Posts Tagged ‘Gardening’

Photo courtesy of Tim Hill. Previously published in THE WAVE 125TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE I met Kerry and Jeanne of the O’toole family and Patty Shea last summer as they were walking down my block, all smiles. Turns out, at one time, it was their block too. We had a thriving community back in the day on 91st St.” Jeanne tells me. I was excited to meet these new friends, learning of their lives lived from the 60’s through the mid 90’s, on the same street that I now call home […]

It’s mid-April: the time to slip out after dusk with your trowels, rakes, plants and seeds. If heavy rain is in the forcast, get prepared to launch your green grenades over your shoulder on the way to work. What? I’m talking about guerrilla gardening, planting in places that need a little love and wouldn’t otherwise get it– abandoned lots, under the el, unkempt street medians, every tree pit on the blvd. past 90th st. Rockaway Beach is the perfect target, and the result is aesthetically pleasing, enhanced public spaces, not […]

Over the summer I wrote a column about the development and design of my front garden. The wholesaler I was working with charged by the truckload, so the price would be the same whether it was half full or packed. This was a great opportunity to get hold of a tree, preferable one native to the area that would provide food for the birds and animal life. After consulting with plant whisperer and good buddy Walter Meyer* of Local Office Landscape Architecture, we decided to go with a serviceberry (Amelanchier […]

Here’s a recap of the best instagrams of last week. If you want the day to day follow me here! I went to a free watercolor class this week at the library here in Rockaway. They  have many free classes. Check them out! Your looking at a serviceberry tree in my front yard! Delicious for the birds as well as you. This tree thrives in our costal zone. Edible gardens are beautiful and useful! More garden photos. This is an Oak  hydrangea which can grow six feet tall. Since last year, mine […]

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    

Spring has arrived in Rockaway. Time to get the bike tuned up! The new boardwalk will be done in two months, I can’t wait to cruise the whole stretch. I’m so excited to start gardening. I have big plans for the front garden this year. I’m in the process of writing a post about it. For now, here are some photos of what’s popping up in my garden. The irises. The peonies. To my delight, the Japanese maple twig I took from my sisters’ house last summer is growing! One […]

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 […]

Here it is, past the July 4th weekend and this is what my basil plants look like (above).  Last year I was so proud that I had a red grape tomato one day after my Italian friend in Brooklyn had his first one.  This year my basil leaves a lot to be desired. My friend Fran, has a jungle of basil growing in her yard.  My sister, Brenda, has it coming out of the cracks in her deck, so it isn’t the cold Spring or lack of sunshine here in […]