Spot the Galvanized Metal Container Garden
This was one of my favorite displays as I had the opportunity to showcase some of my favorite galvanized metal container garden creations. Can you spot the galvanized metal?
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Alli…yum
Okay, so it’s not really spelled that way but allium is one of my favorite summer plants and in my humble opinion no garden should be without them.
Allium’s round heads bring so much excitement to the early summer garden and are the perfect bridge between spring tulips and summer bloomers.
Read More»Every End Is A Beginning
This quote seems especially appropriate during the month of May, with its many endings. This month my daughter graduated from college and while that chapter is over, a whole new world is beginning. One that may seem quite scary, but one she will navigate, I am sure, with grace as she does everything else.
Read More»Galvanized metal…sigh.
For some girls it’s diamonds or gold jewelry. For me it’s a gift of something made of galvanized metal that gets my heart beating.
I have always loved things that evoke a feeling of history. I like pieces that tell a story and in my home you will find galvanized metal in just about every room. The old watering can in my office reminds me of past gardeners. The galvanized cups hold pencils in the kitchen and the galvanized florist buckets corrals pussy willow next to the fireplace in the living room. Galvanized letters in my office spell out P-R-A-Y, reminding me of the best way to start the day.
Read More»What This Country Needs
What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds. –Will Rogers
Color
When designing a garden or container, don’t underestimate the importance of color.
Colors can help you set the mood, attract attention or make a statement. Colors can convey a style, whether elegant and traditional, or playful and fun. Color is a very powerful design element and learning to use it properly is not always easy.
Read More»There Is Always The Garden
When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Country Living Fair – Rhinebeck, NY
I am simply beside myself.
I’ve been invited to bring my presentation, “Jaw-Dropping, Traffic-Stopping, Get-Your-Neighbors Talking Containers” to the 2017 Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY.
I will have the honor of creating a unique container garden in front of a large audience on the main stage Friday (2PM -June 3 )
The Country Living Fair brings the magazine’s content to life and gives readers access to a unique shopping experience featuring more than 200 vendors from 25 states, including antiques sellers, food purveyors, artists, furniture makers, crafters, and more.
Guests will also have a chance to meet Country Living editors and their special guests, attend cooking, crafting, and DIY demonstrations, book signings, sample locally sourced, artisanal food, and shop the Country Living General Store.
This video link will give you a sense of the environment at a Country Living Fair!
Heading to Rhinebeck for the Country Living Fair? Wondering what else to do while you’re there?
Here is a great guide: “33 Things to Do in New York’s Hudson Valley (besides the CL Fair!)”
You can even print this handy cheat sheet to help you plan your time and travel.
The fair will take place at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, June 2-4, 2017
Are you interested in attending this year’s fair? I might be able to get you a ticket.
The Glory of Gardening
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. ~ Alfred Austin
No Yellow Meatballs
So the winter damage has been fixed and spring cleanups are about finished. Which means that many homeowners, and landscape companies, are now turning their attention to pruning.
I understand the importance of pruning but one of my pet peeves is pruning shrubs into shapes that are contrary to their natural form. This is especially true of forsythia.
Too many people trim them into “meatballs” figuring, I guess, that a round shape is good.
Not so.
Forsythia is a naturally graceful arching shrub and training it into a ball, in my opinion, is like asking a ballerina to dance in clogs.
The best time to prune forsythia is in the spring, right after blooming and then I like to remove ¼ to 1/3 of the largest stems to the ground. If you have a very old forsythia you can cut it drastically to within 4” of the ground and it will come back. This type of pruning is referred to as renovation or rejuvenation pruning.
Why would anyone torture a plant like this?
Isn’t this so much better?
Pruning forsythia later in the summer will likely result in fewer flowers as you will undoubtedly remove buds that have already set. Check out Garden Seeker for a great guide for pruning shrubs .
If you have not yet pruned your forsythia consider skipping this year. Just let the ballerina dance.
And if you must have meatballs, make spaghetti.
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