Copyright (c) 2012 CraftStylish.com en-us Fine Gardening - CoolGreenGardens' posts http://www.finegardening.com/profile/CoolGreenGardens Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:31:52 -0500 Fine Gardening - CoolGreenGardens' posts http://www.finegardening.com/assets/images/cs_logo_sm.jpg http://www.finegardening.com/profile/CoolGreenGardens Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:08:10 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21994/winter-wealth-a-gold-standard-for-gardens http://www.finegardening.com/item/21994/winter-wealth-a-gold-standard-for-gardens Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Gold is a precious commodity in a winter garden, bringing visual warmth and cheer when skies are gray. It's just the effect I need in the new garden I'm designing. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21994/winter-wealth-a-gold-standard-for-gardens Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:38:42 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21855/boost-your-garden-design-skills-and-save-money-at-a-flower-and-garden-show http://www.finegardening.com/item/21855/boost-your-garden-design-skills-and-save-money-at-a-flower-and-garden-show Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Attending a major flower and garden show can be a lot like grocery shopping while hungry. Here's how you can "purchase with purpose" while getting the most out of your visit. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21855/boost-your-garden-design-skills-and-save-money-at-a-flower-and-garden-show Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:14:32 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21695/america-in-bloom-rebuilding-communities-a-shovelful-at-a-time http://www.finegardening.com/item/21695/america-in-bloom-rebuilding-communities-a-shovelful-at-a-time Posted by CoolGreenGardens
On its surface, America In Bloom's national competition appears to be simply a horticulture program aimed at beautifying towns and cities around the country. But the deeper benefits for those who embrace the challenge can lead to an economic boost and heightened community pride. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21695/america-in-bloom-rebuilding-communities-a-shovelful-at-a-time Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:40:18 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21608/groovy-zoo-gardens http://www.finegardening.com/item/21608/groovy-zoo-gardens Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I was always grateful my former neighbor Janie, the elephant tender at the Santa Barbara Zoo, didn't bring her work home with her. But visiting her at her job gave me some great landscaping ideas. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21608/groovy-zoo-gardens Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:55:21 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21483/gift-idea-give-the-hippest-garden-photos-on-the-planet http://www.finegardening.com/item/21483/gift-idea-give-the-hippest-garden-photos-on-the-planet Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Nothing new about having a phone with your camera. But what if that camera was also a time machine that shot you back a few decades? ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21483/gift-idea-give-the-hippest-garden-photos-on-the-planet Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:48:59 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21215/christmas-trees-should-smell-good http://www.finegardening.com/item/21215/christmas-trees-should-smell-good Posted by CoolGreenGardens
The American Christmas Tree Association says PVC trees are perfectly safe. No mention of petrochemicals, carcinogens, or worker safety. Gimme something that smells like a walk in the woods. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21215/christmas-trees-should-smell-good Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:50:33 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21213/south-african-coral-tree-is-the-star-of-the-show http://www.finegardening.com/item/21213/south-african-coral-tree-is-the-star-of-the-show Posted by CoolGreenGardens
This magnificent Erythrina caffra was well established when I was asked to redesign this west facing garden off the master bedroom. It became the centerpiece for a composition using grasses, succulents and snow-in-summer ground cover. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21213/south-african-coral-tree-is-the-star-of-the-show Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:49:18 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21142/holey-crocs-batman http://www.finegardening.com/item/21142/holey-crocs-batman Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Regular size people recognize me by my hat. But really teeny tiny people know me for my distinctive, perforated footwear. I'm a Crocs kinda guy. But rather than throw out the old ones, I keep them in service as micro vertical gardens. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21142/holey-crocs-batman Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:52:40 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/21060/plant-tags-so-much-to-say-so-little-space http://www.finegardening.com/item/21060/plant-tags-so-much-to-say-so-little-space Posted by CoolGreenGardens
There's not a lot of room on a nursery tag, but sometimes it’s all the information we have when the “ME NEED PLANT” neurons commence to firing. So, what if you could fire up your smart phone, scan a QR code, and tap a deep mine of information? ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/21060/plant-tags-so-much-to-say-so-little-space Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:17:07 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20967/time-machine-tales-part-ii-long-strange-trip-to-the-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/20967/time-machine-tales-part-ii-long-strange-trip-to-the-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I kick myself knowing that while I was living out my rock and roll fantasy, I'd come within flower plucking distance of places like Longwood Gardens, the JC Raulston Arboretum, the Memphis Botanical Garden, and scores of places I'd love to visit today. As George Bernard Shaw reminds us, "Youth is wasted on the young." ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20967/time-machine-tales-part-ii-long-strange-trip-to-the-garden Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:55:10 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20793/surprise-at-the-indianapolis-museum-of-art-a-paved-paradise http://www.finegardening.com/item/20793/surprise-at-the-indianapolis-museum-of-art-a-paved-paradise Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art housing over 50,000 works representing a variety of cultures and 5000 years of art history. But I'll have to take their word for it, since I spent my time trying to make a dent in 152 acres of gardens, woodlands, wetlands, lake shore, meadows, and even their parking lot. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20793/surprise-at-the-indianapolis-museum-of-art-a-paved-paradise Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:00:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20609/taking-on-lawn-alternatives-with-the-garden-designers-roundtable http://www.finegardening.com/item/20609/taking-on-lawn-alternatives-with-the-garden-designers-roundtable Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Other than a place to teach your dog to play lacrosse, I don't see much use for conventional turf lawns. So I knew just what I'd write about when the Garden Designers Roundtable asked me to write an article about lawn alternatives. And the perfect topic for getting the discussion in gear is Reimagining the California Lawn, even if you garden 3000 miles away. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20609/taking-on-lawn-alternatives-with-the-garden-designers-roundtable Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:47:47 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20558/chardonnay-and-herbs-meet-in-sonoma-wine-county http://www.finegardening.com/item/20558/chardonnay-and-herbs-meet-in-sonoma-wine-county Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Saxon Holt and Tammi Hartung's book about herbs is the perfect excuse to share my recent speaking trip to the Bay Area. And I got a whole day to just play. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20558/chardonnay-and-herbs-meet-in-sonoma-wine-county Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:50:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20396/healthy-skepticism-for-a-healthy-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-the-informed-gardener http://www.finegardening.com/item/20396/healthy-skepticism-for-a-healthy-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-the-informed-gardener Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Linda Chalker-Scott, didn't set out to be a matador, hell-bent on goring gardening's sacred cows. But somebody needed to bust the myths we carry into our gardens. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20396/healthy-skepticism-for-a-healthy-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-the-informed-gardener Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:25:22 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20341/working-with-a-big-focal-point http://www.finegardening.com/item/20341/working-with-a-big-focal-point Posted by CoolGreenGardens
When I designed this garden, I knew who the star of the show would be. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20341/working-with-a-big-focal-point Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:55:22 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20195/time-machine-found-in-old-box-connecting-the-dots http://www.finegardening.com/item/20195/time-machine-found-in-old-box-connecting-the-dots Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Last week I was rummaging through an old box and found a time machine. It looked like an old, primitively drawn landscape plan. But for me, it was like taking Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine to 1975, when my love affair with gardens began. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20195/time-machine-found-in-old-box-connecting-the-dots Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:24:59 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/20063/protect-your-pets-from-poisonous-plants-biffs-ordeal http://www.finegardening.com/item/20063/protect-your-pets-from-poisonous-plants-biffs-ordeal Posted by CoolGreenGardens
We love our pets, but are we aware of all the common foods, products, and plants that put them in harm's way? I learned the hard way. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/20063/protect-your-pets-from-poisonous-plants-biffs-ordeal Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:04:28 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19911/cornerstone-sonoma-where-art-imagination-and-plants-come-to-play http://www.finegardening.com/item/19911/cornerstone-sonoma-where-art-imagination-and-plants-come-to-play Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I had heard so many wondrous things about Cornerstone: Festival of Gardens. It was one of those breathlessly spoken, Oh, you have to go there, places my designer friends insisted I visit. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19911/cornerstone-sonoma-where-art-imagination-and-plants-come-to-play Tue, 31 May 2011 13:17:43 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19786/airplanes-in-the-garden-kids-butterflies-and-summer-fun http://www.finegardening.com/item/19786/airplanes-in-the-garden-kids-butterflies-and-summer-fun Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Summer's almost here, so what better way to get kids outside than growing your own butterfly garden? Joan Calder's book will entertain kids and guarantees some good, clean, dirty fun. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19786/airplanes-in-the-garden-kids-butterflies-and-summer-fun Wed, 18 May 2011 00:39:19 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19675/another-definition-of-vertical-gardening-marcia-donahue http://www.finegardening.com/item/19675/another-definition-of-vertical-gardening-marcia-donahue Posted by CoolGreenGardens
There's vertical and there's vertical. Artist Marcia Donahue's Berkeley, California, garden is a botanical and imaginative wonderland filled with humor, whimsy, and sensitivity to nature. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19675/another-definition-of-vertical-gardening-marcia-donahue Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:13:24 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19520/im-beating-up-on-lawns-again http://www.finegardening.com/item/19520/im-beating-up-on-lawns-again Posted by CoolGreenGardens
It started when I read Susan Harris' rippingly reasoned blog post at Garden Rant. Dandelion was the key word. Next thing I know, here I am blowing off steam about my pet peeve -- useless lawns. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19520/im-beating-up-on-lawns-again Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:40:43 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19423/before-you-dig-get-fit-to-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/19423/before-you-dig-get-fit-to-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Stacy Walters' website is filled with everything you need to garden strong, garden smart, and garden safely. There's no reason to stall the start of spring with a case of sore muscles. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19423/before-you-dig-get-fit-to-garden Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:57:42 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/19015/lessons-from-legendary-flora-grubb-gardens http://www.finegardening.com/item/19015/lessons-from-legendary-flora-grubb-gardens Posted by CoolGreenGardens
On my 2010 trip, a Bay Area friend and I hooked up at Flora's. The place just knocked me out. It's about time I paid homage to The Divine Ms. Grubb and her matchless approach to horticulture, gardens, and the educational value of inspiring displays. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/19015/lessons-from-legendary-flora-grubb-gardens Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:29:45 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/18857/im-branching-out-into-archaeology-blame-the-wisteria http://www.finegardening.com/item/18857/im-branching-out-into-archaeology-blame-the-wisteria Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I’ve yet to see a documentary on the ancient migratory trail of the Wisterians, who evidently passed through Santa Barbara, leaving barely a trace. Without a reliable body of research I can only conjecture that they appeared about 14,000 years ago. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/18857/im-branching-out-into-archaeology-blame-the-wisteria Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:57:39 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/18502/hot-tubbing-with-jeffrey-gordon-smith http://www.finegardening.com/item/18502/hot-tubbing-with-jeffrey-gordon-smith Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Jeffrey Gordon Smith’s designs are not about what he calls “the flavor of the month,” like “Muscany” (Morocco meets Tuscany). “I don’t think garden designers should be pushing the past on gardens,” referring to the typical cookie-cutter gimmicks some designers reach for. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/18502/hot-tubbing-with-jeffrey-gordon-smith Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:54:34 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/18259/foliage-foundations-and-gnasty-gnomes-the-gs-are-silent http://www.finegardening.com/item/18259/foliage-foundations-and-gnasty-gnomes-the-gs-are-silent Posted by CoolGreenGardens
What if the gnomes in your garden were practical jokers? You can outsmart them by planting a garden where form and foliage reign. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/18259/foliage-foundations-and-gnasty-gnomes-the-gs-are-silent Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:30:02 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/18112/book-giveaway-exclusively-for-california-gardeners http://www.finegardening.com/item/18112/book-giveaway-exclusively-for-california-gardeners Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I'm sorry. I'm really late. I should have posted this blog before you sent your letter to Santa. But there's a book that needs to be in every California gardener's collection, right next to the big green one I'm not going to mention by name. (Hint: it rhymes with "Unset Cistern Pardon Crook"). ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/18112/book-giveaway-exclusively-for-california-gardeners Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:20:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/17707/washing-machines-and-art-collide-in-a-santa-barbara-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/17707/washing-machines-and-art-collide-in-a-santa-barbara-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
"Honey, I'm so proud of you taking a sculpture class. And I'm sure there's a perfect spot near the hose bibb." Unfortunately, that's how a lot of "art" winds up in the garden. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/17707/washing-machines-and-art-collide-in-a-santa-barbara-garden Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:41:24 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/17455/your-new-years-resolution-get-thee-to-a-garden-show http://www.finegardening.com/item/17455/your-new-years-resolution-get-thee-to-a-garden-show Posted by CoolGreenGardens
At this very moment some of the most imaginative garden designers are hunkered down at their drawing boards putting the finishing touches on displays that'll knock your socks off. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/17455/your-new-years-resolution-get-thee-to-a-garden-show Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:02:23 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/17295/did-vertical-gardening-start-during-the-gold-rush http://www.finegardening.com/item/17295/did-vertical-gardening-start-during-the-gold-rush Posted by CoolGreenGardens
The eastern face of Telegraph Hill looked wild and inaccessible, like El Capitan rising from the floor of Yosemite Valley. The rock face cascaded with ribbons of green, framed by the shimmering golden foliage of poplar trees. Fortunately, we weren't going to need a Sherpa or oxygen masks to mount our assault - we'd hoof it a couple of blocks to the Filbert Steps and take the more civilized route. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/17295/did-vertical-gardening-start-during-the-gold-rush Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:23:34 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/17160/a-book-that-fattens-your-wallet-and-warms-your-home http://www.finegardening.com/item/17160/a-book-that-fattens-your-wallet-and-warms-your-home Posted by CoolGreenGardens
If you're interested in reducing your energy bills and making your landscaping more beautiful, Sue Reed's book, Energy-Wise Landscape Design belongs on your holiday gift list. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/17160/a-book-that-fattens-your-wallet-and-warms-your-home Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:11:10 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/17062/let-mr-spock-choose-your-plants http://www.finegardening.com/item/17062/let-mr-spock-choose-your-plants Posted by CoolGreenGardens
What if a truck dumped 8,000 different plants in front of your house. Could you sort through them and create a garden that works for you, doesn't eat up all your time and money and makes your knees quiver? ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/17062/let-mr-spock-choose-your-plants Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:32:59 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16845/dumber-than-a-potted-plant-not-so-fast http://www.finegardening.com/item/16845/dumber-than-a-potted-plant-not-so-fast Posted by CoolGreenGardens
A drizzly day in San Diego, a camera, and mass confusion about what to write about. Then I noticed what brilliant structural engineers plants could be. It's all about resisting The Big G -- GRAVITY! ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16845/dumber-than-a-potted-plant-not-so-fast Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:20:32 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16724/rain-dance http://www.finegardening.com/item/16724/rain-dance Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I'm a slug, not a lizard. I'd rather be under a boulder than baking on top of it. My ideal weather is the cool temps of a SoCal winter; my favorite sound is rain softly thumping on fallen leaves... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16724/rain-dance Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:40:21 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16705/dallas-in-september-sweatier-than-a-bronco-riders http://www.finegardening.com/item/16705/dallas-in-september-sweatier-than-a-bronco-riders Posted by CoolGreenGardens
For all you folks who live where the summer norm is 90-plus temps and 2437.3% humidity, I am in awe of you. I've been back from the Garden Writers Association annual symposium in Dallas for a few weeks and I just don't know how y'all do it. My raging souvenir cold has run its course, induced, no doubt, by slogging from the uber air conditioned hotel, to vegetable-crisper busses, to jungle-steamy-hot gardens best described as "air you can wear." ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16705/dallas-in-september-sweatier-than-a-bronco-riders Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:01:17 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16585/scotts-miracle-gro-stole-my-ammo http://www.finegardening.com/item/16585/scotts-miracle-gro-stole-my-ammo Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Since I also love taking pot shots at those who I perceive as bad guys, imagine my delight when I saw that the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company was sponsoring breakfast at the annual Garden Writers Association symposium in Dallas last week. "Great," I thought, anticipating fuel to top off my next Molotov cocktail rant. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16585/scotts-miracle-gro-stole-my-ammo Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:42:34 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16485/calling-on-the-capitol-dc-revisited http://www.finegardening.com/item/16485/calling-on-the-capitol-dc-revisited Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but something's up. Why would those tricky devils at the Garden Writers Association derive so much pleasure from watching me perspire? A little background: I... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16485/calling-on-the-capitol-dc-revisited Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:32:02 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16285/san-francisco-road-trip-part-i-uc-berkeley-botanical-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/16285/san-francisco-road-trip-part-i-uc-berkeley-botanical-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Cool as it's been in my hometown of Santa Barbara, Lin and I decided to get out of town for a few days and subject ourselves to the San Francisco fog monster. Saturday was the big deal, horticulturally speaking. I've heard for years about the legendary 10,000-plus species collection ensconced at the 34-acre University of California Botanical Garden on the Berkeley campus. I headed into the wilds of the Garden with trusty camera... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16285/san-francisco-road-trip-part-i-uc-berkeley-botanical-garden Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:13:30 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/16147/five-step-program-for-sms-help-is-on-the-way http://www.finegardening.com/item/16147/five-step-program-for-sms-help-is-on-the-way Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Do you find yourself stumbling around your yard, arms extended zombie-like, a plant in each hand, mumbling "Where can I put these?" ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/16147/five-step-program-for-sms-help-is-on-the-way Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:08:17 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/15898/the-american-meadow-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-john-greenlees-book http://www.finegardening.com/item/15898/the-american-meadow-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-john-greenlees-book Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I couldn't wait to get my hot little hands on The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn, (Timber Press) written by grass and meadow madman John Greenlee, and seductively photographed by Saxon Holt. The book promised tools for my landscape architect's bag of tricks-philosophical reassurance, design inspiration, a new palette of plants, how-to details. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/15898/the-american-meadow-garden-win-a-free-copy-of-john-greenlees-book Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:47:10 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14951/garden-design-a-dogs-eye-view http://www.finegardening.com/item/14951/garden-design-a-dogs-eye-view Posted by CoolGreenGardens
When I start a new design, I picture the plants the same way Biff probably sees them. I imagine they will never bloom—that I'll have to rely on something other than floral color for interest. I select and combine plants using all their other visual qualities—the silhouette of the plant, its foliage shape, leaf size, density and surface texture, for example. The flowers ice the cake. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14951/garden-design-a-dogs-eye-view Sun, 30 May 2010 21:00:49 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14384/and-the-winner-of-the-succulent-container-gardens-book-is http://www.finegardening.com/item/14384/and-the-winner-of-the-succulent-container-gardens-book-is Posted by CoolGreenGardens
It's not easy growing succulents in the Pacific Northwest, or other cold, wet climates. Here's some advice from the best source around... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14384/and-the-winner-of-the-succulent-container-gardens-book-is Mon, 17 May 2010 17:19:44 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14299/growing-a-greener-world-is-must-see-tv http://www.finegardening.com/item/14299/growing-a-greener-world-is-must-see-tv Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Joe Lamp'l’s newest, greenest, most ambitious TV adventure is Growing A Greener World, now showing on multiple public television stations around the country. This impeccably produced, lusciously filmed HD video, 30-minute weekly show is a top-notch visual treat, but it’s the content that has me so excited. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14299/growing-a-greener-world-is-must-see-tv Sat, 08 May 2010 22:02:29 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14246/pasadena-open-days-tour-part-ii-urbanite http://www.finegardening.com/item/14246/pasadena-open-days-tour-part-ii-urbanite Posted by CoolGreenGardens
My last blog post offered a few design lessons from my recent Open Days Tour in Pasadena, CA. The gardens were beautiful, but what really caught my eye was a simple, free, plentiful, sustainable construction material you can find just about everywhere. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14246/pasadena-open-days-tour-part-ii-urbanite Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:23:21 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14184/my-very-first-garden-conservancy-open-days-tour http://www.finegardening.com/item/14184/my-very-first-garden-conservancy-open-days-tour Posted by CoolGreenGardens
It was all Lin’s idea. After reading an eye-catching article in the Los Angeles Times, my spousal support unit suggested we spend the a next Sunday in Pasadena, strolling other people’s gardens (without fear of getting arrested for trespassing). No way I could turn down an offer like that. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14184/my-very-first-garden-conservancy-open-days-tour Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:03:17 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/14122/book-review-and-giveaway-succulent-container-gardens http://www.finegardening.com/item/14122/book-review-and-giveaway-succulent-container-gardens Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Read the review, log in, and post a comment. One lucky person will win a copy of Succulent Container Gardens by Debra Lee Baldwin. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/14122/book-review-and-giveaway-succulent-container-gardens Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:11:01 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13901/in-a-dinosaurs-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/13901/in-a-dinosaurs-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
On my second day in the cavernous halls of the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, I discovered Sproutopia in a generous side room. The folks at the show thoughtfully created a space where the... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13901/in-a-dinosaurs-garden Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:09:18 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13994/come-see-the-san-francisco-flower-and-garden-show http://www.finegardening.com/item/13994/come-see-the-san-francisco-flower-and-garden-show Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Wow! What a week I'm having in San Francisco! Garden tours, garden toys, garden people, and gardens. There's a theme in there somewhere. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13994/come-see-the-san-francisco-flower-and-garden-show Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:53:07 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13883/i-discovered-a-new-plant http://www.finegardening.com/item/13883/i-discovered-a-new-plant Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I'm not exactly Mr. Botany, but the excitement of discovering a new species of plant was almost more than I could stand. At first, the magnitude of my discovery didn’t compute. I at a client’s property dragging a measuring tape with my right hand, scribbling numbers with my left, and video-recording with the other. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13883/i-discovered-a-new-plant Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:29:26 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13810/grocery-gardening-a-new-look-at-growing-your-own http://www.finegardening.com/item/13810/grocery-gardening-a-new-look-at-growing-your-own Posted by CoolGreenGardens
This new book on growing your own food gets my Cool Green Gardens seal of approval. It not only provides rock-solid information about the science and art of growing your own, but explains how to get their in sustainable style. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13810/grocery-gardening-a-new-look-at-growing-your-own Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:18:04 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13783/looking-at-green-through-rose-colored-glasses http://www.finegardening.com/item/13783/looking-at-green-through-rose-colored-glasses Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I don’t know about you, but I’m still trying to get my brain around the word green. Who’s to say if a product or service is “eco-friendly” or not? This is part two of my time at the LA Go Green Expo, where I keep my BS-detector on standby. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13783/looking-at-green-through-rose-colored-glasses Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:59:08 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13666/cool-green-expo-tripping-around-la-with-shirley-bovshow http://www.finegardening.com/item/13666/cool-green-expo-tripping-around-la-with-shirley-bovshow Posted by CoolGreenGardens
If you're working your way to a more sustainable lifestyle, the Go Green Expo is the place to be. And what better way to spend a Saturday than hanging with Garden World Report's Shirley Bovshow? ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13666/cool-green-expo-tripping-around-la-with-shirley-bovshow Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:45:39 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13058/join-me-at-the-sf-flower-garden-show-this-spring http://www.finegardening.com/item/13058/join-me-at-the-sf-flower-garden-show-this-spring Posted by CoolGreenGardens
It's not every day you get to drool over fabulous gardens, meet famous authors, learn from experts and enjoy the camaraderie of like minded gardeners. And all this for $16? You've gotta be kidding. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13058/join-me-at-the-sf-flower-garden-show-this-spring Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:35:38 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/13016/when-the-fig-leaf-falls-sensuous-forms-appears http://www.finegardening.com/item/13016/when-the-fig-leaf-falls-sensuous-forms-appears Posted by CoolGreenGardens
As I scrambled to capture this public display on my camera, images of tattered, torrid romance novels cartwheeled past my mind’s eye. You know, like the paperbacks with the square jawed hero, blond hair blowing Favio-like, poofy pirate shirt ripped to the navel. And always the ravaged, redhead damsel nearly collapsed in his sinewy, suntanned arms. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/13016/when-the-fig-leaf-falls-sensuous-forms-appears Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:48:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/12934/when-bad-taste-meets-power-tools http://www.finegardening.com/item/12934/when-bad-taste-meets-power-tools Posted by CoolGreenGardens
We love to pore over garden articles with luscious pictures of beautiful landscapes. Me, I get a kick out of finding the worst of the worst and holding them up for ridicule. My intention is to provide positive lessons using bad examples – the stuff that either makes you laugh out loud or contemplate gouging your own eyes out. There are so many out there to choose from. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/12934/when-bad-taste-meets-power-tools Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:29:44 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/12796/dont-turn-up-the-thermostat-look-at-these-pictures http://www.finegardening.com/item/12796/dont-turn-up-the-thermostat-look-at-these-pictures Posted by CoolGreenGardens
It's nearly winter in Santa Barbara too, but you wouldn't know it from all of the hot stuff in bloom right now. Our landscapes are bursting with vibrant colors while poinsettias add their scorching red heat to the mix. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/12796/dont-turn-up-the-thermostat-look-at-these-pictures Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:52:42 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/12646/announcing-book-giveaway-winners-calhoun-congrats http://www.finegardening.com/item/12646/announcing-book-giveaway-winners-calhoun-congrats Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Meet the three lucky winners of the Designer Plant Combinations book give-away. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/12646/announcing-book-giveaway-winners-calhoun-congrats Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:55:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/12386/easy-garden-simulations-win-a-free-design-book http://www.finegardening.com/item/12386/easy-garden-simulations-win-a-free-design-book Posted by CoolGreenGardens
What if you could simulate the garden of your dreams using software you already have on your computer? Imagine experimenting with flower and foliage combinations without spending a dime on a single plant or digging a hole? Grab a hot cuppa cocoa and read on... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/12386/easy-garden-simulations-win-a-free-design-book Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:19:02 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/12345/wrapping-up-raleigh-really http://www.finegardening.com/item/12345/wrapping-up-raleigh-really Posted by CoolGreenGardens
My September trip to Raleigh NC was a fading memory until I ran across these fab photos of the plants and people who made the visit so special. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/12345/wrapping-up-raleigh-really Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:44:24 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11971/planting-design-lessons-from-raleigh-nc http://www.finegardening.com/item/11971/planting-design-lessons-from-raleigh-nc Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Blessing or curse, I find it difficult to look at a garden without awakening the design teacher in my brain. A voice in my head instantly starts deciphering the visual principles in place as if I were explaining the tableau to my students. I imagine it’s no different for a film critic enduring their brother-in-law’s home videos. Join me as I cruise this lovely garden and share a few design ideas you can use in your own garden. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11971/planting-design-lessons-from-raleigh-nc Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:37:27 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11955/win-a-copy-of-designer-plant-combinations http://www.finegardening.com/item/11955/win-a-copy-of-designer-plant-combinations Posted by CoolGreenGardens
This book resonates with me on many levels - visually elegant, clearly and buoyantly written and chock full of down-to-earth plant information. You can win your own copy just by leaving a comment about your own garden combos. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11955/win-a-copy-of-designer-plant-combinations Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:35:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11876/could-you-keep-a-straight-face-coyote-pee-interview http://www.finegardening.com/item/11876/could-you-keep-a-straight-face-coyote-pee-interview Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Welcome to another fun article and interview from my recent visit to the Garden Writers Association trade exhibit in Raleigh, NC. With my nose for news, I sniffed out this promising product, a predator-pee infused pellet that triggers the natural fears of many garden pests, including deer, woodchucks and mice. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11876/could-you-keep-a-straight-face-coyote-pee-interview Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:32:03 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11843/bovine-biscuits-get-a-new-lease-on-life http://www.finegardening.com/item/11843/bovine-biscuits-get-a-new-lease-on-life Posted by CoolGreenGardens
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That is the essence of one of the exhibitors that Kate Frank and I visited in Raleigh last week. Darn! Now I have to delicately bridge the thought of lemonade and cow manure. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11843/bovine-biscuits-get-a-new-lease-on-life Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:38:54 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11401/rethinking-the-suburban-lawn-national-coalition-launches-new-website http://www.finegardening.com/item/11401/rethinking-the-suburban-lawn-national-coalition-launches-new-website Posted by CoolGreenGardens
In Star Wars, Darth Vader sensed “a shift in The Force” when Luke Skywalker tapped his Jedi powers. I felt another shift today. A big piece of the sustainable landscaping puzzle fell into place. It takes the form of a new website I’m thrilled to be a part of. After two months of long-distance scheming, the Lawn Reform Coalition (LRC), a new campaign to change the American Lawn, launched today. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11401/rethinking-the-suburban-lawn-national-coalition-launches-new-website Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:39:50 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11396/why-are-you-working-so-hard-blow-up-your-rototiller http://www.finegardening.com/item/11396/why-are-you-working-so-hard-blow-up-your-rototiller Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Skip the soil amendment, toss the slow-release fertilizer, make your rototiller into a sculpture. Sustainable landscaping means responding to what nature gives you. Let's start using plants that are adapted to the soil and climate of your yard. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11396/why-are-you-working-so-hard-blow-up-your-rototiller Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:39:56 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11100/computer-controlled-cauliflower-when-software-meets-spinach http://www.finegardening.com/item/11100/computer-controlled-cauliflower-when-software-meets-spinach Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Wouldn't it be totally cool to be a professional futurist? You'd get a paycheck for predicting what the world will look like in a hundred years, then wait for everyone to die before they can tell... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11100/computer-controlled-cauliflower-when-software-meets-spinach Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:14:07 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/11023/snakes-in-your-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/11023/snakes-in-your-garden CoolGreenGardens
You’ve probably heard people singing the praises of drip irrigation, which was developed in the early 60s in Israel. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread when it arrived on... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/11023/snakes-in-your-garden Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:49:27 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/10883/gone-with-the-wind http://www.finegardening.com/item/10883/gone-with-the-wind Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Yes, I'm still going on about water conservation. Well, why not? We're in the dog days of summer and I'm here to help you save a few gallons and a few bucks. Besides, if water is running off your... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/10883/gone-with-the-wind Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:10:03 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/10851/irrigation-gizmos-gadgets-part-ii http://www.finegardening.com/item/10851/irrigation-gizmos-gadgets-part-ii Posted by CoolGreenGardens
The Brainiacs of Irrigation Timers How close are we to living in a Jetson's futureworld? When it comes to irrigation technology, pretty darn close. "Smart controllers" represent the next wave of... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/10851/irrigation-gizmos-gadgets-part-ii Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:22:33 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/10751/irrigation-gizmos-and-gadgets-part-i http://www.finegardening.com/item/10751/irrigation-gizmos-and-gadgets-part-i Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Have you ever looked at the surface of your soil and thought, “Man, that looks dry; I’d better break out the hose”? If so, I envy your moisture-sensing x-ray vision! How else would you explain your super hero ability to know the amount of moisture below the soil just by observing the top 1/16” of crust? ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/10751/irrigation-gizmos-and-gadgets-part-i Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:05:46 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/10127/part-ii-its-like-road-rage-only-wetter http://www.finegardening.com/item/10127/part-ii-its-like-road-rage-only-wetter Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Road rage: A motorist's uncontrolled anger usually provoked by the behavior of another driver. The affliction is officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. "Water rage," however, is not yet listed. But if it were, I'd probably be the poster child. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/10127/part-ii-its-like-road-rage-only-wetter Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:27:20 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/9824/part-i-when-the-well-runs-dry http://www.finegardening.com/item/9824/part-i-when-the-well-runs-dry Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Perhaps it’s just a passing cycle, just a blip. Maybe next year the skies will open up and we’ll all be fine. I’m usually a cockeyed optimist, but not anymore—not when it comes to the big unknowns of climate change. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/9824/part-i-when-the-well-runs-dry Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:20:06 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/9627/too-bad-my-dogs-color-blind-sizzling-hot-colors-of-summer http://www.finegardening.com/item/9627/too-bad-my-dogs-color-blind-sizzling-hot-colors-of-summer Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I was walking my dog the other afternoon and as is frequently the case, I had my trusty camera with me. Biff the Wonder Spaniel is a patient soul, waiting as I compose my shots. We were just taking a short neighborhood walk as the sun was shooing away the last of the gloom when I noticed that we were surrounded by all the hot colors of summer. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/9627/too-bad-my-dogs-color-blind-sizzling-hot-colors-of-summer Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:55:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/9443/flowers-from-a-bad-sci-fi-flick http://www.finegardening.com/item/9443/flowers-from-a-bad-sci-fi-flick Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Every once in a while I run across a plant I just can't figure out how to use. The other-worldly flower of Puya alpestris dazzled and confounded me once again. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/9443/flowers-from-a-bad-sci-fi-flick Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/9182/you-love-to-garden-are-you-ready-to-turn-pro http://www.finegardening.com/item/9182/you-love-to-garden-are-you-ready-to-turn-pro Posted by CoolGreenGardens
The big news from my San Diego visit was that this professional economist, wife and mother had just enrolled in the horticulture program at Cuyamaca Community College, majoring in landscape design! There’s an enthusiastic “I can DO this” demeanor that pours from Roberta Correia and convinces me that she will soon be a force to be reckoned with. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/9182/you-love-to-garden-are-you-ready-to-turn-pro Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:50:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8939/why-not-replace-your-plants-with-styrofoam http://www.finegardening.com/item/8939/why-not-replace-your-plants-with-styrofoam Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Maybe I’m missing something and you can straighten me out. I’ve been under the impression that people put plants in their yards because they want to bring a little bit of nature into their lives. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8939/why-not-replace-your-plants-with-styrofoam Wed, 27 May 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8558/do-you-suffer-from-one-of-each-itis http://www.finegardening.com/item/8558/do-you-suffer-from-one-of-each-itis Posted by CoolGreenGardens
For gardeners, impulse shopping is hard to avoid when everything at the nursery is calling to you. Don't distress. There's a cure for what ails you and it doesn't require the use of pharmaceuticals. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8558/do-you-suffer-from-one-of-each-itis Wed, 13 May 2009 14:15:00 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8445/santa-barbara-burning http://www.finegardening.com/item/8445/santa-barbara-burning Posted by CoolGreenGardens
As I swept, a wet bandanna over my smudged face, this occurred to me: The white flakes I was cursing were the remains of not only the tough chaparral that was fueling the blaze, but probably the walls, furniture, and possessions of families whose homes were now smoldering memories. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8445/santa-barbara-burning Wed, 13 May 2009 14:12:45 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8575/firewise-landscaping-how-safe-is-your-home http://www.finegardening.com/item/8575/firewise-landscaping-how-safe-is-your-home Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Perhaps you are thinking, "Wildfires only happen out west." The last time I checked, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was on the Atlantic coast. The fire that broke out there on April 24, 2009 burned 19,600 acres and consumed 80 homes. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8575/firewise-landscaping-how-safe-is-your-home Thu, 07 May 2009 14:16:38 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8453/you-want-to-paint-my-what http://www.finegardening.com/item/8453/you-want-to-paint-my-what Posted by CoolGreenGardens
I'm ready to pick my first fight. A guy in Perris California is being paid to paint the lawns of repo homes green. Why do they have front lawns when the kids are hardwired to their X-boxes? Here are a few alternatives. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8453/you-want-to-paint-my-what Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:26:52 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8316/welcome-to-cool-green-gardens-a-view-from-the-left-coast http://www.finegardening.com/item/8316/welcome-to-cool-green-gardens-a-view-from-the-left-coast Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Please allow me to introduce myself. Billy Goodnick here. I'm a landscape architect, educator and writer living in Santa Barbara, California. I'm about one hundred miles north of L.A., right on the... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8316/welcome-to-cool-green-gardens-a-view-from-the-left-coast Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:30:51 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8093/killer-combos-rock-the-garden http://www.finegardening.com/item/8093/killer-combos-rock-the-garden Posted by CoolGreenGardens
As a designer, I'm attracted to bold combinations of plants...these do the trick. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8093/killer-combos-rock-the-garden Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:26:44 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8087/coastal-garden-in-beautiful-montecito-ca http://www.finegardening.com/item/8087/coastal-garden-in-beautiful-montecito-ca Posted by CoolGreenGardens
This garden sits just a few yards from the beach in Montecito, California. The nearby deck provides views of the beach and Pacific, but puts the occupants "on stage" to all beachgoers. This new Coastal Room is... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8087/coastal-garden-in-beautiful-montecito-ca Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:15:50 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/8082/design-wins-best-sustainable-landscape-award http://www.finegardening.com/item/8082/design-wins-best-sustainable-landscape-award Posted by CoolGreenGardens
After attending a semester of my adult education classes, the owners asked me to remake their front yard. An old lawn and junipers were removed, a new guest walkway constructed and a vegetable garden... ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/8082/design-wins-best-sustainable-landscape-award Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:12:57 -0500 http://www.finegardening.com/item/7613/southern-california-spring http://www.finegardening.com/item/7613/southern-california-spring Posted by CoolGreenGardens
Santa Barbara is the best of all climates: We grow subtropical gems and can still create a bit of temperate climate drama. ]]> http://www.finegardening.com/item/7613/southern-california-spring