We are stuck in an arctic vortex with no end in sight. Could be two more months before we emerge. Seed catalogs and gardening magazines are not enough to alleviate this year's cabin fever at least for me.
The Minneapolis Home and Garden Show provided me with a much needed diversion. Where water features were all the rage in the past, fire features are now the big deal along with outdoor "rooms" for lounging and (believe it or not) watching TV, and elaborate outdoor kitchens.
My favorite exhibitor was Joe Christensen Pottery. I can't believe I didn't get pictures. His stuff was amazing. Here is his website:
http://www.joechristensenpottery.net/
(Send me your pictures and stories about how you are getting through these cruel last months of winter and I will post them to the blog)
Here are a few pictures I snapped while wandering around for 6 hours with my brother and sister-in-law enjoying the promise of spring!!
Wish you were here!
There weren't as many flowering plants as in past shows but there were some colorful displays that hit the spot!
Wonderful little container gardens
I love love love this table base!! We need to figure out how to make these and do a workshop!!
More diversions!
Check out this cool website for info on what is blooming throughout the year along Wisconsin roadways.
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/herb/wisflora/blooming/
Here are some gardening tips courtesy of
http://www.superseeds.com/
Thank you Georgianne for sending them in.
I have used 2, 4, 13, and 14 and plan to try 3, 5, 7, and 9.
#11 Watch out when harvesting watercress. Some campers up in the Boundary Waters ate what they thought was watercress and ended up poisoning themselves.
15 Gardening Tips
1. To prevent dirt from getting under your fingernails while digging in the dirt, draw your fingernails across a bar of soap to effectively seal the underside of your nails against grime. When you're finished gardening, use a nail brush to remove the soap and you'll be left with sparkling clean nails!
2. Turn a long handled tool into a measuring stick! Using a tape measure as a guide, mark your inch and foot marks on the handle with a permanent marker. When you need to space your plants a certain distance apart, you'll already have the tool you need in your hand.
3. A handy way to store your ball of garden twine is to thread the end through the bottom drainage hole of a red clay garden pot. Place the pot upside down somewhere nearby and you'll never go searching for the twine again!
4. Use leftover tea leaves and coffee grounds to feed your acid loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, gardenias and blueberries. Add a 1/4 inch layer to the base of the plant and they'll love it!
5. Want a quick, beneficial way to dry herbs? Simply lay a sheet of newspaper on the seat of your car on a hot day, arrange the herbs on it in a single layer and ensure that all the doors and windows are closed. The herbs will dry in a short amount of time due to daytime sunlight and your car will smell amazing to boot!
6. Cucumbers grow sweeter when planted near sunflowers. The two plants require similar soil conditions and the tall stalks of the sunflowers give the cucumber plants something sturdy to climb.
7. Chamomile tea is a great way to ward off bacterial and fungal infections that may grow on your plants. Be sure that the tea is completely cooled off before use.
8. Planting lavender and crocuses near to each other will help save your bulbs from being eaten by birds. The birds will go after the fragrant lavender blooms rather than your bulbs.
9. Use your leftover cooking water to water your plants! Vitamins and minerals left behind by boiling pasta, vegetables, eggs and potatoes make a great boost for your plants. Be sure the water is completely cooled off before use.
10. The 10 most money-saving plants you can grow are as follows: cilantro, arugula, green salad mix, chives, dill, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, turnips, large tomatoes and winter squash. These herbs and veggies are some of the most expensive to buy fresh, so why not grow your own?
11. Believe it or not, there are several types of weeds that you can eat! Watercress, bamboo, dandelion, purslane, Japanese knot-weed, Lamb's Quarters, kudzu and red clover. You've probably eaten a few of these already if you've ordered a salad in a fine restaurant. Be aware of where the weeds are growing, however, as some growing conditions may make the weeds inedible.
12. Some of the best veggies to grow in spring or fall are as follows: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, swiss chard and spinach. All of these veggies are somewhat cold tolerant and can extend the life of your garden beyond summer.
13. Look into companion planting, which is planting together different pairs of plants to deter pests and bring up nutrients from the soil. Certain plants would not be able to reach these nutrients as completely without the help from another plant.
14. Herbs aren't just for cooking! You can tightly bundle certain herbs together to make "smudge sticks", which are bundles of dried herbs tied together with plain organic cotton string or embroidery floss. The smudge sticks are then burned to eradicate bad odors or even "cleanse" a room spiritually, according to North American Native purification rites.
15. There are many flowers that are edible! Squash blossoms, nasturtiums, daylilies, dianthus, pansies, violas, calendula, roses and more. It's always a shame when you pick them and don't use them fast enough... so store them! Use a jar with a glass lid and the blossoms can last up to a week or longer! (Weck jars are a good option) On some of these flowers, only the petals are edible, so be sure to do a bit more research before consuming.
