Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager

Behind the eight ball

21 May, 2010 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
21 May, 201021 May, 2010Filed under:
  • Basics
  • Blogging
  • Flowers
  • Giveaways
  • Good Reads
  • Landscaping
  • Perennials

Please welcome Jennifer Benner, co-author with Stephanie Cohen of The Nonstop Garden, published by Timber Press.  Jennifer has a horticulture degree from The Ohio State University and is a former associate editor at Fine Gardening magazine. She and her husband, Brent, live in northwest Connecticut.

As part of our celebration of RDR’s first guest post, Timber Press is giving away a copy of the The Nonstop Garden.  To enter the contest, please leave a comment below. The winner will be selected at random. The Contest ends on Wednesday, May 26th at Midnight CST.

With simple plans and practical information The Nonstop Garden is a good choice for gardeners who want to expand their seasons of beauty.

Is it just me, or is it human nature to wait until the last minute to finally begin tackling a project? I like to think I’m not alone. It seems as though I’m constantly attempting to juggle lots of projects at once, letting a few hit the ground while keeping the most urgent ones going. Unfortunately, one of the ones that hit the ground this season is my garden. With a house addition in the works, my enthusiasm has been about as exciting as a deflated balloon. Many of my plantings are in the line of fire, so the weeds are ahead of me by a mile. I reluctantly concluded “What’s the point?,” since an excavator will be digging up the area to eventually make way for the new foundation later this year.

Easier to move than perennials, containers like this one in Jennifer's garden are a good choice during a remodel.

One project I do wish I had started earlier, however, is rescuing the kids. My diminished motivation (and morning sickness) has put me behind the eight ball in my efforts to get my plants to a safe zone. I should have started at least a month ago, but here I am five months pregnant, and finally dusting off my spade. Better late than never I suppose. My plan is to pot up as many kids as I can to maximize space and commandeer part of my kitchen garden to use as a holding area.

Part of the vegetable garden

As the rescue mission has gotten underway, I can feel the wind once again filling my gardening sails. I’m actually now excited about being forced to start over, fixing all those wrongs that have forever called to me to make them right. I can’t wait to make heads or tails out of the jumble of plants that have been residing in what I have come to call the giveaway bed—filled with all those freebies from GWA conferences and gardening friends.  I’m thinking being under a time crunch is now a blessing in disguise. I’m no longer feeling guilty or compelled to make sure every last plant is saved. I’m finding it much easier to let some of the less desirable plants meet their fate with the excavator.

A garden rescue is a lot like the television show Survivor—only the best game players survive and the rest get voted off the island. Among her many survivors will definitely be Achillea ‘Apricot Delight’.

I’m looking forward to this time next year, when I will be hopefully creating new garden rooms, planning fun textural and color combos, and building the foundation for new plantings with year-round interest. As for the rest of this year, I know at least the prized kids will be saved and I still have lots of container and veg garden juggling to look forward to—as my patio and adjacent kitchen garden are going to remain intact for now.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Tagged:
  • Contests

Post navigation

Previous Post Deadheading as meditation instead of work
Next Post For the love of chickens and a dairy free frittata

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lily Kwan says

    27 May, 2010 at 2:51 am

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  2. janet says

    26 May, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    I would really enjoy this book. sounds very interesting:)

  3. Veronica Garrett says

    26 May, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    Our landscape needs a total overhaul. This book would be great.

  4. Pamela S says

    26 May, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    I need a plan! My husband and built this house new and planted things without any real plan or thought to how they’d look together, or how large they’d grow and what they’d smother out. Now we’re paying the price for not doing our gardening homework. I’d love to have a book to help me figure out how to salvage what I have that’ s useful and what I should look at getting new.

    P.S. Love the look of the Achillea ‘Apricot Delight’.

    Thanks so much!

  5. brian e. says

    26 May, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway…always looking for new ideas to improve our garden !

  6. Anna says

    26 May, 2010 at 9:12 pm

    I am a beginner at gardening. And I really think this book would help me.. Thanks!

  7. susan smoaks says

    26 May, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    my rescue mission is my yard, i have to reclaim it and plant a garden

  8. Ryan McGriff says

    26 May, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    I’ve always wanted to know how to keep a year round garden for the wife…the book sounds very informative.

  9. kathy pease says

    26 May, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    Thank you for the Great giveaway please count me in I love to garden 🙂

  10. Bob says

    26 May, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    I love free books considered me entered Thanks, bob

  11. Claudia says

    26 May, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    My “rescue mission” is restoring gardens destroyed during the recent storms. Could use all the inspiration I can get & would love to make it a 4 season garden.

  12. Melanie says

    26 May, 2010 at 11:43 am

    We are buying a new house so we can have a yard and a GARDEN! I would love this book to find out how to get the most out of it. Thanks for the chance!

  13. NickG says

    26 May, 2010 at 11:11 am

    My gardening skills could use some growth, as could my seasonal growing.

    Sun, soil and seed into food!

  14. Colleen S says

    25 May, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    I would love some inspiration for winter and spring plantings.

  15. Ed Nemmers says

    25 May, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I love the concept of year round gardening!

  16. Miranda says

    25 May, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    Please enter me in the drawing, I would love to become proud of my gardening instead of ashamed of my weeds!

  17. Jason says

    25 May, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    I just started growing a garden a couple years ago. I am digging it. I have bad allergies, but that doesn’t stop me. This sounds like a great book

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

  18. karen says

    24 May, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    I live in Houston, where we have a long growing season. I would love to read this book and learn to stretch it out for the entire year. Thanks.

  19. Tarah says

    24 May, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    I would love to win this – we only see our garden in the spring & summer – we get snow here in the winter!

  20. Christine says

    24 May, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    One of the wonderful things about gardening is that it is such a forgiving hobby, encouraging us to be open and experiment, and not get too hung up on things being “just so.”
    .-= Christine´s last blog ..Broccoli v. Broccoli Raab… =-.

  21. Oz Girl says

    24 May, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Oh how I would love to have this book…. I’m just getting started on plantings around here. It’s an empty slate and I get to start writing on it! Sometimes I think it’s almost harder to start with an empty slate? So it will be trial and error, but I am attempting to plant native to keep everything as easy and maintenance free as possible. I am NOT going to fight with the Kansas wind and storms that love to damage plants, esp newbie plants! :-0

    I’ve heard Guthrie has a lot of cute lil antique shops?? Is that so? I’ve been dying to make a day trip down.
    .-= Oz Girl´s last blog ..Springtime Giveaway Winner{s} =-.

    Oz Girl, Guthrie does have a lot of shops nearby which are cute and full of antiques. It is also the bed and breakfast capital of Oklahoma.~~Dee

  22. Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening says

    23 May, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    I’ve been behind the eight ball many times. This year the porches are being redone and I’ve had to move plants away from them.
    .-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..CCG Is Runner-Up in 2010 Mouse & Trowel Awards =-.

  23. Sharon A says

    23 May, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    I too have been ignoring the garden. When I first moved here 6 years ago it was all new and exciting, then it became overwhelming and I lost my care and concern. Thanks to a renewed effort by my DH I am once again looking forward to planning and dreaming.

  24. Suzanne K says

    22 May, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    I’m working towards year-round edibles coming into my kitchen from my garden! I’m almost there, and am now working on adding flowers and color! All help and suggestions welcomed and this book sounds like it would certainly help!

  25. Nell Jean says

    22 May, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    I’ve been working toward year around bloom and fragrance for years. Gardening is easier in a hot climate when the weather turns cold.

    If I’m the winner, give the book to someone in a cold climate who gardens as they do in Connecticut, with my compliments.
    .-= Nell Jean´s last blog ..The Upper Garden: In the Pink =-.

  26. Jeanne says

    22 May, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    This is the summer to breathe some new life back into my badly neglected Norman OK garden. Since we are gardening under the same weather conditions, you are helping keep me on track.

  27. Joannie says

    22 May, 2010 at 11:20 am

    We live in deep south Texas where you can garden year round. I want to read more about non-stop gardening!

  28. Deci Worland says

    22 May, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Please enter me. I am an avid gardener and am sure to find a lot of useful information in this lovely book.
    .-= Deci Worland´s last blog ..Sassy Apron Giveaway =-.

  29. Kelsey says

    22 May, 2010 at 7:59 am

    I would love to have this book – any help on fighting those winter blahs in the garden is welcome! Thanks!

  30. Chad says

    22 May, 2010 at 7:24 am

    Gardening is so much fun!

  31. Les says

    22 May, 2010 at 6:39 am

    With two “new additions” on the way, I think it takes great discipline to be focusing on the garden.

  32. Charlotte says

    22 May, 2010 at 6:28 am

    Wow! How beautiful. I’d love my home to look that beautiful.

  33. geomauldin says

    22 May, 2010 at 2:10 am

    I would love to be a 4 season gardener – rather than the 4 season weeder that I am!!

  34. Cindy, MCOK says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    I’m working towards a four season garden, so I’d love to hear what the authors have to say. And best wishes to Jennifer on the upcoming additions to both home & family!
    .-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..A Reprieve =-.

  35. Brandon says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    That Achillea ‘Apricot Delight’ sure is a keeper!
    .-= Brandon´s last blog ..Frog population: At least four =-.

  36. Carol says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    I’m doing the same this spring… rescuing plants that will be in the way when they come in June to expand my patio. I love that I’ll have new beds to plant in this fall and spring!
    .-= Carol´s last blog ..A New Family In The Garden =-.

  37. Pat says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Would love to have a 4-season garden. Sounds like a fantastic book!

    Pat, according to the random number generator, you’re the winner!!~~Dee

  38. Lisa at Greenbow says

    21 May, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    A four season garden is what I try for and have failed so far. I need this book. Good luck with your construction.

  39. Liza says

    21 May, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    That container is gorgeous! I love anything Timber Press publishes – this book looks like another winner.
    .-= Liza´s last blog ..[Friday – Ask the Experts] The Best, Smartest, Funniest and Only Plant Blog Panel of Experts on the Web =-.

  40. Patricia Hill says

    21 May, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    Spring was delayed this year to a longer winter and now it seems like summer is already here with not much of a spring. I need to learn 4 Seasons gardening.

  41. debp says

    21 May, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    I have been putting out our plants slowly, because the weather has been so up and down. I hope this is a summer, but with the volcano erruption, we could end up with a really odd summer.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  42. Michelle says

    21 May, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    My dad uses gardening as a therapy to relieve stress, he also volunteers with local high school seniors from the tech school that are taking horticulture classes. I think he would really love this book.

  43. Mya Brooks says

    21 May, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    My roommate loves to garden. It’s his life. He can make anything grow…

  44. Joanne says

    21 May, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    I hadn’t heard the expression Behind the Eightball before.
    When i decide to dig up a bed to clear out ground elder I pot on the plants making sure there are no ground elder roots in there and they wait down in my nursery area for another day.

    Many get passed on to friends and today I was able to supply my daughter with about 25 to fill a new bed we created. So it works out well that way and I don’t feel I have to clear a whole bed and replant the same day.

    The only reference to The Eightball I have come across is ‘Under the Eightball’ the trailer can be found at http://www.undertheeightball.com/

    It is really rather sobering to watch this trailer but then of couse I come as someone who has suffered with Lyme Disease.
    .-= Joanne´s last blog ..WONDERFUL WISTERIA =-.

  45. RUSS says

    21 May, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Love to have a four season garden.

  46. Melissa says

    21 May, 2010 at 10:47 am

    We are moving in the next year, so I am TRYING not to acquire any more plants and come the fall, I’ll be potting up our survivors and carrying them to the new house. Strange when you’re forced to do something that it is always easier to do than when you have all the time in the world.
    .-= Melissa´s last blog ..Bad, bad blogger (and garden updates) =-.

  47. Patty Lee says

    21 May, 2010 at 10:08 am

    I also have a “rescue” mission going – but I am working to bring an old garden back to life. I bought a 1930’s cottage, and have been discovering remnants of a beautiful garden under the weeds. Instead of a “giveaway” bed, I am soliciting plants from my gardening friends. I would love to have The Nonstop Garden as a reference to help me make smart choices! I think a four-season garden in Oklahoma would be perfect.

  48. Crystal says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:19 am

    It’s nice that your home expansion project has presented the perfect opportunity for you to fine-tune your garden design. I am always pained by the prospect of eliminating plants, even those that I’m not really fond of, but in this case you can just let the excavators do the dirty deed. 🙂

    Four-Season gardens are definitely a possibility in my climate (Mid-Atlantic), though I’ve yet to achieve that. Would be thrilled to win this book!
    .-= Crystal´s last blog ..The Big Picture =-.

  49. nola at alamo north says

    21 May, 2010 at 9:13 am

    I’ll check out that book; the idea of a 4 season garden is really appealing since I spend most of the winter in the garden room looking out.
    I’ve long been a fan of achillea, that Achillea ‘Apricot Delight’ is beautiful!
    .-= nola at alamo north´s last blog ..Menopause, It’s No Big Deal… =-.

  50. Jackie says

    21 May, 2010 at 8:37 am

    Gardening as therapy, motivation, relaxation, teacher. Great story. I feel motivated to start an experimental/nursery bed. I love your notion of a giveaway bed. What doesn’t work for me may be perfect for a gardening friend.

  51. Gail says

    21 May, 2010 at 7:53 am

    jennifer, Rescue mission is a perfect phrase when talking about my Nashville garden~It’s been a monsoon season and the weeds are now winning. I potted up my plants in a small plastic swimming pool while excavation was going on…It was so easy to care for them. I would love to have a four season garden and will check out your book, gail
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..My First Real English Garden =-.

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Travel

It's time to get the leaves off of the pansies.

It’s time to plan for next year’s garden

9 November, 2022 By Dee Nash

Yes, I know we're all exhausted from the summer from hell in Oklahoma and Texas--or is that just me? But it's time to start planning for next year's dream garden. Trust me, it's time, and who knows? Maybe next Read More

Fun days at the daylily national convention

16 July, 2022 By Dee Nash

For July's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I want to share my visit to the daylily national convention. A region of the American Daylily Society puts on the AHS National Convention each year. Region 15 put on this Read More

Road trip to Yellowstone National Park

28 October, 2019 By Dee Nash

Bill and I traveled all summer. I'm not gonna lie. It was tons of fun, but after getting back from our road trip to Yellowstone National Park last month, I am tired and will be staying home for a while. I Read More

GOW Footer Widget Header

Ask me a question!

Please feel free to ask me a question here or at my email addy: dee@deenash.com.
I’ll try to answer every question and get back to you as quickly as possible.

Contact Us

Footer

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Dirt Therapy–PNW
  • Each Little World
  • Faire Garden–TN
  • Greenbow–IN
  • Growing With Plants
  • Joanne's Cottage Garden
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–TX
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Let’s bring back the Monarchs

Let’s bring back the Monarchs
For more info about speaking and other work, visit my other website!

Dear Friend and Gardener

Join our virtual garden club and share all summer

Join our virtual #garden club and share all #summer

Disclosure Notice

Red Dirt Ramblings participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliates.

Occasionally, I also accept some garden items for review. If I review one of these items, I will let you know in the post. Thank you.

© Copyright 2023 Reddirtramblings.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...