First Gardener

Despite the sprinkling of snow in New York, spring officially sprung on Friday. At the White House, Michelle Obama broke ground on her new garden. Spinach, broccoli and a bunch of different berries will be planted in the 1,100 square foot presidential vegetable patch on the South Lawn as the weather warms up. The enterprise will also include a bee hive. In the coming weeks, I will be considering what to do with my much smaller patch in 11206. I do love Mrs. Obama's gardening gear as captured above (from today's New York Post) though my get-up will be quite different when the time comes to break ground in Bed-Stuy. 

Presidential Flora

Happy President's Day! By the summer, we'll be seeing and/or enjoying the Obama flower. Royal van Zanten, a Dutch flower farm, is creating a special white chrysanthemum in honor of the current President. The farm has also made Reagan and Bush flowers. The latter did not do too well and was taken off the market. 

Nothing to do with gardening: Hawaiian Shirts

But something floral nonetheless... The man who brought the world Hawaiian shirts has passed on. From the LA Times, his life in review. 

Worth checking out: Food-related Christmas hopes for the President-Elect

From today's New York Times, 'Is a New Food Policy on Obama's list?' An illuminating breakdown of interests and an apt follow-up to Michael Pollan's earlier open letter to Obama ('Farmer in Chief') on fixing food policy in October. 

Outside Counsel: Giant pumpkin from the Namkung Orchard

Above is a giant pumpkin from the patch of one of my gardening muses, Joanne Namkung. 

"It weighed in 50lbs but I am going to go for 100lbs for next year!" says Joanne, who has a lush English garden, an impressive orchard and vegetable patch on the grounds of her lovely hilltop home in Orange County in California.  

My own pumpkin growing efforts have been a little less successful. Lots of blooms but hardly any fruit. I found this one below today. Fingers crossed it will be ready in time for Halloween! 

Nothing to do with gardening: Obama in front of No. 10 Downing Street

I first spotted this image plastered on a platform at London's Paddington station. It turns out that the ad (?) is all over London's Underground. The above is from today's Metro. No tagline. No product being advertised. Just a tantalizing image of Obama in front of No. 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. 

Some especially fragrant English roses

Roses in Hyde Park in London. I've been on hiatus of sorts from the BK yard due to day job, which has kept me busy (and the weeds growing happily) and brought me over the pond. This was taken after a fashion show in the Crystal Palace in the park.