T HOUGH I HOPE MY FIGURE IS STILL A TAD BETTER THAN THIS GUY’S, despite all the dark chocolate and fig bars lately, he is definitely on to something: Miracles abound outside the window. Have you had a look today? Thanks, Andre Jordan, for the sweet reminder.
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.)
Thanks, Andre, it’s so true! Just when I thought my clematis ternifolia had drowned over the winter, on Sunday I saw the very tips of three stems peeking through the soil. A miracle!
My peas have started to blossom. And a pepper I cut down to a stump in November (but didn’t uproot, to let everything else in the pot keep going) has regrown in miniature form, and fruited! Bonsai chiles. I think I’ll keep it going.
The chocolate and fig bars are for stamina as you rev up for your big Open Garden date this Sunday, right?! Do you do everything yourself? I so wish I could come stroll… will look through the schedule to see if you have another date later in the summer and then sweettalk my husband into a roadtrip! I wish you clear skies and interesting people :)
Yes, I am looking forward to seeing the lovely garden that you have created Margaret. I am hoping the skies are clearer than they are here and that I am a moderately interesting person….see you Sunday!
oh today has been quite a day. My Mother has come to visit from England and we have spent most of the day looking at the garden and talking about the last 10 months.
I am not sure about fig bars, but the dark chocolate is a must. Looking outside my window this morning, I have more alliums in full bloom. I will see you on Sunday, hoping maybe that the Frogboys might come back for the tour.
Hope to make the trip from central Connecticut to see your garden on Sunday.