Millennials Dig Gardening

The Diggin’ Florida Dirt column in the Tampa Bay Times recently included the following tidbit:

Before they even think about furnishings, many of these new homeowners scout a spot for their vegetable gardens. I know this from personal experience and the National Gardening Association: Millennial gardeners shot up from 8 million in 2008 to 13 million last year.

 

Life Lesson: Things Look Better in Groups

A few weeks ago, I walked up to our house and noticed the plants looking especially lovely. It took me a moment to put my finger on what had changed, but then I figured it out: They were in a group!

Normally, I have all my pots in a straight line. But the landscapers in our townhomes must’ve moved everything when they trimmed the palm trees. When they put things back… voila!

 

Note to self: When in doubt, put things in a group.
Credit: Dalia Colón.

Good Rosemary Makes Good Neighbors… and Good Crepes

Pinterest success! For once.
Credit Dalia Colón.

A few months ago, a man on his way to visit my neighbor Stuart stopped in front of my house to admire my crown of thorns plant. Stuart later asked me if his friend could have a clipping to start his own bush. I told him to go for it.

Then to reciprocate, about a week later Stuart’s friend left some sort of potted succulent on my front lawn. I wasn’t crazy about the plant — it’s kinda ugly — but since it was a gift, I decided to let it stick around for awhile.

To my delight, a few weeks later, rosemary randomly started growing from the same pot. I love a good BOGO, so I decided the rosemary and its ugly half-brother could stay.

‘Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That’ Pasta Lunch

My current situation: I’m working from home, and it’s 2 p.m., and I haven’t showered today. I need to put clean sheets on Norah’s bed because, God bless her, she peed through her diaper last night. I also have two freelance stories and a hotel review due by 5.

And yet.

I’m hungry.

At this point in my day, grocery shopping is out of the question. And I rarely order in. It’s just not my thing.

But a quick pantry and garden raid manifested this tasty meal:

Lunch. Done. Credit Dalia Colón.

 

6 Things to Do with Leftover Herbs

Herb gardening can be an embarrassment of riches. I’m brainstorming ways to solve this “problem.”

1) Cocktails. My friend Autumn lives in Chicago, where you can do cool stuff like take a class on how to infuse cocktails. She gave me the CliffsNotes version, and it seems pretty doable. Infused alcohol would also make a classy gift.

 

Do You Grow Your Own Food?

Let’s all play!

Fish Emulsion Fertilizer: Let’s Take this Outside

Just… yuck. Courtesy (discourtesy?) of fertilome.com.

In March, I left the radio station for a TV job.

Among the things I miss: free tickets to hipsterish NPR events, newsroom potluck throwdowns and recapping the latest Housewives episode with this unlikely devotee.

Also: I no longer have an excuse to swing by Worm’s Way organic gardening center.

So recently, I stopped by Kirby’s Nursery in my ‘hood to ask about organic liquid fertilizers. The sales guy talked me into something called fish emulsion fertilizer.

Me: What’s in it?

Him: You don’t want to know.

SOLD!

 

How to Keep Soil from Drying Out

My soil, like my hair, can’t get enough moisture.

I feed and water the plants every morning, but Florida summers be like:

Lawd, have mercy.
Credit baynews9.com.

As my 2-year-old daughter would say, “NO LIKE IT!”

5 Places to Find Cheap Gardening Supplies

I’ve been at this gardening thing for about six months now. It was only a matter of time before I started combining my new hobby with my lifelong passion: saving money.

Here are five places where I cut expenses:

Found at Big Lots: good to know.
Credit Dalia Colón.

3 Things on My Summer Gardening Bucket List

One day, I hope to have a big house with a huge garden where I’ll host fabulous Oprah-style brunches by day and sip mojitos with my hubby by night.

But for now, I’m working with a slightly smaller patch of paradise.

As Helen Keller once said, “I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Despite the fact that my deodorant has been failing me for months (TMI?) summer doesn’t officially start until June 21. Before summer turns to fall, here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish: