AFTER ALL THAT TENDER CLIPPING AND GENTLE GROOMING I gave you all those years, this is what I get in return? Oh, dear doodler Andre Jordan, I ask you, what went wrong?
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.)
Well I guess you trimmed one too many branches.
I love this!
When my wife and I finally get our new house which currently has a very small brick wall running around it, I think we might have a ‘leave us alone’ topiary hedge. Or maybe a ‘www.abeautifulrevolution.com’ topiary hedge – I’m sure my wife wouldn’t mind.
I agree, I hate uninvited visitors when I garden. Except for birds, bees, butterflies, etc. Only exception, I’ll break for compliments.
Hi, Andre! (Hi, Margaret – I’ve been reading/lurking for several months – finally decided to comment…)
My garden club meets this Sunday – at my house this month – and (this is kinda Twilight-zoney) one item on our agenda is watching the movie “A Man Named Pearl” – a wonderfully inspiring documentary about self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar. If you haven’t yet seen it, you must!
Margaret, I look forward to your blog every day and Thursdays here are especially fun because of your posts, Andre – thanks for the smiles you both bring to me!
Welcome, CovingtonKat. Yes, Pearl Fryar is AMAZING (as is Andre). Just amazing. Thanks for mentioning. I am so glad for all your good words, and your incessant lurking, Do continue all said behavior. :)
Ha ha Andre! I wish I could just let topiaries talk for me sometimes :)