gardens she couldn’t fit them all in one book.  Since that was the case she did the next best thing.  She started a blog and is featuring all of the wonderful gardens that didn’t make it to the book.  I encourage you to check it out and follow along.  I also encourage you to order a copy of the book.  It’s called backyard roots and if you’d like to see more of Lori’s beautiful imagery you can visit her photography website.

Image Credit

Cardinal De Richelieu (Image Credit)

For years I have wanted one specific rose.  It is an old historic rose that really isn’t grown anymore in the US.  There are a few places in the UK that still grow it, but import laws make it almost impossible for me to get plants from overseas.  I casually mentioned my want for this rose to Travis and he said, “Oh, I have one of those.”  Years ago Travis & Gabe worked for Raft Island Roses in Gig Harbor.  While there Travis amassed quite the collection of rose bushes and they are planted in his personal rose garden and at his parent’s house.  The rose I’ve been looking for happens to be one of them!  Since he told me that… oh 2 years ago… I’ve continually asked him to bring me a few slips of it.  Two weeks ago he told me he had a surprise for me.  Slips of my rose bush!  Only 2, but it more than 0.

The rose I’m talking about is Cardinal De Richelieu.  It is a big old historic rose that only blooms once a year on old wood.  With only 2 slips I was paranoid that I would screw the cuttings up terribly.  It’s been years since I’ve taken cuttings from anything.  As of today my cuttings are budding and looking nice so I’m fairly confident that my cuttings have taken.

The first thing is to assemble your supplies.  You’ll need rose slips (about a 4″-6″ long hardwood cutting).  Normally slips of roses are done in the Fall, but I got mine in the Spring so this is when I’m doing it.  You will also need a sharp pair of pruners, a container of potting soil, rooting hormone and a pencil.

My soil medium is a combination of coconut coir and sand.

Make sure the soil is moist and then use the pencil to make holes in the soil.

Take a fresh cut off of the slip right below a bud.  Ideally you want 2 buds to be below soil level and 2 above soil level.

Slip before the cut

You will also want to use the sharp pruner like a knife and scrape off a piece of the bark.  Don’t dig too deeply and only make one slice. (I didn’t take a photo of that part).

After the cut

Image Credit

Dip the cutting (up to that second bud) in rooting hormone.  If you are using powdered hormone make sure to tap off the excess powder or else the stem may rot.  Gently place the cuttings into the holes made with the pencil and firm the soil around them.

Rose Cuttings

Place the cuttings in a bright warm area and mist them regularly.  I am keeping my cuttings in my greenhouse since it is moist and warm in there.  We are making an attempt to also root a few cuttings in the back room at the store.  In that case we are using a grow light, a heat mat and a mist bottle.  My greenhouse cuttings are working a little better, but that is a given.

Have you ever rooted any cuttings?  What worked and what didn’t?

3 little ducklings

Grace is in the forefront of this photo.  Then Gwen and Gertrude to follow.  That Grace has always had a bit of a mangy look about her.  She would be considered the “ugly duckling” of the group.  To her credit she had just had a swim so her feathers were still wet.

Miss Gwen

If you were curious how Gwen was fairing after her health problems earlier, she’s doing well.  Both she and That Grace are much smaller than Gertrude.  You can see in the above photo Gwen next to Gertrude.  There is a significant difference in size.  Now that we have them on the right track nutrition wise they are all growing at the same rate, but Gert is still bigger.  My guess is she may always be larger.

About a week ago I moved the girls out to their outdoor coop.  The heat lamp is still hooked up for them since the coop isn’t really well insulated.  They have a large feeder and waterer and I’ve put the paint pan swimming hole in for them.  They have loads of room to roam around.  With the weather being chilly and windy I haven’t let them wander about in the run, but That Grace took matters into her own hands the other day.  The door from the coop to the run is a flip up door that doesn’t exactly latch.  She had pushed it open enough to get out, but couldn’t get back in.  We don’t know how long she spent outside, but she had quite a bit to say to her sisters when we let her back in.  Needless to say we put a brick in front of the door to prevent further escape.

I can say having the ducklings has been so much fun.  They may not exactly be cuddly, but they are darn cute.