NOTE TO SELF: NEED MORE OF FOLLOWING–Abies, Bacopa, Canna, Dicentra, Epimedium, Fagus, Galanthus, Helianthus, Ilex, Juniperus, Knautia, Laburnum, Miscanthus, Nicotiana, Ophiopogon, Physocarpus, Quercus, Rhus, Salix, Trillium, Uvularia, Viburnum, Woodsia, Xanthosoma, Yucca, Zinnia. Enough said. (Second note to self: Rent panel truck.) Thanks to doodler Andre Jordan for sharing his list (but Andre, why no Cactus?).
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.)
You might want to add Dahlias to your list as you are going to rent a big truck.
I now have a list: Plants I really appreciate friends sharing with me!
Wow… just yesterday Steve told me he’d pulled out some things his wife didn’t want replanted when they redid a big bed… HOSTA, CALADIUMS, DAYLILLIES, and OTHER BULBS I’m not sure what – yet! Glad to have them…
Lou shared SMOKE BUSHES, CANNA LILLIES, PLUMS, and A BEAUTY BERRY BUSH!
Deb gave me SOLOMON’S SEAL and SPIRAREA!
CREPE MYRTLES and HELEBORES were also contributed!
My friends and relatives know I appreciate contributions. It’s much better than a wish list – it’s a “plants I appreciate friends sharing with me” list!
Ain’t gardenin great?!
Yes, why no cactus? I have an Opuntia cactus in my garden, in an out of the way spot so I don’t accidentally touch it and get all those little stickery things stuck in me… Oh wait, maybe that is why no cactus… those stickery things are a pain to remove from your hands.
I do not like cactus. I am sorry. I always think of them as the half dead things I saw on windowsills on my way into town when I lived in rainy Northampton (England).
Andre,
I am not surprised that you don’t like cactus. Somehow rainy England and cactus do not seem to go together. However, I live in Texas and they would be the last plant I would buy, also.
i’ll even take a cactus; i don’t need the weeds.
Speaking of cactus…how do you get them to grow? I have some barrel cactus plants that have been the same softball size for a few years. (Thought they’d help protect a more delicate plant from the cat, but they only drew his attention. He enjoys chewing on the spikes.)
Love this one Andre! Margaret, I wonder if I could start a nursery at my home, stock up on fave plants and trees, then change my mind and keep it, mulch and all! Lyme brain or genius?
Why no cactus? Poor thing. I have a beautiful prickly pearish darling whose blooms and fruits are exquisite and who survives winter every year.
I think Andre’s cartoon is that of a new gardener, EXCITED by all the new offerings that could be had. After years of gardening, you have a lot of stuff, and no more space for things that you would love to acquire. The only space is had, if a plant dies through the winter, and then you have an excuse to go and buy someting new. I also think gardeners who have done it for years, get tired, and do not want to take on all the EXTRA work, it takes to make everything look good. As for the cactus,… in the Academy Park, by the state Capital in Albany, NY is a clump of winter hardy cactus. They have been there for years, and are thriving. They are a wonderful surprise that is not expected in a Zone 5 garden space.
I just hit that milestone this year — when an old plant dies over the winter. I have a pot of sage, and one of the plants turned into a little dry stump. So I was able to buy a new variety to fill that hole. This is even more fun than growing them from seed, which I did with the first set (and it took forEVER – I’ve lost track of how many years ago I planted these). If another of the old ones dies next winter, I’m getting pineapple sage.
What about Irises too? I agree with Andre the only cactus’s you see in England tend to be on a windowsills however at Kew Gardens they do exhibit some fine ones!
Welcome, Joanna. Yes, there should be Iris on the list…the Siberians are just about to pop here, and the few remaining beardeds that I haven’t smothered or shaded out as shrubbery got too big after so many years here. Iris! Thanks, and see you soon again.