September 11, 2008
I WASN’T SURE WHAT TO THINK when the frogboys invited Washington Post garden editor Adrian Higgins over for lunch not long ago (well, except I was sure that I’d be doing the cooking, or we’d be eating slug sushi). But charm him they did, apparently, and Thursday’s story in The Post about us is likewise charming (as is its horticulturally expert, dapper and wickedly droll author).
The boys and I extend a huge thanks to Adrian, whom you can meet in the videos he’s been creating on The Post’s website. I loved this video about tomatoes, in which he combined visits with DC-area community gardeners and with our mutual friend Amy Goldman, the heirloom tomato queen who lives not far from me. Adrian’s recent story on Amy is a must-read as well.
Also thanks to my very dear friend Erica Berger, who performed trick photography during the Washington Post photo shoot, so that (finally) a photo of Mother of the Frogboys that’s more recent than me at age 3 appears here. I didn’t see any of Erica’s photos that ran in the paper, or others from her shoot including this one, on The Post’s website…just the story itself is there…so enjoy the read, at least.
By the way, you can follow me on Twitter, or join our A Way to Garden Facebook group if social-media tools like those are to your liking.
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Who's Gardening Here?
from martha to just margaret
I was so blessed to visit and document many of the nation’s finest homemade gardens for 15 years for ‘Martha Stewart Living,’ first as its garden editor and then as editorial director for the company. The list of places we were proud to publish included my own upstate New York home a few years back. Take a tour of how it looked then. Want to know more about me? Or read what Anne Raver said in June in The New York Times, calling A Way to Garden “the best (garden blog) I’d ever seen.” Adrian Higgins of The Washington Post was similarly kind. And so was Martha, on her TV show.
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Why Do You Garden?
One of the most popular questions at A Way to Garden: Why do you garden? A bunch of us answered in a stream of comments, and there's great other stuff on the Forums. Just in case you'd like to tell us why, too (or have a good read about what makes the rest of us tick).
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December Garden Chores
All based on my Zone 5B Berkshire/Hudson Valley location; adjust accordingly.
THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES: Gardeners, like their gardens, benefit from a bit of dormancy, and the time is upon us. Enjoy it. Seed-catalog season gets going in earnest later in the month, so early December is prime time to inventory leftover seeds and store them in a cool, dry place. A friend stashes his in the fridge, first sealing in zipper bags with the air squeezed out, then placing the bags in a sealed plastic box rather than have strays get lost among the yogurt and mayonnaise.
Toss those more than a few years old and make a list of what you’ll need. Not that any act of self-control stops me from ordering yet another gourd or pumpkin variety, or some oddity I simply must have or perish. My list of favoirite sources is in the right-hand sidebar of every page here.
Position your seed-shopping easy chair to point out the window, where there are still riches: berries, bark, new birds. Did you join Project Feederwatch yet?
Mole patrol continues: I am still setting out mousetraps under boxes, buckets or cans in the gardens where I see any activity, to rid them from my beds and borders.
HOUSEPLANTS
KEEP AN EYE OUT for signs of houseplant pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. If tackled before they get out of hand, nonchemical methods are usually successful: a simple shower, insecticidal soap spray (as directed on label) or with the most tenacious (like mealybugs) sometimes an alcohol swab and Q-tip. Overwatering is the biggest risk to houseplants in winter…go easy.
START A POT OF PAPERWHITES in potting soil or pebbles and water, and stagger forcing of another batch every couple of weeks for a winterlong display.
WAKE UP WELL-RESTED amaryllis bulbs by watering once, placing in a bright spot, and waiting for them to respond. If no dice in a couple of weeks, water again…but don’t repeatedly water an unresponsive bulb or it may rot. It will tell you when it’s ready for action.
TREES & SHRUBS
CLEAR TURF OR WEEDS from the area right around the trunks of fruit trees and ornamentals to reduce winter damage by rodents. Hardware cloth collars should be in place year-round as well.
BE EXTRA-VIGILANT cleaning up under fruit trees, as fallen fruit and foliage allowed to overwinter invites added troubles next season.
ALWAYS BE on the lookout for dead, damaged, diseased wood in trees and shrubs and prune them out as discovered. This is especially important before winter arrives with its harsher weather, where weaknesses left in place invite tearing and unnecessary extra damage. Remove suckers and water sprouts, too.
VEGETABLE, FRUIT & HERBS
FLOWER GARDEN
PROTECT ROSES FROM WINTER damage by mounding up their crowns with a 6- to 12-inch layer of soil before the ground freezes. After all is frozen, add a layer of leaf mulch to further insulate.
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Brief but Juicy
ultimate garden no-no’s
WHEN SOMEONE ASKED in a comment about my point of view on using landscape fabric, the fuse was quickly lit: NO! I said. NO! I’ve rounded up some no-no’s we’ve posted collectively so far, but I bet by now there are a few more things to bitch about. Grab a lawn chair and a cold drink, and we can fester together. Sure beats weeding (which ought to be a garden no-no).
lose anything lately?
THE SAYING GOES THAT a thing of beauty is a joy forever. I guess “forever” in this case is in the mind’s eye. My darling, oldest bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) went down for the count in July, or at least half of it did, and I had already seen the death knell for a couple of my 10 crabapples. Jeez.
true love, really
LOOK, I HAVE A THING for frogs. Call it my little fetish. An issue. Whatever. My general obsession notwithstanding, I’ve finally met THE ONE FOR ME.
hail the stewartia
I LIKE PLANTS THAT EARN THEIR KEEP. By that I mean they do more than a week or two of showing off; they look good in more than a single moment, or season. The small-ish to medium trees in the genus Stewartia are a good bet if that’s the kind of multi-season interest you are looking for. Sound good?
more, more, more clematis
WHEN I SEE ‘POLISH SPIRIT’ CLAMBERING up and through the golden Chamaecyparis in late spring-into-summer, I realize I have a serious Clematis shortage around here. Not in the Chamaecyparis, specifically, but in lots of other places where things look a little dull. I’ve got a penchant for growing vines up and over otherwise-dull shrubbery, you see.
can-do pruning
REPEAT AFTER ME: I can prune. I can prune. If you follow this simple method for starters, your woody plants will thank you.
the ‘other’ peonies
JUNE WAS PEONY TIME, the big raucous kind of peony time, but just before that another kind of peony you might want to consider adopting did its subtler, wonderful thing.
which lilac to plant?
SO MANY LILACS, so little space. Browse a glossary of some of my favorites before you shop—maybe you’ll like them, too.
non-blooming peonies?
Did your peonies not cooperate—was there not a good crop of flower buds, and you don’t know why? This came up on the Forums, and here’s the dish.
twist-off ticks
I AM COMING IN everyday with at least a tick or two on me; not embedded, thankfully, so far, but it's only a matter of time. But I am prepared. Are you?
anything but forsythia
I guess I have a thing against forsythia…even though I have several specimens of it along the fringes of my property. But there are better choices for spring color among shrubs.
surprise (avian) visitors
If you make a garden for birds, or even plant a crabapple or two (or ten), you never know who’ll show up.
magnolias to love
THEY’RE MEMORIES NOW but I couldn't garden without magnolias. Want to know more about the queen of the spring-blooming trees?
order in the garden
I AM LABELING my plants, I am. As memory fades, out comes the label machine, just in the nick. Saved by the Dymo. You can be, too.
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Buried Treasure
I NOTICE THAT BLOGGING results in some rich but buried treasure: great stuff in a comment thread you may not see; interesting topics on the forums that perhaps you haven't visited.
Subjects ranging from feeding and pruning Hydrangeas and pruning clematis, to entertaining (read: ranting) lists and lists of garden no-no’s (not just mine!).
Pick a click, and enjoy. Better yet, CHIME IN yourself. Up in the nav bar…that's right, GO FOR IT: our Q&A FORUMS.
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IF YOU MISSED THE UNFOLDING OF SPRING in our garden, take a series of walks with us, one in April and another in May, even if it means being in the past and out of the moment. I know, not very Buddhist, but it will help you get acquainted. Or just browse through our photo galleries of favorite plants now gone by. Enjoy.
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Sources
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Compost, Compost, Compost
I am as proud of my compost heap as I am of any part of my garden. It is the archaeological record of my garden past; it is the stuff from which future gardens will arise. Composting’s also a topic I read a lot about, and lately it's from sources like these: Garden Organic, a 50-year-old British charity; Journey to Forever (don’t worry, not some into-the-bunker survivalist cult); and the vast Cornell Composting web archive. Dig in.
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Sharp Tools
frost calculator
Global-warming black humor aside, gardeners need to know their frost dates—the first and the last in an “average” year—to be able to plan when to sow or transplant what. The frost-date calculator from Victory Seed Company’s website helps.
the mother list
Thanks to Tony Avent, plant hunter and proprietor of Plant Delights Nursery, for sharing the list of all lists—every horticultural link you’d need or want.
a gardener's best friend
You are not alone. The national network of cooperative extension services is a lifeline for gardeners; find yours and join now. No excuses!
fairest weather
The weather is key, but forget those commercial sites and TV channels. Ask the all-knowing NOAA instead. At least our government is doing one thing right. A Way to Garden Archives
- December 2008 (1)
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He got the big picture, didn’t he? I can tell he asked good questions.
Very nice. More like a little essay than article. And I don’t believe for a minute a five fingered hand took that photo. You’ve been teaching those frogs how to work that camera, haven’t you?
Margaret -
I read Adrian Higgins’article in the Washington Post today about you — I am so inspired! I, too, am a gardener working in the city and I have a weekend cottage in the countryside where I garden. I have been doing the “tortured dance” of weekends in the country for five years. I am about to do what you have done…will soon be consulting part-time from home…and am so happy to have crossed over this bridge to a new way of life!
congrats! What a great essay.
Fabulous narration of you and the frog boys!
Adrian Higgins knows how to garden and how to write. I thoroughly enjoyed his piece about you and your garden. At the age of 65 (not relevant, I know) I found myself thinking as I read it, “Try to remember the kind of September…yellow…mellow…”. It also made me wistful for the days I sat on a bench in our yard in Kansas City looking at the gardens I had planted and watching the birds at my feeders.
Thanks to you all for the kind words (and yes, Brian, you are correct…it was the biggest of the bullfrogs who finally wrested the camera from me).
Welcome to Laura (LOVE the expression “tortured dance,” yikes), and also to Barbara (and yes, Adrian is quite the expert on all fronts…and such fun). Thank you both for stopping in, and don’t be strangers.
Loved seeing my friend Margaret in my hometown newspaper.
Greetings from your long lost Southern friend and fan.
Lovely article in the Post and my wife, sons and family THANK YOU as well for my new addiction: Twitter. And yes, I have been officially following “A Way To Garden” and a couple of other tweeps as “Brody&CalsDad!”
I cannot wait to see what you do next Margaret! Take good care in that nippy Copake night air as the low this am in Chattanooga was 70 degrees!
P.S. Now if my prayer of having you return as a special contributor/consultant to Homegrown Radio could be answered…all would be well in the world.
Oh, Margaret. Sweet article . . . !
I did that dance, too. Working for Rolling Stone and heading out of the city on the weekends. Blech.
Your life sounds truly charmed now . . . I’m so happy for you and that you made the leap. *And*, that you are blogging :). Your garden chores sections is like a on-line garden-along. Awesome . . .
Great article, great frogboys…I wish I was in my garden. But your blog transports me there from my desk at work. I’m so glad I found it, thanks to Anne Raver’s NYT.
The article and your posts on Twitter are inspiring me. When I ate some really good tomatoes yesterday I thought of you and how you eat and just how much better it feels on all levels.
Welcome to Jody (how ARE you?) and Jennifer Louden (boy, do I need one of your consults about now, Ms. Comfort Queen). Nice of both of you to send your wishes.
Lovely article…and what a great new photo!
Margaret,
Congratulation on the beautiful portrayal in today’s Washington Post. (And I’m so proud to know you!) Our mutual friend, Adrian Higgins, has done you justice. I agree entirely with Adrian: A Way to Garden is one of the most splendid gardening books ever. You’ve enriched our lives and our gardens. I treasure you, Margaret, and the way you live your life.
Amy
I love a lady on a tractor…
OK, a Kubota and not a John Deere? LOL :) Orange looks good on you but I am a green girl! Very nice article especially today, a day of remembrance, which is all too clear a memory for you, I am sure.
Congrats! What a wonderful article. I love your site - it is truly delightful, inspirational and informative. When I moved out of Manhattan in 2001 to Maine, a friend warned me that the hardest thing about leaving NYC is that you have to learn to live on your own energy. It took awhile to adjust, but now I find that I give energy to my gardens and they give it right back.
So happy to see all of you here this morning, thanks.
Welcome, Kerry. I am marching outside right now to tell those gardens to give me more ENERGY (as I seem to be about to fall face down on the floor from overdoing it a little lately). I will tell them you said that’s how it works (and of course I agree, just joking).
@Layanee: No DEER in the garden here, with or without the last E. And orange is my color. Even the trim on my house is orange. :)
So many of us (mostly women, I’d venture) seem to be leaving the world of hermitically sealed office buildings, time outside only after the sun has set, bosses who rule our lives 24/7, foolishly expensive work clothes, wasted time commuting and (yes)even thos reassuring weekly paychecks for a middle-aged voyage into the unknown. You did it earlier than most and with such verve and optimism. Thank you for pointing the way. (And I’m still waiting for my FedExed dilly beans!)
Very nice and inspiring article.
Great photo! Congrats on the article.
Margaret,
What an amazing article. Congratulations. A fitting subject on such a day. There are angels looking at us. Please take time and be proud of yourself.
Peace,
Susan
Nice article MR but, you aren’t allowed to ride the tractor.?
The Frog Boys can, but you cannot.
End of discussion.
Lovely write-up! Wishing you a most peaceful 9/11.
Congratulations on the lovely article.
How in the world did I miss that you had written a gardening book? Will have to track it down.
I can’t think of a more perfect place to be today (9/ll) than in the garden. Amy Golden’s comments were perfect. Wish I were as eloquent a writer. I’ll just say ditto. :)
You know you’re doing something right when not one, but two, institutions of journalism sing and laud. Congratulations! May many more find their way to this lovely enrichment…
Congratulations. Great article Margaret and what a great photo of you.
Thanks to all of you, yet again, for all these good words. Yes, it’s a day for peace and love (and over here there is always a little monkey business in the mix; you know those naughty frogboys and their antics). Speaking of whom: I told them about Adrian’s story, and that their actual photo was in the print version, and they said, “Did we make the cover of Field & Stream?” See what I am up against?
Welcome to Laura, who knows only too well how much I hate to have photos taken! I guess you can tell I feel so happy riding in circles on my Kubota up here (instead of stuck on the West Side Highway in traffic).
Congrats on you getting on the Post. I like reading your newsletter and need to get your blog via email. I think I’ll do that now.
“For people who have sadness in their lives or are stressed out, the process of gardening, she says, is “healing, relaxing and fulfilling.”
This is exactly how I started out - as “therapy” after Katrina. I loved this quote, and this article.
Thanks for your website; I can’t remember how I happened onto it (quite by accident), but I’m enjoying spending way too much time reading through it!
@Kari: I started gardening when my mother, then 49, got Alzheimer’s. I was 24, the oldest kid (and she was already a widow). I cut things down and dug things out of the yard of the house I grew up in with a vengeance, trying to make sense of anything at all, while minding the situation.
After other complexities along the way, the up-and-down stuff of all our lives, I came back to it again and again, always finding solace and a place of meditation and centeredness. On 9-11 it was the only place I could run to, and I sat on the back porch with the black cat who adopted me that morning for a couple of days, listening to NPR on a boombox.
So Katrina would have sent me to the garden, too, though frankly I’ve never faced that kind of ravaging of the land itself, never dealt with that. How brave, but how understandable that it helped you as you helped it. :)
As a 11 year owner of a Kubota B1700 I can only say, wise choice… moving rocks with the front end loader saves the back and makes a big impression…
@Dave: So funny! The loader is on (along w/the ballast box at the back to avoid tip-overs) and rocks are the order of business this week. Longtime mason friend finally making me a wall and terrace I’ve dreamed about, and he says we’re all too old for wheelbarrows of stones now. Not the Kubota, though…which I call “Little Buddy”…it LOVES moving rocks.
kubota? hmm. you know simplicity makes a nice 4wd tractor too, and made in the usa…oh well, hope you got a good price on it at least…
If only we could all get back to the garden, literally and figuratively. I think the mad old world would lighten up a little.
-Andrew
PS: Sweet ride!
margaret,
i’m comparing the picture of you on the kubota with the picture of you on the facing page of the “senescence’ chapter in “AWTG”….you can be the “charming, hands on ms roach” weilding the heavy machinery or the shy “hiding under the straw hat” delicate garden damsel…….
i’ve made my decision>>>>I LOVE BOTH PERSONNAS!!!!
@Chris: Don’t worry, believe it was made in the Southeastern U.S., so fortunately not as bad as sounds.
@Andrew: Yup, sweet ride. (My black standard-shift longbed pickup is really jealous.)
@Denden: Tough and tender. You are right. Best that we all have both sides showing…world might be a better place if so, huh? Thanks.
What a lovely profile. I think Higgins caught you in a way that gives us — your readers and fellow bloggers — other insights that you might not see or say when writing yourself.
Back in the day when I was the Home&Garden editor at The Capital Times newspaper here in Madison, I ran as many of Higgins columns as possible (after my own!!) and always hated it when he covered things that were never going to grown in our zone 4/5 gardens.
And great photo of you!
Welcome, Each Little World. Adrian really is great, and I have always enjoyed his work, as you have. I am likewise jealous of the plant palette he gets to play with compared to us more northerly types. Hope to see you soon again.
i write this as i sit in my office on the 33rd floor looking over the manhattan skyline to the hudson river and all i can think of is that i didn’t pick the basil this weekend to make pesto. the washington post article is my inspiration that perhaps i, too, can make the move.
Welcome, Joyce. A lot of basil got away from me, too. I am less behind in the crop-harvesting this year than in times past, but I am not sure I have it all figured out on the bigger score yet. I haven’t regretted my decision once, however. All the answers will come, or at least enough to piece things together. :)
Loved the article. It captured the “bigger picture” of gardening.
Barbara
(a suburb of DC gardener and lover of frogboys)
Welcome, Barbara. Guess I don’t have to explain to you what “wo-woo” means, huh? :)
HI! I saw you on Martha Stewart today. It was a re-run but I loved it! I had not seen it before. I am kinda lost now when it comes to gardening. I used to be good and I loved it but then we moved to SW Florida 2 years ago and I have no idea what to do I am a New Englander and I am so out of my element here in FL. We are considered the Sub Tropical zone (10) and I really miss my New England perrenials. Anyway. Glad I could stop be here!
Welcome, Krystal. No worry…the segment was only from yesterday, so it was practically new! The shift to FL is a hard one; many people tell me that. You really need to leave old thoughts behind, or at least shift them by a season or even half a year (so pansies are a winter crop there, I think, and not springlike up north). Some of the plants are the same, but the timing is not. Not sure which of these books are still in print, but maybe think about getting one or two as a start…or the Sunset Florida book (or their national garden guide).