You may have noticed that we haven’t posted anything new in a while — since before Christmas as a matter of fact. Mary Beth and I are busy with other projects, but we wanted to let you know that we’ll be back soon.

Stay tuned.

Barbara:

At the very top of my list would be a macro lens. I want to get up close and personal with every blossom and leaf in my garden and a macro is the way to do it. An AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8 would do the trick, though truthfully it’s at a price that would take several Christmases to justify. Still, I can dream can’t I?

Much more reasonably priced would be a 5 in 1 collapsible reflector kit. This is a great, inexpensive way to control lighting in the garden. Use the sliver or gold reflectors to add light to the subject, or use the translucent disc to soften the highlights and shadows — instant overcast lighting.

There are so many books on my list. At the top is one that Mary Beth recommends as well, Beane Flowers. Christopher Beane shows you flowers like you’ve never seen them before. I also like The Art of Flower and Garden Photography by Clive Nichols. This book is out of print, but you can buy good used copies here.

By the way, you don’t have to spend a fortune on books. I’ve been checking gardening and photography books out of the library by the armload. Happy as a pig in you-know-what!

Mary Beth:

First - Mapplethorpe The Complete Flowers. I saw this beautiful book in Open Shutter Gallery here in Durango a few months ago. I was mesmerized. I plopped myself down on the floor and got lost in it.  If you are interested photographing flowers or just want to look at some beautiful photographs check it out. This book, by the way, is the only present I’m asking for this Christmas. If the price is too hefty, another beautiful book would Beane Flowers — gorgeous.

Second on my list would be a BlackRapid Sport sling for my camera. I want one of these for when I go snowshoeing or on long hikes. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about my camera slipping off my shoulder.

Third is a wide-angle lens; to be more specific the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L. I long to have a wide-angle lens to capture the wildflowers that go on forever here in the mountains during the spring and early summer.

Let us know what’s on your list. We love to talk equipment!

Irvine, California

What might that be you ask? Well, Mary Beth and I have a few suggestions for gifts for the gardeners on your list who work so hard all year long to beautify your surroundings and to leave their small patches of this amazing planet in better shape than they found it.

Barbara’s List:

On the top of my list of suggestions is something that I already have and love:

Beautiful and practical, these Vermont slate garden markers designed by my very good friend Liz and handcrafted by her husband Jim are a gift that any gardener would be thrilled to have. And with markers for herbs, vegetables and perennials, you’re sure to find the perfect selection for your gardener. $5 each with discounts for orders larger than five.

A good trowel is hard to find. I’ve busted more than a few of them in heavy clay soil. But I think this one might do the trick. It’s a hand-forged 4″ trowel from Red Pig Garden Tools that looks like it will last a lifetime. $30

Last, but not least is the very versatile hori-hori knife from A.M. Leonard. Good for digging, weeding, transplanting or dividing perennials, your gardener will find a million uses for this tool. $21.99

Mary Beth’s List:

I think that seeds would make perfect stocking stuffers. Check out these cool seed bombs from Etsy shop recycledideas. $8.60 for a DIY kit that makes 200 – 250 seed bombs or $2 per bag of 5 -6.

For the bee-loving gardener, a beginner bee hive kit from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. $195

A good hand tool carrier is the mother of all gift ideas. I have one like this that I stole from Ray and everybody at work wanted one. It’s rugged and perfect for garden tools and other miscellaneous garden stuff.  $39.99

And look at this site. ‘Scuse me as I wipe the drool off my desk. I’d love pretty much any one of the hand tools from the Garden Tool Company. $11 – $95

Now, you’d better get going because, incredibly, there’s not that much time left before the stocking are filled and presents are wrapped and waiting to be opened!

Irvine, California

And some of them have started tipping over. I think this is because I didn’t change the water soon enough. The instructions were to start the bulbs in regular water and when the shoots reached a couple of inches to pour out the plain water and replace it with the alcohol/water solution. By the time I read about this and replaced the water most of the bulb shoots were 3 – 4 inches high, too far along apparently to have the desired effect. It will be interesting to see if the bulbs with the shorter shoots do any better.

I love the way paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) look, but not the fragrance so I haven’t forced any of these bulbs in many, many years. But I was seduced by some really healthy looking bulbs when I was at Roger’s Gardens a few days ago. Roger’s is one of the premier nurseries in our area—or any area for that matter — and a very dangerous place to go with a few dollars in my pocket. Needless to say I spent a little more than I planned on spending, i.e. buying some of those bulbs.

I gathered some glass containers and put the bulbs in with some glass pebbles and water. A few days later they looked like this:

But then I got to thinking that maybe I should do a little research because, who knows, someone may have found a better way to do it in the intervening years. Lo and behold, someone has found a better way to force the bulbs. Specifically to deal with paperwhite’s propensity to grow so tall that they topple over. That means that I would have had to figure out a way to support the stems pretty soon, but with this newish technique I won’t have to bother with all that. Here’s how.

It’s very simple really. Once the green shoots are a couple of inches long, pour out the water and replace it with a solution that is 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 or 11 parts of water. You can also use any hard liquor (not beer or wine), but you’ll have to do some calculations based on the percentage of alcohol to get the proper mixture. For that info click on this link to Easy to Grow Bulbs and an article by William B. Miller, Professor of Horticulture and Director of the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University cleverly entitled “Pickling Paperwhites.”

The result will be paperwhites that are about one third shorter that normal and less likely to tip over. According to Professor White they don’t know exactly why this is, but feel that it’s because the alcohol induces stress that prevents the plant from absorbing water as effectively as it normally would which limits the growth but not the flower production or longevity.

I replaced the water a couple of days ago and my plants still look great. So we’ll see. They’ll be beautiful I’m sure, I just hope that I don’t mind the smell as much as I used to.

Irvine, California

Gardening is hard work and the older you get, the more of a toll it takes on your body. Much as Mary Beth and I would like to power through, denial in full force, we simply can’t ignore how tired and sore all that lifting, squatting, bending, and digging makes us. No matter what age you are, if you’re in the garden all day you’ll feel it later on.

And I was really feeling it last night. So into the hot water I went and as I was soaking it occurred to me that we should share some of our best tips for pampering our aching bones. So here are a few things that will help you recover faster:

1. Soak your bones. Get into a nice hot bath to which you’ve added some epsom salts (good for the garden and the gardener) or sea salts. Add a few drops of lavender for a relaxing, healing soak.
2. Drink some tea. Yogi Tea has two products that really do seem to speed recovery and make us feel less achy after a long day of planting — Joint Comfort and Green Tea Muscle Recovery (which I’m sipping right now).
3. Rub your pain away. Rub those aching muscles with some Arnica gel. It will reduce the swelling and tenderness. It’s great for bruises too. Another great product that I just discovered it Joint Rescue by Peaceful Mountain in Boulder. It’s a soothing organic and wild-crafted herbal gel that helps relieve pain and swelling in arthritic joints.
4. Stretch it out. Gentle stretching is a good way to relax your tight muscles. Here are a few yoga stretches that will really help.
5. Meditate. Studies have shown that meditation really can relieve pain. One study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found ” … a big effect – about a 40 percent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 percent reduction in pain unpleasantness. Meditation produced a greater reduction in pain than even morphine or other pain-relieving drugs, which typically reduce pain ratings by about 25 percent.” Pretty amazing!