Sprout Lemon Seeds in Less Than a Week!

You can sprout lemon seeds in less than 1 week! I was able to sprout a lemon seed from an organic lemon I had purchased from the store in just 5 days. This is the method I used:

Materials

• Paper towel
• Plastic ziploc sandwich bag
• Lemon seed (I used a lemon seed from an organic lemon seed from the supermarket)
• Water

Directions

1. Wash your lemon seed thoroughly. 
2. Take a paper towel and soak it in water. Then squeeze the excess water out. The papertowel should be moist but not soaking wet. 
3. Then place your seed(s) on one side of the paper towel. 
4. Then fold the paper towel in half so that the lemon seed is wrapped on both sides.
5. Place the paper towel inside the ziploc bag. 
6. Then place the ziploc bag in a sunny area. I place mine on a sunny window ledge. 
7. Now just wait! 
8. After your seed has sprouted, you can transplant it in soil.

Cockscomb Flowers

Cockscomb Flowers

The first time I saw these beautiful flowers was in Thailand. I had to touch it just to see if it was real and was pleasantly surprised that they were! Although I was initially attracted to its vibrant red coloring, I was mesmerized by the its unique flower shape and texture. The blooms were soft, but firm to the touch. These plants like warm climates so I am hoping that they will grow in my garden.   

How to Re-bloom Orchids

Re-Blooming Orchid

I love orchids, but avoided buying them in the past because I never had much luck with them. The beautiful flowers would last a few months but would never re-bloom again. I have finally figured out the trick to re-blooming my orchids, and I wanted to share these quick, 4 easy tips with you.

Growing Medium – The orchids I bought were already in the right type of growing medium (e.g., fir bark and sphagnum moss). Unlike ordinary garden soil, this type of growing medium allows for good, quick drainage which is important for orchids. 

Watering – Don't over water your orchids. I was guilty of this. Now I just water the orchids once a week, but I make sure that the roots are never sitting in water. If the roots sit in the water for a long time, the orchid plant will die. I use ordinary tap water that has sat overnight in an open container to allow some of the chlorine to dissipate.

Feeding – I feed my orchids every other week with orchid fertilizer. I use Miracle-Gro Orchid Food, 8-Ounce (Orchid Fertilizer). This box will last a long time. I just dilute a 1/4 tsp of the fertilizer into 1 gallon of water.  

Lighting – I keep my orchids out of direct sunlight but I provide plenty of indirect sunlight. Our master bathroom happens to be the best spot for our orchids. The bathroom provides humidity and plenty of filtered sunlight. If an orchid is having trouble in one area in my house, I will rotate them with a plant that is thriving in the bathroom. 

Foxy Columbine Flowers

Columbine blooming in foxy planter

The columbines are starting to bloom! I love these no-fuss, drought-tolerant, beautiful perennial flowers. In our area, columbines die-back in winter, but they emerge again in the spring, bigger and better than the year before. I grow mine in a decorative foxy planter under the porch, but they would do just as well in a sunny garden.

Daylilies

Tennessee Grown Photo of Night Ember Daylily

I have been adding plants like crazy this year, and from unlikely sources. I normally purchase plants in-person or from plant catalogs, but this year I have purchased plants from Amazon. I was especially happy with the healthy Night Ember Daylilies I received from Tennessee Grown. The bareroots I received were noticeably larger than ones I would often receive from plant catalogs. I am so excited to see these bloom this summer!

Gardening: Knee and Back Saver

If you don't have a Garden Kneeling Pad, consider getting one. I have went years without one, but I finally decided to get one after my knees and back were aching over the long hours I have spent working in the garden. I have only used it for over a week, and it has already made a huge difference!

Palo Alto $100/day Fines for Water Wasters

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_26542237/palo-alto-city-council-approved-100-per-day

Composting Tips

Compost Happens: tips for making it happen right http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268802/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=MUiV4i9F (from @AP)

USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails

USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=I8ykpyfi (from @AP)

Water Bottle Drip System

I cut back on watering my garden due to California's drought, and my plants have been suffering for it.  In an attempt to be even more water-wise, I recently installed a make-shift water drip system.  

I made a single 1/16-inch hole on the bottom of an empty Organics plastic soda bottle and buried it right-side up in the ground next to a plant.  After filling the bottle with water, I replaced the cap and close it tightly.  Using a funnel makes refilling these bottles a quick and easy task. 

I can go days without refilling these bottles.  And by delivering water directly to the roots, I am minimizing water that is  lost by evaporation. 

Lawn removal in parched California draws fine

Lawn removal in parched California draws fine http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=dON8FRQt (from @AP)

50,000 bees living in NYC ceiling

Un-bee-lievable: 50,000 bees living in NYC ceiling http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268744/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=pNDwbbxd (from @AP)

New go-to career for New England's young: Farming

New go-to career for New England's young: Farming http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268773/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=4IL6YQl7 (from @AP)

California drought: 17 communities could run out of water within 60 to 120 days, state says

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_25013388/california-drought-17-communities-could-run-out-water

Fall Planting Tips

Summer veggies were just the first round http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268802/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=L65iglCz (from @AP)

California cemeteries work to cope with drought

California cemeteries work to cope with drought http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=8U8CG7ln (from @AP)

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Figs

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Figs - http://huff.to/1Bq6DOW

Garden Vegetable Pizza: From Garden to Table

There is nothing more satisfying than tasting the fruits of your labor...literally.  The garden is booming this year and this simple pizza recipe makes it easy to present a medley of your fruits and veggies. 

Garden Vegetable Pizza
Makes 1 pizza

Ingredients

• Pizza Dough (recipe follows)
• Garden Vegetables and Herbs on Hand (e.g., bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic cloves, parsley)
• Olive oil (for sauteing)
• 3/4 c. Pizza Sauce or Red Pasta Sauce
• 8 oz. Shredded Cheese Blend of your choice  
• Mozzarella (optional) 

Directions

1. Set rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees F.
2. Divide dough in half on lightly floured counter.  Place one half of dough under plastic wrap, and work the other half of dough into 8-inch disc.  Then continue to work and stretch the dough (flipping dough occasionally) until dough is 12 to 14 inches in diameter.  
3. Place dough on pizza stone or overturned rimmed baking sheet.  Place dough in preheated oven, and bake for 8 minutes.
4. In the meantime, slice garden vegetables into 1/4-inch thick slices, and chop herbs.  Heat oil in frying pan, and saute vegetables and herbs until vegetables are tender.
5. Pour sauce on the center of the cooked dough and use back of large spoon to spread sauce evenly around the pizza, leaving about 1/2-inch border free of sauce.  
6. Add shredded cheese and bits of mozzarella.  Spoon sauteed vegetables onto pizza. 
7. Return pizza to oven for 3 more minutes or until cheese has melted.  
8. Transfer pizza to cutting board.  Slice and serve immediately.  Repeat these steps for 2nd pizza or save the 2nd dough in refrigerator for tomorrow.

Pizza Dough Recipe
Makes dough for two 14-inch pizzas

Ingredients

• 2 c. all-purpose flour
• 2 c. wheat flour (and extra flour for shaping dough)
• 2 1/4 tsp instant or rapid-rise yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 c. water, heated to 110 degrees

Directions

1. Pulse 4 c. flour, yeast, and salt together in food processor (fitted with dough blade) until combined, about 5 pulses.  With food processor running, slowly add oil, then water; Process until rough ball forms, 30 to 40 seconds.  Let dough rest for 2 minutes and then process for 30 seconds longer. 
2. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter and knead by hand into smooth round ball.  Place dough in a large, lightly greased bowl.  Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, ad let rise at room temperature until doubled in size (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours).

Lake Mead Water Impacts

A look at Lake Mead's water levels, impact http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268743/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=qVgNvHYN (from @AP)

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=FLy50TeL (from @AP)

National wildlife refuges around the country are phasing out genetically modified crops and a class of pesticides related to nicotine in programs meant to provide food for wildlife.