Ocean or Lake? I’ll take ocean every time

Camping or Hotel? Hotel please

Fishing? Not a huge fan

Canoeing? Eh

With that information in mind, you would never think that I would enjoy a long weekend at a small cottage on a lake with minimal amenities. But you, silly naive reader, would be so very wrong.

We just spent four days at “The Cottage” up in the Connecticut River Valley. The house has been in my wife’s family for the past five decades and she spent a good portion of her childhood summers there. We make it a point to make it up there at least once each summer. Admittedly, we are not an “outdoorsy family”. However, we do appreciate all that Mother Nature has provided and thoroughly enjoy not having a TV, not having video games, not having Internet access (OK I lied) and making our own fun.                

 

We may not be avid fisherman and I may not to be able to tell you the difference between a small mouth or large mouth bass, but we had fun feeding the Sunnies and trying to catch them with a net.  

Four straight days spent mostly outside in picture perfect 80 degree weather does the body and mind good.

I enjoy watching the kids explore, getting excited finding quartz in the lake or almost catching a minnow in their buckets.

I enjoy watching my wife relive her childhood, reading through old books that have been left behind or looking at the wall of measurements that has countless lines marking all of the children as they have grown throughout the years (quick note – I am still the tallest of all and damn proud).    

 
If you have been reading my blog for a while now, you know I have a long way to go when it comes to growing, eating and understanding “edibles”. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I’ve learned from other blogs, from Facebook and from lurking on Twitter conversations between some seriously educated peeps. But this is only the beginning – homey has a long way to go.

On a positive note, I did successfully grow greens in containers this year and have a few tomato and pepper plants that are thriving right now. I have even managed to keep a Meyer Lemon tree alive to date sitting on my deck. I have a feeling my gardening “off-season” will consist of a lot of research into fruit and vegetable growing (in fact I did get a book on landscaping with fruit for Father’s Day so watch out!).

Where are you going with this you ask? Well, I recently became aware of an awesome new feature at The New York Botanical Garden that I wanted to share with you and also received a guest post from a fellow Tweep (Twitter dude) all about sustainability. So, prepare to become educated, something that sorely lacks in my typical blog posts.               
  
This summer and fall, The New York Botanical Garden has a special exhibition, The Edible Garden. The Edible Garden brings you locally grown, seasonal food with cooking demonstrations every day. Featuring four spectacular kitchen gardens, The Edible Garden teaches you how to grow the best food at home. All proceeds of The Edible Garden benefit the Children’s Gardening program. For more information on the Edible Garden, please Click here.

To see the full schedule of events, Click here

To see the photos from the opening weekend, like the one at the beginning of this post, Click Here

To follow the NYBG on Facebook, Click here

To follow the NYBG on Twitter, Click here

I am not too far from beautiful New York City, so I will be there in the very near future as should you!
 
“Sustainability Through the Consumption of Things Conserved”

“In other environmental issues we tell people to stop something, reduce their impact, reduce their damage,” – US Ecologist Gary Nabham

Since the beginning of the green movement, there has been a rise in the number of organizations and businesses that are doing their part in the promotion of sustainability through conservation. As human beings, we’re told to reduce our carbon footprint, consume less unhealthy foods, and spend less time in the shower! But let’s take a minute to step back and look at this from a different perspective; one that Gary Nabham strongly suggests.

Gary Paul Nabham, phD., is a Arab-American writer/conservationist who’s extensive farming work in the U.S./Mexico borderlands region has made him world renown. Specifically speaking, Nabham is known for his work in biodiversity as an ethnobotanist. His uplifting messages and attitude towards life and culture has granted us access to multiple beneficial theories including his latest of eat what you conserve.

According to The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, about three quarters of the genetic diversity of crops been vanishing over the last century and that a dozen species now gives 90% of the animal protein eaten globally. In accordance, just 4 crop species supply half of plant based calories in the human diet.

Nabham claims that by eating the fruits and vegetables that we are attempting to conserve/save, we’re promoting the granular dissemination of various plant species. But this goes beyond what we typically buy in supermarkets, particularly because of price and abundance. We must remember to try new things and immerse ourselves in the very concept of diversity. Keep in mind; the benefits of splurging for that costly fruit/vegetable supremely outweigh the cons. Not only are you promoting biodiversity and further eliminating the needs of farmers to remove rare, less purchased crops off their agenda, but you’re also effectively encouraging healthier lifestyles.

Agriculturist Marco Contiero mentioned that “biodiversity is an essential characteristic of any sustainable agricultural system, especially in the context of climate change.”[1] With sustainable crop efforts being lead by the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) and the IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) the duo plans to provide a more sustainable crop, untouched by natural disasters, much like the ones experience in Haiti and neighboring areas. Contiero goes on to state “We need to ensure this is the basis for the future…” – This is exactly what Doug Band, the CGI, and the IRRI are doing by engaging in sustainability efforts.

So remember, next time you’re in the supermarket picking out navel oranges or strawberries, turn your attention to something that’s a bit more “out of season,” or exotic in nature. The same goes for salads/salad ingredients; shop outside the norm, picking spices and vegetables that you wouldn’t normally incorporate into your everyday diet. During such economic downtime it isn’t always easy to maintain the same level of grocery shopping intrigue, but we must also not forget that in this sundry of foods we can find fun!

Dan Grifen – Supporter of all things green and progressive.

To follow Dan on Twitter, Click here

ONG

I am one tired SOB.

Today was my annual “take off from work and do nothing but work in the yard” day. I look forward to it every year but also fear it as well. Being able to focus completely on the task(s) at hand without distraction is fantastic. That rarely happens. Problem is, I never get as much done as I had mapped out before hand.

The day started as soon as my son got on the bus this morning and ended around 5:00 PM. I was extremely proud of myself by remembering to do two things before I got started. I wore long sleeves and pants and applied sunscreen to my face and neck. This type of smart preparation does not happen often. But, like a   blockhead, I missed numerous calls from the school nurse and from my wife , for like three hours, indicating my son had a hell of a fall at school and was very upset. He looks like he just completed an MMA fight and I am literally a mile from school so I could have picked him up easily. Dad is officially in the dog house.          

Back to the gardening tale. Today was no different than in the past, as I never got as much done as I had hoped to. I did however, spend the evening admiring my work and taking photos to remind myself all that actually DID get done.

I spent the majority of the day on the giant bed that surrounds my driveway. I created this bed two years ago and have struggled to get it right since then. Late last Fall I expanded it even further to envelope an even larger area. I would show you the “before” photos but they were heinous. I mean real real bad. The weed to actual plant ratio was like 10-1. Well my hands are now sandpaper and my glutes are shot but for the most part, it is done.               

All, and I mean all weeds were pulled.
Topsoil down in the low spots to avoid pools of water when it rains.
Three inches of mulch down.
Plants were moved, cleaned up and pruned where needed.

It is amazing how much better all the plants looked no longer overwhelmed by weeds. One great example is the Boltonia below.   

I even tinkered with hiding the utilities by using a few containers. Jury is still out on this one. What do you think?

I now have a clear path that leads to the backyard but as you can tell, I need to fill in around the step stones since it will take a while for the hollies and boxwoods to fill in. Hmmmm … got something to think about tomorrow. 

The plants that were moved around required the shale bar below. Should be called a blister machine.

Well, I am content for the time being but would love one more day like today. All in due time … all in due time.

One last thing or two, the Japanese beetles are migrating in   

And I am officially getting rid of my Knockout roses – photos not for the faint of heart

Later my peeps.
ONG

I was going to make this a “Wordless Wednesday” entry today, but I really feel like shooting the shit a bit so consider yourself blessed (hope sarcasm translates well here).

It is rainy, overcast and on the colder side today so our sick run of beautiful summer-like weather has ended, at least temporarily. It is the perfect day for picking weeds and if I didn’t have any other responsibilities (damn kids are overrated) I could spend 24 hours straight doing just that and there would still be more to do the next day. And I would enjoy it like mad. But I digress…

Ever since I started gardening with serious intent, I have always felt like my bloom season could be broken down into three distinct phases:

Phase 1 runs from late April to late May
Phase 2 runs from early July to late July
Phase 3 runs from early September to early October

I’m sure I’ve created these phases myself based on my plant likes and dislikes. I am actively trying to blur these lines and create non stop blooming from late March through late October (aren’t we all?) and while I have been somewhat successful, I still have a ways to go. Using more annuals in containers has definitely helped, and admittedly I have been leaning more heavily on foliage and texture the past few years to keep things interesting throughout the season. Still, I need to incorporate more perennials that fill the gaps between the big bloom phases. For perennial suggestions please send them to ongisabigfriggindope@yahoo.com.  
         
Big beautiful blooming photos are at a minimum as we move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, but upon closer inspection this morning, there are still some interesting things going on:    
               

Amsonia Tabernaemontana (don’t even know the common name) looks even better to me when not in bloom. The foliage is so unique and a great contrast with other perennials. 

As I lay face down in the wet mulch this morning, snapping photos at angles bordering on tantric, I started to ask myself, why do I have this compulsive need to share photos with you all at such an alarming rate? Am I really that self indulgent? Do readers really care that much? Am I just bored?

I am a big fan of quick self analysis so here is a replay of the potential reasons I ran through in my mind:  

Control – I can make my gardens look so much better than they actually are.
Verdict – Not really, it may help elevate the mood temporarily, but I get enjoyment showing the bad as well.

Filler – The need to just post “something”, and photos take little thought.
Verdict – Honestly, I could post 2-3 times per day with what goes on in this brain. They would be odd, boring, and unnecessary posts, but I could do it ( and don’t tempt me either).

Traffic – Admittedly, I pay close attention to the traffic I generate with each blog post and photos seem to be the closest to a sure thing.
Verdict – I get more of a thrill when someone takes the time to read my babble and even comment on it. And if someone gets my sense of humor, forget it, I’m thrilled for days.

Need for praise – “Oh your peonies are beautiful” (wow that sounds wrong, yet hilarious), “Your roses are exquisite” or “Fantastic job on the bed design”.
Verdict – Yeah it feels good and my head does swell for a while, but again, I really do enjoy posting the good, the bad and the truly ugly. Each evokes a variety of different emotions, comments and thoughts.

I am just plain obsessed
Verdict – “WE HAVE A WINNER”. Did ya happen to see the blog title? While the other factors addressed above do play a part, I realize I just love taking photos of my plants and it has given me a perspective I honestly never paid attention to before.

Sorry, I am done with the psychoanalysis, for now, on to the photos:              

Have a fantastic weekend! I’ve got ten yards of mulch and ten yards of top soil to play with. It is OK to be jealous.

ONG 

 
After spending a number of mornings removing sections of lawn using nothing but a dull shovel and then carting it away in a wheel barrow with an almost flat tire, I felt like I was competing in a strong man contest. In fact, I started to grunt out loud just to make it feel like an authentic competition. As the week progressed, I’ve even had to up the amount of HGH I am injecting into my leg each night.

So it got me thinking, could there be a Gardening Olympic Games? You sure as hell bet there could be. The possibilities are limitless and I think with enough of a grassroots effort we could realize this within the next few years. Below are a few of the ideas I’ve come up with and as always, I welcome your ideas and feedback:

• Weed pulling – This was an obvious choice. No tools would be allowed and no gloves could be worn either. Scoring would be based not only on speed but accuracy – there would need to be proof that the majority of the roots were pulled up. The weeds in question would vary and would be vastly different since the competition would be held in different regions with varying topography.

• Transplanting races – Competitors would race against each other transplanting the same shrub to a similar location. Again, time and speed would be a key measurement but what will make these games unique is that the actual winners would be determined over the course of time. The shrubs relocated would be evaluated at a later date to determine which one was performing better.

• Obstacle course planting – Competitors will be physically and mentally challenged and then asked to plant a tree. The physical torture might include running through tunnels and over walls. The mental torture might include the release of snakes or spiders nearby, a la Fear Factor. After all that, the individuals will need to remember all the key points while planting a tree. Speed is important but  accuracy is the key component.

• Plant identification – Each competitor is given a number of plant tags and then has to match them with the appropriate plant. Easy enough you say? Well, similar cultivars will make it more difficult for proper identification and the tags need to be fully submerged into the plant, and I don’t know about you, but trying to get those tags back into the soil is never easy for me.

• Garden design relay – Each team will have three members. Each individual will work in an empty garden bed with a large group of plants, shrubs, perennials still in their pots. Each member will design the bed by moving the pots around until they are happy with the configuration. Once they are done, they tag their next teammate who then does the same in their garden bed and so on until all are completed. While time will impact the final score, it is ultimately up to the judges (who will be comprised of 3 of the top garden designers in the world) who will score each bed on a scale of 1-100. I don’t know about you, but this would give me fits as I am never satisfied when trying to come up with the right look

That is all for now.I will need to tweak these a bit to get them just right and to develop the scoring system. You laugh at me, but you watch, one day you will look back and remember when I first pitched the idea.

Be on the lookout for my next idea to be put into the development phase – a gardening reality show.

Ciao                                           

Oh yeah, summer has arrived.

You could smell it and feel it in the thick humid air.

It felt therapeutic and everything was “A OK”.

Without further ado, I give you the weekend in photos:     

One last peony photo, I promise. They are actually on their way out with all the blooms dropping to the ground. Until next year my dears … and thank you again for another incredible display this year. You never disappoint.   

The Sedum ‘Red Carpet’ are blooming and to be honest, I didn’t expect any blooms. They caught me off guard this morning and that isn’t easy to do. Time to update in the plant database – “expect red blooms in late Spring”.  

I now give you the full life cycle of the Hypericum ‘Albury Purple’. You’ve seen the foliage, the buds forming and now an actual bloom. Actually wait, I’ll have to show you a photo of the berries later in the season. Aren’t you just so lucky?

Like a steam train spotted in the distance, here come the Daylily ‘Happy Returns’ blooms. It is like the calm before the storm right now. Within the next week, it will be a bloom-a-palooza and I will deadhead these relentlessly. I am sort of OCD with the deadheading part knowing it will help with future blooms.    

I know, boring, a Purple Coneflower bloom, well move on to the next photo quickly if you are so inclined; I can’t get enough.  

I do not know what type of annual flower I’ve got here. I made the mistake of buying these without a label on them. But, I have discovered how cool these blooms unfold – the purple petals slowly open to display the white daisy-like flower – man I am a fascinating person, huh? 

One week later, and the zinnia seeds I sowed with the kids are emerging at a rapid pace. I am so psyched to check out these ‘Green Envy’.

Meet enemy #1. The rabbits are everywhere and they are on a mission to piss me off. I have seen enough signs of their cute little nibling and I don’t like it. Yes they are cute, just from a distance.
   

What a cool ass stone can do to a planting.

Summer time = fresh brewed ice tea – there is nothing better other than ….

Strawberry goat cheese bruschetta. I can’t say enough about these – the perfect combination and with fresh thyme they are off the chizzain. The strawberries just pop when you eat them and the melted goat cheese – I now need a cold shower.

After gardening, baseball may be my next biggest obsession. I threw pop-ups to my son all weekend and it was like watching myself as a child. I actually started writing for a New York Mets fan site this past week. Now I have to find a way to bring the two worlds together – any suggestions?    

Relaxation on the deck – do you like my toe nail color?

My wife’s birthday was on Monday and (prepare to praise me heavily) I bought her tickets to see Bon Jovi (on the floor, about twenty rows from the stage) at the newly christened Giants Stadium. When I tell you she is a fan – she is a HUGE FRIGGIN fan). Her sentences now end with Bon Jovi lyrics – it’s a sight to see. If I were to allow my wife to run off with one man it would be Jon Bon Jovi – I would understand.    

One last photo just to prove how hot it was today. The hydrangeas were all drooping and in need of shade. Hang in there little guy!

Hope you had a great weekend and remembered what we were truly celebrating.

Enjoy. 

I am a gardening loner.

Just me hanging with my plants is all I need. My happy place.

I can get lost for hours if left to my own devices, and it never gets dull or tiring. It is like a form of meditation where nothing else exists.

If it were possible, I would perform yoga in the garden among the plants, but then I would truly qualify as “creepy guy” (although it would be funny as hell to watch).

Lately, though, I have paid closer attention to the need to get kids involved with gardening and the great outdoors knowing it will have a profound influence on them. In the past, my first reaction was to nod my head in approval only to quietly say to myself  “No thanks, they’ll just complain and eventually make their way to the swings.” or  “I know they’ll run for the hills at the first sign of any insect”. I resisted allowing them into my domain where they could only screw it all up.

Well, I have accepted that I can have it both ways – ONG time and ONG time with the little ones. The kids may only hang for a short period of time, and it may seem like they were unaffected by our interactions, but I have recently witnessed two events that refute that notion.      

First, a few photos with me and the kids and our recent project:               

We planted a bunch of annual seeds in containers (mostly Zinnias) and planted a few tomato, basil and pepper plants in containers as well. They dug the dirt, planted the seeds and watered  – not always in that order however.

The kids lasted about twenty minutes, with my daughter a bit more interested and involved. She especially took to planting the actual seeds. They did make their way to the playground eventually, but I felt like I made the effort to really make them a part of the process. Kudos to me.

Now on to the two recent events I mentioned earlier:

Story #1 – Early last evening, I was out on the back deck moving containers around like a frickin mad scientist trying to find that “right look”. I felt like I was on the “Price is Right” where I would complete an arrangement, pull a lever and then see if I won (the show is so in my blood from days off from school when I was younger – and I still take issue with the Showcase Showdown rules … but that is for another day … I digress). As I was moving a container with newly sprouted Zinnia leaves I completely dropped it and everything fell out of the pot. Like a mature adult, I kicked the pot and cursed like a mutha f’er. What I didn’t realize, was that my daughter was watching out the back door and she ran away crying. I assumed she didn’t like seeing her Dad act like such a baffoon, so I ran in to apologize and calm her down. Well, the adult meltdown apparently meant nothing to her as she told my wife through her tears that “Daddy ruined the seeds.” Wow, we are making some big time progress here!

Story #2 – While waiting for the school bus this morning, my son spotted a weed that had sprouted a daisy like bloom. He immediately yanked it and asked me to put it in water for Mom. Now he has done this before so it wasn’t a complete shock. What was shocking and I swear on … something … he actually told me to remove the leaves from the bottom of the flower before putting it in water. Are you kidding me? Next he’ll tell me how to cut a rose stem on an angle so it will then grow outward.

My wife loves to get the kids involved when she bakes and she has experienced the same thing I discussed above. It may seem like a futile task and it may seem like they could care less but dammit if they don’t surprise you with what they have retained.

Note to self – keep educating and opening their eyes to new things.