” ‘Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the house

And to all a good night.

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a ……..”

Okay, this isn’t a mouse. It’s Cornbread, one of the little cats that likes to hang around my garden–possibly because I keep out a bowl of kitty chow for my furry neighborhood visitors.  He’s pictured here on a recent afternoon, enjoying a snooze on my porch.

Since my version of this old Christmas poem (originally written by Clement Clarke Moore) isn’t really much of a gift to you, let me try again. Today is Christmas Eve, and some of us will have to dash out, not through the snow, but through the traffic, to find a last minute gardening gift. So how about some suggestions? Consider:

a canvas garden tote, its pockets stuffed with assorted small hand tools or seed packets.

a pair of ergonomic garden gloves that fit snugly at the wrist, to keep out garden debris. Look for the washable kind.

a beautiful gardening book.

an indoor/outdoor weather station.   If that’s too pricey, a simple rain gauge and indoor/outdoor thermometer.

a bird feeder, complete with a bag of sunflower seeds, or a hummingbird feeder made of colorful glass.

tickets to the upcoming Southeastern Flower Show, which are available online now.

I can’t shimmy down your chimney tonight, but if I could, I’d also bring you the gift of time for 2009: more time to nurture your garden, to spend enjoying the beauty that’s all around us, and to be with your friends and family.

Merry Christmas, and green blessings!

Lynn

Have you checked your mailbox lately? Mine is starting to fill up with new seed catalogs, and yesterday, I got one from Tomato Growers Supply Company, a mail order business that will celebrate 25 years in 2009.

Tomato Growers, as you’d guess, specializes in tomatoes, and there are some delicious new varieties coming onto the market. I like ‘Bella Rosa,’ a VFFNA hybrid that is said to be both heat tolerant and resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus. The fruits are large with bright red flesh. ‘Shilling Giant’ also looks great. It bears huge, heart-shaped fruits with a meaty texture, fine for making into rich tomato sauce. Check out the catalog at Tomato Growers Supply Company.

I can’t wait to hear Jenny Levison, owner of Souper Jenny, when she speaks at the flower show next Jan. 30 about “Cooking from the Garden.” Laurie Grizzle, owner of the Mustard Seed Cafe, will also discuss cooking from your garden on Jan. 29. I want to ask them both about their recommendations for the best varieties to grow for making homemade sauces and soups.

No catalogs in your mailbox yet? Be patient. They start arriving around this time of year. Meanwhile, enjoy this picture, which comes from a book published in the mid-1500s. Seems artists have been fascinated by the beauty of humble tomatoes for centuries!

From a garden book published circa 1640

green blessings,
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

Lots of things grow in gardens--including happy children

Kids in the garden?  If we’re honest, we might admit that children aren’t always welcome in the rose bed and tomato patch.  At least, not if they’re going to break off our prize blooms or bombard each other with ripening fruits.  (Hey–it happened in my garden.  Plump, juicy tomatoes, it seems, explode beautifully when you throw them on a hot summer’s day.)

But of course, children do belong in gardens. It’s important for us to get young people interested in growing fresh, healthful foods; to teach them to conserve and protect the natural world; and to encourage them to stop in their busy lives long enough to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.  

As the weather gets colder and the holidays approach, why not spend some time with your children in the garden?  This is a perfect season to introduce them to feeding the birds with pinecones rolled in peanut butter and seeds, or to let them help prune evergreens and trees for cuttings to decorate your home. 

As Christmas gets closer, you can also give a gardening gift to that special child in your life. Here are few suggestions: 

* a kit to make stepping stones with the child’s own handprints

* a child-sized shovel and rake

* a “WormLab,” like this one from the National Gardening Association: http://www.gardeningwithkids.org/wormlab.html

* a “Butterfly Pavilion,” so they can watch caterpillars metamorphosize into butterflies

* a promise to take them to a local nature center, like the Dunwoody Nature Center.   http://www.dunwoodynature.org/ 

You can find out more about the kid-friendly activities and learning opportunities available at the Dunwoody Nature Center next Jan. 29, when Executive Director Claire Hayes visits the speakers’ stage at the flower show.

So encourage your kids to venture into the garden–not to turn the tomatoes into ammunition–but to learn what gardening is all about.  You’ll reap a rich harvest, we promise!

 cheers,

Lynn

There are many things that gardeners can grow besides flowers and veggies.  Take our families, for example.  What parent doesn’t want to produce great kids?  If you’re into gardening, nothing is better than sharing your passion with the younger members of your family.   Gardening encourages them to forget about the TV and computer for awhile and become stewards of the earth as they nurture plants, learn to conserve natural resources, and observe the world around them.

Maybe your children are already following in your sometimes-muddy footsteps in the garden.  But if they need a little nudge in the right direction, check out Georgia’s Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program, which is currently active in several elementary schools in Hall County.

The JMG’s goal is   “To grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a unique gardening education.”  We can relate, because the 2009 flower show is all about passion, too! 

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or gardener, you can find out more about the JMG program, which is offered worldwide through Texas A&M University, at http://jmgkids.us.   You can also call 979.845.8565 for information, or, before you call, check out their FAQs at   http://www.jmgkids.us/index.k2?did=2022&sectionID=2019 .

You’ll also find terrific ideas for getting kids interested in gardening at the upcoming show.  We’ll post some of the activities you’ll find there in the next few weeks.

So dig in.  Your kids are worth it!

cheers,

Lynn