Garden Detective

If you think the concrete jungle is, well, jungle-less, think again. There's a growing gardening community in the big city, and it's made up of quite a creative bunch.

We're not talking window boxes here. Or tree-grows-in-Brooklyn stuff. Folks are growing unusual plants on terraces and creating lush hideaways on apartment building roofs. A couple of years ago, I met with the Manhattan Rose Society. Kind of an oxymoron, I thought at the time. But these folks were really enthusiastic and dedicated to roses.

And now, more and more city dwellers are growing their own food. Maybe it's out of necessity, what with the price of gas and milk and rice and everything. Seeds are cheap. If you play your cards right, they're even free. And a family of four can save upwards of $1,000 a year by growing their own produce.

Easy enough here on Long Island, where most of us have at least a small patch of soil to call our own. In the city, container vegetables are growing in popularity. Earth boxes are perfectly suited for balconies, but regular good old fashioned pots work, too.

I can't think of an herb that can't be grown in a pot. So basil, parsley, sage, chives, dill, mint, rosemary and thyme are no-brainers.

And here's a list of vegetables suited for containers:

Bush beans
Pole beans (in hanging baskets)
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Corn
Cucumbers (hanging baskets)
Eggplant
Lettuce
Peas
Spinach
Tomatoes

I was looking at my page referrers report today. It tells me how readers of my blog find me, and helps me understand what my readers are looking for. "Edible weeds" is always high up there, and so is "bulbs," which makes sense because I've written about those topics. But I was surprised to see search terms like "Alpha Man," "Cuban men nude," "Peter Pan," "American nude women" and several variations thereof.

I can understand how Google led surfers in search of "Cuban men nude," to the Garden Detective blog, as an earlier post on World Naked Gardening Day 2008 mentioned that Cuban-born actress Eva Mendes likes to garden in a natural state. But I can't imagine the disappointment readers must have felt when they realized there were no "Cuban men nude" on this page. Nor any American nude women. And I have no idea what Alpha Man is about. But perhaps those who seek him can benefit from a recipe for dandelion salad.

Whoa! I had no idea nude gardening was such a popular pastime. I must have been living under a rock all this time -- fully clothed, of course.

I can't link to some of the sites that have been brought to my attention because of the photos on those pages. Though not provacative in any way, for the most part, they do depict gardeners in what many would consider vulnerable states.

The Naked Gardening Association contends, "Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude." Family friendly?

The terracottain blog contends that Shakira "loves nude gardening." Remember, her hips don't lie. And the Metro.co.uk site reports on a New Jersey man's "bold commitment to inappropriate nakedness" when he allegedly was arrested in September after "a family spotted him having a shower in his front garden."

There's more. The casual gardener offers "straight-forward techniques" for gardening nude to reveal "the naked truth of your life and doing." For Jon, who commented on my last posting on the subject, I can only hope those techniques include the avoidance of power tools.

And according to ShobizSpy, actress Eva Mendes is on board, too. The site says "she is so comfortable in her own skin, she even weeds her flowerbeds and trims her bushes while she’s completely naked." It quotes the actress as saying, "I love being naked. I do everything in the nude, even the gardening! We’re Cuban, and it’s a hot island. Why not go nude?”

The movement even has been reported by the mainstream media. Here's a video from CNN about a naked guy who upset his Oregon neighbors. Don't worry, it's a news report. The kiddies can watch.

So where does this leave the rest of us? Those of us who garden not only fully clothed, but who don special hats and gloves and shoes when we head out to become one with nature?

I just stumbled upon an international holiday of sorts that began in 2005. I'm not quite sure where, or more to the point, why, but it seems World Naked Gardening Day is for real.

They even have a web site. A web site I can't link to if I want to have a nice, warm, job-security feeling over the weekend, what with Newsday being a family paper and all. But I can tell you about a little program called Google that might help you find it all on your own. Without any help from me. Whatsoever.

Saturday, May 3 will be the 4th annual World Naked Gardening Day, during which people from all over the world will be encouraged to "to tend their portion of the world's garden clothed as nature intended," according to the hitherto elusive website.

Though the photos on the homepage gave me pause, the quote highlighted on the right side of the screen rivaled them: "When you're out there with a gentle breeze on you, every last hair on your body feels it. You feel completely connected with the natural world in a way you just can't in clothes."

I don't even want to think about thorns, mosquitoes and pruning accidents.

I don't generally gush over new products, so I'd like to make one thing perfectly clear: This is not a paid endorsement. I didn't get a free sample. Not even a coupon.

Whether you have a bad back or you’re like me, lacking the strength and desire to crank up a garden hose every day (sometimes several times a day), you’ll appreciate the Reelsmart No-Crank garden hose reel from Hydro Industries.

The ingenious gadget doesn’t rely on batteries, electricity or a gear system to do its job. Instead, it uses water pressure to power its internal piston engine. And no human strength is required: A simple lift of the lever engages the Hydro-Pro system, automatically rewinding the hose into your choice of cases.

Available in open and enclosed models (there’s even a wooden one to match country-style garden décor), the Israeli-developed devices come in different sizes to accommodate different lengths of hoses, which are not included.

Just be sure to heed the packaged instructions’ warning about storing the unit indoors over the winter. If the mechanism freezes, there’s a good chance the reel won’t function anymore.

Reelsmart gets a Garden Detective nod for being one of the best back-saving garden inventions to come along in quite awhile.

Want one? You'll find them at Lowe's stores, Target.com or directly from the manufacturer at prices that range from $39 to $189, depending on size and model.

AngelMist® Basket Pink Angelonia. Sometimes called “angel flower” or “summer snapdragon,” loves full sun and thrives in well-drained soil. The frothy blooms, set amidst spike-like leaves, perform all summer long and look great in containers. Plant in full sun. Grows 6 to 10 inches tall, spreads 16 to 20 inches.

While containers certainly can spruce up a porch or patio, they also can ready a deck for entertaining and make a dramatic impact on curb appeal.

My recent favorite container is the EarthBox. Though I'll never give up my small vegetable patch, I've developed an affinity for trellised tomatoes on the deck outside my kitchen door. They never need weeding, get just the right amount of fertilizer, and watering is never a concern. Plus, it's a cool conversation piece.

Another favorite edible I prefer to grow in containers is mint. I'm a big fan of the summertime Mojito -- that refreshing blend of simple syrup, seltzer, rum and fresh mint leaves. The problem with mint, though, is that if you plant it in the ground it takes over the garden. Last year, I tried burying a pot planted with mint in the garden, hoping to contain it. No such luck. The invasive herb not only found its way out, it survived the winter and has now begun creeping up throughout a twenty-foot area.

Live Wire Isolepis Fire Optic, a new grass available this spring, which starts out growing upright, then drapes as it matures. Plant in a sunny to partly sunny location, performs well in wet conditions. Grows 6 to 8 inches tall, with an 18-20 inch spread.

Just a couple of tips to keep in mind for successful containers:

When selecting plants, be sure to consider their sunlight and water requirements and only group simpatico plants together.

While some of your garden-planted annuals and perennials might survive nicely on rain water alone, contained plants will not. Remember to water often -- even twice a day during the height of summer. And remember that clay pots, which are porous, will dry out faster than their plastic counterparts. Likewise, small containers will require more frequent watering.

Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog laments his lot in life in his song, "It's not easy being green."

1. Plant, Plant, Plant!

One of the simplest ways to give back to the planet without breaking your budget is to plant something. “Just plant something, anything," McCoy implores. "A single tree, shrub, bush or container will help the environment... Imagine if we all planted jut one new plant every year!” Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, which cleans and oxygenates the environment. Plants also help prevent soil erosion, control water cycles, and moderate temperatures.

2. Start with Healthy Soil

Pesticides and fungicides aren’t safe for people, pets or even the planet. Eliminate the need for harmful garden chemicals by pampering ur plants with healthy, nutrient-rich soil from the get go. “Healthy soil, rich in minerals, nutrients and ’good bugs,' maximizes a plant’s own healthy immune system to let it naturally resist pests and diseases,” says McCoy. If you don't compost your own, look for organic potting soils like Organic Mechanics, available at Whole Foods stores this spring.

3. Reduce Fertilizer Use

Overfeeding isn't healthy for your plants, and all those extra nutrients end up polluting streams, bays, rivers and other watersheds. “Plants can only absorb so much fertilizer before the excess nutrients runoff into the groundwater,” says McCoy. Fertilizer runoff contaminates drinking water, kills fish and other sea creatures and causes problems like Red Tide. Reduce overfeeding by using environmentally responsible feeding practices, like the new slow-release fertilizer Dynamite. The 9-month plant food releases nutrients to the plant when the plant needs it most, and doesn't over- or under-feed, so they're maximum benefit and minimal wate and runoff. Plus, it’s low in phosphate, which makes it a nutritious, yet earth-friendly, plant food option.

4. Water Responsibly

If you don’t need to water your plants as often, you’ll save gallons of time and money, plus you'll conserve water. “Substitute older cultivars with new and improved varieties bred 'to drink responsibly',” advises McCoy. “Updated versions of classic plants like Knock Out® shrub roses require much less water than older cultivars."

5. Be Grass Green

“Most gardens have lawns, and in some cases the lawn IS the garden,” notes Ethne Clarke, garden editor of Traditional Home. She suggests mowing less frequently and cutting the grass longer so the top growth protects the roots, and watering less frequently to force the roots to grow deeper, which keeps them cooler and less susceptible to drought damage. She recommends using cornmeal or diatomaceous earth as an insecticide and pulling weeds before they set seed. For tough lawns, use a soil conditioner with good micro-organisms and aerate to encourage soil health.

6. Be Kind to Flora and Fauna

After pouring blood, sweat and tears into your garden, you don't want to wake up one morning to find that nocturnal visitors have made a midnight snack of your plants. All-natural repellents such as Deer Stopper reportedly are just as effective as their synthetic counterparts. To safeguard our children, pets and water supply, McCoy suggests organic and all-natural animal repellants such as DeerStopper from Messina Wild Life. Other products offered by the manufacturer of 100 % organic repellents work to keep geese, groundhogs, moles, mosquitos, rabbits and squirrels away.

The Conard-Pyle Co., known since 1925 as the "Star Roses growers," has unveiled it's new introductions for 2007.

The Rainbow Knock Out®
Low-maintenance RULES! That's why Knock Outs are my favorites. This compact, vigorous growing shrub by renown breeder William Radler, will bloom from spring until frost and resist disease.

Liv Tyler
Named for the beautiful actress whose father is the flamboyant front man for a certain legendary rock band, this incredibly fragrant Romantica® Hybrid Tea blooms in delicate coral-pink. Great for cutting.

Mother of Pearl™
A grandiflora that performs equally well in cooler climates and hot, humid zones. Exceptionally winter hardy and resistant to black spot, the MOP produces 3 to 3 1/2-inch mildly scented blooms.

Coral Drift®
Tight on space? The Drift® Series of Roses offers the most compact groundcover ever introduced by Conard-Pyle. Coral is the most rounded of the series; other colors include Ivory, Peach, Pink, Red and White.


Sweet Promise™
The Romantica® hybrid tea has Old World appeal and is ideal for cutting. Its 3 to 3 1/2-inch blooms boast 40-50 petals apiece and keep performing all season long.

I don’t know about you, but my mailbox runneth over. Garden and seed catalogs are monopolizing the dilapidated receptacle perched against the retaining wall in my driveway, leaving little room for correspondence and bills. It’s just as well, as nobody really writes to me, anyway. And the bills I could do without.

So when I learned that January had been proclaimed National Mailorder Gardening Month by the Mailorder Gardening Association, it all started to make sense. Any marketing ploy that uses our own longings against us is usually the most effective. It’s winter. Though temperatures haven’t exactly been frigid, it isn’t put-on-your-straw-hat-and-grab-your-hoe weather, either. So when catalogs like John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds roll in, with boldly colored covers depicting fields of echinacea and freshly picked produce, those of us with a gardening bent can’t help but flip through them. And for me, at least, it doesn’t end there. Next, the sticky pad comes out, and I can hardly contain myself as I hurriedly scribble notes to myself about where I’ll plant what when the seeds arrive, marking pages as I go.

It’s something about living vicariously through the pages of those compendiums that gives me a rush in the dead of winter. It’s like therapy. It’s about the hope of things to come. Not just because I enjoy seeing my gardens come to life in the spring, but also because I hate winter. I have no tolerance for the cold. Flipping through garden catalogs is a reminder that better times are on the horizon, and that’s enough to give me the courage to trudge through. If it’s merely a marketing scheme designed to make money, so be it. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve earned it.

Here are some of my favorites:

Abundant Life Seeds
541-767-9606
Abundant Life Seeds has been “protecting the genetic diversity of rare and endangered food crops since 1975.” All of its flower, herb and vegetable seeds are open-pollinated and certified organic.

Gardens Alive!
513-354-1483
The first order I placed with this organic-minded garden supply company was in the early 90s, when some meal moths hitched a ride home with me via my groceries. After much frustration and many discarded cabinet staples, I turned to herb packets from the Gardens Alive! Catalog, which, when placed strategically throughout my cupboards, did the trick. Today, the company, still dedicated to biological control of garden pests, also sells organic vegetable and grass seeds.

Harris Seeds
800-514-4441
Selling vegetable seeds, flower seeds and seed-starting supplies since 1879. New offerings include Serata Basil, Autumn Wings ornamental gourds and an exclusive lettuce blend.

John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds
860-567-6086
A purveyor of seeds since 1908, Kitchen Garden Seeds has some rare and unique offerings. New this year are Black Cherry Tomatoes, De Padron Hot Chile Peppers, Dulce Verde Asparagus, Black Opal Eggplant, Fakir Parsley Root and Bordeaux Red-Stemmed Spinach. Other new offerings, like OSO Sweet Butterhead Lettuce, Golden India Edible Pea Pods and Alpine Strawberries, aren’t readily available in stores because they don’t transport well, so if you want to try them, you’ll have to grow them yourself. The catalog also includes annual and perennial flowers.

Johnny's Selected Seeds
877-564-6697
Direct from the mothership, a farm in Albion, Maine, Johnny’s offers heirloom, treated and pelleted seeds for growing flowers, berries and vegetables. My Post-it is marking the new Tomatoberry Grape Tomato seeds, which promise unique strawberry-shaped, deep red fruits.

Park Seed Co.
800-213-0076
Selling way more than just seeds, Park Seed Co. tests more than 2000 new varieties of flowers and vegetables each year. The ones with the best results make it into its catalog. This year, there are 125 new selections, including Geranium Nano, a dwarf plant that produces full size blooms and a new coral pink Zinnia.

Seeds from Italy
781-721-5904
For a taste of the old country, one can turn to this U.S. distributor of heirloom Italian seeds from Franchi Sementi spa in Bergamo, Italy. More than 350 varieties of traditional Italian vegetable, herb and flower seeds are available, and each order comes with growing instructions and – naturally – recipes.

Seeds of Change
888-762-7333
The company whose prepared organic foods line health food store shelves across the country began as an organic seed company in 1989 with this mission: “To make organically grown seeds available to gardeners and farmers, while preserving countless heirloom seed varieties in danger of being lost to the "advances" of modern industrial agriculture.” Seeds of Change is still going strong, with 72 new introductions for 2007. A 5 % discount is offered for orders placed online.

Stokes Seeds Ltd.
800-396-9238
Among the quality offerings at Stokes are these 2007 All America Selection Winners: Celosia Fresh Look Gold, a workhorse that blooms straight through spring and summer, and Vinca Pacifica Burgundy Halo, which will provide a low-maintenance bicolor show all summer.

Territorial Seed Company
800-626-0866
Each year, the staff at Territorial’s organic research farm in London Springs, Oregon, grows and evaluates thousands of varieties of vegetable and flower seeds, selling only the ones that pass muster. Among this year’s additions are the unusual electric blue Sweet Pea ‘King Tut,’ the psychedelic Four O’Clock ‘Stars and Stripes,” and ‘Full Moon’ a giant white pumpkin that can grow to 90 pounds. None of the seeds sold by Territorial are genetically engineered or altered.

Thompson & Morgan
800-274-7333
Selling English seeds by catalog since 1855, Thompson & Morgan is still run by the same family. The prestigious company has supplied seeds for the gardens of Claude Monet, Charles Darwin and European Royalty. T&M has several exclusive entries this year. Foxglove ‘Candy Mountain’ is the first upward facing foxglove from seed, and flowers all the way around the stem. The unusual rare black Hyacinth ‘Midnight Mystic’ ™ has been in the works for 16 years, with the first 3 bulbs changing hands for a reported $300,000! A marvel of modern hybridization, each bulb, priced at $19.95, arrives in its own special presentation package. T&M also has bred the first striped dahlia from seed, and is offering many other unique flower and vegetable seeds.

W. Altee Burpee & Co.
800-333-5808
Here are my favorites from among the 60-something new offerings from Burpee, the mother of all seed companies: The extra-large Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomato (touted as the largest tomato ever offered to home gardeners,) Candy Box Impatiens, Calendula Oktoberfest, Snapdragon Tutti Fruitti and the oddly intriguing Radish Watermelon.

Willhite Seed Inc.
800- 828-1840
Willhite Seed Inc. sells flower, vegetable and wildflower seeds, but its claim to fame is melons. Beginning in the early 1900s as Willhite Melon Seed Farms, the Poolville, Texas, company now offers standard and open pollinated varieties as well as its own hybrids and unique varieties from France and India. Shipping is free within the continental U.S.

When a loved one is ill or has experienced a loss, we send flowers. And when we’ve messed up really badly, we’re told flowers can help smooth things over. Sure, flowers are pretty and smell nice, but do they really have the power to mend broken fences? For years I’ve believed the traditional mindset was the result of some marketing genius, but a recent Harvard study says otherwise.

The results of a recent behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveal that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh-cut flowers are present in the home. Energy and enthusiasm are boosted as well. “Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them," said Etcoff. "What we didn't know, is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings."

So sure, take vitamins to keep your body strong. But be sure to add a daily dose of fresh flowers to keep your spirits up. The following ‘flower recipes’ to brighten up areas of your home come from Flowerpossibilities.com:

Kitchen

Materials

5 to 8 stems red gerbera daisies
Oblong vase, approximately 6-to 8-inches tall x 6-inches wide
Floral clippers and floral food/preservative

Directions

1. Fill the vase with water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

2. Cut the gerbera daisies approximately 2-inches taller than the height of the vase.

3. Stack the gerberas to one side of the vase, some of the stems will be almost side-ways in the vase.

Living Room

Materials

One 10-inch x 10-inch square basket
Two 4-inch clay pots
3 small jars or juice glasses (approximately 3-inches tall x 2-inches in diameter)
One 4-inch fern or other foliage plant
3 stems purple mums
4 stems green button mums
3 stems red roses
3 stems green hypericum
5 stems orange standard carnations
3 rubber bands (optional)
Floral food/preservative, clippers and knife

Directions

Fill the jars or glasses with water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

Cut the flowers to approximately 4-inches in length and insert them into the water glasses. If desired, rubber band the bouquets together.

Mix the hypericum with orange standard carnations and the roses with the green button mums. The heads of all flowers should be at the same height.

Place the flowers and plant into the basket. One glass with a bouquet will be inserted into the empty clay pot, which also goes inside the basket.

Bedroom

Materials:

One 8-inch in diameter salad or mixing bowl
One 2-inch round pin frog
Floral clay adhesive
5 red gerbera daisies (or color of your choice)
5 yellow gerbera daisies (or color of your choice)
Floral clippers
Floral food/preservative

Directions

Adhere the floral clay to the bottom rim of the pin frog and press the frog to the bottom center of the bowl.

Add water that has been treated with floral food/preservative.

Cut the gerbera daisies between 8 and 10-inches in length and insert each stem into the pin frog. The center stems should be taller than the outer stems.

Narcissus "tazetta"
photo courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension

I've heard from several readers who seem intimidated by prospect of forcing bulbs -- most commonly Paperwhites -- indoors over the winter. I've never done it personally, but in the interest of experimentation, I'm going to give it a whirl this year.

It seems a simple, straight-forward process, and one with a relatively high success rate.

Paperwhites are in the Narcissus family -- along with Daffodils and Jonquils -- and typically, as their name implies, are white. You can, however, find some yellow varieties as well, such as Bethlehem, Israel, Nazareth and Grand Soleil d'Or, but they're still called Paperwhites. The spring-blooming flowers can be forced (tricked, really) into blossoming over the winter. That sounds like a nice treat when your garden is hiding under a blanket of snow.

I've seen pre-packaged Paperwhite forcing kits retail for $9.99 all the way up to $49. They make nice gifts, to be sure. But you can purchase the bulbs for fifty cents apiece (less if you buy in bulk,) gather up some pebbles and grow them in a pot you have at home. It's up to you.

Here's how it's done:

1. Find a shallow (3 - 4 inches deep) bowl or pot without drainage holes.

2. Place an inch or two of small stones, pebbles or gravel at the bottom of your pot.

3. Set a group of bulbs onto the pebbles, pressing gently to stabilize. Don't worry about overcrowding them -- they look nice en masse.

4. Add another handful or so of pebbles around the bulbs just to hold them in place, not cover them.

5. Add just enough water to reach the base of the bulbs. Any more, and they'll rot. Your only responsibility will be to keep the water at this level.

6. Place in a cool, dark place, like a closet, for a week or two, or until roots begin to sprout.

7. Relocate to a sunny windowsill, preferably one with a southern or western exposure, until bloom time.

8. When you begin to see flowers, some say it's best to move the plant out of direct sunlight in order to extend bloom time.

You might consider repeating the process, staggering start times, to ensure a succession of blooms all winter.

Are you cutting edge? The Garden Media Group, a PR company that tracks such things, has released its 'What's In and What's Out in Gardening" list for 2007. Drumroll, please...

Do you have a planting dilemma? Upload a picture and get community input. Or, if you've created a horticultural masterpiece, show it off. Borrow ideas and share your own via snapshots of your gardens. Show us what worked and what didn't. View submissions and upload your shots in the Virtual Garden Club.