by angela@diggingbliss | Nov 13, 2008 | Uncategorized
OK, you guys gotta check out this French blog post about my blog. Can’t read a lick of it, but it looks like a really cool blog!
http://paradisexpress.blogspot.com/
As bloggers, we have the ability to see who’s linking to our blogs, and my curious nature has me checking every now and then, especially when I’m avoiding an unpleasant task or tasks.
When I followed the link, I saw that the post was written in French, a language I had a brief fling with in my freshman year of high school. Needless to say, French and I parted way as friends, but with my foreign language skills virginity still intact. In other words, I have no idea what this blogger was saying about my blog.
So I Babel Fished it. The translation sheds a little light, but remains fascinatingly cryptic.
From this…
“Très joli blog d’Angela Pratt, qui vit vers Sacramento dans le nord de la Californie où elle ballade son appareil photo. c’est chez elle que j’ai repéré cette graminée barbapapa.”
I got this…
“Very pretty blog d’ Angela Pratt, which lives towards Sacramento in the north of California where it ballade its camera. c’ is at it that j’ located this graminaceous barbapapa.”
Better French students than I… I need a better translation and I’ve got to know what is meant by this “graminaceous barbapapa”! It sounds so… so… well… kind of Italian, actually. Not that I speak Italian.
by angela@diggingbliss | Nov 13, 2008 | Uncategorized
One of my favorite local nurseries is offering a 20% off coupon through my gardening website, SacramentoGardening.com! I’ve never charged nurseries for a listing on my homespun site, but I decided it was a genius idea to offer coupon space. Why? Because it benefits you, the gardener… me, the web slave… and any nursery wanting to increase foot traffic.
Windmill is a family-run nursery, manager Andrew has a hort. degree from UC Davis, their plants are meticulously cared for, and they carry a wide selection of… well… everything– native plants, interesting perennials, Annie’s Annuals and perennials, water plants, Christmas trees, herbs, bonsai starters, succulents, trees, shrubs, grasses, gifts, seeds, bulbs, organic products and more. They had me at Annie’s Annuals, really, but I also really appreciate all the other stuff. See my Windmill-related blog posts.
Anyway, check it out! Print that baby and get over there before the coupon expires. It’s still fall, which we all know is the best time for Californians to plant just about everything. It’s also a great time to do a little Christmas shopping and Windmill goes all out this time of year.
When you use your coupon, report back and let us know what you got!
by angela@diggingbliss | Nov 9, 2008 | Uncategorized
My tree dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) are right on schedule. I first noticed buds at the beginning of November… way high up in the sky… approaching twenty feet… despite the fact that I cut them back in summer in an apparently futile attempt at shorter, bushier plants.
So, yeah, this is year three and I think it’s safe to say that tree dahlias will grow for extreme gardeners in Sacramento. They’re crazy fun– way too tall, prone to toppling from strong wind gusts, and might be snuffed out at the first cold snap before the buds open. But OMG, when you see those sky-scraping pink flowers you’ll want to yell, “The tree dahlias are blooming! The tree dahlias are blooming!” with the same level of excitement Navin Johnson expressed when the new phone books arrived.
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), pink sedum (now yellow, with brown seedheads), and spent agapanthus
In the last few years, I’ve been trying to provide overwintering hummingbirds with a source of homegrown nectar. Why? Because I’m too lazy to keep fresh nectar in my hummingbird feeders. The mixing… the boiling… the pouring… the storing. The doing it all over again. Ugh.
So far, Salvia and Cuphea have made November more nectarrific and colorful. Since November 4, doesn’t it seem like everything is just a little bit more sparkly?
Giant Cigar Plant (Cuphea micropetala)
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
It’s a big, bushy, sprawling plant with lovely gray-green leaves.
Purple oxalis and Corokia cotoneaster in a pot.
Mushrooms, oak leaves, and nasturtiums
by angela@diggingbliss | Oct 31, 2008 | Uncategorized
I really enjoyed John Greenlee’s grass talk on Saturday at the lovely Sierra 2 Center in Curtis Park. Greenlee seems to be aiming to broaden our concept of what a “lawn” can be. It doesn’t have to be fertilized and watered and mown within an inch of its life; Instead, you can simulate a mini-meadow using undulating waves of ornamental perennial grasses. And while you’re at it, why not sprinkle in a few native bulbs or wildflowers? How does mowing once a year sound?
Achieving a meadow look on a small scale, and in a way that dares to please even your fussiest neighbors, can be accomplished. But you want to have a plan in place before you kill your sod.
Read all you can about ornamental grasses, see what’s native or suited to our Mediterranean climate, and seriously consider calling an APLD member for help. Many APLD designers attended Mr. Greenlee’s seminar and are probably pretty fired up about ornamental grasses and meadow gardens. Hey, if Greenlee’s famous clients like Diane Keaton can kick the grass habit, so can we.
One of the grasses Greenlee talked about a lot was California native grass Carex pansa. It’s cute and he had some for sale at the post-seminar plant sale. One audience member asked for a deer-resistant grass recommendation. Know what he said? Deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens. They may bed down in it, but apparently they won’t eat it. Your roses, on the other hand…
You can get a taste of Greenlee’s presentation by checking out his website’s Products page. There’s a slideshow, plant list and plant gallery.
by angela@diggingbliss | Oct 30, 2008 | Uncategorized
Thought I’d share a couple garden elements that caught my eye on a recent bike ride through a nearby neighborhood. Right now with the leaves turning, flowers still blooming and ornamental grasses in peak plumage, it’s a great time to hop on your bike or go for a walk in the greater Sacramento area. Hurry, before winter chaps all our… um… grasses.
How cool is this rock wall planted with Echeveria?!
Beautiful example of an autumn-focused plant palette
by angela@diggingbliss | Oct 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
My thoughts lately have been consumed not by gardening, but with the election. I’m fine to ignore my garden right now. It’s autumn and plant growth has slowed to an enjoyable pace. The election, though, is peaking with only two weeks left before perhaps the most important vote in our lifetime. There can be no Garden Bliss when one is in Election Hell.
To soothe myself, I read my Mark Morford, my CNN… I watch my SNL, my Daily Show… I bite my fingernails… while my bulb auger sits in the garage untouched.
I count the Obama yard signs on the morning drive to my son’s school. I curse their absence every time a thief sweeps through in the night, leaving the inexplicable McCain/Palin signs untouched.
And this is California, where Obama is in like Flynn. Still, I fret. Like Obama said, “Don’t get cocky”. When someone steals your yard signs, buy more. When someone sprays hateful graffiti all over your fence, repaint as soon as possible.
Like these guys did.
What prompted me to grab my slightly dusty camera this morning was the un-ignorable light shining on a few unexpected orchid cactus blooms and buds. In late October! While walking the yard, I discovered my little Annie dog in one of my half-barrels, triumphantly digging up an acorn planted by a squirrel she hopes to finally catch one day. To Eukanuba-fed Annie, pure sport; To the squirrel, an investment lost to a fatcat chihuahua.
We all have our dreams and desires… sometimes clashing and sometimes meshing. At least I know I’m not alone. Here’s someone who has a worse case of Restless Voter Syndrome (RVS) than I do.
by angela@diggingbliss | Oct 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
FYI, Sacramento gardeners… here’s a reminder from the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club that one of our most fabulous northern California nurseries is giving a talk on Fall color in the garden. Yes, there will be plants for sale!
October Program Speaker
Deborah Whigham, owner Digging Dog Nursery
Fall Color in the Garden
Shepard Garden and Arts Center
McKinley Park
Thursday October 23, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Deborah Whigham and her husband Gary Ratway are the owners of Digging Dog Nursery, a family run mail-order plant nursery. Situated on the Mendocino Coast in Northern California, their mail-order nursery has been growing high quality perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, and vines for 20 years. If you are visiting the Mendocino area, call the nursery to schedule a visit. This is a wonderful nursery. Deborah loves to encourage gardeners to plant for fall color and will share her knowledge of plants using pictures and plant material she will clip from her own garden and the nursery gardens. Deborah will also bring plants for sale.
http://www.sacramentoperennialplantclub.org/
http://www.diggingdog.com/
by angela@diggingbliss | Oct 13, 2008 | Uncategorized
(Photo from greenleenursery.com)
The California chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) is hosting The California Lawn Revolution, a seminar and plant sale by renowned ornamental grass expert John Greenlee.
When? Saturday, October 25
What time?
- 10-12 pm Seminar by John Greenlee.
- 12 pm John’s collection of grasses available for purchase.
If you’re an ornamental grass fan, you probably already own Mr. Greenlee’s book, The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: How to Grow and Use Over 250 Beautiful and Versatile Plants
If you’re interested in joining the California Lawn Revolution, you won’t want to miss this seminar and plant sale.
Here’s the blurb from the APLD website:
John’s passion to reinvent America ‘s lawn culture will educate and inspire you to do the same.
- Founder of Greenlee Nursery, the West Coast’s largest ornamental grass nursery.
- The John Greenlee Collection of Grasses is sold nationally by Proven Winners and Smith & Hawken.
- Author of the best-selling book The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses and the upcoming Meadows by Design.
- His award-winning garden designs have been featured in numerous publications including Sunset & Garden Design.
- His clients include Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Getty Center , Hess Winery, Eric Clapton & Steven Spielberg.
John’s collection of grasses will available for purchase following the event.
Cost: The seminar is $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Mail check to Sacramento APLD, 3755 Esperanza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95864.
There is a private reception and champagne brunch from 9-10am for APLD members and guests. No charge for APLD members with paid admission to the event, limited to the first 50 members to respond. $10 charge for guests.
Location: Sierra 2 Theatre, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818
Sponsored by: Sacramento District
View Larger Map
by angela@diggingbliss | Sep 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
My son’s high school is having a garden tour this Sunday! Come check out the gardens, art, chat with Master Gardeners, enjoy refreshments, and melodious live performances by the current crop of Rio’s award-winning band members.
Outdoor Living Tour 2008
The annual Rio Americano Garden Tour will be held Sunday, September 28th from 11:00am to 4:00 pm. Unique gardens with exquisite design and imaginative detail in the neighborhoods surrounding the Rio Americano attendance area. Master Gardeners will be available at the gardens to answer questions and provide tips along with outdoor- related vendors. In addition, entertainment will be provided by Rio’s award winning bands. The proceeds will benefit the Rio Americano PTSA Landscape Projects and the General PTSA Fund.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
For further info please contact Debbie Munter, dmunter@surewest.net or Dania Lukey dlukey@surewest.net
by angela@diggingbliss | Aug 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
I wanted to let folks know that John Greenlee is going to be speaking in Sacramento in October! Here’s the skinny from the Sacramento Association of Professional Landscape Designers (Sac APLD)–
APLD SACRAMENTO SPEAKER SERIES PROUDLY PRESENTS… THE NATION’S LEADING AUTHORITY ON GRASSES…
JOHN GREENLEE
THE CALIFORNIA LAWN REVOLUTION (& OTHER TRENDS IN ORNAMENTAL GRASSES)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH
@ SIERRA 2 – 24TH ST. THEATER
2791 24 th Street, Sacramento 95818
9-10AM Private Reception & Champagne Brunch in the Garden Room
Limited to the first 50 APLD Members and their guests. You must prepay for the seminar by Wed. Oct. 22 to secure your place at the reception. The reception is a free member benefit to current APLD members & New 2009 Members. Guests are $10 per person
10AM – NOON John Greenlee Seminar
Seminar cost is $20 prepaid or $25 at the door
NOON – 1PM The John Greenlee Collection of grasses will be sold in the Garden Courtyard
John Greenlee is the author of The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses and Meadows by Design. He is the founder of the largest ornamental grass nursery in the West and his Collection of Grasses has been sold nationally by Proven Winners and now, Smith & Hawken.
His designs have been featured in numerous publications including Sunset and Garden Design. His design clients include Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Getty center, Hess Winery, Eric Clapton & Steven Spielberg.
John’s passion to reinvent America’s lawn culture will inspire and educate you to do the same. Don’t miss Sacramento’s landscape event of the year!
Sierra 2 is located in Curtis Park near 24th & Broadway with easy freeway access and ample free parking.
Contact Gary Kernick at (916) 488-3374 for more information
Mail payment to SacAPLD
3755 Esperanza Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95864
Press Release: The California Lawn Revolution
The traditional suburban lawn that many of us take for granted as a must have landscape element is under attack. As it turns out, that ever present patch of green is actually not so “green”. The average lawn requires mass quantities of water and chemicals. Turf grass is extremely thirsty, and improper irrigation practices often fill our gutters with wasteful rivers of precious water. That water usually contains chemicals from lawn fertilization and pesticide applications. The chemicals travel from the gutter to the creeks and rivers reeking ecological havoc along the way. And let’s hear it for the mow and blow guys…anyone? Lawn care not only creates obnoxious noise pollution, but plenty of noxious fumes as well.
But there is hope… a Revolution has begun. Leading the fight is the nation’s leading authority on grasses, John Greenlee. Greenlee wrote the book on grasses – literally. He is the author of the bestselling The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses and the soon to be released Meadows by Design. His impressive client list includes Steven Spielberg, Eric Clapton, The Hess Winery, The Getty Center and Disneyland.
Greenlee is passionate about changing America’s obsession with the traditional lawn. His goal is to reinvent lawn culture using a combination of ornamental grasses and perennial plantings. Ornamental grasses eliminate the environmentally negative aspects of turf grasses and do so with style. Sublime textures, stunning forms, and shimmering seed heads, create breathtaking effects that the ordinary lawn simply cannot match. A single grass variety can be planted to offer a sleek contemporary tableau or multiple varieties peppered with flowering perennials invite you to a dreamy meadow like garden.
This October, John Greenlee is bringing his passion and his plants to you. Sacramento’s local source for top notch garden designers, APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) is presenting Greenlee to Sacramento for a seminar followed by the sale of the John Greenlee Collection of Grasses.
The California Lawn Revolution with John Greenlee
Saturday, October 25, 10AM – Noon Seminar & Noon-1PM Plant Sale
Sierra 2 Theater, 2791 24th St. in Curtis Park. Tickets are $25 at the door.
For more information log on to www.apldca.org or call (916) 488-3374
Press Release written by Gary Kernick – Change of Seasons – (916) 488-3374
