Home / Blogs / The Eclectic Garden / Gardening /

My Grandfather

Category: Gardening | Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 10:41 am

---

My grandfather was the one who steered me towards gardening. He was a vegetable farmer by trade. Growing up I spent many hours under the hot, Florida sun working in his fields. He mostly grew tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons, but I also remember peanuts, eggplant and even soybeans.

Even though he had acres and acres of vegetables in his fields he still kept a smaller, separate garden with a few tomatoes, squash, beans, corn and okra for himself.

I didn't appreciate his love of farming when I was growing up. That didn't come until many years later. He passed away in 1993. What I wouldn't give to just sit down with him now and have a conversation about this year's garden. I would love to ask him about some of his farming/gardening experiences. It would be incredible to have his wealth of knowledge at my fingertips. Mostly, I would just love to be with him and hear his voice again.

If I could be with him again I would let him know that I appreciated all of the blood, sweat and tears he poured into his chosen profession. I would let him know that all of those years were not in vain. I would let him know how a little boy who used to complain about having to work out in the fields under the hot sun now longs to feel its warmth on his skin as he is digging around in the dirt.

I can't tell my grandfather any of those things, but I can tell others. If you know a farmer then let them know how much you appreciate them. If they are anything like my grandfather they won't really want a compliment, but a few kind words can go a long way.

Last edited: Fri May 02, 2014 10:57 am

This blog entry has been viewed 440 times

---

Miracle Plant

Category: Gardening | Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 10:17 am

---

When I was about twelve I showed my mom a special plant from a gardening magazine. The picture showed a beautiful, green plant with succulent, red tomatoes growing above and large, brown potatoes below. I couldn't believe that they could grow tomatoes and potatoes on the same plant.

My mom ordered it for me and I watched the mail every day, eagerly awaiting this wonder of modern horticulture. When it finally arrived I tore into the box, expecting to see something extraordinary. Instead, I found six pieces of potato with a hole in the center of each one and a pack of tomato seeds.

My excitement quickly began to fade and, as I read the instructions, it left me completely. The instructions said to put the potato in the ground, place a seed in the hole that was in the middle of it and then cover it up. If planted this way, the potato and tomato would grow at the same time and in the same place. I was so disappointed that I didn't even try it. I was expecting some new kind of miracle plant, not a trick.

Recently I've started seeing advertisements for the tomato/potato plant once again. They are calling it the TOMTATO. Look it up on the Internet and you will see some incredible pictures. This time, instead of planting a tomato seed inside of a potato they claim it is a tomato plant grafted onto a potato plant. I won't be ordering one, but I can't help but wonder if anyone has tried it.


Last edited: Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:16 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 417 times

---

Garden Nerd

Category: Gardening | Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:02 am

---

I am a garden nerd and I don't care. Let me explain: I have a friend at work who wanted to start a garden for the first time. He asked me some questions and I tried to help him out. After a few weeks he came to me and told me that he was giving up because he just didn't have the time.

Not wanting him to give up I told him about some of my gardening challenges, the most recent being how to protect my young plants from the free-roaming chickens. I pulled out my phone to show him a picture of one of the cages that I had placed around the borage.

I saw his eyebrows rise when I started showing him the other pictures of the garden. I guess it could have been the excitement in my voice as I explained every picture.

I quickly realized that he wasn't very interested in looking at the pictures or even talking about gardening any longer so I squelched my excitement and shut down the picture show.

As I think back on the encounter his reaction made sense. Here I am, a 50 year old man, whipping out pictures of my garden and showing them off like they were my grandkids. The fact that I even carry around garden pictures to show off proves that I am a hopeless, albeit happy, garden nerd.

Here's the thing. If you are reading this I would be willing to admit that you have pictures of your garden too.

Anyone willing to admit it?

Last edited: Thu May 01, 2014 10:44 am

This blog entry has been viewed 486 times

---

Korean Hyssop

Category: Gardening | Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:36 pm

---

This is a Korean Hyssop plant that self-seeded in the garden from last year. It came up slap dab in the middle of the walk row, but I decided to leave it there. It goes with my whole eclectic garden theme that way. I had to nurse it through the winter, but I think it's going to be worth it.

Korean Hyssop is similar to Anise Hyssop. They both have that licorice smell, but I think the flowers are much prettier on the Korean Hyssop. I know the bees definitely love it.

I'll post another picture after it starts blooming.


Korean Hyssop ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 426 times

---

No Gardening Today

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:03 pm

---

I wanted to open up the bee hives today and work on a couple things in the garden, but unfortunately the radiator on my Jeep decided to spring a leak. So, instead of getting my hands dirty I guess I'll be getting them greasy. It's just not the same.


This blog entry has been viewed 413 times

---

Beginning

Category: Gardening | Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:38 am

---

I've kept a blog before, but this is the first time it has been mostly dedicated to gardening. The site is pretty awesome (notwithstanding the newbie patch that I've been saddled with for a while). That's okay though, we all start out as babies. I am looking forward to sharing about this year's garden and reading other garden enthusiast's blogs. Can't wait to get started.

Last edited: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:38 am

This blog entry has been viewed 476 times

---

Goto page previous, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

Home / Blogs / The Eclectic Garden / Gardening /