I want to share with you some of the exceptional places that I come across from time to time. These places are gems and not to be missed if you are in the area, or they could even be a destination. Most have a “garden thread” to them. “Places To Know” can be retail, restaurants, nurseries, and other. Whatever the place, expect the unusual.

If you are a gardener, and you are in Vancouver, British Columbia, you must visit Thomas Hobbs' Southlands Nursery. On a warm Saturday in late August, I stopped by Southlands Nursery, the renown nursery that has that special touch and magic to it.

Southlands Nursery has had extraordinary press over the years. To my surprise I did find Thomas Hobbs on site, attending to happy customers. He is known to be quite a jovial character with a quick wit. He warmly greeted and chatted with me, as gardening is a universal bond. Without skipping a beat, he started asking about his many friends in San Diego.

I have heard Thomas Hobbs' speak about his books and his plant passion when passing through Southern California on previous speaker circuit swings. I teased him that he is long over due for another visit.

Southlands Nursery is well-stocked with colorful French garden furniture, tidy rows of healthy plants, and incredible garden antiques and decor to tantalize you. The backdrop behind one of his registers was this clay pot mural masterpiece. Every garden room I entered at the nursery, could be center-fold photo in a top garden magazine.

It is quite clear that Thomas Hobbs' gathers no moss. He is an author, speaker, plants-man, floral designer, entrepreneur, and now a farmer. Four years ago he traded his beautiful ochre-colored Vancouver home for a life in the country on a 20 acre farm. We must all take lessons from Thomas Hobbs', on following your passions.

It just might be summed up in a "larger than life" caligraphy quote across a thick ceiling beam in his retail shop, "I ask not for a larger garden, but for finer seeds. --Russell H. Conwell

Please share if you have been to Southlands Nursery. Please comment if you have read any of Thomas Hobbs' beautiful books.

Seattle-based freelance garden writer, author, blogger, and new editor of Pacific Horticulture, Lorene Edwards Forkner, has an exciting new book out called Handmade Garden Projects.

Swinging through Southern California on a recent speaker circuit, Lorene had time to give a special hands-on demonstration and sell some of her "hot" books. Lorene demonstrated her Galvanized Wire Plant Support craft to my enthusiastic garden friends. It was a beautiful Monday morning, and there under my Torrey pine, she crafted a wire garden cloche from 36" galvanized wire fencing. Lorene's wit and humor was "icing on the cake" as she maneuvered through her demo. Thanks Lorene!

Lorene has been a special friend of mine for several years now. Last summer as part of "Seattle Fling" (a national garden blogging event) I attended, and Lorene helped organize, I had a chance to visit Lorene's special garden. There, I saw first hand many of the projects created and photographed for Handmade Garden Projects.

There are  33 projects in this book, with two options to every project, which makes a total of 99 potential projects you can make. Her book is cleverly organized into six chapters, such as "The Ground Floor" and "Supporting Acts." Each garden project is beautifully photographed and detailed in easy-to-follow steps. True to my own heart, Lorene embraces eco-friendly salvaging and re-purposing for these projects. Above all, she urges us all to "Go outside--it's a nice day!"

Publisher, Timber Press is hosting a Handmade Garden Projects Blog Tour this week with several other participating garden blogs. I invite you to visit these fab gardening blogs from all over the country, and read more about what they have to say about the talented Lorene Edwards Forkner, and her new book.

http://www.amateurbot-ann-ist.com/ http://torontogardens.blogspot.com/ http://wwwrockrose.blogspot.com/ http://heavypetal.ca/ http://www.growingagardenindavis.com/ http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/ http://bwisegardening.blogspot.com/ http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/ http://www.thebikegarden.com/ http://www.ourlittleacre.com/ http://www.commonweeder.com/ http://www.debraprinzing.com/

Sunset has many exciting projects happening this spring, Sunset's News This Spring. One of them is their brand new Sunset Edible Garden Cookbook. Sunset Food Editor, Margo True, has done a phenomenal job with her new cookbook. I read it in an afternoon like a novel. Beautiful photography adds "mouth-watering" appeal. I found the recipes relatively simple to make, with special emphasis on letting the edible home-grown flavors shine.

This softcover cookbook covers vegetables, fruits, and herbs in a flowing, organized way. Tantalizing recipes cover each edible, along with sections on basic ways to cook, why grow them, when to harvest, how to keep, and how to preserve the harvest, if applicable. Sometimes there is an "extra reward" section featuring more tips.

Please comment below for an opportunity to win a Sunset Edible Garden Cookbook. Please comment below on your favorite mother-daughter garden memory. Participants must be U.S. Residents. Deadline to post a comment is Sunday, May 6, 2012.

Congratulations to the winners, Elaine Lewis (CA), Sara Sweatman (PA), Karlin DiMarcello (SC), Kelsy Dean (TX), and Leon Flint (CA).  Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

In the midst of last week's San Francisco Flower and Garden Show 2012, Sunset's garden editors and magazine warmly welcomed an intimate group of garden bloggers to their headquarters, test kitchen, and gardens.

Sunset's  headquarters is located on a historical property which was originally part of an old spanish land grant. The subtle fawn-colored building was originally designed by famed architect, Cliff May in the early 1950's, and landscaped by Thomas Church. It is a stunning setting that evokes all the beauty and creativity that Sunset is known for.

As a special treat, Sunset Garden Editors, Kathy Brenzel, Julie Chai, Johanna Silver, along with Sunset Food Editor, Margo True, and her test kitchen staff welcomed us with a special breakfast to celebrate sneak peeks of exciting upcoming Sunset projects.

First, the celebration of the just-released, The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (Sunset Western Garden Book). Second, a tasty and "oh so delicious" breakfast featuring recipes from the new The Sunset Edible Garden Cookbook: Fresh, Healthy Cooking from the Garden, soon to be released in April 2012. Third, Senior Editor, Julie Chai, spoke about the exciting new launch of the Sunset Western Garden Collection "of top performing plants for the Western gardener" available in local garden centers beginning in May 2012.

After our relaxing and informative breakfast, we were further treated to a tour of Sunset's beautiful grounds, and a peek at the test and project gardens that Associate Editor, Johanna Silver oversees. It couldn't have been a more memorable morning, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Thank you Sunset.

The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (Sunset Western Garden Book), edited by Senior Editor, Kathy Brenzel, is very user-friendly, completely revised and updated with over 2,000 beautiful color photographs and a 9,000 plant encyclopedia. The popular "Plant Finder" tool has also been updated and enhanced. It  features many " handy design tools"  to help with your individual microclimate, water conservation needs, sustainable interests, and creative garden projects.

I asked Kathy Brenzel at our breakfast, what she wanted readers to take away from reading and using this book.  Brenzel replied, "One can garden anywhere creatively, such as a table top, on an urban roof top, or even vertically on a wall. Claim your space, and create a sense of place which calls to your soul."

Please share with a comment below, how Sunset's Western Garden Book has personally helped you in your garden. Five lucky commenters will be chosen, and will receive a copy of the latest, The New Sunset Western Garden Book 2012. Participants must be U.S. Residents. Be sure and provide an e-mail address for contacting. Deadline to post comments is Monday, April 9, 2012. 

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks for participating. Enjoy your New Sunset Western Garden Book!  Elaine Lewis from Covina, CA. Judy Sundermann from Santa Ana, CA. Heather Hazen from Leucadia, CA.

We all came to get a glimpse of pioneer, visionary, advocate, and chef Alice Waters, and join in the celebration of her new book, 40 Years of Chez Panisse. It was held at the Chino Farm in Rancho Santa Fe on Sunday, December 11, 2011. Chino Farm is owned and still farmed by the Japanese immigrant Chino family since 1952. Nearly fifty acres in size, the family has an outstanding reputation for raising select seasonal fruit and vegetables, highly sought after by the general public and talented restaurant chefs alike.

Alice Waters has had a special and enduring relationship with the Chino family and farm over four decades, early on buying weekly seasonal produce for her acclaimed restaurant, Chez Panisse. It was fitting that she would be signing her new book at San Diego's most famous farm stand.

Just as our culture had Steve Jobs with his visionary genius in technology, we have had Alice Waters with her visionary genius of sustainable food, and the first to tell us that farm-to-table and eating locally is the best choice in our food. Her message has remained the same, you reap the most taste from your food, not necessarily by how it is cooked or prepared, but how it is grown and harvested in relation to its optimum environment.

40 Years of Chez Panisse is organized by decade and is a true retrospective of Alice's  famous restaurant, Chez Panisse. This is not a cookbook. Instead, it is a readable and fascinating personal tribute of the four decades that Alice Waters and Chez Panisse has served as a beacon of great food and sustainable farming practices, with the help of her many friends that have shared this journey with her. Thank you Alice Waters.

The Chino Farm is located at 6123 Calzada del Bosque, Del Mar, CA 92014. Call for hours, (tel) (858) 756-3184.

Please share if you have been to Chez Panisse. Please share how you have been influenced and inspired by Alice Waters.

This spring I created a small herb garden in a quiet, sunny, protected corner next to my barn using vintage wine barrels. I borrowed this concept, modifying it slightly, from Rosalind Creasy's, Edible Landscaping book. This is a terrific book for incorporating more edibles in your landscaping. Rosalind has a whole chapter on "Designing With Herbs."

An "herb garden a la wine barrels," was multi-dimensional for me. My husband, John, and I make wine, and have access to used wine barrels. We have a functional barn, with a trio of wine barrels already planted with blueberry bushes and strawberries on the right side, why not do something on the left with wine barrels, such as herbs. This particular spot is also close to my kitchen, a must for any herb garden.

I used a trio of half barrels from standard wine barrels, cut in half. You can find these types of barrels for sale at home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Dixieline, nurseries, and garden centers. For my second top row, I used a smaller 15 gallon wine barrel, cut in half and sanded along the edges. All wine barrels need to have spaced holes drilled for adequate drainage. I also placed my bottom wine barrels on top of carefully placed river rocks to save the barrels from rotting in the soil, and allowing further drainage.

Since the barrels are big, it is best to use a sterile filler or upside down one gallon size plastic plant containers. It will save you on filling the entire barrel with soil, mulch, etc. I simply placed my second row, and smaller wine barrels securely on the sides of the base half-barrels, using their weight to stabilize them.

Fill your barrels with clean potting soil, almost to the rim of each barrel. You can add an irrigation system if you like. I chose not to. Select your favorite herbs, and plant. I planted chives, winter savory, curly parsley, Italian parsley, tarragon, sorrel, Italian oregano, sage, cinnamon basil, and Italian basil. Choose herbs that you use frequently in your cooking, and a mixture of annual and perennial herbs. Choose some herbs that have a trailing habit, so as they grow and establish themselves, they will spill over the barrels. As time goes on, you can always switch out herbs for new ones when needed.

Add a layer of mulch on top of your soil, and around your herbs.  Newly planted herbs like to be kept moist initially, and water moderately once established.

Please share if you grow herbs to cook with. Please share how your herb garden is set up and designed.

Gardening books for children can be the seeds that start your children or grandchildren thinking about nature, wildlife, gardening, our mother earth, and so much more. If you are a gardener, most likely your children or grandchildren observe you in your garden and share in your garden pleasure. Kathyrn O. Galbraith has written over a dozen children's books for ages 4-8, which include valuable life lessons.

Kathryn O. Galbraith has a wonderful new children's book out now called, Planting the Wild Garden It is beautifully illustrated by talented artist, Wendy Anderson Halperin. I particularly like her whimsical raccoons.

A farmer and her boy, plant seeds in their garden, but in the wild garden many seeds are planted haphazardly by many kinds of creatures, elements of weather, and mother nature in general. Galbraith teaches us we are all connected to each other. We must respect mother nature and her creatures who are part of  the circle of life, too.

Last year Kathryn O. Galbraith wrote the children's book Arbor Day Square, illustrated by another talented artist, Cyd Moore. It is a touching children's story about the beginnings of Arbor Day, and the importance of planting trees. Kathryn O. Galbraith's Arbor Day Square won her a 2010 Parents' Choice Award.

Arbor Day Square has many life lessons to share with children, too.  A dusty prairie with no trees in the beginning, translates into it is up to you to make your own life and environment. You can make a difference in your community, and world. How planting the trees each year was a celebration and became a tradition. Cherish your family traditions, and community. Small trees, over time become large massive trees reaching towards the sky. One must have patience. The benefits of trees are many, and can be enjoyed and preserved for generations.

Kathryn O. Galbraith author's note at the back of her book is fascinating. The first Arbor Day was "first celebrated" in what is now the state of Nebraska on April 10, 1872. Over a million trees were planted that day. Arbor Day is now celebrated in all fifty states, and is even celebrated in many other countries around the world. For more information please visit, Arbor Day. This year's Arbor Day is Friday, April 29, 2011. Let us teach all of our children the importance of trees and our environment through special days like Arbor Day and Earth Day.

Encinitas Garden Festival is Saturday, April 30, 2011. For more information, please visit Encinitas Garden Festival

In celebration of Sunset's newly released book later this month, The One-Block Feast: An Adventure in Food from Yard to Table, Sunset is hosting a special One Block Diet Invitation and Contest.

Sunset magazine asked VintageGardenGal to share this exciting invitation and contest with all of you because you love sun-ripened strawberries from your own strawberry patch, abundant artichokes from your kitchen garden, fresh eggs from your fine-feathered hens, and more.

Don't delay, enter now. Growing and raising your own food, and sharing with your family, friends, and neighbors has never been funnier.