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Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, california, outdoors, losangeles, weather

The WelchWrite Blogs and Podcasts

As I was chatting with some folks on Talkshoe the other night, I found out that people who read one of the WelchWrite Blogs, or listen to one of the WelchWrite Podcasts, might not know about the other blogs and podcasts that I do.

In an effort to expose you to all the WelchWrite.com has to offer, here is a list of the four blogs and podcasts currently available. Maybe there is something here that might also interest you.

My Word with Douglas E. Welch

A catch-all blog and podcast which highlights Los Angeles Events, Podcasting, and any neat thing that catches my eye.



A Gardener's Notebook

Come and join me in my garden!

Gardening information, audio podcasts, instructional videos and more.



Career Opportunities: Helping to Build the Career You Deserve

This is the web home of my career column, now entering its 12 year and the podcast, now over 350 episodes.



TechnologyIQ

Control your technology, don't let it control you!

The new home for technology info -- moving these items out of My Word. Technology-related blog posts, audio podcasts and audio recordings of my twice-monthly Internet Seminars at my local library.

Review: Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart

How much thought do you give to those flowers you pass in the grocery store aisle? Do you know where your Valentine's Day roses came from or how they got to you? For most of us, we don't know, nor rather care, but thankfully author, Amy Stewart does.

In Flower Confidential (Algonquin Books, 2007), Stewart takes us deep inside the huge and profitable business of flowers. From a lily grower in the American Northwest, to the rose fields of Ecuador she introduces us to the people, places and plants that travel all over the world to supply our human need for colorful and almost too perfect flowers.

Flower Confidential is a fun romp around the world that also holds some deep concerns. The treatment of the workers in the fields and greenhouses is an on-going issue no matter where the author visits. She also discusses how the need for a "perfect" flower that travels well and lasts long in the vase has removed their scent. It also puts us in danger of producing yet another industry focused on lowest-common denominator, where each flower looks begins to look much like every other flower.

Stewart's writing takes us along on her travels, describing people and plants alike in a visual style that gives us an understanding of who they are and what they are trying to accomplish. We feel the sense of amazement as she visits the Miami airport center where the majority of flowers enter the US. I particularly felt her desire to scoop up armloads of flowers or save those consigned to the compost heaps.

Immerse yourself in the little-known of flowers and the people who grow them. You will develop a new-found respect for what both suffer to provide that perfect arrangement for your dining room table.

Highly Recommended

Link: Flower Confidential:The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers

Tags: garden gardening gardener flowers flowers books read toread business

Wisteria Blooms - PaD 3/28/07

Wisteria Blooms - PaD 3/28/07
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

File this under, "Not my wisteria, but I wish it was!"

The neighbor to one of my computer consulting clients has this beautiful wisteria across the front of the house. It is very well maintained and is rewarding its owner with this beautiful display.

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, losangeles, wisteria, flowers

First Rose 2007 - PaD 3/27/07

First Rose - PAD 3/27/07
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

The first Bewitched rose opened today in the bed lining the driveway. All the other bushes have buds, as well, so we should be getting a "rose tide" in the next week or so.

Also blooming is the rhaphiolepis and a purple rose in the back garden.

Click the photo to see pictures of these on Flickr.com

It started out cool and sunny this morning, then turned gloomy and blustery, loosing 10 degrees of temperature in 1/2 hour and sprinkled rain. Now it is sunny and blustery, with gusty winds and a temperature of only 57. Spring weather happens, even in Southern California, I guess.

Event: Spring is in Bloom at Creative Seeds - Mar 31-Apr 1

Date: March 31, 2007 - April 1, 2007

Time: Classes are ongoing ALL day Sat. and Sun. All age dance party on April 1st from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

Location: Creative Seeds
Address: 5443 W. Pico Blvd. , L.A. , 90019
Cross Streets: Hauser / Pico


Phone: (323) 936-0336

Admission: Free

Kid Friendly: Yoga, Bellydance, Mandalas, Meditation, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Acting, Creative Movement.

Food Services: FREE food from BLOOM CAFE.

Accessibility: Wheel Chair Access

Website: www.growcreativeseeds.com

Description: Join us for FREE classes for children and adults. For complete list visit: www.growcreativeseeds.com. On Sunday April 1st from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, we will be having an all ages party with DJ ASKI spinning Hip Hop and Afro Latin beats and FREE food from BLOOM CAFE. We look forward to creating with you!

(Via ExperienceLA.com)

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, california, grow, howto, how-to, outdoors, events, losangeles

Elsewhere Online: Announcing the 1st Annual "Mouse & Trowel Awards"

A new garden blogger and web site award from the folks at In The Online Garden. Put in your nominations and votes today!

I only wish that had a garden podcasting category. (Pout)

Announcing the 1st Annual "Mouse & Trowel Awards"

So we garden bloggers were wholeheartedly ignored by the Bloggies. That's all right. We're a niche. And a bit of a quirky one, at that. But it doesn't change the fact that there are so many garden bloggers out there who put a lot into their blogs. We all have those blogs that we check every day, the ones we look forward to when we log on. And there are thousands of blogs out there that I haven't had a chance to visit. I think---no, I know---that it's high time that we had our own little recognition ceremony.

So, I started the Mouse & Trowel Awards.

(Continues)

(Via In the Garden Online.)

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, award, blog, blogs

Repairing a damaged drip irrigation line

While the rest of the family was out on an excursion with Nonna to see the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano, I finally get a garden project completed to prepare for the quickly approaching Southern California Summer.

In this video, I show the repair of the drip irrigation line in one of my rose beds. This line has been in place for over 10 years, so it isn't surprising that it needed a little refreshing.

Link: Repairing a damaged drip irrigation line video




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Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, build, DIY, howto, how-to, podcast, outdoors, losangeles, education, video

Blooming and otherwise

Japanese Maple Leaves
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

(Additional photos available on my Flickr account)

A quick walk through the garden today shows that nearly everything believes it to be Spring.

The last of the daffodils are flowering, the Raphiolepis indica is sporting its little pink flowers, and the Dietes and Lanatana are blooming vigorously, as well.

As for the trees, as you can see here, the Japanese Maple is pushing out its first leaves of the season, as are the Elm, the Crape Myrtle and the Locust tree.

We are having a small birthday party for my son next weekend, so garden cleanup starts with a vengeance. Things must be tidied up before the guests arrive.

What I'm Reading...The Water Lily Cross

Author, Anthony Eglin, was kind enough to forward me an advance uncorrected proof of his latest Lawrence Kingston garden mystery, The Water Lily Cross, and I am enjoying it greatly I will have a complete review once I finish...which shouldn't be too long.

The Water Lilly Cross is the third in the series of English Garden Mystery's which also includes The Blue Rose (review) and The Lost Gardens (review). I have loved the first too books in the series and The Water Lily Cross is proving to be just as fun. As I have said in the past, these books combine two of my favorite things, mysteries and gardening in each book.

Here is a description of the book from Amazon.com...

Lawrence Kingston is asked to search for a botanist friend who has gone missing. With nothing but a scrap of paper with a bewildering cryptic message, he begins to investigate. He discovers that his friend was experimenting with aquatic plants and has stumbled on a horticultural breakthrough with staggering implications, one that could ultimately generate billions of dollars in revenue: a giant form of Amazonian water lily capable of desalinating water.

Convinced that influential people are involved in the disappearance, he pursues more leads, but circumstances beyond his control plunge him deeper into jeopardy and a corporate world of ruthless, greedy men who are not to be stopped. Kingston presses on, knowing that his missing friends life, and his own, both hang by a very slender thread.

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, grow, books, gardener, mystery

What I'm Reading...Flower Confidential

I am into Chapter 2 in Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart and enjoying it immensely. Se starts off with visits to some big flower markers, but then dives into some hard science and an interesting profile of lily breeder, Leslie Woodriff. I forget just how much of a botany geek I am until I read something like this and get totally immersed.

Check it out!

Link: Flower Confidential:The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers

Tags: garden gardening gardener flowers flowers books read toread business

Uh, Mother Nature? It's only freakin' March, ya know!

Not that I want to complain or anything...BUT 91 degrees is simply too darn hot for March 11, thank you.

Could someone closer to the thermostat please turn it down a bit? I'm sure someone in Ohio thought is was a great idea to turn it up, but we're cooking over here.

As an aside, gardener was nearly perfect for sitting around today, in the shade, that is, the wisteria is leaping, did some turning and watering of the compost bin and watered a few beds.

The drip system in part of the rose bed needs repair, so I hit it with some water manually until I can get to the hardware store for parts.

Now, where's my iced tea? (SMILE)

Tags: garden gardening hot heat temperature weather california losangeles

Tomatomania!

Tomatomania!
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

Tomatomania is coming to Tapia Bros. later this month, as this cameraphone photo shows.

March 23-25

For more information, see the Tomatomania post below.

Frost damaged hibiscus recovers

Frost damaged hibiscus recovers
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

I was so happy to see that at least one of the frost-damaged hibiscus is starting to show signs of growth. The other, not so much, but I will give a bit more time before giving up. This individual was always the stronger of two.

First Azaleas - PaD 3/8/07

First Azaleas - PaD 3/8/07
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

The first azalea blooms popped up yesterday sometimes, or at least that is when I first noticed them. The front yard is covered with azaleas and they usually bloom around the same time, these against the house were the first to shine. It might be because they are closer to the west wall of the house and were probably getting a bit more warmth than the rest of the garden.

Event: Tomato class @ CSUN - March 11

From The Los Angeles Times, March 8, 2007...

Scott Daigre, author of "Tomatomania! How to Grow Tomatoes in Southern California," shares his strategy for planting and selecting the best varieties, 9 to 10:30am and 11am to 12:30pm.

FREE

Cal State Northridge Botanic Garden, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

Registration required due to limited seating.

Email botanicgarden@csun.edu or call 818-677-3496.

Tags: garden gardening gardener csun northridge tomato southern california event

Wisteria in Spring

Wisteria in Spring
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

I got a few moments today to take some photos of this year's wisteria growth. I am always amazed at how fast the leaves can unfold and the vines can grow.

Still suffering from bronchitis, but the unseasonably warm weather and bright sunshine made me feel a bit better. I was able to work with my son to get the birdbath cleaned, the feeders filled and we even pruned the lemon tree back to a more manageable size and healthier habit.

Then we took our well-deserved rest and a cold glass of grape juice. I know it might seem cliche, but it is the simplest things that bring me the most joy.

How to be a gardener video from the BBC

Kottke.org points out this video series on Google Video -- How to be a Gardener with Alan Titchmarsh. This is a 4 hour series on gardening.

While I wish the poster had broken this series up into episodes before posting to Google Video, it is still nice to be able to see the program at all. Too much great BBC content never makes it to the US, even with BBC America on some cable systems.

The audio sync is a little wonky and the video quality is not the greatest, but again, in the case of an excellent program like this, something is better than nothing. The companion web site will give you even more information.

I look forward to seeing the benefits of this new partnership between YouTube and the BBC, BBC and YouTube partner to bring short-form BBC content to online audiences

Tags: : bbc google video garden gardening gardener uk british england television education

Freesias - PaD 3/3/07

Fressias - PaD 3/3/07
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

A look out into the garden today showed this splash of purple-pink in the patio bed. These freesias have been coming up every year since we bought this house and always provide a lovely splash of color at this time of year.

Event: Annual Wilmington Wisteria Festival - Mar 11

Annual Wilmington Wisteria Festival

A horticultural celebration that includes a walking lecture while visitors traverse the century-old Chinese and Japanese vines in the museum’s garden. Guests will also be able to njoy floral and gardening displays from local designers. Lunch will be available for purchase on the park grounds of this Victorian-era home of General Phineas Banning and entertainment will be provided.

WHEN: March 11, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

SITE: Banning Residence Museum, 401 East ‘M’ St., Wilmington

COST: Free

SPONSOR: City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

INFO: 1-888-LA PARKS (527-2757), www.laparks.org

From the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department Festival Guide

Photo: Douglas E. Welch, Lake Balboa, Van Nuys, California, 2003