Green Day

Shovel Hoe Garden Blog

Oak Park, Ca. July 4, 2012

Happy Independence Day America! I sit here thinking I should have attempted to write earlier so I could have a blog at the beginning of this Independence Day. Alas, thinking I had the day off I procrastinated way too long to write this post. 

Having a day off from work, I am thankful, grateful, and lucky that I am able to enjoy this day.This morning watching TV, I came upon the movie, A Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner and a host of other great actors such as Burt Lancaster and James Earl Jones to name just a few. I won't get into much detail on what the movie is about only to say Ray (Kevin Costner) has some sort of revelation to build a baseball field in the middle of his corn field. Baseball greats from the past appear from the corn fields to play. For me it's a great story and one that I must say makes me emotional towards the end when Ray gets a chance to finally play catch with his dad. So what does this has to do with gardening? Well, while watching the movie, I notice how beautiful the baseball field is, the grass, chalked lines, base paths all seem to fit within the Ray's cornfield farm. 

Baseball fields in America both professional and amateur are really awesome to visit. The manicured grass, playing second fiddle to the baseball diamond (infield) for me is the true focal point of the stadium. The cutting of the grass, in different angles shows how pristine grass makes an area look. For many years, fake grass has attempted to replace natural grass but to no avail. Domed stadiums have given way to retractable domes so that natural grass can be used and in my opinion; enhance the beauty of baseball stadiums everywhere. 

Last year, my son Matthew and I went to Denver, Colorado to watch the Rockies play baseball. It was a great father and son trip. Just to the two of us hanging out and watching baseball, eating bad food. The first time we saw the stadium we were both in awe since we are Dodger fans (not sure who Matt roots for since he likes to band wagon) but this stadium is just beautiful from the outside as much as the inside is. Trees in right center field, beyond the outfield wall, the stadium affords the fan a view and the feeling of being closer to the field, a view that makes any seat a great seat in the stadium. I must say the grass (real) coupled with most of the stadium painted in a Forest Green makes this stadium just beautiful though, I don’t think there are too many baseball stadiums that are not impressive to see in person as well.

So on this July 4^th, I wanted to write via the Shovel Hoe Blog regarding the baseball field and how it plays a big part of my life to visit and admire its beauty. Grass sometimes gets a bum rap for the water that is necessary to sustain it to which I agree with since I am looking forward to reducing and eventually eliminating all of my grass from my home for that same reason.

But the when it comes to visiting baseball stadiums and other large venues, it is truly awesome to see grass in its glory for all to view and enjoy.

Happy 4^th of July America and, take the time to go see a ballgame this summer with your family.

Matthew 

Oak Park, California

2012 Side yard rose

Rose from the backyard 2011

June, 2012 Oak Park, Ventura County, California:

I LOVE TO GARDEN! Ok, I said it. As James Brown would say, “Say it loud!, I garden and I’m proud!”  Well, he didn’t garden but, you get my drift. I really do love to garden. I hated it as a kid when I had to mow the lawn because I had way better things to do living next to the beach in Venice, California but, now that I am entering my 54^th year, life is a gas and so is gardening. Of course I have other loves, kids, my wife, running and, CHOCOLATE! I always wanted to start a blog so, here I am!

Off just to the right is the Helianthus in summertime. 

So, about me, I have owned two homes and, in the 23 years I’ve owned these homes I’ve learned some things along the way about gardening which I look forward to sharing with you. I have failed many a time in my garden life which has taught me well. I will share with humor what got me through all the mistakes I made, and still do to this day tending the garden.  I hope you enjoy this dig along with offering your own trials and tribulations. Questions are necessary for this experience, both from me and from you. Humor, as stated above is an absolute necessity because I feel besides seeing the accomplishments in the garden, you need to just stand back and laugh about the failures as well.  I’ll share plants, tools, fixing sprinklers (Ugh, If they didn't make it easier!) from repurposing a container and wondering what should I put in that container (a shoe? why not!)  I hope to add a whimsical element to your garden as well as reasons to go out and get dirty. I occasionally will add 7 ways, 7 ideas, and 7 inspirations along with many other 7’s I hope inspires you to get outside and garden. Gardening came to me almost immediately when we purchased our first house in the San Fernando Valley, Sylmar, California to be exact. What an overwhelming thought of moving in and then the first Saturday came and I went outside. I thought who’s going to cut the grass? The story about not one, but, two Jacaranda trees that littered my yard from June to fall will be the topic for future blog. My current home in Oak Park, California has one which I am removing. It’s a beautiful tree but not made for a parkway location. Please take a moment and offer feedback. Thanks for stopping by. All photos are from my unless otherwise stated. 

Helianthus 2011