Robin, Author at Bumblebee Blog

Bzzzz June 3rd, 2008

You know those thriller movies where the villain seems to have super-human strength?

They bounce off of cars, fall from bridges, take bullets, catch on fire. Still, they muster the energy to pursue the good guy.

Well, I know some plants like that. Here is my short list of plants I absolutely, without a doubt, cannot kill. Good thing they don’t have legs and arms or I would be in trouble.

#1 Plant I Cannot Kill – Rose Campion I agree that this lovely pink-flowered plant on the delicate silvery stems looks innocent enough peaking through the garden gate. The problem is that the Rose Campion spreads and re-seeds virulently. For two summers I have ruthlessly yanked up all the plants I can find. Still, they manage to return again and again.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they always looked like this. They don’t. There are so many flowers that it takes a good deal of assiduous deadheading to keep them looking their finest. Basically, I find this a high-maintenance plant.

This year I have a soft heart and let a couple sneak through my weeding frenzy. I will pay for that.

#2 Plant I Cannot Kill – Johnny-Jump-Ups Last year I planted Johnny-Jump-Up seeds outside the dwarf boxwoods in this raised bed in the Colonial theme garden. At first, I was charmed by their vigorous appearance. But when they threatened to destroy the boxwoods by mutating to some 18″ in height, I yanked them up by their little throats. Did they give up? No. They remain in the center of the bed and have re-seeded throughout the garden, including in the paths and even in my lettuce bed.

As you can see, I don’t exactly take a zero-tolerance policy. I have let the ones that sneaked past me continue to grow.

(BTW, I think the whole idea of zero tolerance is a bit scary. But then, this isn’t a political blog, is it?)

#3 Plant I Cannot Kill — Mint I know, I know. Everyone tells you that mint spreads like crazy and you must do something to contain it. I swear on my Papillons that I did not plant this mint in the ground. It was in a pot and JUMPED out. It is everwhere, including wandering through the lawn.

My son has the habit of grabbing a sprig and chewing on it when he wanders by. At least it servers some entertainment purpose.

So Here’s What You Do…

If you know someone who claims a black thumb but also swears they are interested in gardening, get them a little box and fill it with Rose Campion, Johnny-Jump-Ups and mint and see who wins.

Posted In: Gardening

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Bzzzz May 29th, 2008

Conjure up in your mind your last visit to a garden center. What was it like?

Chances are good that it smelled a little funny—maybe like chemicals. There were piles of seed, soil, rocks on pallets. A variety of plastic pots were piled on industrial-looking shelves. Tools hung on pegboards. Rows and rows of plants were lined up like little green soldiers.

If you believe the surveys that say more than three-quarters of American adults claim to do some gardening, it’s astounding that our shopping resources are so meager and devoid of style.

Finally, those clever marketers that created the distinctive, hip brands Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters have decided to tackle the garden market and inject some style. And not a minute too soon, for my taste.

Earlier this month, they opened Terrain at Styer’s, the first store in a whole new garden center concept. According to John Kinsella, Terrain’s managing director, the goal of Terrain is to be a “destination” rather than the typical drive-by pit stop visit to most garden centers.

Terrain at Styer’s is located in Concordville, PA, 20 minutes south of Philadelphia. It is a massive five-acre complex with 19,000 square feet under roof. In addition to the outdoor nursery, Terrain has books, home décor, lighting, tableware, indoor plants and tropicals. Tired of shopping? Have lunch at the café, where foods are locally sourced. Need some help getting started? Call on their landscaping and design professionals.

Kinsella says that people typically stay at Terrain for three to five hours. Products include items sourced from all over the world that you wouldn’t see at other garden centers.

“If we were to be compared this to another garden center, women would feel this is a more accessible experience than going to a typical garden center or a big box store,” said Kinsella. “There is more attention to presentation. It’s a voyage of discovery with interesting ways of presenting products that will inspire people.”

Unlike Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, which were built from the ground up, the Terrain stores will partner with existing local garden centers to create the Terrain brand. Kinsella wasn’t disclosing future locations, but he did say that they expect a new Terrain to be open by year’s end.

I put in my bid with Kinsella for Calvert County, Maryland, where I live and garden. He’s a nice man, so he didn’t shoot me down on the idea that I could get my own Terrain. But he did say that they are looking at places where people are doing some serious gardening. Philadelphia, home of the most elaborate flower show in the U.S., made the Pennsylvania location logical.

Kinsella says Terrain’s market is “everyone.” While that sounds nicely democratic, I suspect that the real market for now is the garden stylista with some money to spend.

There will always be people who prefer the utilitarian nature of the big box store garden department. But if Terrain can make gardening hip and stylish, maybe it will ignite a hot new wave of gardening enthusiasm.

I’m all for that. I’m also all for shopping. Road trip anyone?

Posted In: Gardening, Shopping