The plant list is already posted on the website on the spring plant sale page. Enjoy!

Their next plant sale will be April 9th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the church at 737 Woodland Avenue. You can also get updates on their Seedtime and Harvest facebook page.

Environmentalism has been whole heartedly adopted by our church. Last year, because of our efforts at Seedtime & Harvest, we won the first Trailblazer award from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. It was an amazing moment when everyone gathered at the awards ceremony realize this new award was won by a group of mentally handicapped and financially “poor” individuals for their outstanding leadership in community environmentalism.

– Glynis Ward

Thank you to Glynis for sending along this information! She is one of the gardeners of Seedtime & Harvest, Greenhouse and Gardens at the church.

Event #1: Oakhurst Community Garden Project Plans its Largest Spring Plant Sale Yet!

Picking out cow peas, longneck squash, and more to plant in our vegetable garden

50 varieties of tomatoes!  30 varieties of pepper!  20 varieties of eggplant!  5 varieties of basil! Plus over 200 varieties of herbs, fruit trees, perennials, annuals, natives, and succulents!

• Oakhurst Garden Member Preview: Friday, April 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Open to the public: Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Lettuce and other spring greens are available for purchase at the Oakhurst Community Garden Project starting April 1.
Summer vegetable transplants will be available for purchase until June 15, 2011.

Check out the website for more details: www.oakhurstgarden.org.

Event #2: Celebrate Earth Day in Decatur at the Oakhurst Community Garden!

On Sunday, April 17^th, join the Decatur community to celebrate Earth Day at the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, presented by Latham Home Sanitation, from  12:30 p.m. until 4 pm. The event begins with the Earth Friendly Parade, which begins at Harmony Park in the center of the Oakhurst Business District. Join the Feed and Seed Marching Abominable Band and decorate your bike, wagon, stroller or yourself and march in the parade that will open the festival. Once at the event, there will be a Cake Contest, crafts for the children, a Raptor Show, food vendors, the community pavilion, live music and lots of fun!

This year’s event features over 30 earth friendly vendors and non-profits in the Community Pavilion including the City of Decatur Recycling Trailer.

New this year is a Community Phone Book Recycling Project sponsored by PitStop. Bring your old phone books to fill up a portolet! Let’s see how many phone books we can fit in there!

The winner of the Earth Day t-shirt design contest will be announced and the t-shirt will be on sale at the event. The contest was open during the month of March to students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The finalists’ designs will be on display at the Decatur Library during the month of April.  The 2011 The Sally Wylde Cultivating Life Award recipient will also be announced.

The Earth Day event is offered free to the community by Latham Home Sanitation, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, the City of Decatur Active Living Department, the City of Decatur Environmental Sustainability Board, the Waldorf School of Atlanta, Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool, Agnes Scott College, and PitStop.

For more information and a complete schedule, please visit www.oakhurstgarden.org or contact: Stephanie Van Parys, director@oakhurstgarden.org, (678) 642-4977. You can friend the Earth Day in Decatur festival on facebook, too!

Started in 1997, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project is a member supported non-profit teaching environmental awareness through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs.

Oakhurst Community Garden Project is located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA  30030.

• The use of one rain barrel per household on an annual basis will save approximately 1,000 gallons of water from your municipal or county water system.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency storm water runoff is the number one pollutant facing America.

Read more about The Rain Barrel Company here!

Medlock Community Garden at the corner of Scott Circle and Willivee Drive celebrates its inaugural year - welcome to the neighborhood!

When Atlanta was hit with unprecedented rains last September, Burnt Fork Creek overflowed its banks and swallowed houses in my Decatur neighborhood. A few homes were beyond repair and turned over to FEMA. One of those houses is now the site of the Medlock Community Garden at the crossroads of Scott Circle and Willivee Drive. I’ve been driving by every day for the past few months watching the fence go up, the raised flower beds emerge, the mulch pile spread to cover ground, and a stunning array of vegetables and plants take root.

I stopped by on my bike some weeks ago and talked to one of the founders, who lives around the corner. She said that, once the neighborhood found out that the property had been acquired by FEMA, they started the process of asking to have the land for their own garden. As it turns out, the government would rather have the land in active use and adopted by the neighborhood than to stand as an empty lot, and so turned it over to Medlock Park residents who rent the plots out. Beyond that, I’m not sure how the administration of the garden is handled. Reservations went quickly and it wasn’t long before all of the spaces were taken. I guess that’s to be expected when you have an open, sunny lot in the middle a tree-filled neighborhood where sunlight peaks through the leaves!

I’ll keep you posted as I find out more about the garden – just wanted to share that Decatur has a new community garden! Neighbors are frequently there working on the garden, so stop by sometime and say hi. Oh, and Medlock Community Garden isn’t necessarily the official name yet – it was in flux when I went by – but is the most logical for the sake of conversation.

Kirkwood Community Garden and Urban Forest in Atlanta is breathing new life to an old dumping ground

Beyond the community garden, paths ramble into the Kirkwood Urban Forest, where dogs and owners enjoy evening walks. While the garden is gaining ground, the Kirkwood volunteers could use helping taming the wildness of these five acres. If you’re interested in clearing, gardening, building, meeting your neighbors, spending some time in the sun, please stop by the garden and ask how you can lend a hand! You can also contact the garden at kirkwood-community-garden+owner@googlegroups.com.

The Kirkwood Community Garden is located at 1807 Dixie Street, Atlanta, 30317 (map it!).

Kirkwood Community Garden volunteers of all ages are transforming this space and would love your help!

Thanks to Dee for passing this along from the Parkview Civic Club google group!

This is going to be a big event, with activities for the whole neighborhood — not just the folks who will be using the garden. DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and county commissioners Kathie Gannon and Larry Johnson are expected to attend, along with Atlanta City Council member Cleta Winslow and representatives from the Scott’s Miracle Gro company, which provided the grant that allowed us to build the garden.

There will lots of fun activities for children and adults, including: The DeKalb County Extension Service will demonstrate composting, vermiculture (composting using earthworms), and “integrated pest management.” They will also do a “healthy cooking” demonstration” and answer gardening questions.

Home Depot will teach folks about container gardening.

Keep DeKalb Beautiful will have tables where children can make terrariums out of parfait cups and flower garden art out of recycled cans. Keep DeKalb Beautiful is looking for volunteers to help set up the event. If you are interested, please let Susan Potter know at susanleahpotter@gmail.com. Click here for a map of DeKalb Memorial Park!

Earth Day in Decatur's Oakhurst Community Garden!

A mere 40 years ago, the first Earth Day was proudly declared in April and, this year, the City of Decatur and the Oakhurst Community Garden invite you out for the city’s official Earth Day celebration! If you didn’t make it out for the spring plant sale in the garden last week, now is your chance to explore the blooming garden in the weekend sunshine (I ended up going to the plant sale twice last weekend, once to sneak in early so I didn’t miss out on the Romaine lettuce this year and another time to take friends back!).

• What: Earth Day in Decatur
• When: Sunday, April 18, 2010
  12:30 p.m.: kick-off parade in Harmony Park
  1 – 4 p.m.: Earth Day festivities at the community pavilions within the Oakhurst Garden
• Where: Oakhurst Community Garden (map it!)
• Cost: Free!! So bring the whole family!
• Events include:

• Kids’ crafts
• Live music, including the Tessitura Drummers, Morgan Rowe, Sydney Rhame and others
• A live raptor show!
• Special Earth Day t-shirt contest
• Checkin’ out the resident chicks and bees in the garden
• World Famous Cake Contest
• Book reading event
• 30 tables with educational and environmentally-friendly vendors

The Decatur Earth Day is brought to you by the City of Decatur Environmental Sustainability Board, Decatur Active Living Center, Agnes Scott College, the Waldorf School of Atlanta, the Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool, the Decatur Farm to School Initiative, and Oakhurst Community Garden. You can friend the Earth Day in Decatur festival on facebook, too!

Thanks to Gary Garrett, the Chair of Decatur’s Environmental Sustainability Board, for sending this along!

Questions? You can contact Mary Larsen, Volunteer Coordinator of the Fernbank Science Center at 678-874-7116 or larsenm@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us. I’m sure she’d be happy to add you to her mailing list to find out about all of the plant sales.

The Oakhurst plant sale has a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and general plants for sale, including heirloom tomatoes, eggplants, beans, peppers, kale, broccoli, lettuce, chard, and much more. The transplants and seedlings are all very affordable, with a focus on certified organic seeds and soil fertilized with worm castings and compost. Have fun playing in the dirt and feeding yourself and your family for less this year!

Here are the details on this year’s Decatur plant sale:

• What: The Oakhurst Community Garden Project’s 2010 “Plant Sale at the Garden”
• When: Saturday, April 10th from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday, April 11th from 12 – 4 p.m. (and a members-only preview sale on Friday, April 9th from 6 – 8 p.m.!)
• Where: Oakhurst Community Garden at 453 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030 (map it!)

If you can’t make the Oakhurst plant sale hours, no worries – you can drop by anytime and pick out your plants and leave your payment in the mailbox by the front door. And be sure to take a walk around the garden when you’re there and check out their activities, classes, and membership online at www.oakhurstgarden.org!

To kick off this green Atlanta event, Park Pride is offering two tours the weekend before the conference. On March 20th, explore the Bellwood Quarry Reservoir (future home to Atlanta’s 300+ acre Westside Park on the Atlanta BeltLine)  and Clayton County’s Newman Wetlands Center with the Green Infrastructure Tour.

On Sunday, March 21s, 2010, take a relaxing tour of Atlanta’s community gardens with an overview of how four neighborhoods are discovering sustainable gardening and self-supported agriculture. You can get info on the Community Garden Tour and the Green Infrastructure Tour schedule on the Parks and Greenspace Conference webpage.

Register online right now!

Selections include apple, fig, plum and persimmon trees; olive trees; blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry bushes; pineapple guave; muscadine vines; pomegranate / quince; strawberry plants; and much more. Check out the full catalog of fruit trees and bushes here!

• What: The Virginia Highland Hard-to-Find Edible Plants Sale
• When: Saturday, March 13th, 2010 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (or pre-order online through March 12th)
• Where: At New Highland Park at the intersection of St. Charles Place and North Highland, across from Belly (Atlanta, 30306)

I’ll be ordering my fruit bushes later today – for now, it’s time for me to head out and play in my own garden for a bit!

the bamboo forest in the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (thanks to HamWithCam for use of this photo!)

Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in Medlock Park (and backing up to the Saturn dealership on Lawrenceville Highway) is a lovely, hidden nature preserve with trails, a bamboo forest, learning centers, wetlands, bird-watching outposts, and more. If you would like to discover the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve for yourself, this Sunday, March 7th, 2010 (and one Sunday of each month) is the perfect opportunity with volunteer work days at the preserve!

From 9 a.m. until noon, join your Decatur neighbors and friends to help mulch trails, remove invasive plants, and more. Be sure to bring work gloves and a water bottle!

For more information, please visit the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve website.

And mark your calendars for the upcoming workdays through summer 2010:

• April 17 – Volunteer Day 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• May 2 – Volunteer Day 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• June 5 – Volunteer Day 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• July 11 – Volunteer Day 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Directions to Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve:

To get to the Nature Preserve take Medlock Road north to Medlock Elementary School. Turn right onto Wood Trail Lane and follow to the preserve entrance. For complete directions and for more information, visit the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve website, leave a detailed message at 678-951-0105, or email information@cshepherdpreserve.org.

Fernbank Science Center Arbor Day Tree Sale

From 8 a.m. until noon, the Fernbank Science Center will hold a plant sale with trees and shrubs in honor of Arbor Day. The sale will only go until noon, so make sure you get there in time. Click here for a map of the Science Center’s location. Their plant sales are usually in the back parking lot to the right of the building, but if you have any questions, you can contact Mary Larsen, Volunteer Coordinator at 678-874-7116 or larsenm@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us.

Atlanta’s Champion Tree Search & Walk

Calling all Atlanta Champion Trees! Trees Atlanta is now accepting big tree nominations for the Atlanta Champion Tree Search. Unsure how to evaluate a big tree? This weekend on February 13, 2010, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Robby of Trees Atlanta along with Fernbank Museum of Natural History will be conducting a guided walk through the Fernbank forest to practice identifying and measuring trees! Please RSVP for the workshop by emailing Robby at robby@treesatlanta.org.

Other Arbor Day events

The tree celebration continues with Trees Atlanta’s free-and-open-to-the-public Arbor Day Photography Exhibit on Friday, February 19, 2010 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Photo will feature tree images by noted Atlanta photographers Kathryn Kolb and David Knox. So mark your calendar and head to the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316. The opening will serve as the official launch party for their”My Favorite Tree” Photo Contest, sponsored by a grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission. Check the Trees Atlanta website for info on applications and contest details – coming soon!

• What: The Incredible-Edible-Grow-It-Yourself Fruit Tree, Vine and Berry Bush Sale
• When: Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 9 a.m. – noon
• Where: The Atlanta Community Food Bank at 970 Jefferson Street, Atlanta, 30317 (map it!)
• Why: The Atlanta Community Food Bank is hosting this plant sale to benefit the Atlanta Local Food Initiative
• Payment: Cash or check only please

Experts will be on hand at the plant and tree sale to answer any questions you may have and to help you learn the basics of planting, pruning and caring for your fruit trees, berries and vines.

Not sure how to to go about planting and caring for an edible tree? After the sale, join Robby Astrove of Trees Atlanta for a Community Orchard Planting in East Atlanta. Here’s a snippet from the Georgia Organics website:

As a follow up to the Incredible Edible Fruit Tree Sale, join Georgia Organics and Trees Atlanta for a “serve and learn” at Burgess Peterson Academy (map it!). Come to learn more about farm to school efforts at Atlanta Public Schools and then get down and dirty while learning about proper tree planting and care. Gloves and tools will be provided.

Click here for more information and to register for this free gardening workshop!

If you’re on the fence about whether to plant edible trees and bushes (or your ability to keep them thriving, a big concern of some people’s!), Farmer D Organics can help you out with a Fruiting Tree and Berry Workshop on Janaury 19, 2010, before the sale. The class is 1 to 3 p.m. at the Briarcliff Road location. $10 per person.

And when harvest rolls around and you have more fruit than you know what to do with, check out Concrete Jungle – an organization dedicated to gathering unused fruit from residential yards around metro Atlanta and north Georgia and donating it to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Funny how things come full circle!

Atlanta community garden Artichoke Bliss is putting down roots in this vacant lot near the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard Avenues (with great downtown Atlanta views!). This was week six of the project on Saturday, December 19, 2009.

Actually, the words “underground” and “experiment” don’t really accurately describe what’s developing in an empty lot on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward District. This young, urban garden is actively growing in broad daylight. Thanks to a small army of local volunteers that come out every Saturday afternoon to help build raised garden beds, mulch paths, and build benches, this patch of dirt is taking shape. So what’s the story behind this urban garden project? First of all, the garden’s name is Artichoke Bliss. Second, Artichoke Bliss is the brain child of Angel Poventud and Haylee Richardson with the support of Eli Dickerson.

After frequenting Dynamic Dish next door (a small restaurant which feature local farms and a platinum LEED-certified building), the vacant lot captured their imagination and the vision to transform it into a usable space. They set to work with shovels and mulch piles which in turn piqued the curiosity of the neighbors who came out to see what was going on. Angel and Haylee established a regular meeting time of 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. every Saturday for volunteers to come together and create their own community garden. On the Saturday that I joined Angel and Robby (of Trees Atlanta) for a quick lunch at Dynamic Dish and an overview of Artichoke Bliss, nearly one dozen volunteers were hard at work. That may not seem like much, but for a community garden that’s only six weeks old, that’s not too bad!

Of course, locals have raised the question of who the land actually belongs to and Angel has done his research. The space used to be an old parking lot belonging to historic Ebeneezer Church down the block, but has since become overgrown. Contact with administrators at Ebeneezer was met with little interest or no response. Even a slightly miffed neighbor and congregation member who came out to make it clear the lot belonged to Ebeneezer was met with little reaction from the church. She has since been converted into an Artichoke Bliss fan and embraces the positive impact for the community.

If you get the chance, stop by and check out the progress! Or grab a shovel on Saturday afternoons. You can also find out more on Angel’s facebook page or Eli’s blog where they are both very active in keeping everyone up-to-date. You can also see more photos and get volunteer information by becoming a fan of Artichoke Bliss on facebook!

And while you’re in the area, be sure to check out the Historic Fourth Ward Park taking shape along the Atlanta BeltLine! The park runs south from below City Hall East and you can walk that section of the BeltLine path, which is open to the public.

Gardening Series 2010 – Gardening for Food, Fitness & Fun

• All classes are at 4380 Memorial Dr., Decatur, GA 30032
• Cost is $10 per class if you pay at door or get all 7 for $50 if you pay in advance through the mail
• First 50 registered are guaranteed a seat.
• For more information or to request a printed copy of the brochure, please call 404-298-4080. You can also visit www.dekalbextension.com.

Class #1 - January (Thursday), 2010 from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Understanding soils” |  Speaker: Walter Reeves  |  WSB radio, speaker and writer will tell you about soils
“Basics of composting” |  Speaker: Dr. Jim Spotts  |  well known agronomist, master gardener and King of Compost will share his famous composting secrets

Class #2 – February 2 (Tuesday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Basic Vegetable Gardening” |  how to start and what to grow |  Speaker: Bob Westerfield, University of Georgia Home Gardening Specialist.

Class #3 – February 16 (Tuesday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Growing Specialty Vegetables” |  emphasizing crops that are popular in other parts of the world but that will grow well in Georgia.

Class #4 – February 23 (Tuesday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Identifying and Limiting Common Pests & Diseases of Vegetables” |  Speaker: Gary Peiffer, DeKalb Extension Agent and Horticulture Manager

Class #5 – March 18 (Thursday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Roses and Their Care” |  Speaker: Stan Leacock, a well known local rosarian who cares for roses every day in his business and at his home.

Class #6 – April 20 (Tuesday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Using Color in the Landscape and Color Trends 2010″ |  Speaker: Tara Dillard, local, well known speaker, designer and garden writer. Tara knows plants and design and she presents her subjects with great wit and enthusiasm.

Class #7 – May 18 (Tuesday), from 7 to 8:30 PM
“Tropical Plants to Know and Grow” |  There are many wonderful tropical plants that will do well in the Atlanta area with the right conditions and the right kind of care. Speaker: Dr. Bodie Pennisi, University of Georgia, Horticulture Specialist in Griffin, GA. Dr. Pennisi is an expert in her field and she works closely with our Georgia commercial plant producers.

Gardening classes at the Oakhurst Community Garden in Decatur will teach you how to grow vegetables from seed as well as how to cook them to maximize taste and health value!

Oakhurst Community Garden in Decatur has published its upcoming list of gardening classes, including everything from beehives to slow food eating to worm composting to holiday glass dishes! I’ve had people suggest adding a calendar to this site and I need to work on that, especially with all of the Atlanta events coming up for the holidays. In the meantime, continue to click on my “Events” category in the right sidebar and read on for more from the Oakhurst Community Garden! And there is indoor classroom space, too. Sign up online here!

Build a Beehive
Students will work together to assemble standard hives from an ordered kit. Instruction will also include hands on work with mounting foundations and frames. If the weather cooperates, the class will also work with directly with the bees.
Sunday, November 1, 3-5 p.m.
$15 Garden Members, $20 non-members

Lasagna Gardening: Not Cooking, but Gardening!
This is not a cooking class or a gardening class that talks about growing ingredients for the perfect lasagna, but rather a method that requires no digging, no tilling, or removing your grass. It’s true! Join Amy Hanlder in this hands-on class to learn about a nontraditional method of layering organic matter to create a rich bed ready to plant with greens for the fall and summer veggies next spring.
Saturday, November 7, 3-5 p.m.
$15 Garden members, $20 non-members

Create a Holiday Glass Dish
Join Brenda Griffith in this all ages class as you create a 7.5 inch round glass bowl using an assortment of colors. The glass will be slumped over a mold, fired, and ultimately you will have new bowl created by you just in time for the holidays. Class will take place at Brenda’s studio at 2480 Memorial Drive. (4-9 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult, 10 and up can be dropped off.) Each session is limited to 8 participants / pairs.
Sunday, November 8, 1-3 p.m. or Tuesday, November 17, 6-8 p.m.
$35 for Garden members, $40 for non-members. Fee includes 1 bowl per person/pair.

Cheap and Healthy Food Come and learn techniques for saving money and eat dinner with Charli Vogt, RN, who loves doing anything that involves the kitchen. She will take you through the process of shopping, planning, preparing and eating the meal. Research has shown that you save money if you go to the store with a list. Each student will receive a grocery list, a planning form for a week of food, and recipes for 4 different meals that are easy, cheap and healthy. Plan to eat one of these meals with us. Use of the pressure cooker and slow cooker will be covered. Check out Charli’s Website: www.CharliVogt.com.
Thursday, November 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$25 for Garden members, $30 for non-members

Worm Compost: The Basics of Great Worm P–p!
Learn about the benefits of composting with worms. According to the EPA, approximately 10% of the waste stream is food and over 38% of the waste stream is paper. These materials can be used as food and bedding for a worm bin. It’s easy, fun, odorless and produces a great soil additive! Class participants will learn how to house, feed, harvest and care for their own worms. Be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and make your own worm bin including the instructions and worms ready to start composting. From ages 6 and up, accompanied by a parent.
Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m.-noon
$35 for Garden members, $40 for non-members

Gluten-Free Desserts for the Holidays
Learn to make Gluten-Free Desserts that your guests will prefer over the others. Taught by Charli Vogt, RN, MN, MPH. Charli has a private practice in mind/body medicine in Decatur. Her enthusiasm for helping people be well through food is evident in her classes. Students come
back to learn again and again. In this hands-on class be ready to cook and to sample what we make. Bring containers to carry home samples, (if we don’t eat them all). www.CharliVogt.com
Thursday, November 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$30 for Garden members, $35 for non-members

Winter Sowing a Perennial Garden
An innovative way to successfully start plants from seed without the expense of an extensive lightstand or even a greenhouse! Using plastic containers and the freeze/thaw cycles of winter….find out more by joining Glynis Ward in this fun and educational class. Native and
non-native perennial seeds, soil and supplies are provided, you bring as many clear and opaque recyclable containers as you would like: milk jugs, soda, water or juice bottles, plastic food tubs with lids, clear take-out “hamburger” boxes.
Monday, November 30, 7 – 9 p.m. $20 Garden members, $25 non-members

The Oakhurst Community Garden Project is located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030 and you can reach them at 678-642-4977! Online at www.oakhurstgarden.org.

For the third time this summer, my across-the-street neighbor has torn up his yard and, after previous unsuccessful attempts at grass-growing, is trying sod.

Sometimes, you can love something too much. My across-the-street neighbor, who you may recall from this previous post, enacts such loving care on his lawn that he overwaters it, kills it, and has to tear it all up again and replant it. This is the THIRD TIME he’s done that THIS summer! A quick recap:

1. Last summer, he spent hours and hours in his yard seeding and watering by hand. Gallons and gallons of water…
2. This spring, he bulldozed and graded his entire yard. Then reseeded it and spent hours upon hours watering it by hand.
3. He installed an above-ground irrigation system using a series of hoses and nozzles.
4. The grass started dying.
5. A couple of months ago, he dug up a large grid system in order to put in an on-ground irrigation system. He then reseeded and continued his successful campaign of watering the curb and street.
6. The grass continued dying.
7. He dug up a huge section of yard on Thursday (see picture) and, by Friday afternoon, had installed sod.
8. It’s only a matter of time before he loves that to death, too.

Of course, with the past few days of torrential rains (and we’re still under a flash flood watch), the meticulously-placed sod probably stands a chance of sliding off the muddy surface, down the street, and into the drainage ditch that runs through my yard. And it will probably grow beautifully in my ditch!

So here are some money-saving suggestions for a beautiful lawn:

1. Plant native grasses that are meant to thrive this climate.
2. Plant in the spring and fall – not the heat of summer. It’s costly to keep seeding and watering – both in utility bills and time.
3. Are any store-bought grasses truly drought-resistant like they say? Maybe not, but you can try one of those varieties.
4. Water from a rain barrel or water-collection tank. You can buy pumps to push the water through your hose and into any part of the yard.
5. Add in some flower beds to break up the amount of grass you have to maintain (with native plants, of course).
6. If you must water, water in the cool of the evening or the morning – not in the heat of the day! Plants absorb water best in the morning and when it’s cool – it’s a waste of water during the day.
7. Or, my favorite, plant mondo grass or some sort of ground cover that doesn’t really need water, stays green all year, and will fill in to give you an incredibly lush lawn. And you don’t even really have to mow it all that often.

Alright, I’ll step down off of my soap box now. I just have a such a hard time looking across the street and seeing these blatantly thoughtless antics. Does anyone else have neighbors like this??