News Tribune artist Fred Matamoros is our number one Get Growing blog groupie. He reads us religiously (let that be a lesson to you readers, if you read us regularly, we will post about you prolifically).

He read my post asking where locals find beautiful hostas and emailed me a few pics of the hostas growing in his Lacey yard. He also gave a hosta nursery tip. He bought his at Springhill Nursery.

Says Fred:

Normally mail order plants arrive wimpy or dead-looking. I bought these during one of their “9 for $29.99” sales and they arrive as tubers. They were slow to establish but after much babying they seem to be doing great. I will be dividing them this fall.

Watch for Jean Parietti's hosta story in the July 12 Home&Garden section.

Here, enjoy Fred's pics:

Tara Parker-Pope, along with nutritionist Jonny Bowden, have come up with "The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating" on her New York Times blog.

It's an interesting list and proving quite controversial judging by the number of comments (931 at last count).

I was happy to see that Freak of Nature garden is growing a few of the listed foods (swiss chard, beets, pumpkins [pumpkin seeds and flesh are on the list] and possibly cabbage - if it comes up).

It'll be awhile before I'm growing cinnamon and turmeric. But with global warming it might be sooner than I think.