HELL YES!!!

My Turkish vegetable seeds are here!!!
Melon (kavun) and eggplant (patlıjan, pronounced patlujan) seeds! So many, what will I do with them all!!!???

On Tap: not quite a snowpocalypse, but I'm going to wrap my plants anyway

This weekend's supposed to be CooooooooLD in LA. I've heard Valencia and the Pasadena Foothills may get snow. Saturday night is going to be the coldest night in my East Hollywood/Los Feliz neighborhood, with temperatures dropping to the 30s. I have a little bit of wind tunnel action going on in my backyard because of the layout of the space, so my birdbath will freeze over even when temps dip just into the low 40s. Upshot: I made a reminder to bring my potted subtropical plants into a sheltered area. Any plants I can't move that may suffer from frostbite, I will be wrapping with Reemay to try and insulate them a little. I'll be leaving my Kale and brussels sprouts exposed though, because I read they're supposed to taste better if they get a little frosted. At least I think I read that somewhere. I'm pretty sure I didn't make that up. It sounds believable in any case.

All you humans and animals stay cozy this weekend!

Check out this crazy brush!

I love weird, esoteric tools, and this is one of the weirdest I've ever seen! I saw it at my local art store, Blue Rooster. I get dizzy just looking at it. Apparently an artist has them custom made to paint special swirly designs. I was trying to think of other fun crafts or projects you could make with a brush like this, but I can't seem to come up with anything. It's like a physical manifestation of an art oxymoron.
-J

Rats vs. Termites

Termites swarm from east to west being carried on the Santa Ana winds. Another reason for me to hate the Santa Ana winds. Really though, termites are everywhere in Los Angeles. So are rats. And both are especially into hanging out in my garage and leaving their poops. I'll be dealing with rats later, but the Western Exterminator guy came out today to foam a few spots for me. While he worked, I peppered him with questions. Here's a few factoids I learned today...

Happy Valentines Day!

I don't really do much for Valentine's day, at least nothing romantic (i.e. This year I asked my boyfriend for a tube of arthritis cream for my achy hands.) But I thought mentioning this holiday would give me an excuse to post these miniature chairs I saw at Sunset Nursery this weekend while Erin and I were seed shopping. That's Irish moss growing as the mini-seat cushions. I imagine this is what garden gnome couples sit on when they're having tea, or doing whatever it is garden gnomes are supposed to do. So, Happy Valentine's Day. Here's hoping we all find our very own garden gnome to sit on moss chairs with and while away the days.
-J

Organizing Tip

Check out this awesome label maker (available at an office supply store near you)!

I promise I'm not crazy - the DIY network said that to properly organize my garage, I should package everything in clear boxes with labels.

 Ta-dah!  Is it bad that I spend my time thinking about these things?

Garage Hoarders: Part I

I am ashamed.

Well, maybe I'm more embarrassed about my parents' garage than anything else.  We should be on that TV show, Hoarders: Buried Alive.  I decide about a month ago that I would take on the task of cleaning, organizing and revamping my parents' garage.  This is the situation:

 

Of the 3 spaces available, only two parking spots are open.  The third spot has been swallowed up by tons of useless crap.