in and around the garden with me, again
I PROMISED I WOULDN’T ADD EVEN AN EXTRA TRIP TO THE CURB WITH THE TRASH to my schedule, with all the mowing I have to do, but (big surprise) I layered on a couple of events, and I want to make sure you know about them, in case you are in the Hudson Valley/Berkshires vicinity this summer. Another container-gardening class, a 365-day garden lecture with an extra focus on water gardening and the frogboys, and a tour here in August (that last one you already might know about). Details, details:
Sunday July 12, Containing Exuberance, container-gardening workshop, with Bob Hyland at Loomis Creek Nursery, near Hudson, New York, 11 AM to 1 PM, $5. Bob (did you see him in The New York Times last week?) and I enjoyed our spring duets so much that we have added one to the calendar. Even if you have already planted up your pots, that’s fine; we’re covering design and care and tricks for how to get those pots through to frost looking their best, including editing and adding new elements. Also on the curriculum: how to read potting-soil bags to pick a good medium; how to stage pots into vignettes, and more. Participants get the first crack at 50 percent off on select annuals (a sale that begins after our workshop). Call (518) 851-9801 to reserve.
Sunday July 26, Making a 365-Day Garden, Frogs and All, lecture at the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I was thrilled to see that the traveling frog exhibit “Frogs, a Chorus of Colors,” which has received enormous acclaim around the nation, is on view this summer at the nearby Berkshire Museum. I was even more pleased to be invited to speak as part of the festivities. I guess they heard I had a few frogs here. This one-of-a-kind lecture will include my overall “everyday is beautiful outside” garden philosophy with a special focus on water gardens and you-know-who. I expect I will digress into bird-friendly gardens, too, as water’s the key ingredient for both of these beloved creatures. Start time is 3:30 PM, reception to follow (no, the frogboys cannot make it in person; other plans). Tickets are $15 ($10 for museum members), and includes museum admission; available by calling (413) 443-7171, ext. 10, or at the museum.
Saturday August 22, Open Garden Tours at A Way to Garden, to benefit Copake Falls Day, from 10-4, admission free, part of a daylong series of events in my tiny hamlet. Loomis Creek Nursery will also hold a plant sale here featuring things I grow in my garden, as they did for May tours. Who knows what will be featured, but I doubt I can promise the huge rhododendron will rebloom like it did that day (above). Even I have my limits. Now if only I could remember that…
~I found your site via Coal Creek Farm! Love the plantings you recommended for April, and love your website ~
I have a question; after peonies bloom and die :( what do you do with the plant? Can it be cut back now or do you wait until Fall?
Welcome, Sue Lee. After the flowers bloom, you cut off the spent blossoms, or even the blossoms and the flower stalk they were on if you prefer. But you leave the other stems and foliage to do the job of feeding and fattening up the roots below for next year’s show of flowers. So it is best to let the plant grow all season long with the leaves on, until frost or at least near frost, then clean it up (cut off at ground level). I let mine blacken in frost, then clean them up. Hope to see you here again soon.
Do you dead head those rhodies? I’m wondering if I should … just not sure.
You look great on your tractor … & off too, I’m sure. Thanks for the great update. Mimi
@Mimi: I do not deadhead; it’s like 10 feet high or more, and twice as wide, so beyond the possibility, really. It does fine without; with smaller ones, I used to, while they were getting established. Thanks for the kind words. See you soon, I hope.
TO Frances…I think I know who you are, you “Crafty Sewing Soul”, If I am right, say HI to Bob for me! Now there is a person on this BLOG i know.
Oh, Margaret, you cheer us during this constant rain……and Fred, how right you are !
Welcome, Frances. Glad to try to provide a smile or faux sunshine. I could use it, too; maybe that’s why my mood is a little wackier right now, with all this rain and being housebound too much. See you soon again!
margaret~all I can say is that you give me an enormous amount of inspiration!! Thank you for that and for the laughs at your wonderful frogboys! Amazing! I hope someday I can meet you in person at one of the lectures or events!! Until then, thank you and enjoy this wonderful summer!! Barbara Aine
Copake Falls is one of my favorite spots to visit- how lucky are you to live there?! We went to the bluegrass festival and camped there a couple of times. We love to walk barefoot in the little cold water pools around the falls.
That is such a great picture of you. You should use it for your Christmas card!
That rhododendrun – WOW
I have a Kubota mower too. You rock.
Margaret,
I’m too far away (drat!) for any of the events, but your closing lines “Even I have my limits. Now if only I could remember that…” made me hoot out loud! Me too…
Margaret on that Kubota tractor of yours, you look like QUEEN of THE ROAD. Hopefully you don’t go out onto Route 22 with it……… Readers of Margaret’s blog, if you are in the area, go and see her presentation on the 365 Day Garden. Margaret is quite amusing, covers topics that REALLY apply to US gardners, here in the Hudson Valley, North West, Ct., and Vermont area. I saw it this spring at the Tamacac school, when she was the Key Note Speaker. Her talk inspired me to add a few things to my garden, and to look at things in a different way.