THE DICTIONARY SAYS ‘ADVENT’ MEANS “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event,” so I guess these next couple of weeks really qualify. To celebrate the advent of spring, hallelujah, master doodler and daydreamer Andre Jordan has performed some adaptive re-use on an old Wellington I seem to have misplaced. Where did you find than damn boot, Andre? I could have sworn it was here somewhere…
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.)
Brilliant! If only counting down those 18 days would truly guarantee the advent of real gardening weather, not just “spring”!!!
I have had enough of waiting… sitting on my hands …. my wife and I have a fence to put up/design … it needs to be garden time NOW.
(yes fence frustration doodles shall appear here soon)
I know it’s coming-the daffodils are poking through the snow! We won’t be sitting on our hands too much longer-hang in there everybody!!
It’s funny! I lived most of my life in Denmark where “spring” is when the season has truly changed from winter and not on a certain date. Now, living in Ontario, Canada, spring, summer, fall, and winter always are announced to start on certain days and I find it amusing and somewhat “square”.
Lene
Just returned from the Philadelphia Flower Show – 1st time in many years – no snow in Philadelphia – spring must be around the corner!
It must be starting pretty soon – when I go outside in the mornings I can hear the chorus mumbling their warm-ups while waiting for their cue.
Who says advent calendars need to stick to Christmas?! I’m going to make advent calendars of ALL my garden milestones (aka summer!).
Good idea, Tara. The first tomato harvest, for example, would be one to count back from with anticipation. :)
Your boot looks like the boot of Italy where my daughter lives. Warm in the south although her northern Alpine town isn’t as cold as the Brrrkshires are today.
Yes, Brrrrrrkshires is right. 8F when I woke up this morning. Silly!