Category Archives: Blog

Gardenerd’s Chard on Good Food

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Christy

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Huntington Revisited

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Christy

As a guilty pleasure, or let’s say…a business expense, I renewed my long-lost membership to the Huntington Library and Gardens this spring.  I haven’t been in years (since gas prices went up – it’s a bit of a drive to get there from where I live). In fact, I hadn’t been back since the Huntington opened their Chinese and Children’s’ Gardens.  I was really looking forward to seeing the “new to me” installations, and sauntering through the rose garden and other old stomping grounds.

Let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.  My first stop was the Shakespeare Garden, which …
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Artichoke Care

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Christy

A question came in this week:

“I have some lovely modest artichokes on one plant that I planted this
spring. I can’t decide if I should cut ’em and eat ’em, or let them go
to flower!  I’m not sure what would be best for the future life of the
plant… and what is the life cycle of the artichoke, anyway?  What do I
need to do to keep it healthy and happy in my garden, year after year?
Thanks. I love the being a gardenerd!! Liza”

Well, those are all good questions, Liza.  Artichokes can be intimidating, I think, …
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Gardenerd Joins Technorati

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Christy

Gardenerd just joined Technorati, which collects, highlights and distributes online global conversations.

Technorati Profile …
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Gardenerd Video on Youtube – Garlic Braiding

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Christy

About 7 years ago, I took a day trip up to Gilroy for the World Famous Garlic Festival.  My goal was to learn how to braid garlic.  I came away from the event with the skill set to sally forth in the garlic braiding department forever more (along with some serious garlic breath).    Each year, in order to keep the pile of garlic that I harvest (and cure for about 6 weeks) from cluttering up my counter tops, I braid the year’s harvest and hang it in the kitchen for easy access. 

This year, I decided to …
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What Wood Would You Use?

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Christy

A gardener wrote in this week:

“Hi there – I SO enjoy your newsletters and info! I have a question – we
are making containers to grow vegetables. At first my dad thought
pressure treated because it will last longer on the island where we live –
but I said no way!  They use pesticides to treat the wood and that
defeats the whole purpose!!  Do you have any suggestions?  Would cedar be
good?  Do you know anyplace that has pre-fab ones?  Also – what should we
use for soil and fertilizer?  I want our veggies to be …
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Squash Bonanza

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Christy

It appears that the zucchini and Bennings Green Tint patty pan squash have officially kicked into high gear – and it’s not even summer yet!  This is a crucial time – when one needs to visit the garden every day, lest there be a monster squash discovered after a few days away from the garden.  So far, so good.  We’re catching the summer squash early and picking them young.  Now to find recipes…


I have a favorite recipe for zucchini, but you
might want to save it for when your sick of zucchini, because when
you’re done with this …
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Flying Green Things

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Christy

A new question came in to Ask Gardenerd:

“Hi, I’m an organic gardener growing my own food in Hollywood. I have a
well-established herb garden, but all of the sudden my herbs seem to be
infested with teeny tiny green flying insects that swarm around when I
shake the plants. They seem most attracted to my woody herbs (rosemary,
oregano, thyme) but are also in my mint. Any idea what they are and
what I can use to reclaim my crops? Thanks.”

Those flying green things are most likely one of the many varieties of aphids on our …
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Marrakesh House Photos

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Christy

This weekend was the Grand Opening of a property that I’ve been working on for a year – Marrakesh House.  Along with the garden, the home’s green design elements were featured on Green LA Girl last week, in promotion of the event. Check out the article and photos.

Green LA Girl Blog – Marrakesh House
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Late Spring Harvest

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Christy

With a tiny bit of rain drizzling down this morning, I harvested a few things from the garden.  It’s very exciting on a number of levels. 

The first requires a little story: I didn’t plant eggplant this year – I planted it last year.  It was attacked by flea beetles early on and in fall when the time came to clear the raised bed, I decided to leave the plants because they were showing signs of new growth.  So they overwintered, and when spring came they had grown to a very respectable size.  Then they flowered and set …
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