Tag Archives: plants

Sweet Dahlia Memory

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My colleague’s 94 year old father brought in 3 big bunches of dahlias the other day. He raises them on his 4 acres of property and delivers them to his remaining friends. He joked that most of his friends are gone now and that his stops include their kids and grandkids along with several “old people homes”.

His comments reminded me of a good friend in high school; his grandmother doted on her dahlias, bragging about them regularly and showing off her garden.

Which reminded me of a walk this time last year with my mom and grandmother (98 years old now).  We meandered through the gardens in the retirement area of the home she lives in. There were yellow dahlias as big as my head and she liked feeling the petals and talking about the colors. We reminded her of the house in Tacoma on Vassault, that grows the most gorgeous flowers every year and has a sign that reads, “Dahlias for Sale”.

Dahlias remind me of when I was volunteering at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake City and one of the girls in the class was the cutest, sassiest, little thing named Dahlia.

xx

-h

Modern Day Victory Garden!

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In the 1940’s the Department of Agriculture created a huge campaign to fight food cost inflation called the Victory Garden. The concept was backed by the thoughts that gardeners would feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the fruits of their labors – literally.

I’m not sure if it is because I’m getting older, but it seems like more and more of my friends are planting their own gardens. In the same victory style concept but now, less to fight food cost inflation but more to support farm to table style dining. And more because of the fear of what the pesticides in our food could mean for our future generations. Organic farming is the new victory garden.

I think I mentioned before that I joined a CSA for the first time this year. Every week I pick up a small share from Terry’s Berries in Puyallup, WA. I’ve been getting so much produce, paired with the things from my own garden that I’ve had to split the small share with my parents. If you do have too much produce from your garden and you’re tired of freezing, canning, or prepping, most food banks are happy to take them as donation.

Think organic products can’t be as big as normal ones? Check out this spinach leaf.

Are you growing a garden this year? Organic or not? Involved in a CSA?

xx

-h

Tillandsia – the ultimate house plant

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I can’t help the fact that I absolutely adore plants, I love the instant brightness they add to a room. They also become similar to children to me.  I have a couple of houseplants that I have owned for nearly 5 years, and that I raised since they were mere seedlings including a Tai form Hawaii, an aloe for the ultimate sunburn cure, and a hand me down from an event I worked a couple years ago.

One of my favorite places in Salt Lake to go to check out flowers, cactuses, succulents, plus gorgeous displays is Cactus & Tropicals. Located in the Millcreek area and with another store in Draper, this gem is truly full of surprises.

I couldn’t help myself, I wanted to buy every single thing in the store, however, the hubby was with me to put the kibosh on the $100 orchid displays, the $60 planters, and the $40 bonsai trees. So, I narrowed my selections down to a couple of saucy succulents, and a Tillandsia ball.  Tillandsia otherwise known as an air plant, is quite possibly the easiest plant to keep indoors.  Give it some light, water it every couple weeks and it will survive.

Lovely ball of green goodness

Cactus & Tropicals has tons of absolutely gorgeous displays featuring these spider looking plants, including other supplies like sand, stones, and glass vases, lanterns, or bottles.  So, my suggestion if you are looking to add a little green to your life is head to your local garden store, pick up an air plant and get creative.

-h