Next Big Idea For Gardening?

CowPots. Yup, plant pots made from cow...uhh...leftovers.
:)
Now, that's ingenious!
Heard about it, thought I'd watch it...and yes - vewwy, vewwy interesting.

Carol, you plan on closing that can of worms soon?

Trudi & Winter Sowing on TV!

Go Trudi, go Trudi!

Here's Trudi Davidoff on KWQC this morning, demonstrating winter sowing.

She starts at about 6 minutes in if you want to fast forward.

You go girl!

I'm So......Untrendy

Carol asked about the next big idea, so I blame her for getting me thinking.

According to Gardening Media Group:

Garden Trends For 2007

1. Outdoor Living is In ------ Indoor Living is Out

2. Escape Gardens Are In -------- Everyday Gardens Are Out

3.Streamlined Gardens Are In ------- Shabby Chic Gardens Are Out

4. Eco-Chic Gardens Are In ------- Chemical Needy Gardens Are Out

5. Small Space Gardens Are In ------- Colossal Gardens Are Out

6. Larger than Life Accents Are In --- Peak-a-Boo Accessories Are Out

7. Foliage in Focus Is In ------- Flowers Only Are Out

8. Multi-tasking Gardens Are In --- Time Consuming Gardens Are Out

9. Fancy Plants Are In ----------- Basic Plants Are Out

10. Designer Veggies Are In ---------- Store Bought Veggies Are Out

11. Masses of Any Color Are In -------- Colorless Masses Are Out

12. 24-Hour Gardens Are In ---------- Daytime Only Gardens Are Out

1. This one strikes me as a bit ridiculous. As a gardener, I've been living outdoors all my life, starting with a few lounge chairs, a small table and a picnic table in the middle of my grandmothers garden. I always considered it 'the other room'. And she had this flowering bush (Of course, now I have no idea what it was) that you could tunnel under and became my 'playhouse' every summer - tea sets and all. Unless you're somewhere where the weather is nice all year, a silk chaise lounge and tv just aren't practical. (Ever get the impression these trends are always geared towards California livin'?)

2. Uh, every garden should be considered an 'escape'. I think we all de-stress working with plants, even if they're the basics or in containers.

3. Shabby Chic is out? Bummer, because that's what my style will always be! Streamlined is, well, usually boring. Tidy I like, but streamlined, not so much.

4. Ok, this is something I've always practiced, so one point for me.

5. And where, oh where would I put all those winter sown plants in a tiny space? No way. Small space gardening is just gardeners under duress - not enough space to garden, so they improvise, not downsize. If they have any space, by golly, they'll fill it!

6. "designers are creating the same amount of impact with larger plants and garden accessories". Funny, I thought you just told me they were using "dwarf-sized annuals, perennials and shrubs are now specifically bred for small spaces"? I thought fairy gardens were the new thing? Those fairies are gonna look pretty silly staring up at some monster plant!

7. Guys, catch up - gardeners have grown and admired plants for 'foliage only' for years!

8. Umm, Ornamental Kale or Rhubarb Chard ring any bells? Also been done for years. Anyway, most gardeners don't consider their gardens as 'time consuming' as much as they enjoy the time they spend gardening. If they considered it nothing more than a time consuming chore, they wouldn't do it year after year. Wow, how many of these 'trend-setting designers' are actual gardeners?

9. Well, gee...is that why all those catalog descriptions always add "Amaze you're gardening friends with this unusual plant?" And, hate to burst your bubble, but I'll bet many more gardeners are returning to the heirloom varieties or native plants than you might think! We all like to experiment with something new and exotic, but the basics ain't goin' anywhere.

10. Hmmm, I get to give the same answer to this one as I did to 8 and 9.

11. Huh? Isn't this what every flower gardener strives for? Gardeners have loved 'drifts' of color for ever. Most are beautiful enough to take your breath away. Wow, kinda like mother nature does things, eh? So not a new trend.

12. ~sigh~ So not new.

Wow, 1 for me, 11 for the trend-setters. I'm so happy to have lost this one!

Hedging Edging

Noncommittal. That perfectly describes me when it comes to edging.

The last time I scoured the internet and B&M stores (who doesn't love Lowe's?) for ideas for edging my flowerbeds, by brain went numb. I don't think I said a word all the way home. Well, it's kind of hard to talk around burned-in visions of brick on your eyeball.

It must have been an interesting thing watching me feel row after row of fencing, brick and paver as my brain function slowly shut down while foamy drool accumulated on my chin. Did you know that if you stare at something long enough it will change color or disappear? I swear, it does!

OMG, soooo many choices! There has got to be some dude sitting in a little dark cubby somewhere, hunched over a blank sheet of paper with only a lead pencil for a friend, and hand shaking as he tries to give his boss the next 'big' thing to edge your flowerbed with. Poor guy, I hope they give hime some crayons this year, cause I am sick to death of white, various shades of gray and brick.

I am so over it! I concede, you win!
Actually, for one bed, I win. I used field stone. Yup, the kind right out of the local farmer's field. Take that, cubby dude!

I like it. It's natural, looks fabuluous, and didn't cost me a dime.

Now, about the other ones...

Ut-oh!

So, whatcha got in yours? Yeah, maybe I want to steal your idea! Ok, ok, I'll settle for copying it. What's your absolute favorite?

Japan

With temps yesterday at 14 degrees below zero, it's definitely time to take another mini-vacation.
So, off to Japan!

Why do I want to visit there? Well, who wouldn't? But I want to go for one thing: the nishikigoi!

I was shocked to find out they have 175 airports. Where do they put 'em?

Of course, as everyone probably already knows, the national flower of Japan is the Cherry Blossom or Sakura. But did you know it's also the Chrysanthemum?

Cherry Blossoms, in Japan, are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. Interestingly enough, in China it is a symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty and sexuality.
I think I like China's symbolism better :)

The favorite of the Japanese is the almost pure white Somei Yoshino (a purely ornamental variety). Sakuranbo (cherry fruit) comes from a completely different species.

The Japanese hold 'flower viewing parties' with friends and family as the blossoms open from January in the south, through late March in the north. You have to admire the fact they take time out of their busy lives just to enjoy the beauty.

Chrysanthemums are native to Europe and Asia, and were cultivated in China as far back as the 1400's. There are around 30 known species.

In Japan they are the symbol of death and are only used on graves or at funerals. (Not a happy thought!) And yet, it is the crest of the Imperial House and Emperor! The Imperial Throne is known as Chrysanthemum Throne or kikukamonshō.

Well, that's a tad confusing!

In 1966 the Chrysanthemum was adopted as the city of Chicago's official flower.

Pyrethrin, a natural insecticide, is derived from the pulverized flower, inhibits the female mosquito from biting and is used as an insect repellent. My kinda flower!

There's way too much more interesting stuff to say about the chrysanthemum, but I'll quit before I get something wrong.

Now, off to the next destination...