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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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News you can use: Cool, new-to-me stuff for the garden
Posted Jun 3, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Jun 3, 2010 at 01:16 PM
“You need this for your garden” was the subject line of the email a friend sent me yesterday with a link to these Alien Gnome Bandits.
I do need this. It’s art imitating life in my garden!
It’s made out of recycled and found metal by a Utah artist, Fred Conlon. Unfortunately, the 6-inch statute (way too small) is a hefty $49.95. I would have to have the 15-inch one for $149.95.
I checked around and found Alien Gnome Bandits on a handful of other sites, but all the same price. Oh well, the picture and the laugh were freebies.
A little less expensive and absolutely effective is Squirrel Stopper—$12.98 for 32 ounces at Home Depot online (I’m not sure if it’s in stores, but Treemart on Nebraska Avenue may carry it.)
My neighbor Alina has a real problem with squirrels digging in her yard and containers. Kind of strange, because all my squirrels do is lounge in the birdfeeder and stuff their faces. Poor Alina has really been going full-speed ahead turning her backyard into a garden, but the squirrels have other plans.
She was trying to get some moonflower seeds to grow in a pot that holds a dead ficus. (She had the nifty idea of using the dead tree as a trellis.) But the squirrels kept digging up the seeds!
Poor Alina. She was so frustrated, she finally filled up the pot with junk to keep the squirrels out. Does this not break your heart?
I remembered I had some Squirrel Stopper that had been sent as a sample for testing a year or more ago. You spray it on the ground or in pots to keep squirrels from digging up your bulbs and seeds. Since I’ve never had that problem (yes, that’s hard to believe) I never got to test the stuff. I gave it to Alina to try.
Within 24 hours she had sprouts, and today she has moonflower vines quickly covering the dead ficus.
Squirrel Stopper says it’s 100 percent organic and certified for use on organic veggie beds.
Last but certainly not least, if you’re on Facebook you need to friend Florida Gardeners on Facebook, a compendium of links and news launched by Farmer Rick Brown.
I’m not sure who’s running his farm down in Riverview, because he is on there all the time, posting dozens of links to interesting blog posts, great photos, and lots more. It’s a lot of fun—especially when it’s too hot to garden!
And it’s a lot cheaper than Alien Gnome Bandits.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (RickBrown) on June 03, 2010
It seems like I am on more than I am because I use Google RSS Feed Reader and have all those links pushed to me. All I do is scan and share the best ones that I know gardeners will enjoy. If you want to know more about this I will share and you too can be efficient. Thanks and join me on Facebook.
Posted by (RickBrown) on June 03, 2010
Penny, guys and gals, check out this video on RSS and give it a try. You will be amazed how much it will speed up your time on the internet and how much more you can scan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU
Posted by (Janna) on June 05, 2010
So glad you got the yellow datura bloom, Penny! I also got some of those seeds from Pumkin and although I have a couple plants that are about 8 inches tall now, I’ll probably have to wait a little while for some blooms!
FYI everyone - the Northdale Home Depot had some beautiful white cat whiskers plants this morning. I had great luck with those last year. These are from Riverview Farms, thanks again to Farmer Rick! I also got some more Pazzaz - 4 for $10. Love it.
Posted by (Pumpkin) on June 05, 2010
Penny, I am glad you got a yellow Datura bloom they are very soft and comforting. Every one watch out for spider mites and webs spray if you see them.
I went to Home Depot this morning, I am putting in a white garden area. I got Cat Whiskers, White Periwinkle, St. Bernard lilly.
I posted on my blog about my White Rose of Sharon they are one of my favoite plants. Very hard to find in Tampa they are in the mallow family. Farmer Rick can you tell us more about them.gracefulcottagegardening.blogspot.com Pumpkin
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on June 06, 2010
I love all the things Farmer Rick posts on Florida Gardeners on FB. I read them all and enjoy seeing all the ideas and gardens. He posted how to do that RSS feed and since I don’t exactly have a great understanding of computer speak I avoided it. Maybe I’ll watch the video and it won’t be so over my head.
Those Allen gnomes are a hoot.
Posted by (RickBrown) on June 06, 2010
Pumpkin, the Rose of Sharon Hibiscus do much better in heavier soils free of nematodes. They also like to go dormant and are best suited for Mid Georgia North.
Susan, and everybody else please look at the RSS video. You will be amazed how easy it is. Just a few clicks. If you still don’t get it then ask a teenager and they will get you on the path to freedom…freeing up wasted time surfing and making it productive scan and read time.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on June 06, 2010
I watched the video Rick ( the guy is funny) and I get the concept. Google reader is not working today. I already have an account there so will keep trying until it’s up and running again.
I had a Rose of Sharon because it was recommended in Florida Gardening magazine. It was always plagued with white flies and got smaller and smaller every year. I finally just dug it up a couple years ago. It was not worth the trouble to me.
Posted by (Pumpkin) on June 06, 2010
I just sent Penny a photo of my ten year old Rose of Sharon I want her to post it. I am very passionate about my soil and I guess that is why I can grow wierd things in my garden. Farmer Rick I even have many Clematis that thrive in my garden it must be my soil. Pumpkin
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on June 06, 2010
Your passion is paying off Pumpkin and we will all have to attend your class of soil amendment. I would love to know the secrets. I will look forward to the Rose of Sharon pics. It is a beautiful bush and I wish I could have saved mine.
Posted by (Chip) on June 06, 2010
I just love garden surprise’s! Some volunteers that I thought squash started on the exact opposite side of the garden that I planted squash. I left it alone and it just loaded up with blooms but the last thing I would have believe would volunteer in our garden was right before me eyes! PUMPKINS The only thing that makes any since to me or Diane is it came up from compost. After last year, pumpkins was not something I was going to try this season. And I would never had tried it this time of year. But the pumpkins is on there own schedule and by the looks of things we will be eating pumpkin very soon!....“Chip”
Posted by (Pumpkin) on June 06, 2010
Did someone say Pumpkin? Chip I can’t wait to see how they do in your garden. In my garden last years seeds start a vine then the heat just kills the vine. Pumpkin
Posted by (Janna) on June 07, 2010
I haven’t been on Facebook in quite awhile, but you’ve all convinced me to go back for a visit. I’d love to get the gardening tips from Rick and will watch the video - hopefully figure out the RSS feed.
Pumpkin, I’m sure your white garden area will be beautiful. Can’t wait to see the pics. White flowers really shine in the evenings when it gets dark and other colors are harder to see.
Hooray for your pumpkin surprise, Chip!
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on June 07, 2010
Pumpkin, I saw a documentary last night called “Dirt: the Movie” narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. It was a wonderful piece all about dirt. Fun, funny, sad and interesting. I think you’d love it. I got it at Netflix. Look here for the trailer www.dirtthemovie.org
Posted by (Chip) on June 07, 2010
Some if not most of the very best performers in our garden has been from volunteers. They just seem to do there best that way. Picking there spot in the garden and when to pop up. I gave away most of volunteer tomato’s, they do have a knack for starting themselves right in the way. The one’s we keep are hybrid/combo’s….“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on June 07, 2010
I gave my young neighbors and there Mom a tour of our garden. I think Mom was as curious as the kids she thought I had a “butterfly garden” pink hill is the first thing anyone see’s The anchor plant there is pink impatiens from Ricks Nursery. Mom asked as many questions as the kids seeing the kids face when they saw the pumpkins and they put 2 and 2 together pumpkins/Halloween try explaining to a 3 1/2 and 4 year old the pumpkins they are looking at may or may not be there this next Halloween I hope they are! ..“Chip”
Posted by (Pumpkin) on June 07, 2010
Susan, I am ging to check out The Dirt movie. Thank you.
Janna, The white flowerbed has some growing to do, but will post photos. Pumpkin
Posted by (Janna) on June 08, 2010
Chip, I know what you mean about the volunteers! I was shocked at how many lavender datura, zinnias and pagodas popped up. I had so many huge volunteer sunflowers that I had to pull some up so that you could see the other plants. Nice surprise gifts after such a devastating winter!
Posted by (Janna) on June 10, 2010
Welcome back, Penny. Your Sunday’s Dirt column was good and I’m glad to hear that your stand-up hubby sprayed your webs for you! Must be love.
Btw, your seedlings are still alive. (Thank goodness!!!)
Posted by (Janna) on June 10, 2010
I’m going on vacation next week and trusting the back yard watering to my 24 year old daughter. I’m pretty sure I saw an eye roll when I was giving her lengthy, specific instructions. “Okaaaay, Mom - I think I can handle it…”
Yeah, I just got a little worried when she said “What’s a succulent?”