Kristin Green's Blog: trench manicure, page 3

Some thoughts that count

Originally published December 16, 2015 in East Bay Newspapers. It has been my habit in the weeks before Christmas to offer garden-y gift suggestions pulled directly from my own wish list. I’m doing it again but with a twist. I haven’t made a list this year; I am well supplied with garden tools, my bookshelves… Continue reading Some thoughts thatcount

Agree to disagree

We can always count on Mother Natureto give us gardeners something safe(r)to talk about when the news isbleak and full of polarizing politics. Temperaturesin the 50s and low 60s for the last couple of weeks have made the weather a hot enough topic to justify changing the subject whenever things get uncomfortable. I’ve hadthe windows… Continue reading Agree to disagree

Down to earth — I like lichen

Originally published December 2, 2015 in East Bay Newspapers. Lest we become completely overwhelmed and demoralized by horrendous events happening around the world, the news media have also been reporting, as they usually do around the holidays, on the benefits of gratitude. According to one article I read, recent studies show that expressing gratitude will… Continue reading Down to earth — I likelichen

Down to earth — bulbs worth the backache

Originally published November 4, 2015 in East Bay Life newspapers. A little over a month ago I received an email from a Master Gardener on Cape Cod who mentioned at the end of the note an intention to go right out and plant Eremurus bulbs. She said foxtail lilies had done well in her garden… Continue reading Down to earth — bulbs worth thebackache

In dying color

The garden makes senescence look like a party.Call me me a ghoul(you wouldn’t be the first) but I can’t help wishing that when my time comes, I might go out with a riotous blaze too. Happy All Souls’ Day!

Down to earth — frost warning

(Originally published October 21, 2015 in East Bay/South Coast Life newspapers. Since writing it a lightfrost mostly-toasted the dahlias, the one African blue basil I left out for the bees, and my zinnias. The salvias didn’t blink.) With below-freezing temperatures forecast for the weekend I should be spending every waking moment moving the rest of… Continue reading Down to earth — frostwarning

Down to earth — everybody’s gotta eat

Originally published October 7, 2015 in East Bay/South Coast life newspapers. When I was first bitten by the gardening bug, I hated them. Insects and creepy crawlies of all stripes gave me the heebies. (Butterflies excepted.) Gardening for me was about being outside under a warm sun surrounded by the fragrances and prettiness of flowers,… Continue reading Down to earth — everybody’s gottaeat

Unstuck in time — at Mt. Hope Farm

Ever since my daily schedule became …unstructured… I have been unstuck in time. Or rather, stuck on a datein August as if this has been one long week of staycation. No complaints because staycations are always blissfully productivebut it’s a little strange given that August became September and the other day I had to flip… Continue reading Unstuck in time — at Mt. HopeFarm

Down to earth — change is good

Originallypublished on September 24, 2015 in East Bay/South Coast Life newspapers. I wish I could put my hands on the New York Times article clipped for me by a friend in which the author, or maybe it was an interviewee, shared the reason behind his lifelong passion for gardening. The gist was, through all of… Continue reading Down to earth — change isgood

Nally’s Lime Dots

It’s hard to believe I haven’t already waxed onabout Boltonia asteroides ‘Nally’s Lime Dots’ (or is it ‘Dot’ singular?)but a quick search of this blog found only twomeasly mentions. (I foundseveral on Bwold’sblog along with a myriad of my own photos in google images, some totally unrelated. Weird.) Anyhoo, I love this plant and it… Continue reading Nally’s Lime Dots