For the first time this year the confetti of fallen leaves crackled underfoot as I walked down the path to the garden, their excited crunch announcing the arrival of fall.

The breast high weeds that had encroached into the pathway have begun to retreat. Spring brought their colors and smiles, summer brought their thorns and turned them shades of brown and tan and now they wilt and blacken as they patiently wait for the rains and microbes to dissolve them back into the soil.

The black fingertips of the giant fig tree’s under branches reach down to scratch my head as I pass beneath, demanding that I take notice and acknowledge.

Morning is my favorite time to visit the garden and the pathway is welcoming. The dampness from the dew soaks the tips of my boots as I walk and the stillness allows the vegetation to waken slowly.

A glimpse of a quick blackbird shooting between cover briefly draws my attention.

The path that leads to my garden is nearly 300 meters long and begins with a section that winds downhill, along an ancient cobblestone road which is now mostly covered by forest duff. The cobblestones have loosened over time and the material between them has been washed and blown and swept away by the seasons. Their looseness makes each step a challenge and full attention must be given to every stride.

At the bottom of the hill the path flattens and turns a sharp left to a section where a mélange of very tall trees provide cover from above and an open view to the trunks and lower understory.  The forest floor is completed covered with low, ivy like vegetation and the upper canopy filters out direct sunlight. The low light limits the growth of shrubs and other brambles but is perfect for the ivy. As I pass I wonder at the history beneath.  What stories what secrets what treasures the ivy guards?

Continuing, the pathway exits the umbrella of trees and the right edge is marked by sporadic remnants of a low stonewall, only partially visible.

After twenty or so paces the path makes a gradual left turn where tall dark sentries form a gauntlet. Ferocious no more the sentries look withered and tired.

As I continue along this section a neighbor’s garden opens up to the right. The soil was turned last spring but nothing was planted. The native weeds were laying in wait and did their best to reclaim the land.

From here the path runs straight, except for a few wiggles, all the way to my plot.

A vegetative tunnel has been formed over time and with each pass I pinch the end of a few escaping stems to keep it at bay.

A very large Oak looms ahead. Through World War I, World War II, the Crusades, the Revolution and Napoleon she has watched and listened.

Her fallen spawn crunch under my feet as I stroll beneath.

The wild black berries were a delicious treat in the spring and summer but the rest of the year the aggressively growing branches with their vampire like thorns reach out and grab at anyone who passes. The pain of a few jabs and scratches is a small price to pay for these delicious gifts.

To my left, I pass a cemetery of ramshackle headstones marking the resting places of spent tomato plants of several seasons past.

As I near the end of the pathway, towering grass plants mark the entrance to my garden and they wave like banners tickled by the wakening breeze.

My garden is at the very end of the path and when I finally reach my destination I feel at home and ready to play. The plants seem to be happy to see me again too.

Compost pile to turn with it’s delicious scent to release, small weeds to fight back in a forever war, a thick blanket of mulch to spread to keep my babies warm.

Rees

I’ve been a little busier than usual lately and haven’t had a chance to post much. That should change as fall and winter approach.  I recently needed to clear some space on my camera and when I was moving them to a storage drive I was reminded of some of the beautiful scenery I had taken shots of over the past year.  I thought some of you might enjoy seeing them too so over the next few days I’ll post some of them for you to enjoy too.

An ancient Olive tree in Pasero Italy.....I snuck a cutting and it is well rooted and growing great!

Creative Planter at the weekly market

Moss covered fountian in one of my favorite towns in France- Fountiane de Vaucluse

My youngest at Piza....yes it really does lean

Some manicured Sycamores in front of the casino at Monte Carlo....

Another well aged olive with a nice growth of moss in the Italian mountains.

Alright that is enough for tonight. Like I said, I have a bunch more I will load up as the week progresses…..

Rees

The Yew is the National Tree of France but I think it should be the Sycamore, Platanus racemosa.

The entrance to almost every small town in France is announced to drivers by a long tunnel of overhanging sycamore trees. In the town where I live, we have the usual allee at the entrance but also a long row that lines the river and a giant bosque in the plaza where the locals play petangue in the shade.  They are of bare in the winter and the shade is gone but not their beauty.  I took the opportunity of this past rainy Sunday to get my seven year old out of the house and take a walk with my camera.

Along the promenade

Shade for the petanque players

Because Sycamores are riparian trees and used to getting disturbed by flooding rivers they are pretty resilient. It looks like this one has been burnt and then cut down but the stump won’t give up

Wet Sycamore bark had to be the inspiration for camouflage

Metal grates and concrete walls are no obstacles for the resourceful sycamore

Taking a drink from the rivers edge

This one makes a nice finish to the stairs to the river

View from the bridge

I've loved sycamores since I learned to climb trees but I’m not looking forward to the pollen season. ☺

Hope you like the photos and sorry for the fuzziness of some of them.

Rees

Juicy and ready to pick

I had a chance to return to The Castelas Olive Growing Estate in southern France today to watch the annual olive oil pressing; and what an event it turned out to be. It had rained the night before, so I half expected to see the harvest halted temporarily; but when I arrived in the unforgettable valley of Les Baux-de-Provence, I was very happy to see things were in full production. Jean-Benoit Hugues and his wife Catherine, the owners of Castelas, started the estate a few years ago to build on their family heritage. The last time I visited it was the off-season, and my wife and I had a nice tour of the quiet estate and bought a couple of containers of their finest olive oil. This time when I arrived, however, the entire gift shop parking area was full –not with cars, but with 500L olive oil containers.

Pressed oil waiting to be bottled

Forklifts were darting here and there with giant boxes of harvested olives on board, making their way from trucks to holding area to press. Many more trucks were waiting in line to unload.

It's best to process your oives within six hours of harvest

Jean-Benoit has worked with engineers from several manufacturers to develop the most modern pressing facility in the region, and boy was it humming today. He definitely has put his engineering background to good use. Jean-Benoit has several hundred hectares of his own olive trees, but for his processor to work at its optimum capacity, he presses olives for other growers in the area too.

ready and waiting

400kg/crate yields about 3 liters oil

A warm bath after separating the leaves out

The good stuff!!!

The olive harvest is rather short, and in this area of southern France it begins in mid-October and is wrapped up by December. Where I live, 60 miles to the west, the harvest is a bit later. This is because the varieties that grow well in the cooler climates where I live tend to ripen a month or so later. The harvest there starts in November and ends in January. I’ll be pressing mine in about three weeks.

Anyway, my thanks go out to Jean-Benoit and his wife for being such gracious hosts, and if you ever have the need for a good quality olive oil, check out the offerings of Castelas. You can buy them online here http://www.castelas.com/en/ or you can find them in many fine food outlets in the United States, like Williams-Sonoma and Whole Foods for example.

P.S. If you ever have a chance to visit Les Baux-de-Provence in southern France, I promise that you will be amazed. Whatever the season, the scenery is unforgettable. Castelas sits in a small valley surrounded by rugged mountains on three sides. Vineyards and olives make up the valley floor, and a sea of wild flowers carpet everything. I can’t resist snapping some photos every time I go.

Here are some samples. CLICK ON THE PHOTOS to see the full glory of Baux-de-Provence

Valley Floor

Actual colors!!

Surrounded by beautiful mountians

I took about thirty more photos of the processing and the breathtaking beauty so drop me a note if you want to see more.

Happy Gardening,

Rees

DO YOU NEED SOME CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR GARDENERS?    MAYBE I CAN HELP.

It’s the time of year when friends and family are starting to ask me what gift I would like for Christmas. You’re probably hearing that question too and asking it of others as well. I can always find something I want for myself, but sometimes it’s hard to decide on a Christmas gift for others, so once again, I thought I’d make some suggestions for Christmas gifts for the gardeners on your list. If these don’t sound good to you, review last year’s suggestions HERE

This year I’ve done something different. Instead of just making suggestions I’ve researched suppliers for my suggestions and added links to websites where you can buy the items. That doesn’t mean these sites they have my stamp of approval (except the last one). Some of these suppliers I have used and some I have not. I did my best to find what I think are reputable websites, but please give me feedback of your purchase experience.

So, without further ado, here you go! CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR GARDENERS 2010

Orchids

Orchids are always a nice surprise and can be grown with minimal care – and as you know, the resulting flowers are exceptionally beautiful. If you live in a moderate climate they should thrive; even in cooler climates you can have some fun growing them inside. I suggest one of the Phalaenopsis or Oncidium types for novice orchid growers, and for someone with more experience, look for one of the more unusual ones like the Phragmepediums or Lady Slippers. You can even schedule a mail order delivery of a new one each month HERE to buy Orchid stuff.

Mushroom growing kit

Mushroom growing kits are a suggestion I haven’t tried myself yet, but I think I will soon. My son Wesley received one as a gift and had fun with it. He said he was able eat almost all of the mushrooms he was able to grow, and who doesn’t like mushrooms? Most of the kits are pretty self contained; all you need to do is get them started and wait. You can find a nice selection HERE

Compost Bin

Anyone with a garden can use a composter. Recycling clippings and other debris will save money and gives plants a great source of nutrients. This is a great project for kids to be involved in too. I prefer one that has removable side panels so you can stir and rotate as the vegetation degrades. Make sure to get one that allows lots of air to circulate because the microbes need plenty of air to do their job quickly. I’ve seen some that are barrels style or tubs that can be rotated easily but haven’t tried them. Just make sure they have good air circulation. Here is a source with many styles and price options. Click HERE for compost supplies.

Seed kits

Seed kits are always fun. How about a kitchen herb garden or some winter flowers for the windowsill? Once I received a nice “vegetable-garden-in-a-box” with seeds, labels, a guidebook, starter pots and a small bag of fertilizer. It’s a nice surprise and a pretty cool gift that keeps on giving. There are tons of web sources for seeds.  BURPEE SEEDS is one of the leading seed suppliers.

Need some ideas for kids?

How about a butterfly garden?

I always try to send the kids in our extended family gardening-related gifts. One hit was a butterfly garden in a box. You can find those HERE (for a small donation) or HERE for mixed packets of seeds at what seems like a good price. packets

Or how about a carnivorous plant? Kids love these too.

Here’s a bit of a science experiment wrapped up in a Christmas gift. Venus Flytrap’s are probably the easiest. Maybe give a Cobra Lily a try. Here is a site to try for meat eating plants

P.S. If you ever get the chance to visit Kew Gardens just outside of London do so. Besides a bunch of cool plants and beautiful gardens they have an elaborate carnivorous plant area (but keep your fingers in your pockets ☺). In case you want to learn more, here is a link to the National Carnivorous Plant Society. http://www.carnivorousplants.org/

Subscription to Sunset magazine

When I lived California I always looked forward to my monthly copy of Sunset magazine. It always has great articles on gardening for the western US and excellent recipes to too! Here is the Sunset website SUNSET

Porch Potty

Do you know someone with a puppy that is ruining the lawn? One of my most popular blog posts is titled “ Is Dog Pee Killing your Grass? Here is a suggestion for those friends and family members who have dogs. Click HERE for a doggy potty box. From the amount of interest I get in that article, I know there are lots of people out there who love their dogs but hate the damage they do to the backyard lawn.

And finally… TA-DA!!!!

MY EBOOKS— Available at Rainforth Home and Garden

Okay now for some blatant self-promotion. I was constantly getting questions from fellow gardeners about problems they were having growing tomatoes… “Why do they split?” “What is that big green worm?” “How often do I fertilize?” I answered all those questions and a bunch more in an eBook I wrote for the Rainforth Home and Garden Series called Growing Juicy Delicious Tomatoes. You can buy it HERE and I’ll email it directly to you; or if you prefer, I can even send it your giftee on Christmas morning. All we need is the email address of your recipient.

I hope these suggestions help you check a few family members or friends off your list. If you have any suggestions or other gift ideas, I’d love to hear about them. Please post a comment below.

Happy Gardening

Rees

Hear’s to one GIANT pumpkin!!!

Congratulations to Ron Root, winner of the 2010 Half Moon Bay pumpkin growing competition with a 1,535 lb monster. Way to go Ron.

If you are ever in the California central coast town of Half Moon Bay in October you will see this sleepy beach town transformed into Punkinville USA and home to a national competition for GIANT pumpkins. Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere. Pumpkin towers, pumpkin mazes, pumpkin launchers pumpkin field after pumpkin field. It is really lots of fun for kids and adults (Try the pumpkin margaritas   or the burgers at 3-Zero Cafe….awesome )

If you want to TRY YOUR HAND at growing your own giant pumpkin you can get some help from a previous post on the subject here.

Here is a link to the article on the 2010 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival winner

UPDATE!!!!! NEW WORLD RECORD PUMPKIN SET   hear about it here!!

Happy Gardening,

Rees

Spring in Washington D.C. means it’s Cherry blossom time in fact March 26th through April 10th are the dates of the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1912 the Mayor of Tokyo donated 3,000 Cherry trees to Washington D.C.  All sorts of events are planned around the blossom time including blossom tours and cruises, art shows, the Cherry Blossom Gala as well as special bike rides and of course the annual Flower Exhibition.
The last few years the crowds have been down because the rain has kept people away but this year the skies are expected to be sunny.
I think the cherry blossom is one of the most beautiful flowers there is but the dainty flowers only last a few days. So in honor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, I thought I’d provide a show of some of my favorite varieties of genus Prunus.

Most of the trees at the National Festival are Yoshino variety but there are also Akebono, Kwanzan and a few others mixed in. If you have any photos of your own please pass them on and I’ll add them to the post.

If you want to try your hand at growing flowering cherries have at it. They do well in almost any climate except the deep south. If space is a limited, look for a weeping variety, if not then the Akebono’s and Kwanzans are pretty much the standard and will grow to 20 ft plus high and wide.(Kwanzans are a bit more vertical)  Don’t expect any edible fruit from these types though. If you want fruit, Prunus cerasus types are tart and Prunus avium types are sweet and both come in a bunch of cultivars.

If you want some other ideas for smallish pretty trees here is a link to a previous post on the subject.

Trees for small spaces

Thanks,
Rees

Homegrown Aphrodisiacs

As requested by BJSUPERMIX, who posted a comment on my blog, I decided to look into and report back on some naturally occurring aphrodisiacs. Since this is a blog about gardening (usually) I focused my research on plant-based compounds and stayed away from the rhinoceros horns and the Zimbabwe Dung Beetle stuff.

Initially I put the “sex in the garden” post on the blog as a joke to see how many readers would have their interest piqued, and let me tell you, I have been surprised at the number of people who have clicked on the link. At first I had an article in that category about froggy lovin’ with some racy photos for all the frogs reading my blog, but when BJSUPERMIX wrote in, and I decided to look into natural aphrodisciacs (as a scientific endeavor of course). Here is what I found out.

Over the course of history many different herbs and plant parts have had, let me say, “exciting” results attributed to them. Actually, there are many reports detailing the stimulating properties of several common plants including some you may not expect.

How about the ornamental bedding plant Coleus? Yep, good old Coleus. The active photochemical in Coleus is forskohlii and numerous studies have proven several beneficial effects. I bet you’ll look at it differently next time you want to root some cuttings on your windowsill. Maybe some coleus tea?

And how about chocolate? Yep chocolate too. The cacao seed pod which is the base for chocolate, contains high amounts of theobromine and phenethylamine, which increase brain serotonin levels. I guess it causes the heart to beat faster, and those “thoughts” to enter your mind.

Here are some less common naturally occurring aphrodisiacs:

• Damiana:  Turnera diffusa, Turnera aphrodisiaca. A native of Mexico and the southern US and the leaves are commonly made into a tea
• Maca:  Lepidium meyenii, Peruvian ginseng. The Incans first used this one, again normally made into a tea.
• Yohimbe:  Pausinystalia yohimbe. This is an evergreen tree that grows naturally in several areas of western Africa. The aphrodisiacs are made of an extract of the bark. All sorts of positive benefits are attributed to Yohimbe. It is said to be useful in weight loss, treating depression, as well as revving up those love motors. There are also lots of warnings about Yohimbe so use with caution. Overdoses can be toxic.
• Ginseng-Panax: I think Ginseng is attributed with helping with just about everthing from diabetes to immune problems to erectile disfunction.
• Horny Goat Weed: (with a name like that it just has to work, right?) This is a green leafy plant from China and the Mediterranean. It will grow in the temperate climates of the US.

Regardless of how you feel about the idea of aphrodisiacs, there is no doubt that these natural herbs do have a physical effect on those who take them. Considering that many drugs used today to cure diseases and alleviate pains come from plants, it’s not surprising that some of them could be used as mood enhancers.

So my advice: enjoy the herbs, but save some of your energy for working in your vegetable garden.

Rees

Christmas and Birthday Gifts for Gardeners

It’s that time of year again so I thought I’d make a few suggestions for Christmas gifts that gardeners might enjoy receiving. These would also make great birthday gifts, mother’s day or father’s day gifts, open house gifts, thank you gifts…

I know that for some of you to the North, with the winter upon you, gardening is that last thing on your mind, but why not give the gardeners in your circle of friends and family something to look forward to when spring comes?

I’ll keep my suggestions focused on basic tools that most gardeners will use frequently and items that they would not necessarily buy for themselves.

Hose

A good quality hose is a must. Get one at least 50 ft long with a diameter of ¾” It should say “kink resistant” and preferably be 8 ply. Don’t waste your money on a hose reel, as they are generally a pain. Opt instead for one of those pots where you curl the hose up inside.

Trigger nozzle

Your gardener friend will love you every time they use a new trigger nozzle. Get one with a dial so that they can change spray options. There are some with a quick disconnect system that I just think are great.

Gloves

Gloves are a bit trickier to buy. First of all, they have to fit the recipient’s hands.  Luckily there are only three or four sizes typically available. I prefer one pair for heavy work, leather gloves with wide wrist bands that run several inches up the arm, and one pair for light duty. One thing I do suggest is that if possible, buy a pair that is brightly colored so that they are easy to see where you have laid them down. I can’t count how many gloves I’ve had to replace over the years because I set a pair down somewhere and had them camouflage themselves into the landscape or garage chaos.

Shovel

Everyone needs at least one good quality, round point, all purpose shovel. My suggestion is to get one with a long fiberglass handle (not the little shorties), with a nice wide lip on the blade to place your foot on, and made of good quality steel that can be re-sharpened.

Wheelbarrow

If you are not going to invest in a nice one, then don’t waste your money. The cheap ones will just turn into a headache for you. They will wobble and tip over, the handles will bend, and your friend who borrows it will think bad thoughts about you whenever they use it. One the other hand, if you spring for a nice one with solid handles, a big barrel, and high quality wheels your friend will love you and maybe even help you out in your garden when you ask.

Hand Clippers with Sheath

Okay some people may disagree, but I hate the hand pruners that are made in the anvil style. Give me a nice pair of bypass pruners any day. A couple of brands that I like are Felco and Coronas. They are made with replaceable blades and springs. I wouldn’t spend my money on any other brands. A sheath is always a very nice addition for convenience.

Pole Pruner

Most gardeners won’t spring for a nice pole pruner as they are a bit pricey, but I love having one at my disposal. Dealing with a ladder and hand pruners can get very cumbersome and sometimes dangerous. Make sure your pole pruner has an adjustable length handle, a saw, a pull rope attached to a cutting blade, and a replaceable blade.

Books

Books are always a good buy. There are some that are region specific and very helpful. The Sunset Western Garden book is designed for those of you west of the Rockies but the information, other than the climate zones charts, can be applied anywhere. This one is a must. Other than that, look for books that are specific to what your friend enjoys i.e. vegetable gardening, flowers, roses, fruit trees, houseplants etc.  (Check out my ebooks on this site!)

Tool caddy

I don’t have a tool caddy but it seems like something that sure would come in handy. Tool caddies come in many shapes and sizes. If anyone has any feedback on tool caddies for me, please post a comment or send me an email.

I said in the beginning I was going to make suggestions for standard items to buy, but for the gardener who has everything, here are a couple of unusual items they might enjoy but not purchase for themselves.

Unusual items

• Mushroom Growing Kits –seem like fun
• Giant Pumpkin seeds for next year, if they have the space!
• One of those hydroponic gardening towers. (I’m using one now and so far I like it – and hopefully will be offering them for sale on this site soon.)
• Garden Ornaments- lots of selection out there on the Web
• Hammocks- a must have for every garden

In closing I want to repeat one of those pieces of sage advice that my father used to give: “Only a rich man can afford to buy cheep tools.”  If you buy cheap tools you will have to replace them again and again, eventually spending more money on replacements than you would on the one good-quality tool, so be wise and purchase quality tools that will last for a lifetime.  In this case, Father definitely knows best!

Happy Holidays,

Rees

It’s well known that beautiful fragrances can be derived from plants and their flowers. Roses, lilacs jasmine are a few beautiful scents that come to mind.

As with most things, there is also an opposite, and this time of year the opposites of the beautiful fragrances become evident.  Summer and fall seem to be a time when the smelliest, stinkiest and most noxious odors are released by plants into the air to be inhaled and processed by our olfactory nerves.

Many plant nerds, myself included, find the smells, well, interesting. Mother nature has given these plants an unusual smell for a purpose and that sort of thing always intrigues me; but if you are put off by bad odors, here are a few plants to avoid.

Ginkgo Trees

Ginkgos are very popular urban street trees for several reasons, but boy do they stink!  Their smell is unmistakable and should be taken into consideration when planting. Think rotten eggs or according to some…vomit.  Eww.

Viburnum

There are several nice varieties of viburnum and most are great plants and small trees. The species “suspensum” is used commonly for a hedge plant. It takes to shaping well and is pretty resistant to insects and low water areas. This makes it a perfect candidate for foundation plantings and plants used to hide the concrete foundations of homes and office buildings. Unfortunately, there is a three-week period at the end of summer where a distinct stink comes from this one. I think the positive aspects outweigh the smelly period though.

Amorphophallus

A.K.A. smelly corpse plant or sometimes called corpse flower…….need I say more?  ……Yes, the plant nerd in me thinks this is a really cool plant. And if you have a chance to check it out, you should. Botanical gardens are probably the only place most of you will encounter it.

Rafflesia

Another one that smells like rotting flesh. If you have ever smelled it you will always remember it, and if you ever have a chance to see it, consider yourself lucky. This is an incredible flower, 4-5ft wide and a deep red with speckles.

Tulbaghia

This is a low-growing herbaceous plant with a beautiful pink flower the sits on multiple stocks about the strap like foliage. It’s the foliage that smells. The odor is not as distinct as some of the others mentioned, but when crushed, a pseudo garlic smell permeates the air. (This is one of my favorite plants) I love to plant it near the sliding doors of clients’ homes so that they catch a whiff of it now and then, drawing their attention to the garden.

There are many more smelly plants, but these are a few of the stinkiest plants and trees. I guess, like beauty, the attraction to smell is in the eye of the “besmeller”.  I, for one, like flowers and plants from the wrong side of the tracks!

If you can think of any other stinky, smelly plants leave me a comment below and I’ll add it to the list.

Happy Gardening,

Rees