Potting Shed Book Reviews

Thyme to be Festive    

Link | | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com
I sure enjoy the bounty of beautiful foliage, evergreen boughs and dried flowers when it’s thyme to decorate for the coming holidays.

This week I started outside to dress up the Potting Shed…

Someone left us a treasure.

Then I came indoors…

Since I have so many boys in my family, it is always popular to use trucks. The current truck trend is helping me out so much. Last year the whole house had a truck theme. This year I have “warned” Mr. G that we are going to incorporate some other things! Not sure what yet, but I can tell you it will have a good bit of red and loads of twinkle lights.

Last year’s mantel…

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS…


The Thanksgiving/Christmas Cactus is blooming right on time! And it is bright and beautiful. Fabulous on a gray day.
The Attar of Rose scented geranium cuttings have roots!
The African Violet baby leaf has babies! Even after years and years and countless African Violets, I’m always thrilled to see this! My Aunt Myrtle is somewhere celebrating with me.

Can you help?

Every year I start a bowl of dried roses. I don’t plan it — it just happens. I look at a bokay getting past it’s prime and pick off a few blooms, find a bowl and it begins. I am now looking  at 4 years/4 bowls of blooms and I love them!!! But, one has to go. I will move it to a jar or something, but 4 bowls is tooooo many. To keep them from fading, I keep them in my dining room cabinets and things are getting a bit crowded. This is hard for me —  it is as though I gave birth to them. #goodgrief #girlhasaprob
Here are the choices. I won’t tell you which year they are… just pick one to send to the jar. ….Sounds sinister.

ONE…

TWO…

THREE…

FOUR…

ONE?  TWO? THREE? FOUR?
Tis the season to organize — especially cupboards! Or at least I find myself organizing before I get ready for the big feast.
Til next time… grow and bloom where you are planted!
Hey, if you are on Instagram, join me there. If you aren’t … think about it. There’s a great deal of gardening going on there!

Potting Shed Review: Everyday Roses

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

A_yOtW-CcAMbH55.jpg-largeWhether you are  just beginning with roses or have been growing roses for a long time, you will thoroughly enjoy this book by popular garden expert, Paul Zimmerman. This book is beautiful, helpful, inspirational and pure garden joy.

Everyday Roses is designed specifically for weekend gardeners and homeowners who love roses but don’t have the time or inclination to deal with the care and prevention measures high-maintenance roses require.

This handy reference shows how you can enjoy the best of both worlds: gorgeous, healthy, long-flowering roses with a minimum of fuss.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Paul on Rose Chat Radio. You can listen to the recording of the show HERE.

PaulandPeter
Don’t miss one of my favorite parts of the chat … when Paul talks about his friendship with famed British nurseyman and rose expert, Peter Beales.
If  you’d like to purchase a copy or read more about this book and other articles by Paul, hop over to his website and check it out … click here.

ROSE FORUM
Paul also manages a rose forum where you can seek answers and offer advice! Click here.

Potting Shed Review: R is for Rose

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I am currently reading Carolyn Parker’s book R is for Rose and am taking my time to savor every story and every picture. This book is not only eye candy for rose lovers, but it also showcases so many of Carolyn’s talents:

As a garden designer: She shares with us her amazing garden.

As a floral arranger: She uses a unique variety of containers to showcase her beautiful roses.

As a photographer: She has an amazing gift as a photographer.

And most of all, her skills as a storyteller: With each letter of the alphabet she draws us in with one heartwarming story after another!

GRAHAM THOMAS & CAROLYN

My favorite story in Carolyn’s book is in chapter “G” … for Graham Thomas English Rose. This rose is named for the legendary gardener and rose expert, Graham Thomas. She actually had the opportunity of a life time to meet him and to share the story she had written about him in person! You just have to read this story!

BLOG TALK RADIO

I had the privilege of interviewing Carolyn recently about her book on Blog Talk Radio. She was enchanting! You can listen to that interview here.

FINDING THE BOOK

You can find her book on Amazon … click here.

Garden friends, this is a book you just might want to mention to Santa … to be sure he gets it on your Christmas list.

I think you will also enjoy Carolyn’s blog … rosenotes.com.

Potting Shed Review: How to Eat a Rose by Jim Long

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jim Long during last week’s Rose Chat interview    about his book, How To Eat a Rose, the rose as herb of the year and so much more.

JIM LONG

Jim has appeared on numerous HGTV and Discovery Channel gardening programs as well as P. Allen Smith’s garden series. His gardens have been featured in Southern Living, Gourmet and Better Homes & Gardens magazines. He also writes the syndicated newspaper column, The Ozarks Gardener that runs in newspapers in Missouri and Arkansas. Check out the Ozark’s Gardener blog here.

He is the proprietor of Long Creek Herbs where you can find many wonderful products derived from herbs.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

Twelve years ago while in India, Jim was surprised to see ice cream flavors listed as chocolate, vanilla, pistachio and rose. So his interest was sparked as to how roses are used in other countries and his research began!

HERB OF THE YEAR

Each year the International Herb Association chooses the herb of the year (click for details). This decision is based on 3 things…

  • Does it have medicinal properties?
  • Is it an culinary herb?
  • Can it be used for crafts or manufacturing?

At first I thought it was odd that the rose would be herb of the year, but with the rose, the answer to all 3 questions is, “YES.” So, Jim’s says it fit perfectly as herb of the year.

WHICH ROSES TO USE

Jim says, “If it smells good, it will taste good–just be sure there have been no sprays or systemic fertilizers used on the roses!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

This book is a great value for only $5.95. If you love roses, you need this book in your collection. You can purchase a copy here @ longcreekherbs.com, Jim’s website.

Potting Shed Review: The Founding Gardeners

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

The Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf takes you into the lives of  the framers of our country from the unique and intimate perspective of their lives as gardeners and farmers.

Click to head over to Amazon!
Click to head over to Amazon!

I received The Founding Gardeners as a gift from someone who is keenly aware of my love of gardening and history.

When Mr. G and I go on long car rides we choose a book and I read it to him as we drive. Last week we traveled to Tennessee so we had lots of reading thyme. We are now halfway through the book but I couldn’t wait to tell you about it!

This book is filled with stories of the founders separately as gardeners and weaves their amazing love for all things gardening through their friendships as well as the work they did in establishing our country. Can you say “heated debate!”

These men truly found pleasure, renewal and inspiration from their gardens just like we do!

While it was so fun to read the details of their garden pursuits, I also found a renewed interest in this particular part of history and all the details involved in getting our country off to a good start! I developed a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices these men made. Their work in most cases took them far away from the families, gardens and farms they loved–and for long periods of time!

But, it wasn’t all constitution and tea parties. There were lively conversations on subjects like manure … whether or not to use, when to use and how to use! I can just imagine what they would have thought of Annie’s MooPooTea.

Check it out. I think you will love it too.

Potting Shed Review: Two New Books

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

As much as I love and look forward to spring, I do enjoy the slower pace of winter that comes after Christmas and allows more time for reading. Something warm to drink, a fire in the fireplace and a good book. Yes, I can do that while I wait for spring … just not too long!

I recently purchased two Christmas presents from me to me that are sure to make a big difference in my gardening experience this winter.

Book #1

Sleep, Creep and Leap by Benjamin Vogt
http://deepmiddle.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/BRVogt

First of all, don’t you just love the cover!

Benjamin Vogt is a poet, essayist, gardener and blogger.

This book is a memoir of three years in his garden. … beautifully and thoughtfully written.

On getting started he writes this,

“It’s late morning already, and we’ve finally made it to the new house. In two weeks we will move in, married on 7/7/7, but until then–and before the sod gets laid–my financee and I are here to spread mulch. 20 yards.”

I so get that! And, if you are a gardener, I suspect you do to. I look forward to having the time to dive into this book!

Book #2

Yes, You Can! by Daniel Gasteiger
http://www.smallkitchengarden.net
https://twitter.com/#!/cityslipper)

My mother canned most everything we ate from the super huge garden we grew. She had an amazingly green thumb and hated to see anything go to waste.

I have her green thumb but don’t grow very many vegetables. I spend most of my gardening time  growing roses and their companions…. So, to date, I do not “can.”  Armed with Daniel’s encouragement and easy to use tips plus a few trips to my friendly farmer’s market, I plan to add canning to my 2012 list of things to do. I bet my mom will be smiling!

The pages of this book are amazing. Pictures and step by step instructions. When I asked Daniel about the book (we are Twitter friends), he said he wrote the book as though he was in the kitchen giving a demonstration. Looks easy…. wish me luck!

Do you have any encouraging words regarding canning?

Potting Shed Review: Down the Garden Path

| Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

A book I can read over and over is Down the Garden Path by Beverley Nichols.

The very British Beverly will pull you into his world (1930‘s England) of gardening and eccentric neighbors and make you fall as in love with his garden as he is. If you are a gardener and haven’t read one of Beverley Nichols’ books, well let’s just say you should go to Amazon this minute and find one. Most are out of print but you’ll find them. It’s worth the effort. Don’t just take my word for it…Other reviews…

This semiautobiographical story of Nichols’ first bumbling efforts at transforming a neglected property into a garden, was an immediate success and still rings true with amateur gardeners today. -Lori D. Kranz, Bloomsbury Review

Nichols has a wicked sense of humor. I highly recommend this book as a means of relaxing after a hard day and having a good laugh. -Bobbie Schwartz

Lucky for us he was a prolific writer and there is much to read! Enjoy!