Combating Clutter: Three Organizers We Love

One of my favorite people was my husband's grandmother.  Her name was Beezie and the name of her beach house was Serendipity.  What does that tell you about the woman?  I often think of her and it makes me smile. For Christmas, she used to send me these big boxes stuffed with all sorts of things - from sculptures, to lamps to bric-a-brac. Very often the box contained kitchen gadgets.  As much as I loved these gadgets and marveled at their various functions, though, I never used them.  They sat in my kitchen drawers because I just could never remember to pull them out at the appropriate time.  So, it probably comes as no surprise to you that The Container Store isn't a place that interests me.  In addition to all the gadgets, speciality containers just seem like a waste. Give me a pretty small gift box (I never throw these away!) and I'm pretty handy at organizing my closets and drawers.  However, I recently stumbled into a Container Store and found three brilliant organizers that I'd like to share with you. 

The Tea Box

 

                  My tea collection Before

  

                                After

As you can see from the photo above, my tea basket wasn't a pretty sight. It was also tough to find the particular tea I wanted. This crystal clear container provides airtight storage, while allowing me to find what I'm looking for.  It holds 72 tea packets and costs $12.99.

Mums the Word

                Pot of Mums from Costco, $15

I’ve always loved the blast of color that planting fall mums offers. But the plant’s bloom only lasts for 4-5 weeks, and I then I’m forced to look at an ugly stump until it re-blooms months later.  What to do?

My longtime gardener, Jose, had the perfect solution.  Use mums in pots – do not put them into the ground.  Then when the blossom goes – so does the plant - only to be brought back out when the color returns. With that in mind, I bought this gorgeous 3-1/2 foot potted pink mum at Costco for $15.  If it were a clay pot, it'd be impossible to lug around, but luckily the container is plastic.  The perfect spot in my yard turned out to be in between some ferns and some roses where another plant had died over the summer. 

How to Ripen Green Tomatoes

We're all for going green, but not when it comes to tomatoes. There’s nothing more frustrating than to have your tomato vines loaded with fruit that won’t ripen.  When September arrives, days get shorter and temperatures get cooler and often green tomatoes just refuse to turn red. Unless you are a big fried green tomato fan, it's such a waste!  But there is something you can do about it.  John Lyons, an LA based landscape artist who also teaches classes in a series called Earth Matters, says you should leave the tomatoes on the vine as long as possible, "There's nothing like a vine ripened tomato and they will ripen eventually. Now, the thing that could interfere is if the plant dies off first."

Lady's Slipper Orchid & Cactus Arrangement

                      Lady's Slipper Orchid

You’ve probably seen those incredibly gorgeous orchid arrangements and surmised that they came from seriously talented florists with hefty price tags.  Well, we’re going to let you in on a secret: you don’t have to wait for a special delivery to have one in your home.  Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to make your own stunning arrangement using lady’s slipper orchids ( the kind mentioned in the book The Orchid Thief) and cactus plants. Now, this one won't blow your mind in terms of how inexpensive it is. This is the kind of arrangement you want to send someone after they've babysat your elementary school age kids gratis for a week while you were sitting on a beach with your husband. The container alone was $66 and the orchids selected are higher end. But with a total cost of $150, it's still less than a fabulous, large, delivered floral arrangement and it'll last six to eight times longer - plus you'll still have the antique container which you can use over and over.  Water this arrangement once a week (more on that in the video) and it could last for two months.  So next time you need a big thank you gift, forgo the florist and make an overture with orchids.

A Head Turner

I love to go to my local Japanese nurseries for, what I call "wow!" flowers - plants with blossoms that really knock my socks off.  These unique plants typically are expensive as was the case with the rare butterscotch colored rose I recently bought.  But this white dahlia is a good reminder that you don't have to spend a lot for an incredibly cool blossom.  A few months back I bought a bag of dahlia bulbs from Costco. The bag of 20 or so bulbs cost about ten bucks.  I had no idea how big they'd be, but I love all the different shapes and textures of dahlias - and so I went for it.

Craving Summer Produce? It's Not too Late!

Okay, so you’ve had your vegetables planted for more than a month now and it’s time to take a step back, do a few chores and take stock.  We consulted with John Lyons who runs The Woven Garden here in Los Angeles.  John specializes in “edible landscapes.”  He not only plants fabulous gardens – but he also offers do-it-yourself classes for kids and adults.  Suffice to say, this guy knows his stuff!  Here are John’s mid-summer suggestions:

When Brown Spots Threaten Tomato Plants

 

Once June hits in Southern California, we’re usually well into 80-degree temperatures and rain is a distant memory from March.  However, this June has been different.  We had several late spring showers (they're forecasting rain again today!) and temperatures have hovered in the low 70’s with more clouds than sun.  When I saw a break out of brown spots on some of my heirloom tomato plants, I suspected this damp, cool weather might be behind them – and turns out – I was right.

How to Arrange Orchids Like a Pro

So you’ve seen them at five-star resorts and parties and thought, “Could I do that?” Or, maybe you think it takes a professional florist to arrange orchids.  Well, we’re here to tell you it doesn’t.  It’s simply a matter of getting your hands on the right items and then following a few simple steps. You’ll be shocked, in fact, at how easy orchid arranging is.

First,  get a container – preferably with lower sides (not higher than say 7 inches) and not too wide (not wider than 14 or 15 inches).  You basically want to make sure three orchids can fit, with not too much excess.

I’ve found great containers at my local orchid shop, Orchids Anonymous, as well as at discount stores like Marshall’s and Tuesday Morning (that's where I got the one in the photo).   If you have a local Asian food market (here in LA, for example, we have Farm Boy), sometimes they sell great containers. You don’t have to spend a lot and they can be made of anything – straw, bamboo, ceramic, wood etc.

Marigolds - A Natural Insect Repellent

My friend, Georgia Bell, recently told me of her secret for preventing insects from munching on her vegetable garden. She plants marigolds through out her garden. “From what I understand, the scent of the marigold that acts like a natural pesticide.   You’re supposed to plant them on the borders of your gardens." 

It's a great for warding off bugs without using insecticides. And there's another bonus, says Georgia, "You can save the dead, dried marigold flowers and replant the seeds next year.”

Growing Tomatoes - The Top Ten Tips

When you do all the work to grow tomatoes, let’s face it, you want the pay-off to be huge.  With that in mind, I set off to ask the best gardeners I know for their tips on growing great tomatoes.   Below, are some of their secrets.

• Mix an organic fertilizer into the soil before you plant, unless you have applied fertilizer to the area in the past year.  If that is the case, wait a month or so to fertilize.
• Before you plant, crush an entire banana into the hole you’ve dug.  Tomatoes love potassium.
• Once the yellow flowers appear, shake the plants every so often to encourage new blooms.
• Do not over water.  Use a pencil (like you wood a toothpick when baking a cake) in the soil to determine water needs.  Wait until they completely dry out, before watering.