The Blogger


Murphy and MeHello and welcome.  My name is Kevin, and I’ll be honest.  I do not have a degree in horticulture, nor do I host a show on HGTV.  My own landscaping business?  Nope.  Oh, and I’ve never appeared as a gardening expert on “The Martha Stewart Show.”

I’ve been told, however, that I do have a green thumb and that I’m a decent writer. Other than that, there’s a suburban yard, a potting shed, a very active imagination, years of trials and errors, and not enough time to do what I’d love to do.  I enjoy weeding, working in my own yard, visiting gardens, being inspired, and talking with other gardeners and admiring the rewards of their labor.

For some time now, I’ve been wondering about how to try something different, where I can get away from “work,” and create something that would incorporate what I love to do in my free time.    And this idea has grown into  The Nitty Gritty Dirt Man.

My hope is for this blog to become a place to share knowledge, tell stories, and maybe even laugh along the way.  I hope you enjoy it.

75 thoughts on “The Blogger”

  2. Hi There,
    Thomas Wolf once said”Tall oaks from little acorns grow”.I used this quote as the title for an eight grade graduation composition contest.(I won)!!So much hope and promise is a little packsge.
    I love your post about seeds!I too, enjoy being outside in the garden.This time of year,when everything is popping up out if the Earth,reminds me of a new beginnig, starting fresh.Now is the time to divide and conquer…Divide your perennials and set them out in the great beyond..(the yard).–R

    Reply

  3. Hello,
    John from Minnesota here. Bought an old beeautiful Cape Cod style home in historic Anoka on the Mississippi. Terribly bad looking concrete pads 8″ thick was once a nice pathway out to the blvd…but now leads only to the middle of the front yard.
    Much to heavy to yank out…too thick to break up.
    The jury seems to be out…can I successfully lay top soil and sod over it? Any experience out there?
    Thanks for your time!

    Reply

    • Hi, John. Congratulations on the new house. Like I’ve said, I’m far from a trained professional, but I would personally lean toward getting rid of the cement — either renting or maybe even hiring someone with heavy machinery. It would probably be worth it, and it could be gotten rid of in a matter of minutes. If the cement stays there, under some top soil and sod, you may have constant problems with a) drainage and b) the roots of the grass never growing deep enough, which could result in grass dying of thirst. Hope this helps. Good luck with the project, and remember, it’s all part of the joy of home ownership.

      Reply

    • Hi There, Grass is soooo over rated! Could you use the cement blocks as a path that leads to a water fountain, surrounded by an herb garden.May-be set potted plants on it to break up the lawn and add intrest to the yard? Just a thought!!
      –Rachel

      Reply

      • OK…just needed that nudge to THINK OUT OF THE BOX FOR ONCE!
        THANKS GUYS (RACHEL)…I just need to create a destination and it all makes sense…and a fountain, a small garden and potted plants here and there on the walk will give the concrete puropose and hide some of the defects….what a fine idea…on my way to start this project in the morning! Maybe add some foliage along each side of the pathway. APPRECIATED.

  4. Kevin, we want to get you up and going on Blotanical as soon as possible but we need for you to go into your Blotanical plot site and edit your blog information in “My Blogs”. We need you to add a Feed Url to the blank space you left.If you do not have a feed url please go to Google Feed Burner at feedburner.google.com and sign your Blog up to their feed burner. They will give you a feed url for your blog.Thank you, Lona

    Reply

    • Jennifer, welcome to the gardening world and thanks for visiting. I hope I can offer some tips, but feel free to visit the sites listed in the Garden Blogs section to the right. There are many people out there more knowledgable than me. Happy gardening!

      Reply

      • Thank you! I will take a look. We’re like sponges, soaking up everything. But I realize the more we get out there in the dirt with plain old trial and error, we’re really going to learn! We’re moving the end of this month and I already snagged a spot at the community garden in the new town. I’m so excited. I’m sure I’ll be writing you with questions! 🙂
        Happy gardening!

      • Congratulations and good luck with the move! Imagine what you could learn from the other gardeners in the community! Possibilities are endless — all you need is a seed and a dream.

  7. Hi Kevin, Like the name of your blog. As for you being what you said not too bad of a garden, I think you do well. I been gardening for about 28 years or so and not a pro either. Your blog looks nice as well as the pics, I also like the title of your post I Canna Live Without You. Also your blog looks better than mine lol.

    Tony

    Reply

    • Hi Tony. Thanks for finding me and for your kind words. I try and do my best out there, and sometimes there is success, and sometimes there are things I know I have to avoid in the future. My concern now is how does a gardening blog survive the winter. Should be an interesting ride. Take care.

      Reply

  8. I recently discovered Patrick’s blog through some research that I was doing for my blog, Kevin, and I went to the “comments” field within the Contact Page of his blog, to recommend that he post on nybgs (New York Botanical Gardens) tumblr. I also gave him my e-mail contact info.

    Here is a “copy” of my comment:

    I found your blog whilst researching some information on “our mutual friends”, Hens ‘n Chicks, Patrick, and I discovered your blog entry, The Philosophy of Hens and Chicks. I truly enjoyed your heartfelt post, so I began to read your other entries, and got so engrossed I nearly missed my appointment! I am emailing you now because:

    1. I notice there is no entry after October 16, 2011 and I am wondering if you have stopped blogging and

    2. After reading the previous comment, I wonder if you would like me to post a link to your blog on my blog, The Last Leaf Gardener. For your convenience, I have posted the link below you may need to put the “traditional ” http:// in front of it for a search engine to find me, or send me an email to the address I entered here.

    thelastleafgardener.blogspot.com

    I made my comment a few weeks ago and it is not posted nor has anyone gotten in touch with me. Moreover, the phone number listed for Patrick within his contact info is disconnected.

    I have been quite concerned as in the last thing that I read, he indicated that he was in the hospital. I am writing to you because your comment is the last one posted as is Patrick’s response. Because of the nature of his medical condition, I fear the worst. i don’t mean to pry, but do you know what has happened to him?

    Reply

  9. Hey!
    Thank you for your recent posts on my blog. If you have any suggestions for East Coast shops that would be a good match for our new century modern, home/garden accessory line, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it! Cheers!

    Reply

  11. Hi Kevin,

    I just started a blog called beach blessed. I garden on Puget Sound near Seattle. Where are you? I love the tone and appearance of your blog and aspire to your greatness. All the best and green to you from the Emerald City!

    Reply

    • Wow! Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by my site. I am located on the East Coast, smack in the middle of Long Island, NY. Feel free to visit again. Cheers!

      Reply

  13. Great job Kevin, I wonder if you could predict when spring is going to arrive here in London? I’m sat inside on top of my heater, it’s snowing outside and I’m imagining the first blossom and Easter Eggs! Any ideas when it might warm up? Cold + Optimistic. Christine.

    Reply

    • Brrrr! If I could predict the arrival of spring, I would — but, honestly, while I am thankful for the mild winter weather, I’m also worried that there will be payback. Predictions for the weekend? Brrrrr!

      Reply

  15. Kevin, great stuff – love the humility and your casual approach. Thanks for finding me on Blotanical. I really enjoyed checking out your blog and am going to include you in my gardening blog roll as well.

    Reply

  16. Kevin – My sister loves your blog, so I checked it out. I love your writing, and the blog. I’m not a gardener – but I am a fan of the pipes. I’m a police officer. Some of the worst moments of my life have been standing at a funeral in uniform over a fallen co-worker. There is nothing that makes me feel stronger in those moments, than that sound…the sound of the constant, enduring strength of those pipes. I can’t even explain the pride I feel when those pipers march in, powered by a musician in full-kilt uniform. I get emotion fueled goosebumps whenever I hear the sound. Those pipes are the sound of war and pride…thank you for marching in uniform and investing your time in such an amazing instrument.

    Reply

    • I’m glad you found me. I have loved bagpipes since I was a kid — and I certainly understand the emotional side of their tone. I can also remember going to the Scottish Games and watching the massed bands. Actually, I heard the massed bands before I saw them. The ground actually vibrated from the combined sound. A beautiful noise. Thanks for your comment, and for the work you do.

      Reply

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  21. Hey there!
    I just came to your blog through the freshly pressed posts and I wanted to say congratulations for your blog. It’s like you have created your own virtual garden and that must be very rewarding! I can connect to what you said about admiring other gardeners for their work – I feel exactly the same way about other bloggers, like you, who have accomplished that through their blogs 🙂

    Reply

  23. Pingback: Five Questions for NittyGrittyDirtMan (based on his nomination by moi for the Leibster Award) « GiRRL_Earth

  28. Hey there Kevin!
    I love your blog! I’d love to have you as a guest on my garden podcast – Still Growing. If you’d be interested in sharing your passion for gardening/blogging and what you’re working on, I’d love to connect with you.

    Reply

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