RECENT POSTS
ALL GARDEN POSTS
How Sage’s garden grows
Landscape Design Tip for Monstera
Here's a pro tip when you're doing landscape design with large tropicals like Monstera. To add drama to the scene, contrast the monstera with something small and compact, like a potted dachshund. This is a photo of Hank the Weenie demonstrating. (Also, bad dog, Hank. You're not supposed to be sitting in the flower pots.)
The Ducks Get a New Water Dish
The term "like a duck to water" takes on new meaning when your ducks get a new water dish. When I put the empty dish down there wasn't a duck in sight. The moment water came out of the hose, boom, 19 ducks appeared, so I took a quick video of them. I think this is the duck equivalent of hanging around the water cooler.
Keyhole Garden Planted with Winter Vegetables
Getting ready for fresh vegetables all winter A couple of weeks ago I cleared my keyhole garden of the spent summer crops, topped off the bed with fresh compost and let it sit for a few days to rest and settle in. Yesterday I pulled the seedlings from the greenhouse and transplanted them in garden. Here's a list of what we're growing this winter: Keyhole garden re-planted for winter of 2019/2020 Clockwise from the lower left: Large Leaf Basil Romaine Lettuce - [keep reading...]
How to Build a Keyhole Garden
I built an exceptionally productive keyhole garden using cedar fence boards and pipe strapping. Total build cost was around $200 and the results were amazing. Here's complete instructions on how to do it.
Video: “Happy Red” Japanese Tomato
Bought a Japanese tomato with no idea what it would be. I wasn't disappointed.Last spring I picked up a variety of odd-ball tomatoes from a local nursery. One was a complete mystery because the tag was printed in Japanese. An attempt to use Google Translate revealed only that it was "happy red" and "not much disease," which, fortunately, turned out to be true. Here's a quick video from August on the tomato: And here's the plant tag from the tomato. If anyone reads Japanese, [keep reading...]
My Keyhole Garden Through the Year
The keyhole garden is an amazing vegetable garden that fits in a small space. Here's how mine grew through the year.
Plain Old Burlap: The Most Versatile Plant Protection
When it comes to protecting plants and seedlings from nature, burlap is an eco-friendly, versatile and inexpensive choice. Here's how you can use it.
Fall Finally! Let’s Get to Work!
The last of the summer veggies I’ve been reading “what to plant for fall” stories since August. In some ways I’m jealous of people who can start their fall garden in late summer, but it’s not an option here in the San Diego county foothills. By August the sun is directly overhead and it hasn’t rained in four months or more. The ground is hot and dry, the air is hotter and drier. All the natives drop their leaves and other plants, even [keep reading...]
Four Easy Ways to Save Seeds
Saving your own seeds is a great way to save money and keep the plants you like. Here are the easiest ways to save a variety of vegetable and flower seeds.
Time to fly the nest buddy
The woodpeckers that occupy one of the giant agave stalks out front have been trying to get their chick out of the nest for at least a week. Actually, it's not really a "chick" anymore since its as large as its parents. It's more like a 26 year-old millenial that won't move out and expects mom to keep the fridge stocked. He's probably got an XBox in that nest.
RECENT POSTS
ALL GARDEN POSTS
How Sage’s garden grows
Landscape Design Tip for Monstera
Here's a pro tip when you're doing landscape design with large tropicals like Monstera. To add drama to the scene, contrast the monstera with something small and compact, like a potted dachshund. This is a photo of Hank the Weenie demonstrating. (Also, bad dog, Hank. You're not supposed to be sitting in the flower pots.)
The Ducks Get a New Water Dish
The term "like a duck to water" takes on new meaning when your ducks get a new water dish. When I put the empty dish down there wasn't a duck in sight. The moment water came out of the hose, boom, 19 ducks appeared, so I took a quick video of them. I think this is the duck equivalent of hanging around the water cooler.
Keyhole Garden Planted with Winter Vegetables
Getting ready for fresh vegetables all winter A couple of weeks ago I cleared my keyhole garden of the spent summer crops, topped off the bed with fresh compost and let it sit for a few days to rest and settle in. Yesterday I pulled the seedlings from the greenhouse and transplanted them in garden. Here's a list of what we're growing this winter: Keyhole garden re-planted for winter of 2019/2020 Clockwise from the lower left: Large Leaf Basil Romaine Lettuce - [keep reading...]
How to Build a Keyhole Garden
I built an exceptionally productive keyhole garden using cedar fence boards and pipe strapping. Total build cost was around $200 and the results were amazing. Here's complete instructions on how to do it.
Video: “Happy Red” Japanese Tomato
Bought a Japanese tomato with no idea what it would be. I wasn't disappointed.Last spring I picked up a variety of odd-ball tomatoes from a local nursery. One was a complete mystery because the tag was printed in Japanese. An attempt to use Google Translate revealed only that it was "happy red" and "not much disease," which, fortunately, turned out to be true. Here's a quick video from August on the tomato: And here's the plant tag from the tomato. If anyone reads Japanese, [keep reading...]
My Keyhole Garden Through the Year
The keyhole garden is an amazing vegetable garden that fits in a small space. Here's how mine grew through the year.
Plain Old Burlap: The Most Versatile Plant Protection
When it comes to protecting plants and seedlings from nature, burlap is an eco-friendly, versatile and inexpensive choice. Here's how you can use it.
Fall Finally! Let’s Get to Work!
The last of the summer veggies I’ve been reading “what to plant for fall” stories since August. In some ways I’m jealous of people who can start their fall garden in late summer, but it’s not an option here in the San Diego county foothills. By August the sun is directly overhead and it hasn’t rained in four months or more. The ground is hot and dry, the air is hotter and drier. All the natives drop their leaves and other plants, even [keep reading...]
Four Easy Ways to Save Seeds
Saving your own seeds is a great way to save money and keep the plants you like. Here are the easiest ways to save a variety of vegetable and flower seeds.
Time to fly the nest buddy
The woodpeckers that occupy one of the giant agave stalks out front have been trying to get their chick out of the nest for at least a week. Actually, it's not really a "chick" anymore since its as large as its parents. It's more like a 26 year-old millenial that won't move out and expects mom to keep the fridge stocked. He's probably got an XBox in that nest.