Metropolitan Gardening

R emember the article about the instant spring window box ? Well today was the day to pick the first fruits from the window and mix them into a stir fry. Two very happy hot peppers came indoors and we washed them well. It's amazing eating your own fresh produce from the window. A neighbor chatted with us about their flower box up above and we discussed the garden next door.

O wen E. Dell is the affable wisecracking television host that you want for your landscaper. Fun and friendly and knowledgeable Owen gets the greening done with wit and righteousness. When he reached out for me to review his new book Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies from Wiley Publishing - I was pretty psyched - I figured this should be an easy read - I'll knock that out in an after noon...It's for Dummies right?? Well...the reading is straight forward but an afternoon... not so much, and here's why.

E veryone has a plant vocabulary. We all have favorite plants that linger in our ears, eyes and on our tongues and lips. What plants are on your mind? These are some for designing, for eating, for removing, for climbing, for just looking at to enjoy. Most on this list tumbled out in this order-  then some grew in that were on the tip of the tongue. Making a plant list can get you thinking in new ways about the plants you want to focus on - sort of a internal plant inventory. It's fun to think how they might be personally organized or related.

Gas mileage? A diesel? - but a1958 Mercedes is now on the  ♥  list. Sparkle green surrounded by hollyhocks and sunflowers??? This is the epitome of  pimpin horticultural style.

Where did this bonsai come from!!?!?!? Recently an area man reported a mystical bonsai tree that appeared in a local garden center. When asked to describe what happened the plant lover whispered in a low voice, "One day the plant was all brown and shabby and then the next it was re-potted and appeared as this healthy and vibrant bonsai - it was almost like magic..." Other observers first noticed that the tree was potted without those little pebbles seen here in this picture. A few days later the pebbles appeared as mysteriously as the little tree. No one can say for sure what this all means - if anything.