Posts Tagged ‘Garden’

I was walking back from the YMCA last week and noticed the dandelions have flowered. Time to forage in the great wilderness, or as I like to call it, the median of Shore Front Parkway. I know what you’re thinking, “Gross!! Dogs pee there!!” Whatever. I bet gophers pee on asparagus and kale in the organic farms. Either way, I still feel natural, locally grown foods are healthier for us than the pre-packaged produce in the supermarket. God knows what they spray on those greens! Besides, germs make your immune […]

If you remember, in the spring we implemented Cousin Lesley’s garden design –  the flower beds thrived and looked beautiful all summer. In fact, it still looks great now. But one thing was missing – the magical Foxtail Lily. This floral is a bulb, so I couldn’t plant it until now! As the common name dictates, this plant looks like a fox’s tail. It’s stunning with an impressive hight up to 8 feet! It is native to semi-desert areas in Asia – so perfect for the sandy soil conditions in Rockaway. I’ve never […]

Very proud of my Mother-in-law Maureen (and Tomato Gal contributor!). She’s been recognized in The Wave for her dedicated service in the beatification of Veterans’ Circle. Check it out! Photo Credit Dan Brown: https://www.facebook.com/skininkmag    

The Beach 91st Street Community Garden is in full season. I wanted to share some photos of the delicious foods growing inside. But first, note the beautiful new fence that has replaced the plywood, which was barely standing for quite some time. Before… After! The group organized a go fund me to help with the cost and members installed the fence last weekend. Thanks guys! So what’s growing? A few garden members are growning corn! And red leaf lettuce. Beautiful purple tomatoes… I believe these are indigo rose? Japanese greens – I had to […]

The Serviceberry has arrived. Props to our neighbor Paul for helping us get this 500 lb tree of the truck. Our other florals were also delivered, more to come on that but for now take a look at this…

Since November when I posted about Parks finally filling my request for a tree, our block received more additions! One Juniper was planted on the side of the Beach House condo and another was set in the tree pit in front of my neighbor to the left! Junipers are beautiful evergreens. They’re even more beautiful when left to grow wild. On the side of the condo there is space for at least two more trees. Why didn’t they plant more?  I’m hoping the parks dept. utilizes this space in the spring. The bark of the […]

After multiple requests to the Parks Department and incessant reminders to them via twitter, I finally got my tree-aaaaa!! My tree, which Matt named Charlie, is not the one I requested but I love him all the same. It’s a Sophora Japonica, commonly called a Regent. It’s a nonnative species on the NYC approved species list because of its tolerance to weather; its ability to grow in any soil and its non-aggressive roots system. Charlie is from Connecticut – don’t judge, he’s a transplant. He was a leftover from last springs planting. This is probably why the city ignored my request for a Chokecherry. They […]

In the mornings, I like to stroll around the front and backyard looking at the garden. Well, it’s more like over-grown weeds with random flowers intermixed. I’ve been busy with house projects so the garden has been left to run wild.  Matt makes fun of me saying, “You look insane watering those weeds!” The other morning while sipping my coffee I spotted this agastache plant growning out of a crack in the house. My friend John gave us some agastache a while back. When we moved from Ridgewood, we dismantled the roof deck and the agastache came […]

If I haven’t mentioned, I have a plot in the Beach 91st street community garden.  It’s across the street from our house. There’s been two potluck garden dinners so far, where members bring dishes with food they’ve grown from the garden. It’s been fun to meet everyone and talk shop over supper. I’ve been meaning to take some photos of what’s growing and what’s going on behind the gates. We keep bees! About a month and a half ago we adopted a bee hive from NYC beekeepers. I love seeing how everyone […]

Okay, now that your lilac bush has finished blooming and you have all these dead flower heads, what do you do? To encourage even more flowers next Spring, pinch off the dead head at the base, as shown. Next year instead of one flower on that stem, you’ll get two. Try it! And of course, you’ll be putting those dead flower heads in your compost pile to add organic matter to your soil.