At long last, a new book on California native plants for the garden! San Jose Mercury News calls it “gorgeous” and says it contains “450 color photos that will show even skeptics that natives can bring eye-popping color, sensuous texture and dramatic effects to any size garden…”
Slurp… drool… I want it, I want it!
Paperback version is about 10 bucks cheaper, btw…
Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, Ca was used as a movie location for the blockbuster film, Memoirs of a Geisha. Read more in this San Jose Mercury News article.
& Photoshop.
Crabtree & Evelyn’s Gardeners Hand Scrub
This stuff is great for those who garden sans gloves… cleans and moisturizes without feeling greasy. Nice herbal scent too.
30 in Colormark Rain Wand by Dramm
Everyone deserves a Wedgie
Sandflex Hand Block
This magic rubbery, gritty “eraser” gets the gunk off your pruners and other tools!
Cordless Electric hedger/edger/blower
I love this trio! They really work and you can shuffle the three batteries around as needed. Did I mention the no cords and no gasoline part?
Bulb Auger
Puts the fun back in bulb planting…
Can-O-Worms from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply 
Redworms from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
Hmmm… might not want to put this one under the tree…
Waterproof Gloves by West County Gardener
These ran large for me. If you normally wear a women’s M, I suggest ordering the S.
Rose Gloves by West County Gardener
Smith & Hawken Biostack Compost Bin
If space is limited, or if you’re not a DIY’er, Consumer Reports rated this composter tops…
Felco Pruners
These are great pruners and come in many flavors. They dull rather quickly (their only downfall, imho), so get the sharpener too.
Felco Pruner Holster
Never again utter the phrase, “Now where the #^%$ did I leave those ^%$#%@ pruners?”
SpeedySharp Knife Sharpener
Great for keeping those Felcos sharp. Works fast, unlike a “sharpening” stone. Those oily things take forever! True, you’re not supposed to remove too much metal, but the results should at least be perceptible!
Merrell Waterproof Moc for Men and Women
Slip ’em on and muck about while keeping your feet dry and toasty warm.
Hori Hori
Great for dividing perennials
Mini-Tiller
Sometimes called a “mattock-hoe”… this is probably my favorite tool.
Kangaroo Container from Harmony Farm Supply
Rainbow Tubs from Gardener’s Supply
(Cute puppies not included)
In addition to the George Bush Garden Gnome Series, there are all kinds of great gifts for the wacky gardener in your life.
Trowel & Fork Earrings from Uncommon Goods
The WonderVase
They say it’s “The best gift ever!” Well, then what are you waiting for?!
Plant Pals
For the nature-starved office worker…
Gnome & Garden… a gnovelty kit
For the land-challenged gardener…
Snail Sculpture
These are just plain cool!
Worker’s Glove Planter/ Vase
I am equally drawn to and repelled by this.
Magic Wish Beans
I wonder if one of them says “Sprout”
Weeds Garden Stake
‘Cause let’s face it…
Get more… and perhaps more practical… gift ideas on Amy Stewart’s Dirt Blog.
Cut-off for Dave Wilson Nursery (DWN) special orders was in late November. Dang it, dang it, dang it. I could have pre-ordered a few varieties and then picked ’em up at my local nursery (see DWN website).
Capital Nursery #1
4700 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822
916.455.2601
trees ordered from DWN
Capital Nursery #2
5410 Sunrise at Madison
Citrus Heights, CA 95822
916.961.9100
trees ordered from DWN
Capital Nursery #3
8423 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95758
916.684.2100
trees ordered from DWN
Fair Oaks Blvd. Nursery
4414 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95825
916.483.1830
trees ordered from DWN
Silverado Nursery
9297 Jackson Rd.
Sacramento, CA 95826
916.361.7374
trees ordered from DWN
Windmill Nursery
5750 Windmill Way
Carmichael, CA 95608
916.972.0794
trees ordered from DWN
I know I’m not going to find what I’m looking for now because I’m looking for a plumcot… and DWN lists what each nursery ordered on its website and I don’t see any plumcots. Oh, they’ll all have Pluots and Apriums coming out of their ears, but plumcots? Nada, zilch, zip. Why a plumcot? Because I once tasted an unbelievably fabulous one and for all the raving I hear about Pluots, I’ve never… ever… tasted one as good as that perfect plumcot.
I am still planning to install several trees in one hole, a la DWN, but may have to resort to mail order and desperate nursery-wanderings. I’m sure I’ll find a few nifty dwarf/semi-dwarf fruit varieties, but oh, the elusive plumcot.
A gardener near Marysville wrote and asked me where she could find a nice (2ft) garden gnome as a Christmas gift. She hasn’t been able to find any at local nurseries. I have to say… I can’t recall seeing any garden gnomes at Sacramento nurseries either! Where have all the garden gnomes gone? Have they all been liberated? If anyone knows of a good local source for tall garden gnomes (2 ft. is tall for a garden gnome, right?) please comment!
I suggested she try Eisley’s and Emigh Hardware, since they tend to sell “folksy” garden decor. Think of any other good places for her to try?
I did find some good online sources. I haven’t ordered from any of them before, but these were top Google results so you can assume they’re not fly-by-night gnome sellers.
http://www.garden-gnomes-need-homes.com/
http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/garden-gnomes.html
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/gardengnomes.html
Fans and foes alike, you might be interested in the George Bush gnome from BushGnome.com. Only $29.95. Comes in traditional, military, patriotic or original (Texan) dress. Original’s my favorite, in case Santa’s reading this. I also have my eye on the $500 Accessory Contest prize.
My fingers are numb as I type this. Our first frost advisory of the season has been issued (Thanks, Cheryl). Since our area is a little marginal for citrus, I felt the urge to cover my young orange, lemon and lime trees with Agribon row covers, which can protect down to about 6 degrees F. I also covered my succulent pots and, dang it, should get out there and cover my hot peppers, basil and tomatoes. Yes, I still have hot peppers, basil and tomatoes!
If you don’t have row covers, use sheets, plastic tarps, canvas tarps… even Christmas mini lights.
1. Be a squirrel.
2. Chew hole in side of pumpkin.
3. Devour contents of entire pumpkin.
4. Move in.
A friend sent me some cute pics of a squirrel making a home in someone’s front porch pumpkin. I decided to Google the phenomenon and learned it’s apparently somewhat common. I have 3 uncarved home-grown pumpkins out front just begging for squirrel tenants!
I just returned from another little Mendocino getaway. Mendocino always leaves you wanting more. There’s so much to do, so much to see, so much to eat, and never enough time to do it all. This time I happened to be there during the annual Wine and Mushroom Festival. I was also really lucky to be able to go on a mushroom walk led by two California mushroom experts, Taylor Lockwood and Charmoon Richardson at Van Damme State Park. The walk was great… a little too drizzly to bring my camera, but exciting nonetheless. These guys are as nuts about mushrooms as I am about plants! It’s always great to encounter passionate people. On the walk, they pointed out the complexities of distinguishing edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. You really have to know your stuff if you’re going to cook and eat wild mushrooms. I think I’ll stick to mushrooms grown in captivation, thank you very much. The idea of dying while lying in the wet woods clutching a frying pan just doesn’t hold much appeal for me. A mushroom photo expedition on the other hand…
I stopped by the Mendo Bot. Gardens nursery and gift shop and left with a few plants and a book. The plants weren’t anything I couldn’t get locally or in the bay area, but that’s no excuse for not buying the following:
As for the book… I asked the salesperson manning the front desk if they had any books about the gardens. What she produced was an HGTV book called Flower Gardening… Bring Home the Secrets of Great Gardens. It profiles not just the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, but twenty North American public gardens and includes expert tips from the gardens’ caretakers. Plenty o’ color pics too.
Ooh, and from Highway 1, I spotted tree dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) in bloom at Heritage House. I couldn’t resist pulling over to snap some pics of their spectacular dahlias. If you’re into movie trivia (I am)… you should know that this romantic inn happens to be where Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn filmed Same Time Next Year.
