Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs . . .

  

I have of late become somewhat obsessed with chalk art. You can find me on any given day perusing the aisles of Whole Foods or Mrs. Green's, my attention glued to all the neat signage they employ to make their goods more enticing.  Half the time I forget what I went there to buy I'm so enthralled with all the pretty colors, the impeccably-rendered typefaces, and the shear excess of it all.

Chalk art is experiencing a boom right now; sometimes I wonder if it's somehow related to the popularity of tattoo art and all things hand-drawn, or a new appreciation of illustration art. Whatever it is, I'm liking it. 

So I've been trying my hand at this art form, and really enjoying it! I've always been a big fan of fonts (having cut my teeth in the printing business some years ago), and let me tell you - chalk art is full of fonts! The more the better . . .  mix and match, modern and vintage. Frilly flourishes and beautiful borders are another reason the signs seem so captivating.

I've been doing some sketching and practicing to hone my skills. With the holidays in full swing, they seem a natural subject (and of course, as usual my other two obsessions make it into the practice sessions):

So it must have been kismet today when Bill and I walked into our favorite local breakfast haunt, Mary & Beth's Metro Diner in Stratford Center, only to see a large, blank "Specials" Chalk Board staring me in the face. Itching to turn all that blank canvas into art, next thing you know,  I've got the gig!

The Finished "Specials" Sign At Metro Diner

I'm excited to see where my passion for chalk art takes me next; meanwhile, I'll keep an eye out for inspiration during the holidays (and if I accidentally ram you with my shopping cart, it's nothing personal. I probably was just mesmerized by some Trader Joe's sign tantalizing me from afar).

Clean Up on Aisle 2 . . .

Today was cleaning day in the garden; one of many to come in the next few weeks. The vegetable garden was priority number one. Out with the elderly tomato plants, shriveled cucumber vines and nasturtium plants, which succumbed to a couple of frosty nights this past week. Remaining in the beds are the original kale and collard plants, now tall but still viable. Also still growing are some younger kale plants (started in late September), beets, as well as a lone garlic chive plant, which has thus far survived the cold snaps just fine.

In addition to the veggie garden, it was also time to pull up the dahlia bulbs, which will be stored once again in my basement until Spring. This year, they will be stored in a bed of shredded paper in a cardboard box. I used the same arrangement last year, which worked just fine. Previously, I had just placed the clumps in a cardboard box. But I read about the addition of shredded paper, and it did seem to insulate them nicely and keep them plump throughout the months in storage last year. So in to their fluffy bed they go!

The rest of the garden is now showing it's past-peak color, but there are still plenty of sights to go around. The big Norway maple has blanketed the lawn with it's dirty-yellow leaves; next step will be to mow them, rather than rake (to provide added nourishment to the soil come spring). The Japanese maples are the among the last to shed their leaves; the leaves are still clinging on with their blood-red and deep purple hues, despite the 25 mph wind gusts which buffeted the garden this weekend.  There are still a few more days left to admire their beauty. The rose bushes are all but denuded, but their rose hips stand out brilliantly against the thorny branches.  A few chrysanthemums still appear sprightly; but they, too, will go into hibernation soon. And the ornamental grasses look regal as they sway in the wind. They will remain all winter, to provide added cover for birds and other small wildlife to weather the months ahead.

I just can't rid myself of the feeling that all of this Fall spectacle, this Autumn show of colors, is happening later and later each year. Whereas just over a decade ago, when we first moved to New England, raking leaves and snow flurries were taking place around the Columbus Day weekend in early October. As time has gone by, there is barely any color at all here at that time, and Thanksgiving weekend is still rife with Autumn clean-up activities in the garden. It's an uneasy feeling that something's definitely not quite right with the climate these days.

Summer's Over . . .

This is always a somewhat wistful time of year; we say goodbye to summer (at least in this part of the country) and try to welcome the fall season as best we can. For me, autumn gets a big smack on the lips. Missed you! Where have you been so long? As much as I love spring and summer, there is something comforting about the arrival of the cooler temps, and the first imperceptible, then more obvious, slowing of the growing season. I, for one, like the smug feeling of finally being able to tackle those out-of-control weeds in the far corners of the garden in one fell swoop. Kicked your ass, weeds! That felt good.

I will surely miss my vegetable garden though, with summer's bounty waning in the long shadows of autumn's last light. As in all years, there were successes and failures, new crops to try, and old standbys to cling to. The cucumber variety "Diva" once again proves her worth (I've planted it every year for the last four, and I can't bring myself to give up more raised bed real estate to another variety).

The Heirloom "Yellow Brandywine" however, proved a disappointment. A few measly flowers late in the season has in turn only yielded TWO (yes, on the whole plant!) tomatoes, which are still green as I write this. This is the first (and probably last) year I plant this one. Bye Bye!

 One of the new additions this year was "Odessa Market," a sweet pepper. It got swallowed up early by the over-reaching squash vines. When I finally uncovered it in August, I was lucky to find the beginnings of little peppers. They quickly grew into big peppers (this one's about six inches); now a lime green color, they should turn orange (and if time allows, red) before the first frost. This is one tough little pepper plant.

                          

 Then there are the nasturtiums. They really shine this time of year, with their water lily-like foliage and bright orange blooms. They provide a welcome sight amidst the geriatric tomato plants and shriveled cucumber vines, let me tell you.

And finally, not in the veggie garden, but a sure harbinger of the fall season ahead is the goldenrod, which grows profusely throughout my semi-shaded side garden. Some years more than others I struggle with it overtaking the english ivy ground cover; this year it has behaved itself and has appeared in more manageable sound-bites of color. It has won me over.

So here we go again; another change of seasons. There's no fighting it; stop thinking ahead to winter. Enjoy what we have now. Autumn, I think of all the seasons, beckons us to live in the moment with it's timeless, Maxfield Parrish skies and crisp autumn air. Try not to rush it; it will be gone before you know it. But it too, will be back again.

Instant Bonsai's Gonna Get You

I went to a barn sale this past Friday and was lucky enough to come home with a few treasures. I didn't really go looking for them, but they found me - a couple of vintage metal bonsai sculptures. They are really quite beautiful, each in their own way.

One, with jade-like leaves, white glass flowers and a small bird's nest is charming. The other, made of twisted wire, is stark but striking in it's simplicity. I feel a collection coming on . . . 

What I was looking for and have been for some time now, is a good deal on a wooden garden bench for a section of yard I've cleared and would like to make into a sitting area. I feel like I have been literally everywhere looking for that elusive bench. Today, I ended up in Kmart (yes, they still exist), to see if they had any clearance outdoor furniture (and maybe a wooden bench tucked into the back corner of the garden center). Alas, no benches, but as usual, ever the sucker for all things green, I made my way out to the discount perennial section. What did I see? A cute little juniper, with a bit of a lean to it. Bonsai on the brain, and a little cash burning a hole in my pocket, the little three-dollar juniper comes home. A couple of snips later, pot it up, and instant bonsai!

OK - you bonsai aficionados out there know that a few cuts do not a bonsai make. First off, after talking to the fine people of the Bonsai Society of Greater New Haven http://www.angelfire.com/art/bonsaict/index.html a week ago at an outdoor event (and my bonsai fever is all their fault), you really don't want to start with a dwarf plant (as this one is). And there are all sorts of special wiring, planting mediums, bonsai pots (pots? there's got to be a better bonsai-sounding word than that). Not to mention incredible patience. See? I have a lot to learn. And a place I just might visit next is: http://www.shantibithi.com/ one of the nation's premier bonsai growers/importers. Nice - it's in the area (broadly speaking) and they have classes too.

But for now, my little juniper will satisfy my craving. Hmm . . . now where did I keep that garden wire and those pliers? Look out, little juniper. You are about to become my latest experiment.

July Fourth Travels - You Never Know What You'll Find!

Athens? California? Newport? Think Again . . .

Itching to get out and explore somewhere different, we took the opportunity of a day off to take a little road trip on the Fourth of July.  Heading north on I-95 along the shoreline, it wasn't long before we hit major holiday traffic slow-downs. So we jumped off onto Route 1 and while the trip was longer, we had a nice ride through such scenic towns as Guilford, Madison, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme (to name a few).  In a nutshell, quintessential New England charm.

We passed a few state park entrances along the way (Hammonasset Beach, Rocky Neck), but no stopping there. No room at the inn on this Independence Day (parking lots were full).  But these were not our destinations anyhow - we had somewhere else in mind.

Late last October, we had stopped at another park on our way home from the Mystic/Stonington area (which is a whole blog post on it's own). It was near dusk, and the park was closing, but we were able to take a quick drive in and I got a few beautiful photos with the sun setting behind some silhouetted trees. I knew I would return one day - and this was that day.

Harkness Memorial State Park. There - the secret's out. This park is what the word "magnificent" was invented for. Located in Waterford, CT near the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, it is a little ways off the beaten path (not as many signs to this park as to the others; the parking lot was thankfully not full either).  A little bit Newport RI (think mansions), spectacular gardens (ala Frederick Law Olmsted, but instead by acclaimed garden architect Beatrix Farrand), with lawns that stretch forever down to a pristine shoreline, beaches, conservation areas (plovers nesting); we were practically speechless. All this for six bucks (the resident price after 4:00pm). Out of staters pay a bit more, but I am telling you - it is worth it.

Parking Camping Fees - CT State Parks

 The photos I took represent just a sampling of the sites you'll see. To top it off, the State of Connecticut is refurbishing the beautiful greenhouse on the property (the work looks to be nearing completion and it too should be amazing). Now that's taxpayer spending I can approve of. The recent budget cuts to the state parks are however sadly evident here too - parts of the gardens surrounding the Harkness mansion are quite overgrown with weeds / vines (it was all I could do to keep myself from jumping in and yanking them out)! But even that didn't diminish the sheer wonder at what we saw.

In total we spent about three hours rambling through the park with our jaws dropping. We vowed to return again this summer - but this time with blankets, coolers and some good friends to share the magnificent day.

An Update on the Vegetable Garden . . .

I've had a few requests to post some recent pictures on how the vegetable garden is evolving, so here they are! I finally settled on staining the gate to match our deck. I used a really great non-toxic stain that uses natural mineral pigments instead of dyes and no formaldehyde or other toxic ingredients called DuroStain by Safecoat. Unfortunately, you can't find this at your local Home Depot; I found it at the Center for Green Building in Bridgeport CT: http://www.centerforgreenbuilding.com/

 

I added a little decoration to the gate; a metal honey bee to pay homage to these most necessary workers in the garden. Plus, I like how it looks against the honeycomb pattern of the chicken wire:

The veggies are starting to really pop; some rain and then warm days following have finally caused the cucumber plants to take off in earnest. Baby squash are appearing; I picked the first sugar peas yesterday. By now, the kale is old hat (not that I'm complaining); it's been producing it's nutrient-rich leaves for about a month now.

Here come the zucchini!!!

Oregon Sugar Pods - they taste amazing!

the kale is coming in strong as always . . .

Amongst the veggies, I planted a new variety of nasturtiums - "Alaska Variegated" to add a different look to the garden this year.  I'm excited to see these plants mature and their jewel-colored flowers appear:

In addition, we have a couple of tomato plants, collards (try wrapping a banana in a collard leaf - tasty and nutritious!), lettuce, garlic chives and cilantro. I'm planting some extra-dwarf pak choy this weekend. So the garden is well on it's way of providing us with some really good (organic) eating this summer.

Flippin' For Flea Markets!

Flea Market Flip Taping at One of the Vendor's Booths

It's hard to resist a good flea market on a late Spring day; we had the good fortune of perusing the wares at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford CT last weekend. In addition to all the usual antiques and collectables the vendors bring, they happened to be shooting a few episodes of HGTV's Flea Market Flip that day on the grounds. 

We watch the show, so it was kind of neat to see the process, and to see the host Lara Spencer (you may know her from Good Morning America, or the Oscars Red Carpet etc). Anyway, evidently she's a big flea market/antiques/yard sale buff (you may even remember her from Antiques Roadshow some years back), and she seems genuinely nice, down-to-earth in person. 

Host Lara Spencer Chats With Spectators . . .

But we don't go to flea markets for Hollywood excitement; we go for the goodies! These days, I'm usually shopping for outdoor items, gardening stuff and lately, illustration art for inspiration.  A few flea market rules - go early (gates open at 7am), wear comfy shoes and sunscreen, be prepared to get dusty, make a few passes (you always miss things the first time through) and most of all have fun! 

The Elephant's Trunk Flea has a bit of everything, from antiques to mid-century modern, kitschy collectables, weird and wonderful, plants and veggies, etc. You name it, you can probably find it there:

http://www.etflea.com/_/Home.html

Among our finds were some very pretty original greeting card illustrations (we picked a few out of a virtual boxload). These appear to be done in gouache, and are small - they were done in actual size to fit on a greeting card:

 And I was able snag a couple of garden-related things too - a handmade birdhouse (one of a collection to go on top of my trellis), a wrought-iron plant hanger, and a hose holder (which was a steal at five bucks. I saw the exact same one new at Lowe's for $29.95 later that day).

 So it was a pretty good day all around.  The appeal of the Flea is hard to resist; we will definitely be back at least a few more times this season. Thanks to global warming (or so it appears), the Elephant's Trunk now runs every Sunday (weather-permitting) through the first week of December, so there's plenty more opportunities to search for hidden treasures at the Trunk!