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RainyDayGarden's content can now be licensed for your print magazine or web site. Please contact us directly here. If you want to see something reviewed, then drop us a note with a link and we'll be happy to take a look.
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We have a tradition here at the office tht we take a four-hour walk around the Charles River on Thanksgiving day before the big meal. The temperature on some years had been in the teens, but yesterday it was a balmy 50º!
We love the walk because we do it at a time when most people are either home cooking or have left town. The experience is unique because the city seems deserted and is eerily quiet. Definitely the "calm" before the BlackFriday storm!
We post these images for you to enjoy should you need a refuge from the day-after Thanksgiving shopping crowds. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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Nov 22,2007 (Thanksgiving) |
The staff here at RainyDayMagazine would like to wish all of our readers a Happy Thanksgiving. To read a...re-interpretation of the history of the first Thanksgiving, our lovely co-editor Carolyn offers a short piece you might enjoy (ahem, you've been warned). Enjoy the pumpkin pies!!! - Carolyn Donovn (permalink)
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Oct 27-28,2007 (WeekendEdition) |
A few of the RainyDayMagazine folks were invited down to Provincetown for the weekend to hang out, eat/drink, and watch the third game of the World Series.
We, of course, took this opportunity to bring with us a few gadgets to test: the Carson Spotting Scope, the Wicked Laser, and some yet to be reviewed items. The weather was so nice that we spent all our time enjoying it rather than playing with the gear.
Provincetown this time of the year is very quiet during the day, but it was still lively at night due to the coming of Halloween. Many of the galleries were closed for the season, but many of the boutiques were still opened. We checked out quite a few of the shops looking for end-of-the season deals. Unfortunately, we came away empty handed.
However, all was not lost since the Red Sox took the third game of the series 10-5! We'll be back in Boston tonight to see if they can sweep. If they do, then we'll be back posting gear reviews next week! - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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Oct 15,2007 (MonocularMonday) |
This past weekend we took the Carson Spotting Scope for a FirstUse outing. Mass Audubon has a preserve close to the office. We have been there a few times and knew it would be a good location to test out the scope.
It was just the start of Fall but the colors were already showing. We hiked in for a bit and set up at one of the boardwalks looking out at the wetland.
The setup we took with us on the outing was the Carson BackCountry Spotting Scope mounted on the TrekPod. We have been using the TrekPod every chance we had. A few sharp-eye viewers noticed that we used it to support the Jason telescope we had with us in Maine.
The Carson scopes performed wonderfully in this FirstUse outing. The controls were easy to use, the focus knob and zoom controls were smooth to operate. The image had high contrast and was razor sharp. The integrated sunshield came in very handy on this bright day.
The Carson scope/TrekPod combo is a winner both in the backcountry as well as in the city (we stopped by Jamaica Pond on the way back to check out the ducks). The pair is light to carry and quick to set up. Perfect for bird watching anywhere/anytime.
The only thing we wish was better on the Carson was the lens cap. It is a rubber cap, but the fit was loose. We did not take it with us on the hike because we knew we would lose it. Some kind of hinged cap may have been a better choice for a field scope. However, this is a nitpicking point in an otherwise excellent product. We look forward to taking out in a more extensive outing soon. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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This past August in New England was a dry one. Many of the Cone Flowers (known as echinacea) have gone to seed earlier than usual. The golden finches have been spotted taking advantage of this bounty in the RainyDayGarden.
We spotted the finches only because Eliot and Buffy were both perched on the 2nd story window with their gaze fixated on a spot in the garden.
Getting a shot of them was a little more difficult. The 12x zoom on the Canon S2 was barely good enough. The slight overcast made for even lighting, but cut down on the overall brightness. This situation (high zoom, low light) is particularly difficult for digital cameras.
It is suprising how light birds really are. This finch is sitting on and pecking at the cone and there is not so much as a shake. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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A few of the RainyDayGarden folks found out that the Mass Horticulture Society was holding a Marketplace Festival out in Wellesley. So we packed up Saturday morning and drove out to see what it was all about.
The event was held at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center. The grounds at Elm Bank were amazing. There were both formal and informal gardens with all kinds of things in bloom.
The event had over 50 vendors selling all kinds of tasty goodies (organic produce, Acai berry drinks, plants, etc...). Whole Foods sponsored the event and, more importantly, served some incredible roasted tomato gazpacho.
All kinds of great plants were also for sale. It was a good thing we didn't have the truck because it would have been easy to go WAY overboard.
We had to limit ourselves to just one purchase. After walking around and checking all of the different growers, we decided on a beautiful day lily called "Sammy Russell."
There was a lot more to the event than what we covered here. We'll have a full write-up of the event soon. Go here to see what else is on the calendar from the folks at Mass Horticulture Society. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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The Passiflora we purchased from Logee's is doing quite well this year. Thank you for the requests for updates. No new time-lapse clips of the flowers this year, but we do have some exciting passiflora news...we got a fruit!
We had about six blooms last season. There might have been more this year if someone hadn't accidentally sniped off the main branch while tending to it over the Winter! At the beginning of Spring this year, we transplanted it to a larger pot and gave it a stronger trellis to climb.
The plant survived and we even managed to root a few new plants using the accidental cutting. We traded one for the banana plant, which is growing vigorously in its new home.
The Passiflora can survive in partial light, but loves a bright spot. It has been in "the direct beam of the sunshine" for most of the Summer. We have it in a pot because the winters in New England are too cold for the Passiflora to survive outside.
Having it outside in the RainyDayGarden enabled the insects to do their thing. This is our second year with the Passiflora and the first year in which it actually bore fruit (the RainyDayKitchen folks are pouring over their cookbooks looking for the perfect passionfruit recipe). We have been very happy with this addition to our garden. So no matter what your climate is, the Passiflora is a really cool plant to consider adding to your collection. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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The delivery of birthday gifts interrupted the flow of the office for most of the day yesterday. In the midst of all the celebrating and the well wishing, someone noticed an interesting item in the pile of presents which we thought we would of interest to many RainyDayMagazine readers.
Carolyn received a book of Bird Songs (250 North American Bird Songs) which came with its own audio player. The player has a built-in speaker, control buttons, and an LCD display.
To hear the song of any of the birds in the book (finches, sparrows): first note the bird's number, press the selector until that number shows up on the LCD, then push the play button to hear the song.
Some may remember our photo of the Blue Heron from Walden Pond. This is what its cry sounds like. Somehow we would have expected something a little more...majestic? Well it is what it is :-) - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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July 7,2007  |
Eating locally grown food is both good for the local economy and good for you. The food is fresher, tastier, and better for you. In the Summer, the best place to get locally grown food is at your Farmer's Market.
In Roslindale, the Farmer's Market has been growing steadily for the past several years. This year, the market has grown so big that it was moved into the town's main square.
There are now all kinds of vendors at the Roslindale Farmer's Market. The stands are stocked with all sorts of seasonal produce, flowers, and tasty baked goods. This year, there are also local artists offering hand-made crafts.
If you are looking for something fresh this summer, whether it be a few juicy tomatoes or a new barrette, you should head down to Roslindale Square on Saturdays between 9 and noon and check out what's happening in the town center. It's (s)hopping! - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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June 29,2007 |
We would like to say "thanks" for all of the great emails we received during this week for our camera repair project. It was surprising to hear from all of the Canon users out there who love their S2s and want to keep them working!
The LCD transplant was completed without any problems. The camera powered up and the LCD powered on. We pushed all the buttons, turned all the knobs, and everything checked out just fine.
Up to this point, we have only taken a few test shots. We were all eager to see what kind of images we would get from our new and improved S2. It was a bright day out so we took a few handheld shots around the garden.
The colors of the lilies were true and the details crisp. We were especially pleased with the images of the bumblebee. Click on the images below to get a closer look.
The restored Canon S2 camera is every bit as good as the new S2 we purchased last September. Now we can try shooting some "stereo" images for some 3D stereograms!
A few of you asked about "electronic" issues. Obviously we have not delved into fixing that aspect of the camera yet. We are actively on the lookout for another broken S2...if you want to donate one to the cause, drop us a line.
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June 23,2007 |
There is always something blooming in the RainyDayGarden. Some blooms look great on the vine, but cannot be brought inside. Others are so big they overwhelm the stems and droop to the ground. They are perfect candidates for cutting to be enjoyed indoors.
Harvesting the peonies was the perfect opportunity to try out the Husqvarna by-pass shears. There is a nice overall balance to the shears which made them easy to maneuver. This is a big help especially when cutting plants with lots of branches or have thick growth.
The blade lock is conveniently located for right handed users. The lock did engaged a few times by itself, but because of the button's location, it was easily unlocked with a quick flick if the thumb. We found the shears to be very comfortable to use. The cuts are clean and crisp. We'll have more to say about them in the Fall.
Some readers may recognize the glass vase above as the Eva Solo self-watering planter. We had a FirstLook of the Eva Solo planter back in May 2006. Originally, we thought we would use it as a planter. Instead, we found it works really well as a vase. It's stable design is perfect for heavy blooms such as these peonies.
The vase is great for arranging flowers because its two part design allows for adding water without disturbing the arrangement : arrange the flowers in the metal vase, add water to the glass container, and combine the two.
When it is time to add more water, just pick up the metal vase and pour directly into the glass container. The flower arrangement remains undisturbed. - Wan Chi Lau
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June 10,2007 |
Gardening is a relaxing weekend activity. For the staff here, tending the RainyDayGarden may sometimes feels like a full-time job. There are some who spend a lot of time looking after the various plantings, while there are others who get excited only when there is new gear to test :-)
Spring is the best time to trim and shape bushes and ornamental trees to promote new growth. Proper pruning is all about knowing where to make the cut. Pruning properly, however, is all about knowing which tool to use to make the cut.
The folks at Husqvarna, famous for their mowers and trimmers (and sewing machines), have a line of hand tools perfect for our pruning job. This season, we'll be using their pruners in the RainyDayGarden to see how well they hold up to the task.
We will be testing two kinds of pruners: By-Pass and Anvil. The by-pass pruners are typically used for harvesting flowers and trimming smaller branches. The anvil pruner is better suited for removing dead branches and other shaping tasks.
Gardening hand tools are designed for outdoor use. They don't require much maintenance, but it is always best to clean them after each use with a rinse. We usually oil them in the Spring and Fall to keep them operating smoothly. With the proper care, good tools will last a lifetime. - Wan Chi Lau
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June 2-3,2007 |
The recent rain did wonders for the RainyDayGarden. Even though all that rain washed the petals right off the Spring blooms, it also turned everything green. With the ground fully soaked from the rain, it was the perfect time to introduce some new additions to the garden.
Our friends Bill brought over a banana plant in exchange for some passiflora we had rooted over the Winter. This banana plant will bear some ornamental fruits and should survive the New England cold if properly mulched.
The Last Frost Date (LFD) was at the end of May, and with that danger gone, it was time to get the vegetable garden planted. This year there will be beans, peppers, tomatos, and the usual variety of different herbs.
One of the best parts of having a perennial garden is that most of the work is done only once, but you get to enjoy the results year after year. The most important part is to pick the right plants for your local climate. Irises, peonies, and clemetis are great choices for the New England region. They provide wonderful color, grow vigoriously, and are almost maintenance free.
Adding plants such as Columbine, Chinese Dogwood, and later blooming plants (lillies, blackeye Susans, etc...) will ensure flowers in the garden all the way through to Fall.
Working in the perennial garden is both relaxing and rewarding. Everyone helps with the digging and weeding. Once the garden is planted, very little work is required to keep it going. If you are thinking of starting one, go check out RainyDayGarden for lots of great tips, gear, and ideas. We will be "growing" this section of the magazine with additional "How-To" articles in the month of June to help get you inspired. Remember, you don't have to do it all at once. Start small, just add to it every Spring and Fall...before long, you will have your own RainDayGarden! - Wan Chi Lau
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May 18,2007 |
Today is our final review in our TrekTech TrekPod series. There were quite a few readers who asked about the magnetic mount. Most of the questions were regarding whether the magnet would affect the digital camera. Some readers were worried that the camera would not stay on the mount. Both of these questions are addressed on the TrekPod's FAQ.
To the readers who worried the camera might fall off, there is an integrated clip which physically locks the camera mount to the magnet on the TrekPod. The clip slides on quickly and can be removed just as easily.
The TrekPod comes with two magnetic mounts. The silver mount is for the typical pocket size cameras and the black mount is for the larger, heavier SLRs.
The magnetic mount makes changing cameras quick and easy. This is especially convenient when using the TrekPod out in the field. Another cool feature of the magnetic mount is that it allows the camera is able to rotate while on the tripod. Once you've achieved the angle you want, just attach the clip.
To readers who have been reading this TrekPod series from the beginning, you may have noticed one glaring error and one omission. If you think you know what they are, send us the correction in an email with the subject line "You got it wrong!" or the omission with the subject line "You forgot to..." We'll pick the winners at the end of the month. - Wan Chi Lau
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May 15,2007 |
The TrekPod is a great mobile tripod. To make it even more versatile, Trek Tech offers an accessory called the VersaMount. The clip on camera mount has the same proprietary magnetic mount, but is designed to clip on anywhere along the post of the TrekPod.
The VersaMount attaches quickly and is secured by a thumb screw. Combined with the multi-angled ability of the head, just about any camera position can be quickly achieved.
With the VersaMount, it will be much easier to set up and get those ground level closeup shots. - Wan Chi Lau
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April 21-22,2007 |
Every year (2005,2006,Carolyn's World) the finches return to their nest underneath the awning over the RainyDayMagazine office's front entry way. This year, we had a Nor'Easter the week they laid their eggs. We had meant to get up there to sneek a shot of the eggs before the storm. Today, the weather was warm enough that we got to take a quick peek.
We are not sure if the finches knew there was a storm coming, but they did build up the nest this year with an extra layer of greenery.
We counted five light blue eggs with little black specks in the nest. It'll be a few more weeks before they hatch. If we had gotten our act together, we would have had the "FinchCam" set up by now. We may still have time.
Buffy has learned that with a bell around her, there is little chance she will ever get close enough to snag one of those flying creatures. Eliot, being young and optimistic, refuses to let a little tinkling bell stand in the way of his hunting instincts. However, Eliot too, is constantly thwarted in his attempts at obtaining a feathery snack...no matter how high he climbs :-)
In fact, many of the flying visitors to the RainyDayGarden are brazenly eating right off the ground in front of the furry interns. They still need to be careful because not all of the hunters in the neighborhood have warning bells on their collars. If you are a cat owner and you let your pet run outside, we hope you will consider putting a bell on them. Your friends in the sky will appreciate it :-) - Wan Chi Lau
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March 25,2007 |
Even though it snowed Saturday night, signs of Spring is everywhere. Most of the snow had melted by mid-morning. We went out and looked over the grounds of the RainyDayGarden and found bulbs peeking out all over the place.
Especially vigorous are the Day Lillies. Most of the time they don't show up until mid-April. This year hundreds of them have started poking out already. While it was true we had some bitterly cold days this Winter, the early Spring is encouraging all of the perenials to get going sooner.
The ground is quite wet from all of the melting snow. However, it did not dissuade neither Buffy nor Eliot from checking out all of the new scents around the grounds. They were also quite interested in all of the little feathery friends around the feeder. We are going to have to get some bells on the collars of these furry interns soon. - Wan Chi Lau
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March 17,2007 |
We LOVE being in New England! A few days ago it was 70º. Yesterday Boston got 8" of snow. However, even a mid-March Nor'easter could not hold back the signs of Spring. The tips of some early bulbs are starting to peek out. A beautiful red cardinal was spotted in the RainyDayGarden this morning. How cool is that?
This little storm will make getting the roast duck for this weekend's Chinese New Year party a bit more challenging, but we are sure the interns are up to the task. - Wan Chi Lau
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