Posts Tagged ‘Plants’

  Todd’s Dad’s’ Christmas Cactus Last week I wrote about the iconic poinsettia many give to family and friends over the holidays. This week, I’m discussing the other seasonally appropriate gift-plant: the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera). Like it’s holiday competitor the poinsettia, you can buy a Christmas Cactus  just about anywhere and since the holidays have passed — they’re on sale now! The plant is called a Christmas cactus because a drop in temperature is needed to produce blooms, therefore it’s most showy in December. It’s a welcome surprise to see […]

I’ve been outside in the garden so much I feel like my indoor plants, of which I have many, have suffered. This past week I gave them all a tune-up, adding compost to the soil and cutting back dead and straggly leaves. It’s always hard cutting back the long trailing vines of the pothos plant but mine were leggy, thin on top, and unhealthy looking. Pruning the vines encourages new growth and my cuttings would not go to waste. I propagate from them and create new plants!  I’ve been doing […]

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 […]

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.

My Friend Ed has an aquarium which is a hobby I’m interested in as well. Perhaps once things settle down with the house I can start one. Ed told me something interesting, when he changes the water in his tank, he saves it and uses it to water his plants! My first thought was… hoarding old, dirty fish water is totally weird and gross but Ed explained that fish excrements in the water act as a natural fertilizer for plants*. Ed has a stellar plant collection (see above), so it all makes sense. Google also concurs: Before you pour […]

I received the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District monthly email and was happy to read about this: New seasonal plantings have been added as part of a new program initiative begun in September by the Myrtle Avenue BID, the Ridgewood LDC & The Horticultural Society of New York.  The plantings have given the pedestrian plazas at the intersection of 71 Av., Stephen Street and Myrtle Av. as well as Venditti Square & a planting area at Catalpa & Myrtle Avenues a holiday makeover. Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District, with the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation, the city’s partner in caring for this space, […]

We’re excited to participate at the Ridgewood Market this month, selling our unique potted plants. The planting containers vary – we have up-cycled hand-picked finds, decopage recycled cans and handmade wooden planters from reclaimed barn wood (white pine). Look for Spider plants, Coleus, Pothos Vine, and Kalanchoe. All plants are propagated and homegrown with love and care. Check out a sample of our merch!   Sunday, November 23rd 2014 11 AM to 5 PM! – Handmade, Artisan, and Vintage Gifts! – Food, Pastries, Brunch, Alcohol, and Music!!! – Gottscheer Hall!! […]

It’s fall here in Rockaway and things are quiet. I’ve been walking more instead of biking – the wind while biking is pretty darn cold. Here are some shots I’ve taken during my daily wanders… Friar’s habit and Franciscan cords, looks like San Francesco to me! What is this about? Well, regardless it looks cool. Another person’s trash…! I found this on 97th and the beach block. I think I’ll make a planter out of it. The organic shapes created by beach pine are unbeatable. This Christmas season, I want […]

As summer comes to a close, here in Rockaway we are getting ready for the cold weather. Our bountiful garden is still producing the last of the vegetables that we all enjoyed this summer. The wonderful bright green basil has been picked and placed in freezer bags to sweeten every pot of tomato sauce we will enjoy this winter. Some of the basil has been transformed into tasty pesto, (not my favorite). With the daily picking of the tomatoes, I am able to create small batches of delicious simple tomato […]

This photo sums up our new life – cats, construction and food. We’ve been making pit stops on our way home, “food shopping” for delicious tomatoes and other vegetables  from Maureen’s garden. (No judgement please; we’re on a budget now!)  This sheetrock container has come in handy. Reuse, recycle, right? Even thought I’ve been laboring at the house daily, It feels like I’m on vacation. I’ve been body boarding after I’m done working at the house, biking, and enjoying the beach. Shore living is relaxing by nature, I suppose. I’ve also […]