A peek into my spring time addled brain....

Since it's been quite awhile between blogs, I thought it would be good to share why this is, and what sorts of things are floating around my somewhat overwhelmed head. Part of it is that this feels like an adjustment phase for me....a typical (pre-tomato book spring) would see me transplanting, preparing for seedling sales, digging in the garden, enjoying all of the suddenly appearing spring flowers. 

Last year, and especially this year, it feels quite different. Though I try to be organized (to-do lists are a favorite thing of mine, though it seems that more items enter than leave), maintaining energy level is proving to be a bit of a struggle. Without large scale seedling sales, there should be more time and energy to get things done. Yet, my speaking schedule feels busier than last year, and is taking us further away. It takes me some time to bounce back after throwing myself into a talk, climbing the emotional ladder, deeply enjoying the event, and the letdown that follows.

I've also added several writing assignments, which I really enjoy. Some are complete, some underway, a few yet to start. My skill as a procrastinator has also been reinforced. It seems to be impossible to get some of these done well in advance - it is the pressure of an imminent deadline that tends to motivate me, which is not exactly a recipe for relaxation and calmness.

And so I find myself here - sitting in the waiting room while Sue has a physical therapy session for her surgically repaired shoulder. Here is where things are in the garden:

The garage floor is covered with transplanted seedlings. Since we are due for a frost tonight, tomorrow is the day that they have their post-transplanted debut in the driveway and in the sunshine.

Additional seedlings are germinating in my office window, and I've a few more recently received seeds to plant.

I want to blog next about some of the interesting varieties that will be grown this year - some new family heirlooms received from audience members at talks here and there, some new work on the dwarf project, and a few back ups for a friend for her next book. No pressure!

It is time to think of planting the greens and beets that are growing so well following their transplanting. It is time to order some straw bales and start their preparation. It is time to decide on exactly what I want to grow, and where, and how - the unique mix of peppers, eggplant and tomatoes that will populate our driveway this summer.

My next speaking events will take us to Belmont (the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, on April 5), and then Asheville (the Mother Earth News Fair, on April 9-10). That will open a fairly busy April that will mix events with garden planting. 

I am really fortunate to work on so many aspects of my favorite hobby - gardening - spending lots of time with my favorite person - my wife, Susan. From experience, I know that an intimidating mass of future activities will spread out over time, and all will get done when needed. But I've also learned that this feeling of being a bit overwhelmed is as consistent for me as spring itself.

Stories from the road - joy in Seattle and Chicago

It seems like yesterday that I was trying to remember to think in terms of 2016 - somehow, the calendar flipped. Life as a gardener/writer is turning out to be quite different from my former, get-in-the-car-each-morning, drive to the office version. Rather than years with beginnings and endings, this feels more like a continuum. 

And so my January planning flowed seamlessly into February seed planting and local workshops, followed by packing and airports and exciting, varied, satisfying trips to Seattle and Chicago. With Virginia and transplanting staring me in the face, I am thankful for a day where I can collect my thoughts and memories and experiences. That is exactly what I will attempt to do in this blog post. 

Family and Flower show in Seattle

We fell in love with Seattle when we lived there in 1983, a young, living-on-the-financial-edge couple with a small child doing a post-doc and working as a nurse. We love it no less in 2016, especially with that small child now a wife and mother - meaning Sue and I are grandparents. 

A chance to speak at the Northwest Flower and Garden show is what brought us there in mid February. After some quality time (far too little, but we appreciate whatever we can get) with Sara, Adam, Aaron and Aiden, Sue and I relocated to downtown. My talks on Saturday and Sunday - both on tomatoes, of course - were thrilling experiences for me. The audiences provided attention and energy. On Sunday I was so pleased to share the stage with Brad Halm and Charlie Nardozzi in a unique three part, rapid fire workshop. The only regret was that both of my books sold out on Saturday, leaving me with a book-less signing session on Sunday.

In between workshops Sue and I got to peruse the gorgeous flower show, and seek out wonderful beer, Indian food and pizza for our various meals. Being in a hustling, bustling city with so many opportunities to walk to so many interesting places is a delight.

I am already receiving emails from the various gardening friends from the show - some familiar, many new. Seeds and stories are being shared, questions asked and answered. This is as it should be, and it is one of the aspects of my new journey that I really enjoy.

The space in between 

There was a bit of drama spanning the return from Seattle and departure to Chicago. Sue had her scheduled shoulder surgery on Thursday (which went well). Unfortunately, the morning after had a bit of a bump; clearly working all of the "stuff" that they gave her out of her system was a bit challenging. This necessitated a delay of one day; fortunately this was possible (I do wish I had a recording of the chat I had with Kristie, my Chicago host - let's just say there was some angst transmitted when my ability to attend was touch and go).

Warmth at the Chicago Botanic Garden - the weather, and the people

This trip represented a bit of a marathon that tested my endurance and ability to sustain energy levels. With Sue's shoulder and recovery on my mind, an early morning flight to Chicago set off a remarkable, memorable 24 hours which I easily survived - and immensely enjoyed.

Awaken...shower...airport.  Coffee...muffin...flight - ride to the Chicago Botanic Garden (a most wonderful place). Kristie - brief tour, a seat - power point for last minute tweaks (I always change my talks at the last second).  At 11:30 or so - Action!

The blogger lunch was superb.  And far too brief. Alongside my fellow garden writers, gardeners and bloggers were helpful, friendly staff that help make the CBG and its events run smoothly. After a delicious meal, we spent well over an hour talking our passions - gardening in all its aspects, with a bit of a focus on tomatoes (imagine that!). Seeds of lasting friendships were planted that day, and I am so grateful to now know such a talented group of people.

Somehow my talk was then just a few minutes away. The room was not only buzzing, but full....and my heartbeat jumped a bit (as it always does before a talk). Kristie introduced me and we were off - I told stories, we shared information, it went by in the blink of an eye. I appreciate all those who attended, and look forward to hearing from those who wish to ask questions, or just stay in touch.

I was then whisked off (there were several moments of being whisked off during the day - which is fine...I am fully whisk-able!) to the library to sign books and begin some wonderful conversations with fellow tomato enthusiasts. Alas, the books ran short here as well (I believe that we may have gotten caught between 2nd and 3rd printing, which is a bit staggering in itself). 

Off to the seed swap we went - I brought well over 200 seed samples with me and they were gone in the blink of an eye. Our tomato question table was busy, and busy means that time flies. Before I knew it, the day was done, and it was time to finally head for the hotel to check in - and time to allow myself for the first time that day to realize that I was perhaps just a bit tired.

One thing about being the speaker at events is an inability to take lots of pictures. I've got a few - and sprinkled them about above. Words will have to suffice.

Here is a great overview of the day created by Gloria of the CBG

Thanks to so many!

Finally as to who to thank, once I start, it would not only be a very long blog post in itself, but I would run the risk of leaving off important names; I will therefore focus on just a few names.

In Seattle, Janet Endsley, master of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, Anna Micklin of the University Bookstore, my cohorts for the Sunday talk and fellow authors and gardeners Charlie Nardozzi and Brad Halm....and everyone who came to my talks, bought books, shared their own gardening stories with me.

In Chicago, the CBG folks - Kristie Webber, my main contact and host (and who I was delighted to meet after my Sunday talk in Seattle), Gloria Ciaccio, creator of the blogger lunch and provider of throat lozenges, and Lisa Hilgenberg, plant expert extraordinaire with whom I could talk gardening and tomatoes for hours....and then, of course, my fellow bloggers who generously shared their time with me at our lunch - Meg, Jane, Cassandra, Nina, Carol, Mike, Beth, Ramon, Marcy, Shawna, Diana, Katje and Lamanda...and everyone from CBG who helped out at the swap and who shared kind words with me during the day.

And one more name - my wife's friend, Susan Depew, who pinch hit for me while I was away, and eased my mind greatly, allowing me to fully throw myself into the experience.

Watch for a special section soon on my website where I list full names and blogs or pages for all of the bloggers that I was so fortunate to meet on that special Sunday in surprisingly warm (but, yes, windy!) Chicago.

We are here, my seedlings are there. Everything is planted. Germination anxiety!

We are so excited to be in Seattle - we get to see Sara, her husband, Adam, and our two grand kids, Aaron and Aiden. Being 3000 miles away we now hold these opportunities so dear. As a bonus, I get to speak at the Northwest Flower and Garden show on Saturday and Sunday.  I think that I will talk about tomatoes!

Before we departed, I managed to squeeze in planting most of the seeds that will become our 2016 garden. 

One flat has eggplant and peppers (that's the one I planted a week ago, now nearest the window, and showing life in half of its cells). The other four have tomatoes - indeterminate varieties, dwarf varieties, and various varieties planted for come new crosses.

Caitlin is of course in charge of keeping things happy and healthy when we are away. No pressure at all, Caitlin!

Once things start to pop up, I will begin to talk about the varieties I planted...and why. Each year is a mix of different gardening adventures. I think I've bitten off a bit too much - but what else is new!

So, what's growing so far? First Seedling update for 2016

blogging interrupted...by Pico

Our three cats don't care for February and March. My office provides a nice, warm place for them to nap during these wintry days. In fact, here's Pico now, doing his best to get in the way of this blog.

I was thinking of leaving the office door open, but one of our felines got curious and left paw prints in 20 of the 50 cells in the pepper and eggplant tray.  Oh well...

The greens, beets, kale and chard that I planted on February 1 are a bit mixed. Some of the lettuce is suffering from damping off, but replanting won't be an issue. For the most part, all is well - there is simply so much going on that I am finding it hard to pay full attention to my seedlings (yet).

I am seeing signs of life in the Feb 6 planting of peppers and eggplant. I've been asked for the variety list, so here it is:

Hot peppers - Billy Goat, Bird, Datil, Fish, Lemon Drop, NuMex Vacquero, Padron, Peter, Pinata, and a variety given to me from my friend Bob that is highly lobed (and unclear as to whether hot or sweet).

Sweet peppers - Alma, Amethyst, Bianca F2, Bishop's Crown, Brazilian Orchid, Candy Corn, Chocolate Bell, Corno di Toro, Fire Opal, Garden Sunshine, Gusto, Kalman Hungarian, Lydia, Orange Bell, Pritiman, Royal Purple, Rubinova and White Gold.

Eggplant - Midnight Lightning, Twilight Lightning, Skinny Twilight, and a number of green skinned with purple blush findings that I am working on for a new variety, Mardi Gras, as well as a pure pale green selection, Green Ghost - as well as a purple and a white from Greece sent to me by a gardening friend.

I also planted ground cherry Goldie.

Today is day 5, and there is life in the Bianca and Brazilian Orchid cells - which is great. It will be interesting to see how the paw print cells do (fortunately, the plastic wrap was covering the trays, so no seeds were dislodged).

For the most part, my selections for this year are either old seed regeneration or various research projects to create new varieties, typically from hybrids.  I will cover this in greater depth as the season progresses.

Speaking in Morehead City - much More than a warm up!

Time does funny things. We often use a calendar to set boundaries. The year ends, another begins, there are nice breaks in which to rest up and recover and prepare for what is to come.

For gardeners - and garden writers and speakers, I am quickly learning - the boundaries are really imaginary. Our lives are more of a continuum, with no real endings or beginnings, but, instead, phases that we pass quickly through. 

When I think of the garden, harvest and preserving is followed by clean up, assessment - then right into planning, ordering, making decisions, and, before I know it, planting. September and October blur forward and it is February. It makes my head spin. 

The same applies to blogging, writing, preparing for and providing workshops. Though I did take a bit of a sigh of relief last November, there was no real break; plans were being made for events in 2016, quickly followed by creating new workshops. Don't for a second think that I am complaining about any of this; on the contrary, I am really enjoying this new, continually busy and satisfying "career".

We are just a few days back from a really special 28 hours. Susan and I packed our car and departed for Morehead City on February 3 (intermittent rain falling, and trying to keep in front of a nasty squall line marching eastward). We are so fortunate to have been hosted by a friend from the past, Lynn Brugnolotti (our daughters played in a youth orchestra together in their high school years) and her husband, Dominick. Our arrival evening dinner was delicious, the hospitality warm and comforting. 

The next morning we headed for Crystal Coast Civic Center (during some really serious rain!), where I was warmly greeted by Master Gardeners Sara Watson, Shawn Banks, and Susan Suggs, just to name a few of the many friendly folks we got to meet. I led the audience (over 140 in number) through my own particular journey with tomatoes. 

Following some excellent questions, I was so fortunate to meet many attendees during a book signing for both Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. It was gratifying, fun, and, to me, just a very special event.

We said our goodbyes to all, and as a bonus, gave Dominick a lift back to Cary; our far-ranging conversation made the rain-soaked ride go by in a flash. 

So now, with wonderful events in Apex and Morehead City, NC as pleasant memories, Sue and I set our sights on Seattle. Of course speaking at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show will be great.  But better still will be spending time with our daughter, Sara, and her husband, Adam - and our grand kids Aiden and Aaron. We can't wait!

Here, thanks to Susan Suggs, are a few pics from our Morehead City trip. 

It's a very modest beginning, but our 2016 gardening is underway...

February 1...that is DAY 1. I went into the garage, cleared off the working bench, found a used plug flat, filled 18 cells with some leftover planting medium. I gave the cells a good drink of warm water, smoothed the surface, and planted some seeds. Dry medium was sprinkled over the top to provide a bit of cover for the seeds, followed by a brief drink of water - then off it went, upstairs, into my office and onto the table that, until a few days ago, was packed with African Violets. I draped some plastic wrap loosely on top, and set the seeds on their way toward germination. 

I didn't use a heat mat because these are cool weather crops that will germinate just fine with the heat of the sun shining in through the window. (in fact, there is already some growing going on after just a couple of days). The other experiment is in not closing the door. So far, our three cats, though curious, haven't decided that the world's perfect napping spot just magically appeared.

This was a pretty ad hoc activity for me...many of the seeds came right out of packets yet to be logged in to my seed catalog. It's a pretty busy time and I am just working to fit in what must be done when I can, so there will be some remedial work to be done.

Oh yes - I should mention what I planted. The flat of 18 filled, planted cells hold several types of beets, Red Russian Kale, Bright Lights Swiss Chard, and some heirloom lettuce varieties generously shared with me by my Michigan friend Jeff.

In a few days, it will be time to seed eggplant and peppers. A few days after that, I will plant tomatoes and basil, and perhaps a few types of flowers. Before that happens, I must decide exactly what varieties I am going to grow - that will take some time to figure out.

It's about to get "real(er)"....

Yes, it's been relatively quiet (for me) on the blog front; I posted only two entries in January so far, and February is knocking at the door. Things behind the scenes haven't really been quiet, though. From doing a few radio and podcast spots, sorting logistics for upcoming gardening seminars, identifying others, sending out seeds for the dwarf tomato project, to finalizing slides and determining my own gardening plans, it's show time for 2016. And I can't wait!

Looking ahead, my first opportunity to share my stories with other gardeners will happen on Monday February 1 in Apex, followed soon after by a trip to Morehead City for an event on Thursday February 4. The month will also find Sue and I in Seattle for two talks at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, and a week later, I will be in Chicago for a blogger lunch, seminar and seed swap. Details for all of these events can be found on this website at the Events button toward the top of my website, or by clicking here.

If all goes well, the first seeds that will produce plants for our 2016 garden will be planted in the next few days - most likely lettuce, beets, chard and kale. I may get some slow growing peppers going as well; it is going to be a bit of choreography around my upcoming trips, assessing  my presence here at home to tend to young, fragile seedlings. Thankfully, our dog and cat sitting daughter is a really fine gardener herself.

The act of planting seeds guarantees more frequent blogs, because I love to share the excitement of seeing things grow. This start of the gardening season kicks off months of daily change, surprises, and just the fun and "therapeutic mental benefit" of watching things grow and sharing the results.

For anyone looking for links to my activities to date, see below.

Garden America radio show from January 2 - listen here - this will probably be around for only a few more weeks.

America's Home Grown veggies - two appearances - January 9 is here, and January 16 is here.

The Ruminant podcast - two appearances -  first and second.

Happy listening, and please send me any questions that you have.

In between, and on the cusp....

In between - as in birthdays...mine was yesterday (I turned 60...yikes!), my wife Susan's is tomorrow. So I am sitting here, looking forward to cooking her a nice breakfast, and later on, dinner, on her special day. 

In between, as with gardening seasons, firmly between 2015 and 2016. I am still pondering last year - what went well, what didn't, what I want to try this year, or do differently. And I am planning this season - what to start when, and for what purpose. It is like trying to solve a big Rubik's Cube - this year made more challenging because of the decision to stop selling seedlings, but have some to bring on appropriately timed tomato events.

On the cusp... of a storm! If we were to ponder Sue's birthdays during our 35 years together, I bet that more often than not we have wintry messes on that day. We will likely be - yes! - in between the various lines of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. As usual.

On the cusp.... of hitting the road and spending time with gardeners talking tomatoes, container and straw bale gardening, swapping stories and experiences and seeds, and making new friends. Last year was just amazing - and this year is not going to be much less packed, especially between very soon and mid summer. Apex - Morehead City - Seattle - Chicago - and that is just February. Power Point and I are about to become very familiar again. And once more, I will end up wishing I had a better, more organized system for my gardening pics.

And it is after midnight, so I am now on the cusp of going to bed. I hope to start sharing my garden plans very soon in an upcoming blog....because it is time to get some seeds planted, seedlings started. I just love this time of the gardening season!

Dreaming of tomatoes on a gray January afternoon. Random thoughts...

Does anything instill energy and excitement on days like this (gray, drizzly, raw) as much as thinking about the gardens to come? I could spend hours scribbling on pads, going through my options (which takes a bit too much time spent in spreadsheets), and narrowing down what will hopefully be appearing in our meals in a few months.

I just finished saving seeds from a tomato. That is a sentence that I've never, ever written in early January! The tomato was the result of a cross made between one of our new dwarf varieties, Bundaberg Rumball, and a large pink heirloom, Dester, early last summer. The cross took, seeds were saved from the small, chocolate colored tomato growing on the dwarf plant, fermented, dried, and planted in early August. The plant grew, flowered, produced a handful of tomatoes. Because of the cold weather (and the occasional relocation of the plants from driveway to garage), any fruit formed on this and nearly 20 other new hybrids were picked when I thought they were sufficiently large to ripen indoors. The pale color and rather firm texture didn't tempt me to take a bite, but just the aroma of fresh tomato was enough to energize me for the rest of the day. 

There is something really comforting, looking out back, seeing the soft greens, browns and greys. (no, Bambi is not in that particular picture - they are thick in our neighborhood, though).

In the coming days, I will be continuing to decide what's next, and who gets what, for the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project.  I've got to plan my garden (and will share my plans here, in a future blog). My tomato talks begin soon - in early February, so I've got logistical considerations to nail down and slides to prepare. There's lots more to do, but I will leave that for another time.

Happy New Year to you all!  Let's see what 2016 brings!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 2015

What an odd December 25. This was the reading on our thermometer yesterday afternoon - today was similar.

Shorts to church last evening was a real possibility (but, no, I didn't follow through!). Our post dinner walk was quite a muggy event. As a New Englander, I have to admit that colder, more seasonal temps and a few flakes of snow would be nice. But with the possibility of kayaking on the lake tomorrow and Sunday, I can't complain.

It has been a remarkable year for me, and I want to express my sincere thanks to the many, many people that helped make it special and memorable. To those who purchased my books or seedlings or attended talks here and there, thank you so much.

I am about to turn to thoughts and plans of 2016 - in terms of tomato talks, the Dwarf tomato project, my own gardening plans, as well as other ideas I've toyed with, such as a new Podcast, and revised tomato videos. Watch for more information and updates to the Events page soon; that is where I will be starting.

We hope you are having a wonderful, memorable holiday and look forward to seeing you next year. Thanks again for your friendship and support - it means everything.