FlowerCamp 2010

Thursday 9/30/10
FlowerCamp

What a great day it turned out to be! Although my otherwise trusty & eager assistants bailed on me, I was able to pull it off solo! Credit to Julie & Gina with food assist, though- love it!

The weather was perfect, too- overcast, slight breeze and mild temps. The ladies really seemed to enjoy traipsing around in the pumpkin field searching for the perfect one. They carved a hole in the top or side in order to make room for each unique creation. The campers' personalities were ablaze as the assignment was given and actions executed. I'll never forget last year after our initial "camp meeting" those women were fleeting out the door as if there were a blue ribbon at stake!

Not this group, they took their time, contemplated each flower/green placement, and turned out some beauties. Saturday is the last group for this year. I am sad to see it end, but most were fired up about "Wreath Workshops" offered in December.

I'll post the "camp lunch recipes" soon.

It was FUN FLOWERS FELLOWSHIP & FOOD

Check back for tomorrow's Camp Wrap Up.
Blessings from FlowerCamp.
ML

Pumpkins on 10th Street!

Thanks One 10th...


Wow. Brought a large load home in a 20ft trailer behind my Yukon XL, what a sight...Driving around Walton Way is tricky...

Thank you to those of you on 10th Street today who braved the rain! Fulcher, Hagler Law firm(ah hem!), Smith Barney, The Morris Museum and several others stopped by to select from the most unique bunch of pumps! One special shopper bought pumps for the ladies in the office!


I have a few stops left with the trailer, and one more load to harvest this weekend...

Maybe some of this weekend's FlowerCampers will join in the harvest?!




It can be like shopping for Christmas trees!!

Follow the Pumps at www.mlchgarden.com

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Porches on Parade

Even though it's still a bit warm, it's time to prepare for fall. Sprucing up the outside of the house early gets me in the mood for entertaining and a jump on the upcoming holidays...


I thought it would be fun to showcase front doors and porches dressed up for fall.
What the heck? We will make it a contest!

The winner will recieve a MLCHgarden fresh Christmas Wreath for her front door!

Get your camera ready, pull out those fall decorations- can be Halloween or not, and email them to me or post as comment on MLCHgarden.




How to get started?
Use lights, greenery from your yard, pull out some urns, pots, baskets(see above).
Don't forget PUMPKINS, funky squash, scarecrows, crows, spiderweb, just let your imagination run wild...

Deadline for the contest is October 22nd. Send me pics...

All About YOU.

I've been blogging for over a year, and have noticed in recent months that I have regular readers!
Though flattered, I'd like to know a bit about you...I know you are from all over the country and Canada- Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, New York, California, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas.

You inspire me to pursue my gardening skills in addition to writing about my experiences. A few of you have shared pictures of your gardens which I will be posting. Jennifer & Roger in Atlanta have a charming garden in the North Carolina mountains where they spend time with their two teenage boys. The moon-vine above is growing in their mountain garden. Nancy, from Virginia, shared several pics of her prize-winning lilies last year, too. I'd like to share more of your gardens in my posts, so send them on.



I'm curious as to what you are interested in, so leave a comment or send an email. My creative team( Sam & Marianna, Tambonana Productions) is gearing up to test a short series of video segments. Shoot some ideas my way to stir the creative right brain!

Stay tuned & Thanks for reading.
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Glamorous?.

Pumpkin harvest is exciting but definitely not glamorous! Today, I picked about 50 or so pumps to get the home garden looking good. Brought them home, washed with a bit of diluted bleach and placed strategically around the back yard. Reminded me of the Dallas Arboretum last week where the garden beds were lined with pumps and a few even tucked in to hanging baskets. Test out that link for cool ideas with pumpkins... If you're in Dallas, go to the Arboretum & ask for my new friend, Terry Ann, she was an unforgettable hostess!

Spunky Orange Bulldog Pumpkins

(click above link for video)

LOCAL PUMPKINS

8 bucks most

4 bucks tiny of which there are few

10 bucks tubes

Grown by a Prissy FarmGirl & her handsome helper.

Drive Thru sales

Monday - Friday 12 noon to 1pm

3206 Candace Drive

Email mlchgarden@comcast.net for alternative times.

Save your pumps for Thanksgiving! Perfect for special occasions & weddings...

Blessings from the Pumpkin Patch.

ML

Weed

Louise, a dedicated local reader of MLCHgarden, asked about this obnoxious summer weed.

UGA extension answered this one as I have it all over my garden, too, but hard to find

a description online. UGA's Georgia Turf is an excellent resource too!

The pics are of Chamberbitter (Niruri, Gripeweed, Leafflower) growing in

my garden. I just pluck them up as they are easy to pull, but the underside is filled with

perfect rows of little round seed balls...

The Extension office recommends treatment of turfgrass/garden area in spring with Prompt (a pre-mix of atrazine and Basagran), again, though, I just let my fingers do the pullin'.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Pots, Pumps, Pools & Petrified Trees!

I am so fortunate to have been able to leave home, kids, etc. for an adventure with prominent garden writers, bloggers, publishers and editors...Long days filled with garden tours, education from superb speakers, and just plain fun meeting new friends from all over the country. All the while having friends and family taking care of the routine in Augusta. I am blessed!

I look foward to sharing what I've learned with other gardeners and garden bloggers through MLCHgarden blogs and videos(Tambo productions!). The return home finds me preparing for FlowerCamp, pumpkin loading and sales, in addition to planning unique workshops and events for new and experienced gardeners...After all, I do live in the "Garden City"!

I am truly in a great place, and would love to hear from you!

Blessings from the Garden

ML

ps. I loved the green boots the lady from a schoolyard garden was wearing...Urban Outfitters, my boots are in the mail!

Dallas Day 3

This laptop is disappointing! I cannot load the pictures of the past 3 days for some reason, but they are on my Facebook page..Friend request, and you'll see the finest gardens in Dallas...The tour started with a walk through Hobbit House, then on to Green Garden, Pump House Garden, and Highland Park.

The morning was highlighted by beautiful pots, water features, and a distinct focus on comfortable outdoor living. Large pots packed with tropicals, bright annuals and lush foliage were a repeating theme today. Another recurrent theme was water- bird baths, copper rain chains, and stone water "scapes". The last obvious trend was outdoor living areas graced with comfortable furnishings, cushions, and simple decorations. Fireplaces, caves(yes!) and screened porches were dressed up, yet inviting.

There was no question that maintenance of these illustrious properties is no issue. One driveway parking space was labelled "Manager", giving me the impression of a hired professional. One bus mate concluded that if you can live in Highland Park(w/it's own police, fire, and post!), maintenance is no issue...

Please check out my Facebook page for pics of today's tour...
Blessings from the Garden!
ML

Dallas Day 2

Dallas Day 2 of the Garden Writers Association annual symposium was fantastic! Here is the wrap up of today:

* 7a B'fast & speaker from Scott's re: Sustainability. Main Point: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Redesign. Scott's implemented " Farms for City Kids"...hmm ..interesting!

* 8a. Keynote- Kierstin De West-More about the shift to Sustainability as a Cultural Shift not a Trend... Being "green" is not the color of sustainability- consumers are looking for more experiences, they are more interested in community. Rather than "conspicuous consumers, we are becoming "conscious consumers"...

* Branding & Self Promotion-Pat Lanza and Kathy Jentz presented a session on developing a personal "brand". Really insightful information from these two experienced ladies.

* Branding a Book Concept- Felder Rushing and Jean Ann Van Krevelen presented the fast track to book publishing utilizing different social media platforms.

Next was LUNCH in the exhibition hall where I convinced a vendor to give(since he refused to sell!) one of the cutest hanging birdfeeders EVER! White and in the shape of a snowman with eyes and an orange nose!

So I found myself alone in a beautiful state of the art, extremely clean GYM! One hour of treadmill combined with weights and triceps on the pulldown cable! Amazing that HUNDEDS of people in this hotel, and I was the only one in the gym!

The Dallas Arboretum was impeccable! Of course, I was drawn to the unique styling with pumpkins. The Peter Rabbit garden and cottage was delightful. I felt like a kid! Dinner at the Arboretum sitting with other "first timers" resulted in illuminating conversation and new friends from all over the country and Canada.

I am in a cozy room frustrated with this laptop which will upload the pics from camera but can't seem to get them here for you to see....All I know, is I am in the right place connecting with people and places that fit.

Blessings from Dallas
ML

Dallas Day 1

Day 1 in Dallas began with the best plane flight ever. I even thanked the
pilot once we arrived a DFW. I do not like to fly, in case you didn't know.

Met up Becky who I met in Augusta, then she up and moved to TX about 6 months
ago. We had a great lunch at a cozy deli up the street. Have pictures of the food..must see...

The newcomers reception was great. Finally met my friend, Pat Lanza, who
wrote Lasagna Gardening! Will post pics as soon as I figure out this dino laptop...
Next was the tour of an exhibition hall full of enthusiastic vendors showing off
thier plants, products and give aways! I am already loaded down with goodies to
bring home!

Off to supper, more exhibit hall and bed for an early start tomorrow...Virtual garden party
at Dallas Arboretum...
see you . hope i figure out the pic download...
blessings.
ML

Flower Harvest

Labor day weekend is always full of fun, friendship and flowers!I brought 4 buckets of flowers and broom corn home yesterday, then

prepared them for use at a local event this week. Thought I would share part of the

process of harvesting, conditioning, and storing freshly cut flowers.

It's best to harvest early in the morning or late in the afternoon out of the

mid-day sun and when stems have good water supply. I couldn't believe the water that came out of this broom corn(below).

Making the longest cut possible will give you opportunity to cut length as you need to while

arranging. Plunge stems immediately into cool water, then move to shady area or indoors...

Once I arrive home with my buckets of flowers, I cut stem ends again, then immerse

in fresh cool water and flower conditioner. Lots of recipes for flower conditioner, but I use a pre-made powder.

I store the flowers in the shade or in the shed where it's pretty cool inside. The broom corn here will be the "skeleton" for a fall arrangement this Thursday--Historic Augusta Wine & Antiques.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

FlowerCamp 2010 Detail

Curious about FlowerCamp 2010?

Here is the "routine"...

• Arrival of Campers around 11am(weekend Campers), gather on porch & in cabin- get acquainted.
• 11:30am Short discussion of the day, growing your own cut flowers at home & Camp "rules"(location of restrooms, bug spray, etc...)
• 11:45am To porch work area, choose your spot & short course on floral design
• Noon Gather materials from Garden, sneak peek at Pumpkins, begin your creation
• 12:20pm Basket Lunch served, very informal dining!
• Continue creative design, walk around property, rest in rocking chair, wrap up.
• Departure: 1pm-ish...

Space still available in September 25th and October 2nd Classes!!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

FlowerCamp Questions!

I decided to post a couple of comments/questions that have come up lately related to FlowerCamp:

Comment: I am not creative, don't have one creative bone in my body!

Response: You are what FlowerCamp is all about! We help you open your eyes(& your brain!) to see things a bit differently...

Comment: What will I be able to take home?

Response: You will take a flower arrangement designed by YOU, a folder with all sorts of good stuff related to gardening in our area including the TOP 10 plants for your cutting garden, and a special garden apron! While at FlowerCamp, you'll enjoy Zinnia Clippers (special drink) , a scrumptious lunch and fellowship that is priceless...

Registration is in full swing and open to those in surrounding counties that are able to make the drive to Burke County, GA.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML