Some Buzz

I wanted to add some buzz to the upcoming Art Fair that's to be held at the Rose Theatre in Brampton. Summerfest will take place on July 25 2009. The theatre itself will be full of artisans and performers. They will occupy both floors, the main stage and I believe part of the square outside.

This place is Brampton's best kept secret with it's state of the art staging and broadcast capabilities. And if you do make it outside you can visit Art In The Open taking place at the same time in the courtyard. Just look for the fountain and more vendor tents of which one will be mine. For more information just click on Summerfest.

Mister Hand

I believe we reap what we sow. And that life in general goes around full circle. I only wish I had come to this realization while I was much younger so I could have been better behaved.

As a teen I did get up to "no good" according to the adults of the time, but it pales in comparison to what I hear or witness today.

It's the "been there done that" curse. You can know too much. Or maybe, and this is a real possibility, I simply think too much. But whatever the reason I have to accept the fact I've become Mister Hand.

You might remember him as Jeff Spicolli's teacher in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, who believed everyone was on Dope. I've definitely arrived at middle age.

This pic shows my favorite version of The Thinker.

Shlocky Talk

Recently I saw a television commercial for a tomato tree. It supposedly grows eight to ten feet tall in ninety days. Producing what appeared to be a bushel of grapefruit sized tomatoes each day. Wanting to know more about this botanical superhero I took to the Internet. What I found was telling in both what was written and was not written.

What I found was simply the same shlocky talk from the television spot. That and numerous complaints from purchasers of this product State side. Most of the complaints addressed the misleading language describing what you actually get for your fifteen dollar purchase price.

The commercial states you will receive three plants when in fact buyers received three seeds...ouch. What I couldn't find was any botanical or historical information on this plant...hmmm.

I've got an inkling this marketing campaign rides the leading edge of a particular temperate zone's planting season. Especially since the complaints are now piling up from the U.S.A. just south of us here in Canada.

Now to be fair I've not read any complaints about the actual growth claims. It doesn't mean there aren't any it just means I haven't read any. You'll have to decide for yourself.

Fly Backwards

During the weather storm this past weekend I watched anxiously from the safety of a window as the wood fence stood its ground..barely.

It flexed and groaned all the while the Mountain Ash towering above heaved and recoiled threatening to snap at any moment where it would more than likely have found its mark on the corner of the house.

My attention was soon redirected as the teak garden bench tumbled across the lawn and through my frame of view. And it was just days ago that I had assessed it's fractured back from the last storm it had braved.

Most of my life I've enjoyed storms and all the inherent theatrics. The jagged shards of lightning, swirls of wind and the birds that appear to magically fly backwards. But as the years go by it's all become more of a reminder of just how temporary we really are.

This pic is from my last visit to the rock garden area at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton Ontario.

Less Than Perfect

We're fortunate in that we live close to working farms with access to fresh produce at different times of the year but I've been anxious to grow some of our own. Nothing elaborate just peas, peppers and tomatoes. And I plan to do it all in containers and probably on the deck.

I've also gotten into the habit of bulk buying Nasturtium and Morning Glory seeds each year around this time. While the Nasturtiums are edible (flower and leaf) the Morning Glory is great for quickly adding a riot of color to that area of the garden with a less than perfect view. My preference is for the Heavenly Blue. And both plants do very well in poor soil.

Today's pic is a cross section slice of Mushroom Jasper.

Brush The Stone

It was bound to happen. I would eventually have to brush the stone dust off and take to the streets. So far this week I've dropped in on about half a dozen garden ware retailers to flog my goods.

The big push for the garden industry is around the May 24th weekend...at least in my neck of the woods. Now it's not 'carved in stone' but that date seems to bring everyone and their wallets out to their local garden center.

And though it's too early to call it but I've had some very positive feedback from several buyers. You can believe once something is definite you'll be reading about it right here.

My pic today is a shot I took while exploring the Japanese Gardens in Springfield Missouri.

Over Eight Easy

After several years of abstaining, well okay I fell off the wagon (shopping cart) once last summer when they showcased the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter...It was late, I was hungry...another story.

But a few nights ago I made the biggest purchase I have ever made from a late night glorified infomercial...a.k.a The Shopping Channel. I'd like to say I fought a good fight but truth be told they had me at, "spread your purchase over eight easy payments...and this fantastic camera can be yours."

And whether you believe it to be a godsend or the devil wearing Crocs there is no doubt that The Shopping Channel is leading the charge, no pun intended, against this recession.
This pic shows one of the garden ornaments lurking within the bed of English Ivy.

Orange Someone

This year I vowed to get the majority of the garden up and running as soon as possible so I can actually enjoy it. I spent the weekend outside working on the back garden and will probably continue for at least three to four more days. Then it's on to the garden at the front of the house.

And while scouring Craigslist for freebies I came across a Mock Orange (Philadelphus Virginalis) someone had become 'bored' with. All they asked was for any interested party to dig it up and take it away. Though I did give the owner twenty shekels. The shrub now resides in my garden. Still an excellent deal for at least a four year old rootstock.

At this time of year those types of deals are very common. So if you're on a tight budget but have a garden to fill there's another great place to look. Here's a pic of the Mock Orange flower in bloom. It's a very fragrant flower reminiscent of Orange Blossom.

Up I'll Drop

These last few days I've been ripping into garden beds and pruning trees like mad. The weather has actually been hot. So I took advantage of it and got a jump on my garden keeping.

Next up I'll drop into all my favorite garden retailers to grab those springtime loss leaders... the under-priced specials designed to entice you to stick around and buy more of the regular priced items.

If you have a garden to fill get out there and grab some of these deals. Forget the regular priced fare...you can get that at any time. Grab the Special then go to the next place and do the same. If you get there early enough you'll be in line with landscapers. That should tell you something.

This pic shows a large Sword Fern in a natural setting. Ferns are fantastic for creating a lush environment. But pay close attention to the growing conditions required.

Moonwalker

So the weather is beginning to turn towards Spring...well maybe. But if you really want to know what to expect a better indicator is to look to the Gods of Retail Marketing.

They will let us know it's Spring when bags of manure appear by the pallet load outside your local grocery store. When the aisles of the local big box store become choked with oil filled tiki lamps, beer can chicken cookers and solar powered gnomes.

And finally, by early Saturday morning knocks at your front door...from peddlers of house painting to lawn aerating. Then and only then is it safe to declare another springtime is upon us.

This pic shows a grouping of Moonwalker. A hybrid sunflower that I'm planting this summer.