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Food, Gardening

Asparagus is in!

May 9, 2023 No Comments

Our average daily harvest.

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A Therapist’s Garden

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GroHappy is a blog site that uses the concepts of horticultural therapy to bring joy and happiness to people though interacting with plants and nature.

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Erik Keller

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Revitalize your spirit through the beauty of plants and nature (#grohappyct). Check out my book, A Therapist's Garden.
While it is exciting to see everything green up an While it is exciting to see everything green up and pop out of the soil, it is with some sadness that I bid farewell to the skeletons of Winter. For the last five months, most of the trees, shrubs, and perennials have been unclothed. Now, they are on the cusp of bursting out with leaves obscuring their backgrounds. Watching squirrels and other creatures crunch their ways across the landscape will stop as their journeys will be concealed. A blanket of green will hide the rock outcroppings, fallen trees, and shafts of light creating a myraid of moving shadows against the hill. But the sight I will miss the most are the upper branches of our failing sugar maple, home to a wide range of woodpeckers. For most of Winter, I have seen northern flickers and red-bellied, downy, hairy, and pileated woodpeckers swoop up and down in the sky on their way from their hollowed-out perches to our suet feeder. Their homes are fragile as some break away from the tree with each large wind or storm. I will watch their flights even more carefully over the next few weeks before the entrances to their nests are eliminated from view. #grohappyct #woodpeckers #woodpeckerholes #sugarmaples
Though I spend much of my time with my head in the Though I spend much of my time with my head in the weeds and hands in the soil, there are many other passive outdoor pleasures that have been forgotten. The last two days have been bright with a warm wind coming from the West. This weather called me to hang out our laundry, which we often start to do later in the season. This was not the first time this year we placed washings outside. But today seemed different with the emergence of fattening buds on the trees and bushes. Spring (and our tablecloths) is in the air. As I took the laundry outside, the winds were whipping about making it more difficult to attach them to the clothesline. A wet tablecloth slapped me as I stretched its middle along the line. The damp smell of the detergent was a reminder of my task as I wheeled the table toppings toward the fence and crabapple tree. Each piece attempted to fly away as I fastened it to rope. Roosting birds on nearby trees chirped in laughter. The heat on my back contrasted with the coolness being blown toward me from the cloths. I needed only three clothesline spreaders so the laundry wouldn’t drop and touch the grass and emerging violets. Looking at the line, I wondered how many of my neighbors put their clothes out to dry. When I was a child, someone was always in trouble at my house or others when an errant kickball or whiffle ball caused a run into a set of drying garments. The clothesline was always out of bounds. An elderly neighbor once told my wife that he loved the fact that she hung our laundry out. Particularly the sheets. “It reminds me of my mother when she used to put the laundry out to dry,” he said. I have the same memory. #grohappyct #forgottenpleasures #hangingclothes #clothesline
Snowdrops, as is their name. First signs of new gr Snowdrops, as is their name. First signs of new growth this year. Time to cut some forsythia to force. #grohappyct #therapeutichorticulture #snowdrops #springbulbs #earlyflowers #endofwinter
Olivia and my newly budding amaryllis are two of m Olivia and my newly budding amaryllis are two of my most lovely flowers in bloom. We have nearly 20 bulbs in the basement that we start to bring up prior to Christmas, continuing through the early spring. Once the flowers are gone and the weather warms, they are placed outside to refresh themselves for the following year. #grohappyct #therapeutichorticulture #winterbulbs #amaryllis #winterflowers #indoorgardening
Given the severity of this Winter, I don't think I Given the severity of this Winter, I don't think I will be starting vegetable seedlings for a while. But that hasn't stopped me from planting trays of micro- and baby greens. I made the mistake by not first using a grow light as I thought a south-east facing window would provide enough rays. Wrong! After I installed the grow light and kept it on for 16 hours a day, the arugula, kale, chard, and a mix of lettuces took off. I have started to clip them to add to our dinner salads. Gently cutting each leaf, a fresh scent emerges from the soil and for a minute I think it could be Spring. A quick look at the icy, cold, snow outside eliminates that thought quickly. Olivia likes to nibble on the trays (though not the arugula) as would a hungry rabbit whenever she passes them by. Yum! I don't mind. #grohappyct #therapeutichorticulture #growyourownfood #microgreens #greens #wintergardening #arugula #lettuce #gardeningwithchildren
Ice storms are lovely to look at. The shimmering c Ice storms are lovely to look at. The shimmering casement they provide to everything they touch transforms the ground into a glistening landscape. A crunch accompanies each step across the snow. Frozen remnants move effortlessly over the skim, making crinkly sounds along their paths. Everything now seems black-and-white. The birds are having a tough time hanging onto their slippery perches, resting from foraging. One of the feeders is so weighed down with ice that the opening for seeds is closed. The beauty is unmistakable. To a point. Increasing thickness of ice is accompanied by snapping branches landing with a thud. Smaller pieces are separated from their trees, hitting the ground and sliding down over glazed rocks. With increasing ice, comes larger and more threatening cracks. And a bit of fear. Lights blink. Power goes off for a moment. Another log goes into the fire. And I stare outside, watching and waiting. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #icestorm #winterice #winterbirds
I have been itching to try out the snowshoes my da I have been itching to try out the snowshoes my daughter got for me and with last night's 6 inches of snow, the time is nigh. I first try them out in the back yard and find few problems with my stride as I troop over the snow. Wanting a bigger challenge, I take a short drive over to Wittman Preserve. It is a perfect day to explore this park and it appears to be all mine. A lone sycamore tree stands mottled with white bark and snow hanging on its trunk and branches. Old grasses, butterfly weed, golden rod, and other perennials rise from the snow in sharp, contrasting lines harboring insect eggs and other things that will emerge in Spring. Few creatures, except me, have left tracks. In the back of the park, I find crushed grasses indicating a prior bed for deer. There is little color in the park and everything appears in a stark black-and-white relief. Snow on top of dried flower heads gives the impressing of dandelion seeds waiting to fly away. I make my way over to the trail leading to Round Pond. Hiking through the wood, I see the tracks of a deer crossing the trail and that of a hiker and his dog. The pond is pristine and absolutely quiet. I rest a bit taking in the scenery before I return to my car. Walking back, the only noise is coming from my snowshoes crunching through the untouched snow. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #snowshoes #walkinginsnow #winterwalks
Shoveling snow before dawn is a meditative exercis Shoveling snow before dawn is a meditative exercise. There are no sounds as the snow muffles random noises. A fresh 2-inch blanket covers the surroundings, which were losing their wintry white coating, transitioning to gray. My large shovel rolls the powder downhill toward the sides of the driveway, scraping against the blacktop, the lone sound. It is still quite cold as the desiccated leaves of the rhododendron show. It is a good gauge of sub-freezing temperatures. But I feel little chill given the rhythm of my work, pushing on. Finishing the drive, I clear an adjacent walkway hearing the first chirping of birds as the sun peeks over a nearby hill. Approaching the front door, Buddha is solemn, waiting for more light. #grohappyct #snowshoveling #morningsnow #naturetherapy #buddha
The flurries and cold outside remind me that it's The flurries and cold outside remind me that it's time to order seeds for Spring. Leafing through the many catalogs I receive, I always come back to Fedco as the best source for my needs. I get out my five bins of seeds (two vegetable, greens, herbs, and flowers) to see what is still viable for the year ahead. Only a few packets are too old for use. Picking up the simple, newsprint catalog, I go though every page slowly comparing what I have, what worked well last year, and new things I want to try to grow. I will cut down on the number of tomato cultivars focusing on three long-term winners (Mountain Magic, Paul Robeson, and Pink Princess) and an addition of Orange Banana. I want to add more wildflowers and perennial pollinators so I am getting a wildflower mix as well as horehound and mountain mint. I harvested butterfly- and Joe pye-weed seeds that I plan to start in the greenhouse soon as they need to be stratified. I don't need any sunflower seeds as I saved the heads last Fall prior to their consumption by birds and squirrels. Because I am no longer working at Ann's Place, the amount of seeds I need is decreased though not their variety. I have gone though the catalog writing down everything I need to order. But I will take another look to ensure that nothing is missed. A good way to spend a cold, snowy afternoon. #grohappyct #therapeuticgardening #therapeutichorticulture #fedco #startingseeds #seedcatalog #wintergardening #gardentherapy
While December has been colder than normal and we While December has been colder than normal and we have had a couple of snows, the last being nearly 4 inches, there are still harvests to be had from the garden. I have two large cold frames holding a half dozen different cold-tolerant greens. Carrots, Swiss chard, and sorrel are on their own as are the perennial herbs. I haven't been able to harvest anything in the past 10 days because of the cold and then the snow. The recent spate of near 60-degree weather and heavy rains, however, have melted all the snow and given my greens a chance to come back. Opening up the cold frames, I am enveloped with the smell of fresh earth. The greens have rehydrated looking fresh and ready to sample. I grab a leaf and hear its crunch as I bite into it. I pull a bunch for dinner. Between the more mature leafs are tiny claytonia seedlings, which no doubt were self-seeded from Spring's crop. I will need to wait a season before I can sample them. I then harvest some of the thyme and oregano that survived temperatures in the low 20s and snow. The thyme looks perfect and there is just a little burn on the oregano. I take both between my fingers squeezing them to release their scents. If I close my eyes I can almost believe that it is summer. I then grab a few leaves of sorrel and Swiss chard. The final harvest are the carrots. A week ago my trowel bounced off the soil as it was frozen solid. Today there is a thin crust of ice that can be broken through easily. The carrots are stacked next to each other with the soil holding its shape as I pry bunches out of the ground. I wash one of the smaller ones and bite down. It is very sweet, much more so than a typical carrot. I greedily sample another. I could go and also harvest some wild greens like plantain and garlic mustard for a savory pop in flavor but I am content with what is in my basket. This and the addition of a few dried blueberries and goat cheese will make for a delicious December salad. #grohappyct #gardentherapy #naturetherapy #wintersalad #wintergreens #growyourownfood #therapeutichorticulture #fourseasongarden #coldframe
An unexpected snow after a much needed rain greets An unexpected snow after a much needed rain greets us this morning. Remaining greenery and tree branches are coated with a thick, heavy layer of snow fattening up each plant and object in the yard. The birds are particularly put off as they no longer have the luxury of snacking on coneflowers, sunflowers, and other seeded plants that were knocked down in the dark of the night. They swarm to the feeders fighting with each other for a spot to grab a seed or two. There are still transient flakes falling this morning looking to further coat my yard. Juana, Olivia, Dori and I go out to survey the day. Though some trees, like the miniature Alberta spruces, hold up well to this event, others, like the bayberry bushes, strain to remain erect. They are bent over to the near breaking point. A distant group of Douglas firs look like a trio of sisters with their white mufflers on out for a morning stroll. Olivia on her sled and Dori running laps are marring the perfect white blanket on the grass. We enjoy this snow moment as we know it will melt away with the passing of the day. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #firstsnow #gardentherapy
In November, there are still many fruits about if In November, there are still many fruits about if you just look carefully. Five of my favorites are within feet of each other in my back yard. My most favorite is the beautyberry of which I have the Japanese variety. (I tried to grow the American species (Callicarpa americana) but my yard is just a tad too cold for it to survive the winters.) Its clusters of bright purple drupes stand out amidst an otherwise dull background. These fruits are not too long-lived as the birds clear them out typically before Christmas. And for the adventurous, they can be made into a delicious jam. The next on my list are hollies with their bright red berries sitting against vibrant green leaves. (If you can get an American holly (Ilex opaca) so much the better as it is deer-proof unlike its Asian cousins.) But unlike beautyberries, its fruit is toxic to people but not to birds. Much duller in color are the northern bayberries, which are popular for use in scented candles during the Christmas holiday season. They are perhaps the least favorite berries of birds as their numbers do not change much from fall to spring. Bright red winterberries are much more distinctive than those of holly as they stand out in large clumps after the leaves have dropped to the ground. But they are a favorite of birds so they are short-lived in my gardens. Crabapple pomes are typically the food of last resort for squirrels and birds in late winter when all other nourishment sources have been extinguished. This year, however, a strong fruiting has been thwarted by our drought. There are only a few fruits left on the tree and the slightest touch liberates them from their branch. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #gardentherapy #fallfruit #winterberry #beautyberry #crabapple #bayberry #holly #fallflowers
It's a cold start on an otherwise perfect day to r It's a cold start on an otherwise perfect day to ride from Brewster to Hopewell Junction on the Maybrook Trail. The sky is clear and the air dry and crisp. The trail has few travelers giving the impression that I am alone save for the sound of the wind rustling the seed heads of dormant plants and squirrels chasing each other in the leaf litter. It's late in the season with only mugworts and thimbleberries having any sign of greenery. Conifers are scarce; a few straggly white cedars grow along the trail and in the tracks of the old railroad bed I follow. The leaves carpeting the surrounding grounds have lost most of their color, transformed from a multi-colored vibrancy to a dull brown and gray. But this gives me the opportunity to see the skeleton and framework of my surroundings that are impossible to view when the trees are clothed in green. Abandoned telephone poles are in open view looking similar to their living albeit taller neighbors. The lake to my left is much lower than would be expected for this time of year exposing mud flats and the tips of water lilies approaching dormancy. A lone beaver lodge houses mammals with little to do given the current unusual seasonal dryness. Low in the sky, the sun creates distinct, sharp shadows dancing in and out of the trail. No water trickles out of the stones in the sunless mountain cuts I pedal through. A long downhill coast reveals waterless creeks to my right and left. Fields of dried corn stalks, most likely to be used for fodder, surround a prison to my right and its cemetery. Black chain link fences separate riders from inmates and guard dogs. A stand of oriental bittersweet is trying to take down a line of native trees that are struggling to keep their independence. But the bright berries will be welcome food for any birds remaining this winter. Approaching the end of my nearly 50-mile ride, the shadows are longer and the temperature lower. The sun hits a stand of phragmites, illuminating the thousands of seed heads. The cotton-candy like clumps of exploding cattail heads do not compare. #grohappyct #maybrooktrailway #naturetherapy #biking #biketour #fallplants #railtrail
This time in November, the only flowers that are t This time in November, the only flowers that are typically still in bloom sit on the branches of the witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Unlike most understory trees, witch hazel blooms in the late fall with delicate, little buttery yellow bundles of soft, slightly sweet smelling flowers. At the end of the season, all the leaves from the tree have dropped but the flowers remain. This tree is abundant in Connecticut, which is probably why the largest manufacturer of witch hazel, Dickenson’s, is located nearby. The tree has many medicinal uses such as healing sore muscles, an astringent clotting agent and a tea to cure colds and other ailments. Some even believe that by carrying a twig of it, it will mend a broken heart. But this year it is far from the only flower in the garden. A few shrub roses are sporting flowers as well as a few renegade dandelions. It is the zinnias, however, that are putting on the Ritz with a spectacular show even though I am not watering them (and it hasn't rained significantly for almost two months). The zinnias arrived late this year and with each successive pruning, every plant sprouts multiple heads like a horticultural hydra. And the diversity of blooms in shape and color is amazing. It is a very strange season. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #gardentherapy #zinnias #witchhazel #hamamelis #fallflowers
Many people think of crocuses as a Spring flower b Many people think of crocuses as a Spring flower but my favorite ones emerge in Fall. And my most treasured among those is the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Dormant through Summer, it pops out of the soil in early-to-mid October with a colorful display of purple leaves, yellow stamens (male) and bright red stigmas (female). It's the stigmas that are the fragrant and rare/expensive spice of interest. Like many crops, once the flowers emerge, I check and harvest the flowers every day as they come and go much more quickly than a Spring crocus. Yesterday was a particularly fruitful day with many new stigmas to pull. Because of the delicate nature of the flower, I use a pair of tweezers to pluck each saffron thread from the flower: there are usually three. Bending over the raised bed, the floral, honey-like scent of saffron hits me hard as I patently pull each stigma. The tips of each are marked with yellow pollen from the stamens that have been disturbed by one of the half dozen or so bees that are buzzing around my head harmlessly. It is careful and slow exercise that must be done by hand: there is no potential for automation in harvesting this crop. It is also the most valuable thing I grow as a single gram of saffron is priced between $10 and $20 dollars per gram. The squirrels look to steal this valuable corm each year but are thwarted by the steel cages I have built around them. After 30 minute or so, my haul for the day is complete and I set them out to dry. I can begin to taste the paella in my future. Yum! #grohappyct #therapeutichorticulture #gardentherapy #naturetherapy #crocus #saffroncrocus #saffron #fallharvest #spices #growyourownfood
Last year, I needed to divide a huge Montauk daisy Last year, I needed to divide a huge Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) that was crowding out the asparagus and adjacent strawberry patches. There were tons of baby plants that I harvested and placed along the fence that protects my yard from the deer. My efforts were rewarded this year with a line of flowers untouched by hungry ungulates. Montauk daisies are one of my favorite autumn flowers for two reasons. The first is they remind me of the east end of Long Island, where I learned to love the beaches and the ocean. The second is that its flower brings back bittersweet memories of summers past when daisies were in bloom over nearby lawns and fields and I was much younger. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #gardentherapy #montaukdaisies #daisy #fallflowers #fallperennials #gardening #gardenlife
Rather than let the birds and bugs attack my sunfl Rather than let the birds and bugs attack my sunflowers with abandon this year, I decide to harvest and dry them early on. Olivia loves this as she gets to dispatch the disk florets with abandon. These tiny yellow flowers are arranged in clockwise and counterclockwise patterns spinning their way around the large flower head. She does a great job, though her enthusiasm sprays the florets in such a manner that they cannot be collected for a tea mixture. Perhaps next year. After she is finished, I hang them on a rack in the garage to dry. I will save a few seeds for next year but will put out the heads this Winter for the hungry birds to feast upon. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #gardentherapy #sunflower #sunflowerseeds #sunflowerharvest #sunflowerhead #gardeningwithchildren
It's time to harvest the tomatoes. I can't wait an It's time to harvest the tomatoes. I can't wait any longer as I must plant the Fall and Winter greens in the two cold frames, one of which is full of mutant tomato plants. Anyway, I don't think the fruits will ripen much more on their own as the chill of autumn arrives. This has been a great year in the garden with only the strawberries delivering a disappointing harvest. In contrast, the tomatoes have been pumping out fruits faster than we can eat, preserve, and give them away. For the last three months, we have had fresh tomatoes every day in a variety of forms. The morning is bright and warm with a hint of humidity. I slowly clip each stalk and remove tiny bundles of mostly green tomatoes. When I find a rip one, I pop it into my mouth for a morning snack. It is a slow somewhat sad process removing the jungle of tomato vines to open the space up to the sun. This year, even though there was lots of rain, we didn't have any viruses or fungal infections, leading to the health of the plants. It looks like I will have at least half a bushel of tomatoes when I finish. I also pull a good amount of pole beans, basil, and rhubarb to eat and freeze over the next few days. Juana and Dori come out to join me, shocked at the amount of tomatoes I have harvested and the amount I still have to pull. "What do you expect me to do with all of that!" she exclaims. I shrug my shoulders and continue to pick. #grohappyct #growyourownfood #tomatoes #rhubarb #polebeans #basil #therapeuticgardening #gardentherapy #naturetherapy
It has been a great year for hydrangeas. The bloom It has been a great year for hydrangeas. The blooms have been numerous and large. As we start to cut them down for the season, Olivia wants to make her own bouquet to bring home to her mother. I think she has done a wonderful job. #grohappyct #naturetherapy #gardentherapy #gardeningwithkids #hydrangea #driedflowers #driedhydrangeas #therapeutichorticulture
The sunflowers have opened for business attracting The sunflowers have opened for business attracting many customers. During the day, it is a quick take-out cafe visited by a wide variety of patrons that sample its ample supply of pollen. But as night approaches, it becomes a real B&B with many bees taking an evening rest on its numerous disc florets. They will be gone with the warmth of the morning sun. #grohappyct #bees #sunflowers #therapeutichorticulture #naturetherapy #gardentherapy
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