PLEASE RELEASE ME, LET ME GO, for I don’t love you any more.” That’s what I am singing to The Winter That Just Won’t Quit after the latest ice storm overnight Sunday into yesterday. Every bud, needle, twig, trunk, vine remains totally encased in ice. Even I, the 365-Day Gardener, have run out of patience with it. You?
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.)
We are waiting for yet another storm to arrive up here in Quebec this evening. Snow snow and more snow. I have had enough but will be glad that my garden will be well soaked once all of this white melts away. Hopefully sooner than later….ugh….
Jim, beautiful writing.
That pic is beautiful. Just keep on keepin on….spring is worth the wait:)
I don’t care. Snow is off a couple of raised beds and I’m planting peas….now!
Welcome, Peg. I want to plant peas this week, too…ground frozen again today but on the next opportunity… :)