Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
On our travels along the D&L Trail I found many familiar flowers. Here are my faves in reverse order. 9. Blueweed (Echium vulgre): If this wasn’t so invasive, it would be much higher on my list. Its delicate bell shaped flowers host many a pollinator. It is scattered along the trail. 8. Queen Anne’s Lace […]
Pruning is a chore that I take on when I am in a contemplative mood or have something I need to ponder. Between the care needed to properly shape a given plant and the issue I need to work out in my head, I am in a happy place outside with a plant that needs […]
“Do you still plan to have a class?,” questioned Joy on my cell phone. “It’s raining here in Danbury.” That heads-up caused me to move my setup for my propagation class that had been ready since 10:30 in the morning from the patio to the garage quickly. Luckily, it didn’t take that much time and […]
Now that it is summer, my granddaughters Charlotte and Olivia will be spending a few days with us each week. Never one to ignore the opportunity for free labor, I put Charlotte to task in helping me prepare sachets. I use them as a kick-off aromatherapy exercise during my talks promoting my book, A Therapist’s […]
Today is the Summer Solstice and everything in the garden is perfect. In pre-historic times, Summer was a joyous time of the year for those indigenous people who lived in the northern latitudes. The snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed out; warm temperatures had returned; flowers were blooming; leaves had returned to the deciduous […]
I have a secret spot in plain view where I like to rest at the end of the day. It is in the front yard hidden by a large honeysuckle (Lonicera) and a native rose bush on a park bench. Cold drink in hand, I marvel as bees and other pollinators swarm around me looking […]
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 […]
Foxgloves (Digitalis) are consistent volunteers in our gardens. After introducing them with seed and plants into our soil over 20 years ago, we have never had to again. We never know where this poisonous as well as medicinal plant will emerge and it doesn’t matter to us; we only move this biannual in the Fall […]
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 […]