Busy butterflies

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 […]

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Summer helper

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 […]

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Refreshing benches

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, […]

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Daily daylillies

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, […]

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Friday flowers!

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 […]

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Podcast with Margaret Roach

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 […]

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Blueberry harvest

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 […]

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Fragrant flowers

The gardens I manage at Ann’s Place are visited (and weeded) by me once a week. But rather than the incremental changes I see in my garden every day, the weekly differences are more extreme. This week, the biggest change is in the pollinator garden where I have planted lavender, anise hyssop, monarda, sunflowers, and […]

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Smell the roses

The saying, “stop to smell the roses,” should sometimes be taken literally in the garden. Many of our roses are in bloom now but I think my favorite is a beach rose (Rosa rugosa) that we have had for just a few years. It is the most simple of roses to care for as it […]

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