Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
DID YOU HAVE A GARDEN GURU WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP? I mean, someone who inspired your passion for plants? My guru was the witty and wry Thalassa Cruso. I used to run home from school to catch her television program, Making Things Grow. Her fascinating and fun-to-read book, Making Things Grow Outdoors, is this month’s giveaway:
In case you are too young to remember, Making Things Grow aired on PBS from 1966-1969. Although highly educational, the program was never boring. I well remember how she divided a Boston fern, as if she was killing a vampire. “Sometimes you must be brutal,” she hissed, while stabbing at the plant’s roots. On another episode, she feigned horror when she discovered a slug in one of her houseplants. She flicked the slimy pest onto her work counter, and then, after warning squeamish viewers to avert their eyes, she lifted a clay pot over her head, and smashed it down on the offending creature. Hey, what kid wouldn’t take up gardening after viewing such antics?
Following her TV show, Cruso authored several books. Making Things Grow Outdoors was published in 1971. Here, she offers practical and humorous advice for designing and maintaining a garden. Her tips for composting, and for dealing with pests without chemicals, are still timely today. A used, paperback copy of this book is up for grabs. Would you like to win it?
To enter this random drawing, I need you to do three very simple things:
First, post a comment below. Tell me who your garden guru is (or was). Be sure to include at least part of your email address at the end of your comment, so that I can quickly verify that you’ve subscribed to my newsletter.
Next, subscribe — if you haven’t already — to my weekly email newsletter.
Finally, join A Garden for the House on Facebook, by clicking the “like” button at the top of that page.
Be sure to comment, subscribe, and “like” soon…this drawing ends February 5 at 11:59 PM.
As always, I’ll use the nifty gadget at Random.org to select a winner.
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s free, weekly newsletter!
Related Posts:
February Gardening Chores
Seeds I’d Winter-Sow: The Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata)
What Would You Plant in Your “Subsistence Garden?”
Instant Spring: Forcing Forsythia & Other Branches
Winter-Sowing 101
Justin says
Thalassa Cruso – what a blast from the past! I used to watch her too. I wish PBS would re-air all of her gardening shows. I have to count her as my garden guru, too. JS at aim (dot)com
Adele says
Kevin, I'd have to say my grandmother was my gardening guru. She showed me how to plant Cosmos seeds when I was little, and I have not stopped gardening since. I'm already on your FB page, and have subscribed to your newsletter.
Adele H @aol
Bonnie says
My garden guru was my grandfather. He ran a greenhouse. I felt like I grew up there. He also had extensive flower gardens. I don't remember watching gardening shows as a kid, my mom was probably watching her soaps! bper@hotmail
Anonymous says
My father was my gardening guru. He grew such great things for my mother to cook. Great Cajun food!
[email protected]
Aisling says
My mother was my garden guru. She could grow anything! Now my son is my inspiration – his yard is all plants and vegetables. mcgillrmcgill(at)charter(dot)net
pmj says
My garden guru was my uncle frank, he had a little greenhouse and looked like mr greenjeans to me!
pmj says
Emial subscriber
pjames330 at aol dot com
pmj says
I like you on Facebook
pjames330 at aol dot com
sksweeps says
I'm a subscriber, I like you on FB and my gardening guru was my grandmother in Germany! When I got to visit her (every other summer when I was growing up), I got to enjoy all of her flowers and trees and oh, the strawberries and tomatoes, and plums and on and on!
Sk Sweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net
Terry says
No one in my family did much gardening, so I would have to say that my gardening gurus are the people I have met online, in particular Path to Freedom. I only started gardening a few years ago when produce started coming up with ecoli and stuff like that. This site absolutely blew my mind when I saw the pictures of what they grow in their typical backyard. I am a subscriber to your newsletter and FB. My email starts terry…I have just finished the last book “Omnivore's Dilemma”, so I need something new to read!
grams says
I never lived where I could put a garden or we moved so much in the military it was impossible to keep anything growing.
When I was young I remember my mom takeing in everyons africian violet that was dead or dying. and she just put them by a window in the garage and you wouldn't believe how they grew.
now that i am getting older we have moved to tn. and 5 acres. and i an going to start to learn to grow things. I would love this book.
Thank you for the chance and this will make you my garden GURU..
grams of 20
[email protected]
tammie says
My gardening guru is a master gardener that teaches at the vocational center. She teaches horticulture and runs a greenhouse along with the students.She also teaches adults classes and is a landscape consultant. She has her hands in the dirt every chance she gets!
Look for tam in your mailing list.
Thanks for the chance to WIN
Connie says
Gosh, I loved Thalassa Cruso! She was right up there with Julia Child on my “wanna-be-like-her” list.
Anonymous says
I always enjoyed listening to Doc and Katy Abraham on the radio. They were a wealth of knowledge! They also had a tv show for a while on the local channel and taught many classes on gardening.
kermit13166
mverno says
my husband is a great gardner [email protected]
mverno says
my husband i subscribed mverno [email protected]
slb3334 says
my mom is mine.
[email protected]
Anonymous says
My grandfather was our family garden guru. He could grow anything and he did. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, anything and everything. I remember helping him as a little girl and now I have caught the gardening bug and I am determined to be almost as good as he was! I subscribed: [email protected]
Katreader says
I never really had a gardening guru growing up. My mom did plant things and had a few house plants-but nothing extraordinary. I will say she's developed more gardening savvy now and does lovely things outdoors. My grandpa grew tomatoes and had a pear tree, while his neighbor grew parsley. However, my family has always had an affinity to nature and we love our landscaping. Right now, however, I do have a gardening guru-YOU! Thanks for all the inspiring information.
Brenda Johnson says
I am “connected” through both of your writing avenues…. and I have two gardening heroes/gurus….. my grandmother always had beautiful flower gardens- I have many fond memories of the hours spent “helping her” (I'm sure I was far more hindrance than help!) and my Dad to this day always has a showpiece of a vegetable garden!
kylie8cake says
subscribed and liked you on facebook (kate dunn)
I like Martha Stewart but I thought that I remember as a kid that Norm Abram came out of the house and did gardening stuff too? LOL. My mother is a master gardener so definitely my mom would be a guru to me.
kylie8cake (at) gmail (dot) com
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Thanks for playing, everyone! Random.org selected “gram” as the winner of Thalassa Cruso's witty and wise “Making Things Grow Outdoors.” Congratulations, Gram!
Tracy Besancon says
Interestingly she Theresa is my guru as well. I have a book, “Making Vegetables Grow” which I use like a bible.