Life with Dylan

Category: gardening

  • My secret garden helps me to unwind and reconnect

    Lately I’ve been super stressed out at work. Working for the school district means June is my busiest time of year and no matter how hard I try to stay on task, something always comes up. Whether it is an upset parent because their child missed a deadline or a staff member who needs something fixed, it always seems to be more important than what I have planned for the day. By the end of the day I am frazzled. My to do list looks about the same as when I started the day, which means tomorrow’s list will be even longer.

    Today was probably the worst day this week and I want to do nothing but unwind and find a way to reconnect with what is important.

    That being nature and my family.

    Forget about work.

    Forget about the laundry that needs to be done or the dinner that needs to be prepared.

    Thankfully, I did a some gardening last weekend and have this lovely little corner on my balcony to help me relax.

    It’s not much – I know that, but it is a start. And I feel good about it because these plants were saved from the trash when someone moved and couldn’t take them along. Some were gifts that I finally re-potted and haven’t killed – well, not yet.

    You think the plant stand looks like something you might put a fish tank on? Well, that’s because it is an old aquarium stand. One that I never got rid of thinking I would start another aquarium. However, I think it makes a lovely re-purposed plant stand. Eco-friendly and functional.

    Aside from the plant life, there is a a huge pine tree next to my apartment. This is the tree where Nutty lives along with many birds and other small critters. Around me there is nothing but silence and the sounds of nature.

    I hear a variety of bird calls, an owl hooting, and the occasional plane that flies over.

    I feel a cool breeze on my face.

    My son is unwinding in his room watching cartoons. Hey, to each his own right?

    As I sit here typing on my new Samsung Chromebook (a little birthday gift I picked up the other night) I am at peace. Content with the world around me.

    I can now continue my day and do what needs to be done around the house.

    How do you unwind from a stressful day and reconnect with the important things?
    Do you have a secret garden where you sit?

  • A crash course in vermicomposting

    I will never forget the day Dylan came home from school and said, with bright eyes and a big smile, “Mom, just listen first, ok?” Oh, this can’t be good. I knew this was going to be something I would have to say yes to, but I must admit what he was about to ask me made me cringe a little.


    This past year, the third grade classes started vermicomposting (worms, for those of you who don’t know) in the school garden. I can’t tell you how many times he came home and told me about these little red wigglers that had become his “friends” – and guess what – They need a home for the summer.

    Now we have talked about starting our own worm bin, but mind you talk is all we have done. I don’t have a yard – we live in an apartment.

    Where would these red wigglers go? Would I have to touch them? Would they get out of the bin? Oh my, the thought of little worms crawling all over me flashed before my eyes.

    Well, last week I became the proud owner of a black bin filled with red wigglers. OK, I can do this – it’s just for the summer. The bin sat in my living room for about an hour while I prepared an area on the balcony that would be in full shade because the worms can’t be in direct sunlight.

    Dylan gave me the crash course in how much to feed them (we were also given a scale to weigh the food), when to water t-shirts that cover them (yes, they came with their own spray bottle), and what not to feed them. Citrus fruit is a big no-no, they don’t like too much acid. Oh, and apparently their favorite food is egg shells, coffee grinds and melon rind, so I have a baggie of melon rind in my fridge. 

    It’s been a week now and I will admit that these guys are growing on me. I actually look forward to coming home and checking on them. (Sshhh, don’t tell Dylan.)

    Do you compost? Is it something you would consider doing? I hear worm poop is the liquid gold of fertilizer. 


    Everything has its place in the ecosystem … even worms!




  • How does your garden grow?

    I wouldn’t say that I have the greenest thumb, but it’s at least a shade of green and I’m willing to keep trying. I love getting my hands dirty and feeling the earth when I’m planting. I have always had house plants, but living in an apartment doesn’t make it easy to attempt the garden of my dreams. It must be some type of container garden.

    Luckily my son has had good luck with plants and currently has a nice windowsill garden growing. His lima beans were one of three that actually grew out of the entire third grade class and his basil is doing quite well.

    The little seedling that he brought home from school is also growing quickly. He told me that it is a Golden Trumpet tree – I guess only time will tell.

    This weekend we are heading down to San Diego to attend the Garden Festival at the San Diego Zoo in hopes to learn a few gardening tricks and venture outside of the windowsill. Maybe design a little balcony garden.

    Oh, and of course we are going to see the animals too!

    Do you have a garden? We would love to see pictures of your garden. Tweet your garden pictures to @bchbby and maybe we can get a little inspiration from you.

  • Wordless Wednesday – Rays of Sunlight

    I love how the rays from the sun seem to form a flower in the sky – very appropriate considering I took this picture in a garden.

  • Our Day at Centennial Farm

    This past weekend I decided to not work and spend some quality time with Dylan. Since funds are tight, I was looking for something fun to do that wouldn’t cost a lot of money. The Orange County Register has a great listing on Saturdays called Cheap and Fun Things To Do Today in the OC so I took a look and saw Centennial Farm. We haven’t been there in a long time, so I thought this would be the perfect thing for us to do. Dylan thought so too. We spent almost 2 hours here and spent no money. The perfect Saturday!

    Centennial Farm is part of the Orange County Fairgrounds and many people don’t know it’s even there. This is a real working farm. School groups can come here and learn about what products come from the animals, watch and learn how to milk a cow, and see an amazing garden! The farm is open to the public at no cost, of course donations are always appreciated.

    No farm is complete without a red barn!

    Inside the barn we learned all about pigs and cows. What type of food we get from the animals and what kinds of products are made from the the animals. Did you know that crayons are made with byproducts from pigs? I sure didn’t!

    Everyone knows that dairy products come from cows, but Dylan found it interesting to see what parts of the cow different meat came from. He also learned about the various types of cows and how only certain cows are used for milk. I didn’t have the heart to tell him where veal came from.
    I don’t like veal, so I  figured it was ok – since we won’t be having veal anytime soon.

    (more…)

  • How Does Your Garden Grow?

    I have always loved gardens and the peace I feel when my hands touch the soil. I don’t think of it as getting dirty because it’s not dirt … it’s soil. A place where my plants will call home and flourish. Living in an apartment certainly has limitations when it comes to a garden, but after my recent visit to The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens the creative juices are flowing again.

    Located in historic Old Town Orange, The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens is nestled away from the busy streets and shops. When you walk through the archway of this vintage 1920’s house that has been converted into a retail store, you are instantly transported to a land of nymphs and fairies. I could have spent an hour just wondering through the front yard. Inside the house, you will wander through various rooms filled with unique treasures made by local artisans.

    Can I just take this entire collection home?

    Dylan and I had the opportunity to attend a class with OC Family and learn how to make our very own fairy garden in Dragonfly Hollow. Yes, I said fairy garden. What, you don’t believe in fairies? How else do you think those little rocks get moved in your garden?

    Dylan said he didn’t want to get his hands dirty … haha

    Carefully placing the rocks

    He refused to have fairy dust put in his garden because it was purple.

    Ever try getting 7 kids to look at the camera?

    Dylan’s garden, complete with a pirate!

    The kids had so much fun and I can’t wait to go back so I can make a garden or two of my own in Dragonfly Hollow. Just look at all of the items you can choose from.

    These are my favorites…

    Dragonfly Hollow Fairy Garden classes ($10) are offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am and Children’s Fairy Garden classes ($20) are offered on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. Call 714-289-4689 to reserve your spot in the garden.

    If you are in Orange County, you should definitely visit The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens … I promise you won’t leave empty handed or disappointed.


    The ladies of Dragonfly Hollow were so nice and they even offered all of my readers a 20% discount just for mentioning Life with Dylan.

    You can find The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens on Facebook and Twitter