Shade Garden

Despite being trampled and mistreated flowers are blooming in the shade garden. Here are a few photos taken this afternoon.


Bleeding Heart – People say they are old-fashioned and boring but I disagree. Its unfurled, reddish foliage is one of the first signs of spring and the flowers look like crazy fifties bouffant hairdos or milkmaid bonnets.

Violets – A diehard anti-purple person who likes violets — go figure.

These are not from my garden but when I saw them it reminded me that spring is nearly over.

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You Grow Girl is Awarded

You Grow Girl won in the category of “Favorite Place to Learn How to Grow Your Own” in the “2004 The Morning News Editor’s Awards in Online Excellence.” Thanks Morning News!

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Mid-May Update

I can’t beleive it’s mid-May already. We’ve been experiencing an unusually warm, dry May (although it is finally raining today). At times I don’t know whether to be running through the streets cheering on an early summer or frightened by how all this will translate come July/August.

One thing it has made me is hesitant. Every year I succumb to temptation and plant basil too early. I know basil hates cool, wet weather. I know how it suddenly flops over, rots at the stem and dies. I know basil. And knowing this I still insist on sacrificing at least one pack of plants every single year “just in case”. But not this year. This year I decided I wouldn’t even take a sideways glance at basil plants until the right moment. So far, so good. Only one more week to go until the frost-free date kicks in.

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Parkdale Plant Sale

Today I attended the annual Parkdale Horticultural Society Plant Sale. There seemed to be less selection this year. I bought less plants then last year but still managed to break the bank.

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New York Times – The Blog Generation Takes Up Its Trowels

The Blog Generation Takes Up Its Trowels

You Grow Girl was interviewed for an New York Times article about young, urban gardeners.

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