Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
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 […]
I love the herbaceous borders that front all of the fencing that keeps out the deer. It changes season to season and never fails to deliver a visually interesting palette of plants, textures and colors. In the back now, flowering sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) carpets the area interspersed with ferns and hostas. Both are popping […]
Last week I made a run to one of my favorite wholesale facilities, @gilbertiesorganics, to load up on herbs for the gardens and my clients at @annsplaceinc. As always, Sal and his staff were very kind and generous donating some of the herbs needed for our gardens. So like other years, our three herb beds […]
It has just been two months since my book, A Therapist’s Garden, was released and I have been overwhelmed by the kind words and wonderful response of readers. To celebrate, I am giving away (via Instagram) a signed copy of my book (by me, Rosana and Juana) to three lucky winners who reside in the […]
Not mowing the lawn creates wonderful surprises. Against the fence, the fading daffodils (Narcissus) are counterbalanced against a thick row of lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis). I will have to let the grass grow as I don’t have the heart to cut down this lovely expanse of wildflowers.
When is it time to put shade cloth on the greenhouse? When the temps are going to shoot up 30 degrees F to over 90 for the weekend. Our fluctuating weather is keeping me on my toes as I still have seedlings in the greenhouse. Will be watering a lot and keeping cool this weekend.
It’s flower Friday again and it’s getting harder to pick the top nine new flowers of the week. But at the top of the list is . . . . Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): Spectacular in bloom and scent, this flower was my mother’s favorite and one of mine. Snuggling up to a bloom, you want […]
A flood at Ann’s Place causes me to move all of my on-site horticultural therapy classes to my home for at least the rest of the summer. But luckily my patio is large enough to accommodate a dozen or so clients at a time so we should be able to make things work. Pounding flowers […]
Wildflower and wild flower Wednesday. It is a perfect day to spot new wildflowers on my bike ride. Here is a partial list of the newest flowers to emerge in my area. Wild geraniums (Geranium maculatum): This roadside flower pops up in hundreds of different forms in mid to late Spring. Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens): This […]
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!