Orchard Bee House

I had to snap a quick picture of this amazing orchard bee house from a book before returning it to the library. I want to build one! I don't really have a great spot for it right now, maybe someday...

Bok Choy Sprouts

You can just about see the little seedlings poking though the soil out on my balcony. I'll take some pictures of their progress as they grow. I don't have great luck growing things from seeds in containers for some reason. Wish me luck!

Green Things: Valentine's Day Edition

A few snaps from a walk around the neighborhood:


It's been rainy again, the ferns love it.


Yard chickens. I live in kind of a fancy neighborhood and I like it that even here you can come upon a flock of chickens roaming the streets fairly often.

I started a ton of paperwhite bulbs. They're going slow because my apartment is North facing, but that's okay, they'll last longer.

I got the most wonderful surprise flowers from my Valentine! I love those red beany things. (someone told me they're called "kangaroo paws", cute!)

Hellebore Visit

This past weekend my friend Sarah & I decided to take a little road trip to Eugine to visit a special hellebore nursery that was having an open day and plant sale. I turned out to be the most perfect spring day, with sunshine and everything! The nursery had wonderful landscaped gardens full of early spring flowers. It was a lovely day!




I think hellebores are nice, some people get really crazy about them, but I did end up buying one, it's called "Black Diamond".

Green Drink

The sun has been out, its been warm the past few days & it's been refreshing to say the least, I'm really excited for spring.

I've been starting every morning with a green smoothy: coconut water, mango, celery, spinach, kale, ginger. So good!



Snowdrops: there's something magical about them. They're so beautiful and delicate looking, but they look fine even after being snowed on!

Spring Bulbs

I bought this little grape hyacinth the other day in my ongoing attempt to bring spring indoors. I used to think grape hyacinths were so boring, but now I really appreciate their juicy flowers and delicate sent.

Hot House Visit Pt.2

A few more pictures from my visit to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens conservatory a few weeks ago

Springtime Indoors

Hot House Visit

Starting almost immediately after the New Year I begin to get obsessed with the thought of spring and the need to see green things. This is when I unwisely buy too many house plants (I already have too many) & start planning what veggies I'll grow this year. Luckily while visiting my family in extremely cold/snowy/gray Michigan I also have the option of visiting the botanical garden conservatory, so that's what we did yesterday:





Ahh, it felt so nice to recharge for a bit in the green, steamy atmosphere.

Winter Herbs

My rosemary out on the balcony.

Green Things

Some photos of green things the past few weeks:

Window of a tailor's shop downtown.

Chrysanthemums

Watercress & cream cheese on a bagel Mmmmm.

Adorable plant friends gave to me for my birthday last month.

My Green Things Pinboard

This is lovely music by Sea Oleena
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Have you ever made herb butter? For some reason I never did until a few months ago when my herb pots were in full swing. It's so easy and delicious!

You just gather a handful of various herbs and finely chop. I used Rosemary, thyme, and oregano. ( I also made honey butter)

Mix the herbs into slightly soft butter. Then roll the butter into a log or ball, wrap in parchment, and chill in the fridge. Enjoy on fresh bread rolls etc.

Little leaves

I got this cute gardening book at a Japanese bookstore a while ago. I can't read it at all of course but I think it's about how to grow micogreens at home in whatever containers you can find? Luckily there are pretty much step by step pictures. It's inspired me to plant some fall crops of chard and radishes to harvest as shoots. So far so good!