Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Last Saturday, April 24 was clean up day at @annsplaceinc and we had a full contingent of folks helping us. I was worried that it would be too late in the season, but a cool April kept most everything in statis. A bright, day, the crew weeded, raked, and spread 10 yards of Sweet Peet […]
Juana and I are experimenting to create a wildflower pollinator strip on the lower edge of our property. We decide to do this because for the last two years after the Town put in curbs and poor quality soil, nothing grows in this area. I get a yard of compost to amend the alleged soil […]
The greenhouse is getting crowded with the emergence of wintering over hibiscus, amaryllis and geraniums (Pelargonium) from the basement. A few make their way to the compost pile, unsuccessful in a seasonal transition. But I am confident that over half will reemerge anew. The amaryllises already had started to sprout ivory cream leaves looking to […]
It’s time to pull sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds off their dried heads. Toward the end of Fall I harvest the sunflower heads that have not been too attacked by birds or squirrels. They hang in the garage and the greenhouse drying for the next 5 months or so.Now is the time to liberate the seeds […]
Sharing a greenhouse foundation with my neighbor means sharing all the unwanted weeds that creep over from her property to mine. So this year with her permission, I decided to cut back the highly invasive porcelain berry vines (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) that have enveloped her portion of the greenhouse. Cutting them back early and covering the […]
I have finally found a lavender cultivar (𝐿𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎 ‘𝑃ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑙’) that takes the abuse of our Winters and snow plows. It sits perky and bushy next to a line of daffodils (𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑠 ‘𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑙𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑’ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ‘𝐼𝑐𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠’) along the fence that protects one of our gardens from marauding deer, rabbits, woodchucks and other creatures that […]
We are at the time of year when we must be judicious with how many of our greens we harvest. Until May, when the first strong crop comes in, we need to nibble and supplement. That is why I now pull extra greens from wintered over and perennial plants to add some heft and oomph […]
My horticultural therapy clients at⠀@annsplanceinc had a great time last week making plant labels and @seedbombs. These are simple exercises where clients young and old can be engaged. I was able to make the plant labels out of wooden stakes, mason jar lids and customized weatherproof labeling. The seed bombs also needed just three ingredients: […]
The cold frames did their job this Winter by letting me get a jump on planting this Springs. While all of the exposed beds are frozen more than 3 inches below the level of the soil, the two beds covered with the cold frame are thawed and toasty warm. I lost all the Swiss chard […]
A smattering of frost-hardy miner’s lettuce (𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑎) self-seeded in my cold frame this Winter.⠀Rich in vitamin C, its succulent and tasty heart-shaped leafs make a perfect topping to any salad. It is a green best enjoyed in the late Fall or early Spring as it bolts and becomes bitter when warm weather emerges. It’s […]