WERE THEY LEFT IN THE GARAGE by the delivery man before being discovered a day too late (toast!), or did somebody order plants that somebody else in the household didn’t know about (uh-oh, should have hidden that charge-card bill)? Or ________ (fill in the blank)? What do you think is on Andre the doodler’s mind that prompted this latest utterance? I mean, I know we all kill plants…but hmmmm, not usually this fast.
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.)
that is hilarious, i was just saying to a friend…i have all these plants to put in the ground, but for some reason i still want to go to the nursery and buy more! i think my husband shares andres feelings exactly!
Welcome, Anne. Gee, that *never* happens to me. (Oh, right.) Nice to see you here and do visit again soon. We won’t tell your husband. :)
I’m guilty of buying every not-quite-dead-end-of-season-on-sale plant there is. Then I panic and have to heal them in for the winter until I figure out where to put them. Just can’t help myself.
I had a neighbor who mail-ordered privet plants for a hedge. Most died. I asked why she didn’t water them, she said “I can’t drag the hose all the way out there!” However, she did request a refund from the company which I thought was ridiculous. They were supposed to live without water and that’s the company’s fault?
I have had the USPS hold a package at the post office for me… even though they did not tell me it was there. The box was marked “live plants” – what were they thinking?!? Also, buying mail order plants late in the planting window is a big mistake. Ask me how I know. At least I got a full refund.
Welcome, Abby. I agree: Mail-order stuff should come early and not late. I have goofed on that score from time to time, too. Not pretty. Hope to see you soon again.
Dang, I’m so guilty of buying plants and not getting them in the ground quick enough. Someday I hope to break that habit but right now I have three bargain bin finds from Lowe’s that are still waiting for homes. At least I’ve kept them watered–that counts, right?
Andre, can’t relate…have absolutely no idea what you’re referring to.
The non-gardening…er, I mean better half may have another opinion, but not asking ;-)
last week everything in the garden looked dead. This weekend everything has come back to life.
Rain is an amazing thing.
Here, too, Andre. (Of course I am not certain I needed 4+ inches in a week, but better than toast.)