- Author: Launa Herrmann
I thrive when I'm doing. Writing. Gardening. Working. I enjoy actively participating in the busy routine and daily rhythm of living. But when something knocks me to the sidelines as a mere observer, I squawk like a crow. Merely watching my garden behind a window makes me cranky.
I imagine few gardeners out there — if they had a choice — would pick the “undoing” that injury and illness, disability and aging visit upon us, whether temporary or permanent. Until now I actually believed the propaganda that the more active we are, the great flexibility and mobility we have and “would always have” to do the things we love. I mean, isn't that why . . . gardeners don't mind muddy shoes and dirty fingernails that accompany preparing a bed for seedlings.
. . . gardeners don't mind how many times we uproot a pouting plant in the search for an ideal spot.
. . . gardeners don't mind the ongoing never ending re-envisioning and reconstructing of vegetable plots and flower pots, front lawns and backyards.
After all, you have to do something to harvest anything. You can't just be present. Unless you want to be stuck with the same bedding plants in the same place year after year, you ‘gotta do something different. A garden is not a set-in-stone completed project anyway. A real garden is always evolving — a work in progress.
But today — well, today I'm what's stuck. Sidelined. I didn't choose last year's injury or surgery, or last month's finger fracture or the other uninvited distracting dramas that play out in my life. I am “making do” though with this messy complicated time for just being. Mentally yanking my boots out of what has “undone” me and compromised my enjoyment of gardening. Hunting and pecking keys with one hand to type this blog. Pausing to open the blinds to see the glow and feel the warmth of sunlight against the glass instead of merely observing the passing rainstorm and my garden from behind a window pane.
And the Aha moment is there. Outside resting on the stone bench beneath the window ledge is a stem of rose leaves blown loose in the storm — glistening as if it were a crystal broach. I grab my camera to capture simple beauty seldom noticed because I'm too hyper-focused on doing.
- Author: Betty Homer
Recently, while driving through the East Bay, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a community farm located near San Pablo Avenue and Marin Avenue in Albany, near door to Berkeley. It was both unusual and refreshing to see all the greenery at this farm sitting in a swath of land located at a busy intersection. The sign outside read that this was the "UC Gill Tract Community Farm." This urban farm piqued my interest so I returned home to read up more about it. According to its websites at https://gilltractfarm.wordpress.com/ and http://ucgilltractfarm.wixsite.com/, "the UC Gill Tract Community Farm is a collaborative community project between the University of California Berkeley and the local community, focused on issues of food justice and urban farming." The website discloses that the overarching vision of this project is "to conduct collaborative community-driven research, education, and extension focused on ecological farming and food justice, and to foster equitable economies, a healthy environment, and increased resilience in vulnerable communities, both urban and rural." Educational events concerning food issues are held at the farm, and the farm can be booked for private events. Students at UC Berkeley are also able to take coursework for credit while working on various projects on and for the farm. But at its core, the purpose of the farm is to feed the local population and is open to the public for harvesting crops, purchasing vegetables, and for volunteering. Below are the hours of operation if you want to journey out to see this place for yourself and maybe pick up a few vegetables along the way:
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Farm Stand 3:00 – 5:00 pm at San Pablo Gate)
Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Thursday 3:00 – 6:00 pm
- Author: Tina Saravia
What's the first thing a gardener does on her vacation? Sow some seeds and look for garden inspiration. I brought an herb seed starting set for my 10 year-old niece, and together we sowed the seeds. The basil seeds came up in 3 days.
My primary purpose in going to the Philippines was to attend my nephew's wedding.The bride was stunning in her white wedding gown with a fluffy, cloud-like peach-toned train and my nephew, the groom, was equally stunning and absolutely handsome in his white tuxedo. Everything went really well and we all had a great time.
But I have to admit, as everyone in the family was getting excited and anxious for the big day, I was also excited about the surrounding lush landscaping. I saw some majestic mango trees reaching over 2-3-stories high, at least 3 feet in diameter. Surrounding the trees are mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria spp.), lady palm hedges, (Raphis excelsa) and other plants we commonly find inside homes and offices here in our temperate zone.
Unfortunately, I just missed the mango fruit season. I was told they are abundant with fruit in the summer months, and the tree outside my bedroom window still had mangoes as late as November. Fortunately, there was a 'Saturday Market,' much like our Farmer's Markets, and I was able to get the 'crispy green mangoes' I loved to eat so much growing up.
I also saw Bamboo and palms planted next to concrete fences for privacy screening.
Speaking of privacy screening, I also saw some vertical planting arrangements of a variety of ferns in 4" pots. The effect is quite nice next to the sidewalk separating the street from the shops. Since it's rainy season, they get watered by the rain, sometimes several times a day.
Since we don't get 6 months of rainy season in Solano County, I can see doing that back home with succulents - a wall of potted succulents on the wire fence in my side yard or a wall of succulents to separate the chicken run. That indeed will be nice.
- Author: Betty Homer
I have always been charmed by beautiful botanical drawings on seed packets. Its seems that artists who are drawn to create these tiny and easily missed works of art, are a special breed, as they lovingly render their subject matter with great care and attention. As with most gardeners, I buy from a variety of seed companies. I recently purchased seeds from Botanical Interests, whose seed packets I have always found charming (note that I have no relationship with Botanical Interests other than being a consumer). I learned through buying my seeds, that Botanical Interests has been offering free coloring books on their website for each season which users can download and print for free--https://www.botanicalinterests.com/botanical-interests/botanical-interests-coloring-book
In the past few years, there has been an explosion of coloring books for adults in the marketplace. The idea underlying these coloring books for adults is that coloring promotes stress reduction, because it allows adults to: (1) temporarily return to a simpler, possibly, happier time in their lives, such as their childhood, where there were no bills or mortgages to pay on; (2) have a safe space to play and to express their creativity through artwork; and (3) learn to be present, slow down, and to live in the moment instead of rushing from one thought or event to another, which we are prone to do.
It seems that the coloring books offered on Botanical Interests' website are primarily aimed at adults, but they would be equally beneficial for young people and children. During these cold winter months, imagine sharing this activity with the children or young people in your life to educate them about plants and their natural world. When the right season arrives and plants are in bloom, imagine introducing the live specimens of the plants which appear in these coloring books, to the young person. You may have planted a seed and a curiosity in that young person through this simple gesture. It is moments like these which nourish our lives and isn't that what gardening is all about in the first place?
- Author: Trisha E Rose
Need to pull out my juicer, here they come and come, those sweet and juicy Washington Naval Oranges, Citrus sinensis 'Washington'. I have a mature tree in a raised bed alongside my backyard fence line. My tree is at least 20 feet tall and at least as wide. This tree grows in zones 9 and 10 so it is well suited to our Solano County climates. The bounty of oranges has been unfailing every year to share with friends and family. A few weeks before Christmas the fruit is ready to enjoy and it only gets sweeter as we get into January and February.
This tree is so easy to care for and has done very well through our drought years. As an evergreen tree, it keeps its glossy green leaves year round, sometimes I use them in floral arrangements. My tree has a well established root system so only occasional water is needed during those rare weeks of high temperatures. It sits on an elevation so the drainage is very good, I've read that poor drainage can be a problem for these trees, so keep that in mind if you choose to add one to your garden. Mine is probably around 25 years old now, part of the original landscape plan. It receives citrus fertilizer in spring and fall, and fortunately I haven't had any problems with zinc deficiency or chlorosis.
Although I do really enjoy the fruit, later when the blossoms develop the fragrance is truly heavenly. I grew up in Southern California nearby large orange groves. Many families would drive around the orchards as a weekend outing just to enjoy the perfume from the orange blossoms, a much simpler non-electronic time.