I'm at the studio today working on the garden with Susan, my new summer Apprentice. In the few early mornings and Saturday afternoons we've spent together, I'm becoming more and more bewildered at how flipping lucky I am she found her way to my doorstep.
Today, Susan brought over starts of Geum, Dianthus, Hollyhock, Foxgloves, and Amethyst Oregano. She worked two bags of compost (she wished it'd been five) into one of our square raised beds, along with some organic fertilizer. After forking well and watering, we got to planting. We massaged the roots of each little plant, taking off about a third of the soil from the bottom of each along with the very top layer (where weed seeds from the nursery can hide).
Susan laid out each pot in a pleasing formation, taking sun and shade conditions into consideration. To finish it all off we tucked in bronze heuchera plants I had laying around the studio to clip from.
Now she's off to a client garden and I'm sitting here in the cool studio and I finally take a deep breath. I have been running around like a crazy person for two weeks straight, gettin shit done. I can't wait to shower and head over to West Coast Craft to check out my friend Hannah's amazing booth and buy my first clay baby (you need one too) and check out her beautiful photo books, one of which is of 'The Orchard' night series I did back in November. So exciting!
Tomorrow is the workshop at Lennie's. I've got some pretty insanely pretty flowers for us to work with. There are still a few spots open if you are reading this on this beautiful Saturday and wondering what to do tomorrow....
My coffee consumption lately has been off the richter, I'm thinking maybe I can temper that while I'm in Ohio this upcoming weekend for my cousin Meghan's Wedding. I'll be shipping Peonies from PA, Coral Shantilly Snaps from Zoe, and picking up Vibernum and more peonies from a new farmer friend in Elida, OH. I'll also be foraging wild sweet peas and other greenery in the woods and along country roads of Rural North Central Ohio with my Aunt Debbie.
Last weekend Greg and I spent 24 hours in Santa Cruz and saw at show at The Crepe Place. Kevin Morby - I have been obsessed and listened to his two albums and ones from his former bands on loop for a week straight. Folksy, Lazy rhythms, so so so so good. Greg says he's a good lyricist. Greg also knows the words to every song you could think of. I think that means he's a good listener. He's off backpacking in Yosemite for 3 days and I miss him already.
Summer is wonderful and goes by all too fast. Hope you are out enjoying the heat!
xoXO,
TLP