The Best Thing To Plant in Your Containers Now
Would you laugh if I said “herbs”?
In my honest opinion, it is the best thing to plant in spring.
Add some beautiful curly parsley to your pansies and pussy willow. Add some purple sage or lemon thyme for pops of non-flowering color. Mint will do well in shadier locations. Rosemary is great in a drier situation. The beauty of these plants is their longevity. Like the Energizer Bunny they keep going and going and …. You may need to re-arrange them in your summer and fall containers but they will still be looking great. And at the end of the season (mid-September) perennial herbs can be planted in the garden. Talk about bang for the buck. Your $4.99 investment got you three seasons, plus an addition to the garden.
When using herbs in containers make sure their companions like the same growing conditions. And I do not mix basil with anything. I find it is happiest in its own pot; preferably terracotta since the roots do not like being wet.
Can you spot the herbs in these container gardens?
This year I encourage you to use herbs in your containers. Not only will you be rewarded with beautiful, long-lasting arrangements at the end you may even get to make some tabbouleh…or mojitos!
Seeing Red
Isn’t this a beautiful garden? It will certainly attract the attention of your friends and neighbors.
However if you are hoping to help pollinators like bees it will fall flat.
Bees will not give this garden a second glance.
Why?
Read More»What Winter?
I have noticed that it is getting dark later and on some days the temps are such that I only need a light coat. Spring is coming…sigh. But where was winter? Where were the freezing temperatures and colossal snowstorms that had school children crossing their fingers and meteorologists throwing around words like “bombogenesis”?
In years past, my brother and I would gleefully trade stories of the drifts in front of the doors that forced us to just stay inside for a while. Despite the crazy weather in the rest of the country New England, or at least Massachusetts, has gotten off easy. Up until February 12, 2019 we had received only a little over 2” FOR THE WHOLE WINTER.
Now it’s not that I love snow – although the first storm or two are pretty – it’s just that I have things to do!
Read More»Flower Show Season
It’s that time of year again. We winter weary gardeners can get a tease of spring and scratch the gardening itch with great area Flower Shows.
I am fortunate to be speaking at the Connecticut Flower Show on February 22.
I will have two talks: “Beauty and the Bees” which will discuss better ways of designing with pollinators in mind, and “Power Couples” where I will share some of my favorite perennial parings for gardens and containers.
I am also thrilled to be returning to the Philadelphia International Flower Show and will be speaking on perennials on March 7th.
Both of these shows are great and definitely bucket list worthy trips. If you are able to attend either, or both, I highly recommend it!
The Good Witch
One of my all-time favorite plants for the late winter/early spring garden is witch hazel (Hamamelis).
This is an easy going, low-maintenance shrub or small tree that is at home in any garden. The best part about witch hazel is that between January and March it covers itself with beautiful, dainty four-petaled strap-shaped flowers. I have planted one in the back garden where I can see it from every window. On those days when I feel that winter will just not end I glance outside and see the branches covered in yellow; I have hope.
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