Cute Garden Things

...more like Odd Garden Things. I was meandering around Point Loma Nazarene University's campus the other day and ran into this odd scene. I kinda like it, though I'd never use those materials.

It does, however, inspire the creative side of me. I haven't done much but look at my garden recently. I need to pull weeds and rip out these strange purple-flowered plants that strangle the life out of everything in their way: I call them snagglebushes. It's officially fall, so I should plant some stuff for winter, too. Maybe squash? My eggplants are almost ready to harvest and my tomatoes are still hanging in there...though everything looks a little bedraggled.

I have some little f'er of a bug that eats the crap out of all my herbs. It's really making me angry. He only strikes the day I decide I need something, so I end up walking out to the garden with my scissors and then swear like an asshole at the plants for being little pansies and allowing some cussing bug to eat massive holes in all their leaves. I'm thinking I need frogs.

Where do I get frogs in bulk for cheap?

Incoming

Lots of incomings going on right now. School starts on Tuesday (I'm a high school teacher) so I'll get a whole new load of incoming freshman and soon to be outgoing seniors... (more than I've ever had before because of budget cuts. 200 students... but that's a post for a different blog.)

Second incoming is that of MONEY. Fiiiiiiiinally. After two months (technically considered one month even though it's 59 consecutive days) the first pay check at the end of summer break feels like a million bucks. This sudden influx of cash flow again means I can check off the number one thing on my To Do List. Which leads us to...

The final incoming: my Suzie's Farm Box! It's official. I signed up and paid for a two trial boxes--I pick up my first one at the Ocean Beach Farmer's Market on Wednesday. I know, I know... CSA programs and co-ops are nothing new, but they are for me and I'm so excited to be on this particular bandwagon.

Since I'm in such a good mood about this, here is my newest Cute Garden Thing to celebrate.



I was so sad when I chipped (beyond hope of repair) my favoritest mug as I was unloading the dishwasher. I set it on the kitchen counter and stared at it for a few days because I couldn't bring myself to toss it. Me and that mug go way back. Like a whole school year... lots of good memories drinking my morning brew at the podium while trying to ignore spastic teenagers.

As I was staring at my mug-friend I realized it'd make a cute little starter cup for herbs... so, I switched from coffee to chamomile. Just remember, that unless you are talented enough to drill a hole through the ceramic or porcelain bottom of a mug, lack of drainage will eventually kill the sproutings...so once they get about an inch high, transplant into the ground, garden box or proper pot.

Cute Garden Things

Being in Portland over the weekend inspired me to do more cute things with my garden. I think it's a prerequisite that you keep a garden or at least have an intense love of foliage to live there.

Observe the apple tree in our front yard:



It has an awkward hole in the front side that has bothered me ever since we moved in. Today I decided the hole would bother me no more. I had a couple lanterns laying around (serving no purpose but to cause clutter) and found some old ribbon from a duvet and seat cushion packaging that I really liked, but could never find a purpose for...the forces combined and now I have lanterns in the dead space of my tree. I find it pretty charming. Now I want to hang stuff from all my trees. Maybe in the back yard I can find a use for the old pots and pans I need to replace...

Cute Garden Things

Not sure what to do with that boring, lackluster, dead-air space above your yard? Put up a clothesline. This is an economical way to add color, diversity and an eclectic touch to your garden.





And, long garments such as towels, jeans and sheets can help camouflage any dead grass that may be on the other side (we are on water rations after all). As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

Cute Garden Things

When my sister and I were little, we used to sit with my Grandma Isabel in her garden (she has the most amazing garden) and paint rocks into ladybugs. I made some yesterday and thought about how much I love her. (I'm hoping that putting them in my basil planter will make the little f'ers who are destroying it cry, "Holy shit! I'm out of here! Monster ladybugs!!!")


I also painted some row markers for my newest planter box.