Gardener's Challenge #1

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

(Imagine “Mission Impossible” music playing as you read this…)

I have a challenge for the gardener’s out there:


Gardener's Challenge

Gardener’s Challenge


Send me one of your greatest garden stories ever!

Like, the story you tell your family over and over because it’s so ridiculous. The story you think back to and wonder… why the hell do I garden in the first place?! For example:

“One of the first times I was hired to create a garden for a client I was 18 and thrilled with the thought of building a fabulous flower garden (which was really just weeding a 100 sq. foot area and tossing in a couple plants… to me – a huge job!) . Candace was my client’s name and she said she wanted tons of flowers! “Tons!!“, she reiterated. So, knowing that flowers needed lots of nutrients to bloom – I bought two yards of chicken manure and spread it throughout, roughly, 100 square feet. I realized it smelled funny but just thought more was better and I should apply it in ample amounts anyway. Then I planted an array of roses and salvias – one of the salvias (and when I say one I mean I planted ten!) was salvia uglinosa.

Once I was finished spreading the manure, planting and watering, I stepped back and took in the newly planted masterpiece I created. My client was very pleased and I went on my way. Then next day (literally) I got a call saying everything was dead. I was sure Candace was over reacting and drove there as fast as I could. But, as she said – everything was dead. The roses were burned beyond repair and the salvias looked as if someone took a torch to them in the middle of the night… oh, and I stained her driveway with the chicken manure delivery.

I had to pay to buy new plants, different compost, and do all the work for free to take away the old manure and replant everything again. After all that was done, a month later I drove buy to see everything happy again… including the salvia uglinosa! That stupid salvia was coming up everywhere like a weed! (Salvia uglinosa is on many states invasive plant list.. beware!)

Candace is still my client (ten years later) and we laugh about it to this day… she still has salvia growing in her front yard and I have never used chicken manure since. “


The winner of this challenge gets their choice of a one gallon succulent or strawberry (already setting fruit!) AND one rose scented sugar scrub!

The winner’s story will be posted the week the contest is over, with link to their blog. Prizes will be send right away, with official certificate that your story rocked!

Contest to start: NOW

Contest to end: March 5th

Send stories to: gardenerj@gmail.com

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5 Garden Myths – Debunked!!

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

1. Mosquito Eaters do not eat Mosquitoes!

Many a night I have ushered (not to be confused with, Urrrshered) in those alleged “Mosquito Eaters”, making sure my boyfriend doesn’t smash them against the wall with the latest National Geographic. Then a friend told me they did not actually eat mosquitoes, then I googled it,
and found they sometimes eat mosquito’s larvae, but that’s about it. Now, I will let my boyfriend smoosh away.

2. Gardening is relaxing and healthy for you.

No my friends, gardening is not always relaxing and good for you. I once had to broadcast a huge canister of snail bait all over a clients garden, the wind switched directions and it ended up all over my face and in my eyes. I spent the rest of the afternoon coughing up diatomaceous earth and I couldn’t remember where my check book was for like, three days.

3. Wood Chip: Friend or Foe?

Foe, I say! Unless you want little or nothing to grow under the wood chips – or want to spend every month over fertilizing your plants, don’t both using wood chips. They suck. They’re usually ugly and reek of pine sweat, and they do nothing for the heath or aesthetics of your garden. Stay away from the dreaded micro-bark, too. It screams home depot special and gives you horrible splinters.

4. Clay soil is bad.

No. Clay soil is great… just in the right quantities. If you have lots of clay soil in your garden, you have a great material you can add to and work with for an optimum growing condition. Try adding composts, manures, and a bit f sand to it. With layering, cultivation and cutting back on the water, it will turn to a wonderful loam.

5. Yellow and wilting leaves means more water.

No and Yes. Yellow and wilting leaves can mean many things: needing more water, too much water, too much wind, too much sun, too much shade, peed on by a huge dog, trampled on by your thoughtless child, etc. The quick solution to yellowing and wilting leaves is not more water… look for more clues on and around the plant, then go from there.

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