CUCAMELONS

Have you ever had a cucamelon? They're a dollhouse-sized savory fruit hybrid of watermelon and cucumber, also known as Mexican sour gherkins. Here in the States, they're called mouse melons. Apparently, they taste like pure cucumber with a hint of lime.

I've yet to see them in grocery stores or markets, but James shows us how to grow them ourselves. They can be eaten straight off the plant, tossed with olive oil and salt, used as a martini garnish, or pickled.

I'm gonna have to get me some seeds!


{Images by Homegrown Revolution}

DIY Garden Markers

I’ve had plants and gardening on my mind all week, so it only seemed fitting to roll up my sleeves and make a few garden markers of my own. I haven’t worked with sculpey clay since I was probably seven years old, so this project was both a blast and a great flashback for me. It took me only a few minutes to roll out the dough and cut it and after a quick trip through the oven, it was ready to use! These would be so fun as a house-warming gift for anyone with a yard or window garden, or as more substantial gift tags later in the year. The best part? It was under $5 to make- Happy planting! 

The full how-to is after the jump!

Supplies:

1. Sculpey Clay (I used one small pack)
2. Tag-shaped cookie cutter (we used this one)
3. Wire for use as a stake
4. Rolling pin
5. Chopstick or bamboo skewer
6. Letters (optional) for spelling names (We used these) * You can also just use a skewer to write

Steps:

1. Roll your clay to about 1/4 inch thick
2. Cut a badge shape out and lay it flat to rest.
3. Using a bamboo skewer or the edge of a chopstick, poke a small hole at the top (for the wire, after it cools)
3. Place on a wax-paper lined sheet and bake, following the clay package instructions.
4. Let dry, loop a bit of wire through like a hook and place in your planter!

Tags, ready for the oven

The Slug and The Squirrel

  the slug and the squirrel! the terrariums they create are magical — “in a laboratory of living design, we conjure art and science to create unusual living objects of wilderness – inspired by far-away landscapes both discovered and imagined.” indeed, they do!

 the slug and the squirrel makes terrariums in found bottles and vintage glassware of all kinds, making them that much more unique. all built by hand, and created with homegrown plants and wild moss grown locally, using sustainable and responsible practices, each terrarium is more beautiful than the next. i had a difficult time narrowing down just a few to share with you. for a peek at the entire slug and the squirrel gallery, pop on over, and be sure and check out their blog, too. the slug and the squirrel terrariums can be found at these fine retailers.

Spring Blooms Around My Neighborhood

When i was living in Belgium - i remember a similar time... back in 2003 - when i would around everywhere, talking in the spring blosson. in India, we have so much sunshine and such good scope to have these spring googies all around us, but no time to actually stop , sow, water, wait for blosson, and enjoy the blossom.. how i wish i had more time for some gardening.. ! When will that time come ?? : (

The Pothole Gardener

Have I ever told you about my secret desire to be a guerrilla street artist? I'm not sure how I'd make that happen, but I'm inspired by the The Pothole Gardener. Planting shrubs in potholes isn't anything new, yet he takes it to a new level with miniature props.

He recently made a video, Holes of Happiness, which captures Londoners' initial reactions to his sidewalk creations. What would you do if you saw a little pothole garden?