Author: Gayla Trail
Screw Pine (Pandanus utilis)
If you’ve been to a tropical country you have probably come into contact with one of the many species of this tree, the Pandanus or Screw Pine. Although not a pine but commonly named for the spiral growth of the leaves, this tree is not native to Cuba but is often planted in tropical countries …
Back from Cuba
We’re back! I’ve got a lot of email to get through, laundry to wash, and photos to organize so I’m not officially back to work until Monday but I couldn’t wait to share a taste of the planty goodness experienced on this trip. The ride through the countryside from the airport to our hotel alone …
Okay, Let’s Try This Again
So we were supposed to be in Cuba last week over the Holidays however our plane left without us, 11 hours prior to the originally scheduled departure time. Who has ever heard of such a thing? I certainly haven’t but can tell you that it will never happen to me again. We started checking and …
Oh Festive Tillandsia, Oh Festive Tillandsia
Allow me to introduce to you yet another alternative to the Christmas Tree. A few weeks back I bought this tiny $3.00 string of miniature LED lights meant for creating miniature Winter Wonderlands. I have a thing for miniatures that stems from repeated childhood trips to the Hobby Shop to visit the rotating display of …
Holiday Gifts for Gardeners to Make
I know that time is getting tight now as the Holiday Season kicks into gear but I wanted to be sure and mention some gifts to make if you’re coming up dry on ideas for the gardener friend in your life. A lot of these ideas use materials harvested from your own garden but I …
Everything’s Cool
I watched “Everything’s Cool” yesterday afternoon, hot on the heels of the UN conference on climate change held in Bali last week where my country was globally humiliated ONCE AGAIN by our Prime Minister’s refusal to support a new climate change agreement — an action supported by the rest of the planet, excluding our neighbours to the south.
American Horticultural Society Article on Gardening Blogs
– American Horticultural Society (November/December 2007 – Volume 86, Number 6) I was interviewed a few month back for an article on gardening blogs entitled, “Virtual Gardening in the Blogosphere” by Doug Green. I will admit that it’s been only about eight months since I began to tentatively tiptoe my way towards even remotely considering …
A Conversation with Derek Powazek, Apartment Orchid Gardener
All photos by Derek Powazek I first came across the work of Derek Powazek online about 10 years ago when I was working as a graphic designer in the interactive department of The Place That Shall Not Be Named. Derek’s retired online public complaints machine Kvetch.com was a touchstone to sanity for me, a place …
Hats that Say, Hello World, Yes, I AM a Geek
I’ve been collecting patches, specifically vintage Girl Guide merit badges with a nature or craft theme for years and figured it was about time I actually, you know, did something with them short of keeping them in a box. It’s a nice box and all but I really only look into it approximately one to …
Warm Winter Wear Drive Reminder
Just a reminder that the deadline for the 2007 Warm Winter Wear Drive is approaching this week. Be sure to get your stuff in the mail before the deadline. I will wait a few days for any stragglers but please let me know if you have sent something so I can look out for it. …