Sampler Platter

Jaded person here wants to say . . . . (4.00 / 6)

I was quite pleased to see the FL actually out planting with the kids. I'm glad to see her actually getting her hands dirty. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the ground breaking as she seemed a bit tentative and not in dirt turning dress (see pics of Arnie's wife in CA in the garden for comparison). Major props on some good "first steps" and for it not being more "show"/PR so far!

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by: nycstray @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 00:21:18 AM UTC

I particularly liked those dirty gardening gloves. (4.00 / 5)

No need to develop unsightly hands while cultivating green-thumb contagion!

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by: zic @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:03:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great link on the Disney eggs... (3.80 / 5)

I really liked that piece...

I don't care what they're selling, even if they open a farmers market in Alice's Wonderland - advertising to children is always wrong in my book.

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 01:09:02 AM UTC

Just got back from DC (4.00 / 5)

We had a good time, but TOO much walking; it's not a good city for arithritic knees.

I tried to spy on the First Garden; but you can only see the north side of the lawn. But I was trying to spy while it was being planted, if that's of any comfort. We did, however, notice the Ninja's on the roof. My husband didn't think he'd want to live in a house with armed guards walking around on the roof all the time, so I'm blessed that he'll never run for president.

While in DC, we visited the Botanical Gardens; and particularly enjoyed the orchid room and jungle room. So many of my houseplants are jungle plants, plants that thrive in low-light conditions. I came home with the inspiration to mist them much more frequently.

Unfortunately, both my sweetie and I forgot to bring cameras, so I've no pics, otherwise I'd be sharing some of the victory gardens we spied. One on the USDA lawn; a tiny little thing. At least it's got compost made from leftover food from the USDA cafeteria, and the produce will go to local food pantries and charities.

The Smithsonian victory gardens were much nicer; bigger and well established. And there were some terrific victory gardens near a church on 14th St., didn't get out to examine them, but they were in a bustling neighborhood with a large hispanic population (judging by the many Latino groceries).

What was sad was the lack of gardening interest around the houses. Some flower gardens, mostly bulbs. But not a huge display of green thumb contagion. Perhaps the First Garden will help change that.

More on the orchids, now. I've recently become a huge fan of growing orchids; and acquired my first one a few weeks ago. We were treated to the lovely display at the Botanical Gardens, and also had the joy of seeing the Orchid Show at the Museum of Natural History. Orchids evolve to attract pollinators, some look like butterflies, some like eyes. Some have scents, both foul and fair. If ever there was a flower that speaks to natures ability to adapt, it's the lovely orchid.

I'd planned to read "The Winter Harvest Handbook" while away; but there was too much to see and too much walking for anything resembling bed time reading. So I'll get back on it tonight, all the better to report on Eliot Coleman's new book to you.

But I have to say, it was wonderful to leave the snow in the backyard and see green grass, cherry blossoms, and magnolias. Daffodils along the Rockriver Parkway. Mint growing out of cracks in a stone wall. And the Smithsonian Gardens; a much under-appreciated part of our National Museum system. I told my husband I wanted to move there so that I could volunteer to help maintain them; particularly the beautiful Ripley Garden.

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by: zic @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:01:52 AM UTC

I remember that... (4.00 / 5)

We did, however, notice the Ninja's on the roof. My husband didn't think he'd want to live in a house with armed guards walking around on the roof all the time, so I'm blessed that he'll never run for president.

Even though I lived in the Northeast for most of the first few decades of my life, I only went to DC once in all those years - and that was on my move out to Portland a couple years ago!  Lol...

And it was only a train layover of a couple hours, but I walked from Union Station over to the Capitol - and yeah, there were quite a few more very armed and very serious looking people than I was expecting to see up on the roof...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:15:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We took cabs a few times. (4.00 / 4)

They're everywhere. I asked one driver if there were more cops or cabs in DC, and he laughed for the entire rest of the ride, and said, "Cabs," when we got out.

Another was the nicest man, particularly after I pointed out a homeless person sleeping in a doorway and said it was terrible that a country as rich as ours had people sleeping on door-stoops. He told me that as poor as his country was, (Ease Eritrea,) everybody had shelter and got free college if they wanted it and medical care if they needed it. And he told us about a great African restaurant at U Street with native dancing on Monday nights, but we won't be there on Mondays.

And I had some issues with taking cabs instead of public transportation; but I resolved it by knowing that they're out there, driving around, anyway, and I simply could not walk on pavement like that all day long.

Thankfully, the trails in the Maine woods aren't paved.

No tiled kitchens or brick pavers around my garden; I like soft ground to walk on.

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by: zic @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:29:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah... (4.00 / 3)

Another was the nicest man, particularly after I pointed out a homeless person sleeping in a doorway and said it was terrible that a country as rich as ours had people sleeping on door-stoops.

Was especially striking when i used to head down to Philly, to see guys wrapped up in blankets on the sidewalk a block from Independence Mall and all that...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:42:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, and... (4.00 / 5)

didn't see the White House (never have...), but in 2007 it wasn't something I wanted to think about anyways...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:17:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's why we went now. (4.00 / 4)

There's hope there again.

I sure did enjoy sitting in a bench, looking at the White House, and well-wishing the folks that live there now.

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by: zic @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 02:30:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

If avoiding sugar is the key to not having senior moments... (4.00 / 3)

Wait a minute, what was I going to say again?

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 03:05:36 AM UTC

surely it was something sweet. (4.00 / 3)

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by: zic @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 03:51:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]