Wordless Wednesday

Bromeliad...forgot which one I bought

Agave attenuata 'Huntington Blue' + Sedum 'Autumn Joy' + Sedum 'Tricolor' (Groundcover)

Salvia greggii - A Red Variety

I’m offering another complimentary telecall!

Joining me will be Elaine Giftos Wright of The Wright Way of Feng Shui, and we'll be talking about using Feng Shui in the garden to attract abundance into your life.

This info on this call is good for any climate, any zone, anywhere! All you need is the desire to make your garden shine. Thursday March 15, 2012 at 6:30 pm PST

Check out this link for more information YourGardenGoddess.com

What's Happening in Southern California - Garden Edition March 2012

As always, I want to remind you to shop local, and get the freshest produce around by heading out to the local Farmer’s Markets in Santa Clarita:

Sundays 8:00am – noon
College of The Canyons Parking Lot
Don’t forget to visit my friend Sarah Scissorhands from Worldwide Exotics

There is also another great Farmer’s Market:
Thursdays in Old Town Newhall from 3-7pm.

Thursday March 15, 2012 at 6:30 pm PST - Teleclass “Feng Shui in the Garden” Julie Molinare (Your Garden Goddess) has an informal discussion with Elaine Giftos Wright of The Wright Way of Feng Shui. Listen in as they discuss the best practices to bring more abundance into your garden and into your life! Tips, tricks, and insights!


Saturday March 17, 2012 – Up With Birds, Bird Walk 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
No charge – held at Ed Davis Park in Towlsey Canyon
24335 The Old Road
Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon, California 91321

Check out the unique migratory birds as they travel north with our in-house birder, with Volunteer Naturalist Roger. Beginners are welcome on this easy walk. Bring binoculars. 2 hours.



And from 10 am to noon – A Celebration of Spring Wildflowers – A Wildflower Walk
Towsley Canyon is the perfect place to see this year’s splendid wildflower display.

Revel in the beautiful colors of spring with Volunteer Naturalist Wendy on this easy walk. 2 hours.

Meet for both in the parking lot at Ed Davis Park in Towlsey Canyon.
Info: 310-858-7272 x131 Website

Sponsored by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and presented by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority



Saturday March 24, 2012 – Green Thumb’s Spring Opening – Julie will be speaking with Elaine Giftos Wright of The Wright Way of Feng Shui at 10 – Feng Shui in the Garden
Green Thumb Newhall is located at: 23734 Newhall Avenue in Newhall, CA 91321 (661) 259-1071. Event runs from 9am – 5 pm and there are always giveaways and raffles. Fun!



Saturday March 24, 2012 – Spritual & Psychic Boutique from 10 am – 4pm at The Residence Inn – Stevenson Ranch, Ca.

Spiritual & Psychic Boutique with numerous services and vendors including psychic readings, animal communication, past life regressions, angel readings, energy healing, chair massage, inspirational gifts, healing jewelry, gemstones and so much MORE!

A different type of boutique! CONTACT: Harriette Knight at 661-254-4747 to make appointments or get directions.

Sat March 31 & Sun April 1, 2012 - KHTS – Santa Clarita Home & Garden Show
9am – 5 pm - Cost: $5.00 (Discount Tickets available), free parking
Location: Hyatt Regency Valencia

Visit this event which has over 70 of the area's finest businesses and organizations with products and services for the home and garden. Special Kids Zone with at least three attractions. There will be plant giveways each day to the first 500 attendees. There will also be dozens of prizes and special deals. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the WISH Foundation. See scvhomeandgarden.com for details, or call Gary Buterbaugh (661)255-7063.

Tomatomania! – Yes it is that time of the year again. Tomatomania’s California tour runs March through May, starting in Orange County at Roger’s Gardens hits as far north as Sonoma. Check out their link here. Encino is March 23-25, 2012 and Fillmore is April 13 – 14, 2012. I’ll probably hit April at Otto & Sons, but you might find me checking things out in Encino at Tapia Brothers too!



Descanso Gardens
The Camellias are still blooming!

Camellia Walk & Talk on Sat 3/10/12 and the 17th is full – Birding, California Natives talks and understanding wildlife all in the same day. Plus… Cherry Blossom Festival and Tomatomania!

Here is the link to Descanso’s calendar.




LA Arboretum
Lili Singer’s classes started up again on Thursdays in January, so plan to make it to some of them, she’s very informative.

There is a gem & mineral show March 3-4, 2012, an Organic Gardening lecture also on March 3rd and a Going Green lecture on the 10th, so check out their calendar link below for all the details.

LA Arboretum Calendar

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

Wordless Wednesday

Calliandra

Acacia

Red Camellia

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website

How to Care for Kalanchoe

I’ve written about caring for indoor holiday plants, and included Kalanchoe (the pretty little flowering variety called Kalanchoe beharensis) in the post. Well in Southern California those plants and a lot of the genus can be used outdoors in our gardens, so I thought I’d give you some tips for caring for them outdoors.

Kalanchoes that are planted outside well drained, alkaline soil. Wet and cold climates are not great for kalanchoes, so much of Southern California is perfect for them. That said, a cold snap could damage your kalanchoe, so it needs protection either from other plants or frost cloth when the temperatures go below 40. If you are worried about them in a planter bed, they are fantastic in container designs. If you put them on wheels they can be pushed into your garage or under protection when the weather gets too cool.

Spacing is important – make sure you know that mature width of your plants and space them accordingly, plants that are crowded are more susceptible to problems such as leaf spot and the pests that attack the plants (notes below). They are salt tolerant, so they can be planted near the ocean (and it is more moderate there, so that is an added bonus).




Kalanchoes can be planted in both the fall and the spring here in Southern California, other parts of the country should stick to spring after danger of frost has past. You should fertilize your kalanchoes once a year with a nice all-purpose (organic if possible) fertilizer.

Kalanchoes are easy to propagate, many send out small plants on the edges of their leaves, which when big enough can be removed and planted in their own pots. You can also take a cutting with at least 2 leaves (more is better), let it dry out for 24 hours and place it in potting soil. Make sure to water frequently, and soon you’ll have a new baby.

There are some garden pests that are a problem for Kalanchoes – slugs are number one on the list! Here is a photo of a slug attack!




Caterpillars, aphids, and mealy bugs can be a problem look for natural pest controls, your kalanchoe and your garden will be happier for it.
Now time to talk about animals… Kalanchoe is POISONOUS to both dogs and cats! So think about where (or if) you want to plant them in your garden. For a nice selection of kalanchoe, please visit my friends at Worldwide Exotics in Lake View Terrace.

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website

Wordless Wednesday - Want Birds?

Pyracantha

Rhaphiolepis

Nandina

If you would like to hire me to beautify your life, think about creating a beautiful garden with me. Call 661-917-3521, contact julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

Inspiration and Healing

Inspiration and healing never comes when you expect it. If you go looking, you won't find them but if you open yourself up to the world around you, there they are.



I am from the east coast, specifically the Greater New York area. I have lived in Manhattan, on Long Island, and in upstate New York and since my family is still there I go back to visit fairly often. A family event sent us back this past weekend and although it was too short (it always is) I enjoyed every moment. I walked the streets, and drove the back roads of my youth and found inspiration and healing by sharing a different perspective with my (now older) children. I really appreciate that they are at ages of discernment and that I can share much more with them.

photo by Marlon Molinare

I spent a day in Manhattan with my eldest son; I took him to the West Village, home of my first apartment, which I shared fresh out of college - just a shade younger than he is now. And later we spent an extraordinary 90 minutes at The Mandarin's Tea Room, I entered thinking that I would be learning more about the teas that my son Marlon, of Chan Teas, loves and walked out with a firmer connection on some of the principles I have been trying to foster in myself. I felt the tea brewing meditative (which I have been working on cultivating in my life) and the scents, tastes, textures, and sounds that Tim shared with us were extraordinary. It allowed me to participate more fully in the subsequent tea brewing sessions that Marlon shared with our family and created another great family memory.



How does this tie in to inspiration and healing you ask? I find beauty and inspiration all around. Have you ever designed a garden based on a beautiful curlicue or a antique pattern? I have.



Walking the city streets with the chill air in our faces, enjoying the branching structures of trees that I don’t normally see, drinking in the vibe, and coming upon surprise secret gardens tucked away among the big buildings gave me pause. I can see using all of these elements in my clients’ gardens, and how each and every piece of inspiration can lead to the creation of another garden that will connect families, heal hearts and minds, and foster enjoyment.

Stepping from the brisk streets into the warm tearoom provided another opportunity for me to understand that these are the kind of feelings (warm, comfortable, safe, healthy) I want to bring to people.



Long Island, the deserted beach at sunrise – cold and stark but beautiful and inviting. The birds circled above, the beach grasses rustled in the breeze, the water lapped against the shores. I felt completely at peace, completely aware, and completely inspired.

Nature can bring harmony, healing, and comfort to humanity, so why not bring it into your home by creating a healing garden? What I took away from this trip is that the world needs people to share their experiences with each other, to help others, and to realize that we are one. We are all in it together, so taking some time to center is really important. No matter how you do it, yoga, meditation, drinking tea, hiking, creating a garden. Get inspired and just take that step forward.

I think that the world needs more gardens and fewer yards.



If you are interested in learning more about adding permanent aspects to your healing garden, I’m offering another complimentary teleclass, This is second in the series.

I will be chatting with Special Guest, Alex Ventura of Ventura & Son Masonry.

Please join me for a complimentary teleclass I'm giving on what you need to know before making changes to your hardscape.

This call is good for any climate, any zone, anywhere! All you need is the desire to make your garden shine.

Monday February 13, 2012 at 6:30 pm PST

To learn more about it – take a look at this link

Wordless Wednesday - Mild February in NY

I’m offering another complimentary telecall! This is second in the series.

Julie Molinare (me…Your Garden Goddess) will be chatting with Special Guest, Alex Ventura of Ventura & Son Masonry.

Please join me for a complimentary teleclass I'm giving on what you need to know before making changes to your hardscape.

This call is good for any climate, any zone, anywhere! All you need is the desire to make your garden shine.

Monday February 13, 2012 at 6:30 pm PST

To learn more about it – take a look at this link!

What To Do In Your Southern California Garden in February

February is the reason that I moved to Southern California. After a few years of traveling here on business, and friends that had moved to entice me, the weather was the final punch that knocked me onto the left coast. I love NY don’t get me wrong, but February’s cold and slush can get old and now here I am giving gardening advice to my friends, clients, and fellow garden lovers in February. Lucky me.



1. Rose Pruning - Super bowl Sunday has been a benchmark for me regarding rose pruning. It’s an easy way to remember when to prune here in Southern California (as long as you don’t go by the lawn janitor’s timing). I know, the Giants are playing this year, however I think you can take some time in the morning to prune your roses. Don’t forget to apply that dormant spray!



2. Fruit Trees - You can plant bear root fruit trees and you can even plant citrus, they will benefit from our winter rains (if we ever get any) to help them establish. If you are planting subtropicals (like citrus and others) make sure that you think about frost protection. Leave some room between the trees and sink some 1”x1” wood into the ground on all four sides so you can drape some frost cloth around them should there be frost warnings. Make sure that you cover at night and uncover in the morning so they can get the benefit of the beauteous sunshine we have here! You can also use the Christmas light solution – stringing some around to raise the air temp – but don’t use both methods at the same time; I think the frost cloth is probably combustible!



3. Save Money on Roses - Bare root roses might still be available, buy some now and save a bundle. Once they are in cans they will be pricier! Take a look at my bare root primer post.



4. Don't Fight the Muck - Buy some new rubber boots or shoes. With the weather we have the stores think that it is springtime and lots of the winter gear is going on sale. Take advantage of it!.

5. Prune Winter Bloomers - By the end of the month some of your winter blooming shrubs and vines like hardenbergia and ceanothus may have finished blooming. If they have, you can prune them. If not or you hear it is going to be cold again… wait a little while.



6. Peach Leaf Curl - If you haven’t sprayed for peach leaf curl and your peach is less than 10% in bloom, you can still spray. If more than 10% - you missed the window.



7. Pruning Tip - You can prune your peach and nectarine trees now, even if they are in bloom. If you are planning to prune for size to create a backyard orchard that is easy to maintain – now’s the time. Take a look at my Backyard Orchard Culture Post for some insights.

8. Cool Season Color - You can plant cool season annuals like primrose and pansies, just remember they will still need to replaced when it warms up – but don’t worry they will let you know it’s time.

9. Plan Ahead - If you plant summer veggies from seed (and not seedlings) you can start some seeds now.




10. Get Healthy! - You can still get another crop of baby greens in. Select fast growing varieties or ones that you like to eat small. Mesclun, mache, and sorrel are some of my favorites. My pup dug up a bunch of sorrel a couple weeks ago, but I just shoved it back in and it seems to be doing well. I guess his toy wasn’t underneath my plants after all!



11. Time to Prune? - If the weather holds through the month, you can prune evergreen shrubs as far north as Santa Clarita, Lancaster & Palmdale – I’d wait a little bit.

12. Enjoy the weather! If it is sunny and warm, take your beverage and a book outside and enjoy, if it’s raining thank the rain g-ds and curl up on the couch.

If you would like to hire me to beautify your life, think about creating a beautiful garden with me. Call 661-917-3521, contact julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

Wordless Wednesday

If you would like to hire me to beautify your life, creating a beautiful garden with you call 661-917-3521, contact julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website