Author: Sara Alway

Length: 128 pages

Price: $16.96

Online- Amazon.com (Save $5.00 of the cover price)

Soil Mates is a creative and fun gardening book for companion planting (symbiotic relationships of plants in the vegetable garden). Author Sara Alway makes learning about companion planting simple by using humor and charm in her examples. Alway says that plants are in search of the “perfect companion” and just as people find the best condition for a relationship to grow, so do plants. Each section of the book has Turn ons and Turn offs  for plants and also Needy Alerts such as warnings on plants that are high maintenance. The Stalker Alerts give good advise on what pesty animals and insects will devour your plants. The Love Triangle gives a list of plant groupings that grow well together. Some of  (Twenty) Soil Mates listed are: Sweet Potato & Summer Savory, Carrot & Onion, Tomato & Basil and Eggplant & Marigold.  

After reading about companion planting, the second half of the book is devoted to understanding Garden Preparation, Planning and Care. Even for the practiced gardener there is great advise on Laying the Groundwork with crop rotation and making garden beds, or as author Alway puts it, “making the bed.” Another section in the book named Foreplay describes seed starting and the section on Aphrodisiacs covers the basics in fertilizers and composting. One of my favorite parts about this book are the many garden recipes included that I think most people would actually try out. You will also find a list of Botanical names and their “Quirks and Eccentricities”. There is yet so much more included in this book and I highly recommend it as a gift and as an addition to your library of garden references.

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Succulents have evolved out of harsh growing conditions and although they require little water, they are quite lush and exotic looking. Other than needing a good draining soil, the overall care is minimal. Succulents are fire-resistant and, unlike their thorny cousin the cactus, they offer smooth foliage and blooms all year-long. Succulent garden-scapes are no longer limited to hillside landscaping with mundane single ice-plant selection, but can be used to create borders for walkways, dramatic potted container designs and specialty theme gardens.

Succulent border on steps and surrounding gazebo.

According to California’s water conservation resource at www.bewaterwise.com, by planting drought-resistant plants a homeowner can save 30-60 gallons of water each time they water. That seems significant in a time when living greener, smarter and healthier is at the forefront of the American agenda. It just makes sense to plant wisely and save money at the same time.

Inspired by the San Diego Botanic Garden’s Under the Sea exhibit, created by Jeff Moore and Bill Teague, the photos below show a smaller recreation of the same idea. The illusion of a coral reef can be achieved in your own backyard- so mask and snorkel are not needed for this ocean dive! Succulents that mimic the shape of anemones, coral an urchins with vibrant orange and blue colors make this themed garden a showstopper. Taking photos of landscaping ideas and keeping those photos in hand while shopping for plants make it surprisingly easy to recreate.

Ocean Theme succulent garden

Materials used for this project include landscaping fabric to eliminate weeds, cactus mix, seashells, lava rocks, boulders, pebbles, succulents, euphorbia, aloe and cacti. Flowing between the rocks and plants are treasures of the sea with Japanese glass floats, heavy rope and ocean figurines. Mixing in other drought tolerant plants that require the same watering needs add diversity and contrast to the succulent-scape design. Building up rocks in mounds not only adds more vertical planting space, but also creates fast drainage, essential for healthy succulents.

Rope, Seashells, Fish and Glass Floats added to garden

No room for a large garden? This can all be achieve in a container pot using the same concepts of design. Only have a small yard space? Create a small Zen garden with smooth round pebbles and succulents planted in a uniform pattern. Hand-painted rocks and stepping-stones can add a personal touch and whimsy to your special garden.

The availability and variety of succulents has increased dramatically over the past 10 years as nurseries try to keep up with the demand for these water wise wonders. Here is a list of popular succulents: Aeonium, Aloe, Euphorbia, Sedum, Sempervivum, Kalanchoe, Haworthia, Graptopetalum and Caralluma for coral-type growth style. I encourage you to experiment with succulents and enjoy the rewards of simple plant care and beautiful surroundings. Happy Gardening!

** Article reprinted from The Beach Break News: Volume 5, Issue 5. Water-Wise Landscaping: Ocean Theme Succulent Garden by Nadia.

* Ocean-Theme online shopping at: Completely Coastal

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Create – Inspire – Grow

Check out these resources for drought tolerant landscape information: Ocean Friendly Gardens, Be Water Wise.com, Xeriscape website.

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Plant-Grow-Enjoy

I also purchased Red Wiggler worms to begin my Vermicomposting bin, also known as “Worm Composting”  along with some worm castings to add to my existing garden beds.

Enjoy the photos… it was a gorgeous day!

]]> http://nadiaknows.com/2010/04/03/leucadiaencinitas-farmers-market/feed/ 3 nadiaqh DSCF5125 Herbfresh.com San Diego Strawberries Fresh Produce Encinitas Farmers' Market Worm Castings Vendor Organic Cheese Leucadia Farmers' Market Leucadia Farmer's Market Beach Treasures Kettle Korn Leucadia Farmers' Market Fresh Flowers at the Leucadia Market Gourmet Olive Oil Luecadia Farmers' Market http://nadiaknows.com/2010/04/01/april-planting-guide-happy-april-fools-day/ http://nadiaknows.com/2010/04/01/april-planting-guide-happy-april-fools-day/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:09 +0000 nadiaqh http://nadiaknows.com/?p=2566 ]]> APRIL PLANTING GUIDE:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

PUMPKIN * CARROT *  CORN * TOMATO * BUSH AND POLE BEANS * RADISH * BEETS * CANTALOUPE * CUCUMBER * EGGPLANT * JICAMA * OKRA * PEPPERS * SUMMER AND WINTER SQUASH * SUNFLOWERS * TOMATO * WATERMELON

AFTER THE RAIN STORM THIS WEEK WE SHOULD HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND COMING UP FOR PLANTING.

CHECK OUT MY COMING UP BLOGS IN APRIL ABOUT THE ENCINITAS FARMERS’ MARKET, VERMI-COMPOSTING, BLUEBERRY PLANTS, ROSES and MORE!

NOW GET OUT THERE AND DIG.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY GARDEN BLOG: WWW.NADIAKNOWS.COM– A GREEN PLACE TO GROW, CREATE and ENJOY!

Chubs the dog that sat on command which made me happy because I got a great photo of him!

There is nothing more quaint than stopping at a roadside garden stand and being greeted by an adorable old dog like this one, his name is Chubs and quite photogenic and friendly. On a day-trip out to Fallbrook, Ca just 30 minutes inland from coastal North San Diego county sits “Diane’s Herb’s, Flowers & Things” where homegrown fresh and dried herbs, bath and beauty herbal products, vegetables and soaps are produced and grown on premises.

I came home with a carload of beets, lettuce, parsley, a bouquet of dried roses, a jar of honey and several bars of lavender soap. Did I mention the surprise at bargain prices for such quality products? Diane’s roadside shop is adorned with hanging herbs and roses drying upside down from the ceiling and  hand painted garden signs everywhere.  The “wildflower honey” seemed to have a different taste and aroma compared to clover honey, or maybe that was just my imagination. I’m already looking forward to my next visit and wondering if I should take my Chihuahuas along for the ride, I think they would like to meet Diane’s dog.

For both garden gurus and day trip enthusiasts alike, this is a wonderful place to visit in the San Diego region.

* Diane’s Herbs * 3642 South Mission Road * Fallbrook, CA * 92028

* (760) 728-1251

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◊ Creating +Growing = Inspired Living ◊

Last year - 2009 Pink Sweet Peas in a Recycled Patron Bottle

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Last year one of my most popular blogs was about the ease of arranging Sweet Pea flowers in a recycled Patron Tequilla bottle. I’ve received a lot of feedback since that posting from friends and readers that are now hooked on the idea of trying all sorts of different containers and bottles to show off their flowers. Last year’s Heirloom Sweet Peas were purchased from Burpee seeds. This year I am growing Sweet Peas from rareseeds.com in purple heirloom and they are blooming just as well. Sweet Peas in a are still one of my favorite flowers arrangements because of the simplicity, beauty and fragrance. The recycled mini Patron bottle with decorative glass stones at the bottom really add dimension and character to the whole presentation. I wish you could smell these flowers… they are a slice of heaven.

* Renee’s Seeds has a great growing guide for sweet peas. Check it out here in on this link to Sweet Pea growing guide.

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“gardens inspire me… simplicity is best~”

This year March 2010 - Heirloom Purple Sweet Peas from rareseeds.com. mixed with Lavender flowers.

Good luck in the garden

Shamrocks are considered a good luck symbol; representing faith, hope and love. The age-old saying: “The Luck of the Irish” with its magical mysticism just might rub off in our gardens today with a little St. Patty’s Day symbolism.

The word Shamrock comes from an Irish word meaning little clover and is said to have gotten its symbolic meaning in Ireland in about the fifth century. St. Patrick used the abundantly growing green shamrock to teach Christianity by using a natural method to show the concept of the holy trinity. Each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The shamrock was a sacred plant in Ireland even before St. Patrick with the Irish Druids because the leaves in a cluster of three formed a triad. Currently the shamrock is still used as a good luck symbol and popular with Irish brides as the clovers are intertwined in bridal bouquets.

Botanically speaking:

“The true Irish Shamrock, as identified by Nathaniel Colgan c. 1893 is a clover. It is not one of any or many clovers, it is one species, collected from a majority of counties at that time and with the exception of a very few plants, the majority were Trifolium repens or a form of this plant – White clover also known as Dutch Clover”. …’From Ireland’ © Jane Lyons, Dublin, Ireland

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Mushroom Garden Gnome

Does your garden grow better with gnomes? Garden gnomes originated in European folklore depicted wearing red hats, tunics and holding garden tools. In the 1800′s German potters made them from clay stoneware and sold them as lawn and garden ornamentation said to bring good luck, humor, wisdom and prosperity to the owner. They are whimsical little creatures that for some add character to a garden, but for others only create an eyesore. Several large garden clubs in the U.K. have banned garden gnomes from elite flower and garden shows stating they decrease the sophistication of garden landscapes.  Other groups such as the “Garden Gnome Liberationists” direct their energies towards “borrowing” gnomes out of gardens and photographing them all over the world at popular travel locations, some say this was the start of the now popular Travelocity Gnome.  

Blogs such as Gnome Frenzy are dedicated to collecting photographs of these traveling gnomes at famous places around the world and posting them on the web. It seems more people are inclined to like the Travelocity gnome with its updated appearance and reference to good times over the more traditional European ceramic gnomes with mythical powers of fortune and luck.

The mushroom gnome photographed above standing in-between my basil and oregano was only “borrowed” for a few weeks for blogging purposes, soon to be returned to its rightful owner.

I think the garden gnome craze is in the same genre as the plastic pink flamingos – love them or leave them!

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♥  Create – Grow – Enjoy   ♥

Growing Fun and Easy Vegetables:

For a fast growing vegetable try growing radishes, a great vegetable for the impatient gardener and ready to eat 28 days after sowing. Growing vegetables such as radishes and carrots are simple to grow and surprisingly rewarding at harvest time. “Rainbow Radishes” pictured below are unique in the assortment of colors- white, pink, purple and red purchased online from Renee’s seeds.

Rainbow Radishes

These seeds grew perfectly and delivered a tasty, juicy and spicy little treat today. I like Renee’s seeds for the quality and seemingly 100% seed germination, accurate harvest time and final product just as the package promises. My winter crop has been fed completely by rainwater these past few months and I want to believe that everything tastes better when water comes from the sky and not from the faucet.

Radishes remind me of my parents and how my mom used to cut them up at dinner time in the shape of a roses and how much my dad always enjoyed them. I planted this garden bed with my parents in mind and for my Dad’s birthday I plan to surprise him with a basket of colorful radishes.

Tips for planting:

* Grow in a raised bed or container with organic planting mix.

Simple low framed garden bed with Turnips and Radishes

* 6-8 Hours of sun is required for good growth.

* Consistent watering and weeding is needed.

* Plant at depth and distance according to package directions.

WEB SITE PHOTOS FROM RENEE’S SEEDS: RAINBOW RADISH SEED PACKET

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Plant – Grow – Enjoy

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