Paradise Under Glass by Ruth Kassinger I think the end of the year is a good time to celebrate and do a giveaway. While I wish I could give you a greenhouse, I don't have that kind of sponsorship. Actually, I don't have any sponsorship on this little blog. I think the Pioneer Woman might have that kind of clout though. Let's ask her. Just kidding! I do, however, have wonderful friends, who write great books. When I finally met Ruth Kassinger, the author of Paradise Under Glass: An Amateur Creates a Conservatory Garden at the Garden Bloggers Conference, I felt like we were already friends. The book chronicles a changing and challenging time in Ruth's life. It shows how she healed through garden therapy by creating a conservatory in her house. She would be the first to tell you she didn't have a green thumb, but through trial and...

The end of the year usually marks a roundup of posts. However, this year, I thought I would change things up a bit. Let's look instead at a series of fantastic plant combos. I mean, we're in the depths of winter, but the Winter Solstice is past. The days are growing longer, and it's time to look ahead to the new year and 2014's garden. The following are combos I saw around the country and here at home that I thought especially beautiful or striking. Will you agree? Let me know what you think. Several are from my favorite nursery, Bustani Plant Farm which is always worth the drive. I make at least two trips out there every year, in spring and in fall. I go in fall to pick up any asters and non-asters Steve and Ruth found, along with other perennials, but I also go to look at the...

Plants for potting up. I bought these from my local nursery, TLC. Whew! I've been working steadily to get The 20-30 Something Garden Guide done, and writing, proofing, editing doesn't leave much time for anything else, especially blogging. I miss you guys. I did write a post on the 20/30 Something blog if you want to go visit. Sedum in the pot for narcissus bulbs Still, I had one day this week where I stepped back from the computer and went to my local nursery. I needed to recharge my creative batteries. Working with my hands recharges my mind and soul in a way like nothing else. There were several things I wanted to do in the greenhouse including potting up. The other day I was with a friend, Robin Haglund from Garden Mentors, and she did some potting up when we were practicing media training. I hadn't heard the term...

I like Alys Fowler's writing, and while I am not enthusiastic about reading another vegetable gardening book right now--I'm writing my own, and I'm a bit tired of reading/writing about row covers--I love seeing Alys and her garden. That's why I enjoyed her first book, Garden Anywhere. The publisher of Alys' new-to-the-U.S. book, The Edible Garden: How to Have Your Garden and Eat It, Too, sent me a copy for review. The book was originally published as part of a BBC televsion series, but I guess, since Alys' first book did well in the U.S., they thought they would send this one over here also. I must say I like the cover of the U.S. paperback better than the original UK one which seems kinda stuffy. I also like how Alys opens The Edible Garden, "I want it all, the whole far-flung earth and everything in it." The back garden behind...