Going viral...can we get a prescription for that?

Bringing the computer to the garden center isn't as easy as it might sound...

With all of the recent online activity at Lovely Manors, there is, as you can imagine, a lot of discussion between staff members about how it all works. Some of us are whizzes on the computer, and others, who shall remain nameless, refuse to give up their typewriter. Yes, a real, tap-tap-*ping!* typewriter. This revelation (perhaps it was a confession) prompted cries of  - "Can you still buy Tippex?!  What?! You mean I actually have to proofread it myself...where's the spellchecker?". We're lucky to have an enjoyable working environment here where we can share a joke.


Although we may tease, there is something rather romantic about the typewriter, isn't there?

A few days ago we were discussing other blogs we enjoyed. This led to some of us hopefully exclaiming that maybe our very own Lovely Manors Blog (in its Newborn Baby Blog stages at present) may one day go viral. Our beloved traditionalist typewriter-toting staff member was aghast at this; very concerned about this 'virus' we were talking about. We explained that 'going viral' when it comes to a blog is generally considered a good thing, and that we certainly wouldn't need to get a prescription for it.

We are very nearly there with our logo redesign - Jo has spent many an hour trying different color and font combinations. So far it's looking great! We are very lucky to have a talented and creative designer who also works for the fabulous Ladew Gardens, which are close to us here in Maryland. If you haven't visited, you should...

Once the logo is done we can progress with our website....so keep holding your breath...(though we can't go as far as to offer to pay your medical bills if you pass out, as anyone who has tried to design and set up a website will know, it takes some time to get it just right)! We're very excited to launch the finished product, we think you're going to love using it.

In the meantime, we are busying ourselves with our Facebook page and feeding our infant Blog. We haven't been doing this all that long, but recently received an email from a customer who is unable to get to the store anymore. She enjoyed seeing our online posts and sent us an email which we though we'd share with you, as it really made us smile. It read as follows:

Dear Miss Jo,

I've heard so many nice things about you and your store from my friends, and I wish I could stop by but I am no longer able. I am pretty much house bound and spend what little strength I have in the garden. My house looks like hell inside. Well, I am old as dirt and my dirt is as tired as me.

Anyway, I want to get more "snap" in my dragons; more "pop" in my poppies, and I wouldn't mind getting more "nasty" with my nasturtiums. I can always get someone to run down to your store for me. I'm just up the Pike in Taylor.

I'm so glad you're in the computer now.

Fritzi Labouche

We loved this letter! We advised the following to Ms Labouche -

• Use a liquid supplement when you water.
• Use a fertilizer directly to the soil. We have a great all natural product called Plant-tone by Espoma which we like to use here.
• When the growing season is over, work on improving your soil by adding more organic matter. We like to use a product such as the organic LeafGro, which we stock here at Lovely Manors. We work this product into the soil and then plant.
• Purchase a soil testing kit so you know what you're dealing with; you can then use supplements which suit your soil type and plant accordingly.

We look forward to hearing from any of our customers and Blog readers...your feedback really keeps us going! On that note, we are setting up an email database list of names of those who wish to receive a weekly email from us. If you want to be added, email us at lovelymanors@gmail.com.

Til next time!

Fabulous Fairy Gardens and Delightful Dish Gardens

If you're quiet, very quiet, you might just be lucky enough to spot a fairy here in the garden at Lovely Manors. These ethereal creatures are shy, but they love beautiful gardens...

Do you believe in fairies? We've seen them here at Lovely Manors!

When they're not sprinkling their magic fairy dust, fluttering with the butterflies and buzzing with the bees amongst a mixture of flowers, they need a place to rest; and where better to do so than in their very own Fairy Garden!

You can buy a complete garden, ready to go; or you can create your own, either from scratch or you can add to one of the dish gardens we already have available. Alternatively you could take your favorite planted container to the next, magical, level. We have some beautiful fairy silhouettes in a variety of sizes which are lovely enough to entice a fairy flock to your garden. We have one of the larger ones in a planted container here at Lovely Manors...

A fairy silhouette in one of our planted pots. We have a range of silhouettes in several different sizes.

Making a fairy or dish garden is simple and fun. It makes a perfect vacation activity for the kids, and a great hobby for people of all ages. Start with a dish, wooden box or planter/pot and build from there. We have a stunning terrarium which looks just great decorated with lights, moss and furniture -  and of course, it's quite something else when the fairies are at home. A rare sight that only a lucky few have witnessed, but we all keep on looking, hoping for a glimpse!

You can pick up lots of things to decorate your garden wherever you go...driftwood and pebbles from the beach, sticks from the garden, anything that catches your eye. Children can learn a lot about plants, develop their creativity and generally have a great time building their garden. It's not just for girls either...everyone can have fun getting their hands dirty and searching out bits and pieces to add to their magical masterpiece. You can also create gardens around ponds, under trees...anywhere you think the fairies might like to be!

There are several plants which work really well...for example:

• Moss (you can use live moss or dried moss)
• Lemon Thyme (fragrant and beautiful). Other varieties of thyme are great too.
• Lewisia
• Sedum
• Delosperma
• Corsican mint
• Ferns

Remember to think about where you will be keeping/starting your fairy garden when considering which plants to choose (shade/sun/indoors). We can offer advice on that, contact us if you need help! Don't forget to water your garden too....the fairies are often too busy to keep up with this and rely on you to take care of it for them! Obviously you won't need to water if you go for an indoor garden with no live plants. 



A basic dish garden, ready for you to sprinkle your fairy dust over and turn into a magical garden. You can see moss, Corsican mint, a Sedum and Lewisia in this dish.

 There are so many pretty additions you can put into your garden as you build it....we have a range of garden furniture, fencing, sparkles, gardening equipment and even creatures to keep your flying friends company, all available here. Get creative and add marbles, and anything else that glitters and glints, a fairy's favorite thing! The only limit is your imagination, so get creating!

Lovely Manors Fabulous Italian Dipping Sauce, made with Fresh Herbs (from our gardens, of course!)

Now that your herbs are coming in (you do have herbs, don't you? If not, we have a great selection here at Lovely Manors), you can make good use of them in a calorie defying dip that will make you forget all about covering your bread in butter...

Many restaurants offer a dipping sauce/oil with bread at the table; each with its own twist. This is a great one to start with. Remember, food recipes are not a science, you can (and should) adjust them to your liking, and not fear a 'crash and burn'!

1 1/2 Tablespoon Basil
1 Tbs. Oregano
1 Tbs. Thyme
1 Tbs. Rosemary
1/2 Tbs. Marjoram
1/2 Tbs. Sage
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
2 Crushed Garlic Cloves
Olive Oil
Salt

Roughly chop the ingredients, adding a little oil at a time....keep on stirring....when it tastes the way you want, it's ready.
How much olive oil should you add, you ask... well, if you are going to serve it right away, not so much, as the flavors will not have much time to blend, and you want to pick up the herbs and spices with your bread. If you are making enough to to serve over a period of time, use more oil and let it sit in a jar or bottle.

As you can see, there there are a lot of ingredients here and you can adjust them to your taste. Keep experimenting, make the most of those fresh herbs...after all, you're the cook!

Here at Lovely Manors we all agree that cooking with, and eating products fresh from your garden is just heavenly! Let us know how you like our recipe. If you don't like it...well maybe you could keep it to yourself.

Watering with military precision...

Welcome to our blog! We're finally getting up and running with this 'online' thing, so I hope you enjoy seeing more of Lovely Manors from the comfort of your computer....you will soon be able to shop online, but don't forget to come in and see us still!! We're really going hi-tech now. The staff are all equipped with a walkie talkie radio each....though some of us are having trouble getting the hang of using them; we've very much enjoyed trying them out, resulting in much laughter and cries of "can you hear me yet.....how about now.....NOW, over *more laughter*, over and OUT". On a more serious note they should help us to communicate better around the shop and gardens.

Summer is certainly here and it's hot out. Really hot. The shade cloth is up, the plants are looking beautiful, and we're watering, watering and watering some more. It's an important, nay, crucial job; and is undertaken with military precision so that we can keep the plants looking great and growing well. It takes at least two hours per day to get round all the plants we have here on site....some like it dry, some like it damp....there are watering cans dotted everywhere, and hoses coiled and ready. I'm taking the employees round the center for a lesson in how to water properly, and am encouraging them to treat every plant, large or small, with great care. I've stopped short of asking them to talk to the plants too, as I've heard that Prince Charles does with his plants over in England! Apparently it's supposed to make them grow more quickly. If it's good enough for British Royalty....maybe we could make it work in Maryland?  I've heard that farmers who talk to their cows and give them names have cows that produce more milk. Does 'annual' count as a name?!

Watering can be quite an onerous task....though it seems there are more volunteers to set up the sprinkler out in the front garden. I should explain...the sprinkler is fairly fancy, with dials to make it spray in this direction, and a button to make it turn this way and that. It's a great (and very necessary) piece of equipment, but owing to its complex system of dials and levers, it is VERY easy to get a soaking when it is first turns on. When it's this hot, nobody seems to mind...

Many customers come into the store asking for advice on how to properly water their plants. My recommendations are:

• Water in the morning when the plants are in less sun. This helps the plants get through a hot day quenched, and also keeps them looking good.
• Check plants in smaller containers more frequently...they can dry out more quickly in the sun.
• Take care that you have watered adequately...you might have to go back and add more water to a plant once the soil has absorbed the water you initially put in. Sometimes the soil can form a 'crust' which the water runs off rather than sinking in immediately. Take care to make sure this isn't happening.
• Water carefully, making sure you get to every plant in your container/bed.
• Check the tags on your plants! Some plants need to dry out between waterings, and will rot if overwatered.
• Water slowly and well. The water needs to get deep down to the roots of your plant. We leave the sprinkler on our beds for 1 1/2 hours every few days when it's hot and dry out.
• Keep your hoses covered when not in use; they can get really hot and your plants will not like to be scalded with warm water!

After you've done all this, you might need to hop into the shower or if you're lucky enough, a pool, to cool off after all your efforts...or you could just run under your sprinkler whilst it's watering your beds and blame a hose malfunction!

We'll be back soon with more from the store...in the meantime come and visit us...