I LEFT HOME LAST WEEK (without telling Jack first!) for a lecture in Baltimore, the farthest I’ve been from here in more years than I can recall. Besides a great crowd at the event held by the Maryland Horticultural Society, there was an extra treat: I got to meet Susan Harris, one of the four bloggers who collaborate on the wildly popular site called Garden Rant. Here’s what Susan had to say about that.
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.)
I really enjoyed your lecture when yo were in Baltimore last week. Also, I’m almost finished reading your book. Both are inspiring me to get out there in my small row house garden and do stuff.
Thank you.
Thank you, Carrie. How kind of you to say so. “Doing stuff” is what my days are all about (well, provided I get up out of my chair and away from the keyboard!). :) So glad to meet you again here.
It was so nice to meet you in person after reading your blog and book. I really enjoyed your talk and slides, as did my daughter, who is not a gardener (yet).
Now visiting your garden will have to go on my wish list.
I bet Jack knew Margaret, how they know so much,no one knows. What lovely pictures. Enjoyed Susan’s blog as much as I do yours. All the best, Daisy Marshall, S. Fla.
Hi Margaret
I enjoy reading your emails and add ons. Garlic is all the rage at the moment on the Mornington Peninsula all the nurseries seem to be selling it especially Hersonswood our GMO free nursery where I buy a lot of my plants and seeds from when I’m not collecting my own seeds. I also buy from ‘Margaret’ who grows her seeds and plants on her tennis court once a month at the Farmer’s Market in Mt Eliza I know they are definitely going to grow.
Kind regards
Rosemary…..all the way from Australia
Hello down there, Rosemary! Love knowing that there is a Margaret down there keeping up the good work. :) I do so love growing garlic, specifically the hardneck type called ‘German Extra Hardy.’