THIS IS HOW IT GOES, beginning at the first real thaw: Farewell “life,” hello garden. Thanks to Doodler Andre Jordan for depicting the Headless-Chicken Syndrome that doesn’t end till frost is solidly back in the ground. See you out there?
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FROM THE WEEKLY PODCAST
beyond organic gardening: ecological horticulture
I WATCHED A ZOOM lecture the other day that really put into words a lot of the ways my own deepening understanding of ecology is shaking up the way I practice horticulture—from spring cleanup, right on to the last chore of the active year. The lecturer was Rebecca McMackin, director of horticulture for Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City, where she leads the team that manages 85 acres of diverse parkland with a central focus on habitat creation of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows to build soils and support birds, butterflies, and other organisms.
We talked about the dynamic tactics they use and when and why–a whole different approach to spring cleanup, where the life cycles of animals (from insects on up) dictate what happens when, garden maintenance-wise. Like why some things don’t get cut back, and others that are still seed-laden when they do have their seeds collected and set aside, then returned to the spot after whatever cleanup is needed there.
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
This is maybe a little too accurate…
Agree, Crunchy Urbanite. It hit home here too (OUCH!).
Funny! My neighbor texted me to see if I’m ok because he didn’t think I got my requisite 18 hours of outside time yesterday.
I’ll be in my gardens but you probably won’t see me :-) I have too many beds and just as I finish weeding one, I have to work on another one. Between weeding and moving plants, it is never ending… but it’s what I enjoy.
My husband is constantly telling me he’s going to sew RFID bar codes on my jeans so he can find me in the garden!
Eat. Sleep. Garden.
Ha ha ha … I LOVE this one!
So good to know that I am amongst compulsive gardeners who neglect everything and everyone until September. My poor husband has to fend for himself, but he knows that the garden is like an addiction for me. Is there a garden support group out there ?
My husband says even a chicken knows to come in out of the rain. I do not.
Ok . I sent this to hubby..so me!
We’re still knee deep in snow! (Wail!)
Yes, not knee deep here but definitely not cleanup weather, either!