Have you ever attended a seed swap? Thirteen years ago Melinda McCreven wanted to attend a seed swap. When she could not find one she put out the word that she was holding a seed swap. One of the responders said a seed swap was a great antidote to cabin fever. And so the Cabin Fever Seed Swap was launched. All kinds of seeds for swapping are brought to this jolly event every year. Some seed swappers are…
Bloom Day here in western Massachusetts has been creeping in. The temperature this morning, as many mornings was 40 degrees with temperatures sometimes rising into the 50s. These tiny yellow crocuses have been in bloom for over a month. Some days are sunny, some are cloudy. Some days are cold and some are unexpectedly warm. These little flowers surprise all the dog walkers who regularly walk past our house. I wish I knew their name. I should explain…
Two books came to me recently; the first Shrubs & Hedges and the other The Complete Book of Ferns. Good timing for me because all this mild weather (so far) has sent me daydreaming and planning spring projects. A garden is never-done. There are always changes to be made because of mistakes or because we just really need something different. Shrubs & Hedges: Discover, Grow and Care for the World’s Most Popular Plants by Eva Monheim (Cool Springs…
Extra! Extra! Bulb Show Cancelled! I visited the Lyman Plant House before the Covid-19-driven cancellation was announced. Now we will look forward to next year. In the meantime, you can still learn a bit about what it takes to put on the show. Keep Safe! For more information from the Lyman Plant House at Smith College click here. No matter the weather the Smith College Annual Bulb show sings out that Spring is here. For 100 years staff…
Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, loves the water. It quickly became clear to us that our new Greenfield garden was very wet. In the western regions we might even say swampy for a good part of the year. I learned that Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, is the perfect shrub for such a site. Indeed, it is sometimes used for riparian repair. Its roots at the edge of rivers and streams hold the edges in place. My buttonbush is happy in its…
Almost every garden has a shady spot and a shade loving plant or two is required. Last summer we put up a six foot fence. One side of that fence will be sunny for most of the day, but the other side will have shade for most of the day. I am planning a narrow bed along the shady side of the fence. Now I am deciding which shade loving plants would be useful and appealing. Heucheras, coral…
Last September I visited Quonquont Farm in Whately with other members of the Greenfield Garden Club. I had no idea what to expect. The apple orchard and blueberry fields were unexpected delights, but I learned there was a lot more to Quonquont than apples and blueberries. Quonquont Farm has been in business, one way or another since 1759 when a roadside tavern was built. Later a tannery was set up. By 1860 it was a farm we would…
I begin my Alphabet for Pollinatores with A is for Aquilegia canadensis, or columbine as it is commonly known. Hummingbirds are attracted to Aquilegia . They can hover while they sip nectar from the flowers. This columbine was in my Heath garden, but it is the native red columbine that really attracts hummingbirds and other birds including American Goldfinch Indigo Bunting Insectivorous Birds Purple Finch Of course there are other A plants that attract pollinators: Alyssum is a…
When do spring bloomers begin? Punxitawny Phil did not see his shadow this morning. Hooray! An early spring is on its way, and I am looking forward to more bright sun and the beginnings of spring blooming perennials. I’ve enjoyed brilliant sunlight shining on my yellow twig dogwood, but I know there will be more snow, more cold and more days before I can think about getting down on my knees in the garden. Because I am always…
The New Year is well begun. New plants will be available at every nursery this spring. The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) chooses and honors one plant every year. This year they chose the ‘Sun King’ Aralia as its Plant of the Year. Another name for Aralia is spikenard, or nard suggesting a long and ancient history. When ground up its roots can produce a fragrant and beneficial oil. Centuries ago the Egyptians stored the fragrant oil, the Hebrews…