Autumn Mosaic
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
― Stanley H. Horowitz
Radical Perennials
Kerry Ann Mendez is in the house
As many of you know I lecture extensively on gardening. One of my favorite fellow lecturers is Kerry Ann Mendez of Perennially Yours. You may have even heard her speak on the “Right-Sized Flower Garden”.” Kerry is a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker who is able to convey lots of information in a fun and informative way.
Now, you can enjoy Kerry Ann’s latest lecture while still in your pj’s! Kerry Ann is offering a webinar where she will discuss “Radical Perennials” – the plants all of us want – beautiful, long-lasting, low-maintenance.
Read More»Truth Is … Bittersweet
No doubt bittersweet is beautiful in fall arrangements. Just search Pinterest and you’ll see it featured in many fall container gardens.
While I understand bittersweet’s appeal I NEVER advocate it.
Oriental bittersweet (celastrus orbiculatus) is invasive.
Our feathered friends feast on the orange/yellow berries and then do their business in the woods. Bittersweet is a thug. Once it starts growing it takes over, monopolizing light and water, and choking out native plants. Bittersweet will either climb over plants and smother them or twine tightly up the plants and constrict them. If you like the look, consider using artificial. You’ll not only help save native plants you’ll save money by having a garland you can use for many years to come.
Good Buy and Good Luck
I’d like to spend some time talking about plants. Specifically, those plants you find in the nurseries now that are WAAYYY in the back. On a table with a big sign that says “Clearance” or “50% off” or something like that. Do you snatch them up, pushing people out of the way like a deranged shopper on Black Friday? Or do you pass them by?
Depends.
I often say it’s like choosing a marriage partner; you have to know how to pick a good one. So if you find a plant on the Clearance table how do you know if it is Mr. (or Ms.) Right?
Look for the signs.
Fall – One of the Best Reasons to Live in New England.
It happens slowly enough. You wake early and it’s not quite light yet. You have dinner on the patio and find you need to turn the lights on or light the candles. Or wear a miner’s cap. The hummingbirds have stopped coming to the feeder. You use the fan, rather than the air conditioner. You find that long pants actually feel comfortable. These are all signs that summer is drawing to an end.
While it may seem sad to say goodbye to summer (unless you are one of the mothers at the bus stop I see high-fiving each other) we do have fall to look forward to and it’s one of the best reasons to live in New England. No one is exactly sure how the drought will affect our foliage; the consensus is the foliage may still be good but will not last as long. I’ll take what I can get because I know after the beautiful colors of fall comes the white of winter. Despite summer’s finale, there’s still plenty you can do in the garden.
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