Hey there! I’m Mary Ann Newcomer – a scribe-scout-speaker – and the Dirt Diva on the River Radio, 94.9 in Boise, ID.
My articles on gardening have been published in MaryJane’s Farm, Fine Gardening, American Gardener and Leaf . I cheerfully travel across the West talking about garden design and pioneer gardens. With any luck at all, my first book, The Rocky Mountain Gardener’s Guide will be published in 2012. I’m the co-creator of Garden-Logic.com, an online garden design software service.who I SO LOVE Garden Bloggers’ Fling and look forward to see you all there. Do come to Asheville!
Follow Mary Ann online at:
Website & Blog: www.gardensofthewildwildwest.com
Website: www.garden-logic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/maryannnewcomer
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wildwestgardens and www.twitter.com/gardenlogic
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/wildwestgardens/
A native daughter of Idaho, I have been gardening since I was a small child. My grandmother and grandfather were avid gardeners and I was given a 3′x3′ plot and encouraged to grow radishes because they came up in just a couple of days (instant gratification for a 5 year old) & the first sets of leaves were heart shaped (a message from my grandmother). I served on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Botanical Garden for more than a decade and still work with the Lewis and Clark Native Plant Garden committee and the Garden’s committee for Design Review. I have spent a good part of the last 20 years fund raising for, and promoting the programs at the garden. I chaired the committee that built the Contemporary English Garden in 1997.
My heart is here in the Wild Wild West, I believe in honoring genus loci, or, the Spirit of the Place.
All content is copyrighted by me. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Dear Mary Ann,
Hi! I was checking out your blog. I like it.
My name is Pete Grimaldi, we have “shielding lotion” called Skin MD Natural (www.SkinMDNatural.com). It’s something I thought you and your readers might be interested in. Gardeners love it!
To see some of the recent blogs, websites, and magazines that have been writing about Skin MD Natural go to our press page: http://www.skinmdnatural.com/press.html
I’d be happy to send you a sample.
Please provide me with a mailing address if you’d like to try some!
Below is a new video that you might be interested in checking out. It shows Skin MD Natural shielding lotion protecting skin from rock-dissolving acid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMYqFO4qD2E
Feel free to share this video if you wish.
Conventional moisturizing lotions only attempt to replace a lack of natural moisture with artificial moisture but the problem is it comes off every time you wash or touch something.
Until now, all one could do to alleviate a dry skin problem was to apply conventional moisturizing lotions. In order for any moisture to actually improve a dry skin condition it needs to get below the second major layer of skin. In reality the only moisture that is going to reach this level is your skin’s own natural moisture.
Have you ever stopped using artificial moisturizers only to experience an episode in which your skin actually became drier than it was before you started using them?
When you apply any artificial moisture to the skin’s surface you are often sending the wrong signal – that your skin is being adequately moisturized, when in fact it is actually dehydrated of natural moisture. This often results in reducing your skin’s production of the natural moisture needed to actually resolve a dry skin condition.
Unlike artificial moisturizers, Skin MD Natural bonds with the outer most layer of skin cells to turn it into what works like an invisible shield.
This “invisible shield” keeps moisture-robbing irritants out while helping to retain your skin’s own natural moisture, resulting in skin that is far better hydrated, over the long term, than what can be achieved by conventional lotions.
Here are videos on what some doctors have to say about shielding lotions:
http://www.skinmdnatural.com/doctor-reviews.html
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Pete Grimaldi
21st Century Formulations
9663 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite #860
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
800-540-4790 toll free
310-858-2992 fax
petegrimaldi@earthlink.net
http://www.SkinMDNatural.com
To view a selection of hi res images go to:
http://www.skinmdnatural.com/photos
Hey Diva!
I just found this at DailyKos and wondered if you were interested in it:
Life in the Hothouse
by Devilstower
Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 09:43:37 PM PDT
Remember when NASA director Michael Griffin spoke out in defense of global warming? Griffin indicated that it was “arrogant” to think that this was the best possible climate. Though Griffin’s pro-warming stance may have been shocking to some, similar statements aren’t unusual in right-wing circles, where books and talking points commonly advise that increased CO2 is “good for plants” and warmer climates will “extend growing seasons.”
Maybe something like this is what they had in mind.
Some of the showiest hebes expire at 17 degrees Fahrenheit – a warm winter day for the Pacific Northwest. The plant’s fatal relationship with the cold explains why the genus has been such a heartbreaker in the Northwest, where until recently, only plant nerds risked loving and losing the plant.
Things have changed.
Just yesterday, I saw hebes growing happily at a local community college. And each week, it seems, our nurseries are selling new Hebe species and cultivars.
NPR reporter (and plant lover) Ketzel Levine is not alone in marveling over plants growing where they never have in the past. I have to admit that, while my garden is filled with coneflowers and other prairie natives, I have a shady place that’s home to a cluster of holly ferns. More exotic still, I have a small but expanding grove of Vivax, a giant Chinese bamboo (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), spreading along a walkway at the rear of my home. Not only is neither plant native to my area, they’re not native to my latitude.
If you’ve ever so much as raised a sunflower in a pot, you’ve probably encountered the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Map. This map is supposed to reflect growing conditions within a band of the country, particularly average temperatures and winter lows, that limit the species available to gardeners in those areas. According to the USDA, I’m in Zone 5. Those holly ferns? They’re rated for zone 7. So is the bamboo. But for the last four years, both plants have thrived in my “zone 5″ yard.
Gardeners across the country now report growing plants they could never get away with before.
“A classic example for us would be windmill palm, Trachycarpus fortuneii,” says Tony Avent, the well-known proprietor of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, N.C.
“Up until 1996, I would consider those very marginal in our area,” he says. “All of a sudden, they’re almost completely reliable in our climate.
In fact, the USDA map, which hasn’t been updated since 1990, hasn’t kept up with the changing climate. In dipping down two regions to get my keen bamboo, I’m not being all that risky (though I am costing myself that “natural backyard” award from the conservation department). If all this sounds like nothing but a blessing to gardeners who occasionally get tempted to plant outside their zones, there’s one part of the NPR story that sounds a warning bell.
Evidently, good old-fashioned peonies are now struggling to grow in Raleigh, denied of their preferred, invigorating winter cold.
Now imagine if that said “corn will no longer grow in Iowa.” In his terrific book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond points out that one of the limiting factors for civilizations that developed in the Americas was the north-south orientation of the climate, which limited the potential growing area for any given set of crops. In the past, that meant civilizations had to face changing climates when they moved. Now we’re facing changing climates even when we stay in our own backyard.
Why would our tomatos have a whiteish center and be somewhat hard vs. big, red and juicy! Is it related to the heat we’ve had or another issue?
My son recently moved to Boise. His wife would like to plant a vegetable garden next Spring. Could you refer a book I could buy that tells about gardening in the Boise area. Thanks.
Hi, I’m a book publicist/gardener/writer with a new blog called plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com.
I encourage you to write your book. It sounds like you’ve got a vast experience to draw from!
Kathryn
Hey Mary Ann–
I enjoyed meeting you awhile back and your site reminds me of your zippy zest. Your poppy watercolor wants companions, show us more.
I’ve finally gotten GARDEN LARGE going. It’s about my landscape design business, my large
garden and me. Currently, it also tells the sad story of Gifford Garden, which is destined to be literally uprooted because the new guy thinks it doesn’t serve the scientific mission of his institute.
I hope you’ll visit and have a reason to return to visit http://www.gardenlarge.com.
Duncan
Good day Duchess!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blogs…I laughed out loud several times in my office.
I heard you this morning on the River, mentioning container gardening in regards to sustainable living. I wondered if you had any books, websites, etc that you could recommend for me to dive into.
Thanks, Tauna
Pingback: Red Dirt Ramblings » Blog Archive » A Garden’s Growth
Hi Mary Ann,
I was excited to learn about you and your website today from Linda Anderson at Epitome. She suggested that we meet with you to introduce our passion of gardening and our products that are taking off throughout the Treasure Valley. Starting as a means to share photos of our garden with friend and family last spring, we have now developed a FREE subscription to Garden of Light – Notes from the Garden that feature photos from our private garden here in Boise as well as travel photos. We include a daily inspirational message. This list started with 19 people on May 9, 2007 and has now grown to about 200 people in about 15 states. We have a line of greeting cards that are being sold in about 7 local shops and now growing fast with the production of our first catalog. We have been involved with local charity events such as the Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees in which our first entry was chosen for an auction tree, auctioning off at over $11,000.00. We were the photographers for the Eagle Food and Wine Gala/Festival and also held a display booth for the festival. We are resigstered with Eagle City Hall for an upcoming “Artist of the Month”. Feel free to check out our website (under construction) at http://www.camrichdesigns.com. I would love to place you on our email list to receive our FREE nature/botanical photos with our Garden of Light. We hope to have the opportunity to meet such a delightful person soon. You may call us at 208.853.6753.
Thank you,
Richard and Cameron
Good Morning, Diva (love the handle!)
I am a member of the Idaho Earth Institute and we are having a Plant Sale fund raiser on April 19th, 10 am- 2 pm, at Lucy’s Coffee & Espresso, and I was wondering if you could/would be so kind as to “advertise” this for us. We will be selling organic locally grown veggies, herbs and some bedding plants from Canyon Bounty Farm and organically drought tolerant (some of those are natives) plants from Draggin’ Wing Farm. Thanks a bunch. Oh, I simply love this site! You da bomb!!!
Regards, Bo
Hi Mary Ann!
It was wonderful to meet you at the Austin Spring Fling. You’re now in my bloglines so I won’t miss out on your writing. We don’t have to garden in the same place on the planet to enjoy reading about being a gardener.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie, I, too, adored meeting you and checking out all the garden hot spots in TX. Next time I am coming to Cercis Circus! Thanks, too, for the lovely kind compliments you paid me when we were together……..
Hey MA!
Just a note to let you know your that recently your website is very slow to load…
Hi Mary Ann, Have thought about ya many times over the years, and wa’la’ here you, awesome site. I am going to Seattle Memorial Day to help plan my daughters gardening foray with her new house. Got any ideas or sites I should go to. You are as beautiful and talented as ever, good thing to see some things never change in this ever changing world.
Deb
Mary Ann,
I just found your website, and so nice to learn that a fellow AMG is writing. Very interesting site. I look forward to more articles.
Auntie Mame,
Great Great site, I have been involved in gardening ever since..What amazes me is the ideas brought on board each time you read or visit a fellow gardener..I read your blog quiet often and look forward to it regularly. Please do keep up the good post..
Mon. x
Good day Mary Ann,
My name is Shelli Carol and I am a student at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago.
This quarter, a group of entrepreneurial students, including myself, are working on a business that would allow average homeowners to cleanly, quietly, and easily keep organic, egg- laying chickens in their backyards.
I believe that Idaho Gardeners may be a group particularly interested in this kind of product. Please consider taking our 10-minute survey about it. The link to the survey is here:
http://kellogg.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_bKp9waXipdNAdEg&SVID=Prod
If you feel comfortable, we would certainly appreciate your passing this request to your subscribers, along with whomever else you think might find it interesting. Please welcome them to forward it further.
Feel free to contact me directly with any questions.
Thank you for your consideration.
_________________________________________________
Shelli Carol
Kellogg School of Management
scarol2008@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Hi Diva – Do you mind if I add you to my blog roll? This is a fantastic site. As a novice gardener, I hope to learn LOTS from you! My site is called Boise Goodlife: http://www.goodlifegal.wordpress.com
Thanks!
GG
Edwards Greenhouse will be hosting a Fall into Edwards event on Saturday, September 27th from 9 AM to 3 PM. We are re-opening and re-naming our custom floral shop. Contests and Classses will be held and refreshments will be served. Contact Edwards Greenhouse 208-342-7548 or visit our website wwwedwardsgreenhouse.com for further details.
If you travel to Olympia, WA. come visit my garden. Mostly it is eatables but I designed a garden shed with a Japanese roof line that is special. I have chickens, fruit trees, raised beds for vegs along side more beds ! espalier apple trees along the back fence. I love to talking gardening, recipes and food.
My name is Kelley Walsh and I am a student at Bridgewater State University located in Massachusetts. I am currently working for Dr. Thomas Mickey whom has been researching 19th Century gardening and is in the process of publishing a book on that topic. Dr. Mickey was interviewed by BVTAccess Channel and he was wondering if there was anyway for that interview to be posted to your Garden Blog. If so please let me know that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Kelley Walsh
Kelly, I’d love to talk more about this. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I just saw this note. What is your email? I’ll contact you.
Dear Mary Ann,
Thank you very much for getting back to me. I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. Above is my email. Thank you
Hello,
I enjoy your gardening website and thought you and your readers might be interested in an interactive version (using google maps) of the current USDA zone hardiness map at http://www.plantmaps.com/usda_hardiness_zone_map.php
There are also detailed interactive zone maps for each US State.
There is a detailed zipcode to zone search using the latest US postal service zips and giving the reader their zone down to the sub zone level (a or b). By entering your zipcode you can also get first/last freeze, Heat Zones, drought conditions and annual climatology for your area.
You can also embed the zip to zone search in your website using the plantmaps widget at http://www.plantmaps.com/hardiness-zone-zipcode-search-widget.php
Thanks
Hi,
I would love to talk to you about an issue that I feel is a hot topic in environmental news. I have written an article that I think your readers would be interested in seeing on your blog.
I’m looking to promote that idea that by encouraging grocery shoppers to branch out from their usual selections and to join the local food movement, they can help to conserve this forgotten species, and create a more sustainable agricultural system.
Hallo…I happened per chance onto your blog and love it…..I would love to mak THAT RHUBARB JELLY….I seem to haver discovered jam making last year! BUt….is that the cups of rhubarb chopped and left as it is? You do not mean cooked and sieved? would love to have a go..and marghariats are a favourite of mine when we are in the States…
Thank you in advance, cheers
Katrin
Hi Mary Ann,
I love your blog and have been inspired over the last year to start one myself. It’s new (only been going a couple of weeks) but I think you’ll might like my post today. If you get a chance check it out. http://www.igardendaily.com
Best of blogging to you always!
Thank you for taking the time in reading this email, this is Jack D. with the marketing division of York Carpet Cleaning based in the Tri-State area. In finding your website and viewing the type of links offered from your site we feel their may be room for a potential collaboration with our web site as well. We are interested in discussing the possibilities of arranging a link exchange between your site and ours in efforts to drive more organic traffic to both our site and yours. I look forward to any questions or thoughts you may have regarding the matter. Thanks!
Jack D.
York Carpet Care, Inc.
I was thinking about you as I drove out to the IBG today. I remember how you used to say that all the little plant tags left in a garden reminded you of a mouse cemetery. Well, right now, driving past all the little color-coded flags next to Penitentiary Road would probably remind you of a mouse political rally!
Janice!! That’s a hoot!
Mary Ann,
Love your website – great ideas. Must get some plant information to share with my readers. Looking for interesting natives to use in gardens to help create habitats (not just ornamental gardens).
If you’d like a screener of Women In The Dirt contact me – maybe you can do a “book review” type thing. We screened it at UC Berkeley last week and the audience loved it. My crew was walking 10′ tall for the rest of the week.
Let me know about regionally appropriate plants that people love, so I can give them a plug.
Sincerely, Carolann
Hi Mary Ann,
Help! I attended the class you did for the Boise home and garden show on native plants. It was great but Kinko’s didn’t deliver the handouts you had prepared. I am yearning to use plants that require little water and love this area. So here I am a new-to-this-climate gardener, making many mistakes. I was hoping the handouts would be posted on your website. Is there anywhere I could get a copy of those handouts?
Ever hopeful, thanks,
Lynda
Hi Mary Ann!
Finally got to make my own rhubarbtinis and wanted to let you know they were wonderful (making a third batch this evening). I credit you for sharing this rhubarb goodness!
Dear Mary Ann,
I have been listening to you on the River morning show for several years. You speak very highly about POOH PEA’S. I found POOH PEA’s at the Capital City Market a couple of weeks ago in a 3lb bag. I started using it on my tomato plants and OH MY GOSH! My tomato plants have almost doubled in size and become very busy with lots of blooms and tomatoes starting. I love POOH PEA’S and so do my tomato plants. The new 3lb bag is great and can be purchased at the Capital City Farmers Market, thought you might want to mention this on your next River broadcast.
Sincerely,
Allison Abshire
Hi Mary Ann,
Love the blog, I’m gonna check back often. Nice work!
All the best,
Dave
I found your blog to be quite inspiring! I will continue to follow you in your gardening journey.
Cheers,
Shannon Lester, APLD
Blooming Desert Landscapes
Bend, Oregon
Thank you for your continued kind comments about Defiant Gardens.
Check out the website http://www.defiantgardens.com where I have collected stories that have come to me since the book’s publication
I am liking the blog and your posts. Would you be interested in exchanging links with Walton Garden products. We can ensure the link is one way so both websites benefit from the exchange. Please let me know if this is of interest to you. We would link to you from http://www.gardenshedadviser.co.uk.
Keep up the blogging!!!
Matthew Wilby