Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Between the raptors circling above our house using thermals and hummingbirds frenetically zipping between flowers, our gardens are chirping with birds. This year, in particular, we have been hosting a wide variety of fledging birds in too many nests to count. Woodpeckers took over the top of a sugar maple whose upper branches had died. […]
It is wildflower season and one of my favorites, chicory, can be found next to nearly any road around here. This bright blue plant is somewhat reminiscent of bachelor buttons and is a herbaceous plant. Unappreciated and untended, chicory reached the height of popularity during WW II when its ground and roasted roots became a […]
Though the current weather conspires against much activity outside, the pollinators are having none of that. Between the countless butterflies, moths, dragonflies, and bees, the garden is swarming with activity, sounds, and life. The coneflowers and black cohosh are particularly popular now though others like Queen Anne’s lace, black-eyed Susies, hostas and roses are not […]
We are in the middle of summer. There is no mistaking it. The afternoon thunderstorms, the humidity, the bugs are all part of summer. And with the season, come chores that Olivia wants to help her grandfather with. Today she is assisting me hang cloths on the line as the sun and heat makes short […]
Garden chores often include things that have not been planted into the soil. Arbors, tools, benches, raised beds, etc. must be attended to and cared for like any cherished perennial in our yard. And now it is time for a trio of benches at the gardens at @annsplaceinc to be refurbished. To build these benches, […]
The daylillies are out in force. The only thing I despise about daylilies is that each of their flowers are out for only a day and then need to be trimmed off so the stem does not collapse into the foliage. Still it is a contemplative exercise where I watch the pollinators taking their turns, […]
It is Flower Friday! And here are a few of the flowers that are populating my garden (trust me there are lots more)! Black cohosh: This highly fragrant native plant, spreads easily and has a long history of medicinal uses. The bees love it too. Musk mallow (Malus alcea): This pretty, though invasive plant from […]
A few weeks ago I found a bunch of amaryllis pots in the basement that I had forgotten to bring out earlier this month. A little heat and water gets all of them to start flowering.
Check out the latest podcast of author, blogger and NYT garden columnist Margaret Roach where we chat about the therapeutic effects of gardening and nature-based activities. During the half hour interview, we exchange views about how both of us in different ways using different senses take advantage of the restorative power of gardening. Margaret also […]
It’s blueberry picking time and Charlotte and Olivia can’t wait. Even though the harvest is slim, both have the eye of a hungry bird in being able to focus on and grab any ripe berry in their reach. Given their desires, their baskets are often more empty than their tummies making extras for Juana and […]