Monday, December 26, 2011

550 KTRS Inside Out Show December 24th 2011 Plant of the Week, Meyer Lemon Tree


Yes there was a 550 Christmas Eve KTRS’s “Inside Out “show Saturday and there was questions and calls on a wide variety of topics. Ellen, prepared to entertain and inform as needed talked in the first hour about Meyer Lemon trees. She also brought in some tasty treats from a kumquat plant. It seemed logical as she whisked me along with her “on air enthusiasm” that I should take her lead and discuss this beautiful, fragrant house plant / tree.

As usual, she triggered a ton of favorite plant memories for me! She also caused me to ponder the sadness brought on from the reminder that I have lost track of my friend Sylvia who first introduced me to growing citrus plants indoor. (Side note, if anyone knows Sylvia Greer and has her contact info please let her know I would like to hear from her. She moved to Seattle WA and then retired to Rolla and then my computer crashed. I lost all my info and a dear pen pal / friend who also enjoyed my passion for geraniums!)

When Sylvia moved away, her level of indoor gardening success became the envy of those who inherited her plants. I struck “pay dirt” when she gave me her wonderful compost pile, but my MG cousin accepted the challenge of what to do with a large thorny tree that needs to be near a large door or window. Also it took her some time to research and meet tree’s ongoing need for acidic pH. As I recall she has also battled a few insect challenges in the process of getting this tree to thrive. All is well now and the amazingly wonderful fragrance of the flower and fruit that fills the room is enough keep her committed to the effort!

I have moved away from my dream garden that benefited from Sylvia’s compost but my dear green heart cousin took all of Sylvia’s house plants she could manage and then later opened her home to several of mine. I have “anytime I want” visitation privileges and for that I am so grateful!

I confess every time I listen to Ellen I feel like hopping in the car and heading to Bowood Farms. Shortly I know I will find myself unable to resist the craving for warmth and more light. Knowing I will need to find a good light filled space with plants, my dad and I have decided to take Ellen up on her “on air” invitation to visit to Bowood soon!

We are planning to bring our poinsettias for her recycling program and have lunch at Bowood’s Osage CafĂ©. I am hoping I don’t forget I live in a very small light deprived place these days and have no place for such a “deserves better” plant as Meyer Lemon tree or a “crazy cute” Kumquat! (I am praying I will be able to stay strong and not purchase any plants that I will just have to relinquish again!)

For those who want to try citrus and may not want as much of a challenge as the lemon, it is noteworthy that kumquats don’t have as many thorns and may be a little easier to grow. They also need lots of bright light!

If I've worried you some about the challenges of growing lemons indoors, I offer my apologies. But don't give up! Instead consider Ellen’s alternative: a kumquat. It will give you the same year-round gifts of shiny leaves, fragrant flowers and delicious fruit but with a little less grief.

Here are some links on Meyer Lemons:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer_lemon

http://www.5min.com/Video/Caring-for-Your-Meyer-Lemon-Tree-152679509

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/d391/citrus-x-meyeri-meyer.aspx

Or check this link for Kumquat information:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18828304

Show LINKS

John Shea, of Collier, Thompson and Shea

Garden Height’s Steffie Littlefield

Ellen Barredo, of Bowood Farms

Greenscape Gardens, Jennifer Schamber

KTRS is doing a three person round robin rotation that will address the part of KTRS’s Inside Out Show’s focus on gardening, landscaping and turf care (basically the “Out” portion of the show.)

John Shea will continue with his team of experts and industry representatives from the home building industry and hardware retail suppliers as the anchor of the Inside Out Show and as professional advisor for the balance of home owner call in questions.

All three of the new Inside Out Show’s garden hosts/ experts are wonderful writers and have featured articles published on a frequent basis in the Gateway Gardener. KTRS’s website will surely be updated with this new hosting information shortly!

God Bless You

… Re

Friday, December 23, 2011

550 KTRS Inside Out Show December 17th 2011 Plant of the Week, Norfolk Island Pine


"The Inside Out show was especially good Saturday!” Yes, it is Christmas, well almost and I am just now getting to download all the thoughts that have been floating lose in my mind. This was my dominate thought ever since the show ended. I even caught myself talking about the show and once having to explain my silly smile. I was surprised earlier today when I realized I was planning tomorrow’s activities in a way that would leave me in listening range of the radio, even though it will be Christmas Eve! (I hope my family is ok with this!)

Ellen reminds me of the “old times” when I would purposely visit greenhouses in the winter just to stand in the warmth of the sun and watch plants grow! Frequently house plants found their way to my car and my window sill at home so it seemed fitting to discuss a few favorites and share one of my favorite past times, seeing a familiar plant growing in its preferred environment. Who wouldn’t enjoy going to Hawaii to see 100 ft Norfolk Pines growing in a place so natural.

I admit it pains me sometimes to see such beauty and know I kept something so wonderful from reaching its full capacity. On the other hand, I know I treated my plants very well and I loved, each and every one!

Here is a useful link and a reminder, you better watch out, you better be good…to your plants: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/norfolkislandpine.html

More LINKS

John Shea, of Collier, Thompson and Shea

Garden Height’s Steffie Littlefield

Ellen Barredo, of Bowood Farms

Greenscape Gardens, Jennifer Schamber

KTRS is doing a three person round robin rotation that will address the part of KTRS’s Inside Out Show’s focus on gardening, landscaping and turf care (basically the “Out” portion of the show.)

John Shea will continue with his team of experts and industry representatives from the home building industry and hardware retail suppliers as the anchor of the Inside Out Show and as professional advisor for the balance of home owner call in questions.

All three of the new Inside Out Show’s garden hosts/ experts are wonderful writers and have featured articles published on a frequent basis in the Gateway Gardener. KTRS’s website will surely be updated with this new hosting information shortly!

Merry Christmas,

… Re

Friday, December 16, 2011

550 KTRS Inside Out Show December 10th 2011 Plant of the Week, The Boxwood


T’is the season of boxes and each needing to be in the right place!

As I watched a UPS truck loaded with boxes, I realized I might have a different mind track than most people at this time of year. I was not thinking of the rising postage costs, the possible damage to gifts en route, or even where I will be Christmas morning.

Instead, I was struck with the number, the variety of shapes and the well considered arrangement it took to fit so many boxes in one truck. Somehow… it reminded me of spring and gardening and left me wondering where in my favorite garden could there be a need for boxes!

It is hard to explain my thought process in a blog, (just as hard in person so I rarely try any more!) So for now I will do as I did on Saturday, find another green heart to share my “out of the box “type of thinking! Thank you Steffie Littlefield of Garden Heights and John Shea on Saturday’s KTRS Inside Out Show for participating in my, Plant of the Week “rave” about this holiday worthy evergreen, the Boxwood, casually known to most “hortiholics” as “boxes”.

I confess I haven’t been as busy as the UPS guys this time of the year, but perhaps you are so I decided not to drivel on too long before I share my favorite traits about this rather dense, easy to trim evergreen.

Boxes, botanically known as buxus are handsome! They are also generally deer resistant and are tolerant of gentle clipping this time of year to decorate- my boxes, door hangings, candle bases or even mantles!

To learn more about some of the more reliable performing varieties of boxwoods or “boxes” as I fondly call them visit Missouri Botanical Garden's PlantFinder. this should give you a good description of specific varieties and what is available in our area. I usually leave several links here but the web is not cooperating tonight! I will add some when I can. Meanwhile, visit your favorite garden center/ nursery and ask which ones they feel best about recommending for your particular site. Steffie of Garden Heights mentioned a few of her favorites, so I am sure she can line you up with some great choices! Also know each variety may have a have different growth habits! Oh so, so , so many boxes!

My words of wisdom about this beautiful greenery may sound clumsy and a little like a warning, but as my husband likes to say about so many things, it’s all about, “location, location, location”! (He isn’t talking plants when he says it but it certain applies to this plant for it to perform well!)

Boxes must have the right location, with good drainage, water even in the winter, and some protection from wind!

John Shea, of Collier, Thompson and Shea

Garden Height’s Steffie Littlefield

Ellen Barredo, of Bowood Farms

Greenscape Gardens, Jennifer Schamber

KTRS is doing a three person round robin rotation that will address the part of KTRS’s Inside Out Show’s focus on gardening, landscaping and turf care (basically the “Out” portion of the show.)

John Shea will continue with his team of experts and industry representatives from the home building industry and hardware retail suppliers as the anchor of the Inside Out Show and as professional advisor for the balance of home owner call in questions.

All three of the new Inside Out Show’s garden hosts/ experts are wonderful writers and have featured articles published on a frequent basis in the Gateway Gardener. KTRS’s website will surely be updated with this new hosting information shortly!

My Faith Note:

“Location” has always been a focus for me in my Christian walk too, especially lately. Location is the defining word for my family too! “Too far from home” is my eldest daughter, just “not close enough”, is my youngest daughter, who battles traffic and gas prices and thankfully the one with the most recent change of location, my son of which “I am grateful it is not farther” is the thought that rests in the back of my mind. (Actually I think it is one of the most perfect places I can imagine. I could almost call it my idea of heaven on earth location. And those that know me, know I don't say that lightly or very often!

Location can be a daily matter as well. Yesterday as always I pray to be in the right place, at the right time and sometimes but not always, when I reflect on my day, He let’s me see my path and if my prayer was answered. Yesterday, I was in the right place for me and as I think about it I hope it was the right place for others as well!

At breakfast with my dad at our weekly place, I noticed the smile on the waitresses seemed a bit weak. I couldn’t help starting a conversation that lead to her sharing her lack of enthusiasm for Christmas.

She had lost two sisters, who loved “The Season” and confessed she struggles to enjoy it at all and wouldn’t even try if not for her children and grandkids. I sympathized and shared about our loss in our family of our two youngest children, my sister and my only brother.

My dad sat very still during the exchange, more patient than normal with my chit chat. During the conversation, he didn’t say a word just an occasional nod in agreement. As she left our table, I hoped I had not made anything worse for her or us. I was even more uncertain when I looked across the table and I thought I saw tears in my dad’s eyes. Some how the rest of the day, well, seemed more honest, if not better as we got through the day.

The same day, in the afternoon, I held a newborn girl in my arms and gloried at the miracle of birth and the transformation of my young friends from a couple to a family. As I left the hospital, I thought about how grateful I am for my own children, those who have let me share that special beginning time in their lives and how thankful I am for that special time in my own life.

By night I found myself giving a blessing to the front line woman at a fast food place who was struggling to learn the register on a busy night. When I smiled with understanding of her situation, she flashed a smile back to me. Then her face furrowed and her voice cracked as she mentioned she had hoped for a family night but as the sole supporter of her family, and with her husband out of work for over two years, she was thankful for the opportunity to learn the register. I offered a prayer of blessing for the business that employs her, hope for her husband and patience for her customers as it was crazy busy for it being a Thursday night!

By the time I got home, I was so glad I had a quiet home, a wonderful family and such special friends and neighbors, that when I brought my dad his “look what I made for you, no salt, tasteless with too much variety” dinner, I was able to smile when he began to preach his theory of why his ankles are swollen, why there is nothing wrong with opening a whole can of salt laden spaghetti every day and eating it all.

I tried to hold that smile as he launched into his spiel on calories, what a body needs, and who I think are the experts on nutrition and healthy heart eating. (I may have let my smile slip but only to help hold my tongue)

Somehow I found myself still smiling when the garage door didn’t work. “This is exercise”, I said to myself as I weaved between dogs and fallen leaves that blew in with me at the front door, and followed me through the garage while I struggled with the door and finally blew out when I pulled the running car into the garage.

I found my smile again just minutes later when I was timely enough walking the dogs to be outside just in time to motion to my husband not to fret about the door as much as I had as I had already unhooked it. Unfortunatly I wasn’t fast enough to control the dog circus at my feet fast enough to open it for him. Hopefully he knew my heart and my good intentions!

I am not sure I should have smiled when I heard him grumble my name about something while he showered-but I did. “Hum, here I am Lord, everything is normal”, and maybe that is a location blessing in its self!

As I laid my head on my pillow last night I thought more about my “location”. Yes, it is sometimes hard for my imperfect self to know what is the right place for anything, especially myself but thankfully I am aware of my failings and make it part of my daily prayer.

All my prayers end as a “location” prayer. My sister Joanne, “located” now in heaven helped me find the perfect way to include a request for “location” for my life, even as it changes. It became the inspiration for the naming of her BENCH Garden.

Daily I ask God to place me wherever He can use my heart, my hands, and my words and at the very end I ask Him, to keep me, no matter where I am, close to Him:

B e
E ver
N ear
C hrist’s
H eart

…Re

Friday, December 9, 2011

550 KTRS Inside Out Show December 3rd 19th 2011 Plant of the Week Deciduous Holly ‘Nana’


It sounded like an easy breezy show this week with John and Bowood Farm’s Ellen Barrado. Not so much of an easy week but definitely a fast week for me as I have started a new Christmas tradition, “intentionally” giving myself and my time as my gift. I have found it surprisingly more difficult than it use to be to estimate my time.

My apologies for anyone waiting on me to do this blog, I know it is late, but it is a gift as well and I do believe in the “better late than never” saying. Consider this wait time as training for whatever waiting marathons that might lie ahead this holiday.)

I have written about this wonderful plant, Ilex verticillata, and so many times that this should have taken a minimum amount of time. I thought I would just link back to previous articles, http://maryannfink.blogspot.com/2010/10/ktrs-550-inside-out-show-plant-of-week_30.html, http://www.newtownatstcharles.com/NTCourier/NTCourier_2006-11.pdf and this one I wrote for the Water Gardening Society’s newsletter, Water World, http://www.docstoc.com/docs/90600495/October-2009-WW-e-mail and post a cheery pic of a heavily berried holly in my neighborhood and be done.

Instead as I read these over myself, I found myself falling in love with this attractive native all over again! I confess I have just scanned thru the customers at Bread Co. wondering who I might be able to strike up a conversation with so I can introduce this beauty to someone right now! Euow… something is so wrong with me! (Here is one I just mentioned reading, I. v. ‘Nana’- but of course I read the whole article which sent me off in another direction, missing my grand baby who calls me “Nana”- focus girl!!!!!) http://maryannfink.blogspot.com/2010/11/ktrs-inside-out-show-plant-of-week_27.html

I am also including a Plant of Merit bloom list link because this holly is also a Plant of Merit. My friend Becky Holman spent some time a few years ago putting a “seasonal time of interest” for the plants that were Plants of Merit at the time.

Unfortunately the Plants of Merit program has ended, not because these aren’t good plants but the support to fund promoting them seems to have come to an end. Hearing this news was a sad moment for me because of the effort and time that has been committed to it by so many. (A reminder that time is a gift to be appreciated all year) Enjoy the link anyway! http://www.maryannfink.com/POM-listofBloomTime.htm

My sister Joanne posted this link (and so much more you are welcomed to use and enjoy) on my website as her gift to me. My advantage was I did know it was a gift even at the time. Now I know why I was so blessed but I didn’t know how much I would treasure her gift or how it was going to change my life.

I still smile when I think of all the questions she had while she read through each and every Plant of Merit and followed the links. She was amazing at making sure everything was working right, but she was a little like me, and time slipped away from both of us as she began a list of plants she wanted to see for herself. We even critiqued the photos and she offered some suggestions about which ones needed a better picture. Side note I planted a few of her favorites in her BENCH Garden at Creve Coeur Park’s Sailboat Cove.

LINKS

John Shea, of Collier, Thompson and Shea

Garden Height’s Steffie Littlefield

Ellen Barredo, of Bowood Farms

Greenscape Gardens, Jennifer Schamber

KTRS is doing a three person round robin rotation that will address the part of KTRS’s Inside Out Show’s focus on gardening, landscaping and turf care (basically the “Out” portion of the show.)

John Shea will continue with his team of experts and industry representatives from the home building industry and hardware retail suppliers as the anchor of the Inside Out Show and as professional advisor for the balance of home owner call in questions.

All three of the new Inside Out Show’s garden hosts/ experts are wonderful writers and have featured articles published on a frequent basis in the Gateway Gardener. KTRS’s website will surely be updated with this new hosting information shortly!

My Faith Note:

I believe in the example God set for this season, of our Savior’s birth, as a time of giving of one’s self. This year my gift to family and friends is so precious to me, that I am having difficulty explaining my reasoning and its value, to my own family. I hope someday they will understand me better and know that I actually have a new and deeper sense of the Spirit of Christmas.

Until I lost my sister, I am not sure I realized how time could be so painfully short and priceless. I also am more aware that this is a difficult to package gift. It surely does not come with any warranty or guarantee of anything, either!

My time is difficult to measure for the recipient on the pleasure scale too! Apparently enjoyment is not promised! Patrick probably doesn’t enjoy every minute with Nana and as I help my dad this past week review his eating habits and find new ways to limit his salt intake, he has doubts about the current value of this gift too!

As a matter of fact, I am thinking about weighting out six pounds of water and setting them on his kitchen counter today. He has lost 6 pounds in six days. Do you think he can see sometimes a gift is not having something, like this much water weight, leaning on his failing heart valves?

There is no exchange policy either! It can’t be given back or returned and once it is gone, it is gone. I hope that as I give this most precious gift, it will be a time of thoughtful consideration at least for me of what the Gift is that I am celebrating this Christmas. Thank you dear heavenly Father, for Your Son, for His Birth, His Life, and His Death so that I have Your Eternal Gift of Salvation!

Merry Christmas to All….Re (Nana)