Jumping right into this week’s Cool Stuff, there have been some wonderful new books published recently that I’ve reviewed over on Amazon. Mark Diacono’s The Food Lover’s Garden was a hit with me – fuchsia fruit leather? Daylily fritters? Yes, please!

Then, I got an early copy of Ruth Rogers Clausen’s new book 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants. While I’d recommend it most strongly for those struggling with cold climates or on the east coast, I loved how the author made gardening with deer a simple matter of selecting the right plants.

Then, it’s finally that time. Frances over at Faire Garden posted this aww-inducing craft project a couple years back, and I went straight out and bought some lamb’s ears in anticipation. I have waited with the utmost of patience (a trait you won’t see often from me) and I finally have some blooming lamb’s ears to make my very own lambs!

Go on over to FaireGarden to see how Frances did it, and learn to make your own lamb’s ears crafts. (Photo from FaireGarden.)

Then, the Queen of Succulents Debra Lee Baldwin has posted a photo tutorial of how to refresh a scraggly succulent pot.

Turns out it’s a while lot cheaper and easier to refresh a succulent container planting than it is for perennial or annual flowers! (Photo from Debra Lee Baldwin.)

Lastly, I’ll leave you with an adorable chicken-related post that will make you want to go snuggle some chickens and become a cartoonist.

Scratch and Peck, my very favoritest blog in the whole entire universe, has a post about how to deal with the hot weather. Just stick your toes in a watermelon and it will all be allright.

Don’t forget to enter to win one of four sets of Smart Pots! Just pop on over to this post and comment to win.

EDIT: Humboldt County local Cindy Graebner reminds us that it’s once again Open Gardens time at her Fickle Hill Old Rose Nursery. Stop on by this Sunday the 19th from 1-4 to visit her sturdy, spray-free old-fashioned roses suited to the moist coastal weather we have here.

She’s at 282 Fickle Hill Road in Arcata, and she reminds those of us who can walk well to park on Bayview or Hill Streets, and leave the onsite parking for those who can’t walk the 50 yards up the hill easily. If you go, be sure to tell me which roses were your favorites! (You can follow Fickle Hill Old Rose Nursery on Facebook here.) I’ll likely be there in the later part of the afternoon. Cheers!