Before and After: A Simple Recipe

Maybe it's so easy because everything else in the winter is so hard -

And this winter has been really hard ... On everything - plants, pots, trees, my firewood stash, my back, my psyche -

Here's a simple recipe for a little slice of spring a few weeks early -

1.  Start with a bag of bulbs (from the local nursery, hardware store, big box retailer- they're

     becoming so popular I'm expecting to see them in the 7-11 next year)

2.  Add some empty pots ( I have lots of empty pots - the result of a bitterly cold winter and my lack of foresight) -

3.  Stick the bulbs in the dirt just below the surface (some nurseries are even selling the bulbs in the advanced stages of bloom for the lazy gardener) -

4.  Add some water - plant fertilizer optional -

5.  Sit back with a glass of wine and wait -

Viola!

  

A great way to ease into the spring —

Twenty days and counting ...

The original gardening apps

Before there were mobile apps, smartphones, kindles or computers, there were books.

There were no passwords, downloads, directories or folders.

They were stored on shelves or in stacks on tables or sitting on the floor around the room. 

Some books came in collections — remember encyclopedias, the original Internet search? You can only find them at flea markets and garage sales these days.

Some books are bigger than a tablet and have incredible pictures, most likely taken with cameras loaded with Kodachrome film. 

Pictures of gardens from all over the world.

I have books written by experts like Neil Sperry and by authors that just like to assemble pictures or collections with a vintage look like Susan Waggoner.

Aside from general gardening or picture books, there are some very useful old books on specific plants and gardening techniques.

Forcing is one that gardeners with no yard, no deck, no patio can use — you can pick up bulbs at your local nursery and even an amateur can work magic in a small vase.

Today, knock-out roses are very popular. And why wouldn't they be? They're easy to grow and seem to be much less susceptible to diseases and require less maintenance than other rose varieties. If you have the time, roses are a great addition to any garden.

Better Homes and Gardens has built a media powerhouse to serve people who like to spend time decorating their homes and designing their gardens.

Better Homes and Gardens is one of the few gardening publications still around.

These two were once my favorites, but they're out of print now.

A lot of people think all magazines and books will share that same fate at some point in the near future.

The same fate as encyclopedias, cameras, kodachrome and heirloom roses.

Maybe they're right.  

But I still enjoy all those nice bright colors and the greens of summers that makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah!

Wine Gardening

Malbec is the new merlot (or cabernet sauvignon)

A bottle of wine and a gardening activity — there are other variables that can be introduced, but basic wine gardening at its core is simple.

Anyone can enjoy wine gardening.

You don’t need a wine cellar or even a garden.

You can enjoy wine gardening in your apartment or house, on a small balcony or on a large patio, in large yard or with small containers, outdoors on a beautiful summer afternoon or inside on a dreary winter day.

I’m not a master gardener and I’m not a wine conossieur but I know what I like.

Everything I’ve learned that I like has been through trial and error. And from the experiences and recommendations of other wine gardeners

Here are a few things I'm doing right now:

Malbec and dark chocolate

I’ve heard is said that Malbec is the new Merlot. Five years ago it was hard to find a bottle of Malbec in my area, but now I can find a good selection at my local convenience or drug store. One of my favorites right now is Trapiche. If you like a red wine that’s on the dry side, it’s really good with a brick of dark chocolate – and it’s reasonably priced, between 8 and 10 dollars for a bottle.

I’m also planting bulbs.

Regardless of the weather or your gardening space, bulbs are a good spring gardening activity.

Are you a wine gardener?

What wine gardening activities are you enjoying right now?