Flowers « Dirty Girl Gardening

Seed Savers

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Viola seed pod in February

This little viola pod was just about to burst from the couple days of warm weather we had. Luckily I captured it in a glass bottle I keep for seeds. This will dry out for a bit, then be planted in the early Summer in the pots on my deck.

For another great source to buy seed online, check out www.seedsavers.org

They are a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seed. I buy most my flower seeds here and last year’s cover crops seed for my farm. They come in excellent quality and fairly fast shipping.

Another fabulous place to buy organic heirloom (sometimes, sometimes not heirloom) seed is Seeds of Change. I usually buy my asparagus and strawberry crowns and other root crops here. They come in great condition and have some nice organic varieties to choose from.

And if all else fails – there’s always pillaging from your neighbors or even Craigslist.org

Posted in Flowers, Gardening, How-To | 15 Comments »

Ahhh yeaaaah! SF F&G Show!

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

If Laura hadn’t reminded me I would have almost forgot to grab my ticket to the SF Flower & Garden Show early… having to bum a ticket at the door like I did last year. I’m usually one of those dorks that loves to get tickets early, print out directions early, schedule things… and so on. If I don’t control plan ahead of time, I get itchy. So luckily, I’m ahead of the game this year. (Thanks Laura!!!!!!!)

I absolutely love the flower and garden show (who doesn’t? It’s flowers and garden stuff!)…. but I do take a little issue with pictures of people gardening – when they are not dirty! It’s like, seriously? Who are you fooling. I mean it’s one thing to accidentally fall asleep in a mushroom patch wearing jewels, but it is quite another to be at a potting bench not covered in soil. Plus – that child should probably be whining about not being able to go inside and watch Barney or something, rather than perfectly posing… right? (Do kids still watch Barney?)

Beyond that – the SF Flower & Garden is fantastic and I’m going (Carla, you’re coming with… and buying me a corn dog or something.) Afterwards, be sure to tune back in about my findings….

For more info about how you can get your sweet buns to the show, go to….

www.sfgardenshow.com

Posted in Flowers, Fun, Gardening, To-Do This Month/Season | 11 Comments »

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Winter's repose

I went to clip this little guy earlier today, but found him most endearing and decided to leave him instead.

Posted in Flowers, Gardening | 4 Comments »

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Me.

Smellin’ the jasmine that finally started to bloom on my fence. I guess I shouldn’t say, finally – since it’s been through hell. Last year my landlord decided it was time to paint the fence, thus ripping it off said fence and while that was going on my dogs took full advantage of using it as some sort of pull toy. Once the painting was completed I sewed it back onto the fence and now it’s blooming. First Jasmine, next the huge Wisteria.

I recently learned that Jasmine is one of the most elusive scents in the fragrance world. You can find something called Jasmine almost anywhere, disguised as a perfume. But the true scent of Jasmine is rarely used. Something to do with the amount of chemicals naturally found in the flower – and when that is extracted and reproduced, the top note is usually lost.

Posted in Flowers | 5 Comments »

Valentine’s Day Yumminess

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Stumped on what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day???

Well, flowers of course.… oh ya and diamonds. Puppies are good too.

But for a more eco-inspired Valentine’s Day gift check out Sustainable Harvest International and their gift of a chocolate forest!

“The mission of Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) is to provide farming families in Central America with the training and tools to overcome poverty while restoring our planet’s tropical forests.

Since the organization’s start in 1997, SHI has planted more than 2.6 million trees and converted thousands of acres to sustainable uses; thereby saving tens of thousands of acres of tropical forest from slash-and-burn destruction.

SHI works with families and students throughout Honduras, Panama, Belize and Nicaragua implementing alternatives to slash-and-burn farming, the leading cause of rainforest destruction in the region. “

Posted in Flowers, Fun | 3 Comments »

Monday, January 25th, 2010

The muscari are just coming up now on one of the little pots on my railing. I love to watch them come up because it’s so weird to see an actual flower bud push through the soil, as opposed to leaves and stems – then the flowers. And yes, they do smell like grapes.

Love the apricot colored Pansy growing under my dormant rose bush. The yellowish plant behind it? An oxalis! Yes, one of the worst weeds can make for a beautiful bedding plant.

Posted in Flowers, Gardening | 4 Comments »