Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
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 […]
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 […]
Tulip Tuesday time!Juana takes me on a tour of the garden showing me just a few of the tulips she has planted over the years. Quite impressive I think!
It’s asparagus (or spargel in Germany if it is white) season in the garden. I slice the first delicate spear with my Swiss Army Knife and pop it into my mouth. It is delicious and tender needing no cooking. I grab a few others to cut into a salad this evening. Like zucchinis (Cucurbita pepo) […]
It is Flower Friday! Here is a sampling of the different flowers that are poking their heads in my garden today. Tulips: Having a fence definitely keeps down the deer from chomping on these tasty treats and luckily the rabbits have been ignoring them so far this season. Lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis): This lovely little […]
It has finally warmed up enough so I can move all my seedlings from the indoor germination table and light to the greenhouse. The tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are in the most need of transplanting and Charlotte is here to help. With nearly 50 plants to pot up, she wields the Sharpie pen and labels each […]
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 […]