I have just booked my 100th garden visitor. That has been in only just under 8 weeks!! Thank you to all who are making this such a wonderful, enjoyable venture!!
My cell phone is now set for text messaging - please be patient with me as I learn to use it.
Monday, June 30, 2008
work party
On Sunday, July 6th we will be having a work party in the old vegetable garden out back. The goal is to get it cleared and ready for seeds. We will use this garden for seedlings to develop more plants for all of you to have. We are supplying hotdogs for the initial group of college students who are coming - Anyone else is welcome to join in, but will need to bring their own food if they want to stay and eat with us - The kids will be going in the pool after they work.
Email me if you want to join us.
Email me if you want to join us.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
TODAY'S OFFER
All seeds on seed list. Strawberry runners still available. Seeds will be given out at the following times - Wednesday 3-5 pm, Thursday 6-7 PM, Friday 9-10 am. Except for limited seeds, all will be available all season. Please specify time you will be arriving so I don't overbook. Thanks
Email me when you are planning to come in order to get on the list. I am working on a sign up list which will be on this blog soon, as well as a calendar with all garden related doings. I got a large supply of envelopes, so you do not need to bring any.
Guided tours the weekend of 7/26-27 are being considered. Please let me know if you would be interested in coming - I would book groups at 9am and 3 or 4 pm for 2 hour tours, including plant identification and any gardening questions you might have.
Please use this blog to ask me any questions you may have.
Email me when you are planning to come in order to get on the list. I am working on a sign up list which will be on this blog soon, as well as a calendar with all garden related doings. I got a large supply of envelopes, so you do not need to bring any.
Guided tours the weekend of 7/26-27 are being considered. Please let me know if you would be interested in coming - I would book groups at 9am and 3 or 4 pm for 2 hour tours, including plant identification and any gardening questions you might have.
Please use this blog to ask me any questions you may have.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
GARDENING QUESTIONS
This post is going to be for questions that people coming to my gardens ask.
- ARE THERE DIFFERENT VARIEITIES OF BLACK EYED SUSANS IN MY GARDENS??
My garden has only 1 variety. These plants in my gardens have 2 entirely different looks. One is very tall, thin, leggy and sparse looking. with light green small leaves; the other is lower to the ground, bushy and had rounder, larger dark green lush looking leaves. The difference is due to conditions within the garden. The tall, thin ones grew in an area where they were very overcrowded, so had to grow upward to get any sun - thus, they didn't produce much in the way of leaves. They flower the same, but you might notice the flowers are smaller. The others had sufficient room to grow - were not crowded by other plants, so had plenty of sun to produce lush greenery, and a larger bushy plant which will produce larger flowers. Black Eyed Susans can get so big that they fall apart from the center outward, and need to be thinned. They can also be pruned all the way down and will come up again more compact.
HOW CAN I TELL WHEN SEEDS ARE READY TO HARVEST??
It depends on the plant. Right now I am harvesting many varieties. For Grape Hyacinth and Chives, if you wait too long they will spread seed everywhere. Today i was able to gently pull each stem holding a seed head and they came up quite easily . I have cut in the past, but find this much easier. If you cut off just the seedheads on the chives, you will get that stem in with your clippings when you go to cut the chives for cooking and have to sort those tough stems out before using - picking the entire stem with the seedhead when you want to harvest the seeds or deadhead the plant will eliminate that process.
- ARE THERE DIFFERENT VARIEITIES OF BLACK EYED SUSANS IN MY GARDENS??
My garden has only 1 variety. These plants in my gardens have 2 entirely different looks. One is very tall, thin, leggy and sparse looking. with light green small leaves; the other is lower to the ground, bushy and had rounder, larger dark green lush looking leaves. The difference is due to conditions within the garden. The tall, thin ones grew in an area where they were very overcrowded, so had to grow upward to get any sun - thus, they didn't produce much in the way of leaves. They flower the same, but you might notice the flowers are smaller. The others had sufficient room to grow - were not crowded by other plants, so had plenty of sun to produce lush greenery, and a larger bushy plant which will produce larger flowers. Black Eyed Susans can get so big that they fall apart from the center outward, and need to be thinned. They can also be pruned all the way down and will come up again more compact.
HOW CAN I TELL WHEN SEEDS ARE READY TO HARVEST??
It depends on the plant. Right now I am harvesting many varieties. For Grape Hyacinth and Chives, if you wait too long they will spread seed everywhere. Today i was able to gently pull each stem holding a seed head and they came up quite easily . I have cut in the past, but find this much easier. If you cut off just the seedheads on the chives, you will get that stem in with your clippings when you go to cut the chives for cooking and have to sort those tough stems out before using - picking the entire stem with the seedhead when you want to harvest the seeds or deadhead the plant will eliminate that process.
NEAL BOYD - the American Paul Potts
Just finished watching Neal Boyd again - still moves me to tears - have seen it dozens of times now. For any who have not heard of him, he is a contestant on the TV show "America's Got Talent".
You can find him on Utube, and probably everywhere else. He is magical, so moving and just brilliant!!!
We lost Luciano Pavarotti this year and have all been blessed with 2 new tenors - Neal Boyd and Paul Potts
This show has some incredible talent this year. This past week had 2 amazing street/break dance/tumblers from New Orleans, performing in memory of an uncle who died in the flooding to save the younger children in the family.
Then there is a Russian trio who have an unbelievable acrobatic type act.
And a new Elvis!! If you haven't turned in check the internet for clips - It is so very entertaining.
There is so little family entertinment on tv these days. I recommend it highly.
You can find him on Utube, and probably everywhere else. He is magical, so moving and just brilliant!!!
We lost Luciano Pavarotti this year and have all been blessed with 2 new tenors - Neal Boyd and Paul Potts
This show has some incredible talent this year. This past week had 2 amazing street/break dance/tumblers from New Orleans, performing in memory of an uncle who died in the flooding to save the younger children in the family.
Then there is a Russian trio who have an unbelievable acrobatic type act.
And a new Elvis!! If you haven't turned in check the internet for clips - It is so very entertaining.
There is so little family entertinment on tv these days. I recommend it highly.
Reflection
Getting ready to go work in the gardens while it is still bearable outside - today is supposed to be a scorcher! This year has been so unusual in that we have had an abundance of rain for this time of year. We are usually scrambling to water on our even odd schedule of reduced water use. Some parts of the gardens and yard look like a rain forest - things are so plush and it is almost July - in past years we would have brown lawn now due to watering restrictions. I am so grateful for all the rain - one of my sisters lives on her water reserves, which have run dry due to so little rain in her area of NH.
I know that due to my inattention while I was ill, my gardens were just getting by, craving for care and attention. Just like anything else in life, with little care, they did get by, but did not flourish. Although I must add that the weeds did flourish and began to choke out some of my plants. During this time , any energy I was able to muster occasionally was put in to weeding around my perennials. Now with the care, attention and love I am able to lavish on them, they are in the best condition ever.
And so, an AHA moment here - All things in my life did not get much attention over the years while I was sick - It was like I was in a fog (Medicationally induced, obviously) This includes people in my life- family, friends, neighbors, as well as all the other "things". I withdrew within, to be able to start healing from within outward. It has been a long, slow process, but one that was productive, in that I got off all the meds and am now out of that "fog". And so I finally get on with this process of staying connected - to the important things in life - the living!! The people, the creatures, the flora and the fauna!!!
I know that due to my inattention while I was ill, my gardens were just getting by, craving for care and attention. Just like anything else in life, with little care, they did get by, but did not flourish. Although I must add that the weeds did flourish and began to choke out some of my plants. During this time , any energy I was able to muster occasionally was put in to weeding around my perennials. Now with the care, attention and love I am able to lavish on them, they are in the best condition ever.
And so, an AHA moment here - All things in my life did not get much attention over the years while I was sick - It was like I was in a fog (Medicationally induced, obviously) This includes people in my life- family, friends, neighbors, as well as all the other "things". I withdrew within, to be able to start healing from within outward. It has been a long, slow process, but one that was productive, in that I got off all the meds and am now out of that "fog". And so I finally get on with this process of staying connected - to the important things in life - the living!! The people, the creatures, the flora and the fauna!!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Rabbit Resistant perennials
Rabbit-Resistant Perennials from "The Perennial Gardener" Jeff and Marilyn Cox, Rodale Press,1985
- Achillea - Yarrow
- Aconitum - Monkshood
- Anaphalis - Pearly Everlasting
- Anemone
- Aquilegia - Columbine
- Artemisia - Wormwood
- Aster - Michaelmas Daisy
- Astilbe
- Baptista - Blue Wild Indigo
- Bergenia
- Campanula - Bellflower
- Cimicifuga - Snakeroot
- Colchicum - autumn crocus, meadow saffron, naked lady
- Convallaria - Lily-of-the-Valley
- Corydalis -Yellow Fumitory
- Digitalis - Foxglove
- Doronicum - Leopard's Bane
- Epimedium - Bishop's Hat
- Filipendula - Meadowsweet
- Gentiana - Gentian
- Geranium
- Helleborus - Hellebore
- Hemerocallis - Daylily
- Hosta
- Iris
- Kniphofia - Tritoma, Red Hot Poker
- Narcissus
- Nepeta- Catmint
- Paeonia - Peony
- papaver - Poppy
- Polygonatum - Solomon's Seal
- Polygonum - Chinese Knotweed, Flowery Knotweed
- Salvia - Meadow Sage
- Sedum - Stonecrop
- Stachys - Lamb's Ears
- Trillium - Wake Robin
- Trollius - Globe Flower
- Yucca - Desert Candle
CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT
Where does the time go?? I started this around 4:30 this morning thinking I'd have plenty of time to get all the specifics looked up. WRONG!!! I have two gardeners arriving around 8, and it's now 7:15 - I must set this aside to get to my gardening. Will finish later, but wanted you to see what I've been working on!!
Originally I started this post when I completed the process for certification. Going back to complete this has been a real interesting, eye opening experience. Having been 22 years since I first started all these gardens, one does tend to forget the details of the process. (Okay, I admit it could also have something to do with my age!!) I've had a few people ask me about native plants. I know I have a lot of plants, shrubs and trees that are native to this property. I had forgotten the research I undertook at that time to prepare for the landscaping and gardens,. I did not use all native plantings. It was just a thought in everyone's heads, put into practice by only a few knowledgeable souls. Concern for the environment and conservation were not major concerns in the 80's. But I had read a wonderful little book on how to create your own little habitat in your own backyard, and how this could be a trend to protect the native wildlife in the country. Lent the book out years ago, never got it back, don't even remember to whom --- sound familiar??
Just did a Google search to try to find it - as it didn't show up on the first few pages, I gave up the search. I'm not into scanning endless pages these days.
And as I review this whole process I am reminded of how thoughtful I was, in some ways, about identifying what I have on this property and how I wanted to develop my gardens with nature at the forefront. And I am being continually surprised this morning as I rediscover all the native plants I brought into the gardens. I did know they were native, just totally forgot that whole piece of my garden development!
I am surrounded by woods and wetlands on two sides of the property. our three acres are bordered on the south by Meadow brook, on the east by Route 140, with continuing undeveloped wetlands across the street, and two neighbors on the north, which are separated from us by dense thickets and plenty of trees. We planted a thick hedge with Privet, Ligustrum on the house side. This has given us a buffer from the street, which has a speed limit of 45 - it's state Route 140. This hedge also affords us complete privacy in our front yard. We actually have our own little paradise here when you walk into the back yard.
On June 27, I completed the process to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat. I will be posting a sign as soon as it arrives. This will be a way to educate others on how to create a habitat within their own yards. This is a wonderful program, which brings me full circle as I had created my gardens for this purpose 22 years ago, when no programs like this existed.
(still have no clue about the underlining)
How does one create a Certified Wildlife habitat? What you need to do is to provide the following on your property:
FOOD SOURCES For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
WATER SOURCES For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
PLACES FOR COVER For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
PLACES TO RAISE YOUNG For example: dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
SUSTAINABLE GARDENING For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
The above information is from http://secure.nmf.org
Consider working towards creating your own Wildlife Habitat. The following are photos representative of some of the criteria for becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
This is a good example of how to create a thicket. This is an area at the edge of the woods, separating our property from our neighbors. Not only does it provide ground cover for wildlife, but it also provides a nice buffer for our privacy. The trees were all here. We let the natural plants grow up with some additional native plantings, Sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa to create a border against the lawn.
This is a way of hiding a mandatory retention basin, while creating a wildlife thicket on wetlands!! Our three acres are bordered on the south by Meadow Brook. Since we are on wetlands, we were required to construct this basin for runoff. During the wet months it becomes our own little pond, and stays full for the winter and into the spring months. It is home to may species, and is the annual stopover for a pair of ducks. Native Dogwood, Ferns and other plants have come up as wanted over the years, to create this little oasis in our back gardens. I have added Pachysandra procumbens, Allegheny Spurge as a border with the lawn, which we have been cutting back little by little each year.
A colony of native Violets, Viola Rosina has established itself on the left sloping bank under a native Crabapple tree, Acer.
These are some examples of food sources. This native Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, is the source plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. i collect the caterpillars as I find them and bring them inside to raise. I do this because otherwise they get eaten!!
This is a Dutchman's Pipevine, Aristolochia macrophylla, the source food for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. As I have had none in the yard, I finally bought some eggs last year and had about two dozen butterflies I released. I am still waiting to see just one this year, so far to no avail.
This is one of several water sources we have. Our property is bordered on the south by Meadow Brook, and on the west by an open conduit running into the brook.
To the left of our house is a wonderful expanse of woodland, which goes right through to Route 1A. We've seen deer and red fox, to name a couple of the animals that visit us from time to time.
This area adjacent to the bird bath has a small Cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides, growing next to a Swamp Maple, Acer rubrum, also known as Red Maple, Scarlet Maple. (Okay, I did not know that. I never liked the name Swamp Maple, I always thought it sounded derogatory. Now my Maple will be know as Scarlet Maples, as I have a Red Maple out front (which is actually burgundy!!) ) This has created a small thicket and offers cover for the many varieties of birds who visit the bath and feeders.
The Cedar sprung up a few years back and decided to join our gardens! They are also in the woods, and now we have several all over the area. Take note of the small tree to the right of the birdbath. It is a dogwood. Notice the small trunk coming up to the left of the main trunk. It is a feeding station for birds; see following paragraph.
I have allowed most of the native flora a chance to show me what they've got before I make a decision about whether it gets to stay or not. I've made the mistake (several times) of letting something come up in a certain area, only to find out down the road that it was actually an invasive species which has choked out the previous occupants of the area. Many times it is just by trial and error that you are able to determine what is best suited for your own garden. I truly believe that whether a plant not just survives in your garden, but thrives, is determined by things way beyond our control; it is that "it" factor. Like my two Climbing Hydrangeas, you can provide the perfect soil, light, water, and location, but I believe it is ultimately up to the plant whether it is going to thrive or not. You can tell if a plant is just "getting by", or absolutely screams at you when you walk by "I just love it here!!", "Hello! Look at me! I am loving it here! I just love you!" If you listen with your heart you will hear it!!
This Spirea, meadowsweet, is one that I purchased. It also creates a nice little thicket. The other day a beautiful red chipmunk was running around its base.
This is another view of what I call the Birdbath Garden. We have lost many trees over the years. We kept the tall stump of this one because it has a Clematis growing on it and also because it serves as a great feeding station for the birds, as well as the few squirrels here on the property.
The Dogwood behind it got trampled by a huge section of the Scarlet Maple behind it this past winter. It was such a sweet Dogwood, which was very slowly making some growth progress. Well, the tree fell right on top of both sections of the little Dogwood, crushing it in entirety. As is was in the winter we were unable to get to it right away. The main trunk was curved to the ground under the weight of the massive trunk, and the side trunk was snapped off, leaving the small broken trunk rising from the ground. We got out as quickly as we could to get the big trunk off the Dogwood, but it was just to big for us to handle it.
I was in the middle of recuperating from hand surgery, or I would have been out there working on a rescue right away. How so very frustrating to have to watch it suffering and be unable to do anything to help. It was several weeks before we had enough help to get the Dogwood free of the trunk's weight. The Scarlet Maple suffered from two large tears to the main trunk, which we still have not be able to get treated. The Dogwood was just a mess.
Patience is necessary when dealing with nature. As it was winter, I was unable to determine what damage was incurred by the Dogwood. In early spring when all the other Dogwoods were getting their flowers, then their leaves, this little one showed not even a flicker of life.
And so goes the circle of life. Some things survive, others don't. But in the face of destruction, sometimes you can find a way to benefit from the fallout. That little broken trunk from the Dogwood, was destined to be cut down, as it was just a broken twisted, unattractive stump in the Birdbath garden. It was on my to do list of pruning, along with the main little Dogwood itself, which had no spring growth. I kept meaning to get to it, but couldn't physically do it due to the hand recuperation process.
So on the day I was planning to have hubby do pruning, I went out in the gardens to check out all that needed to be done. Imagine my utter surprise and sheer joy to see a couple of leaves unfolding, coming to life, on the Dogwood!! Such joy - this little tree had indeed survived the winter's calamity after all!! Now the tree is very sparse and not of the beautiful graceful form it once had, but it is alive and has struggled to do so, so that it will have a place in these gardens for as long as it wants. We do not toss out the people of this world who are not perfect. We need to give our plants and trees the same opportunities.
A further note: The small broken trunk was also destined to be pruned down - after all, it was dead, and of no intrinsic value, right? I was getting ready to cut it off, when I looked out and saw a baby Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicolor, sitting on it waiting to be fed by its mother. The mother would got to the feeder, get seed and feed her baby. Okay, little trunk - YOU CAN STAY!!
Originally I started this post when I completed the process for certification. Going back to complete this has been a real interesting, eye opening experience. Having been 22 years since I first started all these gardens, one does tend to forget the details of the process. (Okay, I admit it could also have something to do with my age!!) I've had a few people ask me about native plants. I know I have a lot of plants, shrubs and trees that are native to this property. I had forgotten the research I undertook at that time to prepare for the landscaping and gardens,. I did not use all native plantings. It was just a thought in everyone's heads, put into practice by only a few knowledgeable souls. Concern for the environment and conservation were not major concerns in the 80's. But I had read a wonderful little book on how to create your own little habitat in your own backyard, and how this could be a trend to protect the native wildlife in the country. Lent the book out years ago, never got it back, don't even remember to whom --- sound familiar??
Just did a Google search to try to find it - as it didn't show up on the first few pages, I gave up the search. I'm not into scanning endless pages these days.
And as I review this whole process I am reminded of how thoughtful I was, in some ways, about identifying what I have on this property and how I wanted to develop my gardens with nature at the forefront. And I am being continually surprised this morning as I rediscover all the native plants I brought into the gardens. I did know they were native, just totally forgot that whole piece of my garden development!
I am surrounded by woods and wetlands on two sides of the property. our three acres are bordered on the south by Meadow brook, on the east by Route 140, with continuing undeveloped wetlands across the street, and two neighbors on the north, which are separated from us by dense thickets and plenty of trees. We planted a thick hedge with Privet, Ligustrum on the house side. This has given us a buffer from the street, which has a speed limit of 45 - it's state Route 140. This hedge also affords us complete privacy in our front yard. We actually have our own little paradise here when you walk into the back yard.
On June 27, I completed the process to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat. I will be posting a sign as soon as it arrives. This will be a way to educate others on how to create a habitat within their own yards. This is a wonderful program, which brings me full circle as I had created my gardens for this purpose 22 years ago, when no programs like this existed.
(still have no clue about the underlining)
How does one create a Certified Wildlife habitat? What you need to do is to provide the following on your property:
FOOD SOURCES For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
WATER SOURCES For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
PLACES FOR COVER For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
PLACES TO RAISE YOUNG For example: dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
SUSTAINABLE GARDENING For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
The above information is from http://secure.nmf.org
Consider working towards creating your own Wildlife Habitat. The following are photos representative of some of the criteria for becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
This is a good example of how to create a thicket. This is an area at the edge of the woods, separating our property from our neighbors. Not only does it provide ground cover for wildlife, but it also provides a nice buffer for our privacy. The trees were all here. We let the natural plants grow up with some additional native plantings, Sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa to create a border against the lawn.
This is a way of hiding a mandatory retention basin, while creating a wildlife thicket on wetlands!! Our three acres are bordered on the south by Meadow Brook. Since we are on wetlands, we were required to construct this basin for runoff. During the wet months it becomes our own little pond, and stays full for the winter and into the spring months. It is home to may species, and is the annual stopover for a pair of ducks. Native Dogwood, Ferns and other plants have come up as wanted over the years, to create this little oasis in our back gardens. I have added Pachysandra procumbens, Allegheny Spurge as a border with the lawn, which we have been cutting back little by little each year.
A colony of native Violets, Viola Rosina has established itself on the left sloping bank under a native Crabapple tree, Acer.
These are some examples of food sources. This native Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, is the source plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. i collect the caterpillars as I find them and bring them inside to raise. I do this because otherwise they get eaten!!
This is a Dutchman's Pipevine, Aristolochia macrophylla, the source food for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. As I have had none in the yard, I finally bought some eggs last year and had about two dozen butterflies I released. I am still waiting to see just one this year, so far to no avail.
This is one of several water sources we have. Our property is bordered on the south by Meadow Brook, and on the west by an open conduit running into the brook.
To the left of our house is a wonderful expanse of woodland, which goes right through to Route 1A. We've seen deer and red fox, to name a couple of the animals that visit us from time to time.
This area adjacent to the bird bath has a small Cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides, growing next to a Swamp Maple, Acer rubrum, also known as Red Maple, Scarlet Maple. (Okay, I did not know that. I never liked the name Swamp Maple, I always thought it sounded derogatory. Now my Maple will be know as Scarlet Maples, as I have a Red Maple out front (which is actually burgundy!!) ) This has created a small thicket and offers cover for the many varieties of birds who visit the bath and feeders.
The Cedar sprung up a few years back and decided to join our gardens! They are also in the woods, and now we have several all over the area. Take note of the small tree to the right of the birdbath. It is a dogwood. Notice the small trunk coming up to the left of the main trunk. It is a feeding station for birds; see following paragraph.
I have allowed most of the native flora a chance to show me what they've got before I make a decision about whether it gets to stay or not. I've made the mistake (several times) of letting something come up in a certain area, only to find out down the road that it was actually an invasive species which has choked out the previous occupants of the area. Many times it is just by trial and error that you are able to determine what is best suited for your own garden. I truly believe that whether a plant not just survives in your garden, but thrives, is determined by things way beyond our control; it is that "it" factor. Like my two Climbing Hydrangeas, you can provide the perfect soil, light, water, and location, but I believe it is ultimately up to the plant whether it is going to thrive or not. You can tell if a plant is just "getting by", or absolutely screams at you when you walk by "I just love it here!!", "Hello! Look at me! I am loving it here! I just love you!" If you listen with your heart you will hear it!!
This Spirea, meadowsweet, is one that I purchased. It also creates a nice little thicket. The other day a beautiful red chipmunk was running around its base.
This is another view of what I call the Birdbath Garden. We have lost many trees over the years. We kept the tall stump of this one because it has a Clematis growing on it and also because it serves as a great feeding station for the birds, as well as the few squirrels here on the property.
The Dogwood behind it got trampled by a huge section of the Scarlet Maple behind it this past winter. It was such a sweet Dogwood, which was very slowly making some growth progress. Well, the tree fell right on top of both sections of the little Dogwood, crushing it in entirety. As is was in the winter we were unable to get to it right away. The main trunk was curved to the ground under the weight of the massive trunk, and the side trunk was snapped off, leaving the small broken trunk rising from the ground. We got out as quickly as we could to get the big trunk off the Dogwood, but it was just to big for us to handle it.
I was in the middle of recuperating from hand surgery, or I would have been out there working on a rescue right away. How so very frustrating to have to watch it suffering and be unable to do anything to help. It was several weeks before we had enough help to get the Dogwood free of the trunk's weight. The Scarlet Maple suffered from two large tears to the main trunk, which we still have not be able to get treated. The Dogwood was just a mess.
Patience is necessary when dealing with nature. As it was winter, I was unable to determine what damage was incurred by the Dogwood. In early spring when all the other Dogwoods were getting their flowers, then their leaves, this little one showed not even a flicker of life.
And so goes the circle of life. Some things survive, others don't. But in the face of destruction, sometimes you can find a way to benefit from the fallout. That little broken trunk from the Dogwood, was destined to be cut down, as it was just a broken twisted, unattractive stump in the Birdbath garden. It was on my to do list of pruning, along with the main little Dogwood itself, which had no spring growth. I kept meaning to get to it, but couldn't physically do it due to the hand recuperation process.
So on the day I was planning to have hubby do pruning, I went out in the gardens to check out all that needed to be done. Imagine my utter surprise and sheer joy to see a couple of leaves unfolding, coming to life, on the Dogwood!! Such joy - this little tree had indeed survived the winter's calamity after all!! Now the tree is very sparse and not of the beautiful graceful form it once had, but it is alive and has struggled to do so, so that it will have a place in these gardens for as long as it wants. We do not toss out the people of this world who are not perfect. We need to give our plants and trees the same opportunities.
A further note: The small broken trunk was also destined to be pruned down - after all, it was dead, and of no intrinsic value, right? I was getting ready to cut it off, when I looked out and saw a baby Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicolor, sitting on it waiting to be fed by its mother. The mother would got to the feeder, get seed and feed her baby. Okay, little trunk - YOU CAN STAY!!
Very busy
Still very busy with the set up. Giving strawberry runners daily! Such fun to see people getting interested in growing food!!! Maybe some will go on to grow vegetables, also. I have decided to accept people's offers for plants that I do not have in my garden - I certainly do not need more plants - but I have the room and it will expand what I have to offer to those who come. The unusual plants will be very popular. Thanks Krissy, for your generous offer to share from your garden!! I will be able to accommodate seed collectors also - just am not set up to do mailing on a large basis at this point.
I have decided to definitely get the old vegetable garden ready for seeds - It has limited sun, so it won't burn out new seedlings. I am looking for help with this, so I will plan it accordingly.
Getting ready to have several in for plants and seeds today, and have to get all the set up work progressing!! Looks to be a much warmer day today, still very humid.
Lupine, Oxeye Daisy and Centaurea (Mountain Bluet) seeds are ready.
I have decided to definitely get the old vegetable garden ready for seeds - It has limited sun, so it won't burn out new seedlings. I am looking for help with this, so I will plan it accordingly.
Getting ready to have several in for plants and seeds today, and have to get all the set up work progressing!! Looks to be a much warmer day today, still very humid.
Lupine, Oxeye Daisy and Centaurea (Mountain Bluet) seeds are ready.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I put up offer for strawberry runners, to see what the interest might be. Had 7 responses in the first few hours - wasn't sure if i could accommodate them all so went out to count runners. Well, imagine my surprise when I could barely walk through the strawberry patch due to so many runners - I counted 177 that had set little plants, and many more are getting ready to set!!! Will be able to share with all!!
One girl who responded wanted to plant strawberries due to memories relating to her grandmother and picking strawberries with her. My grandkids went strawberry picking with all of us last year at a local farm - and had so much fun I moved a bunch of runners that had been around forever into a new sunny patch, and we have been enjoying strawberries for 2 weeks now!! Every time they come, they run to the patch for berries!! I just have to battle with the local catbird that keeps eating them - even when I am within 6 feet of it!!
What a wonderful time of year - Walking around I can hear baby goldfinches in my Blue Spruce, and several other chirping groups in various trees!! Had 2 hawks here yesterday diving to get at something in my garden.
One girl who responded wanted to plant strawberries due to memories relating to her grandmother and picking strawberries with her. My grandkids went strawberry picking with all of us last year at a local farm - and had so much fun I moved a bunch of runners that had been around forever into a new sunny patch, and we have been enjoying strawberries for 2 weeks now!! Every time they come, they run to the patch for berries!! I just have to battle with the local catbird that keeps eating them - even when I am within 6 feet of it!!
What a wonderful time of year - Walking around I can hear baby goldfinches in my Blue Spruce, and several other chirping groups in various trees!! Had 2 hawks here yesterday diving to get at something in my garden.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Had grandkids all day - hard to do much else - Had 2 surprises today - First, the very first girl who came to my gardens through Freecycle called to bring over a plant and her mother to visit the gardens. Such a great surprise. it was so much fun to have them here- Krissy had been here before, but this time we were able to take a leisurely stroll around the gardens, and I was able to surprise her with 2 more plants she didn't have!! How fun!! It was great to have a mother and daughter her together - Krissy had been here before with her dad. How wonderful that gardening is still being passed down to the younger generation.
The second surprise is an unexpected visit from a former foster daughter who is a wonderful success story - she has gone on to become the first female Army recruiter in MA!!! Yea, Lisa - what a great role model she has become for Mia!!
It is a reminder to me that the system sometimes does get it right. Lisa is due any minute. I'm very excited to see her again. --- Had a great, short visit( longer one to follow over the weekend) with Lisa - Bike and all!! She has been promoted to Staff Sergeant!!! Yea, Lisa. Such a poised, confident, compassionate, responsible and loving young lady. Being a first generation American - she is setting a great standard to be followed by others -
Speaking of the army - I have been having a continuing army of ants visiting me in my office these days!!!!!
So ends a day filled with love around the gardens!!
The second surprise is an unexpected visit from a former foster daughter who is a wonderful success story - she has gone on to become the first female Army recruiter in MA!!! Yea, Lisa - what a great role model she has become for Mia!!
It is a reminder to me that the system sometimes does get it right. Lisa is due any minute. I'm very excited to see her again. --- Had a great, short visit( longer one to follow over the weekend) with Lisa - Bike and all!! She has been promoted to Staff Sergeant!!! Yea, Lisa. Such a poised, confident, compassionate, responsible and loving young lady. Being a first generation American - she is setting a great standard to be followed by others -
Speaking of the army - I have been having a continuing army of ants visiting me in my office these days!!!!!
So ends a day filled with love around the gardens!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I'm starting to get the hang of the layout - Getting lists ready. Getting more pictures taken, sorting which to post. I've been checking out gardener websites. Couldn't find one that had what I'm looking for. I'll be setting up a schedule for when I'll be in the garden on a regular basis so people know when they can book a time to come. Of course the weather will play a big part in this.
I really love sharing my gardens. Had many visitors to the garden on Saturday - I was offering Climbing Hydrangea cuttings - I have a marvelous one that I've had since 1994, which is growing up a 60-70 foot Swamp Maple in my back yard. The tree had 2 main trunks, both of which have the Hydrangea on it about 50 feet up now. I did take a picture, which will be posted as soon as I get them all downloaded.
It was pretty amazing when people started asking about that vine - When I got into the garden below, I did not realize that it had runners all over the ground - to date I have given cuttings (All at least 3 leaf groupings) to 19 people with 10 more still to get picked up!!
I have another Climbing Hydrangea that I had gotten in 1992, which did not grow until after the other was established and blooming - It is on a tree about 12 feet from the other one!! It is only about 8 feet after 16 years!! So the lesson here is that 2 similar plants do not always grow the same.
I just checked on my caterpillars, and one was just finishing changing into a chrysalis and was stuck between fennel stalks. Moved him out and set him up to dry!
I'm always amazed when I get a different color variation on a seedling plant - such a great surprise - recently I discovered white edges on some blue columbine - parent stock is very dark blue! Put up a new seed offer yesterday on Freecycle groups. I belong to the Franklin, Plainville and Attleboro groups here in MA. I have gotten 16 responses so far on this 1 offer, and 8 are new to my gardens!
I have had 127 responses to 6 offers for free plants/seeds, 30 of those were repeats, so I have shared my gardens with 97 people since I started on Mother's Day! My garden's and I are thriving on all this attention!! Thanks from all of us.
I really love sharing my gardens. Had many visitors to the garden on Saturday - I was offering Climbing Hydrangea cuttings - I have a marvelous one that I've had since 1994, which is growing up a 60-70 foot Swamp Maple in my back yard. The tree had 2 main trunks, both of which have the Hydrangea on it about 50 feet up now. I did take a picture, which will be posted as soon as I get them all downloaded.
It was pretty amazing when people started asking about that vine - When I got into the garden below, I did not realize that it had runners all over the ground - to date I have given cuttings (All at least 3 leaf groupings) to 19 people with 10 more still to get picked up!!
I have another Climbing Hydrangea that I had gotten in 1992, which did not grow until after the other was established and blooming - It is on a tree about 12 feet from the other one!! It is only about 8 feet after 16 years!! So the lesson here is that 2 similar plants do not always grow the same.
I just checked on my caterpillars, and one was just finishing changing into a chrysalis and was stuck between fennel stalks. Moved him out and set him up to dry!
I'm always amazed when I get a different color variation on a seedling plant - such a great surprise - recently I discovered white edges on some blue columbine - parent stock is very dark blue! Put up a new seed offer yesterday on Freecycle groups. I belong to the Franklin, Plainville and Attleboro groups here in MA. I have gotten 16 responses so far on this 1 offer, and 8 are new to my gardens!
I have had 127 responses to 6 offers for free plants/seeds, 30 of those were repeats, so I have shared my gardens with 97 people since I started on Mother's Day! My garden's and I are thriving on all this attention!! Thanks from all of us.
Monday, June 23, 2008
My first blog - FREE PERENNIALS in Wrentham, MA
Let's try this again - having trouble with fonts. This is my very first blog posting - I'm not very computer savvy, but want to see if this will be the perfect venue for me to introduce people to me and my gardens. My gardens are very expansive - they include my actual gardens which surround my home in Wrentham, MA. Also within my gardens are the vast resources of all my experience and skills.
I have been using Freecycle in my area to give people for free perennials and seeds from my gardens. I have many, many varieties of plants, and just since my first offer on Mother's Day, 5-11-08, I have had over 100 responses to 6 separate offers for plants and seeds from my garden.
Now I need to get on with setting up the blog. I will be including pictures of the gardens, individual plants, seeds, the seeding process, seedlings, and others as I get more requests for same. I will be open to any requests for plants from gardeners who can travel to my garden - I am not prepared to do any mailing.
Wrentham is the home of the Wrentham Outlet stores - always worth a trip there. AND I am about 3 miles fromt the PATRIOTS (YEA!!!) Stadium - they are developing a huge shopping/entertainment complex there. I am also under 10 miles from the new Mansfield LLBean store.
I have been using Freecycle in my area to give people for free perennials and seeds from my gardens. I have many, many varieties of plants, and just since my first offer on Mother's Day, 5-11-08, I have had over 100 responses to 6 separate offers for plants and seeds from my garden.
Now I need to get on with setting up the blog. I will be including pictures of the gardens, individual plants, seeds, the seeding process, seedlings, and others as I get more requests for same. I will be open to any requests for plants from gardeners who can travel to my garden - I am not prepared to do any mailing.
Wrentham is the home of the Wrentham Outlet stores - always worth a trip there. AND I am about 3 miles fromt the PATRIOTS (YEA!!!) Stadium - they are developing a huge shopping/entertainment complex there. I am also under 10 miles from the new Mansfield LLBean store.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
