The Bridge Continues to Bloom

People are always asking me what is blooming on the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls.  It changes every day but here are  some current views.

Azalea

These azaleas are as sunny as our June days. The tornadoes that went through Springfield and beyond on Wednesday didn’t do any damage up our way.

Osteospernum

Azaleas have their own season, but the annual osteospernums will bloom all summer long.  That is what makes annuals so valuable in any planting.

Baptisia

Blue is always lovely with yellow.

Rhodendron

Everyone knows I am a sucker for pinks and reds.  This is one of my favorite rhododendrons.

Weigela

Weigela is another one of the striking spring blooming shrubs on the Bridge of Flowers.  I can’t wait to see what will come next.

Two Excitements

The first excitement last night was dodging the raindrops to harvest enough “Tango” lettuce from the Front Garden to make up our dinner salad. The first garden salad of the year.  They are not very big, but I had to thin out those two French Breakfast radishes as well. A single spicy bite.

Mammatus Clouds

The second excitement was watching the sky – and the TV reporting on the tornado that tore through Springfield, less than 50 miles (as the crow flies) away.  As we watched a second tornado also touched down as it continued northeast from Springfield, in the direction of our daughters.  We only got a severe thunderstorm. Lots of thunder and lightning. We think one lightning strike was on our lightning rod – installed after lightning hit our barn and burned it down in 1990.  We didn’t get much rain or wind, but my husband, who knows about these things, said the mammatus clouds do indicate severe thunderstorms or even tornadoes.  Scientists have such a way with  words – the word ‘mammatus’ comes from the word ‘mammary.’

BTW – our daughters and their families came through with as little drama as we did.

Monday Record 5-23

Earth Oven at Katywil

There isn’t much to report about progress in the garden. This report is full of  rain, showers, downpour, drizzle, rain, spitz and fog.   Fortunately a showery day did not deter the Yestermorrow crew who came to Katywil to hold an Earth Oven Building workshop.  The stone foundation had been completed two weeks ago and Saturday was going to see building of a wood fired oven. The workshop participants had to get deep into the mud (earth) and muddy straw so a little water from the heavens was not a problem. I will have more about this project soon.

Pollen cloud

While I was watching the oven construction a great cry went out. “Look!”  And then we were all looking down and across the hills a a great wind blew up and sent clouds of green pollen across the valley. None of us had seen anything like it.  No wonder allergy sufferers are having such a bad year.

Yesterday was the first day in two weeks that we could do anything substantial out in the garden. The grass was still damp, but Henry mowed. Now I have to rake.  I will not put these clippings in the compost, because my pile never gets hot enough to kill all the dandelion seeds. So I guess this chore isn’t quite done.

My to-do list included pruning the roses and weeding along the Shed Bed, Rose Walk and the Rose Bank.  I collected two wheelbarrows full of prunings and weedings, but I think there is more to do. I don’t like to rush into pruning winterkill, in case a branch is just a lazy leaf and still alive. I can’t cross this off my list yet either.

However, before the bugs drove me inside to get busy roasting a chicken, and getting some blueberry muffins into the over,  I did do a bit of weeding in the front garden, and put in a second planting of spinach and Tango lettuce.  It is not often I get such a good photo of a completed job.  Actually, its not often I actually complete a job to photo-worthiness.

Trout Lilies

Trout lilies

This patch of trout lilies, Erythronium americanum, is growing by the roadside on the edge of a drainage in the woods near my house. Trout lilies are so called because the mottled leaves are thought to resemble the markings on brook trout, but it has other common names: adder’s tongue because of the look of the new unfurling leaves, and dogtooth violet because of the appearance of the white corm, but, of course, it is not a violet at all.

Erythronium americanum, trout lily

Trout lilies can join other spring ephemerals like bloodroot in the garden. They like fertile moist soil and enough sun in the spring to warm the soil in the spring, but shade throughout the rest of the year when they will have dried up and disappeared. They spread most reliably by creating new corms: while they may form a good sized colony they are not at all invasive. If you buy potted plants in the spring for your garden make sure they are nursery-propagated because native wildflowers are under siege everywhere.

I have so little shade in my garden that I really love finding wildflowers in my local ‘wilderness.’

Spring Surprises!

Orchid Cactus

My orchid cactus lives in our main living space so it does not get the proper conditions to put on a real bloomin’ show, but every once it a while it gives us a glamorous surprise.

I was out in the garden enjoying the sun, and the breezes which meant no pesky bugs. While I was weeding the Herb Garden I saw that the chervil which self seeds several times over the summer is already up. And then I saw . . .

that the dill had self seeded as well.  Dill often self seeds, but the plants are so small and fine that I often clear out the bed, with the seedlings without seeing them.

Hooray for spring surprises.

Spring Showers

It is so warm and showery out today that I couldn’t resist putting some of the houseplants on the piazza for a little trimming and showering. See how green the grass is?

A First Garden

New Front Garden - created 2010 using lasagna method

Our part of the world had an early start on the Local Food movement, to such a degree that we now have many more small farms in our area, operated by energetic and skilled farmers, and several farmer’s markets as well as farm stands. There is more interest in community gardens. Of course the very most local food comes from our own backyards. Right now because April is National Garden Month.the national media is full of information about vegetable gardening.

Sometimes magazines and newspapers make the planting and harvesting of a garden sound so simple that it will take no thought, care or money. This can lead to failure, despair and the resolution never to try such a foolhardy project again. This is too bad. Out of my own bitter experience I have my own advice for the new gardener who wants to plant some vegetables.

First, site your garden where you will see it every day. In a suburban backyard where space is limited this may not be an issue, but it is easy to slip into ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mode, especially when you are trying to fit new chores into your daily schedule.

When you are siting your garden remember that vegetables need at least six hours of sun. Don’t put the garden on the shady side of the house. Shade will make for comfortable weeding, but not for healthy plants or a good harvest.  Also make sure you have water available. Newly planted seeds need to be kept moist.

Second, keep the garden small. One hundred square feet of planting beds can produce lots of vegetables.  But I stress the  term planting beds.  A 10 by 10 foot square will give you 100 square feet, but you also need paths that will allow you to work between blocks of planting beds.

Add the footage of paths to your small garden plan. A planting bed should be no more than three feet wide so that you can reach all the way into the bed from either side. Paths should be at least two feet wide to allow you to maneuver comfortably. Now when I make new beds I allow for a three foot path. I am not quite so nimble or slim as I once was.

One of the reasons a small garden can be so productive is that not all vegetables take up ground space.  Peas of any variety, shelling, snow, or sugar snaps, grow on a fence. Pole beans, green, yellow and purple, grow up – on a pole, usually in a teepee arrangement although some catalogs sell things like bean towers that will allow you to grow even more beans in the same space. Cucumbers can also be trained up a fence.

Third, plant the vegetables that you like to eat. There is no point in planting kale which is easy to grow, nutritious, and can be harvested well into the fall, if there is no way you are ever going to make kale soup, a kale stir fry, kale gratin or kale fribble.

If I were limited to a really tiny garden I would concentrate on salad greens. There is such a variety of beautiful lettuces that are easy to grow and as far as I am concerned a fresh picked salad is one of life’s delights. Growing some lettuces can also save you real money. Tender Bibb and butterhead lettuces can cost a pretty penny at the market, but they are no harder to grow than any other variety.

I know people who only grow tomatoes. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that a perfectly ripe fresh picked tomato is something that cannot be bought at the store.

Planting what you like to eat does not mean you shouldn’t try one or two things that are more exotic or interesting. Children will have fun growing a gourd assortment – on a fence. The gourmet might like to try growing shallots or fennel.

Once you have a site and a plan, what else do you need?

Standard practice is to dig your garden space, which means you will need a spade. Or you’ll need someone with a rototiller.  However, there are also no-till techniques that I have talked about in the past and used successfully. Next week I will describe two ways to lessen start-up labors.

Gardening does not require many tools. I have a trowel, and a Korean hand hoe which I use a great deal. Of course, any trip to the garden center will show you many more tools that have their uses, but for most of us those are not absolutely essential.

I like to do most of my gardening on my knees. I know this is not favored by all. Last year when I talked to Ev Hatch at his Plant a Row for the Hungry garden, he told me his favorite tool is the hoe.  He likes to garden on his feet.

A garden does require water and a hose. Or hoses. There was a time when I attended yard sales just so I could pick up extra hoses. Yard sales are also good places to pick up other garden tools, watering cans and even wheelbarrows.

Next week I’ll concentrate on no-till gardening..###

Between the Rows   April 9 2011

Bloom Day – April 2011

Snowdrops

The snowdrops that are still blooming at the End of the Road give you some hint of the weather here. Temperatures did get over 70 the other day, but this morning we are back to frost.

"Diane" witch hazel

This is not an impressive photo and neither is the plant, but I am just thrilled that it survived the arid Summer of 2010. I chose this particular witch hazel because I love the color of the twirly blossoms and because my oldest daughter is named Diane.

Daffodils in Whately

Nasami Farm, the nursery for the New England Wildflower Society opened yesterday and I drove down to be there for the opening bell. Nearly there I was stunned to see this bank of daffodils! And on the way home I suddenly saw daffodils in bloom everywhere. Even the Mystery Daffodils along Route 2 planted by the Secret Midnight Gardener have started to bloom. Obviously my mind was not on the roadsides as I drove along.

Van Sion daffodils

This morning I walked over the frosty lawn and saw that the Van Sion daffodils growing into the Buckland rose are just starting to bloom.  I suspect those Whately daffs might be Van Sion, too, but I didn’t get close enough to check.

We can all check the virtual garden party over at May Dreams Garden. Thank you, Carol, for hosting this wonderful event. I just looked back at April 2010 and the garden was further along, but with the first daffodils in bloom now I feel spring has safely arrived.

Addendum:  I always walk around and take photos for Bloom Day on the 14th so the record was accurate as of 8 am. However, look what blooms the sun brought out this afternoon.

Glory of the Snow

Years ago I put in a few Glory of the Snow bulbs, and scilla bulbs in the grass at the end of the Rose Walk. They have increased substantially. I never realized they came into bloom so rapidly.

Scillas

I love scilla blue.  Now my own record for what is in bloom is complete.

First Monday Report for Spring 2011

Temperatures soared above 60 degrees and this was the first weekend we could actually work outside, so let me give you a brief tour to set the scene.

Boule de Neige rhodie

The snow is still melting and revealing that the winter has been kind to the rhodies. No breakage. Lots of buds.

"Limelight" hydrangea

The “Limelight” hydrangea was not so lucky.  The snow plow dumped a lot of our enormous snowfall at the edge of the lawn and broke more than half this hydrangea. The two tiny plants, an oakleaf and “PinkyWinky” were undamaged.  These three shrubs are about 10 feet in from the road and I thought they were safe, but the amount of snow we got this year was most unusual.

Van Sion daffs

The heirloom Van Sion daffs are the earliest in my garden and these aren’t daunted by growing between a rose bush and a stone wall where I have not yet been able to dig them up.

Last spring I dug a few snowdrops ‘in the green’ and planted them near the house where I could really admire them. Still, there are plenty of snowdrops left in what we laughingly call The Orchard.

Snow in the Sunken Garden

The snow drops are pretty and we will be sorry to see them go. No so the snow. The snow drifts so deeply in the Sunken Garden that it takes extra weeks before it is totally gone. Note the stream that begins at this end of the Sunken Garden and then runs across the lawn and into the south field. It will stay wet for at least another month. There is a theory that there is a spring not far below the surface in the corner of the foundation.

But as I say, we worked this weekend.  Henry spent a good part of Saturday burning brush. This pile was at the end of our road, just west of the house, so it was really the first thing people saw when they arrived.  We will not replace this brush pile.

I made a first run through the Herb Bed, cutting stems back, raking, weeding and topdressing part of the garden with compost. The Herb Bed dries out first and I am always amazed at how early growth starts here. These early signs don’t make for very good photographs but already bee balm, mint, lemon balm, garlic chives, autumn crocus, regular chives, oregano, golden marjoram are sending up shoots. The sage plants have through better than usual thanks to all that snow cover.

On Friday I wanted to plant some seeds in flats and thought it was time to take a partial vermicompost harvest.  I dumped a few handfuls of worms and bedding onto a plastic sheet in front of a sunny window.  Naturally the worms dive deep to get away from the light. I separated out the top layer of bedding which I hope is rich with worm castings. I mixed this with some regular potting soil for my seeds.

I got a good look at my worms – and there are many at all stages of development – all looking pretty good. It has not been a problem to have the worm bin in our heated living space, but I will be glad when I can put it outside for the summer.

Seedlings planted inside include Tango Lettuce from High Mowing seeds; Italian Gigante Parsley, Green Envy, and Bling Bling zinnias from Renee’s Gardens; China Asters and Amadeus broccoli from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Outdoors I planted High Mowing Corvair hybrid spinach.  I really feel spring has sprung now.

April Fool!

Still Snowing April 1

We left sunny Houston yesterday at noon, and got into sunny Nashville, but by the time we arrived in Hartford at 6:30 the rain was falling. Our son drove us to Greenfield where our car waited for us at his house. Quick! A few groceries! Quick up the hill. The snow is falling. And still falling this morning. My plan was to plant spinach today, but I guess that will not happen.

photo by Kirsten Luce for the New York Times

The only flowers in my view this morning come from the New York Times (3-31) with Christopher Petkana’s story about Emily Thompson “who has  become New York’s surprise floral designer du jour,” and the “fantasy tabletop woodland” arrangement”, which includes a tree stump, she created f or an event at La Grenouille  for Kenneth Jay Lane.  She is being compared to Constance Spry, who has been celebrated (several times)  right here on the commonweeder.  Ms. Thompson gives full credit to Spry’s  inspiration. ”She loved things that were unpopular or considered without class – weeds, pods, edibles – and is responsible for those distinctions ” she said. Once again we are being reminded that we can go wild with our palette of flowers, plants in all their stages, and containers. I’d say I’ll keep my eyes open for a suitable stump, but that is not the point.  Have you used an unusual container for an arrangement, or ‘decoration’ as Constrance Spry would say?