Tending The Garden, Digging the Weeds

When we first gave up our city loft and moved into our vacation home in the woods of Shohola, my nephew Rick sent us an image of Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert (posed like the couple in American Gothic) from the TV show Green Acres.  Yes, it was a big change and no Rick, I do not wear an evening gown when I garden.

Me and my friend Tomme, the day Larry, Phil, Tomme and I put in the first raised bed for my vegetable garden 

I love gardening, hands in the dirt, listening to the bird sounds.  So funny for an ex-city fancy pants to say. Today I plan to celebrate my birthday by playing in the dirt.  I'm going to quickly post this and get out there.  It is beautiful!

Perennial friends keep helping my garden grow with contributions like Tomme's columbine and irises, Pam's shasta daisies and more irises, Linda and Ralph's veggies and herbs from seed, Nancy's rhubarb.  
Some suggestions for the gardener in your life:

a manicure (just kidding)

Eliot Coleman's book,  "Four-Season Harvest," which offers alternatives to wistfully staring at seed catalogues so many months of the year.

Dig something out of your garden for a gift.  The gift that keeps on giving, as they regrow, reseed and return each spring.

Go to lunch and a greenhouse together

Show up willing to weed and plant for a day or present a coupon for a day in the garden.

Some of my favorite websites have e gift cards or will ship:
www.peonysenvy.com          (yes you read that right) 
www.mastergardening.com   Great tools, cold frames
www.seedsavers.org               for Heirloom seeds
www.whiteflowerfarm.com     dependable and beautiful bulbs and plants


Significant others: Diamonds are a better gift than bags of composted organic matter (Thanks Phil.)


Great At Any Age: Give a Gift That Supports Your Friend's Growth.

Me and my friend Bonnie in our own version of American Gothic