tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post209395809381973640..comments2024-03-10T04:10:20.873-04:00Comments on The Rainforest Garden: Letters to a Young GardenerSteve Asbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-72059328731974447662011-01-29T18:34:36.192-05:002011-01-29T18:34:36.192-05:00Thanks guys! I'm definitely going to need a fo...Thanks guys! I'm definitely going to need a follow up post for this with all of your great advice... maybe a second blog?Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-47664253004420255732011-01-29T08:19:03.047-05:002011-01-29T08:19:03.047-05:00Great post! so many truths to it.
Loved the part a...Great post! so many truths to it.<br />Loved the part about the japanese orchid. I can imagine it saying thatferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276731855082908670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-56588022078722728652011-01-27T21:21:52.420-05:002011-01-27T21:21:52.420-05:00"Never plant a $4 plant in a $0.25 hole."..."Never plant a $4 plant in a $0.25 hole." And always water it in. (And if it dies anytime in the next 25 years, it was root-bound from the nursery!). Thank you for this wonderful post. I'm going to be tweeting your link for a good long while!Lisa, YourGardenShowhttp://www.yourgardenshow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-4426205995752974792011-01-27T08:18:46.973-05:002011-01-27T08:18:46.973-05:00GROW FOOD! OK, it may not be for everyone, but whe...GROW FOOD! OK, it may not be for everyone, but when your efforts not only look good but provide you with awesome-tasting vegetables and fruit, it's hard to imagine NOT having a garden.cityslipper (small kitchen garden)http://www.smallkitchengarden.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-86607596066550992072011-01-17T17:07:41.534-05:002011-01-17T17:07:41.534-05:00I LOVED that post, Danger Garden! It was so cool t...I LOVED that post, Danger Garden! It was so cool to see how your garden and plant addiction have developed over the years!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-64238379789505851652011-01-17T14:50:47.570-05:002011-01-17T14:50:47.570-05:00RFG, this post got me thinking back on my early da...RFG, this post got me thinking back on my early days of gardening and before I knew it I had a whole list of things to say! (I'm sure you're not surprised)...I blogged on this subject today! http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-remember-whenthoughts-on-beginning-to.htmldanger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-75998315231314971402011-01-13T22:18:19.249-05:002011-01-13T22:18:19.249-05:00Julie: I like the part about trying new things unt...Julie: I like the part about trying new things until the plant's happy!<br /><br />Mr. Subjunctive: "Container Plants Are Plants Too." I like that. You of all people know about gardening without a typical setup with a yard! Can't wait for this week's posts...Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-90172955896016782011-01-13T21:38:05.279-05:002011-01-13T21:38:05.279-05:00Some version of, "Don't wait until you ha...Some version of, "Don't wait until you have a yard to start gardening." or "Container plants are plants too." or something like that.mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-28387666702165419142011-01-13T18:29:38.126-05:002011-01-13T18:29:38.126-05:00Keep trying...never give up...it will grow and flo...Keep trying...never give up...it will grow and flourish when the right set of circumstances are found! (Try something new...new soil, new lighting, new location, new temps, etc).Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04402220963886597754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-35635433078500119482011-01-13T11:38:58.833-05:002011-01-13T11:38:58.833-05:00Daricia: I'm pretty sure that the Ae Ae banana...Daricia: I'm pretty sure that the Ae Ae banana is just a variegated sport of a more common variety... I can't remember which one it is though!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-39672319334580816432011-01-13T11:36:25.123-05:002011-01-13T11:36:25.123-05:00Allen: Thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked it. ...Allen: Thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked it. :)Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-43744828117126694322011-01-13T11:35:37.763-05:002011-01-13T11:35:37.763-05:00Tom: Thank you for that great comment! I love the ...Tom: Thank you for that great comment! I love the quote you shared, and I'm likely to be that stubborn at times! :)Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-48042406772932333742011-01-12T13:13:54.760-05:002011-01-12T13:13:54.760-05:00steve, do you know a species name for that banana?...steve, do you know a species name for that banana? ae ae is the common name in hawaiian, isnt it? i should have made note when i took the photo, but didnt. thanks for the link, btw!Dariciahttp://acharlottegarden.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-18646993567988347452011-01-11T20:00:22.928-05:002011-01-11T20:00:22.928-05:00Buford Nature: Spending time with your plants is a...Buford Nature: Spending time with your plants is a really good idea, plus you just get to enjoy them more! I would go crazy if I responded to every sign of stress or poor health, since nothing is really at its best this time of year... but just you wait til spring!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-57908958760340315702011-01-11T19:53:25.583-05:002011-01-11T19:53:25.583-05:00Great post and well put.Great post and well put.allanbecker-gardenguruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249183285802762125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-52611752646806635472011-01-11T19:51:11.525-05:002011-01-11T19:51:11.525-05:00Daricia: You're way too generous with your kin...Daricia: You're way too generous with your kind words... but don't let ME stop you! :) BTW, I loved the variegated Ae Ae banana over at your blog. :)http://acharlottegarden.blogspot.com/Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-28921829794595640192011-01-11T19:48:25.616-05:002011-01-11T19:48:25.616-05:00Susan: That method sure shows in your beautiful ga...Susan: That method sure shows in your beautiful garden photos! :)Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-9488041547827386472011-01-11T19:41:58.738-05:002011-01-11T19:41:58.738-05:00Kat: I really liked how you put it: "I hope t...Kat: I really liked how you put it: "I hope to continue to fail as a gardener because it is through failure that I also learn." and dead plants DO make room for new plants!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-29090813919616053662011-01-11T19:28:26.590-05:002011-01-11T19:28:26.590-05:00Mark and Gaz: That's an interesting way of put...Mark and Gaz: That's an interesting way of putting it, and so true. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I'm still such a beginner myself.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-90916381626134461032011-01-11T19:27:03.768-05:002011-01-11T19:27:03.768-05:00NanaK: You could really write a whole book full of...NanaK: You could really write a whole book full of the advice that everyone's shared!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-45879449787362746232011-01-11T18:56:20.980-05:002011-01-11T18:56:20.980-05:00Great post, Steve! I was a novice gardener who cou...Great post, Steve! I was a novice gardener who could grow the basic tomatos, a cucumber vine, and maybe some corn - things that didn't really need 'special' attention other than water. Then I got lucky and married a Master Gardener 5+ years ago! :) <br /><br />She came well equipped with years of practical knowledge, lots of books, links to websites, a list of all the gardening TV shows on PBS, stories of successes and failures in the garden. Together, she taught and I've tried to learn, and to this day, we still get more books, read more websites, connect with more gardening friends, still have successes and failures, watch the TV shows, listen to gardening shows on radio, and try to make our gardens a pleasure, not a job. We still underwater and overwater things. Sometimes we add too much or too little mulch. Every time, we learn something new. <br /><br />I think I've done well as her student, and I think it's fair for me to pass along this advice to new gardeners: Read, watch, listen, learn. Don't be afraid to fail in the garden. Don't be afraid to experiment. Don't be too shy to share your successes.<br /><br />Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither can a garden be built like that. My wife has jokingly told me I can leave if I want to "when the gardens are finished"... with me knowing full well they will never be finished. At least I have job security at home :)<br /><br />Tony Avent, of Plant Delights Nursery fame here in Raleigh, NC, has a good motto..."I will kill a plant three times before I decide it won't/can't grow here". <br /><br />Now, if they could only find a cure for the Japanese Beetle.<br /><br />Tom- aka @SolakNCTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15968286950265770916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-2318767914626296912011-01-11T17:48:16.196-05:002011-01-11T17:48:16.196-05:00My secret to successful gardening is to spend a lo...My secret to successful gardening is to spend a lot of time with my plants. I give myself to them at least several minutes daily, and when I have the time and the weather isn't mizzuble I give them much more time than that. I look at EACH and EVERY plant for signs of health and stress, insects and disease, precursors to bolting and fruiting, etc. The local ag and garden agencies are founts of information, but you must get a "feel" for each species and each part of your garden if your reference literature is to do you any good. Besides, spending quality time with your plants is good for YOUR soul.Buford Naturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14657555328626398940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-28562503707828527272011-01-11T12:17:32.176-05:002011-01-11T12:17:32.176-05:00i have to just say i'm a big fan, steve! this...i have to just say i'm a big fan, steve! this is a great post, but aren't they all? entertaining and and informative. thanks! will post on fb.Dariciahttp://acharlottegarden.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-70043066076009223472011-01-11T12:17:00.053-05:002011-01-11T12:17:00.053-05:00Great advice, Steve. Researching plants to see wha...Great advice, Steve. Researching plants to see what their needs are is helpful for me when placing them in the garden.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01106128705768954876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-73033188097897179462011-01-11T10:29:51.485-05:002011-01-11T10:29:51.485-05:00I love this post. I'm not sure I would go as f...I love this post. I'm not sure I would go as far as 'celebrating' the death of my plants (OK... well some of them. A dead plant does make room for a NEW plant). But honoring their death by realizing that you learned something is excellent advice. I wrote a piece a while back about why I hope to continue to fail as a gardener because it is through failure that I also learn. Hands on experience is the best.Kathttp://www.thekatsgarden.comnoreply@blogger.com