Leaves float on every strong breeze, covering our walks and driveway just hours after we last cleaned them. The many different species of trees in our community almost guarantee that we will have a long season of managing fallen leaves and pine tags. Leaves may begin to fall in August or September, particularly when the weather is dry. And some trees hold onto their leaves until the following spring. So cleaning up fallen leaves is more of an ongoing...
The Fern Solution Once upon a time, I considered ferns the magical solution to most of my gardening challenges. Deep dry shade? Plant some Polystichum, Christmas ferns. Soggy shade? Plant some cinnamon or ostrich ferns. A wet meadow in partial sun? Marsh ferns, Thelypteris, will thrive. Winter color in part sun? Plant some Dryopteris ‘Autumn Brilliance’ ferns. Deer? Bunnies? No worries, grazers normally ignore the ferns, and especially avoid the Cyrtomium holly fern species. Slopes with too much erosion? ...
“To use the world well, To be able to stop wasting it and our time in it, we need to relearn our being in it.” Ursula Le Guin A friend and I were chatting about recipes one afternoon. She is a talented cook and loves to feed her friends and loved ones. I asked for the recipe for something delicious she had served, and she avoided disclosing the details. Finally, she gently explained that among her family, no...
“And therefore, as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy.” William Shakespeare, from Hamlet, First Folio Perhaps you have already made a fairy garden. It is an endearing activity for parents and grandparents to enjoy with the children in their lives. Full of whimsy and fun, we enter the world of ‘make-believe’ once again and see the world from a different perspective. Everything is...
Summer at last! Tomatoes are ripening, flowers blooming, and we are enjoying prime time in the garden. July and August can be our most productive season in the garden. But these months challenge our ingenuity and dedication when the weather turns hot and dry. All our garden dreams can wither under the summer sun or topple over in a summer storm if we neglect the basic maintenance routines that help our gardens thrive. Here are a few tips to...
What To Do in May and June Avid gardeners find lots to do during May and June as spring melts into summer. The enjoyment of spending time outside watching things grow and listening to the birds can distract us from our spring to-do list. But taking care of business early in the season will result in a more attractive garden and more success through the summer months ahead. The days are getting noticeably longer and warmer as the first flush...
We can consider winter as the ‘weekend’ of the gardening year, both the last month and the first months of the year when we can enjoy a much-needed rest from the regular routine. A period of rest and renewal restores energy to both the garden and the gardener. It allows us time for reflection on the successes and challenges of seasons past and an opportunity to plan and prepare for the seasons to come. If winter is the weekend,...
Every tiny seed holds a bit of life, stored efficiently enough that it can spring into growth in some future time when conditions permit. The saying goes that every acorn holds the potential for a future forest of oaks. Although that acorn will grow into only a single tree, each tree can produce millions of acorns during its lifespan. A ripened seed, the DNA for a new plant, contains stored proteins, carbohydrates and minerals in its cotyledon, and a...