Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Late June is the cusp of change as the bountiful harvest of strawberries begins to wane and the pale blueberries start to darken indicating that they are ready for the table and the mouth. This year’s strawberry harvest was poor compared to last year’s as the winter claimed at least 70 percent of our plants […]
A few of you may have noticed that my postings of the last month or so have been sparse (or to be more precise non-existent.) It is not from lack of things to do in the garden or interesting events/observations but rather a particularly hectic stretch of life that made blogging difficult if not impossible. […]
Though Memorial Day is the first unofficial day of Summer, it often does not live up to its billing. This weekend has been like that as yesterday’s relative warmth has been eclipsed by today’s rain and chill. Biting rain propelled by brisk winds have created a gray day where indoor activities are pursued instead of […]
The irony in bird watching is that the birds you often seek by crouching for hours in the woods waiting for a simple, plaintive song more times than not don’t show up making your stealthy, early morning walks for nought. On the other hand, you can be more successful if you hang out near well-supplied […]
In the Northeast we take water for granted. In fact we sometimes curse it in the summer when hot and damp conditions combine to promulgate fungi, slugs and other residents of our gardens that turn lovely plants into mush or fond memories. There are no such problems in Southeastern Arizona where the land appears to […]
Getting off the plane from Phoenix on Friday morning it seemed as if we entered a different world. The morning was cool and wet rather than the hot and dry weather we had become used to over the prior week. But the most remarkable thing about our return was the transformation of the landscape. Prior […]
Being on a north-facing cliff, I have always recognized that our gardens reside in a unique micro-climate. Everything emerges late compared to gardens in town or even a few hundred yards up the block, which is more southerly facing. But our recent visit to the Ramsey Canyon in Arizona has really shown us the incredible […]
It is interesting to get differing opinions about topography. When Juana and I decided to take a guided tour up Ramsey Canyon a few days ago, we were told that the first part was flat and the portion leading to the overlook was a little steep with switchbacks. Now where we come from, flat implies […]
New England has a profusion of flowers that start to emerge in the Spring. In the Southwest, the number of flowering plants is no different though the form is. When we think of difficult or thorny flowers in the North, roses come to mind. Their beauty is counterbalanced by the care with which they must […]
April is the month when you are unsure about how and when you will start your seedlings. The desire to get an early jump on the year is governed by the weather and the temperature of the soil. Often I start a few flats of greens in March with the hope of transplanting them into […]