The Thrifty Gardener – A Book Review

I've been reading and studying Alys Fowler's The Thrifty Gardener, and I'm so sad I've come to the end. I've quoted and linked back to her several times in this blog series, so some of you may remember me mentioning I had ordered her book. As my experiences in gardening for the last two years have been less than spectacular, I decided getting myself educated probably wasn't a bad idea. Go figure. I ordered through Amazon and the publication came right away. What a delight. The... Continue reading

Nasturtium Salad

This is not a flower arrangement. Out on the deck, I have a big washtub full of nasturtiums. They are bright and cheery, and every morning I'm greeted with a big burst of color. The best part, however, is that these lovelies make a tasty addition to salads and sandwiches. The large round leaves fit perfectly between sliced cheese and sandwich meat. Cut the leaves into slices and add to your salad mix and then garnish with the flowers. It is beautiful on the table, nourishing for the body,... Continue reading

Our first spring project

From our deck, you can look out over our large backyard and see almost endless possibility. Morning and late afternoon sun give the area a beautiful glow. It seems like a perfect place to spend a summer afternoon lazing in a hammock or playing a spirited game of croquet. It is not. But it soon will be, for our goal, this spring is to unearth the hidden beauty lying under the overgrown brambles and privet and create a secret garden of our very own. We came up with the idea late into the... Continue reading

Alys Fowler: My new rock star hero!

Alys Fowler, an English gardener, and writer, has a videos series called "The Edible Garden" that details farming in an urban setting. What an inspiration! Her work and ideas are the embodiment of Deluxe living! A woman after my own heart, she works with the land and what the environment provides. She created a veritable Eden in her own backyard! Check out the episode above entitled "Peas and Beans". If you've got even a hint of love for playing in the dirt, you will be hooked! I aspire to... Continue reading