Earthly Garden

Since Michael got the ball rolling here, I might as well be a follower and introduce myself too:

My name is Shelly Wilkerson; I currently am living in Lebanon Oregon, which is the Pacific Northwest, right in the heart of the Willamette Valley. This area titters on zone 7 and 8. I have been here for the past four years and have enjoyed gardening in this dry humidity and rainy climate. I have simply fallen in love with some of the native plants here and enjoy learning more and more as the growing season rolls around every year.

I was raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is a zone 7 and where most of my family still resides. I have been brought up to appreciate gardening, and to know why gardening is important. It not only gives you an abundance of food, it also helps relieve stress and calms you. My father and his father before taught me the basics with my gardening, mainly with a vegetable garden and my mother taught me how to take one flower and make a whole hanging basket with that once choice. I have grown through that and I love to have my hands in the soil. My parents and grandpa have always played an important role in my gardening and the gardens I have had and will have. I love their creativity and their knowledge.

Just this past year I have been getting more involved in the art of Zen gardens and meditation gardens and I have come to realize that a garden is anything you make it. Having a place in your own yard, terrace, or even your kitchen window, that you have had a hand in creating with flowers, plants, shrubs or even certain vegetables can be your own private garden. An area you call your own. With Michael and my help, hopefully we can get you to love gardening as much as we do and possibly share your thoughts and achievements in gardening with us as well. We look forward to it.

Here’s to great gardening,

With this site having been in hibernation for half of the year, we decided that it is time to get this garden growing again.  Before we do, my co-author and I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce ourselves since we are both new to Earthly Garden.

Since Shelly has been so kind as to allow me to start, here goes:

My name is Michael Nolan.  I’ll be celebrating my 36th birthday this coming Friday, which means that I have been obsessed with gardening and all things green for just over thirty years now.  It was my grandparents who instilled my love for gardening and though that passion skipped a generation on both sides (neither my mother nor my father were particularly green of thumb) I have been thankful every day for the lessons they taught me at such a young age.

While I have lived in every possible growing region in the U.S. from the Northeast to the Deep South, the Mid West and even the Pacific Northwest, I currently call Birmingham, Alabama home (which places me in Zone 7, for those of you keeping score).

Plants are an excellent metaphor for our own fragile lives as humans and the approach we take to caring for our plants does have an effect on the results.   My approach to gardening involves equal parts physical and spiritual and while I’m not a typical tree-huggin’ hippy I have been accused of getting a gleam in my eye that is similar to the one that some people get when you mention Woodstock.

Heirloom plants are my passion by far.  I prefer them over the synthesized and hybridized versions most commonly available, but then again I don’t mind putting the extra work into my garden whereas many people don’t have the dedication or the time that I have.  With that in mind I am always open to answering questions about any plant in your garden, heirloom or not.  Due to some unforeseen circumstances (i.e. I moved to another part of town mid-season), my home garden is far less plentiful than in previous years.  The only edible plants I am cultivating right now are two Mortgage Lifter heirloom tomato plants and since I started them late in the season they have yet to produce any fruit but things are looking good!  The Mortgage Lifter has a wonderful history and I will share that story with you in the coming days.

Thanks for joining us at Earthly Garden!

Hi everyone,
I am embarrassed that it’s been so long since my last post. Just as I got the migraines under control a nasty cold showed up. I was sick right !
through Thanksgiving. Yuck! I promise you all this time I’m back for good. I’m finally feeling like myself again and raring to go, so please forgive my recent absences-you have my word that the regular daily posts will now resume!

Good Morning!
Today I’d like to share with you an important safety notice:

Troy Built is recalling their 4 Cycle Gasoline String Trimmers, model numbers TB425CS and TB525CST. The blade that trims the excess string can detach from the plastic shield covering the trimmer head and be thrown forward, causing serious injury to the user and/or any bystanders. These were sold at Lowes from January to March of 2006. If you have one, stop using it immediately and contact Troy-Built for a free repair kit. Be careful out there!

Gardening Pic of the Day:

troy-bilt, string trimmer, recall information

troy-bilt, string trimmer, recall information