http://enlightenedgardens.com/ Devoted to the gentlest of hobbies - Gardening. We cover gardening in a wide variety of climates. en Copyright 2006 Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:50:50 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Guided GardensTour
I usually visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens not quite knowing what I'm looking for, and come home with nothing but duck photographs. To improve my random garden reporting, this spring I decide to take a guided tour.
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_guided_gardenstour.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_guided_gardenstour.html Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:50:50 -0700 Is there a Hallmark card for this?
If you saw my brother, Alby seated at a restaurant or walking in the park, your first thought might be, "Wow, nice looking guy. Beautiful hair." But Alby is dying. He is addicted to heroin.

I guess most every family deals with stuff like this. Maybe not heroin, but alcohol, mental illness, whatever. (Our family just happens to deal with all three.)

And so, after returning from recent travels, I hit the the ground running AND hit the wall at the same time. For starters, our Galley Gourmet dinner cruise season started up, the garden needed attention, there were bills to pay and yadda yadda. Yet one thing kept nagging my brain: Alby will be celebrating his 52nd birthday on June 5. But at the rate he's going, I don't think he's going to make it to 53.
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_is_there_a_hallmark_card_for.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_is_there_a_hallmark_card_for.html Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:04:59 -0700 Lovely Louisianas
Just a reminder that time is running out to order Louisiana irises from many of the online vendors. Two very reputable sellers, Zydeco Irises and Iris City Gardens, both have order deadlines of September 1. Although several varieties have sold out, there are many beauties left over at Iris City Gardens...at least, there will be until they pull my order. I went a little overboard. Click on the

Fairy Fishing Rods

Green Beans etc

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_lovely_louisianas.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_lovely_louisianas.html Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:02:27 -0700 Adrian
Adrian Originally uploaded by croatoan_found. I garden because it allows me to do something positive, creative and life-affirming. Some things work and some don't. And it allows me time to simply think about things.I've had too much to think about lately.A week ago, a 22 year old friend of my son passed away. For no apparent reason. He was playing on an indoor soccer team with his

Garden weirdness, Part I
Fungus Originally uploaded by croatoan_found. I've been noticing some very odd looking maple leaves in my yard. I was going to stop by a local nursery to ask what's up when an article in the Boston Globe provided an answer: Fungus.Arborists say the biggest problem they are seeing is anthracnose, a fungus that causes the veins of a leaf to turn brown before overtaking its edges and then

The garden in August
Goldfinch among the Black-eyed Susans Originally uploaded by croatoan_found. I spent the weekend weeding. I had neglected the dreary aspect of gardening during the sweltering days in July and early August and now the weeds have run amock. I tore through about six barrels of weeds and still have plenty more.The goldfinches have fallen in love with the black eyed Susans. They perch and

Good news and bad news
Butterfly Originally uploaded by croatoan_found. The weather has been very hot (low 90's) and humid. Several plants like the ferns in the deep shade seemed to have exploded in growth during this period. I thought these ferns were killed off by the heavy rains earlier this year but they look very good right now.However...The peonies have developed what appears to be powdery mildew. Almost
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_adrian.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_adrian.html Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:01:26 -0700 100 years ago, iced tea--not beer--was the beverage of choice
When iced tea was introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World s Fair, Americans fell in love with it. In fact, iced tea became a status symbol. A perfectly brewed pitcher of tea was the mark of a successful hostess. Women s magazines provided tips on how to brew tea correctly, and offered recipes for Tea Punch a sweet beverage for summer tennis and golf gatherings.

Learn how iced tea drinkers battled it out with beer drinkers, and won! Listen to this article in the form of a fun, 2-minute audio article, subscribe to my podcast feed (so you can open the attachment below) or simply listen to the mp3 file now by clicking here.

For Snappy . . .

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_100_years_ago_iced_teanot_bee.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_100_years_ago_iced_teanot_bee.html Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:16:16 -0700 General Gardening Chat :: RE: The Return of the Head Gardener
Author: Faith Stockton
Subject: Welcome Home!
Posted: 22 Aug '06 2:20 am (GMT 12)
Topic Replies: 7

Dear Moosey, welcome home! We all missed you so much. I have already read your Samoa Diary and your new journal entries. I'm glad you had such a restful holiday, but I am glad you are back home. Now all is right with the world and I can get my daily "fix".

Love, Faith
_________________
Faith at Bide-a-Wee Farm, Alabama, USA


If a watermelon seed could talk (fruitful wisdom)
You know how the smallest experience can stop you in your tracks?
Recently, my life was changed by a watermelon seed. Actually, it was William Jennings Bryan's take on the watermelon seed. Bryan served as Secretary of State under President Wilson. What's a guy like this doing talking about a little black seed?

Listen to this 2-minute podcast. I promise that not only will you nod your head in wonderment, you'll never look at a watermelon seed the same way again.

To listen to the podcast, you have 2 choices: Subscribe to my podcast feed (so you can open the attachment below) or simply Download/listen here to the mp3.

Or, heck, you can just read article by continuing on (you'll still feel chills down your spine).

Garden Tours :: RE: NATURE AS A GARDEN
Author: Liza
Subject: Dear , dear Jack!!
Posted: 22 Aug '06 4:43 am (GMT 12)
Topic Replies: 12

I wanted so much to pay tribute to you, for your EXCELLENT work in these internet pages of our site! From the first moment you returned! But those moments, I was so full of the vacations trip preparation ; you know, household plus garden..Because I wanted to really read, think , feel, while I was reading and admiring. And now I have done so!

Simply: Thank you for the marvellous experience and new knowledge!! Plus, that even before I leave, you had inspired me to do something of this quality for you , when I'm back from my own holidays... I hope I offered you, too, a little of good quality happiness , like the huge one you offered me with your excellent narrative and photos...Thank you so much!
_________________
"..So,perhaps, it is easiest, through awareness of flowers in particular, of their radiant beauty and purity, their vibrant colour, to come to the excellence of the One and be uplifted beyond thought to our divine selves".Dorothy Maclean

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_general_gardening_chat_re_the.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_general_gardening_chat_re_the.html Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:15:34 -0700 Improving Soil With Limestone
One of the best ways to solve many mineral problems you might have in your soil is to add finished compost or other partially decayed organic material. The effect on the mineral conditions of the soil is not immediate, but over time, adding organic matter helps to balance mineral content and even to modify soil [...]
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_improving_soil_with_limestone.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_improving_soil_with_limestone.html Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:16:38 -0700 Traveling Without Animals
A traveling garden reporter in summery England has a great life - zooming through the countryside on trains and buses, visiting new gardens, making new gardening friends, experiencing the (wet) English weather. What could be more heart-and-mind-warming?

My Holiday Part Two
My lovely holiday continues. I go to North Devon for some English countryside - and then zoom under the English Channel on a train to Belgium. Just a little rain... falling from the skies...

Circle of life

Chateau de la Hulpe
When recently in Europe my gardening friend took me to one of her magical walking places - le Chateau de la Hulpe, in Brussels. We sauntered around in the gentle rain, on paths flanked by forests of flowering rhododendrons.
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_traveling_without_animals.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_traveling_without_animals.html Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:44:27 -0700

Seize the Moment!
This billboard in downtown Seattle provides us with a universal message: When all is said and done, we regret more what we didn't do, than what we did do...

So when people tell me, "Wow, I've always wanted to go to Alaska," I tell them, just as I'm telling you, "Great, come. Your life will change." It's hard to put into words. You just have to experience Alaska for yourself.

We can also learn from writer, teacher and scholar Eknath Easwaran who said,

100 years ago, iced tea--not beer--was the beverage of choice
When iced tea was introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World s Fair, Americans fell in love with it. In fact, iced tea became a status symbol. A perfectly brewed pitcher of tea was the mark of a successful hostess. Women s magazines provided tips on how to brew tea correctly, and offered recipes for Tea Punch a sweet beverage for summer tennis and golf gatherings.

Learn how iced tea drinkers battled it out with beer drinkers, and won! Listen to this article in the form of a fun, 2-minute audio article, subscribe to my podcast feed (so you can open the attachment below) or simply listen to the mp3 file now by clicking here.

What Can a 1935 Burpee Seed Catalog Tell Us?
Many of the best gardens are planned around the kitchen table on cold winter nights as people gather to page through the seed catalogs arriving now in stacks as deep as snowdrifts.

More than 24 million American households will spend an estimated $128 each on mail order seeds, plants, bulbs, garden tools and garden supplies in 2006, the Mailorder Gardening Association says. Yet the catalogs we see today, online and printed, are very different from yesteryear.

[Special note: Have some fun and LISTEN to this article, which is only 2 minutes long. Subscribe to my podcast feed (so you can open the attachment below) OR simply listen to the mp3 file now by clicking here]

Otherwise, keep reading...
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/post_1.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/post_1.html Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:32:06 -0700 My Garden & Plants :: RE: Attracting Butterflies
Author: moosey
Subject: Butterfly Weed
Posted: 5 Jun '06 4:59 pm (GMT 12)
Topic Replies: 5

Do you know the 'proper' name for these flowers? I don't thnk I've seen them before - are they a Minnesota flower? Or maybe I'm just not looking, and everyone else but me has met them!
_________________
Head Gardener
mooseyscountrygarden.com
http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com


My Garden Diaries :: RE: A walk around my garden
Author: goose
Subject: Inspiring...
Posted: 5 Jun '06 6:22 pm (GMT 12)
Topic Replies: 16

Oh so inspiring Jack, but how is a person to get any gardening done when you keep posting such interesting stories and pics?? Ha Ha
_________________
Goose

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_my_garden_plants_re_attractin.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_my_garden_plants_re_attractin.html Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:10:21 -0700 Dandelion WildFlowers: Pretty & Edible
Dandelion Flowers are a very common wildflower that can be found growing in just about any part of the world. Many gardeners hate them, but they’re wonderful for naturalizing, drawing bees, and eating too. Yellow Dandelion Flowers draw bees, grow just about anywhere, and can be eaten too. Dandelions grow from 2 to 8 inches tall, and [...]
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_dandelion_wildflowers_pretty.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_dandelion_wildflowers_pretty.html Wed, 24 May 2006 09:37:12 -0700 Help

Computers & Flowers

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_help_1.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_help_1.html Wed, 24 May 2006 09:19:22 -0700 Bigchimes

Quince
Early in the season, when landscapes are dominated by the bright yellow of Forsythias and daffodils, the comparatively rare quince (Chaenomeles japonica) shines with it's clear bright colors. My son and I make it a daily event to check...
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_bigchimes.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_bigchimes.html Wed, 24 May 2006 09:18:35 -0700 Trouble ahead?

]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_trouble_ahead.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_trouble_ahead.html Wed, 17 May 2006 09:40:31 -0700 Hike Of The Week: Scenery and conditioning all in one
Local hiking expert Karen Sykes explores a road route in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley.

The Great Rose Massacre

And it's outa here!

If you like incredible vistas or wildflowers galore, the gorge is for you
Spring is considered the best season to hike the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, partly because it coincides with the peak of one of the most splendid wildflower blooms in the Northwest.
]]> http://enlightenedgardens.com/_hike_of_the_week_scenery_and.html http://enlightenedgardens.com/_hike_of_the_week_scenery_and.html Tue, 16 May 2006 11:47:15 -0700