nesting

Seattle Garden Show 2008

With all this yucky rain, we have really been itching for spring and some garden inspiration. So, O and I headed down south to the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. We took a break from it last year, so we were pretty excited to see what was in store for 08'. Lots of great goodies. We managed to complete it in a day and were definitely inspired by some great ideas. Some of the highlights:

1.0 Going Native:

It seemed a few years back the overall theme was bulb mania, this year it was replaced by lots of exhibits featuring indigenous plantings and mild mulches, which as we all know requires little maintenance and drought tolerance- an easy recipe for any urban gardener. One we loved: A Weekend Adventure- by New Leaf Creations.

2.0 Eat Your Greens:

Thanks to the Northwest Horticulture Society we were so thrilled to see that a large amount of the show was dedicated to kitchen gardens. From small container arrangements to large potagers this was definitely my favorite part of the show.

I was just as ecstatic when I saw the live chicken coop at the Seattle Urban Farm Co display. This was way to cool for its own good, with a vegetable garden lined brick pathway, edible green roof, mini orchard, farm kitchen and the beloved livestock. Way to go guys!

3.0 Contemporary Arrangements:

We always seem to gravitate to the modern, but there were so many great container arrangements this year. Check out these sleek planters.

 4.0 Think Green:

Sunset sponsors this event, so I felt like a kid in a candy shop trying to make sure we made enough time to hear some of the speaker series. The most memorable was, by one of their editors Lauren Bonar Swzey who spoke on the design savy sustainable gardens she has visited over the years. Can we say job envy!

5.0 Designer Spotting... And A Little Bit Of Crush Really:

To say that I didn't go bright red and a bit sweaty would be completely lying, when I got to meet one of my favorite international designers Jamie Durie. He was just as gorgeous and lovely in person. I talked with him for a bit about his books and even scored an autograph. O was thoroughly embarrassed for me.

6.0 Monrovia Plants:

Monrovia is in my opinion one of the best plant suppliers out there. If my long desired job at Sunset doesn't pan out, I think these guys would be my second choice. It was great to see some of the new species they have developed. Two that intrigued us were: Baby Bliss Flax Lilly and Wates Golden Pine. Now if only our nurseries carried more of their stock.

7.0 Farmers Rock:

We talked with some great suppliers in the 'Marketplace' but our favorite couple were from Half Moon Bay, CA. Farmer John Muller and his wife Eda run a pumpkin farm and and distribute Franchi old world heirloom seeds from Italy. We bought up some gems and successfully managed to smuggle them back home, yippee!

8.0 Classic Designs:

I have been on a serious search for some girlie- as- girlie- can- be- rain- boots. I finally found them at the Smith and Hawkins booth. As much as I am ready to see the rain disappear, maybe a few more days wouldn't hurt, so I can sport these cutsies.

9.0 Eco Friendly Products:

Two real interesting products caught our eyes. One is a non toxic organic pesticide spray that has packaging reminiscent of Method, called Pharm Solutions made locally in Washington State.

The other was a  5 gallon compost tea brewer made from a company called Keep It Simple.

10.0 A Resting Place:

After being on our feet all day we were ready for a seat and a tall one. We found the perfect answer in Ballard at Kings Hardware- a local watering hole that serves cold local brews and mini little burgers. A nice end to a great day.

 

Get Crackin'

It seems that I have come across a new idea for the 'Aloe Test Garden'. Call me crazy but I would love to house our very own Chicken Coupe. O thinks I'm nutz, and says that If I think the sound of an alarm clock is bad, then imagine chicken calls before sunrise. Crazy as it may be, how fun to have our own flock in the backyard, daily hunting for eggs and fresh home cooked omelette's all within a 50' radius. I would name my hens absurd names that your children would later thank you for saving them the humiliation. Names like: Lucinda-May, Carlita, Ruth and Matilda.

The other night over a family dinner we got onto the topic of chickens, the debate about brown eggs versus white, and if one was nutritiously better for you then the other- by the way the answer is, no. It seems that hens with white feathers and white earlobes lay white eggs, whereas hens with red feathers and matching-colored earlobes lay brown eggs. It got me pondering a somewhat, potentially city-dwelling question, that some farm bloggers out there may in fact laugh in my face.

If the hens know there is no rooster in site why do they continue to lay eggs? Could it be that these feathery ladies are not much different than their counter part female humans.

I will continue to plot out a spot in our back garden for my little girls and their ever so stylish house, nestled in between the unfinished shed and the tomato patch, quietly sitting where no city official or strata council member would ever  hear or see them. And in the meantime I will have to settle with my favorite brand from Capers: Rabbit RIver Farms where I can be assured the animals are treated fairly and get their daily run abouts, not too mention taste so very fresh! And I will continue to vicariously live through the postings from Sunset's blog, where in Menlow Park, California they are doing this very same thing.

Hotties

With all this cold weather and the daunting price of hydro these days, we have been trying to heat our home and office with alternative solutions. Aside from adding on more layers of clothing, buying woolly insulated socks, weatherstripping all the windows and doors, making soup for lunch, lighting fires at night, and dipping in a hot tub at the end of the day- what else can one do?

My favorite quick warm-me-up-its-so-cold trick, is a Hot Water Bottle. I swear this is the best method for super instant warmth. I have to admit this idea originated when I was visiting some family friends in England. They live on a beautiful country estate in a cottage house with very old heating. Their daily ritual when they get home is to put on the kettle, enough water for tea (of course!) and their individual hot water bottles- which they jokingly refer to as their "Hotties".

For a great weekend project find some soft vintage fabric or an old cashmere sweater and sew or knit a cover. It did however take me a while to find one- apparently other people in the city had the same idea, but now that I have it, the snowy cold days aren't feeling so bad after all.