Beautify Your Vegetable Garden with These Ideas.....

The French have long understood that vegetable gardens can be places of beauty. They located their traditional potagers, or kitchen gardens, outside their kitchen windows and included vertical structures, flowers, and artistic plant groupings designed for aesthetic appeal. 

Flowers look beautiful and attract the all important pollinators to your garden. Read the wonderful article I have linked here for learning how to include beautiful flowers and more in your veggie garden. 

Infographic - go here for more

A Rare Honey Moon on the Summer Solstice - Tomorrow, June 20

On June 20, 2016 there will be a very rare Honey Moon at the same time of the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.  


June's full moon is  known as a "Honey Moon" because it can have a slightly golden tint, according to EarthSky.org.  

yellowish 'honey' moon

That's because it appears low in the sky, meaning we are viewing it through the lens of more of the Earth's atmosphere. This is the lowest moon of the year, the moon's path across the sky this month actually mimics the sun's low arc across the sky in December, according to EarthSky.

Pink honey moon rises over Sweden

The June Full Moon rising appears to loom impossibly large near the horizon. That effect has long been recognized as the Moon Illusion. 

The cause of the giant Moon illusion is poorly understood and not explained by atmospheric optical effects, such as scattering and refraction...they cannot fully explain this !

Majestic scene with honey moon 

 Btw, is this why they call the sojourn after a wedding a Honeymoon? Did everyone get married in June and so that was how the name came about? Just asking.

If you want to know all the names of the moons click here and go to the great blog, Seasonal Wisdom. Teresa O'Connor describes all the moon names - fascinating. 

Again click here for more fascinating info on this event

Proton Wira upgrade - progress update June 2016

I had made several plans but as they say, the best of plans of mice and men often go awry.

First of all, there was an issue with my hand brake. It was getting loose and so I went to my nearby Proton service centre, Senaxis Sdn Bhd and got it fixed. They changed a few things including the brake pump (RM79.50) and brake fluid (RM10.60)as well - I was not sure why they needed to do that. They also replaced a faulty brake lights (RM21.20). All together it cost me RM111.30 including GST.

Anyway, I later discovered that the brake was still not working and decided to go to my favourite mechanic - Paul who owns Pusat Perkhidmatan Kereta Pelangi  at Sunway Damansara Technology Park. He fixed the brake in a couple of minutes and I also changed the radiator cap.

While I was there, I talked to Paul about the terrible vibrations when ever the car as at the traffic lights or idling anywhere. According to him I needed to change the engine mounting. So I decided to leave the car and get it done.

When I picked it up two days later, the car was so quiet it felt just like a new car. The damage was RM461. This includes RM285 for the mounting set and RM150 for  labour. Bloody GST was RM26.10.

I then got the power window fixed as well - one issue that has plagued Proton cars for a long time.

Also realised that the two rear tyres were nearly bald and replaced them at a nearby tyre shop - Wah Hoe Tyre services. 2 Continental tyres + balancing and alignment cost me a total of RM339.20. Was a bit annoyed as they changed me more because I used my credit card. Apparently if you  pay cash, I can get it about 10% cheaper. I wish they had told me earlier.

In total I have spent a total of around RM1000 on my car alone, so all the upgrades I had planned have to be pushed forward to the next month,

New restyled Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati has launched additional choice of two unique trims options of their Quattroporte model. The two models are the GranLusso and GranSport.

The two distinct trims are available as an upgrade for all Quattroporte V6 powertrain versions (Quattroporte diesel, Quattroporte, Quattroporte S, Quattroporte S Q4) with same price levels.

The GranLusso or GranSport trims will be included exclusively as part of the standard equipment for the Quattroporte GTS powered by  the twin-turbo V8.

The GranLusso features bespoke silk interiors designed by Ermenegildo Zegna as well as wood and leather steering wheel, wood trim, power foot pedals, a power rear sunblind, four-zone climate control, and heated rear seats.

GranLusso 

The GranSport features carbon fibres trims for both exterior and interior including a carbon fibre steering wheel.

GranSport.

Restyled Maserati grille 

Go over to the Quattroporte site for more info.

'Purple Smoke' - The best Baptisia

 This year I am planting Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'. 

A deer resistant, native, drought tolerant, purple, long lived perennial! Wow!

Photo - Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden - Puple Smoke Baptisia and Carolina Moonlight Baptisia

It is a hybrid of B. australis and B. alba and is a vigorous grower.  Discovered by Rob Gardener of the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, it has charcoal-gray stems and is purple.  

Baptisia is a native perennial that has a long taproot, loves sunny sites with lean or poor soil. Average to dry soil is best.  Its deep tap root allows it to survive long dry periods, making it a challenge to move once it is established. 

Purple Smoke from Bluestone Perennials

The flowers resemble lupines and are smoky violet. Numerous flowers open first at the base of the flower stalk in May and ascend upwards, topping out at 4.5' tall. It has fine textured, blue-green foliage. 

The flower spikes rise above the foliage for easy viewing. I love its unique flower color and strong vertical form.  A Niche Gardens introduction.

Steve Foltz, director of horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, says 'Purple Smoke' 

"is one of the best—if not the best—Baptisia on the market."

Muhammad Ali's Peace Garden Initiative

photo courtesy of business wire

The Muhammad Ali Center of Lexington, Ky and Yum! Brands Foundation launched the global Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens project on September 21, 2010. 

This coincided with the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Peace gardens focus on using edible plants from different cultures to teach youth about the world through culinary delights. 

They also teach children how to "nurture and care for other living things" and remind them about the importance of fruits and vegetables  in their diets.  

Through the process of growing food students learn about nature's processes and increase their access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

What better way to create awareness about hunger than to have them actively involved in growing a garden, taking food home to their families, and giving to the community?

The model for this idea came from the John F. Kennedy Montessori school.  Children participated in all aspects of the garden including planting, nurturing, harvesting, cooking and donating food to the hungry.

The model garden consisted of different vegetable beds representing the different countries and the diverse cultures of the school.

• Squash and beans were grown in the United States/Native American garden and were used to make “3 Sisters Harvest Soup”.
• Tomatoes, peppers and onions were grown in a Salsa Garden representing Mexico.
• Sweet potatoes and black beans were grown in the Cuban garden bed
• Edamame was grown in the Asian bed
• Potatoes and cucumbers represented Russia.

“The ‘Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens’ program will sow the seeds of cultural respect by teaching children how to build gardens with plants from different countries,” said Greg Roberts, President of the Muhammad Ali Center.

Add a Lively Red Accent in Your Landscape

(Red New Guinea Impatiens,landscape and photo by Jan Johnsen)

Bold. Bright. Pop.

This is what RED adds to a garden.

RED, an eye catching hue, stands up to the summer sun's withering glare in the afternoon.

When all pastels fade away, red, orange and yellow sing their hearts out....and RED always steals the show.

RED has a vivid history - Check it out on the sensational color website. It is the color of the root chakra (this means 'energy point) of the body:

"This chakra is located at the base of the spine and allows us to be grounded and connect to the universal energies. Groundedness, belonging...."

(sounds perfect for all us grounded gardeners)

In Japan RED is associated with certain deities. Their “Shinkyo” (Sacred Bridge) in Nikko, Japan is a wonderful example of the contrast RED makes with green in a natural setting.

You can also see how effective RED is in the modern Chinese Red Ribbon in Tanghe River Park, designed by Turenscape :

This use of RED has always been popular in Chinese gardens...Here is another example showing a red Tori or gate...what great proportions too.

I was first introduced to the power of red by the French artist, Matisse...I loved his 'Red Studio' when I first saw it as a child in a NY museum:

And of course Red furniture outdoors attracts the eye:

Here is a landscape I designed - the red bench definitely dominates the scene:

(Jan Johnsen)

I often plant RED Callibrachoa in my clients' gardens. It is a eye catcher for sure!



I also plant a mass of red begonias next to dark green leucothoe to make a statement. This is what I did along an entry walk:

Of course the spilling over of Superbena Royale Red Verbena in a pot is unmatched:

(courtesy of Proven Winners)

And Nemesia, a cool season annual flower, is also a knock out in red, Sunsatia Cranberry Nemesia :

(courtesy of Proven Winners)

Did you know that Bees can’t see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees.

I love red tulips against a white fence so I planted these Parade tulips:

(Jan Johnsen)

And of course the traditional Red Geranium always signifies 'welcome' in so many languages:

So please consider 'spicing up' your outdoor surroundings with some RED today - you won't regret it!

(Silas Mountsier Garden, photo by Jan Johnsen)