Social Media Butterfly

You probably need another social media site to join like a hole in the head.
But, how can you resist gardening-specific social networking? Check out these sites I originally started following on Twitter:

Dig the Dirt

Your Garden Show

Both are free and are a great way to catalog ideas, share your gardens, access tools/resources and peruse how-to's. Most of all, sites like these use the experiences of others to illustrate the importance of gardening, sustainable practices and the impact of building communities on and offline.

I encourage you to be social and start building your gardening community. Then, you can share it on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, +1 on Google+, pin it on Pinterest...
(Wait, I thought we were supposed to be spending more time outside?)
I don't quite understand it all either, but I'm learning!

P.S. Leaf Magazine, a new digital magazine focused on outdoor design, launches this fall. Click to get a free subscription!

Daytripper: Time Well Spent in Douglas/Saugatuck

Those of us who are lucky enough to live in West Michigan are able to take day trips to neighboring Lakeshore communities like South Haven, Holland, Grand Haven and Ludington. On Saturday, my husband and I took a day trip to Douglas and Saugatuck, two little sister cities nestled on Lake Michigan, just about 15 minutes south of Holland. These remarkable little communities are known for their arts, culture, and treasure trove of unique shops and galleries. Saugatuck even has its own film festival.

We had been to Saugatuck before, but this time we incorporated some different experiences. Our day started in Douglas with Running Rivers, who offer kayak trips of varying lengths through the forests and wetlands along the Kalamazoo River. They also offer the now-trendy stand up paddle boards. We went for an hour-long kayak, which ended up at Wades Bayou, and spotted a few blue heron along the way.

Douglas and Saugatuck also have quite the garden club, supporting the communities through  beautification projects and other efforts. Both cities have the most beautiful homes and manicured outdoor spaces, and makes me wish I could join their club!

Both downtowns feature very quaint little shops, especially for home and garden (check out my scores below!) and a variety of restaurants for every taste. We had lunch at Coral Gables, watching the boats come and go in the bay, followed by the BEST (and most expensive) MILKSHAKE EVER at Kilwins.

The last stop for the day was Saugatuck Dunes State Park. To get to the beach, you have to walk about .6 miles through the woods along sandy trails. The beach is worth the hike and the hike is pretty great itself. (And, it was the perfect opportunity to start burning off the shake!) After a late afternoon of frisbee in the water and naps on the shore, it was time to make the trek back. We couldn't have asked for a better day.

Do you have a Michigan State Park Recreation Passport?


The gardens were just gorgeous. I wish I would have been able to take more pics of the homes and gardens. They were just magazine worthy!

Best name for a children's store EVER. (It's from Alice In Wonderland, in case you don't get the reference.)

Secluded, tree-lined beach. You really couldn't ask for a better backdrop. I've been a lot of places and West Michigan truly has some great beaches.

Just looking up!

The oak-lined trail to and fro. I would love to go back and just hike the trails.

Good finds: Iron key from Urban Cottage in Saugatuck, black wood apple and pear (just had to have them!) from Circa in Douglas, and wine rack from Wine Sellers of Saugatuck. I do need to make another trip SOON to visit Amsterdam, a real eclectic mix of antiques, vintage finds, garden treasures, you name it!

Garden Pick-Me-Up

Someone at work is collecting coffee grounds for their garden. How do I know this? Well, my super sleuth skills have honed in on the plastic container on top of the coffee maker with a label that says “coffee grounds.” If they are not for their garden, what else would they be for?

Actually, there are quite a few uses for spent coffee grounds—odor absorber, abrasive scouring and cleaning agent, skin exfoliant, and yes, cellulite reducer.

But, coffee grounds are best used in the garden. Here’s the why and how:

• They are a compost pile wonder. Just toss in, filter and all (teabags, too!) Consider them “green” not “brown” material (even though, yes, they are in fact brown), but they are full of nitrogen, which essential for plant growth. 
• Create a natural fertilizer by applying grounds directly to beds and working into the soil. Plants that prefer more acidic soil, such as rhododendrons, azaleas, roses and even fruit trees will particularly develop a caffeine addiction. Or, use this recipe to create a fast-acting liquid fertilizer. Dilute coffee grounds with water at a rate of ½ lb coffee to 5 gallons of water. Mix and spray!
• Rumor has it that grounds repel slugs, snails and ants. Chemical-free pest control!
• Use as a mulch in beds or containers.
• Amend your soil (pre or post planting) to improve the texture and pH, and attract worms.

So, stock up because whether you use your own, collect from the office or visit your local Starbucks, you really can’t have too much. (Note: I’m not entirely sure, but I think you can still go to Starbucks and take as much as you can carry. I’m sure any local coffee house would give away grounds for a good cause. Ask around!)

I’m not going to get into all the facts and figures about coffee ground waste in landfills. Just check out this page, which gets into the science, and sustainable and social causes behind grounds.

Spring Around Town

Even though May is prime time for prepping and planting, be sure to break out of your backyard to take advantage of these classes and events that are right in ... your own backyard!

National Public Gardens Day, May 6
Tomorrow is National Public Gardens Day (and, it is actually every Friday before Mother's Day). Public gardens offer a variety of learning opportunities, including water conservation methods, landscape design, native plants, seasonal and geographic considerations, gardening techniques, and the collective knowledge of those who work and volunteer there. Maybe you're heard of a little place called Frederik Meijer Gardens?

Holland Tulip Time Festival, May 7-14
I'd be lying if I said I had an interest in Dutch heritage (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) But, I wouldn't mind seeing hundreds of thousands of tulips in bloom. If you are interested in all of the festivities, check out the Tulip Time website.

Local Gardening Classes
I'm a big fan of the the Romence Gardens Coaching Series. Every Saturday at 9:45 a.m., Romence offers a class taught by one of their "coaches"--either a seasoned employee or an outside expert. Subjects include lawn care, flowering shrubs, vegetables, composting, container gardening and hanging baskets. Check their website for upcoming classes. Saturday's class is all about caring for hanging baskets. Romence is also planning "R Big Day" on May 21, more details coming soon.

Need Garden Inspiration?

As an aspiring master gardener, I look forward to the Michigan State University/Kent County Extension Master Gardener Tour every summer.

If you are so inclined, join me Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, as I tour and explore private gardens of certified master gardeners within Kent County. I've done this tour for about 3 or 4 years now, and it never disappoints. Beginners and well-versed gardeners will be inspired by the variety of garden designs including shade, full sun, containers, rose, perennials and the list goes on. Master gardener, as well as MSU extension staff are also on site at every tour stop to answer questions and provide advice.

Tickets are $10 and are available at any of the garden tour stops. Visit the Stuck on Gardening page for tour stops descriptions and maps, or call 616.336.3265 for more information.

Good for the Soul, Good for Your Neighbor

A few weeks ago, as I was diligently cleaning up an overgrown bed in my backyard, I spotted my neighbor, Betsy. I invited her and her lab, Moses, to come over and choose from my selection of evening primrose and black eyed Susan, as I was happy to dig up some and give the rest a little breathing room. For the next hour or so, Betsy and I happily exchanged tidbits about gardening, yard work, pets and other small talk. It was really great to share flowers and conversation.

That same night, I read an article in Real Simple magazine about a group of six friends who called themselves the Wonder Weeders. Every Friday, they would get together at each others homes and use their collective labor to garden as team, rotating houses each week. In short, the article discussed how the group got started--through a simple neighborly gesture--and how it grew into eight years of friendships, not only sharing gardening labor, but also personal triumphs, joys and set backs, and learning from each other as well as learning about themselves.

It was a really inspiring and emotional article (if I could find it online, I'd surely link to it), and it really got me thinking about how powerful gardening can be. It is no wonder why there is a such a strong movement with community gardens, corporate gardens and the like. It doesn't matter if the garden is flowers or vegetables, communities, neighbors and friends are getting together to reap the rewards and enjoy the outcomes, whatever they may be.