honestly diggin’ my new garden cloches which I’m using over my artichokes as well as my super delicate pineapple sage. I’ve never liked the appearance of old pop bottles or milk jugs (besides, I don’t drink soda or cow’s milk, so I’d have to dumpster dive, plus they’re not big enough anyhow!), and found these on Amazon in bulk for way cheaper than the big nursery in town. I’ll report in the spring how they did!
Well hello y’all. The stomach flu is over as are the birthday celebrations (but never fear, pictures will come soon enough of the loot!), and it’s time to get back to the business of regular life. We’ve had a weird winter as much of the country has – blasts of cold, then patches of weird mild weather, confusing the heck out of the garden. Can you believe in just 2 months it will be time to plant peas? (Remember the adage, plant peas on St Patty’s Day!). I thought I was ready…maybe just a little bit longer on the hibernation, pretty please???
Here’s what’s cocking an eyebrow for me this week…
* While there’s nothing really to do outside right now, I am excited for my Modern Gardens, Northwest Style class at Portland Nursery that I just realized I registered for months ago. This grrl is not an English garden type, not even close. I like clean lines, room to think, and yet, want to figure out how to integrate that style into the task of growing food. Being a fairly green thumb in the garden, but black thumb in the area landscape design, I’m looking forward to some tips to help make my garden look like it’s intentional rather than purely functional.
* This is local, but everyone can enjoy this – A Portrait of Wildlife in Forest Park. For you non-Portlanders, Forest Park is one of the country’s largest urban forest reserves, is just outside of downtown, and covers over 5,000 acres with 70 miles of trails and just under 200 bird & mammal species represented. Happiness.
* Great inspiration is everywhere and to have a sustainable planet, we have to take care of our kids. I recently learned about how the local comedy club, Curious Comedy Theatre, has a program called Play on Words which uses improv to help kids improve their reading and writing skills. “Each workshop will include time for students to write stories and apply the concepts and skills learned during the workshop in creating their own stories. At the end of the workshop series, these stories will be adapted for the stage by the Curious Comedy resident ensemble, Curious Comedy Playas.“ How cool is that.
* Think about your trees! Here’s a great video on Winter Tree Prep brought to you by the folks at Garden Time. I admit, the tree thing is a bit intimidating to me, and I’ve not done much for my columnars that are sitting in pots, besides bring them close to the house. Hopefully that design workshop will help me figure out a zen way to incorporate them into my landscape! Hmm.
* Want some blogs to check out that I think are truly EcoGrrl-icious? Here are three of my favorites you should check out: Reduce Footprints, representing North Carolina, Slow Living Essentials, straight outta Australia, and Mindful Mixture, just to the north of me in Seattle. I’ll keep sharing more each week, but this will definitely get you started with great perspectives from three very different areas of the world!
I was just starting to think about the garden this week! More a long the lines of starting to collect planters to lift all my favorite plants from the ground this spring instead of in the summer when we move. But I really am looking forward to the spare moments between downsizing craziness to dig in the dirt at my little p-patch… radishes will be going in in no time! By the way, thanks for the link love!
Oh thank you for including Reduce Footprints in your list. I’ve been following Mindful Mixture for awhile and love Maurie’s thoughtful posts … I’m totally intrigued by her current plans for a tiny, mobile house. Slow Living Essentials looks terrific … and now I’m following. Love the idea of a mobile garden … I think you did something like that with plants along your driveway, no? Speaking of gardening … I’ve been watching the Farmer’s Almanac for planting dates. I’m not sure how good their recommendations will be since they are based on historic info (and the last several years have been totally erratic). But, it’s looking like we’ll get started with some seeds at the end of next month. Isn’t that amazing! Thanks, again, for the linky love … and happy weekend to you!
Thanks! Yes I think you’ll love Slow Living’s blog – she does a great monthly “audit” of sorts on keeping tabs of her own actions, and I also love reading about southern hemisphere gardeners since it’s so cold here
My garden was in my driveway and a bunch of pots, when I first started out, so yeah it was kind of mobile 
BTW … I forgot to mention two things … I’m so glad that you’re feeling better … and …. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a tad late).
my goodness, I ‘m blushing here. love you and your blog too smallftprints! And I’m looking forward to checking out the Australian link… I could use an infusion of summer!.
ever have jerusalem artichokes? my god, i had them after christmas this year for the first time and i just about lost my mind. (oh, i’m salivating for one right now.) you can plant them when it’s cold and they come up on their own, but be careful where you plant them ’cause they can take over. best raw, for me, but you can eat them cooked too. might be a good addition to your garden.
happy birthday, my friend)))) getting closer and closer to the paradise age…which is now, of course:)
xo
erin
Thanks for the tip! I have not, and I am inspired to try now! Thank you!