The Garden Buzz

Alice Criser: Nurse, Master Gardener and World's Oldest Soccer Mom

I lost a good friend today. She was 85. 

I'll never forget the first time I met Alice. Back in 2000 I was assigned to the Tuesday morning Master Gardener hotline crew and rumor had it they weren't a group to suffer fools. But that didn't mean they didn't like to fool around among the cubicles where we dispensed horticultural information to the good people of Sedgwick County.

This tiny little wrinkly woman, with a pronounced hunch and brisk manner yet a mischievous twinkle in her eye, came in my first day and immediately starting talking about her new garden experiment. She was going to take all the expired birth control pills from her clinic and sprinkle them around her garden like time-release fertilizer, she put forth a theory that the hormones might do her plants good. I think she was serious or maybe just putting on a little act for the new girl. I'll never know.

Through the years I came to learn that she had been a Navy nurse in Viet Nam. She was especially proud of introducing dental hygiene practices to the people in the village where she was stationed. And then at 74 she was still keeping to a schedule of nursing and volunteering that exhausted me just to hear about it.

She didn't take to me at first. I had to prove my worth. She and Ann and Jean knew the special ringtone of the office phone that signaled a "client" in person vs a phone-in, which they would selectively hesitate to answer. Inevitably I would always get the call to go out to the front room and have to diagnose on the spot whatever plant disease or pest was presented to me. This baptism by fire just made me a better gardener. And eventually respected by these gals, particularly Alice.

A few years before I moved away. Alice took on another job, a labor of love. She had no children of her own, but she had nephews, probably great-nephews, that were in need of a loving and stable home. At 80 she was made legal guardian of two teenage boys. She added driving to games and parent conferences to her schedule. I dubbed her the "world's oldest soccer mom". 

I identified with her feelings for her nephews, having helped to raise a nephew myself. When she was diagnosed with cancer, her greatest fear was not being there for "her boys". I know she was trying to hang on until they were both 18. The older nephew, Nick was just honored for leadership skills in conjunction with his ROTC unit. Devon is hopefully following his brother's example with his interest in computers. 

Even after I moved away, I would get those scratchy hand-written cards and letters from Alice talking about her boys, her garden, and perhaps a little gossip. 

She always said she was going to write a story about "moonlight gardens" for our newsletter. She researched it when she was between phone calls. Later I realized that the subject was dear to her since she often didn't get to see her garden except by moonlight at the end of her shifts.

Alice, I hope you are somewhere where the sun always shines on your garden so you can see it. But I still like to think of you out there in the twilight tossing those pills around your flowers!

 

 

 

 

Bad Hair Day - Great Butterfly Gardening Tip from Garden2Blog

You can skip ahead to the video...or listen to me natter on.

When I was told that for part of the P. Allen Smith Garden2Blog event we would be filmed giving a 30-second gardening tip my heart sank. Oh, don't get me wrong. I can give gardening tips until the cows come home. With one hand tied behind my back.

It was the filming part that had me a little worried. You see when it comes to having my picture taken, in any format, I have much in common with former British prime minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie. What, you say?

Ever since living in England, I've  kept up with their country's news and cultural events, in good part by being a regular reader of The Times of London. So it didn't escape me that whenever I used to see a photo of Cherie Blair, a formidable woman with her own career outside of politics, I would cringe and sigh.

You see, we share the trait of being unphotogenic in a most spectacular way. Mostly in the form of duck lips and double chins, eye rolling and frozen fish faces. It's uncanny. 

There is even a google auto-category for her misshapen smile. While there is a special and voluminous gallery of "bad mama pictures" in our family Flickr account. I envy people that can flash the camera a gorgeous toothy smile without a second thought. I don't think I'm unattractive, yet while I doth protest about being photographed, it's not vanity, but posterity that concerns me. From my grave I will be shouting, "I really didn't look like that..."

But back to butterfly gardening. When asked to give a gardening tip, I wanted to be truly helpful, not too general or too specific. I thought back about my most popular blog posts and immediately thought of those dealing with attracting and supporting beautiful butterflies in our gardens.

For this video date, I made sure my hair was freshly tamed. I wore something structured to avoid lumpy body parts appearing where they shouldn't. I thought was pretty pulled together and had high hopes for not embarrassing myself.

Then the bad weather and surrounding tornadoes came and I could feel my hair going "Sproing-g-g" in the heavy humidity. They changed the event schedule and seemed to scrap the video thing getting done. Well, sure enough, at the end of the next day when we were dressed for mucking about the farm; windblown and wet from that day's bad weather, they told us to get ready for our closeup! Maybe it was all a plan to make sure none of us were better looking than P. Allen.

Turns out the video is not all that bad, but the butterfly tip is better. I'm including links below to those butterfly posts in case you missed them before.

 

EIght Great Shrubs for Your Butterfly Garden

Top Ten Butterfly Plants: This List Might Surprise You

 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: May 15, 2011

 

Thanks as always to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! After all this is the month she dreams about.

While I'm aware that today, the day before Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, is World Naked Gardening Day, I think I'll spare the neighbors and give it a pass. It's been cold, windy, rainy, miserable and damp up north. Most Minnesotans are too busy with the Fishing Opener today to give much thought to gardening, much less in the nude.

So I donned my light down coat and wrapped a wooly scarf twice around my neck before heading out to photograph the latest buds and blooms in my garden. Even with that my fingers were numb halfway through. Just when you think I've run out of ways to complain about the weather up here, I manage to find another. 

I can't get used to the compressed gardening season, daffodils blooming alongside tulips, well, it just seems wrong.

 

Just like Margaret Roach of A Way to Garden, I've lost the tags and can't remember the names of these beautiful varieties of narcissus. Although I do recognize the one here as probably "Poetica" from the pheasant-eye style daffodils. They possess a haunting clove-like scent. Any other help with ID? Is one possibly "February Gold"?

 

 

 

 

Then on to the more subtle signs of spring with lots of understated native plants.

 

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) The Garden Buzz

Large-Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) The Garden Buzz

Lovely shrub...Fothergilla major "Mt. Airy"    The Garden Buzz

Ground hugging blooms of Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) The Garden Buzz

Serviceberry Tree (Almelanchier alnifolia) The Garden Buzz

Red Barrenwort (Epimedium x rubrum)  The Garden Buzz

River Birch catkin closeup (Betula nigra) The Garden Buzz

Ending up with a few fruit blossoms...

Buds of Blueberry "NorthSky"          The Garden Buzz

Cherry "North Star"    The Garden Buzz

"Red Lake" Currant blossoms     The Garden Buzz

Fragaria vesca, Alpine Strawberry      The Garden Buzz

 

And here I didn't think much was happening in the garden!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are We Gardening Yet?

After the lllonnnggest winter and a lackluster spring, I think I might actually plant something this week. Maybe. I'm glad I started all those seedlings; nothing too exotic, you might even say basic, besides the cerinthe, lots of annuals and a few veg just so I had something to tend.

I used to start multiple flats under the lights of this mighty plant stand my husband and father-in-law built. I had to leave it in Kansas when we moved. Actually my MG friend Kae, AKA Josie Montana and the Parsley Princess, took it away. I'm hoping she's still enjoying it. My husband set up another smaller version this year in the garage.

Even more so I miss my greenhouse where I overwintered herbs and citrus and took little mini-therapy breaks from what I thought back then was a long winter. Ha. Little did I know.

I thought you'd appreciate my hardening off method for the little seedlings, well, not so much the method but the location. It's very important to acclimate seedlings gradually to the outdoor weather, starting at first with little bouts in the shade and then cloudy open sites until they are ready to face the harsh world. 

Mini-Cooper plant stand                                          The Garden Buzz

The deer have been more active this year, leaving poop piles, that I read are a sign of feeding areas. Before they have been following established trails and just passing through. This is troubling, since I have my hands full with the rabbits. So I've been out with my Liquid Fence and Shake Away granules doing a double-tier approach.

"Who me?" I think he's eyeing my heuchera.                 The Garden Buzz

 Anyway, I hoped the above-bunny location would work, but then I thought maybe I was just putting out a deer buffet! 

The gardening season is off to a slow start, but the writing season has been busy. Sometimes I hear my own voice so much in my head while writing I kind of get sick of myself.

In case you're not sick of me yet, here's few other places where you can read more Rhonda...

At Herb Companion magazine, Three Reasons to Love Dandelions, for herb lovers

At Your Voices, Highly-Evolved Vultures Circle Wayzata, for wildlife fans

At the Star Tribune, Five Foolproof Veggies to Grow and Garden Math: Divide and Multiply, for gardening how-to

Also this summer look for articles in Northern Gardener magazine, Herb Companion and more columns in the Star Tribune.

Recipe for Spring: Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble

I love the Brits for many things; gardening, literature and spot-on wit, not to mention their penchant for sensible shoes. And when it comes to descriptive terms for fruit based-desserts, no one comes close.

Crumble, grunt, fool, trifle, dowdy, mess or pudding that really isn't; they're all delicious in a humble, unpretentious way. Half the fun is just saying their name. 

I think I promised this recipe last year and didn't deliver. Did anyone notice? No matter, I'm making good on it now. This is a top-ten dessert at our house, not an easy feat around die-hard pie lovers.

The strawberries tone down the tartness of the rhubarb just a bit, just in case you have any less than rhubarb enthusiasts in your home.

What's great about this is how they grow together in the garden. All around the rhubarb, I'm using strawberries as edible groundcover, and soon the two will be ready for harvest. This is edible landscaping at it's best. I love it when the garden tells me what to make instead of me wandering clueless around the kitchen seeking inspiration.

Those of you further south might have already been looking for ways to enjoy these two harbingers of spring. Lucky you.

 

Like my other recipes, more suggestion than instruction, but very forgiving... 

Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble

Approx. 2-3 lbs Rhubarb, cut into inch chunks

Approx 16 oz. Strawberries, stemmed and cut in half

1/2 Cup packed brown sugar

1 Teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 Cup minced crystallized ginger (optional but nice)

Combine the rhubarb, brown sugar and ginger(s) in a saucepan and cook covered over gentle heat about 10 minutes, and then add the strawberries and cook another 5 minutes.

Transfer the cooked mixture to some sort of ovenproof pie/cobbler/casserole dish and sprinkle with crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown and bubbly.

---Basic Crumble Topping

1 Cup unbleached flour

3 oz. butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

***

I add a handful of oats and/or chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts

Cut in the butter and flour and then when it's well, crumbly, add the brown sugar and the extras if so desired. 

This is good warm or cold, with vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream or even a little English style custard.

Garden2Blog: Hanging Out with P. Allen Smith

It's not everyday I get to hang out with a celebrity. But first, P. Allen Smith would gently correct me; he considers himself foremost a teacher, and shies away from the glossier term, that has indeed made so many of his garden visions a reality. 

I was lucky to have a chance to spend a few days with about two dozen other bloggers for the first of hopefully many Garden2Blog events with the noted garden designer and personality. Here's just a little of what I experienced!

The mighty oak in front of the Garden Home Retreat

I hate to use the phrase "boyish good looks", but can't find a suitable substitute to describe him. In his trademark blue, he presents a disarming southern charm with the smallest touch of weary aloofness. It's forgivable as you see him work, constantly on for the variety of cameras that record his every word and move.

P. Allen Smith talking about water features and garden geometry for Garden2Blog

He delivers his lines with a believable freshness and good timing, as when he relates that his grandmother told him the P in his name stood for "potential". And he's not above poking fun at his fame, when he calls out in a nasal tour guide impression, "New Dawn Rose Alert", as we frequently pass huge masses of the ubiquitous, blushing pink climber that he introduced to Little Rock. 

New Dawn roses at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion in Little Rock

This is no garden variety-type HGTV star, there's a gravitas behind the brand. Coming from generations of nurserymen, he has the hands-on knowledge combined with the historical depth and breadth from his study of classical gardens in England. 

An allee of alliums at P Allen Smith's Garden Home Retreat

As he shows you through the home it becomes quickly obvious that the myriad books artfully placed on round tables are not for looks. Weighty tomes covering garden design, politics, culture and history among others inform his living and gardening. His concept of Garden/Home integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces in such a way to increase your enjoyment of both by blurring the lines.

One of many library tables laden with books at P. Allen Smith's Garden Home Retreat

I found myself thinking while following him through the gardens at his "Garden Home Retreat" on Moss Mountain in Arkansas that is was perhaps a little like being able to peer into the thought process that went into the making of Jefferson's Monticello. In fact, there are nods to the horticultural hero at every turn, like the octagonal pavilions flanking the strolling gardens. His twist being the vegetables and fruit trees sitting upfront with ornamentals.

Looking past the art studio to the pavilion and orchard beyond

I found it especially fascinating to see the holistic approach to design throughout, even the tool sheds were a thing of beauty. Interior and exterior colors, like tinner's red, butter yellow, lichen green with deep dark brown bark all reflect the surrounding environment for a harmonic feeling.

Small kitchen gardens fronting the tool sheds where we sheltered from a few storms

Sustainability is evident in all aspects of his farm and gardens, however it's pragmatic rather than nostalgic. Composting for soil amending is a given. While heirlooms are grown, he feels that hybrid plants that perform well with the least intervention are in keeping with the mission. Even the breed of sheep and poultry that forage picturesquely in the pasture are chosen for production and hardiness.

Buff Orpington poultry sharing the pasture with Dorper sheep

As he looks to the future, the next garden goes back in time and then forward. He is developing a historical rose garden featuring a time line of American roses, from the Charleston legacy of noisette varieties that he cherishes  all the way to new low-care Knockouts. 

P. Allen Smith with rose garden plans

During the entire time we were tested with dangerous to merely annoying bad weather. Allen shepherded us through all the event with a gracious and unflappable ease. We were treated to fabulous food including many of his recipes and even eggs from the farm. His staff, and they are many, were efficient and helpful too.

I ducked out of dinner for a moment to look over the bluff to the Arkansas River after the storm

Putting faces to names of all these talented bloggers was a great experience. So many backgrounds and so many different angles! .

Anxious to increase his exposure and presence with social media, I like to think that he's making an effort to partner with and harness the power of bloggers. In fact, he's now blogging too. I didn't feel any pressure to put a face on anything I didn't agree with. I felt comfortable with the information I was given and will be sharing in the future. It's not going to be all P Allen all the time of course, but I'll be posting more pics and tips from the event.

Let me know if you have any questions about or for P. Allen, post them in the comments section and I'll do my best to answer!

Careful partnering with sponsors like Corona, Proven Winners, Garden Safe, Bonnie Plants, Stihl, Berry Nurseries, Jobe's Organics and Laguna Pond Pumps has made the construction of this Garden Home Retreat possible, only proving that he is an astute businessman in addition to artist, interior designer and chef.

P Allen Smith with the Berry (yes, that's their name)representative offering blueberry tips and treats

Meanwhile I didn't so much drink the Kool-Aid as the blueberry lemonade. I've tried hard not to gush, but it's hard not to admire P. Allen Smith for the Renaissance man that he is. 

 

 

Happy May Day!

Here's hoping your May Day is more May-ish than mine. A dreary day with a cold wind is whipping up whitecaps across the bay in the distance and just a few minutes ago, some snowflakes dared fall on me as I walked into the grocery store. While lilacs, redbuds and roses may be be blooming elsewhere I'm having to content myself with a host of daffodils for now.

Not all quite seasonal; yet I'm doing steaks, asparagus and an herby pasta to lure my son to dinner from college this afternoon. He doesn't know it, but I'm making his favorite lemon pie. And since his sister isn't here to rescue the meringue part he doesn't like, I think I'll top it with strawberries. Sometimes you have to manufacture the sunshine in your life.

Here's a May basket for you...