THAT DOODLER FRIEND of ours, Andre Jordan, is so philosophical sometimes (when he’s not being passive-aggressive in one of his naughtier doodles, I mean–you know how wide his range of styles is, right?). But in a harsh year as many of you have experienced this growing season, I think it’s important to remember the sentiment in this Andre masterpiece–and it isn’t a bad reflection for everyday life trials, either. Dig deeper; the goodness is there.
WHEN I TALKED to Doug Tallamy in February around the publication date of his latest book, “Nature’s Best Hope,” I didn’t want to go on and on about the advice in it regarding smart fall cleanup, which is one of the ways I know I’ve dramatically shifted the way I manage my own garden compared to 10 or even five years ago. But we were looking ahead to spring then, not fall.
I’m grateful that Doug returned to the podcast in autumn to do just that. Want to plan your most ecologically minded garden cleanup ever, and understand the consequences of each potential action you can take—including next spring?
The subtitle of University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy’s recent book, “Nature’s Best Hope,” is “A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard.” Meaning: The choices we make all year-round, including the very important one of how we clean up, can help counteract an overdeveloped, fragmented landscape that puts the food web to the test. You and I are nature’s best hope, and I’m glad Doug joined me again to help us learn to support it.
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
This morning I planted a new Cercis ‘little woody’. I also cleared an area near the creek where I hope to plant petasites. I am very curious when I plant things to know what is going on below ground and what the future holds. Andre seems to already know while I am still guessing.
Hello, Gardenbug, and yes, that Andre does indeed. I love this doodle; I need to look at it again and again and keep it in mind. Nice to see you!
Love this. Thanks, Andre!
I appreciate Andre’s faith that all is well beneath our feet! Sadly though, here in Virgiia things don’t seem to be quite so good — my prized Japanese maple appears to be dying, after twenty years in my garden. The leaves are all frizzled and yellow, and no amount of water seems to help. A neighbour came by yesterday to wail about his magnolia stellata — enormous, beautiful, old. Large branches are dying, for some reason, and we are thinking drought is the reason. Trying weather, and I hope Andre is right and things will improve.
Good morning , Andres doodle needs to be a T shirt. I would gladly wear it. I volunteer in the Rose garden at the Vanderbilt Estate Eagles Nest in Centerport NY I would wear it there and to my Garden Club meetings.
I love your bluebells!! I think I can grow them here.
Have a lovely Sunday.