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.