Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Our lower vegetable garden was created less than 10 years ago as we ran out of space for everything we wanted to plant for food. Ironically one of the best places with ample sunshine is adjacent to the driveway next to the street. After extending our deer fence around it, and installing raised beds, we […]
Last week was a mad rush to finish planting up all the vegetable gardens. Both seeds and transplants from the greenhouse finally went into the soil. I have discovered that little is gained by planting early and much can be lost in stunted or killed plants effected by a late early-morning cold snap. In fact, […]
Checking out the garden this morning I discover that it has been visited by one of my nemeses: a chipmunk. Resting on the greenhouse wall next to the strawberry patch is a half-chewed, unripened strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). Such a totem heralds the beginning of predation and fewer if any future berries to savor and […]
Juana and I admire the emerging pollinator garden at Ann’s Place. I recently planted sunflower (Helianthus) seedlings to complement the other plants that butterflies and other insects love. The perennials include: Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Lavender (Lavandula intermedia Phenomenal) Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Coneflower (Echinacea) Shadbush serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) Allium Last year aphids wiped out the […]
The fenced area around the well at McKeon Farm in Ridgefield has been a bit of a wasteland for years. The Ridgefield Conservation Commission put a tarp over it last year to kill a wide variety of invasive weeds. I volunteered to seed it with white and red clover (Trifolium repens/pratense) with the hopes of […]
I love the herbaceous borders that front all of the fencing that keeps out the deer. It changes season to season and never fails to deliver a visually interesting palette of plants, textures and colors. In the back now, flowering sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) carpets the area interspersed with ferns and hostas. Both are popping […]
Last week I made a run to one of my favorite wholesale facilities, @gilbertiesorganics, to load up on herbs for the gardens and my clients at @annsplaceinc. As always, Sal and his staff were very kind and generous donating some of the herbs needed for our gardens. So like other years, our three herb beds […]
It has just been two months since my book, A Therapist’s Garden, was released and I have been overwhelmed by the kind words and wonderful response of readers. To celebrate, I am giving away (via Instagram) a signed copy of my book (by me, Rosana and Juana) to three lucky winners who reside in the […]
Not mowing the lawn creates wonderful surprises. Against the fence, the fading daffodils (Narcissus) are counterbalanced against a thick row of lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis). I will have to let the grass grow as I don’t have the heart to cut down this lovely expanse of wildflowers.
When is it time to put shade cloth on the greenhouse? When the temps are going to shoot up 30 degrees F to over 90 for the weekend. Our fluctuating weather is keeping me on my toes as I still have seedlings in the greenhouse. Will be watering a lot and keeping cool this weekend.