I've moved!

I changed my actual residence and my online residence. See what I am up to in my new digs at cheekygardener.com

Men, Men, Manly Men



Nothing draws men to my garden like a fallen tree. Apparently if there is no one around to hear a tree fall in my yard, it still makes a sound. Men come scurrying to the fallen trunk like mice to my vegetable plot.

Despite the title, this post has nothing to do with Charlie Sheen. Sorry Charlie.

Goober Peas

Watch me being a goober planting peas for spring on Patch.com. Anyone remember the song "Eating Goober Peas?" My brother Pete used to sing it all the time when we were kids and I find it going through my head when I plant peas.

Patch.com creates Alice's Garden Advice - Planting Peas

Getting Crap in the Mail

I never thought I would be excited to receive crap in my mailbox. If you told me that this would happen just a few years ago, I would have thought it was the result of some nasty, country-living prank like cow tipping.

But, I asked for the poop the post-woman delivered. A local Connecticut company sells Cow Pots®. According to the website, "CowPots are a revolutionary seed starting pot made with 100% renewable composted cow manure. CowPots are manure-fiber based seed starter pots, which allow for unrestricted root growth creating stronger, healthier plants. These earth-friendly 'pots you plant' are an exciting high-performing alternative to plastic and peat pots."

My brother "seed boy" and I thought we'd give the shit a try. I'll let you know how we make out.

Inside, Outside, Up-Side Down

Inside

Dahlia bulbs found starting to grow in garage a couple months ago.

Mum saved after use in a fall newspaper column, now reblooming.

http://www.durham.patch.com/articles/dont-trash-your-mum

Outside

And what I will be if Spring delays itself...

Upside Down

This is clearly not me. I can't do a handstand and I'm not blonde - currently.

Oh Give Me a Break!

On grey winter mornings I slip volumes from my bookcase and flip through the pages of garden books to lift my spirits. The sight of glossy green photos coupled with my morning coffee works wonders for my mood during these frozen tundra days in CT. Yesterday was the most uplifting yet. I read a passage that made me laugh out loud. "Never buy plants on impulse."

Ha! Could the author even possibly be a gardener? I can't wait for my flower gardening buddies, Dina and my mum, to read this post since "buy on impulse" is a part of their physical fabric. Could anyone really have the ability to always pass up that new bloom beckoning to them at the nursery? I'd say I would like to meet them, but I'm not sure I do. My brother Pete has the "impulse buy bug" but for vegetable seed packets. You should see his stack!

Moss is Boss

So this may be proof that I'm a little nutty. In the North East we are in the midst of a huge ice and snow storm (again.) What am I worried about? That the shoveling and plowing will pry the moss from between my stones and pavers. It's taken a few years to get going and still in its infancy. I want the "I've been around a long time" look for my new-ish house (not myself, just the house.) I covet those gardens with well-established moss between every stone in every path and climbing on every long-positioned boulder. So, I shovel those areas carefully while my husband does the actually needed work of clearing places for people to walk and cars to drive.

I'm also worried that the branches of my shrubs and trees will break under the heaviness of ice covered snow. My daughter took pictures of me through the window trying to rescue some Azaleas from the crushing weight. Atleast I'm gardening. I know the helmet and goggles are overkill , but the hale really hurts!

Look tomorrow on http://www.durham.patch.com/ for my article on how gardening can accomplish many New Years Resolutions.

Garden Torture

The greenery in this cute rabbit planter is lettuce.

I found it last spring nestled between potted herbs at the Salem Herb Farm(www.Salemherbfarm.com). Someone with a sick sense of humor placed this tasty salad just out of the poor rabbit's reach. Could this be a cruel joke? A farmer's retribution? A warning to all other rabbits to stay out of the lettuce patch?

Picture from Maicar.com

Perhaps this is a witty twist on the Greek myth of Tantalus. Hades punished Tantalus by making him stand chin deep in water with fruit hanging just over his head. Whenever Tantalus tried to drink, the water would recede. Each time he tried to eat, the fruit would move just beyond his grasp. Clearly the lettuce on this rabbit's back is just...out...of...reach.

The Salem Herb Farm is in Salem, CT and a wonderful place to visit. http://www.salemherbfarm.com/.

Goin' back to Cali?

Look what I found blooming in my garden this morning...California Poppies! I thought the recent frosts killed all my annuals except those hardy Rocket Snapdragons. I was wrong. I spied these organge buds while shoveling dog food into bowls for my beasts' breakfast. I must be back living in California if new poppies arrive on November 19th. I might just head off to the beach.

World Record Radish

OK, so it is not the largest radish ever, but it's a biggy! That's a dog-chewed tennis ball in front for size reference.

People claim to grow 100 lb radishes. See here: http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Largest-Radish-20-Seeds/dp/B000UV3WTA

Our ugly root is surely not the weight of a small person, but I've never come across a bigger radish. My brother Pete planted the seeds last year, excited about growing a German radish touted to pair well with beer. Who doesn't want a vegetable you are encouraged to drink beer with? They self-sowed all over the garden this year and we had an abundance of them. Unfortunately they taste like crap, even with beer, and no one wants to eat them.