Stumble It!
I've been picking peas for about a week. This year is the first we've grown peas in quite some time. In fact, I remember very distinctly the last time we grew peas.
We were sitting on the deck out back, and I was shelling peas and talking about what my next car would be. I had always wanted a Volkswagen Beetle but they stopped selling them in the US in 1977. Then for the 1998 model year, they redesigned it and started selling them in the US again. I liked the New Beetle as well as the old classic style.
I was shelling away - it takes an insanely large amount of pea pods to produce an insanely small number of peas - and I jokingly said to Romie, "Hey! I know what you can get me for our anniversary next year! A New Beetle!" He didn't roll his eyes or make some sarcastic remark, he just said, "What color would you want?" We would be celebrating our 25th and I was hoping for a silver Beetle.
At that time, you had to put your name on a waiting list along with a $250 deposit (to show you were serious, I guess) and your car requirements (silver, automatic transmission, leather seats, sun roof, CD player). With silver being the second most requested color (yellow was number one), we were told it could be a year or more before they were able to get one with my specifications. Back then, they were a hot item. 
Waiting that long was fine, because I didn't have to have a car right away. But it was just a few short months and my car was here. We picked it up on 9-9-99 and it was an early anniversary present, since our 25th wasn't until August 1, 2000.
And that leads us back to the peas...
When I planted them this spring, it made me remember that last time we grew them and how I got my car - ten years ago. That's a long time to not grow peas and the longest we've ever had any one car. The Beetle is doing fine and I plan to drive it for many more years.
We plan to grow peas for many more years, too. I'd forgotten just how good fresh peas from the garden really are.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Pass the Peas, Please
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday Smiles
It doesn't take much to make me smile, and I think that's what gives me such a positive outlook on life in general. I like to imagine God in his heaven, orchestrating such minute details that don't serve any other purpose than to give us joy, even if just for a moment.
Don't we do these things, too? How fun it is to surprise someone with a card in the mail for no other reason than to let them know you're thinking about them. So while it's easy to imagine that God must be too busy to bother with "the little things," that's just our human brain being unable to comprehend the magnitude of just what God can and does do.
So what caused me to wax philosophical on this Saturday?
"Gee thanks, Dad! Cool rope swing!Romie said he would have loved to have seen the bird flying back to the nest with that in its mouth.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Garfield Park Conservatory - Chicago
Unconscious of a less propitious clime
There blooms exotic beauty, warm and snug
While the winds whistle and the snows descend.
~William Cowper
The Task
1785
It occurred to me the other night that I'd not yet finished my account of this year's Spring Fling in Chicago. Sunday, May 31st - the last day - was another beautiful day in the Windy City and we had more beautiful gardens to see!
We met several other Flingers in the lobby of our hotel at 9:15, then walked several blocks to catch the El to the Garfield Park Conservatory. I'd overheard the comment earlier - "If you've seen one conservatory, you've seen them all." - and I couldn't disagree more. Though we'd just seen Lincoln Park's the day before, Garfield Park's was just amazing and probably the best I've visited anywhere up to this point in my life. The conservatory recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, having been constructed in 1906-07 under the direction of Jens Jensen, the architect famed for his garden design. He intended it to be "the largest publicly owned conservatory under one roof in the world." Taking up 4.5 acres, Garfield Park Conservatory is the crown jewel of Chicago's West Side and has been recognized as an internationally significant horticultural facility.
The conservatory wasn't busy at all, which made it nice for the dozen or so of us that were visiting. Photo ops presented themselves at every turn and it was nice to not have to wait much (if at all), to get a clear shot of things.
In the first room, the Scheelea Palm (Attalea phalerata) was the star of the show. Grown from a seed planted in 1926, it is the largest and oldest palm in the conservatory.
I got a chance to chat a bit more with Pam during this time, which was nice, though she and Diana had to leave a little early. We talked about how many of the plants we saw here were houseplants for those of us that try to grow them in the north, but they're garden staples in Texas, where the two of them live.
For example, Pam grows wonderful agaves such as the ones we saw here and she knows how envious I am of hers. They're impressive plants!
The Fern Room was just unbelievable. The minute you stepped into the room, you could smell the green.
They'd used layers of rock from Ohio (yeah!) to form the base for growing the ferns and there were corridors you could walk through that were entirely covered by various ferns.
The size and scope of this room has to be experienced to be believed. The photos here just don't convey it adequately. That could be said of the entire conservatory though.
There's a permanent Chihuly glass display:
And just as I made the comment to someone that I didn't really care for cacti and other dry desert plants, I came upon these that tried to change my mind...
The bromeliads were impressive...
Flaming Sword Bromeliad (Vriesea splendens)The outside grounds of the conservatory were pretty impressive, too. We exited the rear of the building, shown here, with its espaliered tree and boxwood balls...
...and found ourselves in the "City Garden."
Back into the conservatory and out again, on a different side, was the Monet Garden. Loosely adapted from Monet's Garden in Giverney, France, this smaller version uses plants and color much as Monet did.
And out yet another direction was the labyrinth, leading to the children's garden.
When it came time to head back downtown so we could get our car and head for home, MrBrownThumb walked Mom and me back to the train station, to make sure we got back okay. This was just another way he and other Chicago gardeners that were part of the planning team for Spring Fling helped make our weekend that much more pleasant and enjoyable.
Mom and I talked for a long time on the way home about all our experiences of the weekend spent in one of my favorite cities with so many nice people. It was apparent that a huge amount of planning and thought went into every aspect of it and everyone involved should feel pretty pleased with the results. We simply had a great time, and I'm planning to attend next year's Spring Fling, which is to be in Buffalo, New York.
Most of the Spring Flingers, as captured by MrBrownThumb in Lincoln ParkAs posted on the Chicago Bloggers' website, here is a list of other posts by other attendees on the Spring Fling experience:
Spring Fling '09 Wrap Up
Muse Day Final Fling Thoughts
Art of Gardening:
Garden Bloggers Spring Fling
Digging:
Caldwell Lily Pool, an oasis in Chicago
Visit to Garfield Park Conservatory
Intimate Gardens of Spring Fling
Art Institute Garden in Chicago
On Cloud Nine in Lurie Garden
The People Behind The Blogs
Chicago Botanic Garden wows Spring Flingers
Dig Grow Compost Blog:
Loving It-Chicago Botanic Garden
Rick Bayless Garden
Thank You Chicago Garden Bloggers
Garden Rant:
Return of the natives—and a Prairie School landmark—in Chicago
Next year in Buffalo
Mr.McGregor's Daughter:
A Grand Day Out At the Chicago Botanic Garden
But Wait, There's More.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Place in the Shade
With temperatures in the 90s this week, Boo has the right idea:
He always finds the cool spots in the garden, such as this one in the dappled shade of the willow tree and other plants.
I wonder if cats have a natural mosquito repellent, because all the rain we had earlier has produced bumper broods of the biters. The cats don't seem to be bothered by them, but maybe it's because they've been getting their nourishment from me. It doesn't matter what time of the day I go out - the mosquitoes are always biting.
Of course, with the heat and humidity being what it is right now, the mosquitoes are going to have to find someone else to chew on, because I'm staying inside with the air conditioning!
Plan Bee: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Hardest Working Creatures on the Planet - A Review
I love honeybees and am fascinated by them. Too bad they don't like me. Well, I guess it isn't really their fault that I'm allergic to their stings. In spite of the pain and other bad reactions they cause me, 
they are one of my favorite insects. They rank right up there with the butterflies and lightning bugs.
Honeybees have been a part of my life since I was quite young. I grew up just a few miles from two honey producing and packing businesses. In fact, the son of one of the owners of one of them was in my class at school and was my boyfriend in the fifth grade. My parents used to call him "Honeyboy."
He eventually went on to become the president and CEO of that business, which merged with another honey business in Kansas to form Golden Heritage Foods LLC, the second largest honey packing facility in the nation. He and his wife, who was also in my class, still live just a few miles away. 
Anyway, it was nothing to drive down one of our country roads and see bee hives sitting in the middle of a clover field. About a month ago, Romie and I were trekking through a nearby woods and there were some hive boxes a-buzzin' there. I kept my distance, of course, but it was fascinating to stand and watch the flurry of activity surrounding those boxes. 
Recently, I was asked to read and review a copy of Plan Bee: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Hardest Working Creatures on the Planet. It's no secret that I love to read, so when I got the chance to learn more about honeybees in the process, I enthusiastically said, "Absolutely!" Even so, I kind of thought to myself that the book was going to be rather dry and boring after awhile. I mean, really. How much can you say about bees before it begins to sound like an entomology textbook?
Susan Brackney is a beekeeper. She's also an engaging writer who just made me love honeybees even more than I already did. I never once got bored or felt like putting the book down without finishing it. This is good stuff!Every time I spoon out a bit of honey for my coffee or oatmeal, I'm reminded that anything of real value requires hard work and a lot of it. On average, it takes about a dozen bees to gather enough nectar to make just one gloriously golden teaspoon of honey, and each of those bees must visit more than 2,600 flowers in the process. Crazier still, all those flights from the hive to the flowers and back again add up to 850 miles or so - just over the distance from New York to Chicago.
There's R-rated stuff in the book, too. I don't tell you that to get you to read the book, but how a queen bee attracts her mates and what they do after she's lured them her way is pretty bizarre stuff. In fact, this little book (192 pages and about 5" x 8") is chock-full of amazing facts, history, and anecdotes about honeybees. There's also information about beekeeping, just in case you'd like to try your hand at it, and recipes for making not only food items, but soap, candles, and lip balm.
I think Plan Bee is the bee's knees. In case you don't know what that means, read the book. It tells you that, too.
Perigee Books
List Price: $21.95
Amazon Price: $12.56 (qualifies for Free Shipping on orders over $25)
Susan Brackney is a beekeeper in Bloomington, Indiana. A nature writer whose articles have appeared in the New York Times, Plenty, Organic Gardening, and elsewhere, she is also an avid gardener, an expert on sustainablility, and the author of The Insatiable Gardener's Guide, The Lost Soul Companion, and The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion. Visit her website at www.planbeebook.com.Check out the live BeeCam!
_________________
The product or merchandise being reviewed in this blog post was the sole compensation for testing and reviewing the product. All opinions expressed here are mine, with no suggestions whatsoever by the manufacturer or distributor. If I like it, I'll say so. If I don't, I'll say that, too.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Is There a Doctor in the House?
I had my yearly doctor's appointment today. That's always fun. No, really, it isn't too bad, because I really like the Nurse Practitioner that I see there. She's like your best girlfriend, but a lot smarter. I know this, because when she looked at my routine blood work results, she knew that I'm a junk food junkie. (If she only really knew...)
She also knew why my left ear has been plugged for the last two weeks. Ear wax. UGH. I kind of thought that might be the case, but she produced tangible evidence. Now I have to put drops in my ear and go back in two weeks to have it flushed out. No problem. Anything so I don't have to walk around like my head's underwater anymore.
My plants need to see a doctor, too. Several weeks ago I noticed spots on the leaves of several plants. Teeny tiny round brown dots.
They look like they got hit with buckshot. 
I looked around to see if I could find out what's literally bugging them, but the only thing I could see was a striped beetle that reminds me a bit of a lightning bug, but not quite. By the way, we saw our first lightning bug the evening of June 19, which is right on schedule. Usually they appear for the first time right around the first day of summer, which this year was June 21st.
So... about those spots. I found them on the Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, Veronica, and Oregano, just to name a few.
Does anyone have a clue as to what's going on here? Insect, fungus, bacteria?
And while we're at it, what would make my Rosa 'Senior Prom' have leaves like this?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Don't Bug Me! (This Year, Either)
I was getting ready to write a blog post about the scarab beetle I found in one of the roses yesterday, which I was certain was an immature Japanese Beetle. I did some searching online for scarab beetles and came upon a blog post I'd made two years ago, nearly to the day. (Yes, I'd forgotten about it.) So instead of writing a completely different post about the Hairy Flower Scarab, I'm simply going to rerun my post from June 19, 2007. I could have written it word for word today.
I thought the Japanese Beetles had made their appearance. I found two today, both on roses. But while they were of the same size and general shape of a Japanese Beetle, they didn't look like the ones we had last year. This is a photo I took of the second one I found today:
It's a Hairy Flower Scarab or Bee Mimic Beetle. They behave much like bees. They hide in roses much like Japanese Beetles, too, and I'm treating them as such.
I usually pick them off and take them in the house to put them down the garbage disposal. If I smash them in the garden, the resulting smell they give off will attract more. I could take a jar of soapy water with me to the gardens when I'm on Japanese Beetle Watch and put them in there to drown, too.
We only had a total of thirteen of the little buggers last summer, but something tells me we're going to have a lot more than that this year. I've only ever found them on my roses, but Wikipedia says they like these:
Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, roses, plums, pears, peaches, raspberries, blackberries and these genera:
- Abelmoschus
- Acer
- Aesculus
- Alcea
- Asparagus
- Aster
- Betula (Birch trees)
- Buddleia
- Calluna
- Caladium
- Canna
- Chaenomoles
- Cirsium
- Cosmos
- Dahlia
- Daucus
- Dendranthema
- Digitalis
- Dolichos
- Echinacea
- Hemerocallis
- Heuchera
- Hibiscus
- Hydrangea
- Ilex
- Iris
- Lagerstroemia
- Liatris
- Ligustrum
- Malus
- Malva
- Myrica
- Oenothera
- Parthenocissus
- Phaeseolus
- Phlox
- Physocarpus
- Platanus
- Polygonum
- Prunus
- Quercus
- Rheum
- Rhododendron
- Rosa
- Rubus
- Salix
- Sambucus
- Sassafras
- Solanum
- Syringa
- Tilia (Linden, lime, or basswood trees)
- Toxicodendron
- Ulmus
- Vaccinium
- Viburnum
- Vitis
- Weigelia
- Wisteria
- Zea
- Zinnia
Oh brother. The whole freakin' garden.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Green Thumb Sunday - Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'
It's been awhile since I've done a Green Thumb Sunday post, but this week, Echinacea 'Tiki Torch' burst into bloom and I just had to share. Orange just isn't my very favorite color in a flower, but 'Tiki Torch' clearly demonstrates that it depends on the flower. I really like this.
Besides its scrummy color, I'm tickled by the whimsical little petalettes, curling at random around the plastic spiked centers and the crowns of gold.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I Heart Dirt and You Can Too!
It always makes me proud, somehow, when I find out that a great business is located in my home state of Ohio. I'm a born and raised Ohioan, otherwise known as a Buckeye, and I'm proud of it. Ohio has produced some wonderful people, some of them famous. 
You know those Wright brothers - Orville and Wilbur - who are credited with flying the first airplane. Ohio has produced eight of our presidents: Garfield, McKinley, Harding, Taft, Cleveland, Hayes, Grant, and Benjamin Harrison.
There's Neil Armstrong, who's the first man to step foot on the moon, and Paul Newman, who only got better looking as he got older.
We're home to not only people, but businesses that are notable. The first matchbook was manufactured in Barberton by the Diamond Match Company (1896). Smucker's started making jams and jellies in Orrville in 1897. Etch A Sketch was first manufactured in 1960 in Bryan by the Ohio Art Company. Bob Evans Restaurants got their start in Rio Grande in 1962.
And then there's Troy-Bilt, based in Cleveland. As gardeners, we're familiar with the company's products and many of us use them on a regular basis. They have a reputation for producing high quality equipment, to which I can attest, and they've also got a great sense of humor.
Take these t-shirts shown below, for instance:
No really. Take them.
One is size medium and one is size large, and I'm giving them away, courtesy of Troy-Bilt. They're made of super soft organic cotton and have Troy-Bilt's logo on the upper back (it's small). To win one of these shirts, just leave a comment here, telling me which Troy-Bilt product you'd most like to have and which size t-shirt you'd prefer. You can see their line of products on their website.
Then at midnight EDT on Saturday, June 27th, I'll randomly choose two winners from those who have left comments. The first one chosen will get a shirt in the size they prefer and the second winner will get the other one. Enter now and good luck!
Oh, and here's another bit of Ohio trivia, with which you can astound your friends and neighbors: The first automobile accident occurred in Ohio City, Ohio in 1891. I've been by the crash site many times, since Ohio City is half an hour from here.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Two Ohio Gardeners
For some time now, I have enjoyed reading one of the most beautiful garden blogs on the internet. BG Garden Blog, authored by Brenda, not only is located in the same zone as Our Little Acre, but is also just a short hour and a half drive away. Yesterday, upon the invitation of Brenda, I visited her gorgeous gardens. 
As I neared Brenda's house, I passed a wind farm, much like the one that is being planned for our area. I'd forgotten that Bowling Green had this and I was happy to get to see the gigantic wind turbines in action.
A short time later, I turned into the drive at Brenda's house and I was taken back to the time I visited Hiddenhaven, the gardens of Tracy DiSabato-Aust. The rural setting was very similar to Tracy's, complete with pond and woods. 
Brenda met me as I stepped out of my car and from that moment on, we were two friends and gardeners immediately off on a day of talking plants and flowers and design, with the latter being a mostly one-sided conversation, as garden design isn't my strong suit. It clearly is something that comes naturally for Brenda. She has a knack for putting things together in a perfect blend of color and texture.
We casually walked around her house and Brenda explained some of how things got where they were and what were her favorites. She shared her plans for planting various landscaped areas, flower beds, and the vegetable garden.
The Portage River runs through their property, back through the wooded part. Oh yes, lots of woods and we walked some of the trails. There were remnants of the spring wildflowers, such as bloodroot. Black-winged damselflies (Calopteryx maculata) flitted here and there, and graciously allowed me to get close enough for a decent photo.
There are several beautiful cats roaming BG Gardens, because like us, they like their kitties. I got to meet Jack, Oppie, Kink, Boo, and Gracie.
Jack
OppieAfter we did our walk-through, we took off for Genoa, where I introduced Brenda to one of her fine local dining places - Muggz's Tea Nook - where I'd been at the end of May, during the Cleveland trip. Funny how that is, that something can be right in your back yard almost, but for some reason, you're not aware of it. I tried to finagle the recipe for the Tomato Basil soup out of the chef, but alas, it's the only thing she won't give out, of all the things she cooks. (She did tell me she uses honey in it, though.)
With our tummies full (Thank you, Bren!), we traveled a short distance to Elmore, home of Bench's Greenhouse & Nursery (as well as Schedel Arboretum and Gardens). As we turned into the parking lot, we saw a sign out front that said, "40% off all plants." A flurry of words were exchanged between us, as we pondered if that meant what we thought it meant.
When we got inside, we saw another sign:
And then another:
Finally, Brenda went to the counter and asked just what really was 40% off. The answer? Anything with a root system.
Well, let me tell you, we were beside ourselves and like two kids in a candy store. In some places, a sale such as this might not be all that exciting, but this was Bench's. Brenda had told me they had a huge variety of plants, trees, and shrubs to offer and that they were healthy too, and she was right.
We probably spent two hours or more, looking through their things, picking and choosing and having the best time. The only thing stopping me from getting more than I did is that I'm running out of space to plant things, unless we make the gardens larger. They're already at the upper limit of what Romie and I can manage, so I left the 'Coppertina' ninebark and the 'Diane' witch hazel there. It was really hard passing up the witch hazel, at $60 for a large one, but the sale meant there was no guarantee on anything and I wasn't sure I wanted to risk that much.
Brenda used to work at a greenhouse, so she shared some tips with me as we chose plants and talked about where they might be planted and how to take care of them. We took our purchases to the checkout, and Brenda was concerned that we might not be able to fit everything into my van, but I assured her that over the course of all the gardening trips Mom and I had made in the past, we both knew how to pack a van to the maximum. No worries!
Do we look like we just won the lottery, or what?
We felt good about our choices and the great deals we got on some fabulous plants. Brenda got a couple of Snowberry (Symphoricarpos) shrubs and a 'Sutherland Gold' Sambucus, as well as other perennials. I found my hanging Boston ferns for under the pergola and the gazebo, and a few other plants that I've never seen in any garden center before, such as a tricolor St. John's Wort (Hypericum × moserianum 'Tricolor').I also picked up a Japanese Beautyberry, a Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris), two Siberian Irises ('Pink Haze' and 'Strawberry Fair'), and an orange German Bearded Iris ('Savannah Sunset'). A Gloxinia, at $2.99, just jumped right into my cart, too. Those perennials, in quart containers? $2.00 each.
By now, it was after 6:00, and I needed to think about heading for home, so after taking Brenda back to her house and saying goodbye to her lovely family, she and I said our goodbyes too. It was amazing how quickly the time had passed, but that's how it is between friends, isn't it?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Lollipop Lollipop
That song is almost older than I am (I was one year old when it was released in 1958), yet when I see these Asiatic lilies blooming in my garden, its tune runs through my mind every time.
I promised to post photos when these were in full bloom, but I couldn't wait that long. There are several more set to open up soon, but already they're thrilling me. I just may love this Asiatic lily best of all.
'Lollipop'
There are other Asiatic lilies that have opened, too.
These three blooms are all 'Elodie', a double Asiatic. Usually, they all look like the softer shade of pink, but I like the darker one better, I think.
This orange was sent as a replacement for 'Italia' when Breck's ran out of it before filling my order. I wasn't happy, because in my opinion, 'Italia' is much prettier. I later reordered 'Italia' when it was promised to be back in stock and it will bloom later.
'Matrix' is just plain gaudy. It's an amazing lily though. When I walk by it, I can't stop looking at it, in awe of its gaudiness.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Ginkgo Organic Gardens - Chicago
I can faintly remember a community garden of sorts in my hometown (population 180) when I was growing up. It was an area just north of the ball diamond on the edge of town where people who lived in town could grow things. Practically everyone who lived in that little town had enough space where their houses were; I'm not sure why they wouldn't garden there. But someone gardened in this designated spot. I remember seeing them do it.
In Chicago, real estate can be scarce, and if you live in an apartment, you don't have any at all. So in various locations throughout the city, there are places that are set aside as community gardens, where residents can "grow their own." Spring Fling attendees got to visit one of these gardens - the Ginkgo Organic Gardens in Wrigleyville.
What makes the Ginkgo Organic Gardens special is that they use the produce grown there to feed the hungry by donating it to various organizations that distribute it to those in need.
Ben Helphand (in the blue shirt), from NeighborSpace, which oversees the operation of the gardens, speaks to the Spring Flingers.
Each year, they grow about 1500 pounds of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.
The labor is all volunteer and work days are scheduled for every Saturday, April through November.
For more information, visit the Ginkgo Organic Gardens website, or their blog, Ginkgo Gardens Journal.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - June 2009
As is usually the case in June, Our Little Acre is blooming all over the place! It would take me more time than I have, to post a photo of every flower blooming here right now, so I'll just post some of the better photos that popped out of my camera.
English Rose 'Abraham Darby'
Floribunda (indeed!) 'Topsy Turvy'The roses are doing exceptionally well this year and I wonder if it's because I fertilized them when they first started growing again this spring. I've never fertilized my roses before. Yes, I think maybe that's the key. ;-)
Gaillardia 'Lemons and Oranges'I lost this one from last year, but I loved it so much I bought it again.
Giant Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora)
Heucherella 'Stoplight'Who need flowers, with foliage like this?
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker's Red'This is a plant so easy to grow, it doesn't even matter where you plant it - full shade or full sun - it does equally well in both places.
Red Hot Poker Plant (Kniphofia uvaria)
Asiatic Lily 'Matrix'
Japanese Honeysuckle
Delphinium elatum 'Magic Fountain'I finally found a Delphinium that I can grow and that comes back every year! It even reseeds for me if I allow it.
Campanula persicifolia 'Kelly's Gold', with a couple of nearby daisies peeking in.
Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles'
Variegated Sedum kamtschaticum
Astilbe 'Peach Blossom'This Astilbe is near and dear to my heart, because it's the first one I've ever gotten to bloom. I had several others before I got this one, but those would never bloom. They do now and I swear it's because they didn't know how until 'Peach Blossom' showed them the way to do it.
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) - always a conversation piece!
Astrantia major 'Roma'Astrantias are among my very favorite perennials.
Argeranthemum 'Madeira'
Allium schubertiiRomie asked me if I planted these on purpose this way - small, medium, large. The bulbs were all the same size, but they did come out like this. They opened in order too, with the one on the far right being first and the far left one being last.
The first daylily of the year is also blooming - 'Black-Eyed Stella.' And 'Lollipop' Asiatic lilies have begun. When those are in full bloom, I'll post a picture, because that is quite a sight. I love this time of year, because each day when I go out to the garden for a walk-through, there is always something new blooming.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Ohhh...the Lily Pool
For some reason, from the first time I heard about Alfred Caldwell's Lily Pool, I wanted to see it. If I'd gone home from Spring Fling and didn't get there, I knew I'd regret it. I'm not sure why I was so hell-bent on getting to see this place that I knew nothing about, but whatever was drawing me to it couldn't be silenced.
Now I have seen it and I want to go back. I missed the waterfall.
Located just around the corner from the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo, this treasure is tucked away behind its Prairie School style entrance and once you walk through, a sense of calm takes over.
Originally built in 1889 for raising water lilies, it was redesigned in the 1930s by Alfred Caldwell. It's meant to mimic the melting glacial waters cutting through stone to create a river. At the north end, there's a waterfall, I'm told, that represents the source of the water for the Lily Pool.
The layers of limestone used throughout the area are impressive, especially in the shelter house. Caldwell makes great use of them in staying with the Prairie School style of architecture, which originated in Chicago. Romie and I are big fans of Frank Lloyd Wright, a leader of the Prairie Style, and have visited many of his landmark structures, such as Fallingwater.
Mom and I took a quick walk through the biggest part of the trails that wind around the pool, accompanied by two of our fellow Spring Flingers, MrBrownThumb and garden girl. It was a nice way to spend some time with both of them, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and our energetic group.
The wildflowers were right at home here and with all the natural lush green growth, it was hard to imagine that we were in the middle of a major city. Once in awhile, we'd get a glimpse of the "outside world," though...
Before we had really properly explored all the trails surrounding the Lily Pool, it was time to return to the bus. The evening would once again be spent with our Spring Fling friends at a proper Chicago pizza place, Giordano's. Mmmmm...pizza!
Still to come - The Ginkgo Organic Garden and Garfield Park Conservatory.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Chicago's Lincoln Park Conservatory
Yes, I'm still blogging about Spring Fling. I know I'm a procrastinator extraordinaire, but the fact that I've still got a few posts to go before I'm finished reporting on Spring Fling should be evidence that we spent an action-packed three days in the Windy City. I think I'm still exhausted from it all, two weeks later!
Lincoln ParkSaturday was the busiest day, beginning with the Rick Bayless garden. The organizers of Spring Fling had chartered a bus to take us from one place to another, beginning at our hotel (Club Quarters Central Loop) and I can't thank them enough for doing that. Mom and I would have surely missed half of the planned stops if we'd had to go it on our own.
One of the destinations of the day was in Lincoln Park, where we had some time to explore the Lincoln Park Conservatory and surrounding area. Constructed between 1890 and 1895, the Conservatory was built at a time when the public had a general fascination with nature. It was designed to both showcase exotic plants as well as to provide a place for the city to grow plants it needed for landscaping the city parks.The Conservatory consists of four rooms - Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House, and Show House.
With apologies to those on dial-up, here are some views from the Conservatory:
Fabulous use of red as an accent.
Lots of graphic lines here!
I loved the fabric screen hanging across the room. The flowers are pieces of fabric sandwiched between the sheer white panels.
The tropical Crotons really know how to light up a room!
This 
The Fern Room
'City Lights' Water Lily (Nymphaea)
Look at the hanging Tahitian Bridal Veil (Gibasis geniculata)! It was at least seven feet long, top to bottom, if not more. I grew one of these way back when I was in college, but it never looked like this!
Beautiful Bromeliad
Wall of white Phalaenopsis
Bromeliad
Brassavola 'Jiminy Cricket'
Orchid
Bougainvillea is one of my favorite tropicals.
African Iris (Dietes iridioides)
Hibiscus rosa-sinensisWhen I say red is my favorite color, I mean this shade of red.
Bougainvillea silhouetted against the glass ceiling of the ConservatoryOver to the Lily Pooh next...
Friday, June 12, 2009
R.I.P. Sony Mega Watchman
Today is the day that digital television goes live. We're prepared for it, in fact, we were prepared for the first deadline in February. I know...hard to believe The Queen of Procrastination isn't planning a trip to Walmart to buy a converter box today. My reputation has been tarnished a bit, eh?
We bought four boxes for our five TVs. FIVE TVs??? Why would anyone need five of these things, especially when one of us rarely watches one? I don't know, we just accumulated them over the years. Kind of like nuts and bolts and old margarine containers.
We got a box for our main television in the family room, one for the basement TV, one for the small one in our bedroom, and one for the flat-screen on the wall by the desktop computer (this one is just too complicated to even explain). So what about that fifth one?
In 1989, when Jenna was seven years old, she got a Sony Mega Watchman 5" black and white television for Christmas, for her room. Kara got a Gameboy. Jenna used the Watchman for awhile, and then she didn't. I asked her if we could put it in the main bathroom so we could watch the morning news while we all got ready for work and school. Fine by her, so into the bathroom it went.
We kind of got used to that little TV in there. We'd turn it on in the morning and we'd watch and listen to the school delays and closings on it. During baths in the evening, we'd turn it on because...well...because we could. The years went by and we loved our bathroom Watchman.
Then something happend to it. One day, I turned the TV on and it didn't work. Romie took it apart and determined that sulphur gas (from our sulphur tap water) had corroded some of the wiring inside, just as it had done to one of our larger TVs a few years earlier.
The TV was dead. What were we going to do now?
I did what every resourceful woman worth her salt would do. I bought another one. By the time it had broken, Sony wasn't making them anymore, but I knew they were still out there and I knew where to find them. Ebay.
Sure enough, Ebay had several, so I looked through them and found a couple that looked like a possible buy. We had plans for the Sunday afternoon that the auctions ended, so I put my maximum bid in on both of them and hoped that while we were gone, I'd manage to snag one.
When we got home, I checked my e-mail, and sure enough, I'd won one. In fact, I'd won both auctions. I rationalized that we'd probably need the second one eventually, when the first one quit working, and I hadn't paid all that much for either one. Years later, my rationalization proved prophetic. 
So these Sony Mega Watchmans (Watchmen?) have played tag team for the last 20 years and now it comes down to this: today they won't work. It's not that anything is broken, but we get our television signal through an antenna on our roof and without a converter box, the little Sony won't be able to bring us Jeopardy! while we shampoo our hair.
It isn't worth enough to buy yet another converter box for it and even if we did, the added bulk of the box plus the TV kind of negates the whole concept of a compact counter model. Yet, it seems a shame to just junk it. After all, it does still have an FM radio. But I'm not one to turn on the radio while doing other things. The only time I ever listen to the radio is when I'm in the car.
Maybe a museum would be interested in it. That's about the only place you're ever going to see one of these from here on out.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Paying Homage to Peonies and Irises
While I was visiting gardens in Chicago and Cleveland over the past few weeks, my own garden marched on, each flower having its own season. Already, both the irises and peonies have seen their best days and we're on to summer's flowers.
Last weekend, Van Wert, Ohio celebrated their annual Peony Festival. Few people outside the area know that Van Wert used to be considered the Peony Capital of the World. (Check out this 1916 article from The New York Times!) Large peony farms used to be dotted throughout the area and several peonies were hybridized there and named cultivars developed, such as 'Jubilee.'
They were in their heyday in the 1930s, but even today, large plots of peonies can be found without having to look too far. After all, the peony can live for a hundred years! Drive through Van Wert and the surrounding countryside, and it would be easier to count the residences that don't have peonies growing there than counting those that do.
Even our own home, built in 1975 and purchased by us in 1977, had a peony growing in its yard when we moved here. The older home across the road has a whole row of red ones with pinks and whites scattered here and there. The original white one in our yard is still here and still blooming, as part of the infamous Peolac.
First to bloom is the Fernleaf peony (Paonia tenuifolia).
Then comes the tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa), which perhaps have the most glorious blooms of any peony. They're certainly the largest. My 'Sahohime' produced 39 blooms this year, its fifth in my garden.
'Sahohime'
Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)'Shimanishiki' in its first year of bloom. It's supposed to be streaked with white, but the only sign of white is on the edges of the petals, so I'm wondering if it wasn't mislabeled. There were two blooms this year, both identical. We'll see what it does next year, when it will be a more mature plant. Even if it doesn't ever look like it's supposed to, the soft cherry color is gorgeous.I have another deep pink tree peony, but it didn't bloom this year. Last year, it had a couple of nice blooms. That's okay, the white dogwood tree was back to its non-flowering ways this year, too.
The white bloom on the Peolac.
Here, it appears that this bloom, also on the Peolac, is a pale pink on the outer petals. I wish I knew which peony it actually is. It's very fragrant, having a scent just like that of a traditional rose.
This is my favorite herbaceous peony that we've got. It's called 'Charles Burgess' and it was screaming my name a couple of years ago, as I was checking out at nearby Beining Nursery. Places like that know exactly what they're doing when they put eye candy like this right by the cash register!
'Charles Burgess'
An unknown, but common, herbaceous peony in Max's Garden. There are a couple of these growing there and they actually still have some decent-looking blooms on them. Its blooms are quite dense and they have no fragrance.
'Sarah Bernhardt' is familiar to just about everyone who's into peonies. It's slightly fragrant.Next year, I hope to have blooms on my new ones - 'Cincinnati,' which I bought guess where?, 'Bowl of Beauty' (a Walmart special), and 'Moonlit Purple Lotus,' which I got from Peony's Envy when I was at the Cincinnati Flower Show. I look forward to seeing blooms on a new orange tree peony, too.
'Edith Wolford' is an older German Bearded Iris, but the awesome color combination assures that it will remain popular.
Dutch Iris 'Oriental Beauty' has been around for awhile in my garden, and is a reliable bloomer.
Unknown Dutch Iris
'Flight of the Butterflies' is a Siberian iris that likes the moist conditions near the little pond in Max's Garden. I can see how it got its name. When there's a breeze, the falls flutter in a way similar to Quaking Aspens, and like fluttering butterfly wings.
I'm not sure if this is a Japanese or Siberian iris. It spreads quickly and I've shared it several times.
Helen's Iris
'Immortality'
'Red at Night'
'Red at Night' under surveillance by Boo
Big Box Store labeled as 'Fall Fiesta,' but obviously it's not. I like it quite a bit, though, as it makes a dramatic statement in the garden, with its combination of dark and pastel colors.
German Bearded Iris 'Princesse Caroline de Monaco' was yet another trap set for me by those folks over at Beining Nursery. This nearly glows in the early evening light and is one of my favorites.
'Princesse Caroline de Monaco'Tuesday, June 9, 2009
There's a Sweet Home & Garden in Chicago
The title of this blog post pretty much tells the story. While in Chicago for Spring Fling, we garden bloggers were fortunate to get to see Carolyn Choi's beautiful home and garden. She's the author of the popular Sweet Home & Garden Chicago, one of the very first garden blogs I ever read, and one of the coordinators of this year's Spring Fling. 
Before we arrived at Carolyn's home, she met the group at Andie's for lunch. Mom and I weren't going to eat there at first, because I'd neglected to put in our reservation, but after we had a look at the buffet and were assured that we could eat with the group anyway, we're glad we did.
I'm kind of a picky eater and Mediterranean food is not a cuisine that I'm all that familiar with, so I wasn't sure I'd "get my money's worth." I needn't have worried. Even if I hadn't liked every single thing I put on my plate, the baklava would have made the entire cost of the meal worth it. I just wish I'd had more time to eat more of it!
As the bus pulled up in front of Carolyn's home, we'd just been talking about what a charming, beautiful neighborhood we were in. It is an historical part of Chicago and learning that fact didn't surprise me in the least. The house next door to Carolyn's was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of Chicago's and the world's finest architects. (But I liked Carolyn's better). 
The front entrance was welcoming and included the famous 'Autumn Moon' Japanese Maple tree that has been featured on Carolyn's blog at various times. If I had a tree that was this stunning, I'd probably find a way to work it into most every blog post. It truly is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous.
We found our way to the back yard through a side gate, and found ourselves suddenly in the middle of a lush, green, charming, cozy garden.
A path led us around the perimeter of the gardens with many beautiful plants and vignettes along the way to a small garden pond.
Continuing on around, we were brought to a covered area with a table and several chairs for relaxing, which several in our group took advantage of.
L to R: Diana from Sharing Nature's Garden in Texas, Anneliese from CobraHead Blog in Wisconsin, and Robin from Bumblebee Blog in MarylandCarolyn's rain chain was designed to have a continual flow of water flowing down it, which got me thinking about how I could do the same with mine.
Many of us oohed and ahhed over a couple of irises that were in bloom.
Carolyn was the perfect hostess, having bottled water on ice for us, and inviting us into her beautiful home. She is an accomplished artist and many of her works are displayed throughout her home.
One lucky Spring Flinger won a drawing for one of Carolyn's original paintings. I told Frances (of Fairegarden in Tennessee), "If I couldn't win it, I'm so glad you did." She was thrilled to be taking it home with her, as any of us would be. What a nice thing for you to do, Carolyn! (That's Frances on the right in the photo, with Carolyn.)As we left the garden, each of us was presented with a Proven Winners® Supertunia Vista Silver Berry, provided by Proven Winners. I've grown Supertunias before and these are not your grandmother's petunias!
Carolyn works at Gethsemane Garden Center, a garden superstore located in the Andersonville area of Chicago. Before Mom and I left on Sunday to go home, we went to Gethsemane and Carolyn happened to be working that afternoon. She helped me with a gardening problem and also alerted me that the gift shop had some blown-glass vegetable ornaments. She'd remembered that my Christmas tree contains many of these type of ornaments, and now I'll think of Carolyn when I put the ear of corn on the tree every year! I also bought a cobalt blue strawberry pot (half-price due to a broken side piece which I will hide by putting it to the back), a Silver Lace Fern (Pteris ensiformis), some Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), a Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata 'Joan Elliott'), and an Alpine Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa 'Lipstick') which I will plant in the strawberry pot along with some runners from my 'Pink Panda' that I've had for a couple of years.
Once again, thank you, Carolyn, for opening your home and garden to us. It will be especially fun to read your blog now, knowing just where things are when you talk about them and actually "hearing" your voice.
Stained glass window in Carolyn's homeMonday, June 8, 2009
Who Is Rick Bayless Anyway?
At the risk of sounding stupid and/or shocking the culinary world (Chicago's corner of it anyway), I'd never heard of Rick Bayless before this year's Spring Fling. I googled him and learned that he has won more awards than you can shake a stick at for his cooking, his restaurants (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, both in Chicago), and his cookbooks. Since I am not a big fan of cooking, especially Mexican cooking (Sorry, Rick), it's not surprising that I didn't know who Rick Bayless was.
I do now.
In fact, I was watching P. Allen Smith's garden show on PBS last night and lo and behold, there was Rick Bayless on a commercial for something or other. I tend to not pay a lot of attention when the commercials come on, but my ears perked up when I heard Rick Bayless mentioned. Why, he's big time! LOL.
Our Spring Fling group had the privilege of visiting his home garden. What a treat! He has two full-time gardeners tending to what consists of his entire back yard, which contains not a blade of grass, but is landscaped beautifully to accommodate an outdoor kitchen, a Koi pond, a pergola-covered seating area, and his kitchen garden. 
Bill Shores and his wife Lori, the couple that takes care of the Bayless garden, conducted the tour for our group, and shared some facts about the garden:
- About $3000 worth of seeds are purchased and planted each year.
- $20,000 worth of produce is harvested from this small garden each growing season, which is used in Rick's restaurants.
- One compost bin produces about 40 wheelbarrows of compost each summer.
Bill and Lori Shores, just beyond the Koi pondThe Bayless back yard takes up two city lots, which isn't really a lot of space, but good use is made of every bit of it. For example, there are grave vines that have been trained up the side of a building, to trellises on the roof!
There are multiple levels to the garden and the layout of the rest of the space is devoted to being a place where Rick and his family can relax and enjoy themselves. With the outdoor kitchen, entertaining is a snap, too.
We were told that Rick was traveling in India while we were there, so unfortunately, we didn't get to meet him and thank him personally for allowing us to visit his gardens. Several of us thanked him via Twitter though.
Kousa dogwood bloom, with second-story greenhouse visible in the background.We Have a Winner!
Midnight has come and gone here in the Eastern Time Zone, where I live, so the time has come to pick a winner of the Spring Fling giveaway. I googled "random number generator", put the value in as 32 (number of comments left on the giveway's post) and the generator came up with a random number of 15.
Comment number 15 was left by garden girl, who happens to not only have been lucky enough to attend Spring Fling, it was partly because of her that Spring Fling Chicago 2009 happened in the first place. She was one of the Chicago area bloggers that helped plan the whole thing! (Thank you, Linda!) So while she deserves to win something just for her role, she's not eligible for this giveaway.
I clicked on the generator button again, and this time number 17 was a winner. An eligible winner! That comment belongs to Janet, who writes The Queen of Seaford from her garden in Seaford, Virginia.
Congratulations, Janet! Please go to my profile and e-mail me from there with your mailing address so I can send these fabulous prizes to you. And maybe next year you can join us in Buffalo, NY for the 2010 Spring Fling!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
My Garden is Smokin' !
While in Chicago, we toured many gardens, several of which I have yet to report on (and I will). There were a few things in those gardens that garnered quite a bit of attention, such as the fabulous use of Alliums of all sorts, the hillside of poppies, and the Geum triflorum, also known as Prairie Smoke.
I've grown Geum in my garden for several years now. I have the single orange, called 'Cooky' ...
Geum 'Double Bloody Mary'Three plants of each are planted alternately in a rectangle. 'Cooky' is one of the first perennials to bloom in my garden in spring and just about the time it's done, 'Double Bloody Mary' starts in. If I deadhead 'Cooky,' it will rebloom in summer, after 'Double Bloody Mary' has finished. It's as if one patiently waits its turn, neither wanting to steal the show from the other.
Last winter, as I was browsing through High Country Gardens' catalog, a different kind of Geum caught my eye. Geum triflorum - Prairie Smoke - looked pretty darn cool with its fuzzy heads and I had to have it. I ordered four of them and planted them at the very back of Max's Garden.
Less than a month after receiving and planting them, three were dead and one was thriving. I wrote to High Country Gardens to let them know and they immediately sent out replacements. All of them survived our brutal 2008/2009 winter and are doing well and thrilling me with their seed heads, just like those in Chicago. Though they spread from their roots, they also can be grown from seed, so I'm going to collect some of the seed this year to try and grow more.
Spring Flingers - I know several of you are wanting these for your own garden and High Country Gardens now has them at 25% off, so get over there already, before they run out!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Spring Fling Garden Party Giveaway!
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name."
~ Ricky Nelson
What a feeling, walking into a room full of friends you've never met. Mom and I were there at the reception for the Spring Fling bloggers at Elephant and Castle restaurant, and it took a second to confirm that I did indeed know this person standing in front of me. Some garden bloggers are shy on their blogs and I'd never seen their faces, but the name tag rescued me by stating the first name and that of their blog. I felt like someone who has ADD as the night went on, and one by one, familiar names and faces showed themselves. There was lots of hugging and smiles all around as we all worked our way around the room.
There were several special guests at our dinner:
- Dr. Jane Smith - author of The Garden of Invention, the story of Luther Burbank. Jane brought a complimentary copy of her book for each blogger. Thanks, Jane! (Jane was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Patenting the Sun: Polio and the Salk Vaccine and I got to sit beside her at lunch on Saturday!)
- Barbara Hastings - representative from Troy-Bilt, who presented each blogger with a garden journal. Troy-Bilt also donated a tiller worth over $600, which was won by one lucky blogger! Barbara and Troy-Bilt picked up the tab for some extra expenses at Saturday evening's meal, too. Thank you, Troy-Bilt, and it was fun hanging out with you, Barbara!
- Anneliese Valdes from CobraHead®, who donated several CobraHead® weeders, which were won by lucky bloggers. (Not me - Boo hoo!)
- Lainey and Fallon from Edelman Public Relations, representing Scotts Miracle Gro - both women spoke to us a bit about Scotts Miracle Gro GroGood campaign, which is helping to raise awareness of growing food for the hungry. Scotts Miracle Gro was one of the sponsors of Spring Fling.
- Beth Botts - Beth has written for over 20 years for the Chicago Tribune and is now freelancing. She shared freely of her knowledge of Chicago and gardening and Mom and I were fortunate to get to spend some one-on-one time with her at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Then, of course, there were the bloggers - the reason we all were gathered there in Chicago. I couldn't believe it - all of us in the same room - the faces behind the blogs we like to read and have learned so much from.
First, I recognized Shawna Coronado. Shawna has that kind of personality you're naturally drawn to, both in person and on Twitter, where I'd first "met" her. She welcomed me warmly with a hug and we immediately began talking about ... hmmm ... what was it now? Oh yes - everything. I have a feeling if Shawna and I were in a room by ourselves, they could lock the doors for 24 hours and at the end of that time, they'e come back to let us out and we'd still be chatting away. Shawna is especially interesting to me because she has made a complete turnaround in her life regarding her health. She had extensive health problems and became healthier by getting outside and in the garden. Her book, Gardening Nude, is a chronicle of that experience and she gave me a copy, which I'm looking forward to reading. Shawna lives in Chicago and also writes The Casual Gardener blog.
Nearby was Robin Wedewer, who was easily recognizable from her photo on her blog, A Bumblebee Garden. Then there was Elizabeth Licata and Susan Harris, both writing at Garden Rant and their own blogs, Gardening While Intoxicated (Eliz) and Sustainable Gardening Blog (Susan).
At that moment, Layanee from Ledge and Gardens in Rhode Island came up behind me and introduced herself. I've enjoyed Layanee's blog for quite some time and was so happy to finally meet her. She ate dinner at our table and we all enjoyed her company and wit!
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Lisa from Greenbow and her sister, Tena. I'd met Lisa and her husband a couple of weeks ago when they stopped for a visit on their way home to southern Indiana from a vacation in Michigan. Lisa feels like an old friend and there were warm hugs when we greeted each other again.
Next, Gail from Clay and Limestone and Frances from FaireGarden introduced themselves and there were squeals of delight as we finally got to meet each other. Both were just as charming and warm as they are in their blogs and I was so glad they traveled up from Tennessee. I regret that we weren't able to spend much time together throughout the weekend. I'm not sure how that happened, because they are both a couple of my favorite bloggers, but it did. Next Spring Fling, we'll remedy that!
I recognized Carol of May Dreams Gardens right away and introduced myself. She generously offered a cutting from her famous Night Blooming Cereus and I was happy to take it off her hands. It is now sitting in a corner of the front porch, where it will be dutifully ignored, as recommended by both you and Chris from Outside Clyde. Thank you, Carol!
L-R: Gail of Clay & Limestone, Lisa of Greenbow, Chris & Katie of GardenPunks, and Elizabeth Licata of Garden Rant and Gardening While Intoxicated (giving me "the eyebrow").
We were let into the reception dining room and we took seats at round tables. While we were waiting to get in line for our food, a dark and mysterious man was seen hanging out by our table. I looked at his name tag and OMG, it was MrBrownThumb!
Once I got over the shock of seeing that he was not in his 50s as I'd somehow pictured him, I immediately got up and gave this wonderful man a big hug. I have always enjoyed MBT's blog and have been impressed with his horticultural knowledge, but I now have a deep respect for his generous nature and his quiet manner. I can't tell you how many times he went above and beyond the call of duty to try to make our weekend in Chicago an experience none of us would forget. He was more than successful in doing this and I will never forget how selfless he is. Thank you, Ramon! (And yes, I have a photo of him, but I took an oath not to share it online. Sorry!)
Following a fabulous buffet meal, which took me the longest of all those present to finish (because I couldn't talk and eat at the same time), special guests were introduced and giveaways were conducted. We all know that Shawna Coronado stuffed the entry box, because she won everything that was given away, but she generously gave up most of them. She kept the CobraHead long-handled weeder though, and I couldn't blame her. I was hoping to win that one, too!
Troy-Bilt gave away a tiller worth over $600 and Elizabeth Licata was the first winner of that fabulous prize. I say "first," because she declined when her name was drawn, due to her not having a garden where she can use a tiller of this size. The second winner was Jessica from Chicago, who had plans for its use in a community garden.
Other prizes given away were a ceramic compost jar from Gardener's Supply (won by Carol of May Dreams Garden), several $50 gift cards from GardenShoesOnline.com (I won one of these!), a collection of personal beauty products from Chicago Honey Co-op (won by Anneliese Valdes), a $25 gift card from Gardens Alive! , a shirt, book, and buttons from You Grow Girl, a set of books from Timber Press, and a few other things that I can't recall.
In addition to the prizes, each person in attendance was presented with a swag bag chock full of wonderful gardening goodies. Included in the reusable bags (from Miracle-Gro) were a copy of Dr. Jane Smith's book The Garden of Invention, several books from Sunset Books, seeds and a beautiful poppy mouse pad from Botanical Interests, seeds and a cookbook from Renee's Garden, a garden journal from Troy-Bilt, a certificate for free organic fertilizer from Garden Guys (procured by Layanee), a pair of garden gloves from Ethel Gloves, a copy of the book Waking Up in Eden by Lucinda Fleeson, lip balm from Chicago Honey Co-op, and a tote bag from The Houston Chronicle (courtesy of Cindy of My Corner of Katy in Texas, who also brought poppy seeds from her own garden for everyone).
Before we knew it, the evening had grown late and a bunch of tired gardeners started making their way back to the hotel rooms. MrBrownThumb and the other members of the Spring Fling team began gathering up the leftovers and found there were quite a few extra swag items. Those of us that were still there were offered some of the extras and I took a few for the express purpose of putting together a giveaway package for one lucky reader who wasn't able to attend Spring Fling with the rest of us.
Included in this giveaway are:
- Waking Up in Eden by Lucinda Fleeson
- The Garden of Invention by Dr. Jane Smith
- Four packets of seeds from Botanical Interests
- Certificate for free organic fertilizer from The Garden Guys
- A tote bag from Scotts Miracle-Gro
To qualify for this giveaway, you must leave a comment here, telling me where your garden is located and what your favorite flower is that's growing in your garden. (Just a hi won't do!) On Sunday evening, I'll choose a random winner from those that comment that were not able to attend Spring Fling in Chicago.
Good luck!
- Flatbush Gardener - NY
- My Corner of Katy - TX
- Garden Girl - IL
- Nancy's Garden Spot - TX
- Growing A Garden In Davis - CA
- Each Little World - WI
- Digging - TX
- Denise Corkery, Chicago Botanic Garden - IL
- Mr Brown Thumb - IL
- Garden Faerie's Musings - MI
- Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog - LA
- The Casual Gardener - IL
- May Dreams Gardens - IN
- Dragonfly Corner - IL
- Ledge and Garden - RI
- Gardening While Intoxicated - NY
- Clay and Limestone - TN
- Prairie Rose's Garden - IL
- Garden Punks - CA
- Mr. McGregor's Daughter - IL
- Idaho Gardener - ID
- Red Dirt Ramblings - OK
- Sharing Nature's Garden - TX
- Fairegarden - TN
- Our Little Acre - OH
- On the Shores of Lake Chicago - IL
- Bumblebee Blog - MD
- Greenbow - IN
- My Skinny Garden - IL
- Sweet Home and Garden Chicago - IL
- Beth Botts - IL
- Snappy Garden Blog now known as The Dig-It-Yourself Garden - IL
- Cobrahead Blog - WI
- Sustainable Gardening Blog - MD
- Professor Jane S. Smith - IL
- Ramble On Rose - IL
- The Garden Of Live Flowers - IL
- Art of Gardening - NY
- Outside Clyde - NC
- Oh Grow Up! - MO
A big, BIG thank you to all the sponsors and generous giving by so many of not only garden products, but for the time and effort that goes into putting on this kind of event. It couldn't have been nicer and we appreciate it all.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park - Chicago
We won't go into the difficulty we had finding the parking garage for our hotel, Club Quarters on Adams, but it was enough to make us miss the guided tour of The Lurie Garden with the rest of the garden bloggers. We had our GPSr, which was helpful in getting us downtown from the Chicago Botanic Garden, but with all the tall buildings downtown, it sputtered.
With a little luck, we found it and then got checked into our hotel. We walked the short distance to Millennium Park, where we took the requisite photos of Cloud Gate, a modern sculpture by Anish Kapoor more affectionately known as The Bean. I'd seen it before, but it's an awesome piece of work that always makes me smile. 
The Crown Fountain, which is actually two waterfall fountains, is fun too.
A band was playing in the Pritzker Pavilion and if we hadn't had a schedule to keep, I would have liked to have heard more of whoever it was.
The Lurie Garden sits on 5 acres and was commissioned in 2000 and completed in 2004. It was designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel, with Oudolf responsible for the perennial planting design.As we walked into the garden, the sea of shades of purples brought out oohs and ahhs and we worked our way around it, taking it all in from many different angles, each of them stunning.
We left by way of the Nichols Bridge to The Art Institute of Chicago, which was celebrating the opening of their new Modern Wing. Grant Wood's American Gothic is housed here, we found out later. No time to do a museum visit, but a quick trip through the gift shop left me wanting an art piece that some way, somehow, someday, I will have.
The Art Institute has lovely gardens of its own, both north and south, and we walked through the north one on the way back to our hotel. Here we saw a truly black iris.
This small garden has within it an Alexander Calder sculpture, entitled Flying Dragon. It sits at the end of a large bed of various grasses that created a sea of softness.
A couple of blocks away, near our hotel, is another Alexander Calder sculpture, Flamingo, which was presented to the city in 1974. I was fascinated by the splash of color it made against the formal black and steel of the modern business buildings surrounding it. This sculpture is a classic example of constructivism, which is a sculpture consisting of small pieces that are joined together.
Flamingo
Chicago was celebrating "Free Hug Friday"! :-)
Next: Friday night's Spring Fling reception!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Spring Fling Chicago 2009
Just how do I even begin to tell you what a grand three days Mom and I had in Chicago with 50 other garden bloggers over the past weekend? It was all I expected, and then some. So many wonderful things to see and do and great people to see and do it all with! In many ways, it reminded me of when I chaperoned Kara's 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. - never a spare minute, because there were so many activities to be a part of, and I didn't want to miss any of them.
It was exhausting. But it's a good tired. 
Since we live about four hours from downtown Chicago, we got up early on Friday and drove to the Chicago Botanic Garden, meeting up with some of the other bloggers there. Mom and I were pretty much on our own for most of the time, but spent bits of time with others when we ran into them.
This was my third visit to CBG, but there's always something different to see and enjoy.
Some images from the gardens: 
In the next few days, I'll be posting photos of the other sights we saw while in Chicago, but I'll take this opportunity to say thank you to the Chicago area bloggers who were the organizers of Spring Fling Chicago 2009. Mom and I talked all the way home about how much fun we had. While there were many pretty flowers and landscaping, famous and not-so-famous landmarks to see, and wonderful foods of all types, truly the thing I will remember the most is getting to meet so many wonderful people that I now have a special bond with.
Hugs to you all, and I hope to see you again next year (If not sooner!) in Buffalo (NY), where Spring Fling 2010 will be held.
Next up: The Lurie Garden
