When Your Plants Start Conversing Amongst Themselves

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I hit this point every single stinking year.
Ya know, where you glance out the window at some gawdawful wet, hot, muggy air that is-so-humid-laden-you-should-be-frosting-a-cake-with-it point and get so deflated, overwhelmed and disgusted that you just want to throw your hands up and say, "Well, fuck it!" (Hey, I never pronounced this blog to be G-rated.)

Today is that day this year. Yup, there's no hiding from it. Ok, unless I tape black tissue paper over every window and door in my house and hide under the thick, oversized comforter in the muggy, hot bedroom so I don't have to look at one single drooping, pissed-off-at-me plant. Unless this is a good day to die of heat stroke, that is sooo not gonna happen.

So, I end up watching my plants out the window watching me watch them.
And they are obviously talking shit about me. I can tell.
And they don't even have the decency to do it behind my back.
I see their happy little buds, flowers, fronds and leaves nodding at each other, don't think I don't!
I know what they're saying -

Phlox: "Geeez! We're just getting started and she's slacking already."

The daisies drooping with raindrops grumbling from across the walkway: "Pfffttt! where's our stake? Where the hell is our stake? We give up."

The columbines: "I wish she'd get out here long enough to collect all this seed we're wasting on the mulch. We thought she loved us!"

The bee balm nodding in agreement: "She's useless. Invasion, it's the only way!"

The irises, with a Cheshire cat grin: "If you were all just smart enough to do the spring thing..."

The peppers: "Where the hell are our epsom salts? We know she dosed last year, we can feel residue in the soil!"

The pole beans, tendrils waiving free in the breeze: "Awww, quit your whimpering! She couldn't even be bothered to give us a big enough pole. She's pathetic."

The whiney cucumbers: "Look! Just look at all these cucumber beetles. She only smooshed a hundred and fifty or so. What about the other thousand? We're gonna die, we're just gonna wilt and die, and then she'll complain about no pickles!"

The diva heucheras: "Ewww! Look at all those nasty weeds in the walkway. They're gonna touch us. She's going to let their unclean roots creep into the flowerbed and touch us!"

The snooty tomatoes: "She'll see. She'll just see what happens when we're ignored!

The Guaras: "Well, just see if we bother coming back next year. We'll just leave a pitiful empty spot in the flowerbed so everyone knows she doesn't take care of anything. That'll fix her wagon good!"

And then I glance at the lush, green, rain-laden and uncomplaining Boston ferns, grab the pruners and head out the door and into the rain amongst the overwhelming din of "Me first!"
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Seriously?

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I was completely surprised by the comments to this post on Thriftcore: Not Buying it- Could You Go 1 Year Without Shopping?

Seriously? They couldn't do it?
I'm sorta shocked.
Let me explain why.
I don't shop for anything except necessities. Period. (ok, that's leaving out clearance plants/seeds - they're my indulgence).
This is exactly how I've lived for 25 years, so I really am having trouble wrapping my brain around someone not being able to make it for one lousy year. Although, it probably helps a lot that I absolutely hate, hate shopping!

Seriously, if you have growing children, this probably isn't going to happen. They need clothes, toys, school supplies, etc. (honestly, how could you tell a child they couldn't have a new toy for their birthday? Or would that be under the 'necessity' list?)

We never go out except for free bingo every now and then, we don't buy clothes (I make most, or get them as gifts for Christmas/birthday and simply make them last, but haven't bought anything besides underwear in years and I make most of those, too), I can't even remember the last time I ate at a restaurant. The last movie I saw at a theater was "The Fly II" in 1989, which I won free tickets for. I cut my own hair or have a friend do it and I've always done the rest of the fams myself. I own 3 pairs of shoes - a pair of heels for weddings/funerals, one pair of sneakers that has lasted me five years and one pair of dollar shop flip-flops for wearing around the house/garden. My friends and I have always swapped/hand-me-downed baby and kids clothes. We might treat ourselves to McD's or BK once a year, but other than that we don't even buy fast food.

It is so weird to me to think that it'd be a challenge for most people to go a year living like I do every day.

I wonder how long it would take these people to start pulling their hair out if they had to swap lives with me? Seriously.

I should write a book for these people on how to live just like poor people do and make a million!
lol ;)
Could you go one year without buying anything but necessities?
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I Don't Get It

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~Huge whine alert~

I mention something cool and no one says anything.
Weeks or months later someone else mentions basically the same thing and suddenly it's cool.
I just don't get it.
OK, I do . . . I'm just not cool enough.
I'm being passed by (and over) at lightning speed.
Why do people who've just discovered gardening in the last few years suddenly have every bit of thought that comes out of their mouths taken as gospel as though they've become some overnight master of growing things? (ok, sorry, whole 'nother rant)
I'm apparently just not young enough or hip enough.
Pfffttt! Fine, what-evvvv.
I think I prefer my ancient but knowledgeable status much better.

~whine ended~
Carry on.
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Late Blight Detected Already!

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Grrrrr! Here we go again!

University of Maryland: Late Blight of Tomato

"Unfortunately late blight was detected in a greenhouse in St. Mary's County on May 7, 2010. The grower has taken measures to eradicate the disease. We don't know at this time whether it will spread, or if the grower will be able to contain the outbreak. We also do not know if this outbreak is related to the 2009 outbreak. We are monitoring the situation."

And from Louisiana: Tomato Blight Threatening South Louisiana Gardens

"Scientists at the LSU AgCenter recently confirmed the presence of late blight on tomatoes in home gardens in Terrebonne, Lafayette, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes. Symptoms include black lesions on stems and petioles, blackening of the fruit, and dark, dead areas on the foliage.

“The disease is probably being introduced on infected transplants, so be sure to check tomato plants for symptoms before you buy them,” said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Don Ferrin."

Arghhhhh!!!

Keep an eye on your plants, people, especially if you've purchased (or plan on it) and didn't grow from seed. That's not to say you won't get it if you grew from seed, or that you shouldn't be vigilant, you should. One gust of wind and . . .

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I Want To CRY!

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I adore the country. I absolutely love it.
My parents lived in town, but I spent a good ninety percent of my childhood on my grandparents' dairy farm.
I had the best experiences of my life running across open fields, squeezing cow plops between my toes (what?!), learning to grow things, care for animals - both wild and domestic - breathing the fresh, clean air.

Wide open space was exactly THE reason DH and I decided to buy the old homestead. It was built back in the 1700's and began as an apple orchard before it became a working dairy farm. The land has been sold off in chunks to other farmers over the last few years to be used for pasture or crops, but there is still lots and lots of open space, the nearest neighbor a farmer a quarter mile away (and related).

This is the view across the road from my front yard, from one side to the other:









And this is what suddenly showed up the other day:



It says, "FOR SALE BY OWNER".

Oh. My. God.
Nooooo!!!!
The only thing I can imagine is some big freaking housing development or a f-ing Wally World sitting directly across the road.
It's being sold by the acre = Neighbors?! I don't WANT no stinking neighbors! They ruin everything. They just do. People are NOT smart. And they have dogs, and kids, and pesticides, and weed killers, and invasives. If I wanted to live in the hood, I would have bought a house there!
UGH!!
Will one of you gardeners please, please (oh, God, I'm begging you!) buy it!

I want to cry! I think I'll go do just that, right now . . .

You Know What?

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Thanks so much, everyone, for your support. It really means a lot!
I'm sorry if I upset anyone! I didn't mean to make anyone sad.
:(

That article simply made a light bulb go off in my brain - I don't fit.

It's just that I realized, while I was reading, that I will never fit in with the majority of gardeners. I'm not even really sure how to express what I mean. Middle-class gardeners, maybe? Those with any disposable income? People who can afford to blow a few pennies here and there on the plants they really want? I've always known it, I just never wanted to accept it. Maybe it was just easier to pretend I was like most gardeners, and that my opinion counted for something.

And it made me very angry to think that Robin was coming across that people like me just aren't good enough. That I was somehow a complete failure as a gardener if I even dared to entertain the thought of using something as tacky as a Walmart tom cage. That I dared to even think of myself as anything better than dirt when it came to plant placement, paths or pretty garden design. And if I left a weed to see its glory - oh, boy! - I was useless.
And, for a little while, I believed it. Why bother with a blog if I have absolutely nothing to contribute and that is the type of thing people want - pretty gardens?

On the majority of blogs that I read, people are posting about all their newest acquisitions from the local nursery, online shops, seed catalogs, garden books, etc. (is it wrong that I get all excited for you guys?) and I can't even afford to walk in the doors of the places most of you guys shop at.

That article made me face those facts head-on. No matter how hard I try, I'll never be the norm.
Really, since I'm not even in their target demographic, I didn't even have a right to be angry about one word she wrote. I can't afford her book - I can't even afford to have an opinion.

And no, I'm not feeling sorry for myself or trying to put anyone on a guilt trip, it's just the way things are. Just the facts, Ma'am!

I've always been a fighter and never really let things get to me, but that article seemed to have enough power to, for a time, crush my spirit. If someone talked down to my kids in that manner, I would have kicked their ass, but here I was, believing every word that I was a crap gardener. I couldn't even justify refuting anything she said because I believed it was all true.

Honestly, what do I even have to offer to the gardening world? I will never have the newest, coolest, gotta-have thing. Ever. I will never have a 'socially acceptable' garden. Ever. I will never grow a 'pretty' vegetable garden. Ever. Food will never be grown for anything other than for being food. Ever.
Plants will always be propped up with sticks picked off the ground, recycled rebar and yarn. My paths will always be constructed from field picked stone and loads of free crushed red shale from a relative. My mulch will always consist of chipped wood (gasp!) leftovers from the town or utility companies. My plants will always come from trades, passalongs or clearance sales.

And you know what?
You guys made me see - I'm OK with that!

Growing things brings me joy. Eating preserved vegetables all winter that came from my summer garden makes me happy. Watching my kids learn to be more self sufficient and how to grow and care for plants that will sustain them, even in the worst of times in their lives, sustains me. Teaching them how to share what you have, or have learned, with those that need it makes me feel fabulous.

The only thing that matters, pretty or not, is that I'm growing things. Lots of things.
That I'm teaching my kids, friends and neighbors to be good stewards of the earth and how to make do with what you have - no matter how ugly it may be. That I have enough vegetables to share with those that don't have enough is important to me.

Whether I'm in the majority gardening group or not makes no difference, because every single day I sow a seed or pull a weed, I'm making a difference - Pretty gardens be damned! Rock on ugly gardens!

Words may have power, but gardening, and blog friends, have much, much more. And I have way too much to share to keep my mouth, and keyboard silent.

Besides, I'm scared of Colleen, Gina and crew coming over here and kicking my ass! ;)

Happy (ugly) Growing!
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Ugly Garden Silence

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Like every other garden blogger out there, I've read Robin's guest post on Garden Rant.
I've also read through posts in response to that post from Colleen, Gina, MBT, Jessica , along with a few others, and Robin's response to the responses (whew!).

After reading the original guest post, I felt as though I'd just been picked on in the school yard because I was wearing hand-me-down bell bottoms instead of those cool new designer jeans I couldn't afford.
Seriously, Walmart tomato cages be damned, have you ever seen them grown in an uglier way than this?


Yes, rightly or not, my feelings were genuinely hurt. And it surprised me. A lot.

A friend asked me why her post bugged me so much when I've been growing veg and flowers for more than forty years and maybe she's been growing for two or three and probably doesn't know what she's talking about - and besides, anyone can put anything on the internet whether they know anything about the subject or not. But, I have great friends who would defend me if I said the sky was purple, so they don't count.

So I sat down to think about it and analyze why this was.

I think I've found the answer, but it isn't a simple one.

I believe vegetable gardeners can be split into many different groups, some individuals overlapping multiple styles.

The elitists (lets not even go there)
The newbies (and weren't we all at one time?)
The ornamentalists (I only grow those because they're cool)
The designers (anything that doesn't look pretty goes)
The truists (my grams/gramps/forefathers did it that way, it's good enough for me)
The scientists (start with the soil)
The budget-wise (It's not what I want, but it's all I'm willing to pay)
The mother-of-inventioners (I have 0 dollars to splurge and will Mickey mouse what I have to)
The crammers (I'll make it all fit)

And I'm sure you could add many, many more.

I overlap into many of those categories. I imagine many will only fit into the same ones as Robin, so will, quite rightly from their perspective, agree with her wholeheartedly. Those that don't, won't. Those that slightly overlap into hers will see some of her points as valid but see red at others.

But what got my panties in a wad was that she's assuming people have endless amounts of time and money to spend on their veg gardens and they all know what they're doing right from the get-go.

I'm sorry to burst her bubble, but a lot of people have none of the above.

Can you picture a single mom of 5 kids with two part time jobs, trying to get the bills paid and the kids fed, worried about a few weeds invading the garden when she's simply trying to get extra, healthy, nutritious food in their diets? Should she not garden at all? Should those children learn nothing about where their food comes from?

Or a disabled person on social security worried about what the neighbors think of them growing in 5 gallon buckets instead of in the ground because they can't bend over that far and can't afford to pay help? Instead, should they simply stare out the window wishing there was a way?

Or someone with every single plant surrounded by chicken wire or some other supposed 'ugly' barrier because the local wildlife decimates everything for the simple reason the neighbor thinks feeding anything with fur is cute? Should they just give up because someone thinks it's ugly?

I think Robin simply needs to walk in other gardeners' shoes for a few miles.

These are my personal facts:
I garden because I have to. No garden, no veg to eat. And yes, it brings me great joy.
I'm far from being any sort of designer.
I can't afford to buy cool garden stuff. Period. I use what I can get my hands on for free, regardless of how ugly it is.
In a nut shell - I do what I can with what I have. This is not a choice.

I've come to realize, sadly, that my way of gardening, and this blog, simply do not fit into the norm. The only place I fit is at the very bottom of the totem pole - the poor gardener.
Although I may have forty years of gardening knowledge to pass along by way of this blog, I probably won't. I certainly wouldn't want to contribute to the decay of the 'perfect' way of gardening or upset someone's sensibilities by suggesting they use buckets and window boxes if they can't bend and can't afford raised beds.

So, until I start feeling a little better about my garden, and myself, I'll let this blog sit silent.

I'll still continue to read and learn from all those great garden blogs because one can never stop absorbing useful things.
Besides, I'll be busy starting seedlings in some very ugly recycled containers.

Happy (ugly) Growing.
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Stop! Thief!

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I am so disappointed!
I had to remove all the pictures of my pressed flower cards because they were being stolen and used by Polyvore.
I found them here and here.
If they had just emailed me and asked to use them, I probably wouldn't have had a problem with it, but to just rip them off, use them in a collage and post them up for thousands of people to use as clip art just makes me so . . . PISSED!!

The hoops I have to jump through to get them removed aren't worth it. Check this out:

To file a copyright infringement notification with us, you will need to send a written communication that includes substantially the following (please consult your legal counsel or see Section 512(c)(3) of the Copyright Act to confirm these requirements):

1. Identify in sufficient detail the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed upon.
2. Identify the material that you claim is infringing the copyrighted work listed in item. You must include URLs for the material you want taken down.
3. Provide your full name, address, telephone number, and email address, so that Polyvore can contact you.
4. Include the following statement: "I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above as allegedly infringing is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."
5. Include the following statement: "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed."
6. Sign the notice, proving that you are a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Really!? ARGGHH!
Ok, I'm going to go plant something and cool off.
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Color Of The Year

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Pantone's color of the year pick: Turquoise.
Ok, ick.
Accent color, yes - all over your house, yard and body?
Like I said, ick.
I would have been happier if they'd picked Oyster Gray.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the color itself. I actually adore turquoise. A pot or chair here and there in the garden to perk things up. Cool. New 'Caribbean' cookware for the kitchen. Cool. A nice delicate piece of jewelry. Also cool.
But, you know what ends up happening with this 'color of the year' thing. We'll be staring at it every time we turn a head - or a corner.
~Sigh~
Ick.

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Titchmarsh's 'Frightened Of Gardening' Trend

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What is the DEAL with this?!
Alan Titchmarsh seems to be on a roll. Granted, he isn't one of my favorites, so I probably wouldn't have much good to say to begin with, but I wish he'd get over this 'people are frightened' thing!

Way back on January 25th, I posted about his article : British Society Is Frightened Of Gardening.

Well, here he is, at it again, with a new article today: Alan Titchmarsh: Don't Be frightened Of Your Garden.

Seriously, get over this idea that people are 'frightened', Alan. Try moving on to a topic that might be helpful!

Happy (non-frightened) Growing!
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Community Garden Resistance

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I've been following the story of this proposed community garden for a while.

Rivals Dig in as Public Garden Plan Divides.

I still don't understand the resistance, or rather, I don't understand their reasoning.

"On one side of the fence are those who want to turn a corner of the Hardy Gallagher Reserve into a community garden, with 60 plots leased to people to grow vegetables.

On the other are those who fiercely oppose the alienation of public parkland for a select group. Mr Fraser said opponents were not concerned about the idea of a community garden, rather the suggested location and the fact that 1600 square metres would be fenced off. "

But, later in the article they say - "The reserve has already lost an area to parking, a bocce court and a large children's playground."

That means there have already been sections partitioned off to select groups. So, that statement doesn't hold water.

"Chris Fraser says losing part of the park is untenable given that space in inner city areas is so precious."

Doesn't it make that even more of a reason to use that space for something useful - like letting people grow food? Because, yeah, bocce is more important than sustenance.

Mr Fraser also said, "Vegetable gardens don't look the best when they start to go to seed.''

Ummm, what does that have to do with anything and why is he assuming the plot holders would let them go to seed? Or is that just a nice way of saying 'they won't keep up on maintenance and weed the dang things'?

Negotiating has been going on for 20 months. Do they have any idea how much food these people could have grown in those 20 months?!

The whole round and round is simply maddening. And the resistance seems pointless.
I think they need to think up some better reasons to keep saying no.

Happy (plot) Growing!
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41 NY Parks and 14 Historic Sites Being Closed

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What the hell is the Governor thinking?!

Many state parks to close under budget pressure

Central Region

Chittenango Falls State Park	Madison	Close Park
Clark Reservation State Park	Onondaga	Close Park
Fort Ontario State Historic Site	Oswego	Close Historic Site
Helen McNitt State Park	Madison	Close Park
Herkimer Home Historic Site	Herkimer	Close Historic Site
Hunts Pond State Park	Chenango	Close Park
Oquaga Creek State Park	Broome	Close Park
Old Erie Canal State Park	Onondaga	Close Park
Oriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS	Oneida	Close Historic Site
Pixley Falls State Park	Oneida	Close Park
Robert Riddell State Park	Delaware	Close Park
Selkirk Shores State Park	Oswego	Close Public Swimming Beach

Finger Lakes Region

Beechwood State Park	Wayne	Close Park
Bonavista State Park	Seneca	Close Park
Chimney Bluffs State Park	Wayne	Close Park
Newtown Battlefield State Park	Chemung	Close Park
Springbrook Greens State Park	Cayuga	Close Park
Two Rivers State Park	Tioga	Close Park
Buttermilk Falls State Park	Tompkins	Close Public Swimming Area
Seneca Lake State Park	Seneca	Close Lake Swimming Beach
Stony Brook State Park	Steuben	Close Public Swimming Area

Thousand Islands Region

Canoe Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Cedar Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Eel Weir State Park	St. Lawrence	Close Park
Keewaydin State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Macomb Reservation State Park	Clinton	Close Park
Mary Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Point Au Roche State Park	Clinton	Close Park
Sackets Harbor State Historic Site	Jefferson	Close Historic Site

Saratoga-Capital Region

Bennington Battlefield State Park	Rensselaer	Close Historic Site
Hudson River Islands State Park	Rensselaer	Close Park
John Boyd Thacher State Park	Albany	Close Park
John Brown Farm Historic Site	Essex	Close Historic Site
Johnson Hall State Historic Site	Fulton	Close Historic Site
Max V. Shaul State Park	Schoharie	Close Park
Schodack Island State Park	Rensselaer	Close Park
Schoharie Crossing Historic Site	Schoharie	Close Historic Site
Schuyler Mansion Historic Site	Albany	Close Historic Site

Long Island

Brookhaven State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Bethpage State Park	Suffolk	Eliminate Winter Sports; Reduce picnic area and polo field
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve	Suffolk	Close Park
Cold Spring Harbor State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Connetquot River State Park	Suffolk	Close Weekdays
Heckscher State Park	Suffolk	Close Swimming Pool
Jones Beach State Park	Nassau	Close West Swimming Pool; Eliminate July 4th fireworks
Montauk Downs State Park	Suffolk	Close Swimming Pool
Nissequogue River State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Orient Beach State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Trail View State Park	Suffolk	Close Park

New York City Region

Bayswater Point State Park	Queens	Close Park
Riverbank State Park	New York	Reduce Operating Hours; Close Outdoor Swimming Pool; Eliminate Seniors Classes; and Community/Cultural Events

Palisades Region

Fort Montgomery Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne	Orange	Close Park Area
Harriman SP – Group Camps	Orange	Reduce Maintenance
High Tor State Park	Rockland	Close Pool
Knox Headquarters Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
New Windsor Cantonment SHS	Orange	Close Historic Site
Schunnemunk State Park	Orange	Close Park
Stony Point State Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
Tallman Mountain State Park	Rockland	Close Pool

Taconic Region

Donald J. Trump State Park	Westchester	Close Park
FDR (Roosevelt) State Park	Westchester	Reduce Swimming Pool Season
Hudson Highlands State Park	Putnam	Close Arden Point Area
James Baird State Park	Dutchess	Reduce Golf Course Season
Mills Norrie State Park	Dutchess	Reduce Golf Course Season
Olana State Historic Site	Columbia	Close 2 Days per Week
Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site	Westchester	Close Historic Site
Rockefeller State Park Preserve	Westchester	Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic Outdoor Education Center	Putnam	Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond	Dutchess	Close Rudd Pond Area
Wonder Lake State Park	Putnam	Close Park

Genesee Region

Hamlin Beach State Park	Monroe	Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per Week
Oak Orchard State Marine Park	Orleans	Close Park
Regionwide	Multiple	Eliminate Camper Recreation Program

Niagara Region

Joseph Davis State Park	Niagara	Close Park
Knox Farm State Park	Erie	Close Park
Niagara Falls State Park	Niagara	Reduce Interpretive Programs
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park	Niagara	Close Park
Woodlawn Beach State Park	Erie	Close Park

Allegany Region

Allegany State Park	Cattaraugus	Close Quaker Area Swim Beach; Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st; Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance; Reduce Recreation Programs
Long Point State Park	Chautauqua	Close Park

So, let me see if I've got this straight - keep complaining our kids are fat because they don't get any exercise . . . then take away nice outdoor activities so they have no reason to get out and enjoy their environment and get some exercise. Is that right? Thought so! Ugh!

News of 2 more plants closing in the area, so at this rate there won't be anyone around to enjoy these sites anyway. Today is not a good day for a lot of people in NY for a lot of reasons.
~sigh~
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Hydrangea "First Red" ... Help?

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When the clearance sale rolled around last year, I bought hydrangea that were tagged 'First Red'.
Ok, let me make something clear here - hydrangeas and I don't get along all that well. We just don't see things eye to eye. I think, if there was a plant that was my polar opposite, hydrangea is it.

Around here, everyone has them in their yards. They grow like weeds.
Yup, they're another of those, "Any idiot can grow it," plants that I can't get to grow!

But, hey, they were 50 cents a piece. 50 cents! I know, don't say it. I'm a sucker. I bought the six they had left.

So, anyway, I'm giving myself another shot at growing them because, well, did I mention they were only 50 cents?
Here's the tag:

To save you the eye strain:

Hydrangea
First Red
Red flowers bloom in spring.
Part sun to part shade
Rich, porous soil.
Regular water use
Zone 6, -10 to 0F (-23 to -17C)

I've searched everywhere for some info on this one, and there isn't much.
I did find this from Richie seed & feed garden news, November 10, 2009:

New Plants for 2010!!!

First Red Hydrangea. Yet
another hydrangea for
new hydrangea lovers.
The “First Red” blooms
on old and new wood.
The blooms are an amazing
deep red and flower
from July to September.
This compact variety stays
under 20” tall. An amazing
dwarf variety.

Besides care instructions (that part I get) this is about all I've found, and bloom time doesn't even match! The stupid tag doesn't even list height, so is it really a dwarf or not?

Is it macrophylla, normalis, serrata, paniculata, (which is zoned to 3-4, so I wouldn't assume), quercifolia, arborescens?

Right now they're in two quart pots overwintering in a box by my back door with frozen soil. (I told you my house was cold!) Since they're zoned to 6, I'll have to drag them in every fall. <---pet peeve alert. Stop selling plants in areas they aren't zoned for!

I'll transplant them to three gallon pots in spring.
Obviously, pruning, besides shaping, is pretty much out of the question since it's suppose to bloom on both new and old wood.

Ugh! Why can't they just put more info on the freaking plant tags? This is one of my biggest pet peeves EVER. Give us more info, dang it!

So, does anyone know anything about 'First Red'?
Do you grow it?
I would be ever so grateful for some help on this one, please.

Happy (never enough tag info) Growing!
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More Proof Organic is the Way to Go

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Just came across this from my newsrunner:

Toxic chemicals used to kill voles kills two girls in Utah.

"Investigators say the gas may have entered into the family's home after an exterminator dropped Fumitoxin aluminum phosphide pellets in burrow holes in the lawn Friday to kill small rodents known as voles.

Meanwhile, a Sandy woman, Alice Pittman, said Wednesday that she now wonders if a September 2008 Fumitoxin application by the same exterminators - Bountiful-based Bugman Pest and Lawn - may be connected to the deaths of her two Basset hound puppies.

Pittman, 77, also recently had cancer-related surgery and said she worries the poison application could somehow be connected to her recent health problems as well. "Now, I wonder about that, too. It leaves a question in my mind," she said."

Man, oh, man. How sad is that? Think, of both your family and neighbors, before you let people throw chemicals will-nilly around your property. Cross your fingers that your neighbors don't do it either!

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Seed Saver Scams - Because the Sky is Falling

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Seed saving scams - They're out there. Lots of 'em.

And they bug me.
But there isn't much you can do about warning those who are uneducated in this area. Or those who refuse to become educated because, well, you know, it's all a huge government conspiracy, right? You need to grab that bucket of seed and stash it behind your hoard of guns and ammo because, ( insert random hypothetical fear here).

Nope, I can't afford those mega billboards plastered 50 to a state to warn people against these idiot scammers. Besides, if I did that, I'd be the next big thing ranted about by Limbaugh, and who in pity's name would want THAT? I'm saving my 15 minutes of fame for something really cool.

These scammers prey on people's numerous fears - name one, they're exploiting it - to make that quick buck. You know what they say about a fool and his money and there's one born every minute?

Matt Mattus has taken a little of this subject head-on with his post Who Will Bail Out This Seed Bank? Not Me, on his blog, Growing With Plants.

Very much worth a read. Kudos, Matt!!

So, how many people do you know that would fall for something like this? Even though you think you hang out with a smart group of folks, I bet there are more than you (secretly) ever imagined.

Happy (non scammed) growing!!
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Grow Tomatoes for Just $1285.10!

What a deal, eh?
I think I'm nauseous. Nope, I know I am.

From Matt Mattus at Growing With Plants: (seriously, you have to go read it)
"Grand total for proper supplies to grow disease resistant tomatoes is
$1285.10. $5.14 per tomato."

Ummmm...

Seriously, what is there to say to that except, "Man, I wish I had that kind of money to blow on growing a vegetable!"

Does he really think that's what it takes to grow a disease resistant tomato?
God, I hope not or us poor people, who actually grow gardens to SAVE money (or not eat all winter) are doomed to starve!

OK, let's see - here's my price list from last summer (or at least close).

Tom seeds (I think we had 10 varieties not counting the weirdo volunteers we also grew out and harvested from): 10 cents per pack = $1.00.
And no, they weren't any special expensive, disease resistant variety, but they were still damn healthy and tasted good!

Soil for 20 plants, 2 of each variety (I mixed my own from peat, turkey grit and the cheapest potting soil I could find - which most of went for WSing and plants I grew for others) = approx $3 - and that's estimated on the high side.

Containers, recycled = free.

Transplanted outside to one year old hay bales = free.

Stakes = free.

Fert, homemade = free

Organic preventative spray, homemade = Although I know it's much less, ingredients, we'll say, a whole $1.00

So, that adds up to a whopping five bucks.
If I go by his figures of 15 toms per plant, times my 20 plants, it equals 300 tomatoes.

Drum roll....

0.016666666 cents per (disease free) tomato.

I think I win! Oh, yeah, and bonus - I get to eat this winter and still not lose the house.

It blows my mind what people are willing to spend growing a few veg. If people would really like to throw their money away, they can just hand it to me and I'll put it to good use, like paying for some freaking heating fuel.
Ack! I need to go play with some seedlings before my brain explodes from thinking about it.

Happy (and cheap) growing!

HGTV Protest Campaign - April 13, 2009

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The Protest Campaign blog is HERE.


Gardeners' are mad as hell at HGTV, and they aren't going to take it anymore!

Viewer emails directly to HGTV result in nothing more than the reply of a form letter and are totally disregarded.



Gardening programming has been disappearing from the channel at an alarming rate. Actually, there isn't any left. But, all you fans of those lost garden shows already know this. Now, they've had the gall to cancel Gardening By The Yard with Paul James! Yes, they've cancelled Paul, the last denizen of the 'real' gardening shows.

Cancelling Paul was the last straw!

Look anywhere on the net and you can find statistics that show how the 'gardening and growing your own food' trend has gone through the roof. They've taken to calling them Recession Gardens. It doesn't matter if the available space is 50 acres or a small balcony and containers, people are doing it.


Every day hundreds of people are making the decision to start a garden, whether it be because of the economy, worry about the planet, better flavor, beauty, or simple food safety, they're hungry for information. And yet, HGTV seems to completely ignore these people and the facts.

What are they thinking?!

HGTV Has It ALL Wrong

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I think they're either insane, don't know what they're talking about, don't read news (or blogs for that matter) or are little tipsy for 20 hours of a 24 hour day. Seriously. And yes, even 'real news' is reporting how much HGTV sucks when it comes to that non-existant G.

I read this article, from November 20, 2008, from Joe Gardener called Keeping the “G” in HGTV – Why that’s not so E Z, to which he referred to another article he'd written, called Keep the “G” in HGTV” please!, to which a producer (Yes, a real HGTV producer) replied this:

“Gardening shows do not bring in the ratings. But, landscaping shows do. While not a lot of people "garden", they do landscape. Meaning while they might not be out there planting vegetable gardens they are renovating their yards. If they do garden it is to incorporate an herb garden or blueberry bushes into the landscape. And landscaping shows do bring in the ratings, especially if they have drama”.

Is she serious?! They don't bring in the ratings, you fool, because there AREN'T ANY TO WATCH!

Oh, my, God! No wonder they aren't listening.
Poor Paul James. They don't have a clue, and he doesn't have a prayer of getting anything through their thick skulls, along with the rest of us gardeners. Don't bother emailing as you'll only receive an automated return answer, as was proven when an email campaign went through GW. Yes, they so care about their viewers. (yeah, that'd be sarcasm).

So, to sum up what HGTV is really all about: Gardeners' (those that would actually return to watching the freaking channel and buying what those advertisers are spewing) count for nothing. Absolutely nada, zero, zip. We aren't even a tiny speck of dust on their revenue chart.

Aren't you glad the HGTV producers have such a grand grasp of reality? I sure am, as I wouldn't know what to do if I actually had a choice between more than two gardening shows! Oh, the dilemma that could cause in my, apparently, non-astute tv-watching- gardening day. . .

Well, my goodness, they have Live Chat! My, oh my. Who knew. This could be interesting.

The End Of Agriculture In California?

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Wow, more doom and gloom.

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu:
"I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen," Chu told the newspaper. "We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California.
"I don't actually see how they can keep their cities going," he added.

Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told California's farmers to prepare for a third straight year of drought due to low Sierra snow levels and some of the state's top farming counties may get little or no deliveries of water.

Entire REUTERS Article:
Climate change could end California farming

Maybe instead of proselytizing, they should actually start doing something? I know, I know, how dare I suggest such a thing. Yes, I slapped my wrist for having such an outrageous thought.

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Same Old, Same Old - Just Worse

Christmas was very sad and New Years totally sucked, so I'm skipping over noting anything to do with either.