I've been trying to enlighten Joseph about the virtues of a fire pit and legitimate patio furniture for weeks. "Think of how much fun we'll have, roasting marshmallows and stuff!" I pleaded.

So we took the plunge with some basics from our friendly Ikea and Target stores. As we were assembling everything in the sun yesterday afternoon, we chattered about the sweet (vegetarian) barbecues we'd soon be enjoying with friends.

But today I got yet another magazine with yet another spread about "patio living." In it, the patio is decked out with an indoor-quality rug, throw, furniture and pillows-galore. It even has a laptop and alarm clock! I got an e-mail the other day for an outdoor bed! Isn't that what hammocks are for?

This makes me wonder, does anyone really have an outdoor bedroom or living room, or is this all a bit exaggerated? Who enjoys the patio living room more - you or the squirrels?

In other news, we got some starts at the Master Gardeners' sale this weekend -- two tomato varieies and several pepper plants. Sometime between now and mid-May, I need to get my hands on one of those upside-down tomato planters Sue wrote about.

We went to the Master Gardener's plant sale on Sunday on the hunt for grape tomatoes. The kids like to eat them right off the vines in the summer so I try to make sure we plant a lot.

The tomato section of the sale offered lots of varieties. But we were focused on the smallest ones. We found a green grape tomato that will be fun to try and a yellow pear, in addition to the red grapes that we always have. Yum.

Now we have to make sure to keep them warm until the last frost date – which is about Mother's Day.

Last night I put them in the greenhouse. But I am going to plant them in pots so I can bring them in at night.

=> Read more!

I have a feeling Joseph will only be able to handle one plant sale this weekend (and probably me, too, for that matter). But for all of you who can schedule your spouse a T-time and hit the road, this is the weekend to do it.

Here's a rundown of plant sales, in no particular order:

The aforementioned Master Gardener's Plant Sale tomorrow and Sunday at the WSU research center in Puyallup.

United Methodist Church plant sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow in Puyallup. 1919 W. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup; www.puyallupumc.org, 253-845-0547.

The Arboretum Foundation's FlorAbundance plant sale, which bills itself as "the region's largest," is Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Warren G. Magnuson Park in Seattle.
(Oh, and the best part about this one: "Look for expanded selections of unusual annuals, heirloom tomatoes, vegetables, and newer cultivars of hostas and other woodland perennials." Craig, are you listening?)

The Puget Sound Bonsai Association auction tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jefferson Park Clubhouse in Seattle.

AND

The Annual Plant Sale to benefit the Olympia Senior Activities Department. This one isn't until Wed., May 2 and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Olympia Senior Center Lobby at 222 Colubia St. NW in Olympia. If you have some plants to unload, donated plants are welcome. Contact Chris at 360-407-3967 for more information.

Attention natural (and thrifty) gardeners in Thurston County, here's a discount program just for you.

Several local retailers -- Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware stores in Thurston County -- are offering discounts on natural gardening supplies. Buy now through May 15 and get 25 percent off mulching lawn mowers, compost, watering tools and slow-release/organic fertilizers.

Details: Call a Thurston County Environmental Health educator at 360- 754-3355 or visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehcsg

One of my earliest memories of helping my mom in the garden was the radish. For a kid with the attention span of a gnat the quick sprouting radish was an incentive to stay interested in the garden when other seeds would take weeks to sprout and flourish.

I still haven't outgrown the psychological boost the radish provides because mine have just come up and I couldn't be happier. Only this time they are a white and red "watermelon" variety and a Japanese version called Daikon. I did promise you, dear readers, that my garden would grow some unusual varieties.

I still garden with my mom at her Willapa Bay farm. She did not approve of my seed sowing a couple of weeks ago. "Too early," she said. "But, I want to get started," I whined. The mother-son relationship doesn't change even when the son is 43.

In addition to the radishes I also have arugula and baby bok choi coming up. I've planted my purple potatoes and sown red lettuce but nothing seen so far. I started red marigolds and broccoli in the greenhouse. I planted out the marigolds this weekend. The broccoli, however, didn't fare well with my attempts to harden them off. But, I'm hopeful they'll survive. I've also sown green onions, peas and a variety of flowers (cosmos, zinnias, red sunflowers, etc.)

My blue poppy crop appears to be a total failure as are some morning glory seeds I sowed. I know what you are thinking: but these are real morning glories, not the horrible bindweed that takes over gardens and some folks erroneously call morning glory. I've sown some more in the greenhouse. My black cherry and orange striped tomatoes had only a 10 percent success rate in sprouting. Tomato starts, here I come...

This weekend I'm going to construct a raised bed. I need to sow my ornamental corn soon. "You can't it eat?" my mom asked incredulously. I'll let you know how it turns out. And whether mom approves.

A few nights ago, I was driving by the community garden at N. 21st and Proctor, where I had a plot last year. The place was fairly empty, but there were two women there with their shovels and seeds.

I can't be sure, but they looked like the same women who shared that same plot last year. Why do I care? Because last year they told me they had never gardened before, but were starting because they'd read about my first garden in the paper and figured they could do it, too.

And they could -- their plants were gigantic and healthy last year.

It made me so happy to think I had, in some very small way, introduce someone else to gardening ... but it made me wonder how they managed to be way more successful than me! :)

While working in the garden this past weekend, the kids wanted to know which plants were edible.

It's a big question for little kids who still put marbles in their mouths. My answer: Only things I tell you to eat. Don't eat anything unless I say you can. Some plants can make you very, very sick.

After the warning, we walked around and talked about what they could eat. We found chives left from last year. Dandelions, but only from our yard where we don't use pesticides or other chemicals. We tried violets in our front border garden. We picked a few small lettuce leaves that were starting to sprout.

But that wasn't enough for them. We ended up driving to Tacoma Boys to buy peppermint, spearmint, rosemary and oregano. Now they can stroll the backyard for a snack – as long as I am out there with them.

It was raining much of the weekend but I managed to make it to a nursery anyway.

Niki and I went to Watson's in Puyallup on Saturday and browsed through hundreds of annuals, perennials and vegetables. They have a bunch of fun stuff. We saw Curry Plant, which looks like lavender but has a strong spicy smell.

I picked out some vegetables I haven't tried to grow before but that my kids might like.

I got celery for Kellen and artichoke for Gwendolyn. They were really excited about it when I got home. Anyone grow these veggies? Anything I should know?

I also picked up a packet of cleome – one of my most favorite annuals. I love the delicate flowers.

The sun shining outside my window this morning made me long for a few hours at a local nursery. I want to load up on perennials to decorate the bald patches in my yard. But I am really good at buying plants before I have a place for them. And then they sit in pots for weeks – just like the trays of pansies I bought in early April.

=> Read more!

There is so much going on next weekend, I'm going to have to spend most of this weekend prepping the garden so I can be ready for it all...

First, Farmer's Markets are opening next weekend, which means delicious produce galore. I'll be in Portland the night before, so I'll get to visit their farmer's market Saturday morning. I hope I can snatch up some pineapple tomatillo starts like I did last year - those were my favorite!

Second, the Pierce County Master Gardener's plant sale and education fair is going on in Puyallup both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, it runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Sunday it's from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (7612 Pioneer Way E., Puyallup. Call 253-798-7170 for more information.). This year, they've moved it across the street to the WSU Research Center because it's grown so much. (Thank goodness - last year it was a zoo.)

To top it all off, my friends will be visiting from out of town on Saturday night, so I want to have things in proper order ...

Another reader e-mails a tomato question:

Planted tomatoes next to our house three years ago. Sunny all day long. Good fertilizer and watered as needed. First year was great. More than enough beef steak tomatoes. Second and third year plants would grow like crazy develop tomatoes but very rarely would ripen. Most would crack open before ripe. Plants seem to be very healthy although at the top of the plant it seemed to leaf curl and dry up as if it was starving for water and soil was moist. Once the plant started to do this it went down hill and the plant looked terribly although continued to produce green tomatoes. Someone advised me that I could have tomato blithe in my soil. I don't know what that is. This is the purpose for the email. I have grown other vegetables next to the tomatoes ie cucumbers, green peppers and they all seem to do good. If you feel I need to plant tomatoes in pots please advise so. I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong because everything else grows in the soil with no problems.

Besides rotating his crops, any advice for the reader?

A reminder: We'll have a story in May about growing tomato starts. Share your advice here and we'll pass along to our readers.

A reader e-mails with a question:

Can you identify the attached, I have taken it to several people and they could not help me. The flower is larger than a man's hand, does not get much sun. I appreciate the time you spend on this. This flower is growing on River Road, it is not in bloom yet. Thank you so very much

And here is the photo. Anyone know what it is? It looks like something Get Growing blogger Craig Sailor should be growing in his "experimental" garden.

Hey there, tomato experts. Here's your chance to weigh in on how you grow your purchased tomato starts (or how you grow from seed, if you go that route).

What's your best advice? Post here and we'll share your words of wisdom with other tomato gardeners in a story that will run in the Home&Garden section in May.

Here's a question from a reader who wants advice for growing tomatoes in a container. Anyone have thoughts? Please post here!

Because we live on Fox Island, and deer may ruin a vegetable garden, I would like to know who to plant, and care for container vegetables, especially tomatoes, on my deck which faces south-east. I have to take into consideration the weight applied on the deck. I have used the new plastic, light-weight pots for strawberries. Any designs or ideas you have for growing vegetables on a deck would be really appreciated. Thank you very much.
Linda

When I gardened in the community garden plot last year, I came to realize what a cultural gathering the community gardens are. I got gardening advice from people who didn't speak english, but we bonded over the proper way to wield a hoe.

That's why I was glad to hear this: On Thursday at 7 p.m. at Commencement Bay Coffee Company (downtown), a group of committed Tacomans will host a conversation about the direction of community gardens here. Guests include Carrie Little, who runs Mother Earth Farm for the Emergency Food Network, a few Seattle P-Patch board members/activists, a longtime community gardener and a representative from MetroParks.

More info to come! Have a good weekend and I'll see you there.

I just read Marce's post about how difficult it can be to keep kids interested in the garden and I can relate -- when it's rainy/cold/dark, the last thing you want to do is look at a microscopic sprout. So ours have been caring for themselves as of late. But this weekend, they'll get the care they deserve.

In other news, my friend and co-worker approached me with a tempting proposition: Backyard chickens. I've been trying to convince Joseph how great it would be for months, but he's not so sure. Can anyone offer advice?

A few weeks ago we planted big pots with lettuce, radishes and peas. The kids get really excited each time they see the progress. The radishes and lettuce are growing strong.

Keeping them interested in the gardening project is a challenge. But seeing the progress is a good motivator.

This weekend we are going to clear a patch of weeds growing in the back alley that will become home to a patch of sunflowers. Kellen picked out three different varieties that we will plant.

Here's one:

Ok people, here's your chance to enter your one-of-a-kind water feature in a national contest.

The Beckett Corporation, which manufacturers water fountains and other garden products, is sponsoring a contest to find the most creative garden fountain. They want all kinds of designs -- whether yours is mid-century mod or a cute little deal with porcelain frogs.

The winner gets $500 worth of Beckett products, $1,000 cash and bragging rights to the "most inventive fountain." The company might even use the fountain in its 2008 product line.

Contest details are here. Enter by June 15.

I took a couple days off work this week to create an Asian oasis on the east side of my house.

I planned a 30-foot-long stone path. I purchased a variety of shade plants and I filled the back of my car with sand, bricks and edging.

Turns out that digging a lovely garden path is tough work. I finished about a third of it. And now I have a pile of dirt that I don't need anywhere else.

Part of my problem was the rain. I was coming down in buckets for much of Monday. But then who are we kidding. I wouldn't have finished it if I had blue skies and a continuous supply of lemonade.

I think my oasis is further off than I think. But I am determined to make something of this wasted dirt.

Here's some links to what I wanted. Not what I have. Check out Reader's Digest and This Old House.

Believe it or not, the Northwest is a great place to grow succulents. I grow succulents in hanging pots in my back yard and they thrive in our climate.

So I plan to add this book to my garden book collection:

Here's a description from the publisher:

Featuring over 50 species of cacti and more than 10 families of succulents, including their ideal locations, natural habitats, and care and feeding needs, Cacti and Succulents helps readers find the best plants for their interior and outdoor decorating needs. Complete descriptions, including color photographs, will help readers identify their plants and detailed care instructions will help them make sure that their plants thrive. Gideon Smith highlights plants from six garden collections the world over, from Zurich to Phoenix.

Book Details:
Title: Cacti and Succulents, A Complete Guide to Species, Cultivation and Care
Author: Gideon F. Smith
Available: At bookstores everywhere, or at Ball Publishing.

Alert! This just in from the Epsom Salt Council. Could it possibly be true?

Just as “Milk does a body good,” Epsom Salt may be one of the most perfect nutrients for flowers and plants. And mid-to-late spring is the ideal time to nourish the soils and roots of your favorite foliage and flowers with this inexpensive and easy-to-use compound. According to the Epsom Salt Council, research indicates Epsom Salt can help seeds germinate; make plants grow bushier; produce more flowers; increase chlorophyll production; improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake; and deter pests, including slugs and voles.

Anyone used Epsom salt? What did you think? If you haven't tried it, but want to, the Epsom Salt Council recommends these amounts:

Shrubs (evergreens, azaleas, rhododendron): 1 tablespoon per 9 square feet. Apply over root zone every 2-4 weeks.

Lawns: Apply 3 pounds for every 1,250 square feet with a spreader, or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer.

Trees: Apply 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet. Apply over the root zone 3 times annually.

Garden Startup: Sprinkle 1 cup per 100 square feet. Mix into soil before planting.

Roses & Tomatoes: Use 1 tablespoon per foot of plant height per plant; apply every two weeks.

For more details, click here.

UPDATE: WSU professor Linda Chalker-Scott has written an interesting article that takes a skeptical look at using Epsom salt in the garden.
Click here to read.

One of my favorite things about living in a house is that I can finally compost food waste. Exciting, I know. But when we moved out of the apartment and started composting and recycling (the apartment didn't have the best recycling system, so we ended up throwing a lot out), we cut down the amount of garbage we produce to just one small bag a week.

One of my least favorite things about composting is finding a way to store all the food scraps for a few days until I go dump it in the bin. We've tried plastic bags and Tupperware-type containers, but it's all gross.

So I'm ordering this:

Bio-bags. The web site says they're fully biodegradable, so I can just toss the whole thing in my composter. Sounds good to me. Apparently they're also good for storing fruits and veggies in the refrigerator -- something I welcome, as it kills me that I'm going to have to toss my $3 bunch of wilted organic kale from the CSA that I never got around to cooking.

Has anyone used these? Any other good methods for storing scraps?

One of my friends told me that her grandma used to plant flowers in boots -- and used them as decorative planters in her yard. Depending on the boot, this could be very cute, or a little weird.

So it got me thinking about container planting and how boring my containers are - a few fiberglass pots from Fred Meyer and a bunch of ceramic pots I've picked up from Tacoma Boys. All very typical and predictable.

So what containers have you used for planting? Anything weird? Anything unusual? Anything stunning? Tell us about it. You can even upload photos here (click on photos and follow the directions).

And while we're on the subject, here's a new book about container planting coming out in May:

Details:
Title: Absolutely Beautiful Containers, The ABCs of Creative Container Gardens
Author: Sue Amatangelo
Publisher: Ball Publishing, Distributed by Independent Publishers Group
Publication: May 2007, $24.95
Details: www.ballpublishing.com

Propaganda from the publisher:

Leaving the boring behind, Absolutely Beautiful Containers details elements of design such as color, texture, height, depth and plant needs for light and nutrients as well as ideas for holidays and festive occasions; and early spring and fall decorating. Each container design includes a plant list, planting diagram and color photograph of the container in its glory.

Last year at the community garden, I spoke with a woman who said she and her friend were trying gardening because of the story I wrote about my first garden. It was really touching, but while we spoke, I couldn't stop staring at the gargantuan plants in her garden plot. I asked what she'd done.

"Fish fertilizer." She said it smelled terrible, but credited her Little Shop of Horrors-esque plants to using it.

Fast forward to this year ... We two vegetarians moved into a cute little rental with a greenhouse, where we found a box of marine fertilizer. The box sat there temptingly while we built up the soil with our vegetarian compost ... The box sat there temtingly while we cheered our teeny, tiny sprouts on.

Finally, the box came up in conversation.
"How do you feel about using fish fertilizer?" I asked.
"No."

But it was just sitting there, I said. If no one used it, it's really going to waste, I reasoned ... Finally, he caved. So we spread the fish fertilizer all over part of one garden bed.

That was two days ago. I figure we can experiment with it and, if we don't like it, we won't spread it on the rest of the garden. My question: Has anyone used the stuff? Did you like it? Any vegetarians willing to give me advice?

Several weeks ago I ordered seeds from Territorial Seed Company and Burpee. My hand was barely out of the mailbox before my order from TSC came in. I don't think I've ever had such a quick response from any company, seed or otherwise.

Burpee, however, just arrived a few days ago. And they were out of an item I ordered.

I'm not bashing Burpee, just giving kudos to TSC for their incredibly efficient service.

But, what really counts is how the seeds turn out. This past weekend I sowed red marigolds, "black" cherry tomatoes, striped tomatoes and broccoli. They are sitting in nice little pots in my greenhouse. I can't wait for them to sprout.

If they don't, there's always those lovely green plants at the Olympia Farmers Market.