Thursday, June 21, 2012

Recycled Art Hanging Garden

"Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well."
George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones





TODAY'S SEEDS OF WISDOM

  • JUST BLOOMED TODAY~READER'S SHARE
  • TWEET TREATS
  • GARDEN UPDATE
  • GARDEN READ~THE MAGIC OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT, THE CONCLUSION
  • RECYCLED ART PROJECT #RA07 HANGING GARDEN
  • GARDEN GIGGLE
  • FAUNA
  • WHAT IN THE WORLD? OVER THE FENCE
  • FEEDBACK
JUST BLOOMED TODAY~READER'S SHARE
It pays to be nice to your neighbors! In the spirit of the garden, Aunt Ruth shared some of her agapanthus with her neighbor, who planted them between their properties. Now they can both enjoy the show!




TWEET TREATS
(Editor's Note:This feature brings you the quirky, funniest and most interesting tweets from Twitter that we came across. If you come across one you'd like to share, please do!)
Walking into a glass door can cure
 any inflated ego issues you're having

@Molly_Kats


GARDEN UPDATE
  85F at 11a.m. and all my chores are done way ahead of time. Keeping an eye on the apricots, as they are ripening so fast it will be a race against the birds as we didn't get netting up in time this year.

GARDEN READ~THE MAGIC OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT ~THE CONCLUSION
At the moment of almost no light there arises from the depths of the forest the most beautiful bird voice of the day; the sad, pensive cry of the wood pewee. I hear this song and I stop; I am crying for all the things in life I have never quite fulfilled. The song ends, I lift his head, and Midsummer Night is upon me.


That last note inaugurates bat time. Into the night come those wonderful winged mammals, equipped with their radar and sonar. They gorge on insects awakening on schedule over ponds and streams and lakes. Then the bats retire at ten and sleep until two, when once more they stuff and gorge until the morning light drives them home.


Around 11 on a summer night, the primarily nocturnal mammals awaken, the raccoons, skunks, mink, otter, beaver, mice, muskrats, flying squirrels. One night, camp0ed along a stream, we watched a raccoon catch fish in the dark by chasing them into puddles left by cattle hoofs. Rolling suddenly upon us came one of the greatest thrills of a summer night-the throbbing thunderstorm. The raccoon took cover. The fish turned upstream and lay still. The insects, even the mosquitoes, crawled under leaves,


With the passing of the storm, John and I came out from our shelter to find it almost dawn, the world wet and dripping. The good smell of damp earth filled our lungs. And then, softly out of the lifting darkness, came again the voice of the wood pewee, I stood listening, filled with admiration. For the morning song, in the same beat and the same minor key as the twilight song, seems not to carry the same sadness. Now there is a subtle lift, a glad anticipation of the dawn.
RA#07  RECYCLED ART HANGING GARDEN
I love this idea on how to use those old shoe caddies. Any way that we can save things from being thrown in the landfill, we're all for it! This is also a perfect idea for someone who doesn't have a lot of yard or space for a garden, or has poor soil quality.

You will need:
(1) hanging shoe caddy, made of fabric
various herbs, veggies or plants
potting soil
an awl to poke holes
rod and hooks to hang


When you purchase your hanging caddy, count how many pockets it has and choose that many plants. Before planting your plants, check the drainage of the pockets by pouring in some water and watch to see if it drains. If it isn't draining, use your awl to poke a few holes for drainage.


Once you have chosen your location, use a dowel or rod to thread through the hanging loops and secure firmly to your desired location. You want to secure it because it will be bearing more weight with the soil, plant and the water. You will want to give it as much support as possible.


Now you are ready for your soil. It is helpful for drainage if you put a few small stones in the bottom before you add your soil. Add a mix of potting soil and compost and fill the pockets, leaving about an inch at the top.


When choosing your plants, think of what your theme will be...will it be all herbs? All succulents? All edibles? Usually these caddies have between 12 and 16 pockets. Here are some ideas for planting and planning:

  • Leave the bottom row open for tucking in gloves, tools, seed packets, etc
  • Make your own nametags for each plant and hang on the front of each pocket. Print on cardstock from your printer and laminate to make them waterproof.
  • Make a rainbow! Use the top row for red & orange plants, the middle for yellow and green and the bottom for blue and purple flowers.
  • Grow it patriotic! Use the top row for red flowers, middle for white blooms and bottom for blue blooms.
  • Make it edible! Use veggies, berries, strawberries and eat right from your garden station.
  • Avoid top heavy flowers, like sunflowers, mums, etc. Instead choose low growing blooms such as daisies, spider plants, pansies, violas, alyssums and trailing plants such as mint, charlies and ivy.
  • In the off season, remove caddy and bring indoors to use the caddy to keep tools nice and dry and store unused seed packets for next season.
  • Check out thrift stores or dollar stores for affordable caddies!


GARDEN GIGGLE
 
What did the pig say at the beach on a hot summer day?
I'm bacon!

Where do horse live?
In neigh-borhoods!

How do you fix a broken tomato?
With tomato paste

FAUNA


WHAT IN THE WORLD? OVER THE GARDEN FENCE
On today in American history, people in gardens everywhere were talking about:
1815: Napoleon abdicates his throne for the second time
1876: General Santa Anna dies in Mexico
1938: Boxer Joe Louis has a rematch with Nazi German Boxer Max Schmeling and knocks him out in the first round in two minutes and four seconds
1944: FDR signs the G.I. Bill of Rights
1987: Dancer/Actor Fred Astaire dies
2001: Notorious Boston Mobster Whitey Bulger is arrested
2012: Starbucks announces they will open a new tea shop, Tazo


FEEDBACK
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