THE FORECAST CALLS FOR A NOR’EASTER STARTING TONIGHT (March 31, 2011), and apparently Andre the Doodler knew even before the meteorologists. He delivered this illustration to me a few days in advance of predictions of a foot or more snow here, and whiteouts in much of the region. That Andre Jordan is such a clever guy; a real psychic, right? Damn his accuracy. Damn the weather.
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.)
My cheery spouse exclaimed that, “It looks like a Christmas card this morning!” AAAGH! Is this a test?
Yes, Christine, it’s a test: and I may fail! :)
I’m imaging the wonderful feel of Spring air and the chartreuse baby leaves on the trees–it’s. Almost enough to keep me “hanging in there” day by day.
i have failed the test.
I miss the constant rain of england.
My friend in Canton OH woke up to snow this morning. I guess we’re not finished with all of our “testing” yet. Good luck to those of you with more snow expected!
Welcome, Laura. Can you believe it? The year my sister was born it snowed on her birth date, April 7, so I know it’s possible but it always startles me.
I know that feeling, it snowed again here in Latvia on Monday and the snow hasn’t quite gone yet anyway. We were just getting swathes of grass appearing when what was uncovered got covered in 4 inches of snow.
If we follow the philosophy touted in “…if life gives you lemons, make lemonade…,” then it should follow that “if mother nature gives you snow, make snowmen!” Buck up everyone, at this point, there is definitely an end in sight.
By the way…..did I mention that I live in the Great Lakes snowbelt (Lake Erie to be exact) and, yes, we have snow, too?
Woohoo! We’re dodging the bullet here in NJ! We’re just getting buckets of rain. Sorry to crow! But now all I need is time…….which is where you have me beat. Sigh….
Maybe Im the only one here but I like a little snow in spring to fertilize the cold weather bulbs and provide a resevoir of ground water to be utilized when my mid Atlantic area has horrible dry heat waves in July and August.
Sooooooooooo sorry for you UP there. Today is the first day we had to turn on the A/C to cool down the house OUT here in PHX area. When your plantings are looking sublime, ours will be turning to dry fodder! Ha hahahahahahaha.
Welcome, Stephanie. I usually am more OK with weather, but this winter has been wearying. I will try to get my patience back. :)
Welcome, Jeanne. There is some kind of inverse proportion between our areas, you are right!
Nice to see you both and hope to again soon, yes?
It’s an April Fool’s Joke right? :)
Waiting for it here in CT….so far just rain, but sounds like most of the mess/mix will be overnight, sigh.
I am so cranky with this weather that I’m surprised my family hasn’t asked me to stay at a hotel until the sun comes out!! The weatherman said it was to be 64 and sunny today…it was 38 and sleeting. Which is worse…..thinking that we are to have nice weather and then not….or simply knowing we are not. Ask my husband and he will tell you I don’t handle either very well :-) To those of you back East…stay safe.
I’m less worried about Spring arriving, and more worried that Margaret may not make it to Portland, for the Maine Festival of the Book on Saturday morning. Thankfully, however, our weather reporters tend to exaggerate… the air is still and it is very pleasant outside, with a soft drizzle at the moment…
All I can say is yesterday morning the sunrise came up in the East as a red fiery thing-I knew we were in for it then in central MA- red sky in the morning, sailor take warning-and here it is-snowy and blowy outside! Hope the plow guy doesn’t wreck the newly raked edges of the driveway. Zone 5B is under some snow.
Oh no! Is it heading my way? I must check the radar. I am in the snowbelt in southern Ontario. Our forecast says a high of 9 degrees (celsius) so I was hoping the remaining snow would go away.
I can finally see my snowdrops again. I know that on the May 24th long weekend I have experienced snow here, not that it accumulated, but we are still quite capable of getting those temperatures quite late in the season.
Snow is definitely much more charming in November.
Oh Margaret! I forgot to mention. I planted Winter Aconite (Eranthis Hyemalis) on your recommendation. Thank you so much. They started coming up yesterday, and are a lovely treat after (yes I agree) a very wearying winter. I will definitely be planting many more this fall. They also give me something to log in my Bloom Chart this early in the season.
That “never ending” is what we had last winter/spring in the NE. The depths of depression matched the depth of the snow. But, no kidding, it finally melted. This year’s not-so-terrilbe winter was SO much more appreciated.
Welcome, Lorie. Melted today again — the latest dose did. You are right, with the outdoor meltdown, the inner meltdown starts to improve. :)
I went to see you today in Portland – but you weren’t there! Weather? I guess. Shoot.
i do feel for all you northerners. Alas down south (WDC) we have our own weather woes. months of 95 degree heat and mosquitos. stay warm and patient.
After all the EXTREME predictions about the BIG snow storm, it was a WONDERFUL SIGHT, to wake up and ONLY see an inch of snow on the lawn, that has since disappeared.