Saturday, June 10, 2006
Lean & Green: The Free Edition
Because I'm a big giant garden geek, sometimes I sit around on the deck and revel in all the plants I got "for free." i.e., plants I bought a season, or several seasons ago, that return, and often do better than the year before. (God bless perennials.)
It is not unusual for me to count them. I never tire of this exercise; always extremely satisfying. (This is not counting the many fab containers I got at Odd Job--RIP Odd Job, we miss you--which I obsessively researched online to see how much of a bargain I was getting. Again, always extremely satisfying to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and see similar, or the same containers for mind-blowing prices. ps: Closeout Connection on Court Street near Borough Hall has many contianers and gardening stuf for cheap right now.
When I moved out of my apartment where I was graced with a GIANT garden, I went back and took plants out of the earth, because they were mine, and they contained my history, as well as a sentimental moss-covered brick. . (I left the bulbs, as a gift to the next residents.) It was my first real garden. I loved it.
Anyway, in a recurring feature, I present some of the plants I've gotten for "free."
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0768.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0626.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0769.jpg)
It is not unusual for me to count them. I never tire of this exercise; always extremely satisfying. (This is not counting the many fab containers I got at Odd Job--RIP Odd Job, we miss you--which I obsessively researched online to see how much of a bargain I was getting. Again, always extremely satisfying to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and see similar, or the same containers for mind-blowing prices. ps: Closeout Connection on Court Street near Borough Hall has many contianers and gardening stuf for cheap right now.
When I moved out of my apartment where I was graced with a GIANT garden, I went back and took plants out of the earth, because they were mine, and they contained my history, as well as a sentimental moss-covered brick. . (I left the bulbs, as a gift to the next residents.) It was my first real garden. I loved it.
Anyway, in a recurring feature, I present some of the plants I've gotten for "free."
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0768.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0626.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0769.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/200/IMG_0772.jpg)
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Bounty from the Garden
First of all, this rain has to stop. Ix-nay on the Ain-ray. It's good for the garden, but COME ON! All the moisture leads to fungus and slugs, and just bad times overall. I once took a class at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and I was really looking forward to knowing where the hell slugs came from. Especially on a roof garden two stories up! I mean, what do they slither up the side of the building? The woman teaching looked at me when I asked and said "From hell. They come from hell." Great. Thanks. So much for that. Internet research provided little enlightenment, at which point I became extremely fascinated with slugs. I mean, I guess their eggs (?) are in the soil already or something. I am already beginnning to find them this year. and yes, I know about beer and trapping them.
anyway...went out to the garden to get some flowers for the living room. My results.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/400/IMG_0702.jpg)
anyway...went out to the garden to get some flowers for the living room. My results.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/400/IMG_0702.jpg)
Mystery Plant Update
A kind and knowledgable reader over at GardenWeb has revealed the identity of the mystery plant:
"Paulownia tomentosa. A very fast growing tree with lovely purple flowers."
Further research shows that it's known for growing in all sorts of inhospitable places, like cracks in gas staiton pavement, etc. Was source of packing material in China--the hulls of the seeds, or something--prior to synthetic replacements. Traditionally planted when a baby girl was born, and used to make gifts when she was married. Also, according to legend the only tree a phoenix will land on, which signifies the era of a great leader or something. (I could be remembering that incorrectly. All of that, as a matter of fact.)
The upshot is this thing IS growing really fast, and I am torn as to whether or not I should yank it. It's starting to encroach on the Clemtatis...but then again, I supposed it's keeping the Clematis' "feet" cool, as they're supposed to like. The current state of the mystery plant:
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/320/IMG_0616.jpg)
"Paulownia tomentosa. A very fast growing tree with lovely purple flowers."
Further research shows that it's known for growing in all sorts of inhospitable places, like cracks in gas staiton pavement, etc. Was source of packing material in China--the hulls of the seeds, or something--prior to synthetic replacements. Traditionally planted when a baby girl was born, and used to make gifts when she was married. Also, according to legend the only tree a phoenix will land on, which signifies the era of a great leader or something. (I could be remembering that incorrectly. All of that, as a matter of fact.)
The upshot is this thing IS growing really fast, and I am torn as to whether or not I should yank it. It's starting to encroach on the Clemtatis...but then again, I supposed it's keeping the Clematis' "feet" cool, as they're supposed to like. The current state of the mystery plant:
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/2827/320/IMG_0616.jpg)