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Philly Garden Girl is moving over to Garden Kitchen Home. Check it out!

There's a new look, new adventures and much more. Enjoy!

Garden inspiration from Elle Decor

I was poking around Elle Decor and came across some gorgeous pics and photo albums. I can't get enough of them, so I'm sharing them with you.

A succulent wall garden that will make you think of the plants in a whole new way.


Decks and gardens that will make you drool.


Potted plants and all you could ever want to know about them.

Brad Lidge at Headhouse Square Farmers' Market?

Lights Out Lidge and his wife went to last year's opening day for the farmers' market at Headhouse Square. The two have a partnership against obesity with the Food Trust (the group that oversees the farmers' markets across Philly), so it's entirely possible that they'll be there again this year. Plus, the Phillies are playing in town at 8 p.m., so he should be available...
There's only one way to find out, I guess: Be there, Sunday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Headhouse Square Farmers' Market opens May 1

Time to get excited: The farmers' market in Headhouse Square opens on Sunday!

I once spent an entire summer without setting a foot inside a grocery store a single time because I got everything I needed from the farmers' market. They have the requisite fruits and veggies, but there's also lots of meats, cheeses, dairy, etc. The only other things you're gonna need are trash bags and light bulbs, and there's a CVS across the street, so you're set.

This year, vendors include:
Birchrun Hills--yummy cheese and meats, if you eat that kind of thing (and I do)
Busy Bee Farm--raw honey and lavender
Buzby Farm--fruits and veggies
Culton Organics--organic fruits and veggies
Happy Cat Organics--seeds, plants, tomatoes
Hillacres Pride--cheese!!!
John & Kira's--chocolate
Longview Farm--flowers
Love Bar--chocolate

And so, so many more. Personally, I think the highlight of the vendors just might be Talula's Table--the much adored farm-to-table restaurant. I'm not sure what they're bringing on Sunday, but I do know it'll be good.

I'm definitely stopping by on opening day (after I go for a little run).

Even the birds are tough in Philly

I walked out to my deck the other day to find this, the remnants of my tulips--my gorgeous, lovely tulips.

Look, you can even see a lone petal caught in the leaves.

Le sigh...

Anyway, I figured that it'd been all the wind we've had lately, and I wrote it off a live-and-learn experience.  That is, until I heard some commotion going on outside. I peeked out the door and saw this--the real culprits behind my de-feathered tulips.

 

Don't you love how the guy on the left is looking right at the camera. It's like he's challenging me: "You wanna come out here so I can show you whose flowers these really are?" Sheesh, that bird is a real jerk.

Apparently, they're using the petals to line their nest, which is on the top of the building across the alley from me. Honestly, I'm not too upset about it; the birds have good taste. My purple tulips were gorgeous, so I understand why they'd want those at home. Besides, the rest of my flowers have been pardoned so far, and no one has pecked at my peas or herbs, so for now we're at a truce. But that could change quickly if the birds get too greedy. We'll see how it goes.

Anyone else have to deal with this? How do you keep the birds at bay?

More Arbor Day madness!

It's true! There are more ways to get your tree groove on.


At the Philadelphia Orchard Project, you can help sow seeds at three different locations this week.


According to the site, here's what you can expect:

"We invite you to participate by planting with POP, working alongside volunteers from our community partners to plant orchards all over the city. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. These events involve digging, planting, and spreading compost and mulch, so expect to get dirty. We can't guarantee tools for all; if you bring your own, it is advisable to write your name on them. Snacks and beverages to share are also welcome.

"Planting events can generally be expected to last three or four hours. Please sign up for our volunteer email list for up-to-date info on events. We recommend that you check your email the morning of a planting to confirm whether if will be postponed to the raindate."

The locations are:

• Roxborough High School, 6498 Ridge Ave., Roxborough, April 27, 3 p.m.
• Greenfield Orchard, 23rd & Sansom avenues, April 28, 1:30 p.m.
• Happy Hollow Orchard, 4800 Wayne Ave., Germantown, April 29, 1 p.m.

Or if you're looking to socialize and grow your garden, check out the opening party and preview of the Jenkins Arboretum plant sale. Tickets are $30, but if you want to shop for free, you can wait until Saturday or Sunday when there's no admission fee.

• Opening Party--Friday, April 29, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Plant Sale--Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Plant Sale--Sunday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There's also a similar sale at Tyler Arboretum on Saturday, April 30. Admission is free. Doors open at 9 a.m. You'll be able to get your hands on hard-to-find trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs, with a focus on both edible plants, and deer deterrents.

And at Winterthur, you can shop from a collection of local nurseries all at once. The event will bring together experts from area stores to help you find rare and heirloom plants in the Greenhouse area. You can shop from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.

Spent too much...

I love my mister, which I got from Terrain a couple of months ago. I'm not sure if they still have them, but I do know I wouldn't buy it there again. That's because you can get the EXACT SAME THING from Lowe's for literally half the price. I paid $14 at Terrain. Yesterday it was just under $7 at Lowe's on Columbus Boulevard.

Oops.

Learn from my mistake.

Celebrate Arbor Day

Trees = excellence. Celebrate that simple equation at the Morris Arboretum on Saturday April 30th for the Arbor Day celebration.


This isn't just a tree-huggin' event; you'll get a treasure map and explore Out on a Limb--the elevated deck that weaves through the tree canopy. You'll learn a ridiculous amount about tree care, and even get a few seeds to take home with you.


Click here for more information, or call 215.247.5777.

My trashy little secret

 We have a serious trash problem in my house. The once-a-week, standard city pick up means that we either live with stinky trash, toss it in the city's cans, or put it out on the balcony. (And the balcony is where my gardening lives, so that's not much of an option.)

Let's just say that this arrangement is not working for me.


I'm kind of intrigued by this--a compost pick up service. For $15 a month, Bennett Compost will come out to you and pick up your organic waste like cardboard, paper, coffee grounds and filters, cotton and wool rags, dryer lint, flowers, tea bags, yard trimmings and fruits and vegetables. The things they won't pick up are charcoal/coal ash, dairy products, fats, meats, pet waste, and trimmings from yards treated with chemical pesticides.


I don't know about your house, but in my world we have very little of what can't be composted. In fact, I've tried doing it on my own several times. Unfortunately, it always ends when I fill a bin, and then I have no where to put it to let things break down. I've considered one of these automatic composters, but since it requires electricity (and space), I've never really given it much thought.

But the idea of a compost pick up... I'm intrigued.

I first heard of it from a friend in Fishtown who uses the service. She always raves about it, and loves that she sends less waste to sit in a landfill. She's a gardener, too, and I think that in a perfect world, she'd rather compost herself and use it at home. Unfortunately space is a commodity, and it's just not a reality right now.

So less trash, less guilt, and very little cost. The only thing that's left to consider is where to put the extra can--and in my itty bitty kitchen, it's a very real concern. I'll let you know if sign up and actually put my money where my keyboard is.

Phillies take root

The other day I was lucky enough to make it to my first Phillies game of the season, and daaaayum was it good--one of the best I've ever seen. There were big hits for the Phils, a temporary comeback from the other guys (just enough to get your heart racing), and lots of good friends and beer.

The game got me thinking back to 2008, to when the Phils won the World Series, and the whole city charged Broad Street. It's one of my favorite nights I've ever had in this city; there's not much I would change about it. That said, one thing has left me with a funky aftertaste for two years now. In the fury of the win, people were grabbing at anything they could, climbing, shaking and pulling--including the little trees in planter boxes along the road. I remember thinking that there's a difference between fun and destruction, but I guess with enough excitement (and beer?) that line gets blurred.

Anyway, that made me curious about the state of those trees. I know that some got ripped out, but what about the rest? So I marched my tooshie up to Broad and checked it out. Not surprisingly, things are in good standing. There are trees in each planter on the south side of City Hall, and they all seem to be about the same age, so all's well that ends well, right?

Hopefully, this year *when* the Phillies bring it all home again, it'll just be the light poles that fans hop up.

My garden is starting to grow

Last year, my porch was overflowing with seedlings.  I had 20-plus tomatoes growing in paper cups and dozens of basil plants, which is at least a little crazy considering the size of my porch. Let's just say "out of proportion" is an understatement.

So this year I decided to only start a dozen or so seedlings: four onion plants, five basil plants, and the rest are wildflowers. It might be a small crop, but it seems to be just right for my space. And, I've got good news: My girls are starting to sprout. All of the seeds have at least a little action to speak of, with the wildflowers doing the best.

I'll let you know how the rest fare.

I live in the prettiest neighborhood ever

It's true; I do. Check out what spring means in South Philly:

 

Playing with your food sounds wonderful

 

Somehow I managed to miss this until today. These guys are the Vegetable Orchestra, and they make me reconsider everything I've ever known about veggies. I'm absolutely in awe.

Things currently driving me crazy

Number one on my list is this trellis. It's supposed to be a super cute little spot for my peas to wend around and support my future side dishes. It, however, does not seem to agree. In fact, it went kamikaze on me, and took a leap off of my balcony with the last gust of wind.

This is not going to cut it.

Can I break up with a trellis?


At some point when I have more energy, I'll figure out a way to make it stay put. Twine and a drill may be involved.


Number two:

That was once my lovely porch light. It was adorable, with a 6-inch glass covering. Unfortunately, when my boyfriend went to change the bulb, he overscrewed the braces, and it shattered the glass. Now, we just have a naked bulb.


It shouldn't be a tough fix, but the big-box stores in the area don't carry 6-inch coverings. It turns out that glass that size is a special order item.


Awesome.


Maybe I'll get to it tomorrow? Maybe.

Oh $#*%!!!

I love my neighbors. The woman I share a wall with is all of 4 feet tall, and easily ages out your grandmother's oldest cousin. But that absolutely doesn't bother her; she's always got a huge smile on her face, and some quick comment about the building or the weather. She's cooler than most people half her age.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Bella Vista and Society Hill shares such a passion for winning. Take, for instance, the Caped Poo-cader, as I've come to call him. I have no idea who he is, but I'm sure he must be a man. (No woman would commit his crime of choice.) He's also got to be either insanely lazy or not able to bend over--so that leaves a college-aged frat boy or a guy with a cane. But the real clue, and this is a doozy, is that he's got a dog. A fairly large dog. Lab, perhaps? Maybe a dalmatian?

I know about this man's pet of choice because he's taken to walking the lil bugger through my neighborhood, letting said doggie do its thing, and wrapping up the poo. But here's the twist: He leaves the poo, bag and all, wherever he wants.

I know, I know. Your head must be whirling. He wraps the poo and leaves it? What sense does that make? Why buy the bags in the first place? Why take the time to scoop the poop? WHY LEAVE IT BEHIND? I don't know, my friend. I don't know the answers you seek.

What's most annoying is that the little packages of joy are always sitting in the spaces where people have taken time to garden. I'll walk down the street and see one next to a massive spruce tree, or hidden under some potted tulips. As if the whizzing drunks and the entrepreneurial homeless guys who cut and sell buds aren't bad enough, now we have dog poop to contend with.

I have a simple message for the Caped Poo-cader: I'm looking for you. I know where you live, and the streets you walk down. And someday, when I find you, I'll have very stern words for you. (I can be uber-mean. Grrr!)

Consider yourself warned.

The latest "holiday" for April

I'll give you a hint: It's not Valentine's Day.

Nope, it's Garden Month! Ok, so that's not a holiday per se (or even a single day), but it is a reason to celebrate. Well, maybe not a reason in the traditional sense. But it is definitely an excuse! It's an EXCUSE to go get dirty. And darn it, I'm not one to say no.

While it doesn't seem like there are any official, organized ways to celebrate, the National Gardening Association has put together 101 ways to mark the holi-month. (So much better than a single holiday.) The suggestions include nice ideas like start a garden club or buy garden supplies at yard sales. But I say go big or go home.

Here's how I plan to recognize Garden Month:

• Spend an exorbitant amount of time tending to my new plants. Yea, they don't need that much TLC, but the weather is gorgeous, and I will take any chance to be outside. Plus, if I ignore my "real" work, it'll go away. Right?

• Garden in a skimpy tank top. Did I mention that it's been warm?

• Throw a seed bomb or two.

• Refuse to eat meals anywhere but on my patio. I don't care if that means eating dinner with a jacket on. I want to be around my plants, dammit.

• Ask strangers if they've begun planting yet. If they say no, I'll shake my head and mutter incomprehensibly to myself.

• Mail seed packets instead of birthday cards this month. If you stick an easy-to-find address label and a couple of stamps on seed packets, they'll get there without any trouble. It's so much more fun than another Hallmark bday wish.

Current inspiration

Here's what I'm craving:

 

I have such a sweet spot for urns, and this one is weathered, and sexy, and substantial. It'd make a good home for a billowing cloud of wildflowers. $88, from Terrain

 

These sleek vessels offer a lot of choices. If you have a big space--maybe along a street?--then one of the shorter and wider ones could work. But if you're trying to maximize vertical space, I could see the tall planter peeking out from behind other planters. Love! $199-$479, from Restoration Hardware

 I'm having a hard time controlling myself with these containers, which are inspired by galvanized buckets. These add a funky, urban vibe to even those who don't live anywhere near city limits. It's enough to make a girl swoon. $129-$149, from Pottery Barn

Giving back through gardening

As a city girl, I have green eyes to go with my green thumb--meaning that I'm insanely jealous of anyone with more space than what my urban patio allows. I wanna look out over a field filled with my seedlings. I want not have every plant I own within an arm's reach. I want something out of Little House on the Prarie, without giving up the city.

Sounds do-able, right?

It does now that I know about the Horticultural Society's volunteer days. Gardeners can use their skills, and do a little good for the community at the same time. Whether you want to work in the Azalea Garden at the Art Museum or the ivy-covered green space at the Eastern State Penitentiary, there's something for everyone.

Volunteer dates start now and extend through November.

My only complaint? All of the sites are in the Art Museum neighborhood. For those of us in South Philly--or anywhere other than Fairmount--it's a trek to get where you gotta go. I guess there's always Septa...

Another option is partaking in the Plant One Million campaign, where volunteers across Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are aiming to add to the local treeline. The idea is that folks will get involved and help clean the air and impact the local economy at the same time. Not a bad idea, huh? I think I might hop on this. If you want to--and you'd like trees for free--you can apply to the TreeVitalize program. Keep in mind that the deadline is May 2.

What's on the menu

 

I've got some of planting underway. I have two window boxes, each brimming with goodies that I hope will stock my kitchen this summer. One of the boxes has pea seedlings, which are just starting to show their cute little shoots.

The other one, I've cheated a little, and bought plants from the nursery. I know, I know, the shame of it all! But I can't help it; I'm weak. I walked by the herbs on my way to the fertilizer and I fell in love. So I stocked up on dill, rosemary, oregano and heather. As of right now, the box is stunning, and I can't wait to see how it'll fill out.

I have a few other pots  that I'm working on, too. Those are mostly flowers though. I just potted some Gerbera daisies, and my tulips are make their presence known. I've also got some basil and onion seeds sprouting indoors. Can't wait to get them outside!

Spring Has Sprung

It's official!

The season is here. Yesterday was a gorgeous day with not just kisses of sun here and there, but full on wet, slobbery smooches.

And today? It rained. Big, soaking drops that remind you that May flowers are only a month away. Good god, I love this time of year.

Time to get planting!