Retail Therapy

All I was doing was taking a walk on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It just happened to be a walk toward Sprout Home on Grand Street in Williamsburg. And I just happened to find a few new friends there. I got a hanging plant called a goldfish plant, or Nematanthus wettsteinii, that grows tiny orange flowers that look like goldfish, hence the name. Then I picked up some basil, which we never got around to planting this year, and two containers of pretty verbena to fill some holes in the garden. And then, I stumbled upon a plant I've never seen before: a cranberry. More pictures to come.

Kale and chickpea soup

I skipped the chorizo and added carrots, and the soup was fantastic. Our kale did us proud!

My first rose bush

This is my very first rose bush. I bought it in Litchfield County, Connecticut, at a nursery called Paley's, with the help of my sister-in-law, who is lucky enough to work there. I wanted something a little more hearty and less precious than the typical rose bush; something you could imagine stumbling across at the side of a road (which I have since done -- there are tons of these on 11th avenue and 24th street bordering my favorite playground in the city). It's a fairy rose bush, thus named for its tiny light-pink, fairylike clusters of flowers, and I think I've found the perfect rose for me. It is a repeat bloomer; unlike most other varieties, it blooms all summer long. Unfortunately, before I realized this, I cut back a few branches thinking it was done, but Rosie doesn't seem to mind. She's still blooming anyway. And how else does a new gardener learn? (Note: in the top picture, which was taken this morning, the flowers around the bottom of the pot are not roses...I added them for when she stopped blooming, before I knew she wouldn't.)

The other roses I love are beach roses. I think I'll try to add some to the garden next summer.

Meet the misfits

There is a part of the roof deck, right up alongside the window, in the shade, that at the moment looks more like a plant hospital than the layered, beautiful, lush oasis I had in mind. Right now it holds a funky jade plant, a leggy aloe that we thought was on its way out but appears to be turning green again, a fern that was mugged from the Connecticut woods, lots of morning glories that were planted from seed and are sort of tangled and tattered, and pots of seeds planted weeks ago that have failed to germinate. Do I accept that no garden is perfect, and let this crazy cast of characters limp their way through the summer, or start weeding out the ugly ones and bring in some new plants?

Ready to eat?

Take a look at our beautiful kale. I don't think it's grown any in the last two weeks -- it may be time to harvest. Know any good recipes for kale? I like the looks of this kale and chickpea soup recipe from Epicurious. I'll let you know how it turns out.

And today, she opens

Annual question

We still have some holes in the garden, both in places where nothing was planted and in places where my perennials have finished their shows. Should I get some annuals to fill in the holes? Is it too late to start with perennials?

My moon

Yesterday I was wondering what this funny-shaped new growth was next to my English ivy. Was it the ever-spreading morning glory, who shows up in nearly every pot we plant? But no...the shape of the leaves is distinctly different. And then I remembered that I planted some moonflower seeds a few weeks ago, after soaking them overnight as the package instructed (they have a very hard outer shell, looking something like a popcorn kernel). I can't wait to see how they do!

Lady Orchid

Speaking of that orchid...here she is, opening up again. First picture is of the new roots, and above, her new buds.

Bing! I have flowers!

This morning there were all kinds of things going on in the garden. First, this perennial flower, which I bought last year not even realizing it was a perennial, has sprouted some flowers! I don't know what this guy is called

Anyone know?

Welcome

Over the past two years, I have been surprised to discover that I have developed a passion for gardening. Used to be I couldn't keep anything alive at all (something about remembering that plants need water was just too much for me), and now look at me! I'm responsible for a whole roof deck of container plants, and that's not to mention the rescued orchid that is about to bloom again in my living room. Okay, well so is my husband, who is quite the gardener himself, not to mention builder of decks, installer of watering systems, and tender of vegetables. More about him later. But, on this blog I'll be documenting the garden's progress with photographs and observations, and, of course, since I'm a beginner, asking anyone and everyone for advice.