loss in the garden

Every season the garden teaches me something.  Whether it be patience, perseverance or simply to be still, I always come away changed from what unfolds.  This season has brought about some loss in my garden.  The biggest loss to swallow is my maple that is in the center of my shade bed in the front garden.

  I began to notice that large branches were dying and with this being the second year that it has not produced seeds I knew that something was wrong.  After consulting with an arborist we have come to learn that one of my favorite trees in our garden has girdle root which means that 20 something years ago when this tree was planted someone most likely planted it incorrectly by leaving it in its metal basket.  The roots are basically suffocating the tree by wrapping themselves around itself instead of growing outward.

I will miss the change of seasons with this tree and all of the memories that have come with it.  When my son was born I would look out his window into its canopy on cold November days as I fed him in his room.  Its brilliant autumn color when the beans were headed out to go trick-or-treating will be missed as well.  Yes,  I am mourning my tree.  Comes with the territory of life.  Nothing is permanent and we all have to adjust our sails to the changes that come.

So you shift and get busy heading in a different direction.  Or as Liz Taylor would say....

Though I don't wear much lipstick I do think this quote is fantastic and so it has been my mission the last few days to walk around my imperfect space to look for beauty.

 {my newly planted Oenothera tetragona by my bird statue}

 {quick combo...Campanula and Foam Flower}

{My new shrub Calycanthus Floridus....Allspice is beginning to bloom brilliantly}

 {long view of the back bed as it unfolds this spring}

 {golden rod, phlox, butterfly weed, roses and sedum filling in and getting ready to bloom...almost covering utility box...finally!}

 {Rambling Red climbing rose and Hyacinth Bean which is an annual vine to fill this season as the rose grows}

{the little guy cutting lettuce for dinner}


Beauty elsewhere

{a visit to the arboretum}

And today we went down to visit some family and enjoy the farmers market.  So many organic farmers selling their beautiful vegetables and plants.  And whatever your stance is or isn't on GMOS,  any crop that is sprayed with crap is bad for the Earth and all who inhabit it....bottom line.  

and to take in a little of this....

my brother entertaining the whole market with his tunes...

{photo taken by my lovely sister}

John Till Music

My tree was special.  The garden is ever changing as nature is.  It's our job to keep on going and seek out the beauty.

I hope that whatever your garden, whether it be a window box or a farm, that you pass on your love of it to just one person.  Together our seeds will transform the future.

Pass on the garden folks and make it a great weekend!  

Happy Growing!  

doing things different...Permaculture

Hi everyone!  How are you all?  I really should be sleeping as I have not had a good nights rest in several nights due to some sick little beans but I am so excited about spring!  Flowers are blooming, compost and veggies are going in and we are officially back in the garden!!!  


I recently took a class at McDonald Farm with my gardening pal Sue about permaculture.  To say that we were inspired was an understatement.  With California's severe drought and the environment shifting, permaculture is changing the way we think about growing food and our relationship with the environment.

PERMACULTURE....Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive systems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.

Here we are standing in front of a garden that was created to handle excess runoff water from the farm.  The water used for cleaning farm equipment and washing crops would just spill out into the field causing major erosion issues.

Now the water has been routed into a little creek where it feeds a natural forest garden full of fruit trees and edible perennials.  Nothing is wasted.

Below is a diagram of a small garden formed around a fruit tree that can be used for a residential garden.  A fruit tree planted with several layers of plants that not only help pollinate the tree but create a perennial garden full of low maintenance edibles.

Currently the folks here at the farm are working on creating gardens such as these at local shelters and schools.

Benefits...

*Provides fresh local food to the community

*Demonstrates a commitment to food security and ecological restoration

*reduces or eliminates lawn maintenance costs

*Creates a community park

*Serves as an outdoor classroom or educational resource

*Connects people to food and nature

*Inspires the growth of individual edible forest gardens

It was an unbelievable day at the farm to begin to think about what is possible and what is already taking place around the world.  A movement is happening!  

Won't you join in? 

Happy gardening my friends I will be around soon to check in with you all!  

barn stomping through the weekend

Man, there are just some of those magical moments in life where you feel like this is what it's all about!  

My brother lives and farms with his friend in central Illinois.  Being a musician, he thought the old barn on his friend's property would be the perfect setting for a concert.  With a lot of hard work, John and Dylan turned the upstairs hayloft into the most amazing venue.  

{me, my brother and sister}

Over 50 people were there including a crew that came down to film the event.  

The lights were strung perfectly and hay was used for benches.  

Old spools that the guys got from a company down the street were hoisted up through the barn window and used as tables for guests.

The chickens {and rooster!} ran wild as the guests all arrived.  And the sky was clear blue.

The back of the stage was framed with reclaimed wood. 

And the show begins!  John talked between songs.  There was laughter and there was emotion.  At one point he shared a story about driving through the country with Dylan watching some barns being torn down and how sad that made them both.  "Dylan's dream was to bring life back into this old barn" and bring life they did!  

  

It isn't easy being a farmer.  Dylan's farm is an organic farm.  He sells his produce at the farmers market as well as to restaurants.  They know the struggle they're up against with major corporations like Monsanto trying to regulate the way people farm.  But they keep at it with the pure intention to put good food out there.

A little of the stomping!

The weekend was finished up here on Father's Day.  This is my parents' garden.  It's a very large garden and one that we are very grateful for.  I planted the pumpkin patch for fall and weeded for my Pop.

And then it was back home to this guy

to celebrate what an awesome dad he is!

 and to the garden to check blooms

{coreopsis-Mercury Rising, Dwarf Catmint, and Spiderwort}

 Pinks are blooming

Campanula

  Alliums  "Graceful"

Being in my late 30's I get it more.  You are in charge of creating the life that you want.  With there being no guarantees,  you can bet I'm going out stomping!  

Wishing you all the best this week!  

brick by brick

Isn't it true that things take time?  The garden takes time.  Most days you can find me out back combing my beds like a detective to see what has pulled through the winter.  All the while trying to consciously balance my garden obsession so the beans don't grow up thinking I was completely nuts!  But these days I am beginning to think that we're all a little nuts in our own ways, just trying to navigate this thing called life!

Last year I started work on our garden room but knew that the path had to change due to drainage issues and mud when strolling through.  

After a ridiculous amount of leveling solid compacted dirt I was able to line the path with my pre-exisiting brick, lay down some landscape fabric, and fill with gravel.  Nope I'm not done.  With three beans sometimes 5 with the other little ones I watch, things get done in stages around here!

A lot of brown still!

Just so happens that this spot is completely a hit in the entertainment department.  Trucks and diggers spend most of their days scooping and dumping.

I am finding signs of life everywhere now!  My flower seeds won't be going in until May with temperatures still shifting most days.  And on the subject of seeds, I was able to find GMO free seeds from organic distributors on Amazon!  And very reasonably priced for those of you who are still wrapping up your seed orders.

The Cornelian Cherry showing bursts of sunshine....this tree is actually a Dogwood and its small colorful red fruit is a great song bird attractor.

peonies...

our kitchen garden....carrots, peas, and lettuce are in thus far

My bare-root Autumn Bliss raspberry plants just arrived and in they went.

Hellebores...

Dwarf Viburnum blooming...

 New paths going in...

Bleeding Heart coming up...

And my sweet bean sitting with the daffs!

 Whatever your passion...may it fill your soul with great joy!