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Read more about the article The Gardens of Esalen

The Gardens of Esalen

We took a trip up the coast, our California Adventure we called it, through San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and then we visited Napa before heading down Interstate 5 to get home.  We were blessed with the most beautiful weather, the kind, as my husband says, that explains the reason for high real estate prices. 

We saw monarch butterflies fluttering in the trees and elephant seals basking in the sunshine along the shore.  It seemed to be a good time for all things natural.  The gardens were no exception.  We spent 3 days at ...

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Read more about the article Winter Harvest

Winter Harvest

After being gone for 10 days up the coast of California during what could be called the most beautiful summer-like winter weather Northern California has ever seen, my husband and I have returned to find the gardens thriving.  Some veggies are just coming into fullness, while others - like the Osaka Purple Mustard - are finishing up.  We came home to find a bright yellow flower shooting out the top of overgrown mustard greens (we couldn't possibly have kept up with the production of those giant leaves).  We also found tiny, bright white, waxy cauliflower heads starting to ...

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Read more about the article LA Times Article on Victory Gardens

LA Times Article on Victory Gardens

For those like me who don't get the paper, here is the recent article by Mary MacVean on the resurgence of Victory Gardens in Los Angeles.  It appeared in the Saturday, January 10th edition of the Home and Garden section of the Times.  Enjoy!


http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-victory10-2009jan10,0,7167635.story ...

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Read more about the article Planting a Nectarine Tree

Planting a Nectarine Tree

For those who have been tracking our landscaping project, you might recall there are 5 spaces for fruit trees in the front yard, and only 4 trees.  On Christmas Eve, the final addition arrived via FedEx (upside-down, despite the multiple appearances of "up" arrows all over the box, thank you very much).  Our Fantasia semi-dwarf nectarine arrived virtually safe and sound, with only a couple of broken branches.  Admittedly, I had never planted a bare root fruit tree before. I've killed a couple bare root roses in the past, so ...

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Read more about the article Rat-Proof Compost Bin

Rat-Proof Compost Bin

A new gardenerd wrote in recently:

"Any suggestions [for a rat-proof compost bin]?  We do trap and try to control the rats but they just exist and like to
come around compost in our neighborhood."

There must be a global increase in rats this year.  We've been seeing an increase in these critters around our community garden as well.  I had them nibbling away at my tomatoes all summer.   Here are a couple suggestions I can across in my research:

First of all, you will want to make sure that you aren't composting any animal fats, bones or flesh.  Rats are ...

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Read more about the article Eco-Gift Festival

Eco-Gift Festival

There's been a bit of a lapse on blog entries in the past week.  Reason being, I was at the Eco-Gift Festival for 4 days, and the workload leading up to it was tremendous.  Now that it's over, and after a little much-needed rest, blogging can resume as regularly scheduled. 

For those who couldn't attend, here is a little taste of what it was like at the Festival.  First of all, we had a great location - the first booth you saw upon entering the tent.  You couldn't possibly miss our banner, which was wonderfully designed by Lenore ...

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Read more about the article Easy Plants for Pots

Easy Plants for Pots

"Love your podcast and website. I am new to gardening. Browsed your site and enjoyed the blog on veggies in a pot. As I start thinking about the spring, I began to ponder the possibility of additional veggies and herbs in "pots." What do you think are the easiest veggies and herbs to plant in pots. Right now I grow watermelon, tomatoes and strawberries in my tiny garden. Any advice? I live in New Mexico in a dry climate. Thanks---David"

Thanks so much for writing in, David. There are some great veggies that will grow in pots, ...

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Read more about the article Lots of Flowers, but No Fruit

Lots of Flowers, but No Fruit

A frustrated gardenerd wrote in recently:

"Having a little gardening crisis - I planted a second round of zucchini and cucumbers in September. They are large now and have produced many flowers, but no fruit! Other things I planted at the same time are doing well. Beans and peas aplenty. I know pollination is an issue, since what few bees there are right now are OBSESSED with the eucalyptus tree on the other side of the house, not my garden - but I've added some sweet alyssum pots to the garden area, and even poked at the flowers with ...

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