Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) appears on our roadsides and in the fields beginning in mid-July. I always think of it as a high summer plant. I never liked it much as a child, probably because I often saw it, or noticed it, when it was going by and curling into a cup-like shape that has given rise to another of its names, bird's nest flower. Like many flowers it does have several names. Others are bishop's lace…
Just when I was preparing a handout for my Heath Fair talk on Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants, I learned about a new group blog www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com that is being written by some of my favorite bloggers, many of whom I got to meet in Buffalo. Beautiful Wildlife Gardens will give you lots of information about the natural world around us - in different parts of the country. Informative and engaging. Which is what you might expect from a…
I don't think a cutting garden is really supposed to look like this. A cutting garden is supposed to give each plant room to breathe. But here are scarlet bee balm, Hot Crayon Color zinnias from Renee's Garden, bachelor's buttons, gomphrena, and Hot Biscuits amaranth from Seed Savers looking like they are at a crowded cocktail party. Golden rod and tansy and mint in the surrounding field - all blooming. I thought Gomphrena would be great for bouquets…
When we think of sunflowers most of us think of tall stems with large blossoms heavy with seeds – that will be half eaten by the birds unless we protect them for our own use or display. The Recorder and the Greenfield Garden Club will be holding their Annual Sunflower Contest on Saturday, August 21 at the Energy Park and we expect to see many of these beauties vying for attention. The contest has several categories for youth…
My neighbor Kara read my directions for making a lasagna garden - followed them, and this is what she got. A beautiful lasagna herb garden. She will not need to add another layer of cardboard and soil to maintain this next year. On the other side of the grass path, wide enough for a lawn mower, Kara planted mostly annuals. After the harvest she may want to add another layer of cardboard, water it well, and add a…
The other day when I was talking to my neighbor Bob Dane, he mentioned that he had harvested his garlic. "Oh, no, is it time?" I asked in a panic. Oh, yes. I had totally forgotten about the garlic and I did wait a little too long. The problem with waiting too long, and mid-July is a good time to check the plants, is that the garlic bulbs will break apart, and they will be no good for…
August 13 3-5 pm The Belly Bus will be at the Town Common in Greenfield. You can bring non-perishable foods to the Common which will then be distributed to area food pantries. Unfortunately, more and more families are suffering from food insecurity, not knowing if their own pantry will last out the week, or the next day. Please help. August 14 & 15 9 am-2 pm Mary Kay Hoffman of E. Hawley MA is offering a dig in her large…
Bob Dane loves the blueberries Heath is famous for. He also loves the blueberry fields where they are grown which is why he has donated these sweet blueberry bud vases to the Franklin Land Trust to use as a gift for all those who donate $250 or more to the FLT and ear mark that gift "The Benson Place" to support the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) and trail easement that has been awarded to the Benson Place Blueberry…
Weddings are important occasions. It is not surprising that the wedding of Chelsea Clinton, daughter of a former President, to Marc Mezvinsky should get a lot of attention and press. I did not expect debate and controversy about the menu of the nuptial dinner. Perhaps I should not have been surprised. The foods we eat, or do not eat, are significant elements of our culture and community, so the food served at a wedding takes on extra meaning.…
Magical things happen at family reunions. The youngest set seems to bond almost instantly with their cousins two or three times removed (I don’t really know how that works) and even the oldest generation gets to hear stories about their parents that they never heard before. My Aunt Doris, the only representative of her generation at this reunion, said she never knew that as a 15th birthday present my grandparents arranged for me to accompany my grandfather on…