Post Election

There are a lot of opinions floating around today post election on facebook, twitter, newspapers, bus stops, water coolers and possibly watering holes. 

I for one like to keep my opinions to myself unless I am talking to those who I know share my views or more importantly, can discuss the issues without becoming defensive or belligerent.  I am so grateful for the right to vote, the freedom to speak, but this year have found the politics almost unbearable...on both sides.

So to calm my throbbing head I am going to focus on the many tasks at hand here at our little landscape company, ILT Vignocchi...

People might find it hard to believe that there is so much to do November 7th in the landscape industry but there is...here is my short list...

Winter containers:  We design, build and install over 50 winter green displays annually.  That doesn't include the tens of thousands of square feet of evergreen boughs we will install.  Each winter green display is unique in its design.  It takes seven of us five days to complete them so they are ready to be installed the week of Thanksgiving.  The best part...it smells like Christmas in the shop!

Bulbs:  Getting tulip, daffodil, and other spring blooming bulbs installed prior to the ground freezing is a a chore in itself.  Most of our seasonal staff is ready to hang up their shovels by Thanksgiving (and who can blame them)!  This year we will go from Winter container and bough installation right into getting bulbs in the ground.  Each year I think to myself, "why didn't I think to wear just ONE more layer of clothing.  It is so cold out here!"

Snow removal:  It always amazes me that one day our trucks have no plows on them and seemingly the next...shizam!  They all have plows.  Most of it can be attributed to our wonderful shop manager Ricardo and his assistant Brian.  We are so blessed to have these guys.  We also maintain a 500 acre office park plus several other HOA's.  The planning and coordination of these efforts is paramount in making certain everything runs smoothly when snow starts falling.

As I said, this is my short list.  And the list has many contributors that make it a shared responsibility...but I'll leave that for my Thanksgiving blog!!

Are you willing to pay more for Green Products

The big debate continues. We find that our residential customers are more abt to pay more but our commercial customers are not. In this economy it is very hard to blame them.

What people don't understand is that green products are not ...

just more expensive. They are also not as effective and that results in the need for more hand labor to do things that pesticides and herbicides to more efficiently...like weeding by hand.

I do hope for a time when the additional cost is not only more worth it, but that the economy can sustain it.

 

http://www.facilitycare.com/Ezine/FCFullStory.aspx?EzineDataID=732

 

Two of my favorite annuals

Dragonwing Begonia

Arguably my favorite annual. Reaching 20-24" in height and 12" wide, this dramatic begonia's unique features are its arching stems and thick leaves holding up dangling clusters of pink and red flowers. It is a great focal point, but is also very effective in beds. They will take both sun and shady conditions and pair beautifully with towering tropicals or trailing annuals.











Calibrachoa

This little beauty comes in every color. It looks like a miniature petunia, but requires no pinching or deadheading, just constant effortless blooms! It is a trailing annual up to 18" and prefers sun and part sun. Calibrachoa is the perfect partner whenever you want to add a pop of color.

COOKING FROM MY GARDEN

One of our jalapeno peppers

Although plants are my passion and my profession...I'm also an avid follower of all things food.  My DVR Que is loaded with programs like No Reservations, Check Please, Avec Eric and so on.  I also drive my family nuts because food is all I can talk about...I'm constantly asking them what they want for dinner right after we finish breakfast.  I know, it's annoying.

But being a planner I want to make certain I have everything on hand to prepare a delish home cooked meal efficiently without having to run to the store because I overlooked an ingredient.  What has really been nice as of late is the abundant crop of vegetables sprouting up in our garden. 

It provides us with inexpensive healthy organic options that taste ten times better than you can get at any store, or any farmers market for that matter.  It also allows me the opportunity to flex my creative skills.  My meal plan is more reliant on what I see when I walk out into the garden at night and less on a shopping list.

It is amazing what you can come up with if you say to yourself, "I'm limiting myself to what is in the garden and what is in my pantry and that's it."  I've wowed my family with tomato, basil and mozzarella pizza on the grill (thanks to my husband for the grilling part), zucchini, red pepper and spinach frittata and a surprise hit...cucumber, quinoa and wild rice salad.

Tonight I'm going to experiment with my favorite medium for vegetables, risotto.  I make a mean risotto (anyone can, it is mind-numbingly simple), but tonight I'm going to try zucchini, feta with a hint of basil.  We'll see.

What makes this all possible is that we have surrendered our largest perennial bed to a raised bed vegetable garden.  It is the single most exciting fulfilling thing we have done in our yard.  When it is too hot to piddle around in the flower beds, you can harvest the actual fruits of your labor. 

It is fairly simple to get started...you just need an area with good soil and lots of sun.  Here are a list of plants you can incorporate into your existing beds if you want to put your toe in the vegetable gardening water.

DONNA's RECOMMENDATIONS
Tomatoes - one grape variety and one slicing variety
Peppers - one Jalapeno, one green bell and one red bell
Zucchini - you need some space, but you get not only the zucchini but the blossoms which are great battered and fried
Cucumber - all you need is a trellis and harvesting is a breeze

Bush Beans - we plant four plants and it yields enough all summer for my family