Annie's Gardening Corner: #gardenchat

Showing posts with label #gardenchat. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2014

The Why of Witch Hazel

With the social media world being boiled down to one word eye-catchers, despite its claim to ‘content’, let's make this Monday morning easy reading. Rather than indulge in long renditions of what we should look for while walking in the woods or what to plant come spring, here are some ‘one word’ eye catchers for why Witch Hazel.

Native
(Even the hybrids fit perfectly in a native setting.)

Tolerant
(This native understory species can thrive in shade or full sun.)

Early
(Its frost proof blossoms are the earliest signs of spring color in the local landscape; a color for everyone – yellow, orange, red and sunburst.)

Fragrant
(Most varieties offer a beautiful, light perfume fragrance.)

Foliage
(All have an amazing show of fall color from yellow to sunburst to brilliant red.)

Structure
(Its form gives us something we need, especially in winter: four-season interest.)

Are you a Witch Hazel lover? List your favorite variety/cultivar and why. As Dejan Stojanovic reminds us with today's #DailyQuote, “There is always the question why and there is always life,which doesn't need an answer.” That’s the beauty of the Witch Hazel. It’s one of those magical woodland shrubs - so alive.

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. Don’t forget Google+ where you can find us under Ann Bilowz and Bilowz Associates Inc.

Friday, February 21, 2014

What to Follow

There’s a #hashtag that swirls around in the Twitter world on Friday. It’s called #FF (FollowFriday) and it’s meant to tell your followers about tweets they might like. Some of my blog readers aren’t Twitter users and I must admit, it’s not my forte, either. However, I do jump into the fray of it when I can. So rather than do a bunch of #FF (FollowFriday) and retweet twitter names only, here are my Friday choices below with some backup on why to follow them, too.

First and foremost, it starts with our weather. Of course, that’s local but for Friday’s tweets, I prefer @fox25News forecast– “Rainy Friday to give way to beautiful weekend.” If you follow @ToddWBZ, he looks too far ahead. He gives us the bummer factor when he shares what might come next Wednesday. Say it ain't so, Todd. Please, no more snow!

Despite that New Englanders have experienced a harsh, cold winter, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, the #California #Drought is just as hard on one's garden psyche. Here’s an article retweeted by @Food_Tank regarding the California Organic Dairy Farmers hit by this weather cycle.

Need to see a positive side to this situation? @RussBishopPhoto displays an amazing #California#sunset image. Who doesn’t need beautiful photography to help them envision the moment, especially one like this?

But let’s shift to garden shows, which can be a saving grace as we finish these last weeks of winter. Share your favorites happening in your neck of the woods. My choice today is based on this Friday's weather, which reminds me of London. Check out @The_RHS tweeting about the RHS London Plant and Design Show. Gazing at their many shared images might be enough plant and design porn to make you feel like you’re really at the show. And if nothing else convinces you that you landed in London, today’s drizzle and snizzle might cinch the deal.

Okay, so we need something tangible, something to hold in our own hands while we wait for the first spring flowers to pop. Call me old-school but I still appreciate a hard-copy of a colorful garden book. Here’s what looks to be a great one that could balance out your garden collection. And if you have a garden, every gardener must have a reliable reference library. Although I’ve not been able to take a sneak peek at 'Plants with Benefits,’ author @HelenYoest makes it appealing with her post today. It’s a dinner made on Valentine’s eve, created by one of her readers and inspired by ‘Plants with Benefits’. Consider following her or buying the book. Yoest gives plenty of reasons to energize even the sleepy gardener that it’s time to start digging in the soil come spring.

Speaking of books, if you missed this Tuesday’s post, here’s another great keeper for the garden reference library. You can check out @gardenerd1 for her latest tweets, too. Okay, one more - if you want to take a minute to smell the Roses, @RedneckRosarian is worthy of sniffing out to make your Friday bearable. Plus, you can learn a lot about Roses along the way.

There are so many more to mention but these are the ones fresh in mind. That’s it in a #FF nutshell from @annbilowz. Let’s hope you didn’t get hashtagged # out. Now lace up your boots and venture outdoors. Yes, get out there. Begin to explore. There is much to plan before we launch this wonderful season of spring.

It may be in the plans to tend a tiny flower bed or an urban container garden. Maybe you plant some shrubs or an ornamental tree. You may visit a local farmer and buy their goods. You may consider plunging in head first and producing some of your own. You might use these last few weeks of winter to stroll through your local park or if inspired enough, consider creating your own park-like setting in the now blah backyard.

Want the basics for understanding landscape architecture and all great design? It starts with creating and enjoying what you love. It’s not all the flash and the latest trends. Though some of this guides us with what to expect and what we can and can’t do ourselves. And remember, even with social media tools, we should #FF follow what we love.

Before I shove off, this is for those that appreciate the #DailyQuote. Found in Twitterville, it's worth repeating today. It's the words of Henry Ford. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.”

Our goal - to keep you excited for that first day of #Spring. It’s coming soon. Follow your calendar. There aren’t many days of winter left so be ready with your plans to make it your best yet. And when and if we hit a few more obstacles from old man winter, keep your eyes on the goal. #Spring is just around the corner.

© Image by Greg Bilowz

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tuesday’s Seed Tips

Depending where you wake up this morning, you may be experiencing an ‘Artic blast’. And another brewing snowstorm; oh, yeah, isn’t that what January is all about? It’s back. Enough about the weather; let’s regroup and focus. It’s time to shell out Tuesday’s seed tips because we need to include some pleasant garden thoughts. We could talk design but seeds and such are where it’s at when it comes to what’s active with January's #GardenChat.

Last week’s post on seeds, sets, and liners didn’t cover this diverse and timely subject. Let’s talk necessary tools for propagating your seeds. But hold on. This vast and subjective topic requires a few decisions on your part and a bit of your own research. This is one of those in tandem, multi-tasks where you employ your favorite search engine while you mull around an available propagating space.

First, think what works best for all members of the household. Watching a bunch of seeds mature may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Once the consensus rules and logical growing space is decided, next in line is measuring your designated area. Whether you are thinking sunny window or some available basement space, whichever route you choose, remember dimensions, dimensions, dimensions. There’s nothing worse than putting the table before the seeds and finding out that what you ordered doesn’t work. This happens far too many times so employ a little common sense. Get your measurements first.

Now that you have your dimensions, the rest is all personal choice. It's time to snap on the research cap and mull around the countless available options that fit your designated growing area. One other thought to consider - if you go the basement route, (i.e., lack of natural solar energy) you’ll need lighting, which equals juice, i.e., cords and plugs. Consider how much you want to undertake, look at or invest, including your time, when you are putting your propagation plan together. Once you have a propagation plan mapped out, you are better equipped to place your upcoming seed orders, leading us to the “WHY”. Why go through this hassle of propagating your own seeds that seem light months ahead of your spring garden?

It’s a great winter hobby but it also gives you the freedom to grow anything you want including the unusual varieties you can’t find anywhere else when spring rolls around. Unfortunately, this guilty party does it every year. We never plan for an indoor propagating area. We end up getting what’s available in the nurseries, leaving us with limited choices or asking a few farmer friends.

So on that last seed note, let’s wrap up these tips with the #DailyQuote. Clive James holds today's honor with this common sense poke. “Common sense and a sense of humor are the same things, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.” In other words, if you don’t use common sense and a sense of humor with your garden growing techniques, you may as well be dancing in the produce aisles when summer comes around. Speaking of supermarkets, expect them to be filled today with the threat of another January blizzard. Stay safe and think seeds, gardens, and plan now for what you want to propagate.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Monday’s Sunshine

If you are waking up in New England this morning, you may think you overslept and woke up in Antarctica. It’s probably pretty chilly, too in Denver. Just saying as the Patriots won that game in overtime and it wasn’t looking good in the beginning. But back to the #gardenchat for this Monday before Thanksgiving. With the soil locked up solid, chances are most of your pots and shovels are tucked away in the garden shed.

No worries, though. Need some instant sunshine? There are plenty of bulbs perfect for planting indoors. Plus they make awesome holiday gifts. So here’s a blast from the past of the Annie archives. This last minute fall shopping list of bulbs thrive in the indoors during these chilly dormant months when color is desperately needed. There’s also pot size and tips for planting so this post is worthy of another look.

For those who follow on a regular basis, yes, this is day 7 of 26 Days of Kindness. Today we honor Madeleine F. Hsu. She loved those simple things we take for granted - to read, run and dance. So to honor Madeleine, today’s post is a bit more fun and uplifting. It’s like the 7th inning of a baseball game, when we all get up and take a stretch. But that doesn’t mean we are off the hook. There’s a game to finish. There are more days ahead and acts of kindness that can only help with the healing in Newtown, CT. Bringing some sunshine in honor of Madeleine can only keep the warmth and kindness spreading. Plus, if you made it through yesterday, today is just a tad easier. There’s a lot less wind.

That is why I picked today’s archived image. It is an Amaryllis blooming outdoors in the late evening sun this past summer. Looking out the window today, you might be deceived. The sunshine is bright but the minute you open the door, the frigid air hits you. There is no escaping it. It is cold outside.
So as we gaze upon our exterior landscape, the ground may be frozen but we can still plant seeds, bulbs, or perform a simple act of kindness. Bring the sunshine indoors. Do it in honor of Madeleine. Read, run and dance. It is amazing the sunshine you might bring to someone who needs it.

Here is the event and FB page to bring extra rays of sunshine to Newtown, CT before Thanksgiving. The holiday seasons, though we expect them to be full of cheer are often the most difficult to work through so never underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness. It may be those simple things we take for granted - to read, run, and dance. As Voltaire once said, “Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.” Nor will an act of kindness.

Sorry Madeleine, there are lots of words. But I know you liked to read. Hope you like today's flower.

Image by Ann Bilowz © Amaryllis blooming in the late evening sun

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.