Living in the Garden

January 26 2012

2012-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

The USDA put out a new-updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Much to my surprise we are now Zone 6b.

After being a Zone 5 all my life this is going to take some brain changes. One side of me (the gardener) loves this, It freaks out the other side ( global warming).

January 17 2012

2012-01-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

Gratitude is the fairest blossom that springs from the soul.

~ Henry Ward Beecher

living in the garden

January 15 2012

2012-01-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, Restoration Hardware went totally neutral. Gun metal grey, weathered wood, nubby linen and burlap. Left alone this is very cold and stark to me. Add a few plants or cut flowers and these textures and colors transform into a room that is both calming and restful.

all images: restorationhardware.com

January 14 2011

2012-01-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

The world is a mountain in which your works are echoed back to you

~ Rumi

Washington State- Scotty Thompson

January 7 2012

2012-01-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

Arbors 3 ways...

A gateway, portal or a structure to hold up vines. Arbors can be a meaningful entrance point to a garden or provide an artistic flag to guide the visitor along the intended path. Gardens are stories, arbors can be used as commas, a place to slow the mind.

rustic twig

cement faux bois

dimensional lumber

January 4 2012

2012-01-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

I garden because...

The manipulation of space and material never fails to inspire me. I know in my bones that we are each meant to garden in one way or another. With a shovel or without.

Butchart Gardens- Canada

Glendale Gardens- Canada

Hatley Park-Canada

Hatley Park- Canada

January 2 2012

2012-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.

~ William Osler

photo~living in the garden~2009

A new year

2012-01-01T18:45:00.001-08:00

a peaceful new year to you.

photo~living in the garden~summer 2009

Leaf Magazine

2011-10-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

My buddy Mary Ann Newcomer, ( one of last summer's Garden Writers in the Garden) has a wonder piece in a new digital garden magazine called Leaf . see page 56

I like garden magazines that are heavy on the visuals. Leaf is beautiful in design, heavy on the visuals with just the right amount of interesting copy for me. I love the digital format, you can click your way into a few lost hours of dreaming.

Evening in the Garden Report:

2011-07-26T21:29:00.001-07:00

It was an amazing evening. I mean, it surpassed all my expectations.

We tasted a fantastic "Museum Blend" that Wawawai Canyon Winery and the Museum crew created. It will be for sale in September. It is really good!

South Fork and The Black Cypress really went over the top on food. We sipped Mojitos and wine while nibbling on sliders, souvlaki and freshly smoked salmon. Did I mention the cold cucumber soup and ceviche?

It rained a little bit as we were getting started but the evening weather turned out beautiful. The light was sublime.

silent auction sculptures

This was one of the best parties I've been to. The gardens were beautiful, there was food, wine, song and a relaxing low key vibe in the air. This space was built for a party. We already set the date for next year ( July 14 )

all images by Zach Mazur

Floral Art...

2011-07-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

These are arrangements I made for the Museum of Art/WSU fundraising event we hosted last weekend. It was a smash success!

I put myself through college working a florist shop. It's was really fun to put that skill to work again. The arrangements were my contribution to the silent auction. Most of the flowers came from our yard down by the house. ( I never pick flowers from the garden up by the shop) It made me realize I could do arrangements for myself sometime..just because.

Donation to Haiti

2011-07-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you dear gardening community.

This is the second year we have sold fair-trade Haitian metal oil-drum art. These are beautiful happy pieces that are suitable for indoors or out.

Each year we donate 20% of the sale price to Partners in Health for their continued good works in Haiti.

This year we sent a check for $1337.00

Evening in the Garden

2011-06-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

GOOD ON ALL OF US!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you...

2011-06-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the end of our 2011 season. We now get a chance to work on our own gardens and garden projects.... the corn's in the ground, a second planting of beets will go in today. This has been an off year for gardening. An off year for the gardening business too.

Scotty and I extend our deepest thanks for this seasons support.

We are so grateful to be able to work from home at a job we love.

Thank you.

End of the 2011 season

2011-06-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

What a crazy growing season!

It now feels like summer... as it should ( 6-21 )

My friends below and I would like to invite you out

this weekend for hugs and flowers.

Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24

10% off all Bedding Plants ( annuals )

Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26

20% off all Bedding Plants ( annuals)

Osteospurmum

Ptilotus

Phoenix Penstemon

Lantana

Dahlia

Strawberry festival

2011-06-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Apples in the orchard
Mellowing one by one;
Strawberries upturning
Soft cheeks to the sun;
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Marjorie's Almanac

We have 2 varieties of beautiful fruiting strawberry plants ready for planting.

BENTON: Extra hardy variety that grows well without a lot of water. Large flavorful bright red berries, good for fresh eating right out of the garden or for freezing. Produces the entire crop all at once (one crop)

HOOD: Very productive variety producing large to extra large sweet berries of excellent quality. Produces the entire crop all at once ( one crop )

Strawberry shortcake anyone?

Artist in the Garden- Kimberly Vincent

2011-06-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

A self described "fanatical rock collector"

Jewelry Artist, Kimberly Vincent will be showing and selling her new sea glass and natural gemstone work.

Saturday, June 18, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm in the Garden

*StrangeFire Studios will be returning on Saturday as well.

STRANGEFIRE in the Garden

2011-06-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

StrangeFire Studios of Palouse will be displaying and selling their fantastically colored fused glass wares in the garden this Saturday, June 11.

Mo and Aimee participated in last year's Art in the Garden. We loved getting to know them better. I LOVE every bright and shiny piece they create.

We are happy they accepted our invitation to a "Solo Show".

sweet necklaces

retro-chic coasters

1000 point of light

Palouse triptych

Garden Writers in the Garden

2011-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 4, 2011 1-3 p.m.

Garden Writers in the Garden

Three very different writers, each with a unique point-of-view, narrative voice, and personal passion, yet all good friends, come together for an afternoon at Living in the Garden. They are drawn by a budding friendship with kindred spirits, Suzanne St. Pierre and Scotty Thompson, by the awesome sense of place evoked here in the Palouse, and by a mutual love of creative expression through art and horticulture.

Please join us for a rollicking conversation about what draws us to the garden and what we experience once there. You'll meet and hear from:

photo credit: Mary Grace Long Photography

Lorene Edwards Forkner, former nursery owner (Fremont Gardens, Seattle) and two-time gold medal winner for her displays at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Lorene is the author of several books, including her forthcoming Handmade Garden Style, which will be released by Timber Books later this year. Her blog, www.plantedathome.com, celebrates "A Good & Delicious Life" in the Northwest. Lorene will demonstrate one of the many clever and inspiring DIY projects from her new book and she will talk about what on her blog she describes as "the really good part: getting to blend our passions into a delicious whole."

Mary Ann Newcomer, scribe-scout-and-speaker, blogs at www.gardensofthewildwildwest.com and appears regularly as the "Dirt Diva" on the River Radio, 94.9 in Boise. Her articles on gardening appear in MaryJane's Farm. A native daughter of Idaho, Mary Ann has been growing plants since she was a small child who delighted in her first plot of radishes and their first sets of heart-shaped-leaves. Mary Ann is the editor of the forthcoming book, Rocky Mountain Gardener's Guide, which will be published by Cool Springs Press in 2012. Says Mary Ann: "My heart is here in the Wild Wild West. I believe in honoring genus loci, or, the Spirit of the Place." You'll hear her speak on one of her favorite themes: "Pioneering Gardening Techniques: Why Heirloom Gardens Still Work Today."

Debra Prinzing has returned to the Pacific Northwest after a four-year-episode in Los Angeles where she discovered the joys of gardening in Southern California with an entirely different plant palette and growing conditions. Debra writes about the design of architecture (the built environment) and horticulture (the planted environment) and the people who occupy that wonderful intersection. She is the author of Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways (Clarkson Potter, 2008) and is passionately at work creating a new book with photographer David Perry called A Fresh Bouquet: Seasonal, Local, and Sustainable Flowers. Debra will talk about growing a cutting garden and designing bouquets that reflect the season, the garden, and the environment in which you live. Learn more at www.debraprinzing.com.

Copies of the speakers' books will be available for purchase and signing at LITG.

The Conservatory this week.

2011-05-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

The warmer days (and nights) have got me thinking planting my annual bed.

Last year we mass-planted annuals in our gardens. It was so much fun! They grow SO fast, work their little hearts out and were such a pleasure long into fall.

Right now the conservatory is filled with such beauties it's hard for me to decide what to pull and plant this year.

When the sun is shining even the trash looks good

2011-05-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Spring Tree Tour Saturday May 14

2011-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Monique will be leading a spring tree tour of the WSU campus,

Saturday, May 14. What a great opportunity to get out and see the campus from a different point of view. Information below.

Spring Tree Tour
Come out and join fellow gardeners and plant-lovers for a walk around the WSU campus (after graduation!) to enjoy and learn about some of the many beautiful and unusual trees/shrubs there.
We'll look for spring bloom in particular, identify trees as we go, and talk about tree lore, planting and care, with lots of time for your questions and specific interests. Tour goes rain or shine, so dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. Kids 10 and older are welcome. Handouts will be provided; you may want a pen and clipboard. Meet at the parking lot on the south side of Johnson Hall, which is across Wilson Road from the Lighty/French Administration building, on the east side of the WSU campus.

Instructor: Monique Slipher, ISA Certified Arborist

Location: WSU Campus Min 4/Max 15

Saturday, May 14, 10:00am-12:00pm $6
To attend call Pullman Parks and Rec. 509-338-3227

MAY DAY and I'm thinking baskets....

2011-04-30T19:53:00.001-07:00

Today we brought hanging baskets out of the greenhouse.

I still think it's a bit early, but they are soooooo beautiful I wanted to share.

mixed sun in twig pot

Ivy geranium- fantastic red color

My signature mixed shade. dark eyes fuchsia, bonfire begonia, golden lysimachia

Solenia Begonia loves the heat of summer and morning sun.

Callie mix- orange-red-yellow

thunbergia aka: black eyed susan vine

das boot.

Rain Rain go away...

2011-04-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

For a successful business, you need 3 things:

location, location, location.

For the garden business it's

weather, weather, weather.

Here's validation of why it has felt like the wettest March ever...

www.usda.gov

Our house salad

2011-04-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

Scotty, who is the wife for the first 6 months of the year has been making this salad every night with dinner:

Spinach

Orange pieces

Toasted Almonds

Feta cheese

Dressing: a drizzle of Lucero Meyer Lemon olive oil and a drizzle of either Peach or Fig balsamic vinegar.

This is THE best olive oil I have had.

The lemons are crushed with the olives.

Of course we shop locally at the cutest garden shop up the hill.

olive crush photo credit-Lucero

April showers...drives one into the greenhouse

2011-04-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

April 2, outside: rain, hail, sun, sleet, wind, snow.

April 2, inside greenhouse: 65º humid, sunny even when aforementioned conditions exist outside.

Busy transplanting plugs for 4'' bedding plants and grooming hanging baskets. I am trying out some new hanging basket pots. What do you think? I am crazy for this cone shape. We may have to be creative when it comes to getting it in a car...but that's Scotty's job.

14" shade mix with bonfire begonia, fuchsia, lysimachia

12" classic sun basket with geranium, lobelia, verbena.

12" Thunbergia

Don't even get me started on how cute these are going to be. Planted with red geranium and blue lobelia. These should "fly"

Praying for warmer weather....

2011-03-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Behind the curtain....

2011-03-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

A busy day transplanting in the greenhouse. The metal panels on the floor are for spacing out geraniums.We elevate the panels and place a geranium in every other hole, holding them upright while giving them lots of air circulation and light...(grower's secret).

dreaming of warmer days...

2011-03-20T04:54:00.000-07:00

We woke up to snow today. Fortunately I could walk up the hill and walk into Spring.

A day at Margo's farm

2011-03-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

We went up the Clearwater last weekend to visit a friend and her baby goats. Sweet, Sweet, Sweet.

Margo's carved out a pretty sweet life on her farm. Check it out here

Pushing too hard...

2011-03-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. ~Goethe

What will you be wearing this spring?

2011-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

While at plant trials last year, as I was studying the 10,000 varieties of Calibrachoa, Scotty was doing a study in ladies foot wear. Cute shoes, yes, but what amazes me is the beautiful feet of these gardening women.

Who's ready for color?

2011-03-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

oh, we have colorful flowers in bloom too.

Did you hear...

2011-03-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

The Sun came out to play Saturday for our Sweet on Spring season opener.

It was a blast.

First week of the year.

2011-03-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

Sweet on Spring was sweet. I loved seeing all the gardeners, old and new....

I loved sharing the space with talented women who create with their hands.

We are so grateful that we can live what we love.

Opening day 2011

2011-03-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Ready for another year.

"Create the garden shop you would want to walk into."

I would shop here.

I love living in the garden.

Spring in a bottle

2011-03-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

More correctly, Spring a 8 inch container

Forget the weather outside. We've got spring captured.

We open Thursday... no matter what the weather is doing!

Craft in the Garden

2011-02-28T15:13:00.001-08:00

I call my gift shop the studio because, the 'grand scheme' was to have a studio to play in during the off season and later in life. Can you hear the postponement in that last sentence. I never have self-described as an artist but this last winter I've been working on thinking and living more creatively and not worrying if it's ART.

I had this idea for blooming cherry trees in the conservatory for Sweet on Spring. When my printing company messed up the colors on my postcard I found myself with 1500 useless postcards. I got the idea to glue 2 together and cut out leaves. Scotty and my buddy Carla were there to help. Then I cut out 300 cherry blossoms from old plant catalogs. Scotty is currently in the conservatory hanging them all on 2 tree branches.

It's still too soon for me to tell whether it's gonna be killer-good or not. Actually, it was really fun during the process so it doesn't really matter.

Sweet on Spring 2011-more...

2011-02-24T18:58:00.001-08:00

The women of Ciao Bella, never cease to inspire me. Such an eye for collection and display. Sometimes I dream of a co-op / antique market of sorts but instead of booths it would be one big fantastic shop. A mix of old and new, outside and in. Think Anthropolgie as a garden shop. These 2 women are definitely in my dream.

Sweet on Spring 2011- continued

2011-02-24T18:49:00.001-08:00

Kate Jaeckel will be joining Sweet on Spring this year . She is the owner of Orchard Farm in Moscow,Idaho. I'm pretty happy she is taking time out to come play with us on Saturday. I've already got my shopping list ready for her booth.

Sweet on Spring 2011-March 5

2011-02-24T09:32:00.001-08:00

cori dantini

One week from today we open for the season. One week, yikes. I am so excited for this year, I feel as if my desire for creativity has been reborn. I can't stop thinking about fun things to create.

patricia cassidy

Our spring opening event is Sweet on Spring. This year 7 friends will be showing & selling their best finds and creations. If you've come in the past you know it's a good time. If you've never been, set aside a chunk of time because you will be running into friends you haven't seen all winter. Hugs and laughter fill the conservatory... welcome spring.

carla wesson

Sweet on Spring, Saturday March 5

9:30-4:30

Theresa Gong Porcelain

2011-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

We saw Theresa's work in a gallery in Helena Montana last summer.

I got that excited feeling of "man, I've gotta have her work around me"

I wrote and asked if she would consider adding us to her lists of "galleries".

She said yes!

Her work is so amazing. So detailed and just the right balance of image to blank space.

These pieces are wheel thrown. Theresa then etches through thick layers of colored slips, bisque fires then treats with a glossy glaze and fires at very high temperatures.

This is functional Art. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Don't look outside today...

2011-02-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

Spring really is on it's way... here's proof, our first shipments of plants arrived and a burst of color is all we really need to drive this February snow away.

house plants

2011-02-14T12:58:00.001-08:00

This Saturday we are meeting a truck filled with houseplants just for us! This is quite a coup for me. I have been trying to purchase from this company for a few years but they didn't deliver to our area....until now.

They deliver every week. If you have any special requests, let me know.

p.s. I will be selling these fantastic colored pots too.

Cannot WAIT until we open.

Nature doesn't lie

2011-02-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

These beauties are seen right outside my sunroom window, asking me to come out and play. And the play has begun. I ordered pansies and primroses yesterday, they are to be delivered Thursday! Next week greenhouse plant plugs start arriving. Those of you who are tired of winter...I can assure you spring is just around the corner. March 3 is our opening day.

ice cold on Reid Road

2010-11-29T13:28:00.001-08:00

How to measure time

2010-11-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

Since my father's death in September, I seem to have lost track of time.

Thanks to our beautiful extended fall I was able to plant bulbs last week.

When these come up in the spring it will be extra sweet...and sour.

a season ends..

2010-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Scotty and I would like to thank all who attended our Fall in the Garden event this last weekend. Sunday was extra special with Farmer Dave and David Wold playing music in the garden. Our season is now officially over and we thank you for supporting us.

If you weren't able to attend ...I took our beautiful plants and bulbs down to Prune Orchard in Pullman. Debbie's shop is soooooo beautiful inside and now the outside is bursting with color.

We are preparing for a slow moving fall and winter...ahhhhhhhh

Music in the Garden-September 12

2010-09-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

Farmer Dave will be here singing his heart out.

Sunday from 1:30-3:00

this is not dave..ha

And it's going to be a perfect day!

Fall in the Garden- an Open Garden Weekend

2010-09-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

September, 9-10-11-12

9:30-5:30

fresh fall color for planters or borders

4 days only- be here -aloha

It's a rough job...

2010-08-28T17:55:00.001-07:00

I hate to rub it in, this is what my conferences look like!

My biggest decision is which color do I like best.

We just returned from plant trials in Oregon. These are new and improved varieties next to tried and true varieties. It is almost impossible to narrow it down to the few plants I have room to grow in my greenhouse. It is the only time I wish I had a big big garden shop.

Show at Cafe Silos in Moscow

2010-08-08T15:38:00.003-07:00

Palouse Landscapes

Scotty Thompson Photograpy

Cafe Silos Moscow Idaho

August 10 - September 8

Scotty just hung a show at Cafe Silos in Moscow. If you have never been to Brenda's you are missing a treat. Very comfortable, very tasty, very beautiful. Her gardens outside are a delight.

Open: 8-6 tues-sat 8-4 sun closed mon

Directions click here.

Show at Silos in Moscow

2010-08-08T15:38:00.001-07:00

HOME-GROWN ART PROJECT

2010-08-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

pondering what to do this weekend? May I suggest:

backyard harvest's first annual HOME-GROWN ART PROJECT

Bank Left Gallery, Palouse WA, August 7-19, open wed-sat

This community installation of donated original artworks will be upstairs at the Bank Left Gallery August 7-19. They will be available for purchase at a silent auction August 21

at the annual harvest celebration in Moscow. More information at www.backyardharvest.org

aphid on tomatoes

2010-08-06T07:23:00.001-07:00

My greenhouse tomatoes have a few aphids on them. It was bound to happen. They are flying off the drying fields into our lush heaven. I have an organic oil spray and I thought about ordering beneficial insects but then I remembered my bug blaster. (dope slap) It's a spray nozzle that emits a flat-2 dimensional blast of water. Aphids being soft bodied insects can't handle the force of the spray. This tool is very effective for mites too who dislike moisture and congregate on the underside of the leaves where rain won't wash them off.

win-win, plants love it, pests hate it, good for the environment

aphids moving in...

2010-08-03T16:44:00.001-07:00

Our neighbor to the West just got through cutting his hay field for the first time. While this makes a beautiful scene, I swear every aphid in that field moved to our green and lush garden! This is my best theory 'cause I've never had aphids like this year. The nice thing is they are mostly congregating on the weeds (thickly congregating, yuk)

MONTANA

2010-07-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

We just returned home from a week camping in Montana. What a state! we were in the high country desert of the "big hole" and also spent some time in Helena.

While in Helena we visited the:

Archie Bray Foundation. The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts is a public, nonprofit, educational institution founded in 1951 by brickmaker Archie Bray, who intended it to be "a place to make available for all who are seriously and sincerely interested in any of the branches of the ceramic arts, a fine place to work." Its primary mission is to provide an environment that stimulates creative work in ceramics.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bray is located three miles from downtown Helena, Montana, on the site of the former Western Clay Manufacturing Company. Set against the wooded foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the 26-acre former brickyard is internationally recognized as a gathering place for emerging and established ceramic artists. The nearby mountains and brick factory ruins provide a backdrop for the creative environment; more important is the dynamic arts community created by the resident artists that come to the Bray to work, share experiences, and explore new ideas.

Talk about inspiration...honestly we cut our vacation short by 2 days because we were so inspired all we wanted to do was get home and start on projects!

kitties need a home...

2010-07-30T16:11:00.001-07:00

As a favor to a friend who has generously saved this feral family of felines. I make this post. Momma Cat and the 3 kittens (2 female 1 male) have all been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. If you are in need of a mouser or just can't resist a fuzzy face, email me and I will pass it on..

litg@pullman.com

Farm Tour

2010-07-29T10:48:00.001-07:00

Looking for something fun and unusual to do this weekend.

Check out this self guided farm tour on Sunday August 1

You have to sign up ( email is okay ) by Thursday June 29

email Carol Spurling at outreach@moscowfood.coop

or call 208-669-0763

thank you...

2010-07-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have taken the time to send my gratitude. Gratitude for the support that allows me to have the perfect stay at home job. Gratitude for the ability to nurture beauty in our busy world. I love what I do and I am grateful to the community that supports that.

The greenhouse is full of tomatoes and cucumber plants for backyard harvest. They are planted in containers on a drip system. Our gardens are all on auto-pilot and we are finally settling in to our off season and starting to dream of camping.

What a wonderful day...

2010-07-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who attended Art in the Garden this year.

We had a wonderful time.

The day was calm and sunny and we had a steady stream of folks all day long. Our event coincided with Palouse Art Walk this year and there was good flow of people coming and going...

We would like to thank all our artists who participated this year. Merci Merci Merci

My booth...

2010-07-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

No surprise here. I really did had plans for making driftwood trellis, collage cards, and more for Art in the Garden, but really, where did I think the time was going to come from.

The event is starting to become real for me.... Patrick Siler came by this morning to pick out a spot in the shade where he can draw. Molly's up in the sugar shack cum studio, painting her heart out. I am so excited to see her finished work. She did such a nice job on our poster.

2 more days...

Summer in the Garden

2010-07-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Another reason to visit us (besides Art in the Garden) this Saturday, July 10 is our gardens. With all the rain this spring they are extra lush and just starting to overflow with summer color.

Scotty is framing photos for his "booth" and tomorrow I will post a photo of my "booth"

Art in the Garden 2010

2010-07-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

A week has past since our season ended.

The gardens have grown so much with the warm weather, they look perfect for Art in the Garden. We have many new artists showing this year. I can't wait! See you Saturday.

ENDS MEET.

2010-06-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

Bittersweet.

The only word that will describe this week.

To Celebrate the end of our 2010 season and the first weekend of summer, Sunday June 27, Tiana Gregg will be here playing music in the garden from 3:00-5:00 pm. This is also the release date of her new CD, 'ENDS MEET'

If you are free Sunday afternoon, I invite you out to listen to Tiana's music float over the garden.

Money to Haiti

2010-06-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

During last summer's gift show I ordered wonderful, Haitian Fair Trade, metal garden art made from used oil drums. Using just a hammer and a chisel, the artists create these beautiful wall hangings . My order arrived 3 days after the earthquake. Feeling horrible and wanting to help, we made a commitment to donate 20% of each sale to Partners in Health for their continued work in Haiti.

Today I mailed a check to Partners in Health for $1390.00 !

We sold 128 pieces.

Thank you! Thank you, Thank you!

p.s. we have these 3 pieces left...

Gregorian Chants

2010-06-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Those who visit us, know we float Gregorian Chants over the garden.

Many have asked for our playlist, here it is:

Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos: Ave Maria

Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos: The Soul of Chant

Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice & Saint-Maur, Clervaux: Salve Regina

Capella Gregoriana: Lost in Meditation

I'm in love...

2010-06-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

After a month of wind and rain, yesterday felt like falling in love.

I was giddy, forgetful and felt as if I had viewed the world for the first time...and it IS beautiful.

Music in the Garden- May 16 2-4 pm

2010-05-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to be 74 degrees warm- and the sweet sounds of Tiana and Alex will float through the garden....If your wondering what to do this Sunday afternoon, you really should stop by and listen...

There is huge talent among us on the Palouse.

This is a gift Tiana is giving our community.

Joni Mitchell wrote:

"And I play if you have the money

Or if your a friend to me

But the one man band

By the quick lunch stand

He was playing real good, for free"

BACKYARD HARVEST

2010-05-05T09:14:00.001-07:00

This is a guest post from Amy Grey, Director of Backyard Harvest.

The soil has been turned, peas are planted, and Molly survived a very soggy Farmer's Market on Saturday—our fifth season is well underway!

We will need your participation to make it our best year ever. Here are some ways to help out for the month of May:

Moscow Farmers Market | Molly needs help on Saturday mornings to manage Backyard Harvest's market booth. Sign up for an 7–10am or 10–1pm shift by contacting Molly at market @backyardharvest.org.

Market Drop-off Bin | This year we will also have a bin to accept produce donations at both the Co-op's Tuesday Growers Market and the Moscow Farmers Market.

So buy a little extra from your favorite local vendor or bring your surplus garden produce to drop in the bin.

Plant an Extra Row (or Two or Three) | Expand your garden this spring for donation to Backyard Harvest later this summer. We will have free seeds available at our booths at the Moscow Farmers Market and Tuesday Growers Market during the first few weeks in May. Later in June we will also have free plant starts for distribution to those willing to grow extra for our neighbors in need.

Adopt a Garden | We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help us maintain any one of several Backyard Harvest plots located in Moscow and Pullman. Contact Isaak at isaak@backyardharvest.org for a current list of gardens and needs.

Spring Cleaning? | Backyard Harvest is always looking for garden tools in good condition to help with our growing efforts. Contact Isaak at isaak@backyardharvest.org.

As always thanks for all of your help and support . . . we could not do it without you!

amy

amy grey

director

backyardharvest

po box 9783

moscow, id 83843

tel 208.669.2259

Music in the Garden- May 2 & 16, 2-4 pm

2010-04-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

Well, amazing things just keep happening to us!

Last week, singer/songwriter Tiana Gregg of Palouse (Green Frog Fame) asked if she and a friend could come play music in the garden. It took us all of 3 seconds to say yes. The very next day Scotty built a stage and arranged seating ( so very Scotty ) This Sunday, May 2 and Sunday, May 16 we will have music in the garden from 2-4 pm

I would encourage you to come and hear new tones floating above the gardens...

PASSION FLOWERS

2010-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

These just arrived today and I am over the moon crazy for them.

There are 3 sizes- 19"-14"-11", each one a unique piece of art.

They are made by a collaborative between artists with and without developmental disabilities.

Here is what they say about their mission:

Purpose: To inspire and liberate the human spirit through the arts.

Vision: To create and live out a best practice model for collaborative art making between artists with and without developmental disabilities. This new mind set demonstrates that creativity is innately a part of all people and recognizes that art enhances the quality of life and strengthens communities.

I love it! I love it! I love it!

Our Neighbors

2010-04-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

In the country sense, Eric and Sheryl are our neighbors. While they may not actually live next door, they ARE close to our hearts. They are out to change our world for the better and every action they take is towards that gain. Click here to link their farm's web page. If you are looking for locally grown food this is the place to start. We have been eating their poultry for the last 2 years and yes, there IS a difference. Below is an excerpt from their web site.

The Zakarisons have been farming on the Palouse since 1935. In 2006 Eric and Sheryl decided that they wanted to grow crops and livestock in a more sustainable way. In 2009 our first 10 acres of organic farmland were certified.

Our small diversified farm is located in the heart of the Palouse in the Pullman - Moscow region. We raise grain such as conventional soft white wheat and we are beginning to transition some of our farm ground to organic production. In 2010 we will experiment with small plots to grow organic lentils, hulless barley and hard white spring wheat (good for bread). We are also experimenting with camelina to determine if we can produce a local oil source for the Palouse.

We also raise livestock. We have a farm flock of White Dorper sheep. We raise pastured poultry - broiler chickens, laying hens and turkeys. We have three wonderful draft mules - Jay, Rhodie, and Kate.

Earth Day...

2010-04-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

I was just sent this very cool interactive web site by a friend.

www.whatismissing.net It is the work of a group called Radical Media. It's spectacular.

I was particularly moved by UNCHOPPING A TREE.

Ladies in the Conservatory

2010-04-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

I released 1500 ladybugs in the conservatory this week. I ran out of room in my growing greenhouse and had to bring the tomatoes and basil down to the conservatory. Because tomatoes are "aphid magnets " I thought it would be a good idea to release some red ladies. Adult ladybugs don't eat as many bad bugs as their larvae so I was thrilled to see lots of "romance" among the group.

I am growing our vegetable starts in a new pot this year. It's made out of wheat (how appropriate for the Palouse!) and although you can't plant them directly in the ground, they is compost-able in a home compost pile.

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Chix in the Stix

2010-04-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

The woman (Chix) who made Sweet on Spring so fabulous this year, are getting together again next Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10 downtown Pullman for another showing of their wares.

I love the tag line: All handmade, all local, all chicks.

the greenhouse owns me....

2010-03-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

These are gentle binds that hold me to my work.

To say that I love working in the greenhouse would not be a strong enough phrase. It gives me energy, purpose, and an extreme calm. I guess they call that bliss. I am so grateful that I can support myself with this work and provide beauty for others. On the 3 days that we are closed, one is spent in the office/errands, one is spent receiving new stock and one is spent in the greenhouse.

This is my beautiful day of rest.

A fresh bouquet

2010-03-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

The amazing duo of Debra Prinzing and David Perry have another book in the works. A Fresh Bouquet click on the link, it will take you to their web site where there is a sneak peak at the book with ISSUU. AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL! I cannot wait until it's published!

A new year.

2010-03-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed an amazing opening weekend. We are just recovering. As usual we were so busy we did not take any photos of the event.. Alas.. here are photos of the shop this week.

Saguaro in Pullman

2010-02-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words... but in this case you really need to SEE this puppy in person to be speechless. One can't get the scale of this nor the detail in a photo.

IT'S A KNOCKOUT!

Sweet on Spring 2010-March 6

2010-02-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

In the land of bigger and better, "Second Annual" could be a challenge. A challenge to outdo last year, a challenge to expand. I am no stranger when it comes to pushing oneself. I am also trying to put to practice all those lessons learned about balance in the off season.

The beauty of an event that comes together from the point of "wouldn't it be fun if we invited a few more friends this year to show at Sweet on Spring' " rather than organizing with the intent of surpassing last years attendance and sales records. I can soo0 feel the difference in my energy and I know in my heart this is going to be a fabulous entrance to this gardening season. Here is a taste of who's coming.

Cori Dantini

Cori continues to be one of my favorite local artists. Her work has a lightness to it that I find irresistible. She's rocking out in the big world too.

Carla Wesson

Forget Fashion Week. We have our own local accessory designer!

I promise you won't find a better crafted purse or pillow. Carla's signature is attention to detail. You have to check out that cowgirl purse!

Cowgirl Chocolates

Marilyn Lysohir

Chocolate is the Sweet in Sweet on Spring.

No better chocolate than our local brand!

"Cowgirl Chocolates are sweet and spicy gourmet chocolates for the adventurous chocolate lover"

Blue Mango

Patricia Cassidy

Jewelry has been a part of Patricia's life for a long as I can remember.

Her work shows her strong love of nature and her studio and garden are "to die for"

Ciao Bella

Chrisi Kincaid and Lori Eveleth

What began as a fundraiser for tickets to Italy, has turned into a bit of a sideline for these two friends. "We are purveyors of everything vintage, re-purposed and recycled. We think just about everything can be made beautiful! "

I'm thinking Spring...

2010-01-31T16:54:00.000-08:00

I have been seriously noticing the signs. Bud swell, Red Winged Black Birds, Sparrows taking a bath. You can even see the white color showing on the snowdrops on State Street. Spring in January.

I have been unpacking boxes and boxes of goodies for the store. I LOVE everything I have unpacked so far. This bodes very well for me. It means I am still in touch with the person who ordered all these pots, furniture, garden bells, vibrant fabric pendants 6 months ago. This season brings a return for me to my original business plan. The original business plan that called for a venue of creativity.

This year Living in the Garden is focusing on the creative class. We spent the summer searching out handmade products and buying from the artist directly or through fair trade companies.

I start the greenhouse in 2 weeks and I can't wait for the plants to arrive. I know then, it will be spring.

Moving into Spring

2009-12-27T10:31:00.000-08:00

As the solstice brings longer days, my brain is moving towards seed starting, and retail displays.

Last year we loved starting the season with our Sweet on Spring celebration. Now it's a ritual. Scotty is now busy working on the main display.

One winter, about 10 years ago, we visited friends in Tucson. Scotty was so taken with the Sonoran desert that he built a 9 f00t tall metal and stucco saguaro cactus. It has lived in a corner of the shop ever since. A few weeks ago, he moved it over in front of the wood stove and began his winter art project. It is amazing!

Scotty's blog..

2009-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

My muy talented husband has started a photo blog.

Mostly landscapes, amazing landscapes.

It's going to be harder to steal his photos now for my blog.....

every good boy does fine

2009-12-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

Scotty has been giving me music lessons on the piano. I really want to learn how to play the fiddle but I thought I would learn more about basic music theory and what all those notes are first..kinda fun!

Golden Whitman County

2009-12-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a map titled The Decline: The Geography of a Recession. It animates the unemployment rates from January 2007 to October 2009. Whitman County's unemployment rate has virtually remained unchanged. I am not suggesting that many lives have not been touched, I know they have, but we seem rather insulated from the larger picture this map is showing.

Osage Orange/Hedge Apple

2009-12-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

A thanksgiving day trip up the snake river to Heller bar revealed a tree that I've never seen these parts. Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) is a common tree on the great plains where it was historically planted as a fence row due to it's dense branching and tough thorns.

The fruit has a citrus & evergreen bough scent and a beautiful lime green color. It is common in the mid-west to bring the fruit indoors for the winter to repel spiders and insects.

I think they are beautiful lined on my kitchen window sill.

SWEET

2009-11-18T12:47:00.001-08:00

Doug Mills/The New York Times

This summer was the first time EVER honey was produced on the White House grounds. 134 pounds or roughly 11 gallons of sweet honey was produced. Charlie Brandts, a White house carpenter set up a hive where the bees could forage on the abundant flowers and tree blossoms.

The resulting linden flower honey was bottled for the first family to eat and serve at events and for Mrs Obama to give as gifts.......

look here for The New York Times article.

fall in the garden

2009-11-12T18:55:00.001-08:00

It's a common question " You are only open 4 months, what do you do the rest of the year? These people have never been self employed. ha! The pat answer is I garden. The truth is I garden and work and somehow the weeks fly by.

We have had such a nice fall. Scotty and I are getting our spring clean-up work done now. It continues to amaze me just how much organic material a garden can produce. And just like a vegetable garden we harvest our display garden and the end of the season too.

After collecting and saving perennial seed, we cut back all the perennials, load the mass onto the tractor and fill our compost bin. This bin is 4 ft X 12 ft. Over winter this will compost down to half it's size and in the center will be beautiful compost that next spring we will add to our raised vegetable beds and the new garden we are creating.

COULD IT BE THIS EASY?

2009-10-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

Last week Scotty and I were in Seattle on a buying trip. We took our camping van but as a treat decided to eat out rather than cook in the van. We ate wonderful food, but we were blown away at the portion sizes! We split just about every meal.

I love food, and I don't like to diet or demonize certain foods. In an effort to lose weight I have been watching my portion size. If you have ever done this before, you know measuring food before it goes on your plate somehow breaks the romance of "what you are about to receive". This morning I think I found a beautiful ally. Sarah Morris of Thinnerware came up with a brilliant solution. She creates these beautiful plates that aid in the portion size dilemma. Cover the large flower and that's 1/2 cup, the small flower 1/4 and the two flowers together, that's the "proper" meat portion. The bowls have three 1/2 cup lines.

I ordered the set below. I think it's beautiful.

photos from here

cute and soon to be hot!

2009-10-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

We've returned from our 7 state-National Park & Monument-pick up the sauna tour. This sweet barrel was quite an ice breaker everywhere we went. It was interesting that the residents of each state has their favorite liquor fantasies for what could be held inside. In Minnesota it was whiskey, in South Dakota and Wyoming it was beer, in Montana (Missoula) it was wine.

Right now the sauna sits in our shop where it will stay until next summer when it will move, somehow?? to the back yard. The shop may not be the most romantic of settings but we WILL be able to use it this fall and winter...ahhhhhhhh

Sauna from Superior Cooperage

Scotty took some wonderful photos of our trip, I'll post them soon.

National Park Tour

2009-09-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Badlands photo from here

We leave tomorrow to pick up our sauna and go on a National Park Tour.

Glacier, Roosevelt, Mt Rushmore, Badlands,

Crazy Horse.

I give credit to Ken Burns for making me rethink the west.

p.s. thanks to all who came out last weekend.

Scotty and I had a wonderful time seeing everyone and we had good sales too!

I'd shop here...

2009-09-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Well I am all ready for our Open Garden Weekend, and I gotta tell ya....

"I'd shop here" It is so beautiful. I hope my amateur photos give you some idea.

!!!

2009-09-08T08:24:00.001-07:00

Happy 50th Birthday to you, my dear Suzanne!!
And may you have many more and good health and great happiness along the way! I treasure our friendship and the time we get to spend together is both essential and precious to me. Thank you, thank you!

Love and kisses........
Carla

Bring a friend!

2009-09-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

AN INVITATION TO OUR

OPEN GARDEN WEEKEND

September 10-11-12-13

9:00-5:30

For this long weekend the Studio will be filled with:

My favorite (hard to find) flower bulbs.

Big Beautiful planters and fall blooming color.

As well as my 'foodie' market finds.

Tornado before the party

2009-09-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

I know this phenomenon is not limited to me. The 2 weeks before a big event you feel the need to repaint all the exterior trim. I am now one week away from our Fall Open Garden Weekend and both french doors are off their hinges being painted and I haven't even started cleaning the gardens for visitors. Then there is new product to price, not to mention displays...there are going to be some long days around here! Oh did I mention Scotty has had a backhoe here for the last 2 days digging. He has his own big project going. But the truth is this is how we always work. We groove on this type of energy, for me no deadline is floundering. I do what my 4th grade teacher-friend calls "getting off task". Way off.

Show and Tell: I not only repainted the trim but changed colors which meant a primer coat first. I LOVE the new color. It reminds me of forest service building. I think it goes very well with my trencadis around the front door.

...more on the Open Garden Weekend tomorrow, it's going to be a blast.

3 Ice Cubes

2009-09-01T09:09:00.001-07:00

Today I read in Grower Talks magazine about a marketing plan by Green Circle Growers in Ohio. They have just released a line of Phalaenopsis Orchids called "Just Add Ice".

Brilliant.

No more overwatering, you just add 3 ice cubes a week to your orchid. They slowly melt watering your plant. There seems to be another benefit from the ice, cooler temperatures help promote new flower spike production. You can even sign up for a weekly reminder.

Burgerville

2009-08-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, first off we had a great time and great food on the Oregon Coast, ( hot Dungeness crab and artichoke sandwich) but the meal that made the biggest impact on me was in Portland at the Burgerville next to the convention center. At first it feels like a regular fast food joint, (we were sent there by a supplier who insisted it was good) then you notice the local in-season additions to the menu. Walla Walla onion rings, local cherry pulled pork BBQ sandwich. Fresh marionberry shakes... hmmmm. The receipt had a full nutritional analysis, don't read this before you eat, come to think of it, maybe not after you eat either. The kicker for me what at the end of the meal we bussed our table, they had a photo above the recycle garbage can for everything we had in our hands except the plastic basket. Left over food, paper, plastic cups, plastic utensils, all went into the hopper to be sent to an industrial composter leaving as soil within 90 days.

cool. way cool. I love Oregon.