The Humane Gardener: Nancy Lawson and Gardening with Native Plants
Nancy Lawson's book The Humane Gardener came up in my recommended book feed, so I took a peek at it on Amazon and found timely and valuable information when it comes to planting with natives and co-existing with wildlife. Nancy's website can be visited at humanegardener.com. You will find a treasure trove of articles, essays, and links.
To purchase through Amazon, click HERE
(A preview is available on the site)
Kindle version is also listed.
To listen to The Garden Path Podcast with Nancy Lawson, click HERE. It runs about 45 minutes.
Happy gardening!
Garden Tips & Tricks
Tip #1: How to Properly Prune Basil
Step 1 is to find two large basil leaves on the plant.
Tip #2: Avoid Bitter Cucumber Crops
Cummber plants that experience heat stress or uneven watering (too much or too little) will taste bitter. If you are getting bitter cucumbers, remove the section of the plant that is producing bitter fruits. Plant can be moved to another area in the garden that receives steady temperature and water.
Tip #3: Better Strawberry Plants
Remove flowers for 3 months after planting to encourage strong root production.
Tip #4: Epsom Salt in the Garden
"Epsom salt has so many uses, including aiding in a beautiful and healthy garden. It’s rich in magnesium and sulfate which are crucial to plant life. For potted plants, mix a couple of tablespoons of the salt into your watering can once or twice a month. You can also sprinkle it in your garden’s soil to help your seeds germinate better. Tomatoes and peppers benefit the most because they both tend to have a magnesium deficiency. Add a tablespoon or so in with the soil when first planting, and then sprinkle more into the soil once mature."- Listotic article dated June 5, 2014
Tip #5: Toilet Paper for Seed Starting
Place toilet paper in planting row to show where tiny seeds fall. Cover with soil according to the seed packaging directions.
Ikebana: The Japanese Art Form of Floral Arrangement
"The Japanese art of floral arrangement known as ikebana, or "making flowers alive," has been around for centuries, but its minimal aesthetic easily fits into any modern-day setting. More than just an art form, there is a meditative aspect to the process, as it's meant to be done in silence, allowing the flower arranger to connect with the beauty in nature. Using only a few stems, one must be deliberate and thoughtful in the placement of each floral to create harmony and balance."- Trisha Sprouse, Hunker article, dated 1/7/20
Read Hunker article & tutorial HERE
Some more example of ikebana
Read more information about ikebana from these top-rated publications:
Ikebana: The Art of Arranging Flowers by Shozo Sato
$18.49 at Amazon
Kindle version also available
Japanese Ikebana for Every Season by Yugi Ueno
$21.55 (hardcover) on Amazon
Kindle version also available
There is an Ikebana Society in America. Their website can viewed HERE.
Their Facebook page can be found HERE
There is an Ohio chapter of the society and this is their LINK
Happy floral arranging!
Video: The Do's & Don'ts of Composting
Here is an article on creating your own composting system
Click HERE for article
Top-Rated Composters for Sale
Tumbling Composter by Yimby at Gardeners.com
Envirocycle Composter + Compost tea maker available in two sizes at Amazon
17 gallon $189.99 Available in pink or black
35 gallon $259.99 Available in pink or black
Sunwood Life Bokahsi Compost Kit at Amazon
Happy Composting!
How to Grow & Enjoy Lavender
Before diving into the care guide, here are some interesting facts about lavender:
- The name "lavender" comes from the latin verb "lavare," which means "to wash."
- Mature lavender plants do not require water. They can survive a drought.
- Ancient Egyptians used the plant during the mummification process.
- Lavender comes from the same family as mint.
- Lavender plants don't produce seeds. Propagation is done by cutting or root divisions.
Get Busy Gardening takes you through the steps to insure healthy, thriving lavender plants. Learn which type is best suited for our zone. Once you start growing your lavender plants, there's a homemade soap craft to enjoy those flowers.
Read the care guide HERE
The website It All Started with Paint has an easy lavender soap tutorial and has a list with links on where to buy the supplies. Makes a lovely gift for the gardener.
Read the soap tutorial HERE
Not into soap? Here's a recipe for lavender & lemon shortbread cookies from The Beach House Kitchen.
Get recipe HERE
Stop and smell(or eat) the flowers!
Free Little Seed Libraries
Most of us have heard of Free Little Libraries, we even have one in front of our city's fitness center. A great twist on this concept is the Free Little Seed Library. Based on the concept of Free Little Libraries, you can take seeds and drop off seeds. What a wonderful idea, especially one located in a community garden. Gardening enthusiasts always like to share their bounty and what a clever way to try something new. Below are some pictures of free seed libraries and a video tutorial on making one at home. The website littlefreelibrary.org has a listing of different free libraries, where you can find one in your community, purchasing libraries, and registering your library (*note- this is for books, not seeds, but the libraries they sell can easily be used for seed swapping).
Learn more at Seattle Urban Farm Company
Located in Arlington, VA
Learn more HERE
Learn more about this one in Duluth
This gentleman shows how he created one at home with clear and easy directions.
Check out the free seed library in Kent (once the library is open to the public).
"Now in its fourth year, the Kent seed library has grown to include 1,700 packets of seeds spanning 25 different kinds of plants and even more variety within those plant families. Novice and experienced gardeners can take up to 20 packets of seeds, donated by community members, for free and without a library card, and can return dried seeds from the resulting crops in the fall."- Record-Courier article dated April 4, 2019
Learn more HERE
There are also many online seed swapping sites and groups on Facebook.
Happy seed swapping!
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