GRDN blog

Valentine’s Day is Almost Here!

grdnbklyn — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Pre-Order your Valentines Arrangement now! We will have the freshest flowers available for your sweetheart!

Classic Red, Romantic Winter Whites, or a Cheerful Spring Mix….

All Photographs by Jessi Bautista.

Prices start $95.00 plus delivery and tax.

Stylish Storage!

grdnbklyn — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:21 +0000

Hand-woven market baskets from Morocco make versatile and practical storage, much better than a plastic bin from a container store. Prices start at $49!

Images from Habitually Chic

Image from Remodelista

DIY Seed Starting

grdnbklyn — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:37 +0000

To follow up on our post about great herbs and veggies to sow early, we wanted to share some of our tips for DIY seed starting. This is also a great project to do with kids! All you need to give those seeds a happy new home is an old egg carton (the classic kind – plastic and styrofoam won’t do, it needs to be able to absorb moisture), soil (just enough to fill the egg carton), plastic wrap and sunshine.

All of the seeds we use are heirloom varieties and non-GMO, meaning our seeds have developed their unique flavors and ability to grow in our climate through generations of seed-saving, and are ideally suited us.

Photograph by Jessi Bautista.

I’m going to start with Rosemary, Eggplant, and Basil, all certified USDA Organic. First you want to puncture a small holes at the bottom of the carton to allow water to run through. Then, fill your egg carton with a bit of soil. Make sure the soil is moist, it’ll make for easier planting and give the seeds a good head start. This might be a little messy at first, but once it’s set up it’s easy to maintain.

Photographs by Jessi Bautista.

Your seed packet should come with instructions on how far deep to seed, but sometimes I just guess!

When you’ve finished putting seeds in, loosely cover the egg carton with plastic wrap. This helps create a mini-greenhouse effect, keeping the seeds warmer and moister, perfect for germination.

Photograph by Jessi Bautista.

Label your seeds, set it in a bright windowsill, and wait for em to sprout!

Just remember, seeds want to grow, so experiment and have fun.

New Plant Hardiness Map

grdnbklyn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000

There’s a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map as of last Wednesday! The USDA just released its first update of the map since 1990, and we’re in the new Zone 7b…

Fun fact: The old map was based on data from 1974 to 1986 and the new zones suggest that things are getting warmer. Mother Jones has an interesting article about the new map.

Sow Those Seeds

grdnbklyn — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:46:48 +0000

With February just a couple days away, now is a great time to start thinking about your herb & veggie gardens! The last frost for our area is the first week of April, making the first week of February the ideal time to sow some of your favorites indoors.

Here’s a few we recommend starting soon:

Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Peppers
Tomatoes
Eggplants
Kale
Cabbage
Basil
Cilantro
Thyme
Chives

We may even still have a few of these in stock from the Hudson Valley Seed Library!

Only 54 Days to Spring!

grdnbklyn — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:36 +0000

As soon as that first warm day hits we know you’ll be heading straight to the back garden/roof deck/terrace! Don’t let Spring sneak up on you unprepared – special orders on Fermob‘s incredible outdoor furniture take 12-14 weeks to deliver. Order now and you can get the perfect color combos for your outdoor space just in time for that first backyard barbeque!

From the 1900 Collection. Photo by Camille Malissen.

From the Luxembourg Collection. Photo by Jean-Marc Palisse.

From the Bistro Collection. Photo by Stephane Rambaud.

From the Luxembourg Collection. Photo by Jean-Marc Palisse.

From the Plein Air Collection. Photo by Jean-Marc Palisse.

First Snow of the Season

jessibautista — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:41:31 +0000

Prospect Park looked beautiful on Saturday with a few inches of freshly fallen snow. And no one in the city could have been having a better time than all the kids sledding down those hills!

All photos by Jessi Bautista.

This Time Last Year

jessibautista — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:48:37 +0000

This time last year we were covered in snow!

From Madison Square Park…

All the way to Brooklyn…

Photographs by Jessi Bautista

Best Indoor Plants for Winter

grdnbklyn — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:41:38 +0000

Maiden hair ferns are a great little woodland fern for the bleak winter days, with the promise of spring. Ask Lydia about how to take care of them – she thinks the bathroom is a little too moist, it should feel slightly spongy, but not too wet, and would do best in the middle of the room.

Photograph by Jessi Bautista

Snake plants are great for a little more height and they clean the air better than most plants. They only need to be watered once every few weeks, making it the perfect plant for a frequent traveller.

Neon pothos give that pop of color, are happy in any room of the house and are forgiving when you do forget about them.

Cacti and succulents always make great plants for a bright room and a forgetful caretaker!

Photograph by Jessi Bautista

Tillandsias make a care free pet and companion, keeping you company in your office all they need is a little light and water – it’s a perfect desk plant. And they come in a variety of personalities!

Orchids have beautiful blooms that last 8-12 weeks. They’re not as tricky as you think to grow, the most common problem is over-watering, so this is another plant to leave alone more often than not and enjoy it’s colorful blooms!

Photograph by Jessi Bautista

All I Want for Christmas is a Chicken Coop

grdnbklyn — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:33 +0000

We found this hand made chicken coop on the New York Times gift list. This might be my gift to self for the new year. Jason Stroud has been raising chickens in urban spaces for 20+ years and custom builds coops – chickens included! Perfect for urban gardeners.