Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Meet the Minions
The gate was just the beginning...
I'd like to introduce my readers to the lads I fondly refer to as my "Minions".
Meet Minion J
And this is Minion Z
They are building me a beautiful 'potager' - a fancy french term for 'vegetable garden'. But this is no ordinary vegetable garden. Because these are not ordinary minions. They are sculptors.
Usually, a vegetable garden is a purely utilitarian endeavor rather than an ornamental one - but my potager is going to be right next to the highest traffic area of my garden (my back patio) so it needs to look as super-cool as my Jorge Pardo Tile Wall. That's why I turned to the two most promising recent graduates of the art school where my husband teaches and hired them on as collaborators and, yes, slaves. So far, I'm thrilled with how the build is progressing. By my Friday posting, there should be enough completed for you to get a good idea of what the space is going to look like.
I encourage all of you to find strapping young men to do your bidding!
Germi! You're a riot. I'm not sure we grown strapping young men like that in New York. If anyone knows where I can find any, do tell!
Hello Minions!
Can't wait to see how the potager turns out -- I've just started reading up on them and am interested in getting one designed this fall for next spring. I have visions of the Potager du Roi at Versailles for my garden, but we'll see how it really turns out.
JR
Scrappy dear, I'm sure NYC has a plethora of young sculptors just waiting to build a custom shelving system for you - they just need to be found. Columbia, Cooper Union, NYU, The Whitney Program ... start your search there. When you find them, treat them with care and give lots of TLC, because a happy Minion is a good Minion, and a good Minion is a joy to behold.
Grdn_jr, wow... if only we could all have a Potager du Roi! I like that you're aiming high! I am so excited about these veg beds - I'll post a list of the plants I'm thinking of putting in. I know I'm starting late, but better late than never, as the old saying goes. Where are you putting your potager? I'm really loving front yard vegetable gardens right now ...could you do it? Would you do it? Expect lots of pics of yummy heirloom varieties growing in my snazzy raised beds - keep visiting!
I'm a new subscriber to Domino and just started reading your blog. And I love it!
What all are you planting?
I have been thinking about planting a small vegetable garden (I'm very inspired by Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle!), so I'll definitely be following what you do. The backyard is very shady, so I'm not sure what veggies can grow without a lot of direct sunlight, but I'm hoping to get some ideas and inspiration!
Welcome onboard the Domino party train, Awesomeness! We're happy to have you! I know we just met, but I reciprocate your blog-love ... I know that it takes an extra special commitment to comment on the site, since you need to sign up, so I dearly cherish all of my commentors (don't feel overlooked, lurkers - everyone who takes their precious time to read The Germinatrix's musings is special to her)!
I have SO MUCH planting space, but I know that's just because I'm looking at them as empty wooden boxes - the minute I start actually planting, the space will seem tiny! That always happens... Since I'm going to be planting in mid-summer I'll be growing plants that love the heat - corn, peppers, tomatos, summer squashes, cantaloupes (my favorite!), and some herbs. I think I'll wait until fall to put in lettuces. I might pop in some cutting flowers like cosmos, too. It's all too fun!!!
Unlike what you describe, my potager is in a very sunny area, but vegetables can be grown in a dappled light - my first veg garden was built in a shady part of my yard (I was a baby gardener then and didn't know 'the rules') and I had tremendous success. It works especially well if you have hot summers - all plants benefit from shelter from the blasting sun. As long as the vegetable beds get around 4 hours of direct sun, I'm sure you'll be good for most crops. Lettuces actually need shade, so you can plant yourself salad for days!
Let's go on this adventure together, Awesomeness!