Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
As the harvest of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) is about to end, other berries are teed up to take their place. Our low-bush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) will start to ripen in the next week or so with minimal overlap. Protected by bird netting, we have a great crop coming with three different cultivars that deliver […]
The pitcher plants (Sarracenia) in my carnivorous plant garden are awake and hungry. I became fascinated with these bug-chomping specimens over a decade ago when I visited @california_carnivores and saw their collection. Initially, I had only a few in pots that wintered over in my garage. But like many gardeners a few is never enough […]
Because we have a shallow well, all of the perennials in our gardens rarely get watered. They are left on their own without a supplemental drink regardless of the heat and lack of rain. It may sound cruel, but I don’t think we have lost a perennial yet to lack of water. Potted plants, annuals […]
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) season is over. Not that we are complaining. About a week ago we started to tire of asparagus this and asparagus that as the near daily vegetable or salad topping that were part of our dinners. After a month plus of harvests, it’s time to let the patch rest and recharge itself […]
Scapes are shooting out from the garlic (Allium sativum) teeth that I planted last Fall. Curled, the scapes remind me of the long neck of a great blue heron or a flamingo. The tall, long leafed onion relative is nearly ready to harvest. But first you want to cut the scapes and not let them […]
Time to cage the blueberries (Vaccinium angustfolium)! I learned the hard way that blueberries are way too temping for all the creatures we live with so now that they are fat and approaching ripeness, they must be sequestered. While it may not look sturdy, this PVC-framed cage is cheap and reliable. Somewhat like me. The […]
“I’m good with 60/40,” says Charlotte when it comes to sharing strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) with her little sister Olivia. They invade our garden together for the first time ever looking to pick strawberries and some vegetables. Olivia is a bit young and new to the garden but she is enjoying the feel of the […]
The garden explodes with bountiful growth and goodies. All the ingredients in this salad I pulled minutes before they found their way onto our dinner plates. Included are: Asparagus (for only another week and then we stop harvesting) Beet leaves and roots (a yummy and colorful microgreen to eat as I thin the rows) Sugar […]
It’s strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) season! And even though Juana is feeling a bit under the weather, nothing stops her from going out to the two strawberry patches daily to pick the ripest of fruits before anyone (or thing) touches them. We pull back the protective netting to spot many perfectly shaped and colored berries. […]
The lovely purple flower and bright orange stigma of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) thrills nature lovers and cooks each Fall upon their emergence. But now, as the corm has gone dormant, I am tasked with the long delayed need to divide and propagate. Years ago to protect these rare and valuable corms, I created […]