APPARENTLY WE ARE IN A CONTEMPLATIVE MOOD this week, not raucous or irreverent or even downright wild. Yes, doodler Andre Jordan and I have moments of reflection, you know…it’s not just all go-go-go with us; sometimes it’s at a snail’s pace. (By the way, have you read Andre’s memoir yet?)
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.)
I’m very nice to snails, I shower them with herbs, lay them gently on a layer of the softest butter imagineable and then I put them where it’s very nice and warm, and after 10 minutes or so, I could just eat them up! Are you getting the snail-love?
I normally feed snails Newcastle Brown Ale.
At our new house, my wife and I seem to have inherited a friendly rabbit (whom I have name Oscar) which should be interesting when we finally get round to planting perennials.
They should be worried. Very worried. (I feed mine Sluggo-Plus)