Everything in Bloom

21 Comments March 6, 2016 James Gielow

After much overtime, and a very intense courier trip to Mexico City, I have finally returned to my favorite pastime of plopping my ass in the garden and tending to my flock. I have returned from my forced blogging hiatus and climbed down from the pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacan to discover that while I was abroad my yard has exploded with growth!

I’ll fill you in on my trip in my next post with some amazing photos! But for now, I wanted to return to simple things. The stuff that Mind Your Dirt is meant to be about. The garden. No more melancholy over the loss of rock stars or pissing and moaning about working too much. It’s the brass tacks y’all. The meat and potatoes (although neither of those are in the content below). In short, I’m back baby! Did you miss me?

Being away from home for a spell truly affords you some perspective. I came in late Thursday night so I didn’t see the changes until I woke up too early on Friday morning (jetlag). When I stepped outside, I was blown away. Things were bursting with buds everywhere I looked. But what I noticed before even stepping out the door was the sweet smell of jasmine. It wafted through the open window and pulled me out of bed in a pleasant dreamlike fervor.

Succulents Before Swine

13 Comments July 18, 2015 James Gielow

There are two swine in this story. This cute little planter and myself. You see, I suffer from that typical male character trait of never truly knowing what to get as gifts for my loved ones birthdays. My caveman brain has trouble thinking beyond simple manly gift ideas that women can receive and have a genuine warm smile that will remain when I’m out of range. My stupid and useless caveman reptilian brain. Here’s an illustration of it working at maximum capacity:

Jim’s Brain at Maximum Capacity.

My loved ones are very kind and can fake happiness so well when my well-intentioned gift idea is presented to them in a clumsy and unsophisticated manner.

Don’t even get me started on cards. I have no idea why they are important and even less of an idea as to what makes a card a good one. When I receive cards, I don’t know what to do with them at all. And why do we keep cards? What’s their expiration date? Our reptile mind can’t grasp this whole industry. This perfectly sums up man’s thoughts on cards…

Salad Fixin’s: Spicing Up the Mundane Romaine

10 Comments March 25, 2015 James Gielow

I’m getting ready for a mini vacation. I don’t get many and when I do I tend to focus on the cheaper stay-cations and end up doing more work in the yard than I would ever do at the museum. Doesn’t do much for my weary back and sore muscles. But not this time. This time I’m going to Palm Springs to sit by the pool and sip many cocktails and have many laughs.

We rented a house and are meeting up with old friends from Portland and LA. Our plans are simple, eat, drink, swim, sit and relax. Finally.

I decided that I should bring some food from the garden so I’ve loaded up with fresh eggs for breakfasts and then noticed that the romaine lettuce was just too perfect to leave behind. Then I realized that I also have some blue borage and some nasturtium that would make an excellent addition to the salad. So while packing and prepping the dog for a desert voyage, I took a little harvesting break. And, apparently a blogging break as well. I’m going to be soooo late!

Here’s the romaine all green and yummy looking. Followed by the borage whose flowers have already been harvested.

A Time-lapse of my Aloe Vera.

16 Comments February 17, 2015 James Gielow

One of the many, and I mean many, benefits of living in a frost free land is that plants that are common around the world have the wiggle room to perform as they should in nature.

Like my Aloe Vera in the yard. Only in the right conditions will it annually flower. I keep a few around to handle scrapes, burns and cuts, but the yearly flower display is an additional benefit. The hummingbirds and bees love to get all up in it.

This year, I decided to take a photo every few days to just document the flowers development. While not a showy bloom, I still love to look upon it. So now I’ll force you to look upon it as well.

The Pineapple Express: how to grow and propagate a pineapple, over and over again

27 Comments January 21, 2015 James Gielow

As promised, I’m going to share the results of my feeble pineapple efforts. I ordered the small plant online as an add on to my Ficus Religiousa, or Bodi Tree (which was really hard to find by the way). The shipping was free to add it on, so I figured why not. I am fortunate to be living in a zone 10, so I can grow these babies as they only grow in zone 10 to zone 11 outdoors. You can grow them indoors, but they’ll be small so don’t get too disappointed and don’t invite friends over for the “big harvest”. I potted mine in a 4″ pot and gave it what love I could muster in hopes of one day eating my own homegrown pineapple.

A Ripe Pineapple!?

8 Comments January 19, 2015 James Gielow

Can it be true? My 3.5 year experiment with a pineapple plant has finally bore fruit? It’s small, but looks like it’s ready to harvest. Does anyone out there know for sure? I’ve read that when it turns yellow it’s ready to go.

Some Basic Training of a Beginning Bonsai

5 Comments January 5, 2015 James Gielow

I have a few plants that I like to experiment on while honing my bonsai techniques. Succulents are great because they can take a beating and bounce back really fast. That way I can practice styles and techniques without killing a specimen bonsai that I cherish.

Here’s a good example using a succulent (of which I know not the name)* to practice my hand at a leaning informal root over rock style.

I’ve only trimmed this once before so the only branches I’ll keep are the bottom two. The rest I just keep pinching back for ramification. Which means removing the tip of the branch so two will form. You do this strategically so you can form additional branches where you want them.

I haven’t chosen a top for this tree and will most likely chop it to right above the third branch from the bottom for a better trunk taper.

Again, trees like this are safe to practice on and no real loss if I accidentally murder it.

*with the aid of my friend Matt, who recognized a crassula when he saw one, I discovered that this tree is a portulacaria afra. Cheers for the great lead Matt!

My Magical Coastal Coral Tree…On Steroids.

15 Comments January 4, 2015 James Gielow

I’ve been in love with the Erythrina Caffra (Coastal Coral) tree since I first laid eyes on one in full bloom. They have them scattered throughout San Diego near highways and parks and the like. This tree drops all of its leaves simply to allow the flowers to grow unimpeded and in full view for pollinators and tree minded people like me. Just look at that color!

Repurposing an unused clothesline: The $50 instant patio!

5 Comments December 14, 2014 James Gielow

The summer sun in my neck of the woods is crazy intense. I can usually work outside for about an hour when I begin to hear and smell what can only be described as sizzling bacon. That, as it turns out, is my skull cooking my brains. Now, I love bacon so I just keep on working.

Curb Appeal! When life gives you lemons, say “screw these lemons, I’m gonna make a garden!”

11 Comments December 13, 2014 James Gielow

About a year ago, I thought it would be a nice idea to plant a few ornamental grasses on the front edge of my fence. A way to bring joy and beauty to the good folk walking down the street. Also a way to say, “Hey, lets not revel in our vacant dirt lots and display our garbage on the front lawn like we are on the show Sanford and Sons. Let’s instead create some spaces to be proud of and try to class up the neighborhood.” So I did.