ANEW FRIEND REMINDED ME THAT EMILY DICKINSON lived “right at the intersection of solitude, poetry, and gardening,” a place that sounds like a happy home to me at this life phase. So before April, which is National Poetry Month, slips away, why don’t we celebrate with poems, a book giveaway, and a look at the incredible herbarium, or volume of pressed plant specimens like the one at left, that Dickinson compiled as a teenager? It’s all right here.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
Solitude, poetry and gardening….
these are a few of my favourite things!
Welcome, Cheryl. Me, too. :) I suspect there are more of us out there than we know (since those of us who are this way tend to be home gardening, reading, and being quiet, tee hee). See you soon!
Oh so true. A pleasant retreat.
Although not really a poem I am fond of the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts” There are several variations. I also like a poem that I tore out of a magazine.
In the hush of morning she waits for me
And again when night falls quietly
On little birds and rivulets,
On painted daisies in flowery beds,
On wings of stillness she waits for me,
This peaceful princess…tranquility.
Loise Pinkerton Fritz
I’m just getting into poetry but have been into gardening forever. As you say–solitude is an essential part of life too. Thanks for the opportunity to receive the book.
Welcome, Margaret. You did comment to enter over on the book blog — perfect! Nice to meet you, and hear that some of my favorite things are ones you share.