Lynn Coulter

I'm Moving - Come On Over!

2011-01-21T11:44:00.006-05:00

Blog friends, I'm moving--not from one house to another--but from one web address to another.

You see, I've just had my website re-designed by the fine folks at Professional Mojo, and they've done a great job of putting my book info, news, and blog posts all in one place.

Now you can visit http://www.lynncoulter.com/ for everything.

My sweet-and-sometimes-bitey office assistant, Miss Paws, will also be posting from that location. Her comments are known as "The Bark."

Come on over soon to http://www.lynncoulter.com/ and see all the cool new stuff we've added!

Lynn

Invincible Summer

2011-01-12T11:59:00.017-05:00

It's Jan. 12, and we're into day 3 of Atlanta's 2011 Deep Freeze. Three days of impassable roads, no mail delivery, cancelled airline flights, and stores running out of bread, milk, and bananas. (I cannot figure out why the stores ran out of bananas before the storm even hit. What was everybody planning on eating for the forecasted week-long chill? Peanut butter and banana sandwiches? Bananas in cereal? Banana bread, banana pudding, and just plain old bananas? I mean, you might expect a run on citrus during an ice and snow storm, but not this. I have this nagging feeling that there's some secret I haven't figured out yet, like bananas are good for wrinkles or quick weight loss.)

Anyway, I was organizing my digital images today and thought it was time to haul out a few summery, flowery pictures to get us through this cold weather. Hope you enjoy the ones below! (And I'm terribly sorry, but I don't even have any pictures of bananas.)

I bought a pot of greenhouse-grown hydrangeas at Publix years ago and planted them beside my porch. The picture above shows how they bloomed last summer. Just love the color. You can tinker with the pH of your soil, you know, to make your hydrangeas bloom pink or blue.

Nothing says "summer" to me like lots and lots of bright green ferns on the porch or deck. An added bonus: wrens have built nests in mine for several years in a row. I have to put out "do not disturb" signs for any UPS or FedEx deliveries until the eggs hatch, but I don't mind, because I've gotten to see some of the babies make their first flights. Little birds seem to like making nests in plants that have long, arching, woody branches, so they can dart in and out as they feed their young.

Here's another porch-pot, this one filled with begonias. I like the heart-shaped leaves and pale pink flowers. They did well in part sun/part shade, and weren't bothered at all by pests or diseases. Wish I could say the same for the roses I keep trying to cultivate. They're plagued by black spot, which is a fungal disease that's tough to control in our humid, hot summers. I've finally given up on most modern rose varieties in favor of the so-called antique roses, which are just as beautiful and not nearly so demanding to grow.

This is a container I planted with "hot colors," which are really bold and bright, but I like them. The purples are petunias and the orange flowers are calibrachoa, which are also known as "million bells," because they bloom prolifically. They look like baby petunias and grow just as nicely. Few pests or problems with either of these plants.

Here's a summer-y quote to help see us through the cold weather:

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." - Albert Camus.

Inspiring words, aren't they? Almost enough to make up for those bananas.

The Nose Knows

2011-01-11T14:44:00.004-05:00

Come closer.

That's it. Don't be afraid. Get a teeny bit closer to your computer screen, so I can see you better. Or sniff you, I should say.

You see, doggies use their noses more than you human-types do. We can smell bones buried in the back yard, cookie crumbs dropped under the kitchen table, and the socks somebody lost behind the hamper in the laundry room. Ah, the power of the nose.

Today, I'm using my nose to check out all the snow that's fallen in the lady-writer's yard. We must have four or five inches here in the metro Atlanta area, enough to shut down some of the major highways and keep the grown-up humans indoors while the small humans run screaming out the door with boots and heavy gloves and trash can lids to use for sledding.

You people are so funny.

That's why we doggies love you.

Have a safe and fun snow day. I'll be on patrol in the neighborhood, digging a few holes through the ice and inhaling a nice, deep sniff every now and then. I'll let you know when I smell the thaw coming.

wags,

Miss Paws

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T15:42:00.005-05:00

Jan. 10, 2011: We've got snow! Atlanta seldom gets as much as we've seen in the last 24 hours, which is somewhere between 4 to 6 inches, and I'm loving it. Miss Paws went bouncing out into the backyard last night while it was still coming down, biting at the snow, digging in it, and even sledding. (Yes--Miss Paws would pounce up in the air and come down with her paws out in front, sliding on her belly down the hill, as her front feet pushed up the snow in front of her like a snow plow.)

Later she came inside and did this:

She was a tired puppy.

I had fun outdoors in the white stuff, too. Look at the strange creatures that I discovered in the woods behind my house:

Sno-cupine

Snow bugs, very resistant to bug sprays but can't handle the blast from a hairdryer.

Addicted to beads

2011-01-02T13:28:00.005-05:00

I just realized I'd better add another resolution to my New Year's list: I've got to do something with all the beads I've been ordering lately.

If you're not into beading--well, you better stay away from Etsy.com, because there are so many talented beaders selling their wares there, that you may find yourself getting addicted to this hobby, too. The handmade beads are my favs, whether they're lampworked glass, or made from ceramics or other materials.

This is a new pendant that I just ordered from a talented lady named Tracee Dock. Her Etsy site is called The Classic Bead, and it's packed with handmade pendants, beads, and more.

This piece is a seed pod; see the golden seeds peeking out of the blossom? There's an opening at the top so you can insert a chain or silk chord and make a necklace, which is what I plan to do. It seems fitting to make a piece of jewelry with something seed-related, since "seeds" appears in two of my book titles, and like Tracee, I'm fascinated by how so much beauty and promise are packed into seeds, which are really tiny genetic packages, if you think about it.

I've ordered from Tracee before, and I have several of her lovely focal beads that I'm planning to make into necklaces this year. I'll do a giveaway with them in a month or so, a little closer to the release of my new book, Little Mercies, as promotional items, so watch this space!

New Year's resolutions

2011-01-01T16:54:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year! Did you stay up late to see the new year in? I didn't make it that long. The sofa was calling my name, there was a soft pillow over my head, Miss Paws snuggled up beside me, and I drifted off sometime before the crystal ball in Times Square made its descent. That's okay. Saying good-bye to days past always makes me a little sad, anyway--although then again, there were a few days last year that I won't miss at all.

Now I'm sitting here with a 2011 calendar in hand, flipping through all those nice, clean pages and wondering what's ahead. I'm trying to make a couple of resolutions, too. Here's a line I found in a magazine the other day, and I liked it so much, I thought about making it a goal:

Look: see the world in a different way.

Don't you like that? Imagine seeing everything that's old and familiar in fresh, new ways, with beginner's eyes, so to speak. Time to wake up, I'm thinking, and feel some enthusiasm again for life.

Then there's this resolution that I haul out year after year--because I never achieve it:

Write more, eat less.

The self-motivation experts say that the key to reaching any goal, or keeping any resolution, is to make it very specific. For example, I should say, Write ten pages a day and stop eating chocolate chip cookies. That's specific. But honestly, that's not going to happen, at least not the cookie part.

So how about some small, specific resolutions like these, instead?

I will go on a picnic with my family at least once this spring.

I'll make some of those homemade fruit popsicles that I saved a recipe for years ago. And enjoy eating them on a hot summer day.

I'll start my day by reading my Bible and saying a prayer.

I'll take a walk at least 3 days a week. Maybe more. Miss Paws is pushing me on this.

I'll set some boundaries and try not to feel guilty when people ask me to take on more than I can reasonably handle.

But--I'll do what I can to love and help my neighbor.

I'd better stop. This is a pretty big list, after all, and if I can stick to even half of these, I'll be doing okay.

Blessings to you as you step into 2011!

Meet Miss Paws

2010-12-26T11:10:00.006-05:00

Merry day-after-Christmas! I got a very special gift this year: a new friend.

We had a Golden Retriever for many years, and I've missed her terribly since she passed away. Somehow I kept waiting for just the right time to get another pet--and then I saw an animal rescue organization called Angels Among Us on Facebook. If you're in the Atlanta area, check them out. They do great work, saving unwanted pets from kill shelters and housing them in foster homes until the pets can find their "forever families."

We were drawn to a photo of a sad-looking little black-and-white girl named Yoshi and read that she'd be available for viewing through Angels Among Us the next weekend. We drove to Alpharetta, GA to meet her and fell in love. Now we've re-named her Dixie, and because I'm a nickname fanatic, she has quickly also become known as Dixie Dog, Moondoggie, and Miss Dix.

But today I've decided to give her just one more nickname. She is already showing signs of being the perfect office assistant for a working writer (that is, she sleeps on my feet while I'm at the computer and keeps my toes warm).

So, gentle readers, I'm delighted to introduce you to my new assistant: Miss Paws!

Miss Paws is of mixed heritage, but we believe she is part Border Collie and part Corgi (the kind with tails). She's 25 pounds of sweetness, approximately 10 months to a year old, and full of energy. She's still doing some puppy-biting, but one of our Christmas gifts is a doggie training course that starts in January, so we hope to address that bitey-business soon.

Watch this blog for updates from her when I'm otherwise engaged or simply slipping off for a nap or other such important activity. She has promised to write a post from time to time, and if anyone out there would like to know more about the writing process, be sure to drop her a line here (that is, write a comment). Miss Paws will endeavor to answer your questions about writing, getting published, etc.

Trust me on this. Miss Paws will answer; she's a pretty fast typist. ;-)

The Spirit of the Season

2010-12-24T17:59:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas! I have a little gift for you, gentle readers: a story I wrote years ago for a magazine called First. I hope it shares a little of the spirit of the season.

Warm wishes for a blessed Christmas!
Lynn

(click on each image to enlarge for reading)

The Louse that Came for Christmas

2010-12-11T14:52:00.007-05:00

Okay...you're probably visiting my blog right now because you saw my post on Facebook earlier today. I posted that I had received, in the morning mail, not a handful of glittery, cheery, Christmas cards; not an early gift; not a box of yummy cookies--no, no.

I received--a giant head louse.

Yes.

'Louse,' if you're wondering, is the singular form of 'head lice', and of course the singular form is the only way any of us want to see these nasty, itchy pests.

And I'm not kidding. I really did get a head louse in the mail today. Take a look:

Yes, it's just a kid's toy, but how would you like to put your hand, unsuspecting, into a large manila envelope and pull out a giant bug? Its tag even describes it as "cuddly"--oh, please. Gentle readers, do any of you cuddle your head lice? Me neither.

I'm making jokes, but seriously, the stuffed louse came in a package along with a complimentary book for me to read and review. It's author Amy Stewart's newest, Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects (published by Algonquin Books, and available for purchase starting May 3, 2011).

Amy's new bug book is a follow-up to her New York Times bestseller, Wicked Plants, and both books are entertaining, informative, and just plain fun for gardeners (and if you're not a gardener, don't let that stop you. The chapter titles include "Zombies," "Bugs of War," and "She's Just Not That Into You." Aren't you itching, if you'll excuse the bed-bug pun, to know more?)

Amy's book is fascinating (even if it is making my skin crawl just a teeny bit). There are fine drawings to help you identify the bugs in your house or garden (you do know that insects outnumber us here on planet Earth, right?), along with fascinating facts and historical notes.

Did you know, for example, that "Over half a million English drivers have had a car accident caused by the distraction of a bug in the car"? Or that Germans believed American forces were dropping crop-destructive potato beetles into their fields during WWII?

You know, I'm beginning to warm up to my louse--the stuffed toy, I mean. He is kinda cute. And I'm learning a lot from Wicked Bugs. I'm just going to have to read it with the lights on, and with a big can of very strong bug spray by my bedside.

Socks on the floor are poetry

2010-11-21T15:12:00.008-05:00

I love this quote from the Nov. 2010 issue of Country Living Magazine:

"Clutter is the poetry of our homes. It is an intimate view that is not always perfect--a few dishes in the sink, books piled next to the bed. Everything in its place may give a certain satisfaction but a lived-in room exudes comfort and warmth." - Mary Randolph Carter, author of A Perfectly Kept House Is the Sign of A Misspent Life.

Now, don't you like that? Just this morning, we ran out the door to Sunday School, leaving the coffee to grow cold in its pot, and a couple of towels thrown over the edge of the shower. I meant to straighten my closet, but last night I just kicked off my shoes (again), instead of lining them up in neat little rows of sneaker, sneaker, sandal, sandal, and heels, heels. And I really do have a stack of books by my bed, nearly tall enough to use for an end table.

And you know what? I've decided it's okay, because having a less-than-perfect house is just like my less-than-perfect life, anyway, so we're a matched set. Besides, perfection just means more demands on my time and energy and resources. My house is clean (enough), even if it's not always picked up, and my family is happy (most of the time), and that's a lot to be thankful for in this season of giving thanks.

So thank you, Mary Randolph Carter, for sending out a little blessing to those of us who might leave the bed sheets rumpled and the dust bunnies under the fridge, but not without feeling guilty about it. Your words make me feel better. You remind me that it's more important to appreciate and enjoy the love and warmth and comfort of my home and family, than to keep the water-spots off the dishes. If I can get my priorities straight, it will be a lot easier for me to go out there and share that love and warmth with people who don't have it.

Anyway, I can always come home to pick up the socks on the floor. I'm absolutely sure that they'll be there.

Small Town Living has a giveaway!

2010-11-14T17:01:00.008-05:00

I've been fortunate to meet some really nice people since I wrote my gardening book. Tina Wilson is one of them. She emailed me awhile back, inviting me to have an online chat with some of the fans of her Small Town Living blog who also love flowers and veggies.

We did the chat one evening and had a great time, and I enjoy staying in touch and reading her updates on Facebook.

At Small Town Living, Tina has drawn together a virtual community of artists, writers, photographers, small business owners and others who share wonderful stories about everything organic and wholesome and good, and they focus on self-sufficiency.

You might find a story one day about making your own "green" cleaning products, raising chickens, or even helping your hubby find the courage to tackle the baby on the changing table---and face whatever's in the diaper.

Lately Tina has been offering some cool books as giveaways. Check out the one shown above. It's about all the cute things you can make for Christmas with felt.

Now, don't you want this book? I do, so I left a comment on Tina's blog about my favorite holiday song. You can do the same, and she'll enter you in a drawing. Just click here.

I'm wishing you good luck---but not too much. ;-)

First frost

2010-11-08T17:35:00.004-05:00

The heat wave here in Atlanta had to end sometime, and since we had our first killing frost last night, I think--I hope--it's safe to say that fall is really here. (Not that we're ever sure. The weather-guy is already calling for daytime temps back in the 70s later this week.)

When I left home this morning, all I saw in the little flower bed by my front door were shriveled, blackened stumps where marigolds and petunias had stood. But at lunchtime, I went out to the woods for a little break and saw masses of pink flowers--azaleas were blooming, apparently the Encore variety. Gorgeous and eyecatching, in the somber landscape.

Encores are cold hardy through USDA zone 6, I've read, and should survive the winter even if planted in containers. Lush and lovely as they are, and as much as I'd enjoy them in the spring, I just don't see them as fall flowers. I think it's the colors and frills. I'm crazy about pink, but it's just not an autumnal color, and to me, it clashes with the golds and browns and scarlets of the season. Then again, wouldn't these be fabulous if they bloomed really late in the winter/early in the spring, when we're hungry for some color when the trees are bare? Think I may try a couple of these shrubs after all.

Try a "cuppa" pumpkin latte

2010-11-06T14:19:00.006-04:00

Brrr! After weeks--literally, some 90+ days in a row--of temps over 90 degrees in the ATL, it's finally feeling like fall. The thermometer showed 32 degrees this morning, and it hasn't warmed up much, so I've been brewing hot tea all day. Until now.

I just found a recipe for pumpkin latte posted on artist's Susan Branch's site (that's www.SusanBranch.com). I'm about to try this, 'cause it looks yum!

Pumpkin Latte
2 heaping T. canned pumpkin
1 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
hot coffee, decaf or espresso
hot milk

Into a large mug, put first 4 ingredients. Till cup halfway with coffee and stir well. Fill rest of cup with hot milk and whisk. Top with whipped cream and dust with nutmeg.

The recipe doesn't give a calorie count, which is just as well, if you're topping it off with whipped cream! Enjoy!

p.s.--Thanks to Kathryn for suggesting that I post recipes from time to time. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Hawk Talk CBS Positively Georgia

2010-10-30T10:31:00.002-04:00

The economy has hurt everyone lately, but non-profits and small charities are really suffering. My friend Monteen McCord, who lives in Georgia, is a Master Falconer, and holds state and federal licenses to rehabilitate wild birds like hawks, falcons, and eagles. She's seen a severe drop-off in giving. Take a look at this video clip, which ran on CBS-TV in Atlanta, and check out her website, at www.hawktalk.org. I'm crazy about the good work she does to help creatures of the wild!

New friends and a mustard plant

2010-09-29T17:39:00.004-04:00

This has been a great week for making new friends. On Sunday, I met a wonderful group from Providence United Methodist Church, who treated me to a delish Southern-style lunch: a buffet at the historic Green Manor Restaurant in Union City, GA.

The ladies had read and discussed my book, Mustard Seeds, and presented me with my very own potted mustard plant to take home! Thank you all again. Here's a photo--not of my plant, but of one that's very similar:

And yes, to answer a question that comes up a lot, you really can grow mustard here in the South (and across the U.S.), and it can be both ornamental and edible. My new plant is an annual, but I'll enjoy it indoors, by a sunny window.

Mustard plants also come in red-purple varieties, which are great colors for a fall garden, and especially beautiful as the weather starts to turn. You can find seeds for sale at local nurseries and garden centers, or buy potted plants like mine.

I'm surprised how often people tell me that they've never eaten mustard, especially here in the South, where we eat a lot of garden greens. Then again, maybe mustard is an acquired taste, because it can be pungent. If you're willing to try it, toss the raw mustard leaves in your fresh salads. It's also good, if a big stronger-tasting, when cooked and seasoned as you'd do with any other kind of edible greens, like spinach or turnips.

Thank you again, new friends from Providence, for the gift of the plant, the lunch, and the wonderful conversation.

Thanks, too, to the Georgian Garden Club of Villa Rica. I visited last night and read a devotional from Mustard Seeds (which is a collection of essays about faith, not gardening, in case anybody is confused by now). I couldn't have had a warmer reception, and I enjoyed the delicious mango-passionfruit tea you served--can't wait to try it again!

2010-09-29T16:59:00.005-04:00

Found this on YouTube and just had to share it. It's so cat-like!

Talk about "Bittersweet"

2010-09-19T11:30:00.003-04:00

Of all my faults, jealousy has never been a biggie. I'm genuinely happy to see other writers publish fine books that inspire and encourage.

But recently, I have to admit that my heart has turned just a bit green with envy. Shauna Niequist has released her second book, Bittersweet, from Zondervan, and it's wonderful.

The notion of bittersweetness, as Niequist says, is "the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a sliver of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak."

Such truth in that statement, and it's so beautifully expressed. Sigh. Even while I celebrate her wonderful book, I look at my own books and long to write even more deeply, more beautifully.

But enough about envy, that useless emotion. If you're looking for a book about finding God and grace even in the midst of sorrow and loss, Bittersweet will lift your spirits, and I highly recommend it.

Niequist writes of the disappointments she's faced in her young life; lost jobs; a beloved grandmother's death; and her miscarriages, lacing each essay in her book with evocative, sensory details, like her description of the peppery bite of arugula salad garnished with sweet blueberries. Her book is honest and open, and behind each event that she faces, the reader feels that Niequist keeps turning to God to restore and renew her faith.

My only criticism is the sense that Niequist lives a more priviledged life than many readers, as she discusses her trips and vacations, dinner parties, supportive family and friends, and yoga classes. Too much of this can be a roadblock, especially for older readers who have lost life-long jobs or even homes, to foreclosure, in today's economy. I see it over and over again at my church, and in the passers-by who come to our church doors asking for assistance or just a place to stay overnight. Today, many people lack the kinds of resources and helps that Niequist can turn to.

But Niequist reminds us that we do have God, and our faith, and like her, we can learn to reveal in life's bittersweet moments, celebrating the good things, and grateful for the grace from above that covers the rest.

Stop me before I bead again

2010-08-14T13:20:00.007-04:00

Okay, this is getting serious; maybe I need an intervention.

I'm getting addicted to beading. If you haven't heard about "beading," it means that you make your own jewelry (or items that you sell to others), using semi-precious gemstones, pearls, or even cheap glass beads. You can use handmade beads of polymer clay, lampworked glass, and other materials, and add anything else to your creations, like tiny charms, stamped metal discs, vintage buttons, silk ribbons, chains, and so on.

I'm loving this hobby, but you really have to watch out, or you'll go head-over-heels for the expensive stuff. I've found lots of handmade beads on Etsy that I can hardly resist. At least anything goes, when it comes to designing a necklace or bracelet. Beaders mix rough-textured pieces with Swarovski crystals; sterling silver charms with marbled glass beads in swirly colors, and much more.

Yesterday I looked through a book about making lampwork beads, but then I caught myself. To make glass-type beads, you need lots of equipment, like a kind of blow torch--way beyond my skills and way, way beyond my budget.

For now, I'm sticking to reasonably-priced things I can order online (okay, the cheap stuff), and clipping coupons for Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I got a whole bag of seed beads, which are tiny, multi-colored glass bits, for a couple of dollars, and there are enough in one bag to make several pieces.

Here's a pix of one of my first attempts at a necklace.

Granted, it's a hodge-podge of elements. I used a bronze-looking butterfly charm and a brass leaf pendant--and there are green glass beads mixed with crystals and seed beads in shades of amber, topaz, and brown--and I'm not sure it's pleasing to the eye when you mix THAT many kinds of materials AND have an asymmetrical design, too. But it so far I like it, 'cause it's sparkly and I love the colors.

Little Mercies - my new book

2010-07-18T10:12:00.006-04:00

I'm excited--my publisher just posted the cover for my new book, Little Mercies, which releases in March 2011.

2010-06-22T18:00:00.006-04:00

Okay, I know the image you're looking at looks a little strange, but bear with me. It comes from a really fun website that I just discovered called Spoonflower.

Spoonflower is an online shop that lets you upload your own fabric designs and turn them into fabric. Prices vary, depending on how much fabric you want to purchase, and what kind, but you can choose from 100% cotton (that's a low-end choice, at about $18 a yard) to silky-textured cotton lawn, to a combination linen-cotton canvas (for about $27/yard). There's an organic cotton interlock knit that would work well for soft baby clothes and t-shirts, and an upholstery-weight twill that you could turn into posters, banners, tote bags, draperies, and lots more.

If you're not feeling particularly artsy, you can customize a fabric with one of the many designs that other users have uploaded to sell. Sounds something like Etsy, in terms of buying and selling handicrafts.

I haven't tried Spoonflower yet, so I can't vouch for it personally, but I love the creative possibilities it offers!

http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2010-06-20T11:30:00.005-04:00

This new movie from the C.S. Lewis books, The Chronicles of Narnia, looks great. It's called The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and it debuts at Christmas.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2010-06-20T10:22:00.003-04:00

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Earth to Table - a book review

2010-06-19T16:41:00.003-04:00

Let me admit it right up front: I'm a pushover for a beautiful book cover. If a new book jacket features lush photography or an intriguing design, I usually can't pass it up. (That's the one downside of my Kindle. You still get to see the covers of the books you buy in e-format, but they're in washed out shades of gray. Not very appealing.)

So that explains how I happened across a new book by Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann called Earth to Table: Seasonal Recipes from an Organic Farm.

Crump and Schormann, according to the jacket flap, are chefs and members of the slow food movement, which is an international effort to preserve regional and traditional cuisine. Slow "foodies" also support local farming and livestock practices. There's a political element to their movement, in that members want to raise awareness about the dangers of depending on too few genomes and varieties in our food supply, and that's one reason it interests me. I'm convinced that we need to save our heirloom food and flower varieties, and not let them disappear because big corporations control what kinds of seeds and plants we can buy.

Slow foodies also encourage organic gardening, as opposed to the use of potentially dangerous pesticides, and remind us that the opposite of "slow food," which is fast food, isn't a particularly good nutritional choice for most of us.

But back to the book. Turns out it's as beautiful on the inside as the outside. The book is packed with how-to tips on such things as creating a compost pile, canning and preserving, and planting an herb garden. Each chapter also contains seasonal recipes, so you can best use whatever is growing in your garden at any given time of year.

I won't use everything I read about in this book; I can't see myself gathering and preparing a dish of stinging nettles for my family, for example, and no matter how luscious some wild mushrooms may appear, I'm not going harvest my own for the table. I've read too many warnings about how poisonous 'shrooms can mimic the kind that are safe to eat.

But there's plenty more that I can use, like a recipe for a refreshing watermelon drink sweetened with honey and tarted up with lime. I'm already planning to make a Chez Panisse recipe from the book that makes corn soup with fresh corn, garlic, white wine vinegar, chicken stock, and freshly cracked black pepper. Sounds delicious served with cayenne pepper sprinkled on top.

There's a recipe for a beet salad made with heirloom beets, feta, and pumpkin seeds, and one for roasted autumn fruits.

I also enjoyed reading the profiles of heirloom cooks, dairymen and women, and farmers. Makes me determined to eat more local and seasonal foods, not only to benefit the economy in my area, but also to improve the quality and taste of the meals I serve my family!

"Lord, make me see Thy glory in every place" - Michelangelo

Fairies in the garden

2010-06-17T17:24:00.008-04:00

(I took this picture of Tinkerbell-as-topiary at the 2010 International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot in Orlando, FL. Yes, she is way too big to fit into one of the fairy houses discussed in this post!)

Can you remember your first garden? I've loved gardening since I was a little girl, when I would visit my grandmother and follow her around the yard as she watered her dinner-plate sized dahlias and beds of rainbow-colored irises.

Back home, to entertain myself during the long, hot summers when school was out, I'd dig up little scraps of moss from the woods and re-plant them in the soft dirt under my swing set, where there was enough shade for them to survive. Eventually some of the other kids in my neighborhood got into the act, too, and we'd transplant all kinds of weeds and grasses and even little wildflowers, pretending we were making our own forests and gardens under that old swing. Sounds goofy now, but it kept us occupied for hours, and best of all, that kind of play didn't cost a dime!

Recently I found a book on Amazon that revived my interest in playing with tiny plants and other natural materials. It's called Fairy Houses...Everywhere!, and it's one of several books in a series written by Tracy and Barry Kane. The pictures are wonderful, and will inspire you to all sorts of whimsical, magical little houses in your own backyard. You can use whatever you have on hand, from river rocks to seashells, acorns, pine bark, and yes, even patches of moss!

Makes me want to go outside and play in the dirt again...and that's not a bad thing at all...

2010-06-16T15:35:00.004-04:00

Finally, my pink petunias are looking good! I've had terrible luck with them the last two years; I put them in hanging baskets on my porch and enjoyed them for only a short time before some mysterious petunia-plague killed every last one.

Both times my petunias failed, they were the Wave types, which really puzzled me, because Waves are usually dependable and virtually carefree. But I had only a month to enjoy mine before the plants started to wilt and droop. They seemed to die almost one at a time, until I had to toss the entire basket. Sometimes, those kinds of problems are due to over-watering, but these baskets drained nicely, and besides, I was careful not to give them too much.

After reading some posts on the Web, I'm inclined to think now that my petunias simply came down with some sort of incurable fungus, and because I planted the second year in the same baskets, without sterilizing them, the fungus probably overwintered and killed the next batch I put in there. This spring, I started with fresh potting soil, clean baskets, the whole nine yards, and ta -da! It's June, and so far, so good--still lots of pretty, pink, healthy blooms.

Next year I'm going to sow some heirloom petunias in the beds around my porch and really compare how they grow and thrive, to the hybrid varieties. I know I probably won't plants with the same compact forms, but maybe their disease-resistance will make it for it.

Also, I just read an interesting tidbit from a county extension agent with the North Dakota service: did you know that 99.4% of the petunias sold on the market are now hybrids? That means that if you collect the seeds for planting next year, you'll get a mixed result--the baby petunias won't necessarily look like their parents. Remember all that stuff you learned about Gregor Mendel in high school, with his experiments in genetics? Hybrids are crosses of different kinds of petunias, so their seeds do not grow "true to type," and you may get baby petunias that look like one of the parents used to create them. That may or may not be what you want! So if you're saving seeds, get heirloom petunias to start with, and you can grow them year after year.

June flowers

2010-06-14T14:42:00.003-04:00

I knew my gardenia bush was blooming before I even saw it, because I could smell the perfume of the flowers from my porch last week.
I love June--that's when my gardenias put on their best show.

Fortunately, these beautiful white flowers don't seem to be bothered by pests or diseases, even in our hot, humid weather.

These purple petunias and orange blossoms are in a big pot on my front porch. The heat hasn't slowed them down at all. The picture on the right shows how they're planted alongside scarlet red geraniums--love the "hot" color combination.

And this little turtle has been wandering around in my garden for several days; as you can see, he's burrowed into some pine straw here. I wondered why he was hanging around, since we've been feeding some kittens in the yard--until we caught him eating the dry cat food one day. Who knew?

"We give thanks to thee, O God; we give thanks; we call on thy name and recount thy wondrous deeds." Psalm 75:1.

Hydrangeas

2010-06-06T12:40:00.006-04:00

This week-end is the 3rd annual Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville, GA, and the hydrangeas have been more beautiful this summer than in years and years. Maybe the heavy rains we had several months ago got them "plumped up" and ready to bloom, or maybe it was the late spring temperatures, which were cold, but not freezing. Anyway, they are gorgeous!

This is a lace-cap, in case you aren't familiar with hydrangeas. The larger flower, shown above, is a mophead type.

You can modify the pH level in your soil to change the color of your hydrangea flowers, but I've never tried it. I like these just the way they are!

By the way, if you're looking for a source for hydrangeas, one of the best nurseries I've found is Wilkerson Mill Gardens, in Palmetto, GA (I am not affiliated with them in any way, and actually, I haven't visited there in several years. But when I used to go regularly, they were great.)

They have a wide selection of unusual and hard to find plants, and they take good care of them, so you don't pay hard-earned money to get your plants home and find them root-bound or sickly. They also know their stuff and can answer your questions. Wilkerson Mill doesn't ship plants during the summer months, but I think they'll resume shipping in September or when the temperatures cool down. Check out their website for lots of helpful how-to-grow information. http://www.hydrangea.com/

Memorial Day - Remembering Those Who Serve

2010-05-31T12:11:00.000-04:00

Thank you, servicemen and women, for your sacrifices. We honor you on this Memorial Day.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae (1872-1918), published in 1919

A hummingbird takes a bath

2010-04-23T17:01:00.002-04:00

I'd read about it, but I'd never seen it happen--a hummingbird took a bath in my garden today. Actually, he took a shower under my garden hose. I was very gently watering some new plants when a ruby-throated little guy buzzed in and sat down on a garden stake. As I held the hose overhead, he stayed there, fluttering his wings over and over, obviously enjoying a refreshing rinse and probably getting some of the spring pollen out of his feathers. Too cool! He left after 2 or 3 minutes, but stayed long enough for me to get a good look at his bright red throat and to enjoy watching his enjoy the shower!

The photo above isn't "my" hummingbird, but it does show the beautiful scarlet colors of the same kind of bird that visited my flowers.

Guest blog for UNC Press

2010-04-01T17:54:00.003-04:00

Thinking about your spring garden? Take a look at my post for the University of North Carolina Press. I'm honored to be their guest blogger today, talking about growing some of my favorite plants! Just click on the link below:

University of NC Press Blog

2010-03-29T19:14:00.000-04:00

More pretty pix from the Epcot flower and garden fest...I like these "hot" colors!

Petunias were everywhere.

Love the topiaries, too.

Spring at Epcot

2010-03-27T13:20:00.002-04:00

Just got back from Epcot's 2010 International Flower and Garden Festival in Orlando--wow! I was invited to speak at their "Great American Gardeners" series, and in between my talks (the weekend of March 19-22), I kept running outside to check out the flowers.

Epcot is always beautifully landscaped, but coming from the gray, cloudy weather we've had here in Georgia, where it's raining and chilly, and going outside under the blue Florida skies to "oooh" and "aaahh" over the pansies and impatiens and Gerbera daises and roses--well, it was just incredible. Really a lift to my spirit after the long winter. It also made me want to fly home and head straight to the garden center, but it's still too early here--gotta wait at least until mid-April to be sure we're past the possibility of a late frost.

Here are some of the pix we made during our trip. One of them shows me on the speakers' stage, surrounded by a few of the many heirloom plants the Disney horticulturists grew for me, just for my presentations. The Disney/Epcot crew was great, by the way--nice, friendly folks with awesomely green thumbs!

I'll post a few more pictures over the next few days. And check back, and I'll share some info a gardener named Greg told me about an heirloom watermelon. It's called 'Scaly Bark,' and while I'd never heard of it before, I want to try it now (in spite of its strange name).

Okay for now..enjoy the pictures!

This big green guy is positioned near-- what else? The butterfly gardens and exhibit!

You probably recognize Tinkerbell, part of the Disney gardening magic.

Finally--for now--here's wha I'm calling my Mouscar - that's "mouse" + "Oscar". I couldn't be more proud if I'd actually won the golden Oscar in Hollywood. The Epcot gardeners gave him to me at the conclusion of the event. Isn't he cute?

A hint of spring

2010-02-21T10:31:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe, since we had 4 inches of snow here in Atlanta just about a week ago, but today the thermometer is supposed to hit 65 degrees. It's enough to give you spring fever, although of course chilly March is still ahead. In 1993, we had our "blizzard of the century," with over 10 inches of ice and snow falling in the metro area on March 13. So today's warm temps are just a tease. Cold weather is bound to return before spring really, finally arrives.

Still, I'm already hearing birdsong outdoors and seeing the green shoots of bulbs appearing around my yard. I also seem to have a bumper crop of wild onions in the lawn this year, sigh...I don't mind going natural in the landscape, but the onions grow really fast and make the grass look scraggly.

Speaking of onions--this week I treated myself to a subscription to Organic Gardening magazine, which has a fairly new editor, I believe, and looks better than ever. There's an article in this month's issue about grilling scallions, which are either young onions or a species called A. fistulosum, a perennial bunching type. They're nice plants, practically pest-free and resistant to diseases.

If you want to grow scallions from seed, you can start them indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the date of the average last-frost in your area. Give them another 4-5 weeks to form a good root clump, then set the young scallions outside in rows 1 foot apart, spacing them every 8 inches.

Or you can start the seeds directly outdoors, sowing 1/2" deep in rows 1 foot apart, 3-4 weeks before the last frost in your region. Thin them to an inch apart when the seedlings shoot up, and sow again every 3 weeks throughout the summer to have a steady supply.

Now here's the best part: eating them. Organic Gardening recommends tying your picked scallions in bunches and drizzling them with a little oil before grilling them on your grill. Put the bundles sideways on the grate, so they don't slip through into the coals. Yum. Guess I've jumped right from a touch of spring into summer, because nothing says "summer" like a outdoor cookout.

Meditation gardens

2010-02-15T13:16:00.000-05:00

There's a retreat coming up soon for the women of my church, which has made me think about adding a spot in my garden that could be used for a sort of backyard spiritual retreat. Recently I saw this meditation-type design outside a restaurant near Chattanooga, TN.

There's something comforting to me in the symmetry of the circle, and I like how they've planted rosemary around the ring, to have something green and blooming--and even scented--all through the winter.

Now is a good time to look around the yard, while the leaves are off the trees and the shrubs are pruned back, to find a place to add a bench. I'm thinking you could add other things to a meditation garden, too, like a small statue, a water feature like a fountain or pond, and some shrubbery or small trees to form the walls of an outdoor "room," so you'd have a little privacy. A chair would be great, too, so you could take a book to read if you're so inclined.

Snow bunnies - Atlanta gets snow!

2010-02-13T17:36:00.002-05:00

As you can see, snow bunnies arrived in Atlanta today, along with a snowfall of about 4 inches of the fluffy white stuff. We Southerners were so excited--we never get snow, and by noon, it was already melting.

Because I knew the snow would soon drip away into puddles, I immediately put some lettuce leaves out on our deck, hoping to coax out a rare and seldom-seen garden snow bunny. Success! He arrived almost at once.

I watched patiently for a long time. I discovered that snow bunnies move very slowly. (In fact, I'm not sure they move at all.)

Then--amazingly--another snow bunny arrived! It's obviously the lettuce...they can't resist. Must grow more in my garden this spring.

In an ill-fated attempt to make the snow bunny feel at home, I ...well, I tried to dress him up a little. Brighten his fur against all that white snow, and that sort of thing. Alas, a bottle of blue food coloring does not make great polka dots. And snow bunnies do not dye well.

Do not try this at home.

In spite of everything, at the end of the day, all was well. The snow bunnies seemed to go on a diet (at least, I suppose that's what happened. As the sun grew higher in the sky, they were definitely beginning to look a little slimmer. They never touched my lettuce.)

I suspect they will hop away to their hidden homes sometime during the night, and I'll have to wait for another seldom-seen Georgia snowfall before they return. For now, it's all blue skies above my garden. And a little blue snow-bunny is out there, somewhere....

Snow in almost 50 states?

2010-02-12T15:44:00.002-05:00

The national weather service says that today might set a record, with snow falling or on the ground in almost all 50 states (Hawaii is the holdout)! I'm watching it come down here in the metro Atlanta area like crazy. Temps have been above freezing this week, though, so it probably won't stick to the streets--at least, not until it's get dark and the thermometer plunges into the twenties, as they're predicting.

And to think that I have bulbs poking up from the ground already! Not to mention the usual crop of wild onions already appearing in the lawn.

Guess I'll have to do what all gardeners do when the weather fails to cooperate: warm up a mug of hot chocolate, find a good book, and sit down to relax.

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

2010-02-08T18:59:00.002-05:00

I'm really looking forward to this year's International Flower and Garden Festival, which will be held at Epcot in Orlando, FL.

I'll be there as a speaker for Epcot's Great American Gardener series. The park's horiculturists are already planning to "grow out" many of the beautiful heirloom veggies and flowers I'll discuss (and I'll appreciate having the plants already set up around the speaker's stage. Can you imagine trying to travel with a pot of petunias or zinnias? If you can't make it through security with more than an ounce of, say, mouthwash, I don't think I'd make it onto the plane with a bag of delicious Italian frying peppers or a box of heirloom tomatoes).

Hope you can join me at Epcot on March 19-21. I'll speak twice daily, at noon and three pm. Think spring!

Cover for a Kindle

2010-02-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

Much to Amazon's credit, they emailed me a couple of weeks ago with instructions about what to if my Kindle DX had cracked because of the hard cover I'd bought for it. It had indeed, because the hinges on the cover somehow force open the case if you accidentally open it from the back. I was impressed that Amazon sent me a new Kindle right away and refunded the money I'd spent on the cover.

But now that I have a nice, new Kindle again, I'm back to square one. What kind of cover should I get? It looks like Amazon hasn't changed their leather cover design (the one with the hinges), so I could easily damage my device again if I re-purchase the same thing. Has anybody out there bought a zip-type Kindle case? Are you happy with it? I'll post your remarks here, if that's okay....I need suggestions!

2010 Southeastern Flower Show

2010-01-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

Sad to say, but the 2010 Southeastern Flower Show, which has always been a premiere gardening event here in Atlanta, has been downsized--like the rest of the economy, I supposed. The show has been cut back to just three days this year, Feb. 4 - 6. Advance purchase tickets are $15, although there are discounts for seniors, twilight admission, and other categories.

I'll be curious to hear the presentation on a sensory garden that's scheduled for Saturday; it promises to tell you how to plant for touch, scent, sight, taste, and fragrance. And I'm hoping to see the one on "chickens in the garden"--sounds kinda fun, although I don't foresee adding any hens or roosters to my too-close-to-the-city spaces anytime soon!

2010-01-17T19:23:00.003-05:00

Night temps were in the teens last week, and today it's rainy but near 60 degrees--yep, this must be Atlanta. If you don't like the weather, give it 24 hours (or less), and everything will change.

There was even a little sunshine last Friday, enough to make people yank off their coats, put on their sunglasses, and look up at the sky, basking in all that nice warmth. Ahhh....

Then I got a list of the plants that the fantastic horticulturists at Epcot are already growing, to prepare for my talk there in March. I'll be there for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, discussing heirloom flowers and veggies, on March 19-21

The gardening gurus at Epcot have ordered heirloom seeds, so they can grow exactly what I'll be discussing, and the names of these plants are enough to make a gardener swoon: Pansy Carmel Spice; Sweet Pea Wedding Blush; Zinnia Ol' Mexico.

But there are lots of veggies, too, like old-timey Watermeloon Moon and Stars, Christmas Lima, Hidatsa Bean, and Arikara Yellow Bean. I'm crossing my fingers that the recent cold snap in Florida doesn't keep any of the seeds from sprouting--even though they're growing in greenhouses, it's been terribly cold there.

A couple more days of this mild weather, and I'll be rummaging through the garden shed, wanting to do something to get the garden started--but it's way too wet now, because all our snow and ice has melted. Soon, though....soon!

Snow!

2010-01-08T12:40:00.001-05:00

Snow in Atlanta! Although the western part of the city, where I live, only got a half-inch or so, snow is rare here. Seems when our temperatures drop, the fair weather comes in, and when it's warm, that's when we get precipitation. That's a "snow lump" you're seeing in this post; we didn't get quite enough of the white stuff to make a decent snowman!

Elsewhere in the yard, the pansies in my window boxes look like they're asleep under a snowy blanket, but because they're cold hardy in zones 4-8, they should revive and perk back up when the sun comes out again. I love pansies--it's like they have their own built-in antifreeze system.

Most gardeners buy pansy plants to set out in early spring, but if you have room to start seeds indoors, you might want to try a new "designer variety" offered by Harris Seeds (www.harrisseeds.com). It's called 'Midnight Sun,' and it looks gorgeous--all velvety maroon, gold and brick-red blooms. These pansy seeds are pricer than most, at about $11 for a packet of 250, but you can get lots more plants by raising them from seeds than buying those six-packs at the nursery.

Stay warm!

Planting Roses

2009-12-30T20:30:00.002-05:00

If you're a member of an electrical membership co-op here in Georgia, you should be getting a new issue of Georgia Magazine in the mail very soon. Hope you'll read my article about planting bare-root roses at this time of year.

Cold weather gives us a window for getting these dormant plants into the ground, so they can develop strong roots and get established for the coming growing season. (Georgia gardeners can certainly plant roses later, in the spring and early summer, but once our temperatures start to climb, you'll have to work harder to keep them mulched and properly watered.)

Today I received an email from Jordan Farm and Nursery in Warthen, Georgia, reminding me that while you can find the roses mentioned in the magazine in "big box" garden centers, you really shouldn't miss shopping at our smaller, local nurseries. They're often able to give their stock more attention, so you get plants that have been carefully handled and that are more likely to grow and perform for you. The bigger stores that sell plants don't always specialize in them--and besides, it's good for our local economies to shop at local merchants and support our smaller businesses.

Check out the Jan. 2010 issue of Georgia Magazine to get the "how-to" of planting bare root roses. The weather may be cold right now, but spring will be here before you know it, so plan ahead for a summer filled with beautiful blooms!

Time for a new terrarium

2009-11-06T18:05:00.004-05:00

Maybe it's because it's autumn, and there's not much going on in my garden right now, but I've suddenly gotten interested in terrariums again. I say "again" because I remember having a fling (so to speak) with them back in the 80s (maybe they were trendy then). Anyway, I know I had one once, and I remember using the wrong kind of charcoal in the bottom, so my poor little bottle-bound plants eventually got too wet and soggy and died in their glass enclosure.

But lately I've spotted some cute little terrariums on Etsy.com, and today I stumbled across a new book by gardening author Tovah Martin. It's called The New Terrarium, and it looks lovely. Here's the cover:

Think I will go slow this time. Over the weekend, I hope to hunt around in the local Goodwill shop for a couple of interesting looking old bottles or glass bowls with lids. Then I'll find a nice, green patch of moss in my woods and carefully dig it up and plant it in my containers--with the right kind of charcoal and pebbles at the bottom this time. for proper drainage. If all goes well, I might get more adventurous and try some of the exotic plantings like the ones in Tovah's book!

Faith, Hope, Love, and Knitting

2009-11-01T16:44:00.006-05:00

Fall makes me ready to try knitting again. I say "try," because so far, I'm not very good at this craft. I can't seem to get the tension of my stitches right, and the first dishcloth I knitted came out big enough to be a bath towel instead. Now I'm in the process of unraveling it so I can try again.

Wish I had someone to sit beside me and guide me as I learn, but there don't seem to be any classes in my small town. I'm reading a couple of books instead, but it's still hard to get the right rhythm going in your hands--at least for me.

The other day I was browsing in the bookstore when I spotted a beautiful new book called Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting by master knitter Lorna Miser.

I've got a coupon, so I'm going back to get it soon. Even if I can't replicate all the beautiful patterns in it, I can still enjoy the pictures and imagine how soft and nice the yarn feels in your fingers.

The power of plants

2009-10-19T15:26:00.014-04:00

There's no denying that plants have a certain power over us. A serene, green setting helps calm and quiet the mind. The bold, hot colors of neon-pink hibiscus and bougainvillea feel exciting, exotic and tropical. An all-white garden evokes purity and innocence.

But plants have more than power over our senses; they also influence our very lives. Think about it. The madness to discover new varieties has driven explorers to search the world for new plants, while doctors have devoted themselves to experimenting with leaves and bark to create life-saving medicines. Beautiful flowers have inspired artists, poets, and authors. Vegetables and fruits have been intricately linked to science, deadly poisons, wars, romance, and even state fairs and fairy tales.

Because plants have so much power, the publishing division at National Geographic has just produced an absolutely gorgeous new book to celebrate them. Take a look at this cover:

My copy is in the mail, and I can't wait for it to arrive. Flora Mirabilis, which means, "many flowers," will be available wherever books are sold.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the book, and with permission, I'm sharing an excerpt from it here. Enjoy this list of the most influential plants in the world (click on the image to enlarge it):

"TOP TEN PLANTS THAT SHAPED THE WORLD," by Catherine Herbert Howell, author of “FLORA MIRABILIS: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty,” National Geographic, October 2009

Gone From These Woods

2009-09-16T06:11:00.026-04:00

Congratulations, Donny!

I'm happy to tell you that my fellow author, Donny Bailey Seagraves, has just published her first children's novel, and it's a winner.

GONE FROM THESE WOODS is the story of Daniel, a young boy who goes hunting for the very first time with his beloved uncle and the tragic consequences that follow. Donny, a Southerner who lives in Georgia, understands how hunting fits into our culture and history, and she's a skillful writer who really captures the voice of her young protagonist.

This is a message story that never preaches, which is the best kind. It's also one that every young adult can and should read.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Donny, whose picture is shown below, about her inspiration for GONE FROM THESE WOODS. Here is our conversation. Enjoy!

(Author's photo: Barry Mobley, photographer)

1. Donny, you're a native Southerner, where guns and hunting are often part of the rural life. What was it like for you as a child, growing up in this kind of culture?

I wasn't a hunter, so I never participated in this Southern tradition, though I was very much aware of the hunters around me. In the first chapter of GFTW, Daniel recalls coming upon Dad and Uncle Clay skinning a rabbit and he is traumatized by this sight. My inspiration for this scene was a real life incident that happened when I was a little girl. I was playing in my back yard and for some reason decided to look over the fence into the back yard of our next door neighbors. I saw the man who lived there skinning a rabbit and I've never forgotten that scene. I decided to give my character, Daniel, that same reaction. So basically, I grew up in that hunting culture, but I never became a part of it. Still, I do understand the part it played in our history and also what it means to those who practice what is now a sport rather than a necessity for most hunters today.

2. Early in the story, Uncle Clay tells Daniel that he'll get over those "Easter Bunny" feelings when he shoots his first rabbit. Since the Easter Bunny is a symbol of childhood, is he saying that a boy has to learn to shoot and even kill, in order to become a man? Or am I reading too much symbolism into this scene?

GFTW has been called a coming of age story and there are some symbols and themes there. With hunting being a family tradition for the fictional Sartains, of course what Clay says to his nephew can be viewed as symbolic. But this is just this one characters' words and point of view. If you read Daniel's words and listen to his thoughts, it becomes apparent that he doesn't buy into this. Still, after the end of the first chapter, he must grow up, to some extent, to survive.

3. It can be a stretch for an adult to write in a child's voice, but you do it beautifully. But how hard was it for you to write as a male?

VERY hard! When I decided to write this story, I considered how to "tell" it. After much thought, I knew that it had to be told in first person from Daniel's point of view. I wondered if I could do it. And then I decided to go for it. I used the memory of growing up with my younger brother, Mike, and of raising my son, Greg, and I observed my nephew, Joseph, when he visited, and the two boys down the street, Brian and Michael. I also gave Daniel some of my own thoughts and feelings. To do this, I imagined what I would do and how I would feel if I were in his situation. For me it was like playing an acting role. Every thought, feeling and action in the book is filtered through this young boy. It was the hardest "role" I've ever played, but I do like a challenge.

Donny's furry collaborator on GONE FROM THESE WOODS

4. When Daniel and his dad go out to cut a Christmas tree together, Dad mentions hunting--and then quickly stops and says that he probably shouldn't talk about that subject. Is avoiding talking about a tragedy like this the right way to handle it?

Probably not, but Dad is certainly not good at handling much of anything, if you judge by his words and actions in GFTW. Even though he is portrayed as a "bad guy" in the book, he still struggles with his own feelings of grief after his brother dies. I think he also realizes on some level that this is not a subject to talk about with his son. I would always urge anyone who experiences a tragedy to talk about it rather than bury it or ignore it.

5. How does Daniel's counselor try to help him by sharing her comic books? Is there something we can learn from what she's doing, if we want to reach out to someone else?

She's trying to find common ground with the troubled student and senses that sharing comic books will make him feel at ease and make it easier to talk to him. This is certainly one way to reach out to someone else.

6. Who or what does Daniel really encounter in the woods the day he goes into the woods with the gun?

He encounters himself, of course, and his guilt. He also finds his strength and courage. During his years of idolizing his uncle and looking up to him like a father figure he has internalized his uncle. And it's this "uncle inside him" that helps him get through the trauma of what has happened earlier in the story and brings him through this scene.

7. How does Daniel find the courage to say what he says to his dad near the end of the book?

He has grown and matured after the tragedy that happens near the beginning of the book. He has gotten help from his school counselor. And to a certain extent, he has worked through his fears. He has been pushed to his limit by Dad and decides to do something about it.

8.Are guns "bad," in and of themselves?

No, I don't think guns are bad. I do think some people who use them are bad and I encourage anyone who picks up a gun to follow safety rules and always keep in mind that a gun can kill.

9. How can kids help other kids who are going through a hard time, as Daniel does when he returns to school?

That's a very good question. I think it's okay to let a young person know that you are there for them and you care. Maybe trying to re involve the troubled child in activities they enjoyed before they became troubled is a good idea or maybe not. I think we all struggle with how to help someone we know who has gone through a traumatic experience. Do we shower them with love or try not to bring up the subject, which is like ignoring what has happened? On page 98, Daniel's classmate and friend, Nicole, tries to console him, but is scolded by her twin brother, Eric, for bringing up the accident. I guess that's why we have professional counselors. This is such a delicate subject.

10. Is it ever normal to think about suicide? What should you do, if you're a young person and you are thinking about it?

I think many of us have thought about suicide, but not seriously. It certainly wouldn't be normal to experience a tragedy as the result of a person's own carelessness, as Daniel did in his family, and not have serious thoughts about whether or not you deserved to live. But, as I've heard many times, suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary problem. If you're a young person, or a person of any age, and you're thinking about suicide, you should get help. Talk to your parents or your teacher or your counselor. If you're thinking suicide, you should not keep your thoughts to yourself. There is help available if you let someone know what you're thinking.

11. Can anybody ever have a good life after a tragedy like Daniel's happens? What can help you go on?

I got the idea for my fictional story from a real story I heard as a child. My second grade teacher's husband was accidentally shot by her nephew. That real boy did go on to have a productive and hopefully good life after he recovered from that tragedy. So I guess the answer to your question is yes, but I'm sure it's difficult and takes a very long time to get to that good life.

12. What do you think Daniel will be like when he is 10 or 15 years older? Where will he be, and what will he be doing?

In one of my earlier versions of this book, I actually wrote an afterward in which Daniel was a grown man. He and Mom had sold the family land. Mom had moved back to Soddy Daisy, Tennessee and Daniel had gone on to college and become a teacher in Newtonville. He still felt like people in his home town thought of him as "that boy who shot his uncle." But he had learned to live with that and to help others. Of course that afterward doesn't appear in the published book, but in my mind, that's what happened.

For more information about Gone From These Woods or the author, Donny Bailey Seagraves, visit her website: www.DonnySeagraves.com

Thanks for having me on your blog, Lynn.

Donny, thanks for being here!

Look for GONE FROM THESE WOODS wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite local bookstore!

GONE FROM THESE WOODS, ISBN: 978-0-385-73629-9, is available at your local bookstore (if not, ask them to stock it!) or at the following websites:

IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385736299

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/These-Woods-Donny-Bailey-Seagraves/dp/0385736290/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253032461&sr=8-1

Amazon.com Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-from-These-Woods-ebook/dp/B002L9MYZ2/ref=ed_oe_k

Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780385736299.html

Borders: http://www.borders.com/online/store/SearchResults?type=1&contrib=Donny+Bailey+Seagraves

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Gone-from-These-Woods/Donny-Bailey-Seagraves/e/9780385736299

Junebugbooks.com (signed copies): http://junebugbooks.mybisi.com/product/0/GONE-FROM-THESE-WOODS-by-Donny-Bailey-Seagraves-SIGNED_985488.html

Colors

2009-05-02T17:25:00.003-04:00

I was looking through some pictures today and found this shot, made in Taos one summer. I love the colors!

Digital cameras are great to use, to capture beautiful combinations of flower types and colors, wherever you find them. I've gotten ideas about what to plant at home from pictures of plantings I've snapped around office buildings and even fast food places.

Tellus Museum

2009-03-15T17:09:00.008-04:00

This isn't about flowers, but I just discovered a great new museum just north of Atlanta, in Cartersville: Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum. Here are a few pix:

This kinda looks like a full moon, but it's actually a perfectly round orb of polished quartz, from the museum's mineral gallery.

A chunk of amethyst from Brazil. Gorgeous.

A mineral called hematite.

There's also a fossil gallery here, complete with full-size casts of various dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

From the Science in Motion gallery, here's a replica of Sputnik and a real Bell helicopter. Awesome museum!

Southern Snow - in March!

2009-03-01T14:31:00.002-05:00

It's rare for the Atlanta area to see much snow, but on March 1, we had some serious flurries--even though the temperatures won't hold long enough to keep it around!

Springtime in the Smoky Mountains

2009-02-22T13:36:00.005-05:00

Just a few pictures today from my trip last spring to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Makes me want to go back soon, to see the mountains coming back to life after the long winter.

"Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them..." Psa. 69:34

A Big Finish for the 2009 SE Flower Show

2009-02-07T11:10:00.011-05:00

Happy Gardening!
February 2nd, 2009

I have to admit, I'm both glad and sorry to see the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show come to a close. The flowers were gorgeous, I enjoyed the speakers and demos, and the exhibits gave me lots of good ideas for things like saving rainwater and conserving energy, so I'm sorry to see it end. But I'm happy to have a break from my role as the show's "Master Blogger," so I can spend some time in my own garden. It's supposed to warm up into the 60s here today in Atlanta, and everybody is feeilng spring fever.

And I'm also glad that the flower show will be back, bigger and better than ever, in 2010, and when the dates are announced, I'll let you know. It usually opens in late January.

For now, here are some pictures from the show. I loved the "dress" made out of ornamental cabbages for the "flower and fashion" category (you can see them around the neckline):

Here's a beautiful 'Stargazer' lily:

I'll post more pix in the next few days. Check back!
Lynn

The SE Flower Show is Here!

2009-01-30T18:10:00.005-05:00

The 2009 Southeastern Flower Show opened in Atlanta on Wednesday, and it runs through this Sunday, Feb. 1. It's jam-packed with fabulous floral displays, landscaped gardens, and exhibits. I'll be there tomorrow, Jan. 31, from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. to sign copies of my book, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds.

I'm also blogging for the show over at: www.flowershowblog.com.

Here are some pictures I made on opening day. Enjoy!

A Preview of Spring at the SE Flower Show

2009-01-23T15:31:00.011-05:00

If you're in the Atlanta area, hope you'll visit the 22nd Southeastern Flower Show at the Cobb Galleria. This fabulous flower show runs from Wed., Jan. 28 to Sun., Feb. 1, and it's always a welcome preview of spring here in the South.

I'll be at the show for a couple of hours each day, blogging live about the creative landscape designs, beautiful floral arrangements, and more.

On Sat., Jan. 31, drop by the bookstore in the show and say hello. I'll be there signing copies of my books, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds and Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith. And--freebie alert--I'll have FREE 2009 calendars and book markers to give away!

The flower show has a great line-up for 2009, with live music, cooking and gardening demonstrations, expert speakers, and of course, lots of gorgeous flowers. You'll know you're in the right place when you cross the threshold and catch a whiff of the sweet-smelling daffodils, roses, and narcissus that will already be in bloom.

For directions, hours, and other info, visit the show's website at 2009 Southeastern Flower Show. And be sure to read my blog: Flower Show Blog

Hope to see you there.
Lynn

Cold Enough to Snow

2009-01-17T16:34:00.005-05:00

Here in the deep South, we hardly ever get any snow. But conditions are just about right for it this weekend. Our temperatures are dropping, and the clouds are moving in, all thick and heavy-looking. Sometime tonight, the thermometer is supposed to hit 31 degrees, and if the moisture sticks around, we could even have sleet before dawn---or that's what the weatherman says, anyway.

So we'll see. Around Atlanta, the temps usually rise when the rain comes in. Just in case we do get a snowy day, I went out today to buy bird seed for our feathered friends. These pictures were made on our last snow day, a few years ago. We usually have lots of cardinals here, along with nuthatches, finches, and woodpeckers.

I'm keeping the bird bath filled with fresh water until this cold snap passes, so they'll have plenty of water for drinking and bathing, too.

Stay warm!
Lynn

Visit my blog for the
Southeastern Flower Show, which opens on Jan. 28 in Atlanta, GA: www.flowershowblog.com

Rain in my garden

2009-01-11T13:48:00.004-05:00

After two years of pretty serious drought, it's still raining here in the Atlanta area. What a blessing! One of the big lakes in the northern part of the city that provides much of its drinking water is filling back up again, and that's a relief. Outdoor watering was almost totally banned here, and many of our nice shrubs and big perennials just didn't make it through last summer's heat.

For now, here are a couple of pictures of flowers that bloomed in my garden on a rainy day several years ago. They almost sparkled with raindrops when the sun came out again. Hope we see more rain this spring.

Lynn

And They Just Keep Coming....

2009-01-08T18:51:00.005-05:00

January 8th, 2009

The catalogs, that is. In January, my mailbox is always stuffed with gardening offers, and today brought a fantastic catalog from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I’m still shaking my head at how expensive it must have been to produce and mail, because it’s oversized, with glossy, magazine-type pages. It’s packed with so many intriguing flowers, fruits, and vegetables, it made me want to run straight to the garden and start growing something--anything!

Here are a few things I’m putting on my list to order:

Mississippi Silver Hull peas, a runner type that produces very well here in the South. The beans are large and tan and delicious.
D’Alger melons. I’ve never eaten this kind of melon, but it sounds great. The catalog says it’s a “colorful, ancient, French cantaloupe (possibly from Africa)…(T)he flesh is highly perfumed and very smooth and creamy.” The photo shows a dark green-black rind with silvery splashes.
Sugar Snap peas. These are for my hubby, who loves to eat them sauteed or raw in salads. I like that they’re produced on bushy vines that don’t need staking.

There are lots more things I want to grow, but Thai Long purple eggplants won’t make my list. We grew them last year and they were way too skinny and bland.

If you've visited my blog before, you might remember that I'm the official "Master Blogger" for the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show, which opens in Atlanta on Jan. 28 through Feb. 1. This year, the show has several cooking demonstrations planned with wonderful chefs you'll talk about "Cooking from the Garden." For more information, please visit my blog at Flower Show Blog

When you visit the show, be sure to bring your questions for these knowledgeable cooks. I'll also be there, signing copies of my book, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds, and my new book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith, on Sat., Jan. 31, at noon. Hope to see you there!

Lynn

Glass Gardens

2008-12-28T10:54:00.008-05:00

It's cold and rainy here today, and since there's nothing in my garden to look at, I dug up some pictures I made a couple of years ago at the Missouri Botanical Garden, in St. Louis. This is a pathway into the garden (I visited when it was raining there, too.)

I happened to visit the garden during a display of Chihuly's work. Dan Chihuly is a fantastic glass artist, in case you haven't heard of him. Some of his pieces are surrealistic, but all of them are beautiful and colorful. For example, the picture below looks like giant onions, but these are actually huge glass orbs floating in the reflecting pond at the MBG.

Here's a Chihuly "flower" that looks like it belongs in a tropical rain forest, but it has an other-worldly feel, too:

These are neon-green mushrooms---or maybe more flowers--"sprouting" from a bed of green foliage:

Maybe I'll buy a gazing globe or some kind of glass ornament for my garden, too. They're really bright and colorful, especially in the rain.

Dec. 25, 2008

2008-12-25T13:21:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T09:55:00.004-05:00

” ‘Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a ...."

Okay, this isn’t a mouse. It’s Cornbread, one of the little cats that likes to hang around my garden–possibly because I keep out a bowl of kitty chow for furry visitors. He’s pictured here on a recent afternoon, enjoying a snooze on my porch.

As the year draws to a close, I'd like to thank you for reading my blog and my books, and for 2009, I wish everyone the gift of time: more time to nurture our homes and gardens, to enjoy the beauty of the natural world, and to be with friends and family.

One final thought: I hope you'll make plans to attend a Christmas Eve service tonight. It doesn't matter if you're not a member; everywhere, people will welcome you with open arms. This season is about celebrating the arrival of Jesus, who brings light into the darkness and hope into the world. Rejoice--unto us, a Savior is given!

Merry Christmas!

Win a 2009 Garden Calendar!

2008-12-17T19:42:00.006-05:00

Christmas is coming, and I've got some free gifts to give away. My publisher, B&H Books, has created an absolutely gorgeous calendar for 2009, packed with beautiful garden photos and tips. It also contains quotes and scripture from my new book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith.

If you've been reading this, you may remember that I'm also the official "Master Blogger" for the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show . It opens in Atlanta next Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, and the theme of the show is, How Do You Bloom?

To win a free calendar, please visit the flower show blog and leave me a comment that answers that question. How do YOU bloom? Maybe it's by growing exquisite orchids, or juicy tomatoes, or tall sunflowers.

On New Year's Eve, I'll pick the best three entries and contact those gardeners to ask for their mailing addresses. Then I'll drop a free calendar in the mail to each of them, so they'll be ready for the New Year.

So remember: visit Flower Show Blog and tell us: How do YOU bloom?
--Lynn

The Hawk Lady's Garden

2008-12-14T13:46:00.018-05:00

Now that I'm serving as the "Master Blogger" for the Southeastern Flower Show, which runs next Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, I'm looking for garden pictures--your garden pictures. Care to share the flowers and veggies you grow? Just send your name and up to three jpgs to inkycreek@gmail.com, which is my email address. We'll post the best garden pictures we get (and if you don't want your name published, just let me know).

The flower show's theme this year is passion, so I'm delighted to show you our first batch of garden pictures, contributed by passionate gardener and advocate for the wild, Monteen McCord.

Monteen lives in a rural county north of Atlanta, where she heads up the non-profit educational organization, HawkTalk. She's a federally and state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator, specializing in raptors, and HawkTalk's mission is to teach us to protect wild creatures and our natural world. I met Monteen a few years ago, when she was speaking at a local store, but she's also a popular guest speaker for schools, civic groups, and other organizations.

Here are just a couple of images from her garden, which she shares with injured or orphaned birds that cannot be released back into the wild. As you'll see, she also makes room for cats, toads, and assorted other creatures.

Thanks for these pictures, Monteen. Readers, you can find out more at HawkTalk and see more pictures at SE Flower Show Blog . Now it's your turn. Send us some images!

cheers,
Lynn
Lynn Coulter

C'mon over to the Southeastern Flower Show blog

2008-12-07T13:47:00.002-05:00

Thank you, Southeastern Flower Show--I'm honored that you've asked me to be the official "Master Blogger" for the 2009 show, which runs next Jan. 28 through Feb. 1.

I'll be posting several times each week, with behind-the-scenes previews of the show. I'll interview speakers, chefs, gardening authors, landscapers, and floral designers, and I'll pass along their tips and advice.

If you live outside the Atlanta area, you can find hotel packages that include lodging, breakfast for two, and tickets to the show. Just visit the show's website Southeastern Flower Show for details.

Then check out my blog: Southeastern Flower Show blog You're welcome to post a question or comment, or send in a JPG of your garden or favorite plant.

Not to rush the holiday season--but all this news about the Flower Show makes me ready for spring right now.

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

2008-11-30T13:26:00.003-05:00

Happy
Thanks-
giving!

Green Blessings

2008-11-26T15:18:00.005-05:00

From most accounts, the Pilgrims weren’t exactly savvy gardeners when they arrived in the New World. Native people had to teach them about cultivating corn, pumpkins, squash, and beans in a climate very different from England’s, or they might have starved while walking around in those funky shoes and weird hats.

But at least the Pilgrims got one thing right. After a long sea voyage and a rocky start, they decided to rest for awhile and express their thanks for nature’s bounty.

Tomorrow, like many American families, we’ll gather round our dinner table and give thanks for the blessings of faith, family, friends, and home. But today, I’m playing pilgrim by making a short list of just my garden blessings:

I’m grateful for the Brown Turkey fig tree in my yard that provides us with sweet fruit for preserves.

I’m thankful for rain.

I appreciate the cherry-pie perfume of summer heliotropes.

I welcome the bats that wing through our neighborhood in the evenings, snapping up mosquitoes.

I’m grateful for non-profit seed exchanges, like Seed Savers of Decorah, Iowa, which helps preserve heirloom fruits, flowers, and vegetables for a new generation of gardeners.

I’m grateful for sun-ripened tomatoes that taste so good on bread spread with mayonnaise and a little salt and pepper.

I appreciate Plant-A-Row-For-The-Hungry, a volunteer organization that helps gardeners share their produce with the less fortunate.

I’m thankful that we gardeners keep finding exciting and new plants to grow, thanks to hybridizers, developers, growers, and researchers.

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, why not take a moment to count your own green blessings?

Happy Thanksgiving!
Lynn

Giving Thanks

2008-11-23T13:41:00.004-05:00

The evening news has gotten so bad, I can hardly watch it anymore. Stocks are down, jobs have disappeared, and on and on.

But now it's almost Thanksgiving, and in spite of the cold weather, I saw a little aster like this one the other day. It's a Tatarian aster, a big, rangy plant you could almost mistake for a weed, until you look close and see how beautiful each individual blossom is. I love its color and symmetry and simplicity.

It reminded me to be thankful for the simple gifts in life, because even when the world is messy and sad, God loves us and there is always, always hope.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

2008-11-18T18:54:00.002-05:00

Somehow we always seem to wind up with stray animals at our house. Last summer, a little black mama-cat showed up with a litter of kittens behind our house. I suspect they were born under the canoe that we have turned upside down in the backyard. Anyway, we've seen the kittens around for months, but while they eat the food we put out, they never let us get close. Until now.

Just the other day, Cornbread (why we named him that, I don't know, except that it seemed like a good Southern name) took a nap on our front porch, and didn't run away when I came outside with my camera. I'm not sure he'll ever let us tame him, but at least we get to enjoy looking.

Meanwhile, one of his brothers (or sisters, as the case may be), has started sleeping on the bench in my garden. It's a nice, sunny spot during these chilly autumn days. So I've got another garden cat, it seems!

Autumn butterflies

2008-11-10T20:30:00.005-05:00

It's hard to believe it's already mid-November here, because we've only had one light frost so far. Until the drought got them, my tithonias just kept blooming, and they've been real butterfly beacons. One day there were so many butterflies, they were practically bumping into each other.

This little guy looks like he has translucent wings, but it's just the effect of his movement when I snapped the picture.
>

I'm about to doing some flying of my own, to Indiana, for an interview about my book, Mustard Seeds. It's for a morning television show called Harvest TV. The program airs on DirecTV on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

2008-11-02T15:31:00.009-05:00

It's hard to believe that these beautiful fall colors are hiding all summer underneath the chlorophyll in green leaves. These are a few pictures of the trees and the creek in my back yard.

October Owls

2008-10-12T12:40:00.004-04:00

"Listen, the wind is rising; the air is wild with leaves.
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"

Look at these orange eyes! We saw this owl at the raptor show at Georgia Southern University, in Statesboro, GA. He's a permanent resident there, probably because of some injury that doesn't allow him to live in the wild anymore. What a beautiful and unusual creature--most owls have eyes of yellow-gold, but his are actually as orange as pumpkins (you might not be able to tell from this picture, but trust me on this. I saw him up close.)

Now that it's October, I'm really feeling the fall spirit. Colors are changing fast around here, like those small pieces of glass in a kaledioscope. I noticed our hydrangea is showing hints of lavendar and purple on its leaves, and the berries on the dogwood trees are bright red--as red as the cardinals that like to wash them in my birdbath and eat them, leaving the seed pits for me to clean out.

Today the wind is whistling around my house like mad, throwing leaves into the air, and it's cooled off nicely. Listen closely tonight, if you live in the southeast. It's time for great horned owls to hoot into the woods, searching for mates.

2009 Calendar Giveaway!

2008-10-07T19:46:00.008-04:00

It's already October...have you thought about getting a 2009 calendar yet? You could buy one from an office supply store--or you could sign up to win a beautiful color calendar filled pictures of blooming flowers and fresh-from-the-garden vegetables!

My wonderful publicist at B&H Books (take a bow, Julie) has arranged to giveaway free calendars to promote my new book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith. All you need to do is sign up at my website, and hurry, because the offer is limited to the first 200 visitors. Just click on
Mustard Seeds Calendar.

You'll find prayers in the calendar from this new book, and planting tips from my first book, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds (UNC Press, June 2006).

Here are a couple of sample pages:

Wish I could make the sample pages bigger here, but you can click on "calendar" on the menu line of my website for a better look. Even if we run out of the real-deal, full-color versions, you can download a text-only calendar from the site and still have all the gardening tips and spiritual meditations. Enjoy!

Lynn

Fall for Roses, Even in the Fall

2008-10-01T19:13:00.004-04:00

Are your roses looking pretty sad and dreary by now? Here in the Atlanta area, the bushes and climbers are just about finished. Black spot has done its dirty work, making our roses drop their leaves and slowing their flower production. There's not much we can do to perk them up again. The first cold snap is coming soon, and it's too late to fertilize. We stop feeding our roses in August around here, because we have to discourage any new growth. They need the next few weeks to harden off for the coming dormant season.

But ahhhh....we went to Statesboro to visit our son, who goes to college there, and found that their roses still in beautiful bud and blooms! Of course, the climate south of Atlanta is much warmer, and there have been some recent rains that encouraged the plants to put out a fresh flush of blossoms. Hope you enjoy these pictures, which we made during out trip. We didn't see any identifying labels on the plants, but you can oooohhh and ahhhh just the same.

I recently did some research on how to care for roses for a magazine article I'm writing, so I'd like to share some tips with you. If you crave a rose garden for next year, start planning for it now. You'll need to select a spot that gets nearly full sun all day, although your plants will appreciate a bit of light afternoon shade, when summer temperatures are at their hottest. Otherwise, the sun can scorch your rose leaves and fade the colors of their blooms.

Dig your soil deeply, and add amendments like compost or peat moss to help loosen any heavy clay. You can also add these materials if you have sandy soil, to help the ground hold precious moisture, since sand drains fast. If you can build raised beds and fill them with good organic material, that's great, too.

From late fall into very early spring, go ahead and buy bare root roses for your new beds. You'll find the bare root plants sold either in cardboard cartons, or in long, narrow, plastic tubes stuffed with moistened packaging materials. I've had good luck with both mail order roses as well as those sold by local garden centers and nurseries.

Before you plant the bare root roses, give them a nice soak for a few hours in a tub or bucket of tepid water. This will help any shriveled canes and roots plump back up again.

Pick a day when the soil isn't frozen to plant (of course--otherwise, your shovel will bounce off the rock-hard ground!). Refill the hole with a cone-shaped mound of soil, and put the plant on the of the cone so that its roots dangle loosely down the sides. Finish filling the hold and water well.

When the temperatures start to warm up again, and new growth appears as tiny, green leaves, it's time to add some fertilizer. I like the kind with a systemic insect control mixed in, to help prevent damage from black spot.

Water deeply and regularly, and watch for your beautiful blooms to open as spring progresses. Roses and springtime...how can you beat that combination?

late summer flowers

2008-07-20T14:32:00.005-04:00

By this time every summer, my hanging baskets look pretty tired. I guess they can't take the heat, combined with the daily waterings that leach out all the fertilizer. It helps to cut back the petunias and other fast-growing annuals, because they'll usually respond with another flush of blooms before fall. But they seldom look as perky as they did when they were newly planted in the spring.

Oh, well. At least I've got my pictures from my trip to Taos to look at. Aren't these hanging baskets gorgeous? I like to make photos when I'm traveling, not just as a reminder of a trip, but to use as inspiration when I'm gardening next year. I'd always heard that the light in Taos was spectacular, and it's true. You can see why so many artists and photographers did such great work there; the sunlight is bright and the skies are usually clear. Hope you can click on these images to enlarge them and see how really beautiful the flowers are!

Grace and a Star

2008-05-27T19:23:00.002-04:00

I was so happy--and I am so humbled--to learn that my new book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith, has gotten a starred review from Publishers Weekly. PW, as it's known, is a trade magazine that's read by librarians and book buyers to help them decide which new titles to carry. It's a big honor to get a star.

It's all His grace!

More from the Mountains

2008-04-21T10:50:00.005-04:00

Dawn in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Yellow trillium, a wildflower

...and I found this little guy in a quiet puddle near a stream. I also saw lots of tadpoles--spring means babies!

Smoky Mountains National Park

2008-04-14T09:22:00.005-04:00

Last week, I found these beautiful wild violets growing near a stream in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Spring is a fantastic time of year to visit--no crowds, but the weather was warm and sunny (although it can change fast, at those high elevations)

I was in the park to take a workshop on digital photography, and let me tell you: it's hard to make good pictures! At least, it is for me, because I'm just learning about F-stops and depth of field settings and so on.

This photo, for example, shows the sunrise over the mountains. But I could've done a much better job of composing the scene if I'd shown a little less of the mountains. Our instructors said to keep a dark area like that down to about 25% of the total image. But hey, that's how you learn--by trying and making mistakes. I like the beautiful play of light in the sky anyway.

Here's a dwarf crested iris, a wildflower just beginning to bloom in the Smokies. The wind picked up about the time we came across these flowers, which made it hard to focus up close without getting a blurry image.

I'll post a few more pictures soon.

Spring at Georgia Southern

2008-04-06T13:16:00.006-04:00

To a Southern girl like me, azaleas are a sure sign of spring, but even though it's April, the azaleas around here aren't blooming yet. Guess it's been too cold so fat this season. This picture was made about 200 miles south of Atlanta, on the campus of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

I love these snowy white flowers.

Even the snapdragons are starting to bloom. Two-tone flowers really appeal to me, like these rosy-pinks with canary-yellow throats.

If you've already had your last spring frost, it's a bit late to sow snapdragon seeds indoors. But you can still start them directly in the garden. A light frost won't hurt once they're up. Just give them a sunny spot with well-drained, moist soil, and you can have flowers throughout the spring.

Snaps don't thrive in the heat of the summer, so it's better for most warm-climate gardeners to pull up the plants and compost them, then sow fresh seeds in late summer. By the next spring, fall-planted snapdragons will come into full bloom.

For something different, try 'Black Prince' snaps, which date back to 1912. They're actually deep crimson in color, with bronze foliage. I'm looking for some 'Brighton Rock' seeds right now, which are sometimes known as 'Candyman.' Popular in the 1800s, the snaps look like candy canes with multicolored stripes and swirls. I'd like to find the lemony yellow ones with violet splashes.

Meanwhile, here's another snapshot from the raptor center at GSU. It's not particularly spring-y, but I loved this sleepy owl!

Our dogwoods should start opening any day now. Photos to come.

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Mustard Seeds - my new book

2008-03-29T11:30:00.003-04:00

I'm so happy to share the cover of my new book with you! It's called Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith, and it goes on-sale from B&H Publishing on Sept. 1, 2008. Isn't this cover beautiful? I thought the designer did a fantastic job, since many of the essays in the book focus on the beauty and wonder of God's creation.

Mustard Seeds came out of an essay that first appeared in Sky, the magazine carried on board Delta Air Lines. I wrote about my spiritual journey after my mother and father passed away, and during a long layoff that forced my husband to move away from us, to take a job in another city, until a job opened up back home a year and a half later.

It was a hard, sad time of testing for me, and my faith took a beating. But God is good--He listens when his children call out for help, and He restored my faith through a steady stream of little mercies. We didn't get any miraculous physical healing, or debt-erasing checks in the mail, but we were sustained by the peace and hope that He gives through the small, daily blessings of life. That's where the title comes from. Mustard seeds are tiny, but the Scriptures tell us that if your faith is even that size, God can work in your life.

I hope this book will be a blessing to anyone who needs encouragement.

If you'd like to learn more about the book, please visit Blip TV to see a recorded interview.

Mustard Seeds is available at B&H Publishing and Amazon . You'll also be able to find it in September at bookstores and Lifeway Christian stores.

Blessings,
Lynn

Crabapple Confetti

2008-03-27T12:19:00.005-04:00

"One day I went strolling through the orchard, looking for signs of spring, looking for buds about to burst into flower, anticipating readiness, ripeness. Before I knew it my heart was raptured, carried away by lofty thoughts!"

Song of Solomon 6:11-12, The Message

If you could visit my yard a few days from now, you'd think a parade had passed by, because the grass will look like it's covered in confetti. But what's on the ground won't be pieces of brightly colored paper; it'll be fallen blossoms from our crabapple tree, which is in full bloom right now.

I absolutely love this tree, even though its beautiful blossoms don't last very long. Each March or April, depending on the weather, I go outside and suddenly find that its plump, pink buds have burst open into frilly white petals. And always, the air around the tree is buzzing with bees!
Now, bees are very welcome visitors in my garden, because they're such industrious little pollinators. I also spotted a wasp on my forsythia blooms, and I know he's working, too.

I've also just spotted the first butterfly I've seen this season. He didn't land long enough for a picture, but I think it was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. As soon as I can plant some flowers for butterflies, I'll see if I can lure him in for a closer look---but our nighttime temperatures are still too cold to plant annuals. Soon, though!

2008-03-23T16:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter!

2008-03-12T14:58:00.004-04:00

Spring has arrived--at least for today. I stepped outdoors this morning to temperatures in the 60s and now I can hardly wait to start digging around in the yard. In fact, I did scratch up a few leaves, and here's what I found:

These are larkspur seedlings. A few years ago, I bought a package of larkspur seeds from a mountain fair in North Georgia, and I literally flung them out into the yard. They landed under the drip line of a tall hickory tree, where the soil is poor. But I didn't' worry about it, since I know that larkspurs don't like rich soil anyway. And they've bloomed nicely every year, until the seedpods dry and the seeds scatter themselves when the flowers are finished.

One thing I need to do this year, though, is to gather some of the seeds before they self-sow, and plant them in a sunnier spot. Although larkspurs are forgiving about soil, mine have become a little spindly over the years, as the tree has grown and produced more shade.

If you've never tried larkspurs, give 'Bunny Bloom' a look. This heirloom plant comes in rose, blue, or purple, and was named a Texas Superstar Selection, which means it grows well even in harsh conditions. I love it because when you view the flowerheads just right, they look like little bunny faces--perfect for Easter! They're better sown in fall, since the seeds wont' germinate above 75 degrees F, so if you want to grow larkspurs, you should get going soon! I'll post some pictures of mine as they grow.

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

In Like a Lion...

2008-03-06T17:22:00.005-05:00

March really did blow into the Atlanta area like a lion the other day. We woke up to a tornado alert,gusty winds, and hard rain--which quickly disappeared when the sun popped out. Then a few hours later, the rain was back, the temperatures dropped, and the ice in our birdbath froze overnight. That was less than a week ago. Today, the thermometer hit 70 degrees and I drove around with my windows down. Spring, around here at least, sure can be weird.

Meanwhile, I've been out snapping pictures in my yard, where the daffodils are starting to open. I also noticed a bird flying out of our birdhouse, so I opened it carefully and peeked inside. Looks like our new tenants are bluebirds, judging from this typical nest.

As you can see, the blues like to build a loose nest, just piling pine straw into a big heap, so the eggs are cradled in a soft mound. The nest isn't structured or woven, like other kinds. One year, we even found a nest with dental floss woven into it! But we never spotted it while it was occupied, so I'm not sure which birds built it.

Here's a great link to a website about bluebirds, and it even has a clickable link to hear their song. These pretty, sky-colored birds could use your help, if you'll put up some boxes for them. Bluebirds like to use tree snags for nesting, but as developers keep building, and old trees are taken down and land is cleared, our feathered friends lose their homes. You can build bluebird boxes from plans you'll find online, or buy them from garden centers, home improvement stores, or stores that specialize in birding.
Bluebirds
We have several bluebird houses around our property. These birds like to have a lot of space, so they can fly in and out of the house in an unobstructed path (just like we wouldn't want to have to steer around something in the middle of our driveway when we came home every night, right?) So if you can set up a nesting box in a meadow or field, they'll love that. (And in case you're wondering why I opened the house to look inside, don't worry. Experienced birders recommend doing that to monitor the safety and health of your bluebirds and their eggs. That's probably not be true of most species, though, and besides, I'm careful not to touch anything--I just look around.)

I'll keep you posted on our blues--I'm hoping some eggs show up soon!
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Think Pink-y

2008-02-28T15:06:00.006-05:00

Okay, I was patiently waiting for spring, content with a few daffodils starting to show their buttery-yellow petals, until THIS arrived in the mail. It's from an info packet about a new hydrangea called 'Pinky Winky,'and isn't it a beauty?

This is a brand called Proven Winners Color Choice, and it's a new variety of Hydrangea paniculata. Now, it's true that I love old-fashioned heirlooms, whether they're roses, veggies, fruits, or flowers. Heirlooms are usually easy to grow, and because they're passed down from one generation of gardeners to another, they're a rich genetic link to our own past.

But because I'm always frustrated with getting my hydrangeas to bloom--mine get killed back by a late frost almost every year--I want to check this one out. 'Pinky Winky' is supposed to be drought tolerant and happy in partial shade, and --best of all--the growers say it can handle a late cold snap.

Here's a photo of the breeder who developed this variety:

And here's another picture that came with the info on 'Pinky Winky.' To be honest, I'm not quite sure what we're seeing here, but I think it's dried hydrangea stems, mixed in with other flowers. At any rate, don't you think it's beautiful?

Now, you might wonder how I started thinking about hydrangeas this early in the year. Not only did I get the info in the mail, I'm also working on a magazine story right now about the first-ever hydrangea festival in the metro Atlanta area. Named in honor of the late Penny McHenry, who cultivated many gorgeous hydrangeas and inspired other gardeners to grow them, the festival will open with a Hydrangea Ball on Friday, June 6 and run through June 7. It will include garden tours, a "Moonlight and Magnolia" progressive dinner, a standard flower show, a plant sale, and lots more.

During her lifetime, Penny McHenry hosted visitors from all over the country who came to see her gardens, so organizers hope that this first annual festival will draw gardeners--and garden lovers--from across the Southeast. If you'd like more info, visit www.PennyMcHydrangeaFestival.com or call 800-661-0013.

Yes, it's still too early to plant hydrangeas, but I'm going to look for this one when nurseries and plant centers starting getting their stock in. I'll let you know how it grows for me!

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Dreams Take Root in a Bog

2008-02-13T11:08:00.004-05:00

The cattails pictured above may not look like much to you and me, but when Douglas County, Georgia, science teacher Matt Nauman spotted them growing, he knew he'd hit the jackpot.

Matt teaches at Bill Arp Middle School, where he shares his knowledge and passion for the natural world with a bunch of active, curious kids. His students love his classroom, which is filled with every kind of critter from hamsters to snakes to worms. He likes to take them outside to observe the natural world whenever he can, and sometimes they hike downhill to a nearby stream. But look at their surroundings:

Granted, it's February now, and there's not much to see while everything is brown and bare. But when it rains, and the kids go outdoors, their hiking trail is usually underwater. Rain runs down hill from the school, which you can just see at the top of the picture, and floods the low lying area below.

Matt had noticed some interesting native plants and grasses growing here in the past, but there wasn't much to see in the spring and summer of 2007, when Georgia experienced its 4th worst drought in 113 years of weather record-keeping. But one day, as he hiked along the trail, he spotted the cattails and had a great idea.

Cattails thrive in wet, marshy land, so even while most of the local vegetation had shriveled up and died, Matt realized that if the cattails were surviving, the area must have a high water table. He started thinking about how to create a pond that could be filled with other water-loving plants and grasses.

Soon he had a plan, and with the support of area schools, the local water authority, and many others, he's working to build a pond with a surrounding berm to hold in the water and prevent the trails from flooding. The group has already built an information center, so students can read about and identify the plants that will grow here, and this spring and summer, they'll add a boardwalk for crossing the marshy area, a covered pavilion, and picnic tables. All this would give the kids access through this trail to a nearby creek.

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There's a lot of work ahead. To save money, Matt and his group will do most of the physical labor themselves, and that means digging out the pond, heaping the dirt to make a berm, graveling the trails, planting, and so on. But what an inspiration--using what nature has given us, and teaching kids to find the beauty in our wetlands. I'll post more pictures as the work gets underway. This is a great project, and the hope is that local developers will adapt it and turn retention ponds in subdivisions and shopping centers into beautiful, wildlife-friendly wetlands, too. You go, Matt!

How to Get a Buzz

2008-02-06T15:32:00.000-05:00

Pictured: an English Garden Hive

It's beginning to feel like spring here in the Atlanta area. In the last few days, daytime temperatures have hit the 60s, and birds are singing outside my kitchen window. There are buds on some of the trees, too, and yesterday I spotted a yellow blossom opening on the forsythia bush. I wanted to say, stop, it's too soon! We always get a late cold snap, and the last couple of years, it's damaged a lot of our spring flowers.

But there's one thing that can't come back into my garden too soon, and that's the sound of ---buzzing bees. You may have heard that many species of bees, including honeybees, are in big trouble. Beekeepers were already struggling with a pest known as Varroa mite, and now something called Colony Collapse Disorder has come along.

Pictured: healthy bees from a newly-opened hive.

Sadly, beekeepers report finding entire hives dead or abandoned overnight. Researchers are working to find a cause, but think it might be stress from moving hives around on trailers to pollinate fields; a new virus or fungus; the introduction of foreign bees; poor nutrition; an effect of growing genetically-engineered plants; or some combination of these factors and more. This is a serious problem, as honeybees are vital to agriculture in the U.S. They pollinate our food crops, and without them--well, let's just say we need to get our buzz back.

How can an average gardener help? We can plant bee-friendly flowers, for one thing, like cosmos, hollyhocks, salvias, or mignonettes, and cut back or eliminate our use of pesticides, some of which kill bees, even though they're intended to get rid of other insects.

Honeybees are gentle creatures, and they do good work. If you've ever thought about keeping hives, as my friends Tony and Kerri do, give your county extension agents a call. They can connect you to beekeepers in your area who can advise you on getting started. There are also master beekeepers' certification classes you can take through various agricultural colleges and schools. Bees are fascinating social creatures.

And while you're thinking about bees and spring, please join me next Sunday, Feb. 10, for a new radio interview. Ralph Snodsmith, who hosts The Garden Hotline, has invited me to speak with him about heirloom gardening at 8:05 am. His show is broadcast on the WOR radio network--click here for more info: The Garden Hotline

Until later,
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Gardens Fit for a King (or at least a Royal Governor)

2008-01-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

If any plant says "springtime," it's the tulip. Don't these candy-heart colors make you think of Valentine's Day, which is right around the corner?

These beautiful tulips were photographed at Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens, in New Bern, N.C. Yes, the building really is called a palace, because it was once the home of the Royal Governor of the Colony of North Carolina. It was built between 1767 and 1770 as the colony's first permanent capitol.

Today the elegant Georgian-style palace and surrounding gardens are open to the public. Tulips and other bulbs blossom each spring, but the gardens are designed to put on a spectacular show every season, so there's always something to see.

I'm delighted that I've been asked to participate in the Palace's garden lecture series this year, which will cover heirlooms and native plants. If you're in the area, save the date: I'll be there on June 14, with a book signing to follow my talk. You'll find more info about the gardens and historic sites at
Tryon Palace
Can't wait to see these gardens fit for a...royal governor!

Garden Rant

2008-01-23T17:14:00.000-05:00

If you haven't read Garden Rant yet--what are you waiting for? This lively blog spot is the handiwork of gardeners and rant-ers Amy Stewart, Elizabeth Licata, Michele Owens, and Susan Harris, and you can find it at Garden Rant

These four intrepid bloggers confess that they are "in love with real, rambling, chaotic, dirty, bug-ridden gardens." In other words, they are the real-deal when it comes to plants. They don't believe in those perfect plots that you see in glossy magazines (neither do I. Nothing's perfect!) Instead, they celebrate the best in flowers, fruits, herbs, and veggies while accepting that sometimes we all have to live with tattered leaves or buggy blooms.

I admire this blog because its posters aren't afraid to share their opinions about everything from growing houseplants in an office cubical, to hiring someone to do your digging for you, to whether or not it's really necessary to spray your flowers with toxic chemicals. Be sure and check it out for yourself.

Also, I'm honored that today's post on Garden Rant features a lovely review of Gardening with Heirloom Seeds. Thank you, fellow gardeners. Rant on!

Image of sweet peas, courtesy of David Cavagnaro, David Cavagnaro Photography.

Snowfall in Georgia

2008-01-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

We woke up this morning to a rare sight in the west Atlanta area--snow! The fluffy flakes started swirling down around 10 am and soon the ground was velvety-white. We put out plenty of bird seed out in our feeders and dug out the outdoor water heater, so the bird bath wouldn't freeze. Birds need drinking water even in the cold.

I'm going to plant sunflowers this summer, so I'll have seeds to harvest and put away for next fall and winter. Once there were over 2,000 named varieties of these sunny flowers, thanks largely to Russian breeders, who recognized their potential as a source of both oil and food. Most of those heirloom varieties are gone now, unfortunately.

But 'Russian Mammoth,' sometimes sold as 'Russian Giant' or 'Russian Greystripe,' is still around, and that's what I'll plant when the weather warms up. This old variety bears bright yellow heads atop 9 to 12 foot stalks, and each enormous bloom is supposed to produce up to 5,000 seeds! You can cut the entire flowerhead when it matures and store it in a dark, dry place. Then just tie it outside to a tree branch when the natural food supplies start to disappear, and watch the birds fly in for a homestyle buffet!

Can You Dig It?

2008-01-14T16:29:00.000-05:00

When you think about it, some of the most nutritious vegetables grow where we can't even see them. Well, okay, that's not completely true. We can see the feathery tops of carrots and the thicker leaves of beets, radishes, rutabags, and turnips. But underneath all that greenery, the tasty veggies themselves are maturing underground, just waiting for a gardener to come along and pull them for the table.

Then yum...a delicious side dish of beets sprinkled with a little sugar and vinegar; crunchy carrots chopped into a fresh garden salad; tender turnips cooked with their greens...not only good tasting, but good for us, too.

If you want to grow great root crops, the first step is improving your soil. As writer Jessica Walliser points out in "Beautiful Roots," her article for the Jan/Feb issue of Hobby Farms Magazine, you need to break up the ground and clear it of any sticks, stones, or other plant roots. Then add some good quality compost or well-rotted manure to give your crops the loose, quick-draining soil they crave. Check with your county extension agent about fertilizer; he or she can test your soil and tell you what to add, and how much.

'Detroit Dark Red' is a sweet-fleshed beet that many of us grow without even realizing it's an heirloom--but it is, dating back to 1892. If you'd like to try a lesser-known heirloom, plant some Chioggia seeds. This old Italian variety gets its nickname, the "candy cane beet," from the rings of alternating white and rosy pink that are revealed when you slice it. You can see a picture in Jessica's article--very pretty.

For most of the country, it's still to early to plant, but not too early to dig and prepare your soil. (But do wait, if your ground is still wet. If you dig or till too early, the soil will dry into hard clumps. Wait until the ground dries out before you begin.)

So sharpen your shovel...mark off your rows...and dig in when the weather permits. A good root crop awaits you!

Radio Daze

2008-01-10T19:01:00.000-05:00

Join me on the radio this weekend, as I talk to garden show host Vince Sims, "The Garden Rebel," about heirlooms, seeds, and how to get your garden spot ready for spring. Vince, as everybody in Central Florida knows, broadcasts each Sunday from 10 am to noon. My segment will start at approximately 11:20 EST on Jan. 13. Just click your radio dial to WDBO 580AM, or listen to the show stream live over the web at http://580wdbo.com/listen/

Cornbread, Buttermilk, and a 'mess of greens'

2008-01-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

If you're from the South, you understood the title of this post right away. There's nothing quite like a slice of hot cornbread, fresh-baked in a cast iron skillet, served with a blob of melting butter on the top and a side glass of cold buttermilk. Add what we call a 'mess of greens'--that would be your choice of collards or turnips--and you've got yourself a filling, delicious dinner!

Tomorrow night I'm going to hear a talk by author Crescent Dragonwagon (yes, that is her real name! She had it legally changed at age 16) about her new book, The Cornbread Gospels. Bill, my husband, is the real cook in our family, so I can't wait to turn him loose with her recipes. Good eating, dead ahead, and forget the New Year's diet already.

If you've grown turnips before, you may be familiar with 'Purple Top White Globe', which has been a marketplace standard for years. Dating back to 1880, this variety has round, bicolored roots with bright purple to reddish tops and creamy white bottoms. 'White Egg' is another great heirloom turnip to try. The egg-shaped roots have a white, smooth skin and a sweet and tender flesh. Yum, yum.

Turnips are cool-season crops, so you can plant them pretty soon. Get those seed catalogs out and start making your lists now. And when you're ready to harvest, remember the buttermilk and cornbread!

Flutter-byes

2008-01-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Flutter-byes: that's what I've heard little kids say when they're talking about butterflies. Doesn't matter what you call these beautiful creatures, which add so much color and movement and grace to a garden.

If you get a chance, be sure and visit the Tennessee Aquarium's butterfly exhibit, which opened last year in a brand-new building. You enter through a breezy passageway that prevents the winged residents from escaping out as you enter. Once you're in the exhibit, you're really one with the butterflies. They float over the bushes and flutter in the flowers, stop to sip from bowls of fruit or rest on leafy branches. They've even been known to settle on visitors wearing bright, butterfly-friendly colors, although it's best not to touch these fragile creatures.

Heirloom flowers are great to grow in a butterfly garden, because they don't require a lot of spraying with harsh chemicals. Try Scabiosas, also known as pincushion flowers for their mound-shaped blossoms. I like 'Blue Cockade,' which dates back to 1935. The flower heads have a faint, sweet scent and open in shades of violet-blue and lavender. Best of all, they flower into the cool days of fall. You can start them from seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost, so order from a reputable seed seller soon.

Dianthus, or Sweet Williams, are also great butterfly magnets. Try 'Nigricans," a deep ruby red flower with a spicy carnation fragrance. Swallowtails are attracted to this antique flower (that is, if you live in a part of the country that swallowtails inhabit). Dianthus seeds should also be ordered soon, so you'll have time to start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.

Does it sound like I'm rushing spring? I guess I am--I miss playing in the dirt during the winter. Gotta be patient until it warms up..or maybe start planning my next trip to see the flutter-byes.
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Happy 2008!

2007-12-30T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe the old year is ending and another one is about to begin. Seed catalogs are already pouring into my mailbox--yay! I love reading them on dreary winter days, when there's nothing to do outside. Recently I've gotten catalogs from Tomato Growers Supply, Landreth Seeds (the oldest seed seller in America), Territorial Seed Company, The Cook's Garden (a fantastic source for European garden veggies), and Burpee.

My list of gotta-grow heirlooms for 2008 includes:

Green Zebra tomatoes - these beauties, from The Cook's Garden, are golden-green with darker green stripes. I've eaten them sliced with fresh, whole-milk mozzarella and a sprinkle of basil, and they are delicious.

I also want to try Caspian Pink, a Russia heirloom also from Cook's. The fruits are rosy-pink, with thick, meaty flesh. From Landreth, I'll order 'Pineapple' tomato seeds. Who could resist this description: "a deep orange-scarlet with gold and yellow shoulders...the flesh has a sweet, fruity flavor." It's an heirloom, too, although little is known of its history.

Lettuces I plan to grow: 'Oakleaf,' from the 1800s, which holds up well as the weather warms, staying sweet and tender; and 'Limestone Bibb,' an old Kentucky butterhead(I'll have to start it early, because it doesn't like the heat).

That's not the end of my list, of course; it's just as far as I've gotten! If you aren't getting seed catalogs, check out the seed sellers' sites listed to order online or request a copy via US Mail.

Then, while you're making up your seed lists, please join me on Sun., Jan. 6, at 10:30 am EST (that's 7:30 am PST) on KSFO 560 am--that's http://www.bobtanem.com/index.html. I'll be talking to gardening show host Bob Tanem about heirlooms and how to plan your spring garden.

Watch this space for more seed suggestions to come. Happy New Year!

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Last Minute Decorations

2007-12-17T14:38:00.000-05:00

Need an inexpensive centerpiece for a holiday table? Here in the Southeast, we still have a lot of greenery in the woods and our own gardens that can make beautiful arrangements.

I filled a hand-cut wooden bowl with pine cones and artifical berries and leaves, and voila--a colorful display for the table by my front door.

You could use whatever you find in your own yard, like dried seed pods, red twigs from dogwood trees, boughs of a Virginia pine, clusters of magnolia leaves, or bunches of holly berries.

Firs and mountain laurels are also good for cutting and bringing indoors; just let them soak up plenty of water before using them, or keep them in vases filled with fresh water. Try the berries from nandina, aucuba, and cotoneaster, too. I especially like Eastern red cedar branches studded with frosty blue berries. (Don't let pets or small children munch on any berries, though, to avoid harm.)

If you like, you can jazz up your natural decorations with some shiny touches, like a length of bright gold ribbon woven through the branches or a sprinkle of glitter or artificial snow. Try a simple white candle for added elegance, or go with a peppermint-striped pillar for fun. Just be sure to keep your lighted candles away from anything flammable, and don't leave them unattended.

For an extra-nice touch, add some potpourri to your decorations to spread the scent of evergreens and pine, cinnamon or vanilla throughout the house. Now relax and enjoy your beautiful creation!

The Simplest Gifts

2007-12-12T12:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you want to give a simple gift--maybe your budget is tight, or you need something small for a casual acquaintance. I can't take credit for this one--Courtney, my son's girlfriend, came up with it-- but I think it's great. She hot-glued two candy canes together in the shape of a heart (they were wrapped in plastic, of course). Just a dab of hot glue at the very tip of the cane is enough--be careful you don't melt the plastic or the candy! Then we took a couple of Clementines, which are small, sweet, orange-like fruits, and some chocolate bars, and put everything into colorful gift bags. We thought the bags turned out great, and they were just right for giving to some of my writing buddies.

If you're looking for a slightly more expensive last-minute gift, try shopping at a garden or home center for a boxed amaryllis. One of my favs is Green Goddess, a white-and-lime-green flower that's really gorgeous.

I also love the "butterfly amaryllis," Hippeastrum papilio, but you probably won't find that one for sale in a local store. I've only seen them sold online as bulbs. I've gotta get one...I love the butterfly shape of the blossoms.

If you're up early this weekend--maybe looking for candy canes or gift flowers--hope you'll tune in to hear me talk about my book on one of 3 radio shows I'm doing.

On Saturday, 12/15, I'll join gardening show host Mike Raley at 8:35 am on News-Talk Radio 680 WPTF, in Raleigh, NC.

On Sunday, 12/16, Mark Govan, of Fox News-Radio 970 WFLA, will interview me starting at 10:04 am on "Florida Gardening." Click here to listen as the show streams live over the Internet:
WFLA.com

Later on Sunday, at 1:15 pm EST (that's 10:15 am PST) I'll speak with Fred Hoffman on his KSTE garden show from Sacramento, CA. That's 650 AM on your radio dial. You can also listen to this one live, at KSTE.com Or, check the website the following day to download the podcast.

Till next time,

Lynn

Holly in the House

2007-12-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

Okay, you can't grow holly indoors, but if your branches can stand a little pruning by now, you can still enjoy the beautiful greenery in vases. This morning, I cut back my hollies just a little, and took a few cuttings from my neighbor's Leland cypress (shhh..I should've asked first. But he won't mind. I hope.) Then I filled some vases I already had with florists' foam, stuck in the branches, and added some shiny red Christmas balls I'd attached to thin wires. Now I've got a nice centerpiece for my mantle, and I didn't have to spend a penny--I just used what I already had on hand.

You can make your own Christmas floral arrangements with whatever you have around the house, too. If you don't grow hollies, try cuttings of yew, arbor vitae, mistletoe, white pine, magnolia, or whatever you can find outdoors that still looks good. Just be sure that pets and children can't get to your arrangements if you use any berries or plants that might be toxic. Add jingle bells or ribbon, spray with artificial snow, or add pinecones dressed up with gold or silver glitter, and stand back to admire your handiwork!

2007-11-26T13:24:00.000-05:00

It's not quite December, but if you've got your radio dial set to any station that plays Reba, Willie, or Kenny, you'll want to check out the article my friend, Stacey Morris, just wrote for the Albany, NY Times Union:

Christmas in Nashville

I met Stacey in Nashville, and her story about Opryland's beautiful Christmas lights, the Cheekwood Botanical Garden, the yummy fried chicken and biscuits the Nashville Farmer's Market dishes up, and holiday performances by the Radio City Rockettes made me want to visit again soon.

And speaking of the radio...I'm excited about being interviewed on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8:45 am, on XM Satellite radio channels 152 and 165. Tune in for "In the Garden with Ron Wilson" as we discuss heirloom plants. Ron's show runs from 6-9 am, and he takes questions from listeners, so you can call in for his expert gardening advice. If you don't have satellite radio, you can still hear Ron on 55KRC, "The Talk Station," out of Cincinnati.

In The Garden with Ron Wilson

If you're in the Boston area, I'll be speaking again on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 7 am, on "The Jim Zoppo Garden Show." Hope you'll join us.

Jim Zoppo Garden Show

Harry PotterCat

2007-11-25T11:15:00.001-05:00

Sometime during the spring or summer, we realized that a feral cat had had kittens in our yard. The first clue was seeing their little heads pop out from under a canoe that is resting upside down in our backyard--mama cat evidentally decided it was a cozy spot to raise her babies. Most of the cats have wandered on by now; they've never let us get close enough to try to catch and tame them.

But one handsome little guy keeps hanging around, and I've named him Harry PotterCat for the white streak over one of his eyes--kind of like that famous lightning bolt that Harry has on his forehead. Harry the feline struck a nice pose for my camera this morning, shortly after I delivered his breakfast on the back deck, so I thought I'd share it on my blog. Of course, Harry may actually be Harriette!

Making Pumpkin Pie - From a Real Pumpkin!

2007-11-20T13:23:00.000-05:00

Here's a question for all you cooks out there: how many of you have ever made a pumpkin pie? (I'm imagining a big show of hands.) Okay. Now, how many of you have made a pie from a real pumpkin?

To be honest, it's only recently that I used a real pumpkin for my pies, too. Like most folks, I reached for those cans on the supermarket shelves, never realizing how bland the pureed pumpkin actually was. Then I tried a fresh pumpkin, and ooh la la...the difference in taste and texture is amazing!

The key to baking a delicious pumpkin pie, of course, is starting with a delicious pumpkin. You don't want to use one of those grocery store giants; they're bred to have thin rinds and few seeds, for carving into Jack o'Lanterns.

Instead, pick out a nice, orange pie pumpkin, which should have a label to identify it. You want one that's about 8" around, without any bruises or mushy spots. A pie-type punkin' will have thicker, sweeter flesh for cooking than other types, and if you find an heirloom pie variety--better still!

To prepare your pumpkin, start by rinshing it in cool water, drying it (so it doesn't slip in your hands), and then cutting it in half. I use a sharp, serrated and a sawing motion for more control. Don't slip and cut yourself! Next, scrap out all the seeds and stringy stuff. You can roast the seeds for snacks, if you like, or if they're from an heirlom variety, save them for planting next year.

Next, put your pumpkin halves into a microwavable bowl. Cut them smaller to fit, if necessary. Add a couple of inches of water, cover, and microwave for 15 minutes on full power. Check to see if the pumpkin flesh is soft enough to scoop out. If not, microwave a few minutes more, and repeat until the flesh is nice and soft. If you prefer, put the pumpkin chunks in a large pan, cover them with water, and cook them on the stovetop until they're soft.

Use a big spoon to slide the cooked pumpkin out of the skin. Puree the pumpkin, after it's cooled, in a blender or mash it up with a hand mixer. Now you're ready to get out your favorite recipe and whip up a Thanksgiving dessert!

Happy Thanskgiving, everyone!
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Arrange a Fall Bouquet

2007-11-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Forget those vases--if you've got a nice pumpkin from your garden (or the grocery store--we won't tell), you can collect flowers and fall foliage and make a beautiful arrangement for your Thanksgiving table.

First, choose a small, firm pumpkin with a thick, strong rind. If you're not sure, try a pie pumpkin, which should have sturdy walls.

Cut a hole in the top of your punkin' but don't get carried away. You want an opening just big enough to hold an 8-ounce plastic cup. Clean out the seeds and innards. You can roast and salt the seeds to eat later, or toss them out for the birds and squirrels.

Soak a piece of florist's foam in water, and trim it to fit snugly in the cup. Put the cup in the pumpkin, and then fill it with whatever suits your fancy. You can use colorful maple leaves, ivy, dried grasses, berry-studded branches, dried hydrangea blossoms, pine boughs, or whatever is at hand. For extra color, tuck in up some gold, scarlet, or dark purple mums or asters.

Check the plastic cup daily and keep it filled with water. If your flowers and leaves start to droop, pull them out and replace them with fresh cuttings. Be sure to keep a saucer or plate under your pumpkin, to protect the table or whatever surface it's sitting on. Try not to let water get into the pumpkin itself, as that will make it spoil faster.

If your pumpkin is going to be a centerpiece, make it full and pretty all the way around, and keep the arrangement low enough that guests can see across the table. If it's going to be placed against a wall, you can use taller branches and flower stems--like the ones in my pictures.

When your pumpkin starts to poop out, just toss it. Meanwhile, enjoy some beauty from your own backyard!

my first book, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds

2007-11-13T17:38:00.000-05:00