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A welcome lull

by | Aug 17, 2012 | Uncategorized

Thursday is my “nursery day”, as in the only day I work at Talini’s these days. During summer, the nursery is extremely busy, often sprouting a line of Radio Flyer wagon-toting customers out the back door. We are fully staffed during that time, so it’s manageable. Ish.

Heading into midsummer, there’s an expected lull and we pare down staff. It’s not a fun transition for me because it takes awhile for staffing to match the lull. Meanwhile, I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, which for me is not a pleasant sensation. Especially when it’s 106 degrees F.

Phones go unanswered… plants wilt (No, not at Talini’s!) … And I don’t get to enjoy the more tranquil and creative aspects of nursery work. Just when it starts to get to me, the lull truly arrives and I can squeeze in more of what I feel like doing instead of what must be done.

Yesterday was the first of those days for me this season.   (more…)

Bloom whether you are planted or not.

by | Jun 24, 2012 | Uncategorized

As a person who learned early on that “putting down roots” can be a rather nebulous concept and inevitably leads to the painful task of yanking those roots, staying in a house long enough to plant things in the ground has taken on exaggerated importance for me. I thought I’d be afforded some degree of stability in my current house in East Sacramento, to which I moved three years ago. Three years isn’t bad, but plans changed.

The divorce that brought me to this house as a middle aged woman was soon followed not by 10 cats, but the boyfriend. Who knew?!!! The boyfriend soon became the fiance. Still is! My one and his two kids are grown or nearly so, so we could make this little 2 br/1 ba 744 sq. ft. “dollhouse” work for the two of us. Except we are not dolls. And we’ve grown accustomed to things like cupboards… and dining rooms. By Manhattan apartment standards, I suppose this place is huge, but one of the benefits of living in Sacramento is affordability and spaciousness of housing. That game room and exercise room we’ve talked about is not just crazy talk to a Sacramentan.

I was initially very excited about the prospect of tending every square inch of this little urban property, but when my initial euphoria wore off and circumstances steered me toward remaining a renter instead of buying the place like I’d planned, I found myself not wanting to garden here. At all. Goodbye garden mojo.

When you don’t know how long you’ll be in a home but want to garden, the notion of growing everything in pots becomes the next logical coping mechanism. Having done the pot thing before in this hot-summer climate where containers often require water twice a day from July-September… I ended up on a gardening strike instead.

The strike felt right for this home & garden limbo state I’d found myself floating around in. The problem is, I’d get swept up in a momentary urge to plant, but it often came at the wrong time. Like last spring, when I wasn’t going to plant a summer veggie garden. Then did. Too late. I got nada for my efforts.

Thinking I’d be in my “real home” by now, I almost didn’t plant a summer garden this year. But the seasonal urge struck at the right time, and I was realizing that I might be in this house longer than I’d anticipated since my man and I had several logistical hurdles to jump before we’d be able to start house hunting. I’m happy to report I got my tomatoes in. Tomatoes were followed by ‘Gold Rush’ zucchini,  a few peppers, and most recently, cucumbers and Chinese long beans. I know! Root city, right?! I’m done planting veggies, as far as I know today. (more…)

City Chickens

by | Sep 12, 2011 | Uncategorized

Coop of the Rising Sun

The City of Sacramento unanimously approved the right for City residents to keep up to three backyard chickens. Hens, to be exact. No cockadoodledoos. And at my workplace, Talini’s Nursery, we just started carrying these wonderful, embellished chicken coops made by Greg and Brian at Two Flew the Coop.   (more…)

Sweet little passion vine

by | Aug 5, 2011 | Uncategorized

I have more “partial sun” at my house than I care to discuss, but it’s a situation made more tolerable when I find beauties like this dainty, diminutive passion vine. It’ll be planted out front, at the base of my small front porch arbor. I’ve already planted a pretty, peachy pink abutilon on the other side.



(Passiflora sanguinolenta)

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Seeds of Change: Seed to Plate Giveaway

by | Jan 31, 2011 | Uncategorized

Being a gardener-foodie-blogger, I was recently given an opportunity to evaluate a few Seeds of Change grocery items. What came as a surprise to me was that Seeds of Change sold products besides seeds!

We have a nicely stocked rack of Seeds of Change flower, veggie and herb seeds at the nursery where I work. It’s our only line of seeds that is 100% Certified Organic.

Included in my gift box was the following:

  • 1 24.5 oz. jar of Seeds of Change Tuscan Tomato Garlic sauce
  • 1 12 oz. jar of Seeds of Change Certified Organic Jalfrezi Simmer Sauce with Bell Peppers & Coconut– “The Medium-Hot Curry Sauce Everyone’s Asking For By Name”
  • 1 5.6 oz. box of Seeds of Change Certified Organic Cuzco Whole Grain Quinoa Blend With Cilantro
  • 2 packets of Certified Organic White Lisbon Bunching Onion seeds
  • A recipe, which I am happy to share!

Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms with Quinoa and Pine Nuts

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 30

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Seeds of Change Cuzco Whole Grain Quinoa
  • 4 Large portabella mushroom caps
  • 1/2 cup Pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup Asiago cheese, grated
  • 2 Scallions, chopped

Directions:

  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Rinse mushrooms and pat dry. Remove and chop stems.
  2. Combine mushroom stems with quinoa, pine nuts, cheese, scallions and parsley
  3. Place mushrooms up on oiled pan. Spoon quinoa mixture into mushroom cap and press lightly.
  4. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and serve.

Arboretum All-Stars

by | Sep 17, 2010 | Uncategorized

Just a reminder that Fall is a great time to plant in Sacramento.

Plant Sales at the Arboretum Teaching Nursery

Several times each year, our support group, Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum, holds plant sales at the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, offering hundreds of different kinds of uncommon garden plants that have been locally grown, including the Arboretum All-Stars, our top recommended plants for Central Valley gardens. Members enjoy a special preview sale and receive a 10% discount.

2010 Fall Plant Sales

Download plant list

September 18 Preview Tour

September 25 : Focus on California Native Plants

9–11 a.m. Members only; 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Public sale

Spotlight on outstanding California native plants that require less frequent watering, support native pollinators, and make great additions to any Valley-wise garden. Join at the door for a 10% discount and a free plant!

October 9 Preview Tour

October 16: Fall is for Planting

9 a.m.–1 p.m. Public sale

Let the winter rains help your new garden plants get established before they have to face the hot Valley summer. Choose from a wide variety of great plants for Central Valley gardens, including the Arboretum All-Stars. Join at the door for a 10% discount and a free plant!

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