Chinese Cabbage – Beijing 1989

  • Post published:02/19/2014
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In the fall of 1989 there was a bumper crop of Chinese Cabbage in Beijing. This was before 'capitalism with Chinese characteristics' and everyone was required to buy 40 kilograms (over 80 pounds of cabbage). The Chinese cabbages were trucked into Beijing, piled up on street corners, in front of the state stores - and everywhere. Then it had to be bought, taken home and stored, in courtyards, in apartment building hallways and balconies - everywhere. Chinese cabbage…

Sastrugi – Waves and Caves

  • Post published:02/19/2014
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Sastrugi are caused by the wind's blowing  and drifting the snow. For more Wordlessness this Wednesday click here.

New Flowers for 2014

  • Post published:02/16/2014
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  Is it too early to talk about new flowers for 2014?  NO! By tomorrow afternoon Punxatawny Phil will have told us whether we can count on an early spring. I have heard a rumor that he may very well do so.  Maybe. I already know that it is still light at 5:30  in the evening. Spring seems like a real possibility and it is time to pay serious attention to the plant catalogs piling up since before…

Death on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

For me, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a bust this month. This poinsettia has been living happily on our dining table, in front of a big southern window since Christmas.  At night we close the lined curtains, to slightly moderate heat loss. I've kept it watered, but yesterday I came downstairs and when I opened the curtains I saw that it was withered and drooping. I don't think it was below 32 degrees in our living space, but…

Microgreens with Dinner Tonight!

  • Post published:02/13/2014
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I planted these microgreens on February 2 and tonight I am harvesting them for our supper. Nothing could be simpler. Put seed starting mix in a container, press it down slightly, scatter your seeds which can be a mix from a company like Botanical Interests which I used, or seeds of any greens you have on hand - asian greens, radishes, beets etc. - and in two weeks or  so you will have a harvestable crop. In addition,…

The View from the Bedroom Window

  • Post published:02/12/2014
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This view from the bedroom window, taken on Sunday has not changed much in the last few days. Temperatures have stayed very cold;  minus 2 degrees this morning. Occasional snow showers and the frigid temperatures have kept the snow pristine and amazingly sparkly. Big storm predicted for tomorrow. We'll be prepared, but we'll see. For more Wordlessness this Wednesday click here.  

A Country Woman’s Language of Love

  • Post published:02/10/2014
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I have written about the language of love before, giving it my own modern spin. Sharon Selz at The Country Woman Magazine has created several bouquets filled with loving messages in a more traditional tone. The bouquet pictured here says: I am lonely without you and desire a return of your constant love and affection. Flowers: hyacinth (constancy), jonquil (I desire a return of affection), rose (love), heather (solitude)  I expect one could deconstruct her beautiful tussie mussies…

Slow Flowers by Debra Prinzing

  • Post published:02/06/2014
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Slow Flowers by Debra Prinzing is the perfect book to be browsing through on this frigid day. The temperature is only 20 degrees, but the sun is brilliant and the ground sparkles with frozen snow crystals. As I turn the pages of the sumptuously illustrated book, my own summer garden exists in my imagination as it never has before.  Debra's 52 weeks of bouquets from local flowers from 'garden, meadow and farm' are full of surprises and inspiration…

View From the Bedroom Window – January 2014

  • Post published:02/05/2014
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This is my post for the View from the Bedroom Window for the  month of January. A continuing record.  By January 5 we  had 10 inches of snow and temperatures of  minus 10 degrees last night.  A Polar Vortex is promised  in the next couple of days. On Monday, January 6 it was rainy and foggy and 50 degrees. The Polar Vortex arrived on Tuesday, January 7 with temperatures of minus 18 and WIND. The trek to the…

Spring is Coming – Time to Repot – Scented Geranium

  • Post published:02/02/2014
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Spring is coming!  I was inspired to repot this lemon scented geranium, which I have only done once before in nearly ten years. You can see I did cut it back some in the fall. I was inconsistent in my watering all winter, but as the days began to grow longer new shoots came up. I cut out all the dead wood and could see nice healthy growth more clearly. I took the geranium out of its pot,…