ramblings from an arkansas farm girl
This week on Six Blocks from my house… Redenta’s Garden. Redenta’s is my go-to place for organic gardening everything. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and willingly spreads gardening love via free Saturday morning classes. (Last weekend John and I took a vegetable gardening class—timely for us with our new community garden plot.)
And if free classes aren’t cool enough, on the third Thursday of each month (5-7 PM) Redenta’s hosts a monthly Happy Hour Potting Bar. Genius!
Last night my girlfriends and I checked it out. We studied the happy hour menu for quite some time. It was difficult to choose from all the options, plus there is the added option of a “market price” creation.
Your hostess will pot your new plant in the container of your choice while you enjoy cocktails and chips and salsa. Or, you can get your hands dirty and pot your own. The folks at Redenta’s are very accommodating and fun people.
Since John had to be out of town on the night of our 15th wedding anniversary, he bought me two plants:)
Very Dr. Suess-ish, don’t you think?
Follow Redenta’s Garden on Facebook for up-to-date happenings.
Grace Grits and Gardening
There’s also disparity between the haves and have nots. The hidden, disregarded and not-so-clean-and-tidy will sometimes be included. That’s part of our neighborhood too.
Yay! A garden. Ten days into the new year and I’ve already crossed off something that’s been on my virtual bucket list for years. I am the proud new gardener of this 50+/-sf plot of land at Promise of Peace’s Imagine community garden. There’s no room for anything more than container gardening in our tiny Dallas back yard, so a plot in this community garden close to our home is ideal.
Okay so right now it doesn’t look like much. This is where the imagine part comes in. Last week I spent a few hours hanging out, thinking and planning and watering my soil (in case there is anything hibernating under there…)
I do have sorrel and a fancy lettuce growing in the far corner. (In case you aren’t familiar with sorrel, it’s a lemony flavored leaf much like lettuce.)
While watering and weeding, I met a lady who has a well-established plot near mine. While we chatted she transplanted a lettuce and celery plant right from her dirt to mine. Just like that. The perfect example of a community garden.
Did you notice the little bluebird in my bed? He was left behind by the prior gardener. I consider him a good sign.
Native Americans considered bluebirds to be sacred, a symbol of happiness, joy, hope and contentment—all things I feel when I work with the soil. According to legend, bluebirds were originally gray until one bathed in a lake. The lake water colored his feathers blue. (Possibly my favorite Lake Norfork?)
On second thought, my bird may actually be a bluejay. Since the bluejay symbolizes energy, determination and curiosity, I’m good with that too.
Look at this plot next to mine. I need to become acquainted with this gardener’s green thumb…
This afternoon, John and I will be planting the first of our spring seeds in our garden. More to come!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life
Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere. – Albert Einstein
Musical Pairing:
It’s a Beautiful Day, U2
