Pots and pans...

There is a lot of argument over flower pots. Some say terracotta is the only way to go and some swear by plastic and resins. I say be more creative than that. I have a project for you. you'll need tool dip and plaster. Stuff a pair of old sneakers or shoes (with a hole in them or drill your own hole) with newspaper. Pack the newspaper tight so it keeps the shoes open wide. Paint the outside with plaster and let dry. Once it's dry take out the paper and pour some tool dip on the inside. Make sure you roll it around til it coats the inside well. Let it dry then paint the outside with latex paint. any kind of crazy design you like or one bright color. Now throw in a few rocks for drainage, making sure the hole does not get clogged. Put your dirt in and plant it with some mint, basil, candytuff or any small spilling out type of plant or flower. This is fun and you can show the kids as grow in the spring or do a "family of shoes" and line a walkway. It's one of those everyone can help projects. little kids can stuff the shoes and paint. Older kids can help with the plaster and tool dip. Do this project outside on a spill zone where messes are allowed. Plaster cracks so put them away in the basement in winter. As for whats the best pot to plant in? I like terracotta for smaller plants but the larger the pot need the lighter I go. Resin is strong and light. Just think that you usually have to move a plant a couple times and with dirt, water and plants it can get HEAVY! I like creative planters too tin cans old interesting jars. Be creative and have some fun! Next blog selecting plants for a balcony garden...

Growing lessons

I'm gazing out my kitchen window watching the down pours. We had tornado watches and gold ball sized hail in surrounding areas. I gaze out my window at the mist of rain and the damage done. I see a few flattened plants, blossoms scattered across the ground and a few branches of the trees scattered about. Having a garden teaches you things. I recommend it to any parent having trouble with a child or someone seeking peace. Sometimes just watching something you make together grow, sometimes a perspective difference and sometimes seeing nature at it's most brutal can teach too. The thing is sitting side by side in the dirt planting seeds or sprouts silence and listening you learn things about yourself about each other. I have memories of sitting beside my grandmother. There is a skill to breaking beans. you wash them and then you break them in half taking the string the fiberous part off. Both of us talking about anything that came to mind sneaking bites of raw beans. We were commenting on the world or the family and really talking. How many times have you had a conversation with your child that you remember? I have remembered these things all my life. My memories are part of me I cherish. Building them with your child is important. Building them with your inner child is important too. Love is not out-dated neither is the ability to sit still and watch the beauty in the world. These are things every child needs and every parent should teach. A quiet moment alone with someone who just loves them teaches you to share. A moment alone to learn you can love yourself. A moment to teach yourself nothing is ever truly destroyed but transformed in to something else. I miss you Mamie. See you in the garden.

Gardening 101

Some people make things look harder than what they are. What I learned about plants you can fit in one sentence. I will give it dirt and water and watch it grow. When I lived in an apartment we longed for a garden. We put out containers of flowers and railing planters and expanded even over to outside our neighbor's apartment. I was loath to throw away old potatoes, avacado seeds and yes the tops of pineapples. I wonder if my old neighbor still has that three foot pineapple plant that out grew my sunroom and found his. My boyfriend bought me things that ended up out in the gully behind the apartment because no one complained. we and our neighbors ended up with a lovely little flood plain garden. It flooded every now and then if the storm was a good one. The steps we made would disappear and we'd watch as the flowers went under water and miraculously reappeared sometimes in other places.
I learned yes you can grow kale and rainbow chard in a pot if it's big enough. The best tasting tomatoes are grown dangling just off your balcony and you eat them like apples. You better pick them all if you are in an upstairs apartment with neighbors below. I grew basil that begged to be pinched and eatten with tomatoes, purple sweet onion and mozzarella a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
I also learned even in a city you can find a quiet spot to grow something and find a little peace among the kudzu.