tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233332742012-01-25T14:45:49.240-08:00a mostly Sacramento gardening blog - about gardening, garden design, garden coaching, rain gardens, green gardening, flowers, bugs, weeds, garden maintenance, pruning, plant propagation, nurseries, public gardens, on-line garden design, Zone 9, mediterranean gardens, garden education, west coast gardening, Native gardens, drought tolerant, green gardens, California gardens, Sacramento Valley gardens, kids in the garden,Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.comBlogger1671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-63347569520129348502012-01-05T23:35:00.000-08:002012-01-06T00:39:44.955-08:00

Our American River Green Gardening is all about the wise use of water in our landscapes … for the benefit of our rivers, our air, and even our soil. Oh, yes, and us, too! Green gardening works because it's in harmony with the natural world. Rather than fighting nature, you're working with nature. The principles are simple: Right Plant for the Right Place (How much sun? What kind of soil?

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-38528600403813281002011-11-30T23:38:00.000-08:002011-12-01T23:36:19.890-08:00

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-42332550162745653932011-11-29T02:37:00.000-08:002011-11-30T13:30:56.169-08:00

It's time for a walk in the park. Look up and there are leaves turning and perhaps a seed ball or two... ... look down to see the ones that have been first to fall. The bark of the tree peels off as it ages to reveal the new tender pale, smooth bark beneath. City boulevards in San Francisco and Paris are lined with pollarded London Planes. This shot is from our own Sacramento County

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-53786513106056281982011-11-23T14:42:00.000-08:002011-11-24T11:21:05.687-08:00

Lady Bug Sculpture Welcome!   We're in Phoenix visiting the Desert Botanical Garden. For this California girl, it's like being on the moon... All manner of cactus and other desert plants ...   ...and. of course, the Saguaro (which I finally learned how to pronounce!), Sa-war-o There's even a monarch butterfly exhibit. (But we Californians have our own overwintering spot at Pacific

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0The Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA33.46009 -111.9463167000000133.4565495 -111.95109820000002 33.4636305 -111.9415352tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-1793535183421571792011-09-14T20:10:00.000-07:002011-10-31T02:13:43.696-07:00

It's 7 am and I'm leaving Los Angeles, heading back to Sacramento. The Cal State Home and Garden Show opens tomorrow at noon. I've never been a vendor before, and this booth and my presence is being thrown together! Sherry Larson, owner of the show, has a spot for me if I want it. I want it! Sherry has been so encouraging and supportive of me (and, of course, totally willing to throw me in over

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-12985148928203099342011-09-02T11:40:00.000-07:002011-09-02T11:40:05.722-07:00

flickr photo by Tigerzeye Every fall I write the same thing .... plant now ... plants can settle in before the winter dormancy sets in ... get a head start over plants that don't go in til spring. Mother Nature wrote the rule book and some things don't change! Here are the links to those posts: Who Likes Natives? Sac and Co!, talking with Guy at Sac and Co about why fall planting, and why

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-59103394057155174182011-07-16T17:36:00.000-07:002011-07-16T17:36:44.480-07:00

Kids in the garden are all different: some will like the bugs, some will ooh and aah over the flowers, some want to run the paths. (All would probably like to ride on a tractor!!!)   My mom was a dance teacher, my dad was a backyard farmer. Guess what a couple of my favorite activities are??? When you love something, you want to pass that interest on to your kids. It doesn't always happen

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-63479709758674005652011-06-19T00:01:00.000-07:002011-06-19T00:14:19.952-07:00

I was born on my dad's birthday. So, that made it mine, too. The night before I was born my parents had dinner with friends. The hostess served a birthday cake. They only ate the part that had "day" on it, leaving "Happy Birth..." intact. The next morning I was born. It was our birthday. It was our cake. Last year I wrote a bit about my dad the gardener,  Remembering Dad. This year I wanted to

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-19681927156807593522011-06-10T21:21:00.000-07:002011-06-11T12:05:22.789-07:00

Oftentimes people say things like, "I don't have a green thumb", and then describe how they have trouble keeping plants alive. Well ... every gardener I know has killed many a plant. So, get over it. So, you killed a plant. That's one of the ways you learn about plants! Here's a real example: Dead! I have been fascinated with Heteromeles arbutifolia, aka Toyon, ever since I found out it was

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-60949890066966997842011-06-08T08:40:00.000-07:002011-06-08T08:53:48.321-07:00

I quote the word "brain" because I don't really believe it's taking place in there ... how 'bout you? Do you create in that meaty space? Ha! Ah well, I digress...let's get on with it. Back to business! I recently turned in my last project for my C.A.D. (computer-aided design) landscape design class at American River College. We putzed along for awhile this semester doing little tutorials, and

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-46928568912055646932011-05-18T13:48:00.000-07:002011-05-19T13:23:28.448-07:00

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) on Mount Diablo Donner Canyon Road, a photo by MiguelVieira on Flickr. I just finished off a series of spring garden club talks a couple of weeks ago with a presentation at  the Folsom Garden Club. It's a lively club. Lots of active members, goooooood snacks, a lending library ... and me! This club was started in 1934 and at my table was one of the original 

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-25735241781576237772011-05-02T12:52:00.000-07:002011-05-02T12:52:33.791-07:00

Mother's Day - 2011 Mother's Day is coming up! Yea ... favorite holiday. I usually designate this day as one of my 2 annual "Slave Days", where my husband does my bidding ... usually in the garden. I also find it a nice time to reflect on my mom and her many unique and charming characteristics. Last year I blogged about her ability to find the sunny spot in the garden (A Mother's Day Garden).

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-82958717447377242202011-04-27T23:03:00.000-07:002011-04-27T23:03:26.429-07:00

It's that time again, time to experience the miracle of life!!! There's something fundamentally satisfying about growing veggies (actually, anything) from seed! Like many gardeners, I have hoards of them ... and collect them, buy them, trade them, and sigh over them. They're little treasures that are an essential part of life. You may have noticed during ... (sneeze) pollen season or while

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-17366336481278032542011-04-06T16:06:00.000-07:002011-04-06T23:57:04.538-07:00

Well ... the gardens are ready, vendors setting up, show opens tomorrow! Here's a peek at my garden, La Casa Verde...   Come join us, I think it's going to be a great show. The speaker line-up is fantastic! Check it out on the show website. I've worked long, hard hours putting this together and have had some marvelous help, including Bobby Alvarez of Granite Valley Landscaping, Jorge Lozano of

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-54715759330641863652011-04-05T00:36:00.000-07:002011-04-06T23:57:35.459-07:00

Much time spent looking at color swatches and books...  but now the s... hits the fan. here's the empty hall at Cal Expo. It's depressing, certainly not encouraging. ("Why did I chose such a large space!?!")  ...so that's what a sheetrock wall looks like on the inside ...(doesn't Steve have nice legs?).  6 pallets of these babies.  Victor takes a break from paving.  Rory on the eve of his

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-32512586311993809872011-03-19T13:12:00.000-07:002011-03-27T23:24:52.635-07:00

I haven't posted in awhile, but I haven't been idle! Not me! I've got several projects in the works, including my upcoming garden display at the California State Flower, Food and Garden Show (April 7-10). Here are pictures from last weekend's adventures: (detail of Tunisian window from Riley's Antiques at the Antique Trove in Rocklin) wonderful recycled material sculpture at Pottery World in

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-63479249397283623822011-02-09T16:46:00.000-08:002011-02-09T16:46:20.398-08:00

Flickr photo credit: PresleyJesus Thanks little bag o' bulbs! You may be interested in a related post from the back of the stack: Plant Now for Spring Daffodils. Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-52961200581565714282011-02-05T21:06:00.001-08:002011-02-06T20:13:40.507-08:00

Forsythia x intermedia, Border ForsythiaClassification: woody broadleaf deciduous shrubOrigin: hybrid cross from F. suspensa and F. viridissima (both native to China and Korea)Sunset Zones: 2 - 11, 14-16, 18, 19Structure/Form: mounding, arching, fountain-shaped. Spreads by layering, so has the ability to establish clusters.Density/Texture: denseMature Size: 6 - 10' (depending on variety) tall,

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-51095476607897565192011-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:002011-02-02T12:19:40.366-08:00

It's the "gathering ideas together stage" for my California State Flower, Food and Garden Show garden display. I'm thinking Modern Mexican, so I'm looking for Mexican pottery, maybe sculpture ... I loved these pieces in the window at Panama Pottery,  locked up in a metal shed. For sale?  I also really liked the fountain made with a copper basin attached to a metal gate (by Jorge Lozano of

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com24421 24th St, Sacramento, CA 95822, USA38.534348 -121.48299538.530152 -121.4902905 38.538544 -121.4756995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-66273620387769252352011-01-28T22:36:00.000-08:002011-01-28T23:42:45.216-08:00

Lest forget ... here's a 2 for 1 savings from the Sacramento Bee for this weekend's show! I'm excited about this weekend's Northern California Home and Landscape Show. Having done a garden display for last year's inaugural, California State Flower and Garden Show, I have enormous appreciation of the work that goes into creating the landscape showcase gardens. Having cozied up with various

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-16566345605806689052011-01-26T23:35:00.000-08:002011-01-28T10:12:22.214-08:00

... a quick trip to/thru the WPA Rock Garden at William Land Park to seek pictures of different varieties of flowering quince ... and, as a bonus, my favorite, the green dotted, "Summer" Snowflake,  and, the, "what is this"? Seriously, I mean it ... do you know what this is? ... but, then, sometimes we want words, now, don't we? From the Rock Garden's own, Daisy Mah: "It's a native coast silk

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0William Land Park, 3800 W Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822, USA38.5423663 -121.504433838.5255833 -121.5336163 38.559149299999994 -121.4752513tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-39253559239655721402011-01-25T21:14:00.001-08:002011-01-25T21:27:51.888-08:00

Chaenomeles japonica - Japanese Flowering QuinceOrigin:  Japan and other parts of AsiaCharacteristic: mounding, arching, somewhat open. Most are thorny.Size:  varies, can be up to 10' or low growing at 2 - 3'Foliage:grows alternately along stems. Ovate to oblong, up to 2: or more. Serrated margins. Stipule (leaf-like growth at base of new leaves that falls off as true leaf matures). Medium green,

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-7743337843043790232011-01-19T01:05:00.000-08:002011-01-20T22:11:07.514-08:00

...we've got some work to do ... grab your gloves and let's get at it! Essential Pruning Tools Leather gloves – invaluable for protection when dealing with thorns! Pruners – hand-held shearers that can cut up to ¼” stems. Most gardeners prefer by-pass over anvil-styled pruners. Hedge Shearers – like a giant scissors Loppers – long-handled pruners, can reach inside rose to cut back the old,

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-17731136083327335732011-01-15T01:14:00.000-08:002011-01-21T20:14:10.454-08:00

Roses are beautiful and can help us to create gardens full of color and fragrance. According to the Sunset Western Garden Book, it's "undoubtedly the best-loved flower and most widely planted shrub in the West and all other terperate parts of the world." However, when you start learning about roses, it's easy to be washed overboard, and drown in the ... Sea of Too Much Information! If you're

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-16879048887700982512011-01-10T22:01:00.000-08:002011-01-20T22:09:14.696-08:00

My dad was a backyard farmer, as was his father before him and my Irish great-grandfather before him (although he had an actual farm!). I remember my grampa’s deep, narrow lot in San Francisco where he grew corn. My dad grew asparagus and planted fruit trees and vegetables in Southern California, my mom canned. My brother and I sold avocados door to door. Small wonder I fancy gardening. It’s my

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-52856966262578650602011-01-03T21:17:00.001-08:002011-01-03T22:26:12.493-08:00

Flicker Photo Credit: col and tasha Calocedrus decurrens - California Incense CedarOrigin: Western Oregon to Baja, mountain ranges from elevations of 2500 - 4000'Character: Upright, columnar to pyramidal evergreen tree. Solid structure when young, opens up with age. Dense with  a fine texture.Growth Rate: moderate to rapid, up to 3' per year is common, ultimate height being 75 - 100' x 15 - 30'.

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-72634207474503469532010-12-22T23:22:00.001-08:002010-12-23T00:01:23.981-08:00

Flickr photo credit: Jason Sturner 72 Sequoia sempervirens - Coast Redwood Origin: native to Coast Ranges from southern Oregon to the central California coastCharacter: One of the West's most famous native trees, and, the tallest tree in the world. Grows rapidly, up to 5 - 10'//year. Can reach up to 350', but in the landscape, more likely to top out at 70 - 90' x 15 - 30' wide. It is very upright

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-84699565362191843742010-12-22T13:58:00.000-08:002011-01-03T20:55:04.765-08:00

Merry Christmas, Sacramento Style Winter is a great time to get to know your evergreens. The deciduous trees have lost their leaves and no longer distract the eye with all those messy details, like, spring flowers and summer fruits and colorful leaves in the fall. Perhaps this can be the year when you stop calling all the trees remaining, "Pine Trees". The differences may not be as apparent as

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-25091865797995346482010-12-22T00:36:00.001-08:002010-12-22T22:11:39.325-08:00

The Blue Spruce establishes the trim color for this Curtis Park home. Picea pungens 'Glauca' - Colorado Blue Spruce Origin: Rocky Mountains; Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New MexicoCharacter: this evergreen tree is naturally shapely, requiring little pruning. It is dense, solid and upright with a  pyrimidal to conical shape. Growth Habit/Size:grows rather slowly, but extremely long-lived. In a

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-27409335700248081962010-12-15T11:47:00.000-08:002010-12-15T11:47:46.412-08:00

I love the expression, "last call", makes me want to work in a bar and holler it out! Other than that (ahem) it's time to plant the spring-blooming bulbs. They're ready to go to work! Here are some choices: These big bags of daffs are such a bargain. Plant them about 6" deep. Now. (Read more about daffs here) Commonly known as squill or bluebells, scilla are a bit iffy for our zone, preferring a

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-3599945400950847412010-12-09T00:47:00.001-08:002010-12-10T11:35:48.972-08:00

Flickr photo credit: PresleyJesus Narcissus species, Daffodil. Narcissus, JonquilOrigin: Europe and North AfricaCharacter: somewhat open clump.Growth Habit/Size: typically up to 18", with flower up to 24". Are permanent and increase from year to year. If clumps get too large, they should be divided so that they will continue to be productive (otherwise too much competition for space and food and

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-14962621068255991132010-12-08T20:04:00.000-08:002010-12-08T20:04:38.789-08:00

17 June, 2010 Congratulations on winning your own olive tree adoption in our Nudo/Ready Made competition. Enjoy the fruits of your tree! Love, Nudo Thanks to ReadyMade  for the Nudo contest and all your always edgy and/or enticing projects! Thanks to Nudo for sharing your Italian life with us all, and for the Wild Chicory Spaghetti recipe! Thanks to the Boorinakis-Harper Ranch

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-74377528836284819932010-12-05T17:40:00.001-08:002010-12-10T11:42:40.109-08:00

photo credit:Tom Moyer  Olea europaea, Olive Tree Origin: Mediterranean Character: mounding rounded head, usually multi-trunked. Natural form has branches to the ground. Billowy look, not real open. Growth Habit/Size: moderate,  grows to 30' x 30'. Olives can live 1000+ years and will have buttressed trunks with age. Uses: accent, specimen tree, utility (olives). Give a sense of place to the

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-83183398858021663412010-12-03T23:59:00.000-08:002010-12-08T19:10:58.936-08:00

My daughter, Liesel, had this soup at the new Ten 22 Restaurant in Old Sacramento last weekend. It was lovely and they gave me the recipe. I think the seasoning amounts were wrong ... so I adjusted them as shown in my video, but the originals are listed in this link: Ten 22's Kabocha Squash Soup. I also found a website that took that old Kabocha and ran with it. All the recipes looked great, so

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-78319458956263193222010-12-01T23:47:00.000-08:002010-12-02T00:00:14.422-08:00

What did I do today? A bit of shopping, a bit of planting and a bit of looking at the sky ... Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-34396955821493412232010-11-29T21:02:00.001-08:002010-12-10T11:40:58.283-08:00

photo credit:takomabibelot Koelreuteria paniculata, California Rain Tree Origin: China, JapanCharacter: slightly open structure, with a broad, dome-shaped canopy. Growth Habit: moderate fast, grows to 35' by 30 - 35'Uses: accent, lawn tree, shade tree, street tree Description: eliptically shaped leaves are pinately compound, with leaflets approx 1 - 2" and entire leaf, 12". The compound leaves

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-37380006461968380252010-11-28T19:34:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:18:20.521-08:00

Question: Whose root looks like a beet, goes dormant (i.e., looks dead) in summer and produces colorful blooms thru the winter? Answer: It's the plant of the week, Cyclamen! Cyclamens are welcome in the winter garden, bringing a lot of color, especially when densely planted. They're easy to clean up if you've got a mind for it. Just give a tug to the spent flowers and, voila, they'll look like

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-87382156684588513842010-11-12T09:29:00.000-08:002010-11-12T09:29:40.244-08:00

"Clebsch is the Salvia Queen ... If you love salvias, this is the book for you." - Seattle Times I was first introduced to Betsy Clebsch at the Perennial Plant Association annual meeting held in Sacramento in 2004. It was obvious by her reception by this professional group of horticulturists, that she was, “The Salvia Expert”. I was there on an academic scholarship. I was presented with a plaque

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-22981439038119097662010-11-10T10:02:00.000-08:002010-11-10T10:32:14.757-08:00

This September I spent a week at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico. My sister, Julie, had been there numerous times and always raved about it. I had never been to a spa, I was curious, but somehow had an attitude … it would be a week of self-indulgence, not really my thing. But, she invited me to go with her and I went, and found myself touched in profound ways. In addition to lovely food, dance

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-21785781113420061322010-10-27T12:01:00.000-07:002010-10-27T12:45:19.559-07:00

Seems to me, somebody was partying a bit too hard last night ... Yup, it's that time of year to dress up and get ghoulish! Or, if something a bit more sedate is your pleasure, there's a  Fall Festival happening this Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm at the Davis Farmers Market, featuring: Live Music by Music Matt, the Peter Franklin Band Davis Farm to School's Avenue of the Scarecrows Kid's Activities,

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-83505892640081913862010-10-06T22:40:00.000-07:002010-10-06T23:15:09.784-07:00

A South African native, society garlic is a garden trooper! You probably won't find it on many lists of favorite plants, and yet it looks good and flowers for an incredibly long time! It does have a smell of onion or garlic, but that doesn't deter me from admiring this easy plant. It looks fine without maintenance (deadheading spent flowers) from a distance, but will look fresher up close and

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-74370706793981569992010-10-01T14:08:00.000-07:002010-10-01T15:11:30.256-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful week at Baja Mexico's Rancho La Puerta, which is celebrating it's 70th anniversary this year and was deservedly voted Travel and Liesure Magazine's 2010 "World's Best Destination Spa." They have many activities one can take part in. I'm so glad I took an art class with the wonderful, Big Sur artist, Erin Gafill! She had us do an exercise to awaken our creativity:

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-91110762631812116692010-09-16T23:11:00.000-07:002010-09-17T08:30:37.519-07:00

Correct me if I'm wrong (as if!), but all the water providers in our area have a free service in which they'll make a house call and assess your water useage in and out of your house. Since it's the first step to applying for many of the water conservation rebates (more later), and since I plan to help others take advantage of these programs (more later ... when? don't know), I called and set

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-3709246432962101252010-09-09T12:10:00.000-07:002010-09-09T12:10:41.793-07:00

What better garden for a California native then a garden of the same. My ancestors arrived here from Ireland 100+ years ago, settling in San Francisco. I think I got my "farmer genes" from my dad's family; my music, dancing, party-girl genes from my mom's. Works for me! Here's the video of yesterday's visit with Channel 10's Sac and Co: Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-16402551436124712432010-09-08T22:17:00.000-07:002010-09-10T16:18:51.140-07:00

  The best laid plans of mice and men, oft go astray Robert Burns Well, as promised, here are the details from today's TV appearance on Channel 10's Sac and Co. These appearances seem to have a life of their own. (and as an aside, did you know the above line was written by Burns after he ran over a wee mousie's house with his tractor?). So, too, today's show. It was great fun and I loved bringing

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-35245852831095999362010-09-07T22:53:00.000-07:002010-09-07T22:53:04.030-07:00

Channel 10 TV appearance tomorrow (Wed.),sometime between 9 & 10 . Streaming live at http://www.sacandco.net/. OK... I have a choice, go to bed and get a good night's sleep,or, stay up and do my blog post on tomorrow's t.v. appearance ... sleep? ... blog post? ... sleep? ... blog post? I'm very excited that I'll be on Channel 10 with the fun folk at Sac & Co tomorrow. We'll be talking about why

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-69296207614450581752010-09-02T00:55:00.000-07:002010-09-02T01:08:46.092-07:00

I just got back from L.A., and, except for the worst return trip ever (in 110 degree weather, my car overheats and I have to turn off the A/C!), I had a great time visiting my daughters and exploring the city. L.A.,'s a city I think I should hate, but which I find invigorating and full of surprises! Here's one neighborhood you'll love: Sunset Junction. Sunset Junction in Silverlake is  fun and

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-86695189173736503822010-08-05T16:48:00.000-07:002010-08-05T23:48:53.235-07:00

The nurseries know what they're doing ... go to Home Depot or, as in this case, High Hand Nursery, and they've got those misters fired up! It's undeniable that those misters produce some blessed coolness! According to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, "a typical system uses 2 gallons of water per minute to cool 1,000 square feet of patio area or 720 gallons per 6 hour use, or

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-34577046412079966082010-07-22T16:11:00.000-07:002010-07-22T23:04:38.058-07:00

My husband and I have been to a lot of gardeny, picture-worthy places this last week! Yea for us! (And, especially yea for him for going along with all my plans!) Last night's vegetable and flower beds at the fair were spectacularly healthy! But, I get ahead of myself... Saturday morning, breakfast at High Hand Nursery Cafe. We go here frequently ... great food and great everything else as

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-12501679389827363342010-07-13T12:29:00.000-07:002011-01-25T22:01:11.512-08:00

an (almost) no-lawn landscape ... How fun for me, an invitation to meet another gardener and her garden! Patty has been creating this garden in McKinley Park for the last 15 years. The first thing I notice is the generous flagstone path. Wide paths have a way of making you feel welcome, don't you think? Her sun border has some great perennials, like this Bee Balm. Hummingbirds love it! Ferns

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2East Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA38.5739422 -121.451331438.540390699999996 -121.5096964 38.6074937 -121.3929664tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-200048475610717622010-07-10T23:11:00.000-07:002010-07-10T23:46:55.992-07:00

Nerium oleander - Oleander (Plant Profile Saturday) Oleander is a native Mediterranean shrub that grows ubiquitously (Warning: Big Word Alert!) here in Sacramento, especially on freeways and median strips. Here are some of its characteristics: Size: This is a large evergreen shrub. The species grows rapidly, 4 - 6"/year, until it reaches a height of 18 - 20' and a width of 12 - 15'. There are

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-5536992693883166932010-07-05T22:16:00.000-07:002010-07-07T22:31:03.097-07:00

Today's subject: the color orange. I like my orange-bloomers (ahem) but lately find my attention being drawn to orange houses. In Sacramento's McKinley Park, that's not difficult, orange seems to be the hot color trend. Sometimes it's bold, sometimes subdued, oftentimes Mediterranean, but, never boring. Here's my first ever YouTube video (excuse the photo quality) of my orange flowers and some

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-17566787727223139602010-07-02T10:43:00.000-07:002010-07-02T12:27:52.227-07:00

a real time look at a demonstration rain gardenI'm designing a rain garden for myself and have one on the books for a client, so I went out to Sacramento County's Animal Care Facility on Bradshaw Road for a look at their demo garden. Rain falls onto roofs and pavements... Fresh rain water drains into the rain garden... ...where it is used by the plants and absorbed into the ground. Rain

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-18759390336769025212010-06-30T00:03:00.000-07:002010-06-30T00:05:34.566-07:00

Hi! This is a new thing for me! As you may (or may not) know, I'm part of a group of local bloggers and media types that are part of Sac Connect, an online collaboration, hosted by the Sacramento Bee. It's a new thing for the newspaper, too. It's fun to be part of something that's being created, part of the trial and error, at that malleable stage where input is listened too and you get to be

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-78561386423069860722010-06-28T23:08:00.000-07:002010-06-28T23:55:38.250-07:00

I made a quick stop at the nursery on my way home. It was way too hot to linger, but I made a quick trip to see what I could see. They have always had some great clobbered together elements. In the middle of all that fine elegance they surprise you with concrete steps painted coral and lavender, or a homemade picket fence. The fence is really simple and fun ... I think I could make one, and I

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-72657609710620971272010-06-26T11:32:00.000-07:002010-06-26T13:42:58.645-07:00

Daylily Days at Amador Flower Farm this weekendHemerocallis, from the Greek, hemera (day) + kallos (beauty) I love this plant, especially the older ones...the oranges and the yellows. But, sometimes bolder colors are called for, as in front of this brick wall dividing a lovely house and garden from a busy street.  A nice mix of red daylilies, crape myrtle, dietes (fortnight lily) and boulders

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-40151866390221183892010-06-22T21:45:00.000-07:002010-06-26T11:28:04.309-07:00

We headed up to Grass Valley on Sunday for the 35th Annual Father's Day Bluegrass Festival. The weather was perfect and we were surrounded by Sugar Pines and Redwoods... ...and the sound of bluegrass. The festival had been preceded by a 4 day music camp. It ended with the Orange Blossom Special. We are quirky, us Hansons. When we camp in Oregon we'll all be found reading. And, I guess, these days

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-88093833055990779922010-06-18T11:06:00.000-07:002010-06-18T19:15:45.133-07:00

The Backyard FarmerMy dad was really the gardener of the family ... my mom was his weeder. Like my Irish grampa before him, he was a backyard farmer. We had a lanai in our backyard in Southern California. Dad took our modest single car garage and stenciled cowboys and cactus on the side of it ... bigger than life, bull-riding cowboys. He built a goldfish pond on the opposite side, a brick

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-70392946815757090872010-06-14T23:23:00.000-07:002010-06-15T00:50:17.095-07:00

Antiques make a great focal point! I love going to the Antique Trove in Roseville. In addition to the huge indoor area, there's a garden section in the back with columns, angels, pots, seating, fountains. I find it all rather evocative and inspiring. I used this gate in my garden display at the recent California Flower & Garden Show. It provided a bit of an enclosure for a sitting area with

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-5080788567088466522010-06-11T00:17:00.000-07:002010-06-28T14:46:39.119-07:00

and so it begins...I have a client who wants to do the modern thing ... rip out the lawn, plant natives, reuse materials when feasible, reduce water use, and ... have a rain garden! I was on board for most all of it. Through my training and certification as a "Green Gardener", it's become a natural way of thinking, and I guess that's what has appealed to me about the green gardening movement

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-20810964856634357842010-06-07T22:51:00.000-07:002010-06-07T22:51:21.203-07:00

Nice New Vine at LaBou on Watt  and El Camino in SacramentoI'm always snapping pictures as I drive around ... sometimes it's something I admire, like a cool landscape or a planting combination ... sometimes it's something I don't like, like a particularly offensive pruning job (a big pet peeve!). So starting today I'm going to have a weekly feature, About Town with Geno's Garden (and, no, it

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-34094250791535779282010-05-28T19:50:00.000-07:002010-06-28T14:47:26.057-07:00

I love the inspiration of a garden theme. In the past I've blogged about different ideas that caught my fancy ... the Modern Mediterranean Garden, the Half-Barrel Garden, community gardens. The best thing is the list is endless ... wouldn't it be fun to create a Beach Garden, or the Indian Garden above? (Hint: the answer is yes!) Note: the Indian Summer Lodge is actually in Houston and created

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-29426726401910541512010-05-20T19:13:00.000-07:002010-05-21T08:58:47.113-07:00

It's Time to Plant Your Vegetable GardenSong lyrics come to mind, "It's Now or Never", "This is it...make no mistake of it, the waiting is over..." Yes, in this odd-ball weather year, our veggie garden moment is here. Of course, there are many who've been at it for months, but the moment I'm talking about is that moment that says: Listen up! We finally have some warm weather and it's time to get

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-82060658709606162632010-05-08T17:38:00.000-07:002010-05-08T18:00:04.297-07:00

Life Lessons From my Mom Our mom was like a cat … she always could find a sunny spot in the garden. In the morning on the back porch she would read the newspaper, with her characteristic, “half a cup of coffee.” (“Honey, would you like a half a cup of coffee? a half of a sandwich? a half of a glass of beer?”) In the afternoon she’d sit on the other side of the house, her chair positioned to

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-71402727505928650832010-04-22T22:04:00.000-07:002010-04-22T22:04:34.900-07:00

From GalTime - EarthDay, April 22, 2010:I’ve been training as a “Green Gardener” and learning a lot that makes sense when it comes to smart and sassy garden methods for the 21st century. (Recently, I had the opportunity to create a flower show garden using these principles, but more about that later!) Here are 4 principles that will help you earn your green thumb... read more

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-15389770979565740842010-04-21T23:36:00.000-07:002010-05-08T11:37:36.707-07:00

A Song For My Home Planet... Something You Can Do To Love the Motha... Check out the “Blue Thumb” water smart campaign being run by the Regional Water Authority (and, even if you're not from this region, the principles still apply). Go to “Take the Pledge” and you could (and probably will) win a prize! ...if you listen closely, you'll know the Motha says, "Thank you, sweetheart!" Whether

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-31233841014332249192010-04-20T00:55:00.000-07:002010-04-20T09:09:44.234-07:00

Happy Gardening! Happy Spring! What's happening in the Sac Valley? Well, for one thing, we’re half way thru April and I’m finally getting this newsletter out. Whoops! But, there are still some interesting events happening and I want to report on them. So, here we go... April EventsSacramento Perennial Plant Club - 4/22, 7 pm Patio Ponds and More, with Marco Tjaden of Flora Tropicana Aquatics

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-17181985699784270662010-04-16T21:20:00.000-07:002010-04-22T09:16:19.661-07:00

April 15, 2010I'm a day late for GBBD, the monthly garden event hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. But, I have an excuse: I just completed my first show garden display and am getting caught up with my regular life (laundry)(bills)(taxes). It took the entire month to get ready for the California State Flower and Garden Show. This is how the hall looked on the first day of installing the

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-72931838238008858912010-04-09T22:11:00.000-07:002010-04-09T22:12:52.920-07:00

You're invitedHow would you like to meet IN PERSON (!!!!!) some of the people whose blogs you follow or who you twitter with? Well, join us tomorrow, April 10 at 4 o'clock at the wine garden (across from my garden, California Days, Moroccan Nights). We'll have snacks at my place :-D Jeannie Spend the day at the show, see the gardens and some very groovy vendors. Some great speakers lined up as

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA, USA38.5917579 -121.431332838.5749864 -121.46051530000001 38.608529399999995 -121.4021503tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-71429557246970895282010-04-01T20:18:00.000-07:002010-04-01T20:18:01.919-07:00

Yea...something is happening, and it's my garden, "California Days, Moroccan Nights"! We've got these beautiful stone columns to announce the entrance to the pergola (if you're Moroccan do you call it a pergola?). ...also notice the recycled copper panels. They're "show-stoppers"...everybody loves them! Tomorrow morning we'll be on T.V., so if you're up at 7 a.m., tune in to Good Day Sacramento

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-55101093697909811332010-03-31T23:22:00.000-07:002010-03-31T23:22:40.068-07:00

Moving from design to reality, the further adventures of a garden show designer!The day starts out with a call from Theodora of Living Green Design Solutions... she's at the stone yard and thinks she's found the perfect columns to support our totally keen, green, gorgeous copper-topped Moroccan pergola. Theodora's the distributor of these, and the reason I'm doing this show. I just love this

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-62799032819244388242010-03-31T01:54:00.000-07:002010-03-31T10:46:57.755-07:00

Prepping for the Garden ShowMany things I didn't know before we started this process of planning a garden show exhibit garden...one of them, you have to cover up the plant "cans". I'd never really paid attention to that, thought maybe we'd be actually planting our flowers and shrubs. No. Some different methods are used, one of them, rocks, big ones. So I headed out to Mid Valley Rock to talk to

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-57272490725144500882010-03-29T23:43:00.000-07:002010-03-31T12:43:22.267-07:00

California Days, Moroccan Nights ... your personal oasisI've been working on my display garden for Sacramento's upcoming California Flower & Garden Show. I've never done this before - it's highly fun and challenging! Thought I'd share a bit with you. It's ALL ABOUT CHOICES ... choices about stone, plants, theme, boulders, pots, themes, layout, even, in my case, beds! In my garden the key

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-22595348016507299962010-03-17T00:25:00.000-07:002010-03-17T00:25:43.110-07:00

This was originally post last year, but it's now a tradition (says I)!When I was a young girl, my mother had a dance studio. She had recitals and this is one of the songs I remember singing. The shamrock of the song has many forms, but all of them, according to my Sunset Western Garden Book, are likely to become weeds. And if weeds they are, so be it...and perhaps it speaks well of us Irish

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-77743390383183605602010-03-14T23:13:00.000-07:002010-03-15T00:00:56.127-07:00

What's Blooming at the WPA Rock Garden?I just started volunteering again at the WPA Rock Garden in Sacramento's William Land Park. I'm excited, I love this garden! I get to work with Daisy Mah (the gardener who created this botanical gem), get to know the plants better, take pictures, even weed! Let me know if you'd like to join us! Now blooming in the rock garden... Evergreen Candytuft There

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-77833662701026823492010-03-12T11:51:00.000-08:002010-03-12T12:21:25.424-08:00

Weekend Garden Report: March 13 - 14, 2010Recently I started a monthly newsletter about gardening events, nursery sales within driving distance (of me!). Here are this weekend's highlights... Farm Fresh To You 2nd Saturday Farm Tour – March 13th, 11 – 3 pm Enjoy a day on a farm... trailer rides, meet the farmers, numerous kid-friendly activities, live music in the farmhouse garden. Bring a

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-90642559346875631862010-03-01T23:43:00.000-08:002010-03-01T23:44:48.218-08:00

WPA Rock Garden, William Land ParkI took myself for a little stroll thru William Land Park's WPA Rock Garden on Saturday and, as always, saw so much that delighted me... I'm pretty sure this is a Saucer Magnolia, but which one? I know who to ask (Daisy), but do you know? Around the bend I came upon one of my favorite bulbs. Who designed such a sweet plant with little green dots on each petal?!

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-64209130017372132842010-02-23T08:41:00.000-08:002010-02-23T08:41:29.083-08:00

Garden Sprouts: Family Fun at the Los Angeles Arboretum

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-27583609586646430252010-02-17T10:46:00.000-08:002010-02-18T00:22:35.192-08:00

I'm pretty excited...I was contacted by CSN, a company that represents 200+ online stores. As part of a promotional campaign, they offered to let me try a product from one of their stores. Yea me! I spent a bit of time looking around. In addition to a wide variety of home goods, they've also got lots of outdoor furniture, tools, even, mailboxes (now, there's an idea...our mailbox came with our

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-9130508840327505322010-01-30T23:32:00.000-08:002010-02-20T19:40:38.839-08:00

Win a beautiful succulent wreath!Topiary Artworks is a great company whose work has been featured at places like Disney World and Rockefeller Center. They make everything from large dinosaurs... to 3" kissing balls... to this gorgeous, 13" heart wreath! They have donated this beautiful succulent wreath and I want a fan to win it. Here's how: Become a fan on my Geno's Garden Facebook Fan Page

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-90323090680896755732010-01-15T20:05:00.000-08:002010-01-30T23:34:22.662-08:00

Another good time with Guy and Melissa! The time ran away from us, but you can order a free copy of my special report, 10 Secrets of Having Beautiful Roses in the Sacramento Valley, a Green-friendly Garden Guide from Geno's Garden. Just email me at the link at the bottom of this post. Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-39911489675375023352010-01-12T19:31:00.000-08:002010-01-12T19:31:08.838-08:00

Roses I'll be on the tele Thursday morning (January 14th), showing Melissa and Guy of Channel 10's Sac & Co. the basics of pruning roses! I'm also going to get busy and have a new post up on this subject by Thursday with more details of rose care, so come by and check it out, and watch the show! (Thursday, Channel 10, 9 - 10 am.) Succulents Then, January 25th I'll be giving a talk at the

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-76926358045883560622009-12-04T00:07:00.000-08:002009-12-04T13:42:35.264-08:00

Euphorbia pulcherrima (pulcherrima meaning pretty) is native to the tropical areas of Mexico and Central America, where they grow without care, even reaching roof height! In our climate (Sacramento), the freezes turn them to mush, so they never really get the chance to grow that tall. It takes some cunning and work to keep them alive, but it is not impossible. Essentially, like other

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-27028439699561421262009-11-30T22:40:00.000-08:002009-11-30T22:40:14.862-08:00

Today's the last day of my month-long green gardening posting project. But...stay tuned, as there are lots of things happening in the green world that will affect how we landscape. In my neck of the woods, there are big changes as of January 1. In general, I'm not for big, sweeping mandated governmental programs, but, I'm excited about this new legislation! From what I understand, it will

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-36947713052932448212009-11-29T22:49:00.000-08:002009-11-29T22:49:08.320-08:00

I do seasonal maintenance for many people and I can tell you the most obvious time and money waster is the wrong plant in the wrong place. The most noticeable culprit, shrubs that need to be pruned regularly to keep their size in check. At one home, a huge photinia was pruned by the gardener weekly (!), probably costing the homeowners $1000 per year. Another homeowner had a new expensive

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-24143406802471583992009-11-28T22:27:00.000-08:002009-11-28T22:32:57.941-08:00

A while ago, a blogger I admire in Sweden (Tyra in Vaxholm) posted a saying from an old Swedish cookbook, "Man tager vad man haver". I'm keen on Swedish stuff, so it caught my fancy and the saying is now on my fridge. I thought of that while looking at the gorgeous Thanksgiving centerpieces at Flora Grubb Gardens. While I do not have much of the plant material used in these masterpieces, I have

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-16515481597337052882009-11-27T23:57:00.000-08:002009-11-28T02:31:02.672-08:00

If you haven't visited a wildlife refuge, you may be missing delights like the scene pictured here at the Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area. For a long time it was just some naturalized area along the freeway going from Sacramento to Davis. But, after I was introduced to the national wildlife refuge up near Willits, off of I-5, I began to appreciate the magic of these worlds, and when I noticed that

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-33955342613973737492009-11-26T12:49:00.000-08:002009-11-26T12:53:21.247-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Year! Happy Families! Happy Prosperity! SWEET-POTATO GNOCCHI with MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH The Ingredients: 1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese 3 pounds orange-flesh sweet potatoes (often labeled "yams"), boiled until tender, peeled, and flesh puréed 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-44994055335466157252009-11-25T22:54:00.000-08:002009-11-25T22:58:09.309-08:00

I'm learning to cook some really great vegetarian meals... and using the produce in my CSA boxes for inspiration. Today's recipe makes great use of my new-found favorite vegetable, greens (which grow well in the winter garden). If you're having vegetarian guests at your table tomorrow, this recipe is quick, fast, and great! The recipe is from Martha Stewart ... she uses onions, I don't ... I

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-63410639768940139472009-11-24T21:32:00.000-08:002009-11-25T11:33:06.414-08:00

In Truth, I love turkey, and will be eating it. and loving it. However, I also love my family and I have a couple of veg-o daughters (the other's a bacon-lov'n girl like her dad), so I've been working on expanding my holiday repertoire. And, oh boy, I've been successful. I have three recipes that are hits for all camps. They just taste good. Plus, all three have used produce from my CSA (

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-91475916548960963142009-11-23T23:32:00.000-08:002009-11-23T23:39:27.127-08:00

Old doors aren't that hard to find, and look what a great focal point it makes at High Hand Nursery. My dad's old wheel barrow is a treasure, its rusted holes make for good drainage for swiss chard and these lettuces... Don't you adore this cobbled together gardener's hut at the Fair Oaks Blvd. Nursery? These birdhouses were made by the man in the picture (I have his number somewhere, call

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-17120295910875184632009-11-22T23:37:00.000-08:002009-11-23T01:24:59.763-08:00

(gummy worms can't make compost, but they taste good!) A good, productive soil has lots of organic matter in it. If  Mother Nature had her way, the leaves that fell in the fall would stay and decompose and eventually work their way back into the soil. One of those natural cycles. But, we don't always go with the Mother, do we? We rake our leaves and put them out for the green waste haulers. And

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-69631931616764271312009-11-21T23:55:00.000-08:002009-11-24T22:15:52.020-08:00

a Flickr photo by DarkGuru There's still time to plant daffodils! There are large-cupped, trupet-shaped and petite daffodils...there are white ones, yellow ones and mixed colored ones. It doesn't really matter, they're all pretty. I'd just go to a nursery and buy whatever they have that you like (Home Depot should still have some if you can't find them anywhere else). Here are a few pointers..

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-42011039187332824542009-11-20T22:52:00.000-08:002009-11-20T22:55:46.390-08:00

a flickr photo by net efekt Welcome to everything I know about worms and composting (not much!). Feel free to correct or add to this info! The care and management of composting worms is called "Vermiculture" Red Wigglers are supposed to be good compost makers. A 1/2 pound of Red Wigglers = about 500 worms Those 500 worms will eat about 1/4 pound of green waste per day, or 1/2 their weight Worm

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-81537161662572565342009-11-19T23:10:00.000-08:002009-11-20T22:51:58.541-08:00

I received my first box of mixed fruits and vegetables from Farm Fresh To You today! ...apples, mandarin oranges, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli rabe, kale lancinato, butter lettuce. All organic, all fresh-picked from the farm... It's going to be a bit of a culinary adventure. I've only just discovered greens, and I never eat sweet potatoes or even butternut squash. But, now I

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-75136444287432061222009-11-18T23:46:00.000-08:002009-11-18T23:46:59.883-08:00

flickr photo by tiny froglet Do you love the idea of hummingbirds in your garden? You're not alone. When I'm talking to new clients about their gardens, they always light up on the subject! Luckily, besides being delightful, hummingbirds also add to a healthy garden. Those busy beauties help with pollination and do insect patrol as well. Hey...they're green! According to the Oregon State

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-24045908706060221022009-11-17T23:51:00.000-08:002009-11-18T00:25:12.247-08:00

Here's a great resource for all of us, produced by our local (Sacramento area) RWA (Regional Water Authority), Rules of Thumb for Water-Wise Gardening. While you're on the site, explore a bit...it's got some great info! Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-59485595673855955972009-11-16T22:25:00.000-08:002010-03-12T10:22:51.208-08:00

I'm very excited to be signing up with a CSA program. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and there are farms all across the country that participate. The program I'm newly enrolled in (as of 15 minutes ago!) is Farm Fresh To You (FFTY), an organic farm located in the foothills of the Sacramento Valley in an area called Capay Valley. There are many fine CSA's in my area...what made

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-31505962904841102032009-11-15T21:39:00.000-08:002009-11-15T22:11:42.475-08:00

These are sages and they grow in my backyard. Sages typically bloom late in the season...I guess November qualifies! The red one is Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans. The leaves smell heavenly, like pineapple, and can be used in cool drinks. The purple one is Mexican Bush Sage, or Salvia leucantha. Its velvety flowers last for-evah. These two are examples of the "right plant in the right place".

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23333274.post-82213201262033737762009-11-14T20:45:00.000-08:002009-11-14T20:48:48.540-08:00

Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City, The Education of an Urban Farmer, is coming to town! Two events next Saturday (Nov. 21) for us (sub)urban farm/gardeny folk: Raising Chickens in Your Backyard at Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova from 10 - 1, where she'll be talking about, duh..., and Farm City, An Evening with Novella Carpenter, at 5 pm at the Sacramento Food Co-Op. Novella's book looks

Jeannie Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14244398606554309053noreply@blogger.com0