Gardener to Farmer

It Was Really Nothing...

I reach this point every winter where I haven't gardened for several months and I really have nothing to say. For most people, that would prevent them from blogging...but then, I am not most people. Oh no...I intend to use this space to talk about nothing. Really...nothing...(for optimal effect, this post should be read while listening  The Smiths "William")

Merriam -Webster defines nothing (noun) as follows:

a : something that does not exist b : the absence of all magnitude or quantity; also : zero 1a c : nothingness, nonexistence

As gardeners, we often rush to fill emptiness. It's almost as if the blank spaces in our garden are super massive black holes, vacuuming in nearby plant matter in an attempt to eliminate the void. And if we are greedy, we rush out in spring to purchase lots of new plants for which we have absolutely no room at all. This almost guarantees that every nook and cranny will be crammed with greenery.

But what if we left those spaces open...or what if, dare I say, we deliberately created empty space? What if we thought of ourselves as curators of spaces instead of constant creators? Deep. Maybe too deep...my head hurts.

Again Merriam-Webster speaks: curator (noun)

one who has the care and superintendence of something; especially : one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit

Now, my garden is certainly not a museum...it is possibly a zoo. But I consider that I am a curator, in that I have not created every living thing in my yard. I am a partner with nature...and sometimes I create new designs, add new plants. Other times, I appreciate the existing design...including the empty spaces. Without them, there is no contrast, no opposing force that highlights the filled spaces. There are no crisp, clear edges that define plants one from another. Nor is there any space to ponder a singular plant, to study its unique beauty.

And in some ways, winter is the "nothing" of my gardening year. I take time to reflect on previous seasons and enjoy the anticipation of what is to come. In reality, nothing is actually a whole lot of something...if we allow it to be...

my youngest during his first trip to the ocean

Proven Winners Garden Guru: Christmas Comes Early!

Thanks to Proven Winners, Christmas came early this year...I am super excited to announce that I am one of the new Proven Winners Garden Gurus! Frankly, I can't think of a better gift to give a garden writer than the chance to write about awesome plants from an awesome company.

So what is a Garden Guru? Essentially, we (me and a team of 7 other gardeners) are the home
gardener representatives of Proven Winners. We'll be testing out their plants, writing about growing methods and conditions, and chatting it up on Twitter and Facebook. And the new Proven Winners website and blog are fantastic resources for gardeners in every zone. If you are looking for expert advice, we are here for you! (I like to think of us as the Butterball hotline for Proven Winners plants.)

The women who comprise Garden Gurus are a diverse lot. We all live in different regions and have different areas of expertise. Check it out, it's an all star lineup:

Jenny Peterson, J Peterson Garden Designs

Amanda Thomsen, Kiss My Aster

Laura Matthews, Punk Rock Gardens

Genevieve Schmidt, North Coast Gardening

Carolyn Binder, Cowlick Cottage Farm

Niki Jabbour, Year Round Vegetable Gardener

Dee Nash, Red Dirt Ramblings

This month, the Garden Gurus are writing about our love for gardening. So hop on over and learn more about your favorite gardeners than you ever wanted to know! :)

Dirr Enclopedia Giveaway

When I was awarded the PR contract to represent the new Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs earlier this year, I almost fainted. An author who is a horticultural legend + an unprecedented encyclopedia = a once in a lifetime opportunity. And this week, Timber Press is giving away a copy of this massive book...so head over and leave a comment to enter the drawing!

I met Dr. Michael Dirr and his wife Bonnie back in August when he was in Portland for his speaking engagement at Farwest. I don't know what I expected...I mean, the man is a living legend. There is no one on the planet with a greater working knowledge of woody plants (the don't call him the "Father of Woody Plants" for nothin'). Through his years of hybridizing work, teaching and writing, he has contributed to the body of horticultural knowledge in an exceptional and singular way. I think that earns him the right to throw a little entitlement around. You know, "take the blue M & M's out, only drape my pre-performance room in white" sort of thing.

But Dirr is anything but entitled. Instead, I found him to be quick-witted, intelligent and self-effacing. His wife Bonnie was full of dry humor and wisdom, in her own right. And, Dirr is a bit of a curmudgeon...something that makes him all the more endearing. As we sat down to dinner, it became clear that I was going to have to bust out my A game in order to keep up with the sheer volume of ideas.

After that meeting, I became a follower in the cult of Dirr. It's true, he inspires a religious zeal in his followers that is unparalleled. And while you might be tempted to consider me a bit kooky, let me tell you this...I would personally buy any book he's written at full cost. And that's saying something, since I generally get free review copies and his books tend to be pricey.

Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is full of anything and everything you'd need to know about the subject. And of course, there are gorgeous photographs that make identification a snap. But what you likely won't expect, is Dirr's quirky sense of humor. He's a no nonsense, give it to you straight, dead pan humor kind of guy. He infuses this book with "Dirr-isms" that make reading it a joy.

Bottom Line: I give this book two thumbs up...and a wink to Dr. Dirr.

Japanese Maples: A Love Story

I have a confession. I am in love with a Japanese Maple. Yes, I know...human/botanical love affairs can be tawdry things, but I can't help myself. I am simply mesmerized by the beauty she produces from spring till frost. It's funny, I don't even know her name...she came with the property. But, I suspect it's Crimson Queen (Acer palmatum-dissectum). 

Here she is in late spring, flirting with me. Her bright chartruse seed pods peeking out from underneath delicate leaves. While the rest of my landscape is full of polite pastels and soft-hued greens, her rouged leaves demand my attention, their dissected form catching the breeze, waving to me.

As spring turns in to summer, our romance grows. I have the perfect vantage point to keep an eye on her. She sits toward the bottom of the hill...snuggled between the curve of the drive and the lush expanse of the lawn. I look down from my bay window to see her catching the eye of a neighbor. I smile to myself, proud to have her on my arm.

 In fall, my little Japanese Maple pulls out her cool weather wardrobe. Bright crimson, startling yellow, vibrant persimmon...all come to life with the crisp afternoon days of autumn. Here she is, peeking out from behind an evergreen.

Every fall, I pull out my camera and try to capture her beauty. And every fall, I miss the mark. It's not that I don't try. I snap shots from different angles, with different light, in different seasons. But I can't seem to catch the way she looks ablaze when the afternoon sun dances along her leaves. Or the fluttery butterfly seedpods whose movements make her look alive.

Sadly, we've reached the time of year when she starts to slumber. Her leaves fall gently to the ground as she prepares for bed. I watch with a wistful heart, knowing that the long, dark months of winter will be longer and darker without her.

Justin Timberlake, Daryl Hannah and Nicole Richie, Oh My!

As I mentioned in my last post, the kind folks at Kellogg Garden Products invited me to attend the Environmental Media Awards on the lot of the Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA. I got all gussied up and hobnobbed with the rich and famous. Well, maybe I should say hobbled with the rich and famous since I could barely walk in my ridiculously gorgeous red heels. But I digress...

My friend Fern Richardson was my handler for the night. She made sure I didn't drool all over Justin Timberlake. This is one of the blurry photos I have of JT. He was on the move all night. I didn't want to appear to be stalking him, so I tried not to chase him. And of course, the shoes prevented chasing anyway...

He just opened a new GEO certified golf course called Mirimichi. It is the first truly green course in the world. How is it possible that we are only just now incorporating this level of eco-friendliness into golf courses? It seems like a no-brainer to me.

JT was every bit as adorable in person as he is on screen. (But don't take my word for it, check out the expression on the girl's face standing behind him in this photo.) He is genuine, funny, smart...and in short, my new virtual boyfriend. (This little girl is no match for me.)

There were lots of other big name celebs present...Kyra Sedgewick, Valerie Bertinelli, Kim Raver, Norman Lear, Carter Oosterhouse, Amy Smart. If you'd like to see more photos, head over to my EMA album on Facebook. Oh and did I mention Nicole Richie?

She was also very friendly...took time to chat with the kids of Kathy Kellogg Johnson (my host). And when I say kids, I mean teenagers. Nicole was surprisingly unassuming...very approachable and absent a cadre of guards.

And that was likely the most surreal aspect of the event. With the exception of Justin's couple of handlers, who really weren't security guards, celebrities roamed about with little between them and the unwashed masses (i.e. the rest of us.) It was fun to experience them as real people...though decidedly very rich real people.

It's funny, there were some people at the event who were clearly there for the photo op. But there were also plenty of people there for whom this is a real issue. Those who were there because the health of the environment is more than just a casual concern. Stars with a long history of activism, like Daryl Hannah, Ed Begley, Jr, Kim Raver, and Perrey Reeves were in attendance, making the rounds and using their star power to push for a greener planet.

All in all, it was a great experience...I am so happy I had the opportunity to go! Thanks again to my friends at Kellogg Garden Products, who are making the world better by selling incredibly environmentally friendly soils and fertilizers. If you are on the west coast, I highly recommend giving them a try. And, if you'd like to watch the awards ceremony, head over to the Environmental Media Association's website and watch the video!

EMA Eco-Awards: Loadin' Up the Truck and Goin' to Beverly...

Hills that is, swimmin' pools, movie stars...Yes, I watched a lot of Beverly Hillbillies growing up. And when Fern Richardson of Kellogg Garden Products asked me to attend the Environmental Media Awards (AKA the Green Oscars) on the lot of Warner Bros studios, I FREAKED OUT! I suspect I scared her a little with my response email, where I essentially SCREAMED "YES" repeatedly.

I would love to be able to say that the reason I was so excited was due to the awesome eco work these actors and musicicans do throughout the year. But deep in my grubby heart, I was thinking "Justin Timberlake is getting an award? OMG! Maybe I'll get to meet him!" Followed by a pervasive sense of anxiety and "What the bleep will I wear?"

After I had calmed a bit (and found the most adorable dress at Nordstrom's), I had time to think more about the EMA and it's purpose. In a nutshell, they are working to harness the visibilty and influence of the rich and famous to make the world a greener place (my words, not theirs). Here's a great example of one of the PSA's they've produced...

 

How did I end up on the guest list for a swanky Hollywood awards program? It turns out that the company Fern works for, Kellogg Garden Products/Gardner & Bloome brand, is a big supporter of the EMA. This year, they decided to invite a couple of green bloggers to attend with the rest of the folks from the company. And so, they invited me and one of my good friends, Mike Lieberman at the UrbanOrganicGardener.com. This is a terrific opportunity and I can't wait to spend an evening with the stars and my friends!

So, I am headed to the awards on October 15. Stay tuned to hear (and see) all about it! I am so excited I can't stand it!

Fall Garden Tasks in the Pacific Northwest | North Coast Gardening

I am reblogging the link to a post from Genevieve Schmidt at North Coast Gardening. It's a fantastic list of fall tasks for Pacific Northwest gardens. Head on over and see what she has to say...

"This time of year, my landscape maintenance company is busy as anything, pruning and helping all the gardens recover from months of wild blooming abandon."

via www.northcoastgardening.com

Fall Plants for Gorgeous Containers

I have always loved choosing plants for fall containers. Really, fall is my favorite planting season, period. I relish the feel of cool, crisp autumn air, the changing of the leaves, the warm false summer days. It's also the best time to plant perennials as it gives the roots a chance to establish before winter hits. By doing so, you'll have a plant that is well-established and larger than if you'd planted in the spring.

Fall is a great time to use cooler weather plants. Think back on spring and those flowers that love cooler weather...many of them can be reused in fall containers. These include:

• sweet allysum
• snapdragons
• lobelia
• nasturtium
• petunias (yes, petunias!)
• dianthus
• primula
• cyclomen
• osteospermum
• calendula
• diascia                                                                                    

Other options include cool weather edibles that are both beautiful and functional...many of these need to be seeded in late summer in order to perform in a fall container, so plan ahead for next year.                              

• kale (Dinosaur, Red Russian, etc)
• carrots (in bloom)
  
• Peacock broccoli
  
• lettuces
• celery
• leeks
• cauliflower ("Graffiti" is purple headed)
• broccoli
• broccolini

There are also many late summer/fall blooming perennials that work well in containers.

• chrysanthemums (don't forget specialty varieties, check out this post by Debra Prinzing)
• asters (also have many specialty varieties)
• Helenium
• Tricyrtis (Toad Lily)
• dahlias
• sedum
• anemone
• Salvia leucantha (Mexican Sage)
• thread leaved coreopsis
• rudbekia ("Cherokee Sunset", "Irish Eyes", "Cappuccino")
• echinacea ("After Midnight" fragrant, "Fancy Frills", "Flame Thrower")

The fact is, you don't have to be limited to the same old ornamental kale, pansies and mums. Look at your perennial borders for inspiration and find varieties that fit well in the size of your container. Try something new and unexpected...there are so many options!

And, if you are in the Portland, OR area, don't forget that the Hardy Plant Society has a fall sale in September. 

Giveaway: 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants — Timber Press Talks

I don't usually post giveaways on my blog, but I will make an exception for what I consider to be both a fantastic book (50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants) and a fantastic author (Ruth Rogers Clausen). I met Ruth at this year's OFA conference. She is simultaneously knowledgeable and down to earth, both a smarty pants and a comedienne. I think you'll really enjoy her work.

To be fair, I should tell you I am biased. I've been assigned PR responsiblities for her book via Timber Press (one of my White Willow Media clients). Fortunately for me, I really love this book, so promoting it is super easy. But don't just take my word for it, check out what Genevieve Schmidt of North Coast Gardening says about it:

“This book is a one-stop, simple resource for east coast homeowners who need hardy, easy-to-grow, deer-resistant plants that won't let them down. I love that the author has selected a wide variety of plants which all go together fairly well.”

If you have a deer nibbling problem, head over to Timber Press and enter the contest. And even if you don't win, consider adding this book to your resource library. It's worth it!

Here's additional info about the contest from the Timber Press website:

We’re offering a giveaway this week with a chance to win some very exciting prizes: a copy of 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants by Ruth Rogers Clausen and a pair of gloves from Womanswork! We received such a positive response from our last giveaway featuring the book that we wanted to give our readers another chance to win.

50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants makes keeping deer away as simple as choosing the appropriate plant. Instead of the typical barriers and fencing, expert plantswoman Ruth Rogers Clausen has chosen the 50 most beautiful (and least palatable) annuals, bulbs, ferns, grasses, herbs, perennials, and shrubs.

via www.timberpress.com

Best of luck!

Flowers for Hummingbirds

I have always loved hummingbirds and now that most of my flowers are in containers on my patio(s), I see them more often. To be accurate, I see a pair of them more often...Rufous hummingbirds that migrate back to my yard each year. Let me say that they are very territorial and rather cheeky. If I happen to be out watering and one of them wants to feed, they'll hover in front of me, engaging in a very intense staring contest.

The most I've ever known about what flowers attract hummingbirds, is that they like the color red and prefer tubular type flowers (think penstemon). This year, I've discovered that list is much broader than I previously thought. I had a very narrow definition of the color red. I've discovered that "red" also includes hot pink, vivid violet, bright corals...in other words, variations within a continuum of color. My understanding of the physical characteristics of the flowers was similarly narrow. "Tubular" includes fuschias, petunias, and nasturtiums.

Here are a few photos of the flowers that these fiesty little nectar-fiends seem to like the best:

Love these nasturtiums...the petals are very dark red with almost black shading. The might (or might not) be Empress of India. I also have some cherry red nasturtiums mixed in my containers.

Now, if there ever was a stereotypical hummingbird flower, this is it. These blood red snapdragons are like a siren's song. The little birds are powerless against the guile of these gorgeous flowers.

Check this out...fuschias right next to petunias...all in hot pinks and violets. The little buggers don't stand a chance...

What about this hot pink and vivid yellow calebrachoa? Hard to say who likes this more, me or the birds...

Other humming bird friendly plants include:

• penstemon
• lobelia
• honeysuckle
• columbines
• salvia
• hollyhocks
• nicotiana
• four o' clocks
• foxglove
• hostas
• lantana
• verbena*

* I have no real proof that the birds like to feed on verbena, but I THINK they do. Who could resist this brilliantly colored plant?

That is actually the color...so bright my camera has a hard time capturing it accurately. This plant and the calebrachoa are part of the Proven Winners 2012 collection.

Planting a hummingbird friendly garden is super easy to do. Try grouping hot pink, red or bright orange colors together to draw the birds in...then make sure there are enough nectar flowers from which they can feed. Then, keep an eye out, especially in early morning and late afternoon, for the hummingbirds to buzz in for a snack!