Park Seed Memories

Seeds in Space Activity Helps INSPIRE Orchard School Science Students

It's Friday, and sure enough, I received my promised update from the Super Seeds In Space Scientists at The Orchard School in Indianapolis. On several planets, construction has been proceeding at a brisk pace, as the photos in the "02-29-08: Orchard School" photo album will attest. Science teacher Holli Joyal explained that this cosmic project was INSPIREd by more than just NASA and Park Seed Company's latest Seeds in Space opportunity. According to Holli:

"I also work for Purdue University's INSPIRE program. INSPIRE (Institute for P-12 Research and Learning) is funded by Stephen Becthel Jr. and its focus in incorporating Engineering Design Concepts and Activities into P-6 Classrooms. The schematics that the children have drawn come directly from a new way of teaching I am currently implementing in my classroom. This has all been informed by a 2-year affiliation with INSPIRE. We utilize a design process put forth by the Museum of Science in Boston, which focuses on a 5-step design process:
"ASK
"IMAGINE
"PLAN
"CREATE
"IMPROVE

"For this activity, we really highlighted the ASK, IMAGINE, and PLAN areas before they began to build, as you will see in the complexity of their designs."

Sounds like a terrific program--I hope teachers reading this post will consider exploring INSPIRE as well as the many science education resources provided by groups like NASA, the International Technology Education Association, and the National Science Teahcers Association.

And if any of your science projects involve gardening, please send pictures and stories to me at ckuhl@parkseed.com.

More Than Plants Grew in This Garden

A few days ago, I received a wonderful email from Lisa E., sharing memories about raising her kids while raising a garden. Here's Lisa...

"Hi!

"I thought I would share with you some of my fondest memories. Of course, this seems like ages ago when my kids were small and not so fond of vegetables.

"We lived on a large piece of property in our first house near a farm in PA and decided to start to grow our own vegetables from seed with Park's. Being city folk, growing things was always such a mystery to me. It was something I never thought would work by just plowing up a plot of grass and just plunging in the seeds according to directions on the packet. It just couldn’t be that easy! But it really was!

"That year, the kids and I decided to make a journal and start to compare what the seed packets said and how the garden grew. The kids got so involved! They each got their own notebook and ruler and they helped me water each day. They got their own little garden 'tools' and wheel barrows. We tracked how long it took the seeds to germinate and weather conditions. We tracked things like how much they grew and when the flowers first started to bloom. We even tracked how much fruit the plants produced! It was our little science project for the summer. We even planted a row for the hungry, we tilled and weeded! Its funny how when you see things through your children’s eyes, it’s almost like seeing the wonder for the first time yourself.

"Each day we would go outside and pick all the vegetables and the kids would have to try them (especially if they picked them, and I always made sure they did)! We would then take them back to the house where we would prepare them for dinner. The same kids that turned up their noses waited impatiently for the fresh produce 'they' grew. They would 'ohh' and 'ahh' at each flavorful bite. We continued our quest for knowledge by picking up books about planting and growing things. We spent many lazy late afternoons sprawled out on a big blanket on the grass reading stories about seeds that were found left my ancient creatures and were still viable today! We were engrossed in stories about how in each seed was a promise, a promise for tomorrow.

"I must admit, it was genius of me to think of this and including the boys, ages 4 and 3. I am happy to say the kids never turned their noses up at anything since, and they are now 14 and 13. As for me, my children taught me something I will forever be grateful for…the wonder of gardening. They taught me that each day there is wonder and beauty in nature to admire. When springtime arrives, I become like a child and wander around my garden anxiously watching and waiting for each glorious miracle. I learned that we all need to remember what it was like when everything was so miraculous…especially when you plant a seed!"

Thanks, Lisa, for that great recollection! It's a well-kept secret that at one point in my life, I was a classroom school teacher. And almost every teacher will tell you, there is no better project than gardening if you want kids to be involved and engaged. Every subject comes into play--reading seed packs, calculating hole depths, understanding how the sun and the rain make the plants grow, and so on. Plus it gets kids outside and gets them moving!

If you'd like to get your kids involved in gardening, the National Gardening Association has a terrific website just for you: http://www.kidsgardening.com/. And we have a wonderful book all about kids gardening called Dig. Plant. Grow. It was written by the inimitable Felder Rushing, and it is both fun and informative. Finally, if you need advice on how to start from seed, check out www.SuccessWithSeed.org. Click on the NASA logo and you'll find very detailed intructions written at a 6th-grade reading level. So what are you waiting for? Get ready now to grow your kids by growing your own garden!

Send pictures and stories of your kids and their garden to me at ckuhl@parkseed.com. Or how about a picture of you when you planted your first seed? Help Park Seed celebrate 140 years of great gardening stories by sharing yours with us.

'The Orchard School Takes on NASA's Challenge in a Big Way

Some teachers tell you to reach for the stars, and others help you build a rocket ship and show you how to get there. It seems to me that Holli Joyal and her teammate Angie Mannon at The Orchard School in Indianapolis fall into that wonderful latter category.

The 6th-grade science classes are hard at work on a Seeds in Space adventure that is quite impressive in its scope. And they are going to share that adventure with us for the next few weeks.

Every Friday, Orchard's teams of young scientists will send me pictures of their progress on the two NASA-related projects that they are working on. Here, why don't I let Holli herself explain:

"Hi there!
"We would love to document the process. We are just getting ready to begin. Currently they have designed their planet using NASA's Astroventure. I think we have 4 different planets in each class, and I have three classes. Each planet is around a different color star and has a different size and atmospheric conditions.

"Because some of our planets don't have the proper pressure for humans, we had some problems crop up. Do plants need the same pressure or could the greenhouse conceivably be less pressurized?

"That became the basis for our current project. Could the kids design a system that would deliver the lettuce from the greenhouse to the kitchen, so that the inhabitants could avoid having to go through the arduous process of putting on a space suit to retrieve their food?

"We just received our space seeds and are doing a combination of the Lunar Plant Growth chambers and a growth chamber from ALS NSCORT mission to Mars. Kids will use different colored lights, some will use gray water, fake urine, etc. to test the growth conditions on the planet.

"We can definitely send you updates as we go. Thanks and we will be in touch soon. I have never done a blog before, so this should be fun."

"Holli Joyal"

Last Friday, Holli sent me the first batch of photos, and they are presented here as a photo album (see left column). Each week, I'll create a new album, so that we can all watch these budding scientists and their budding Cinnamon Basil seeds.

Stay tuned to learn more about Holli, Angie, The Orchard School, and all they are doing to INSPIRE their young charges!

If you are currently involved with NASA's Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber, or if you ever participated in a Seeds in Space experience, I'd love to hear from you! Email stories and pictures to ckuhl@parkseed.com.

Dr. Taler's Load of Manure

You might have thought I was kidding in my last post when I said that I would "save that load of manure for a later post." As this image attests, though, I was not kidding!

Our story today is all about one gentleman's encounter with this particular Wayside Gardens product. Last year, we received a charming letter from Joseph Taler, M.D. and along with it, a copy of a book that he wrote. Here's what Dr. Taler's letter said:

"Enclosed please find my recently published book Polish Indians and Short Stories. Story II : Special Delivery is about Wayside Gardens, when the company was located 50 years ago in Ohio. This book was published in March 2006 and on the back cover is a photograph, taken by me, of our house in Glen Burnie, MD, showing trees purchased from your company. The pink dogwood is of special interest, because over the years it attracted everyone's attention. In 1967, we moved from Glen Burnie to Annapolis, which is about 15 miles away. My office remained in Glen Burnie. I continue to receive your catalogs and I have made additional purchases for our present home. Two months after my book was published, in May 2006, I went back to our previous house to see how was the dogwood and other trees doing. I took the enclosed photograph, which only proves, without a doubt, that if one started with fine product and fine organic fertilizer, great things happen.

With best regards,
Joseph Taler"

Dr. Taler, please accept our sincere thanks for contacting us and sharing your book with us. And now, Gentle Readers, for your enjoyment and a good laugh, the entire short story, "Special Delivery" is provided here--just click on "Continue Reading..." to find out what happened when Dr. Taler ordered some "fine organic fertilizer" for his garden in 1956!

Wayside Gardens Circa 1963--Thanks, Camille!

Regular visitors to this blog know that I am always a-twitter when I get emails and comments from you. Imagine my excitement when I received this very kind message:

"I have an old catalogue of your company's from 1963 which is really quite nice and was wondering if anyone there is interested in having it. I was thinking of eBaying it because the pictures are so nice, and it is a retro item. I have a little antique shop in Gainesville, Fl. Feel free to contact me at the shop or you can email me Just felt it belonged with you guys!"

Camille

I rapidly responded to Camille, and we had several lovely email and phone chats. Much to my delight, Camille decided to donate her find to our informal Park Seed Corporate Archive. It arrived yesterday, and I've had a ball thumbing through all 236(!!) pages of the Wayside Gardens 1963 edition.

One thing I always notice about the old catalogs is that so many plants that appeared then are still very popular now. For example, this page from 1963 features everal beautiful Paeonias (Peonies). The newly published Wayside Gardens Collector's Edition 2008 (featuring my friend, Ken Druse) includes a number of peonies--new hybrids, but still the reliable peony!

I also spotted Rudbeckia Goldstrum, a plant so popular that it is still offered today! Here's what the catalog had to say in 1963:

"Developed in Europe during the war where it is extremely popular. The large, deep yellow Daisy-like flowers, often 3 to 4 inches across, have a handsome bronzy black cone in the center....Here is a plant which is not bothered by insects, heat or drought and is hardy anywhere; requires practically no care. A fine new addition to the summer blooming hardy plants."

The writing style today is a little more (sorry, I have to say it!) flowery than that, but the message is still quite similar.

I spotted one other interesting item available in this catalog....but I'll save that load of manure for a later post.

Thank you, Camille, first for realizing that we might be interested in gathering up historic artifacts like your catalog, and especially for donating it to us. Friends, if you are ever in Gainesville, FL, stop by Camellia Antiques and tell Camille that Claire sent you!

Is It Spring Yet??

Well, we are smack dab in the middle of February, and that seems to be the time when most gardeners are most restless. The gardening catalogs are arriving with regularity (including your Park Seed and Wayside Gardens books, I hope!), taunting us with pictures of lush flowers and vegetables. But one peek out the window shows that we are a bit distant yet from the start of the growing season. Even here in Greenwood, South Carolina, where the winters are mild, we can still have wintery mornings...like the 30 degrees we woke up to today.

(Okay, settle down, all of you living outside of the South! I lived in the Midwest for many years myself, so I know that 30 above zero really doesn't count as cold. But still, it'll nip your buds!)

Anyway, I was absolutely delighted to find a happy little Springtime poem nestled amongst the comments for a post about Grandmother's Garden Poetry Scrapbook. Many thanks to Milly for giving us this reminder of what Spring is really like for those of us who are charter members of the NOT-so-Green Thumb club!

A Little Poem for Spring

First you open package
Next you plant the seeds
Then you feed and water
And grow a crop of weeds.

-Milly Stepp 1989

Even if we can't play outside today, you can surely be starting your seeds indoors by now. Or looking through old photo albums of past gardens. Share your gardening memories here by emailing me at ckuhl@parkseed.com. We love old pictures, poems, and especially stories of families gardening together.

"Dirty Business" Murder Mystery is a Fun Read

Back in January, I told you about a little experiment we're trying here at Park Seed Company. Just for fun, we are including a garden-oriented mystery novel among our usual seeds, plants, accessories, and how-to books. The book is Pushing Up Daisies, and it was written by Master Gardener Rosemary Harris. I also promised to read it and give a little review here, and so I shall.

I must confess, I am not a big mystery fan. But I am addicted to one series in the mystery genre:  The Cat Who... .  It's not so much the mysteries themselves that I enjoy, but it's the setting and the many colorful recurring characters who populate the books. Each book is like a visit with old friends.

I mention that because I have the distinct feeling that Pushing Up Daisies has the potential to kick off the same sort of fun, cozy series. In fact, Rosemary has indicated that she does intend to write more books featuring the relentlessly inquisitive gardener, Paula Holliday, and her new home town of Springfield, Connecticut.

The mystery is a good one, with lots of twists and red herrings, as you'd expect. What is unique, of course, is how Rosemary has fully integrated her passion for gardening in with her writing. The chief sleuth, Paula Holliday, has just started a landscaping business, which (using her initials) she cleverly calls Ph Factor. And when she talks about doing things in the garden, she really digs into the details. Here's a quick example where she is tidying up a long-neglected herbarium:

"According to the copper plant markers I'd found and scraped clean, the most common herbs were all represented, but so were pennyroyal, feverfew, tansy, rue, and others I assumed were either fashionable in the thirties and forties or were personal favorites of the sisters. The lavender and oregano still flourished; once the dead foliage was cut back, they'd fill in. Wisely, the mint and lemon balm were in concrete containers, to control their agressive roots; tiny clusters of lady's mantle peeked out in the newly cleaned beds."

If you enjoyed that taste of Rosemary, then you will really enjoy this free download of the complete first chapter of Pushing Up Daisies. It's made available by Rosemary Harris, her publisher, Thomas Dunn Books, and Park Seed Company. Enjoy!

Ashtabula Connection

Back in January, I posted a story about Klaus Neubner and the beautiful plant that is named for him. As a result of that story, I received this nice note:

Hello-I was looking for old news stories for Ashtabula, OH, and I ran across your story about visiting and meeting an elderly gentleman who had a greenhouse here.  I worked at a greenhouse in Ashtabula, and the one where I worked was owned by Jim Mikkelsen. There were a couple other greenhouses here at that same time, so not sure if this is the name you remember.  His wife and son also were in the business, and I believe they moved it to Pennsylvania, but not sure where.  They did do work with impatients, cyclamen, kalanchoes, poinsettias, begonias, probably others I'm not remembering. Hope this helps.

Ashtabula Native-
BJ

BJ, thank you so much for visiting Park Seed Memories and sharing your remembrance about Ashtabula greenhouses. I emailed the info to Klaus, to see if the name rings a bell with him. I had a great chat with Klaus the other day. He has had some health problems recently, and I was delighted to see him in fine fettle, looking quite fit. He tells me that his secret is juice from a plant called the Mangosteen. If you are interested in hearing about Klaus's experience, please email me and I'll pass along the info.

Two Items from Other Blogs and a Google Trick

Just a quick post to celebrate the fact that it's FRIDAY!!!! And to share a couple items from out in the blogosphere that caught my eye.

First, a big "thank you" to Debbie Allbritton: a garden designer in Fredericksburg, TX with a local garden design business, Pop Up Gardens, and a blog of the same name. She has been testing the Park Seed Bio Dome, and has some great pictures of her seedlings sprouting in it. She also has an entry about one of my favorite seeds, the Yin Yang shell bean.

(In case you are wondering, Debbie states "No, I am not being paid to say this." So how did I know that she was chatting about the Bio Dome? I rely on a nifty tool from Google called Google Alerts that keeps an eye on the Internet and sends me an email anytime somebody posts something about the topic/search string I've told it to monitor.  You can use it yourself to track anything that interests you. Naturally, I use it to keep me posted about items that mention Park Seed Company and Wayside Gardens.)

Second, I was tickled to see that the word I blogged about on September 27, 2007 has been named The Word of the Year for 2008! That's right--locavore (i.e., one who eats locally produced food) was selected for this honor by the Oxford American Dictionary. There's an interesting discussion about locavores and other food trends on the Marketing Profs Daily Fix blog in a recent entry by Ted Mininni. If you are interested in marketing, especially in the online world, this is a great blog to check out. And indeed, there's something new to read there every day.

Calendula: Herb of the Year 2008

Calendula's Mom would be proud, if plants had moms. As I reported back in November, the Herb Society of America (HSA) selected its top ten herbs, and Calendula was one of the winners. I recently found out that Calendula has been selected for another top honor: Herb of the Year for 2008, so named by the International Herb Association.

I found this out because Tina Marie Wilcox and Susan Belsinger were kind enough to email me and share this great information. Here's what Tina and Susan had to say:

"Hello,
"I was just reading your blog on the Park Seed site. I see that you write about herbs and have recently done a story on the Herb Society of America. Susan Belsinger and I are on the Board of the International Herb Association, are also active members with the HSA, and are authors. In the interest of networking, if any of the links below contain information useful to Park Seed, please feel free to use, with credit where credit is due.

We are celebrating Calendula: herb of the year 2008--it is a wonderful herb for the skin, tasty in recipes--and adds golden color to our gardens.  Check us out:

www.herbcompanion.com -- click on "Calendula officinalis: Herb of the Year 2008" for calendula in the kitchen with recipes--there is even a golden king cake for Mardi Gras celebration!

www.herbsforhealth.com -- click on "Calendula: Golden Petals" for history, lore, and medicinal information about this ancient potherb, as well as recipes for our favorite oil, salve, tincture and more.

www.grit.com -- click on "Sow Your Own!" for all you need to know about how easy and fun it is to grow herbs and other plants from seed.

Enjoy! And let us know if you have any questions.

Warm regards,

Tina Marie Wilcox, IHA President [corrected 2/8]
Susan Belsinger

Tina and Susan, thank you so much for taking time to write and especially for sharing these great websites. You've opened whole new vistas for herb neophytes like me. The recipes certainly caught my attention, as well as the historical aspects of calendula cultivation and use.

Thank you also for explaning that it's the International Herb Association that selects the Herb of the Year, not the Herb Society of America. I'm going to go right now and put a correction in my November post. As you say, give credit where credit is due!

Do you have an herb garden? Please send pictures to me at ckuhl@parkseed.com so I can post them here for all to enjoy.