These are a Few of My Favorite Tools

I'll pause while you sing the song from Sound of Music.

You're welcome.

I thought it might be fun to unpack my gardening bag and show you what all I lug around the yard with me when I'm working.

First, I should just tell you, this is the first time that bag had been completely emptied out in a couple of years. There were several cups of dirt in the bottom.

I guess I'm lucky the bag hasn't started sprouting!

Here we go!

I'll start on the left.

Top left there is a bundle of twine. I use this stuff all the time--to tie things up, of course!

(Plants, NOT children. Ahem.)

I use it often enough that it's nice to have with me in the bag.

Next I have clippers and pruners of various sizes.

Probably the most used ones are the 2 smaller ones there next to my gloves.

They are perfect for deadheading and other such chores.

(For big pruning jobs, I get the loppers out of the shed.)

In the same general vicinity, you may notice a steak knife and a pocketknife.

Various uses. Pruners are great, but they don't open bags very well (or cut twine.)

Sometime I would love to get a Japanese soil knife. I've heard they do it all.

Above the pruners are seed packets.

I usually have some in the end pockets of the bag, partly due to laziness and partly to plant as space becomes available. To be honest though, it's mostly laziness.

The big pink bucket is for holding clippings and weeds of all sorts.

It holds a lot, it has handles, and it's flexible.

I used to use an empty plant pot. This is way better!

Okay, let's talk about gloves for a minute.

I never used to wear gardening gloves and even thought myself above such things.

Then I had kids.

Let me just tell you--gloves are lifesavers when you have lots of interruptions!

If you've got a child needing urgent help with something, you can just take off your gloves and go to the rescue. Now imagine the same scenario, no gloves.

Your hands are covered in dirt, child is calling from--let's say the bathroom (because isn't it always?!) for help. Um....Mama, you've first got to scrub those hands before you can do anything, unless you want to add big muddy handprints to the mess you've got to clean up.

Not good!

So all I'm saying is, gloves are your friends.

Get several pairs.

In my bag at any given time I've got one pair of gardening gloves and one pair of leather gloves.

For everyday gardening, I like the kind with cloth backs and rubber or latex coating on the palms and fingers. The latex coating offers some protection from wetness and smaller spiny weeds.

The leather gloves are for working with roses or extra spiny weeds.

Of course, there's my trusty bag.

I have tried wearing something around my waist in the past, but as most of what I do is kneeling or bending over, it just seemed to get in the way a lot.

The last 3 things:

a weeder, and 2 trowels

For work in my flowerbeds, I almost always use a trowel.

There are so many plants filling in the spaces that I need the precision.

If I'm putting in a new shrub or something, I would grab one of the shovels out of the shed.

Since this picture was taken, one of my trowels has gone missing.

I'm not too happy about it either.

Oh, must not forget this beauty!

This is a foam kneeling pad.

It is especially helpful when I do work kneeling on the walls, or rocky places, or when it is wet out and I don't want to get completely muddy.

Ready for work!

Do you have a favorite gardening tool that I should know about?

Mini Theme: Kids with Learning Disabilities

I read Absolutely Almost last month and it brought to mind several others that I've read over the years, featuring characters with learning disabilities. Some of these kids are on the autism spectrum, and some have other disabilities.

These novels are great in their own right, and would also make excellent discussion starters if you read them with your kids.

Absolutely Almost, by Lisa Graff

3.5 stars: Poignant story.

Albie has never quite been able to measure up to other people's expectations--most notably, his parents' and teachers'. As hard as he tries, awesome for him is still just okay for everyone else. It's frustrating--at times, almost unbearably so.

When his mother hires a new nanny named Calista, he's pretty sure this is going to be more of the same. Calista surprises him, though. She accepts him for who he is--and even seems to like him. She's an art student attending college far from home, so she convinces him to show her around the city as part of her education. She even draws a new book cover for his Captain Underpants books, so that he can pretend he's really reading Johnny Tremain, like his mother expects him to.

He just wishes he wasn't constantly letting people down, but how can anything change when his best efforts are not good enough?

* * * * *
Albie just struggles, and Graff puts you right there with him. In fact, it was heart-wrenching at times, watching him navigate his everyday life. Calista was great--it made me wish every kid like Albie had a Calista in their lives. Also, Donut Man was awesome! Her acceptance and kindness toward him became a catalyst that helped him figure out that he was okay, just as he was. His parents were clueless, pretty much, but at least they kept trying. His mom was loving and encouraging most of the time, just not around much.

In the end, you know that Albie's going to be all right. While some of the important people in his life have begun to accept him more for who he is, most importantly, he comes to better terms with himself.

(Finished reading July 27.)

Calli Be Gold, by Michele Weber Hurwitz

4 stars: Calli's quiet kindness helps troubled Noah come out of his shell.

Calli Gold is a quiet in a family of louds. While her parents and siblings analyze and fret over being the best (the family motto is "Be Gold"), Calli notices things. If anyone would ask her she could tell them a lot about themselves. Her parents are sure she'll find her great passion, if she just keeps trying. The thing is, she doesn't mind being ordinary. Really.

Then her school class teams up with a class of 2nd graders for peer mentoring, and she is partnered with a boy named Noah, who has many learning and social difficulties. Calli's "ordinary" talents of patience and kindness begin to draw him out, and they even come up with a great idea for the Friendship Fair. But will Calli's family be able to appreciate her achievements? Quiet Calli may prove to be the catalyst her family needs to make some changes that will make them all a lot happier.

* * * * * *

This book had heart! Well-written and engaging. Family dynamics were spot-on; I really liked how they handled conflicts and changes, and Calli was a character to root for, right from the beginning. Highly recommended.

(Originally reviewed January 2014.)

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, by Lauren Tarshis

4 stars: It's never mentioned, but it's highly likely that Emma Jean is on the autism spectrum.

Emma Jean Lazarus is completely logical and thus has a hard time relating to other kids her own age. Not that it has ever bothered her, as she has had her own interests to explore, along with strong support at home. She's on the edge of social circles, merely an observer.

Then one day she finds a girl sobbing in the restroom--a very nice girl, who (curiously enough) Emma Jean would like to help. She does so, in her own unique way, and to her great surprise, it seems to actually make things worse.

* * * * * *

I liked Emma Jean, and the consistent & logical way her mind worked. I especially liked her mother who acted as a bridge, in many ways, between Emma Jean's extra-logical world to the world of belonging to a group and having friends. Also, I discovered I'd read it before. Must have been quite awhile ago, because the memory was like little glimpses here and there.

(Originally reviewed February 2015.)

p.s. I just found out there's a sequel to this, called Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. I'm going to look for it!

Fish in a Tree, by Linda Mullaly Hunt

4 stars: Ally and Mr. Daniels are both inspiring characters in their own way.

Ally is a girl who can't read, even though she is in the 6th grade. No-one really knows--she has gotten very good at causing a distraction at crucial moments, or bluffing her way through. School is like a heavy brick that she has to drag around all the time. She is often in the principal's office. She knows that she is dumb.

Then her teacher goes on maternity leave and the substitute, Mr. Daniels, refuses to give up on Ally. She eventually trusts him enough to reveal her big secret--and finds out that she has dyslexia, and that she is not stupid. With his help, Ally begins to gain confidence, make friends, and yes, even learn to read.

* * * * * *
Great story with a big heart.

(Originally reviewed April 2016.)

The London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd

3 stars: Told from Ted's point of view, a boy with high-functioning Asperger's, which adds an interesting element to the detective story.

The Mystery: Ted and Kat watch their cousin, Salem, get on the London Eye at 11:32 am. They watch the pods go around and come back down to ground. His pod opens at 12:02 pm and everyone gets off. Except for their cousin. He has disappeared.

While the grownups have their own ways of solving the mystery and finding Salem, Ted and Kat launch an investigation of their own.

* * * * * *

According to Ted, there are nine possibilities for what happened to Salem, and none of them is too implausible until he can definitively prove that it couldn't have happened. So he sets out to find which of the nine theories is right, and hopefully, also find his cousin his process.

(Originally reviewed October 2009.)

Rain Reign, by Ann M. Martin

4 stars: Rose solves her problems the best way she knows how; it's up to the adults in her life to step in and fill in the gaps for her.

Rose lives with her dad, and a stray dog he brought home for her as a gift. She has Asperger's and loves homonyms. She struggles in school, and she struggles with her dad, too. He doesn't always know how to handle her outbursts, and often spends his time down at the bar. Her uncle helps out where he can, but sometimes his help causes her dad to lash out even more.

Then one stormy night, her dog Rain (Reign, Rein) gets lost. Rose is desperate to find her dog, but her dad doesn't seem to understand how important it is to her. So she starts to search by herself, and recruits her uncle to help, as well. Soon even her classmates are caught up in the missing dog story. Rose slowly begins to makes some connections beyond her family. Those connections will have to be enough to see her through the tough decision she has to make when she does finally find Rain.

A heart-tugging story, well-told.

(Originally reviewed August 2015.)

Rules, by Cynthia Lord
(Newberry Honor, 2007)

3 stars: An authentic take on life as an older sibling of a person with a disability.

Catherine's little brother has autism. In an effort to help him navigate his world, she writes down rules that he ought to know--everything from "No toys in the fishtank," to "Keep your pants on in public." But her life doesn't always follow the rules. Like when the new girl moves in next door, they're supposed to become best friends and have all kinds of fun together. What's the rule when she turns out to be a different person than Catherine had imagined?

And then there's wheelchair-bound Jason, who she meets at her little brother's therapy office. He only communicates by pointing to words in his word book. Is there a rule about how to be friends with someone so different from yourself?
* * * * * *
Catherine's growth in perspective was not forced or sappy. There was only one part near the end that seemed out of character for her--or that her character would not have been able to articulate those feelings the way she did. Overall, a good read.

(Originally reviewed April 2009.)

Plant File: Echinacea purpurea

Scientific name: Echinacea purpurea

Common name: purple coneflower

Cold Hardiness: USDA zones 3-8

Grows to be 2-4' tall and  around 2' wide, though some varieties differ.

(When we lived in Missouri, my coneflowers shot up taller than me one year! It was awesome!)

Wildlife: Favorite nectar source for bees and butterflies. Birds will also eat the seeds, if seedheads are left to dry on plants in the fall.

Herbal uses: Helps boost the immune system and fight infections. *

Floral Design: Single flowers on sturdy stems make excellent cut flowers that last in the vase for several days.

It is a perennial, which means it comes back year after year, with the patch growing ever more bushy and better-looking.

If it's in good soil and you let the seedheads stand over winter, it will often reward you with baby seedlings all over the place in the spring. They will grow to be their own beautiful patch in 2-3 years, but are also easy to pull out if you don't want them.

I think they look like ladies in pink dresses dancing. :)

When finding a spot to plant this in your garden, keep in mind that this flower is native to the American prairies, so it needs lots of sunshine.

I haven't found it to be very picky about soil conditions--it has taken to my clay soil without any problems and has thrived in imported flowerbed soil as well.

Its long tap roots make it very drought-tolerant once established, so if you're planting a xeriscape garden, this would make a great choice!

Basically, this flower is like the wonder child of the garden.

It attracts wildlife! It needs no supplemental watering! It will cure your cold!

Not to mention, it is just so pretty!

Once it starts blooming mid-summer, it keeps right on until frost. 

Color-wise, mostly you've got purples and pinks.

As you can see, though, the variety pictured here--'Cheyenne Spirit'--has vibrant reddish-orange blooms, and my neighbor just planted a white variety. I know there are yellow varieties, as well.

There are even some double forms that look like they have a pom-pom sitting on top of the petals.

If you are new to gardening and are not sure what to put in your sunny flowerbed, give Echinacea a try! Water it at least weekly for the first year, then after that sit back and enjoy!

I usually leave it standing over winter, then cut all the dead foliage back to the ground in the spring.

* Disclaimer: I have never used it as an herb, so I have no advice or opinions on how best to do that.

Reading About Flowers

I've been reading up on growing flowers for cutting and floral design. I've put these in order from my most to least favorite.

The Flower Recipe Book, by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo

5 stars: This book really spoke to me!

Harampolis and Rizzio compare floral design with cooking. They start with a few basics--materials, "ingredients," cutting techniques--then move on to the recipes. So they start with a certain flower, then they show how to arrange it in 3 different ways: on its own, "with company," and for special occasions. They use flowers and plants readily available to me, and the recipes list numbers of stems of each one needed. Then they show step-by-step, with clear color photos, how to put the arrangement together, including how to prepare the container, etc.

They use quite a few succulents, which I find intriguing and want to try. The containers look like things I could find at my local thrift store.

After reading this book I want to try the recipes! The arrangements were usually fairly simple, with a limited number of stems used, but the finished products are stunning. They make it look like even I could get results like that. I want to work my way through the whole book!

(Finished reading August 3.)

The Cutting Garden: Growing and Arranging Garden Flowers, by Sarah Raven

3.5 stars: Good information, with a few take-aways.

This one is split up into 3 different sections: Planning and Stocking the Garden, Flower Arranging, and Flowers and Foliage Through the Seasons. The first part has 3 different garden plans, for a whole cutting garden, a small cutting patch, and a mixed garden. I like reading garden plans, though I have yet to implement one that I found in a book. Mostly, I tend to have my own ideas about planning such things. Still--fun to see some different ways to do it.

Probably what was most helpful to me in the "Flower Arranging" section was the chapter on conditioning the flowers. Treatment of various types of stems (sappy, woody, etc.), as well as how best to keep those flowers looking fresh for the longest time after they've been cut. 

Finally, the index at the back with all the flowers was great. Mostly basic info, but also included "Best varieties for cutting" and tips on conditioning for some species.

(Finished reading July 11.)

The 50 Mile Bouquet: Discovering the World of Local, Sustainable, Seasonable Flowers
by Debra Prinzing

3 stars: Meet some of the movers and shakers of the sustainable flower world.

Highlights several of the people responsible for the resurgent of the local cut-flower movement. Most she talks about are on the West Coast, in Seattle or Portland areas. A few are from other places. She does have a good range of people from various parts of the flower business, including flower farmers, floral designers, and savvy consumers.

* * * * * *

I'm glad I found this one at the library, rather than buying it. I expected more about the flower business itself, and there was a little bit of that, but for the most part it was all about the people. Interesting, but not one that I see myself coming back to.

(Finished reading July 9.)

Flowers, Flowers! Inspired Arrangements for All Occasions, by Paula Pryke

2.5 stars: Beautiful, full-color 2-page photos of various arrangements. A few new ideas, dense text.

Pryke is a very talented floral designer. It was great to get a peek inside some of her design ideas. The chapters include: The Flower Market, Selecting a Theme, Containers, Colour Themes, Special Occasions, and Techniques. She has creative ideas for covering your container with plant material, or layering vases so that you can fill in the space between them as part of the display.

I liked her ideas about experimenting within one color group. She even had a bouquet made from all edible elements that was beautiful and interesting. She has several pages with step-by-step instructions for various arrangements.

Overall, it was useful. At the risk of sounding whiny, I have to say--the book was very big and the text very small. It put me to sleep a couple of times. I was disappointed by the "Techniques" section. After a book full of beautiful color photos, the Techniques section was all in black and white! Other than a few basics on tools, stem treatments, etc., it was primarily a guide to wiring flowers, or other materials.

It was great to glean information and ideas from, but as far as recreating any of the arrangements, it was way out of my league. She has exotic flowers from around the world at her fingertips--large amounts of them, apparently--along with large, antique containers of various kinds. As someone who is interested in growing my own flowers for arrangements, I may never have access to some of her materials.

(Finished reading Aug. 2.)

The Most Pleasant Place

The shed porch swing, in all its dappled glory.

Little did we know last summer, when we put up this swinging bench, the enjoyment it would add to the backyard. The positioning couldn't have been better. The shed itself blocks any strong wind, and while it gets a touch of morning sun--as you can see--by mid-afternoon it is always in the shade.

We do have seating on the deck, but for a good part of the day it is in the blazing hot sunshine.

From this swing, you've got a perfect view of the birdfeeders, you can look over to the vegetable garden, or to the back flowerbed, or just watch what's happening in the yard.

It is consistently the most pleasant place to be in our entire yard.

A place where you just want to hang out for awhile, enjoying the cool breezes.

Before we put this swing up, it would be awkward trying to find a place to sit, mid-day.

You could pull a chair out, or sit on the wall or something, but there was never really a comfortable, handy solution. That has all changed now!

So what have I learned from this?

(Nothing overly profound.)

Figure out the prime location for enjoyment of your yard and add some seating there.

You'll be glad you did every single day.

Series Spotlight: Barnyard Rescue, by John Himmelman

We happened to run across these at the library several months ago. They are hilarious! We check them out again every so often, just for a laugh. In fact, I should probably just buy them.

Each has a very simple format--one page describes a problem, then the next page is "[Animals] to the rescue!" The sentences are fairly short and straightforward. In fact, my beginning reader can read them to her little brother. The pictures make the books. They are full of funny details and lively action.

Chickens to the Rescue!

"On Monday, Farmer Greenstalk dropped his watch down the well."
"Chickens to the rescue!"
"'Those are some chickens,' said Farmer Greenstalk."

Each day of the week brings more folks on the farm in need of help, but don't worry! The chickens are on the job! Until the day they aren't...

* * * * * * *

You can't stop now!  Find the pig book. It's good too!

Pigs to the Rescue!

Farmer Greenstalk and his family are having trouble again. This time it's the pigs who will save the day!....sort of. Actually, maybe it would be best if the pigs didn't find out about the problems, after all.

* * * * * *



Yes! There are still 2 more books!

Cows to the Rescue!

It's the day of the county fair, and at 7:00am the trouble is already starting--because the truck won't start. With a "Smartest Pig Contest," funny pictures, and even a 3-legged race, this could be the best day ever! Except nothing seems to go right. Good thing the cows are on the ball! If nothing else, the day will be memorable!

* * * * * *


Oh boy. Looks like the duck is next!

Duck to the Rescue!

Of course you knew Ernie needed his own book! His rescue attempts are noble and good-intentioned, if not precisely helpful.

* * * * * *





Hmmm... I see a sheep hanging around these pages. Could there be a sheep book in the works?
We can only hope!


Have you read these? Which one is your favorite?

July End of Month Views: the ABC's

Hello, and welcome to my Eastern Washington, USA garden!

Summer heat has come to stay!

We are now on our second week of 95+ degrees F, with no end in sight.

This is where anyone in our town without air conditioning moves to the basement for 6 six weeks.

(We are wimpy and put in A/C about 4 years ago. Haven't looked back.)

Today we will go on the alphabetical tour of my garden!

(In other words, I had already labeled my pictures and I'm too lazy to put them back in order by where they belong in the yard.)

Let's get started, shall we?

A is for.... APPLES, of course!

I thought everybody knew that.

Yes, for the first time since we planted this tree 6 years ago now, we will harvest some apples this year! I still can't really believe it's true.

A is also for asparagus fern (Asparagus springeri), which managed to survive a whole week in a pot, in 100 degree temps without water.

A walk in the park for this easy-care plant!

Last but not least, A is for astilbe, which suddenly re-appeared in my front porch bed after I assumed it was long gone.

Moving on now, B is for beets and beans.

The beets--admittedly--are a bit ragged, but the beans are flowering.

Any other B's? Oh yes!

B is also for black raspberries, going for broke! (Ha!)

Not sure what is so amazing behind the shed, but this black raspberry is determined to find out!

Moving right along now, C is for Cosmo Jungle, 2016.

There are so many, I don't feel bad at all about cutting down as many as I want for bouquets.

Okay, one more C before we go: 

cucumbers

There are very small cukes forming on the vines now.

These got such a late start--I'm hoping we'll get to harvest some before frost.

Oh boy.

We're going to have start skipping letters now.

What? You thought I actually had a picture for each letter of the alphabet?

Um...no.

You're welcome.

E: Echinacea

Ever since I cut back the salvia, the Echinacea have really taken on the spotlight in the front terraces.

These are volunteers, and they are about twice as tall as any of the parents.

Go figure!

F: Front porch Flowerpots

Which reminds me, MUST get out and water these tomorrow!

G: grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium)

Loaded with these blue "grapes."

I tried one this morning.

Very sour and seedy, but edible.

I think I'll leave them for the birds.

H is for hydrangeas

Dear hydrangeas,

Please grow extra big and tall, so that I can cut some of your blooms off without leaving a hole.

Thanks so much!

The Gardener

'Little Lime' in the shed bed is just starting to bloom out now.

Won't these be fantastic in a bouquet....someday?

'Quick Fire' hydrangea, top terrace, front beds

My darling oakleaf hydrangea, just putting on a blush of pink.

Let's see, where were we?

Oh yes!

O is for onions, which I have stopped buying and started picking.

Hooray!

P: pineapple sage

It is doing wonderfully well.

I realized I have never actually cooked with it before.

I am looking up recipes. Do you have any for me?

R is for roses, of course.

This 'William Shakespeare' rose out front is just a burst of color.

 Oh, and the rosemary. Can't leave that out.

Doing surprisingly well amongst the weeds, strawberry runners, and aspen shoots in the top bed.

(The top vegetable garden bed is kind of like the Wild West these days--everything running amok.)

I used it in some homemade focaccia this week that was superb.

S for shade bed.

It's hanging in there, which is all I ask of it during this time of year.

Almost done!

T for tomatoes.

So close!

W must be for water, water, water, and WEEDING.

Yes. The two everlasting summer chores!

We will end on a Y for yellow straight-neck squash, which has been loving this hot weather!

I'm hoping we'll start harvesting summer vegetables in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for taking the alphabet tour of my garden today!

To see other gardens, go to The Patient Gardener.

What do you have growing right now?