FOR THOSE OF US WHO DEFINE “what I can’t live without” as “the entire botanical world,” and nevertheless dare to go seed-shopping online or on paper…caveat emptor. I’m one of those types, which is why I’m forcing myself to re-read my seed-catalog shopping rules before starting to write any orders. Maybe you should, too?
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 just pulled out my old “crockett’s victory garden” book and was starting to make a dream list of what to grow. Then I hop over to your blig and you are talking seed ordering. Your tips are very timely because I want to order everything!
I am trying to get three generations to garden together at my house. I figure I can easily hook my son in law but my two daughters are a challenge. One likes to cook, the other likes to sun at the pool. Now my grandson was my gardening pal before computer games and the pool but I am going to try to entice him back to the garden by growing watermelon and pumpkins. Jerry is hopeless, he does not garden or eat the veggies!
Let’s see how this venture goes. We meet in two weeks to pool our wish list and get orders in.
Seeing this quilt today, reminded me of your photo of Jack sitting at his window
surveying the outdoors….
http://www.davidtaylorquilts.com/
The sentinal of santorini
Thought you might enjoy it.
Marg
I don’t really spend time with the seed catalogues but I do love to have a pile of
gardening magazines handy at all times of the year. Trade them with friends so
that there are always some new and different ones with ideas to drool over. Along
side the gardening magazines are the Cook’s Illustrated and Bon Appetit….
It’s hard not to go on a seed shopping spree! I totally agree!
I will not buy more seeds than I start. I will not purchase, and find ways of hanging more indoor lights, for seedlings. I will plant what I start. (repeat as needed)
Thanks, Margaret, for the encouragement and guidelines. Again!
As a somewhat new gardener, rules don’t really work for me yet. I have not yet learned what I prefer to grow or what grows best in my garden. This will also be my first time starting seeds indoors with grow lights. This may be rationalization, but I feel more free to give in to temptation and experiment.
@Val: As you can probably tell, I never stick to the rules, either. But it does help me to sit down and try to remind myself what I *really* want to grow before I end up with 20 packets of seed that I don’t use. :) But experimentation is the only way to learn to grow things, you are totally correct. Enjoy the adventures!
Hi Margaret. I am sure you are about to go into one of your coldest weekends in along time, so am I. So what better thing to do then start the germination test on old seed? I feel better already. Of course I have a question for you. Do you get good test results on peas or string beans without coating them with an innoculant?
Hi, Terryk. I get fine results in the test w/the peas and beans, yes, without any treatment. I usually use inoculant in the garden, especially if the soil is cold/wet in the first sowings.
Thanks for the feedback. Stay warm and cozy with Jack!
Happy to report most of my seed germinated very well, even some arugala from 2008! Lettuce and mâché seems to be slower or had been stored poorly and may need to be re-ordered.
Makes me wonder if all my perennial seeds that have been stored better might still be good…
Thanks again for this post.
Hello Margaret, Quarantine boredom has led me to surf the web for interesting places to order seeds and blogs to read. I found Higgledy Gardens quite by accident and was entertained all morning. He sells seeds and his blog is a stitch. I think I learned some new British slang words. I love my Sunday mornings with Margaret and my cup of coffee.
Thanks for the kind words, Kathy. I don’t know Higgeldy Garden but will go have a look!