A Gardener's Gift

*********************

Any of us living in Savannah, Georgia can tell you how easy it is to be visually spoiled when it comes to historic architecture and secret gardens.

Living on historic Jones Street for five years, I peered through many a wrought iron gate to see what was in bloom.

Jennifer, my friend and fellow choir member, learning that I was intent on "getting my gardening on", asked me if I had the "Garden Guide to the Lower South." I replied I didn't and she insisted it was a valuable resource for anyone serious about gardening here in our particular region. (Thanks for the lovely wedding present!)

Compiled over the years by members of the Trustees Garden Club, the book is a vast collection of gardening wisdom that I hope to learn a lot from.

{ photo credit: Art Meripol of Southern Living, "Savannah's Secret Gardens" }

Our Front Door

*********************

Russ put up the numbers yesterday and I made a quick little wreath out of greenery from around the house. The eucalyptus was left over from the wedding and the pine cones were lonely remnants of our neighbor's tree that no longer exists.

We finished in the nick of time because as the sun went down it became really cold (for us in Savannah). Eek, I woke up this morning to 32 degrees. I hope my newly planted agaves slept warm under their bed of mulch.

Adoring Agave

*********************

I took this shot last year from my mother's garden in Florida. The beautiful blue agaves had taken over and Russ and I asked her for as many as she wanted to get rid of. She took us literally and came to visit us a week before our wedding with her car loaded. We thought the blue would work well for reception arrangements and then they would make themselves at home in our Savannah garden.

Last Saturday I drove to Daytona's Farmer's Market to set up a booth of some work and upon returning home, my mother filled my honda to the brim with loads of little irises. Like the agave, they had spread like green wildfire. I spent a couple of days this week settling them into their new earth and plan to get out there this afternoon to plant the rest.

All the Raise

*********************

Raised garden beds are all the rage and for good reason. For one, there's order to the madness for those fearing their gardens might overrun their yard.

A small space often thwarts people from attempting a grandiose vegetable or decorative garden. Raised beds are easier (in my opinion) to maintain.

They also allow folks with poor, or less than ideal soil quality (such as clay or those living close to the sea) to create their own.

{ photo credit: apartment therapy & popular mechanics }

Fair Share and Hallogreen

*********************

Fair Share: Sustainable Urban Agricultural Project is an organization I was briefly introduced to last year during a Halloween visit to Daytona. My friend and fellow designer, Nancy and I stumbled upon Hallogreen last year right around noon as things were wrapping up. We were both really impressed with the organization's vision and hoped to get involved the following (this) year.

Many folks in Daytona's Hallogreen are helping build a healthier giving community through the likes of non-profits such as Fair Share. I'm looking forward to sharing my artwork and meeting some amazing folks. Hope you can come join us:

"The Hallogreen® is opening this Saturday, October 30th from 8am to 12noon at the Daytona Beach Downtown Farmers Market (located near 105 E Magnolia Ave, 32114).

The Hallogreen® is a fun, healthy, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional Halloween festivities. It is a Green Halloween® event, part of a national nonprofit, grassroots community initiative to create healthier and more Earth-friendly holidays, starting with Halloween (greenhalloween.org).

The Hallogreen® is organized by volunteers of Florida EcoNet and Green Halloween®, as a fundraiser for The Fair Share Urban Agriculture Project (wedigfairshare.org)".

Glads for My Sister's Birthday

*********************

Today's my sister Melanie's birthday. She has always loved gladiolas. I can't say I've ever been a big fan; at least not when I was younger. Perhaps I was more into the neutral understated wildflowers at the time and like Birds of Paradise, gladiolas have an amazing way of demanding attention. They are loud, colorful and beautiful, which is befitting of my sister, in more ways than one. Another thing I might add, my sister is the spitting image of Nonnie, our grandmother, and just as fiery. Happy Birthday Mel!

*********************

If I could marry a picture... sigh. I don't think there could be a more luxurious tub in the world. Browsing through photos, I found these contemporary modern gardens, designed by garden designer Amir Schlezinger, to be something of a dream.