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A little over a year ago I contacted a garden coach to work with me on the layout of the front garden. Instead of plunging forward, I spent some time gaining focus on what I hoped to achieve with my garden. As I searched through a considerable amount of design ideas, there was one that I kept coming back to. My garden was to be a habitat for birds, pollinators, and wildlife. A garden which brought me back to days growing up near a natural meadow, a place where we spent much of our time as kids. Thoughts swirled around a meadow garden that was filled with grasses, colors, and textures. One that incorporated some native plants which would benefit both the land and the wildlife. For a while, I entertained the thought of creating the design myself. I found myself full of ideas, but the one thing I was having trouble with was how to pull all of my ideas together. I was having difficulty seeing the big picture, and wished for a fresh pair of eyes. Someone who would be looking at the land for the first time, and perhaps view the layout differently than I. That’s when my thoughts went back to Judith Irven, the garden coach I had contacted several months before. Judith is a Master Gardener who teaches the design portion of the MG program offered by UVM. She offers coaching sessions and workshops assisting with plant selection, design, or a complete landscape plan. Using her extensive knowledge and expertise, Judith works with clients to develop a plan which incorporates their ideas and personality. Browsing through her blog and website which contain many pictures of her garden in Southern Vermont, her passion and talent are apparent. I emailed Judith and explained my hopes for this front garden, and included some photographs. We began with a simple sketch of the front and side of the property, Grasses certainly dominate the plan, though the planting will not be a a true meadow which would approach a ratio of 90%/10% grasses to forbs. Also on the plan the plants are shown in recognizable groups; whereas in an actual meadow there would be more co-mingling of grasses and forbs. The plan would be better referred to as a meadow-inspired design. I was delighted to see the incorporation of some grassy paths, a seating area, some stone steps, and a small section surrounded by a split rail fence. Judith’s design focuses on strong summer color as well as good fall and winter presence. Some of the beauties that will be gracing the planting include: Amelanchier canadensis or Serviceberry, with beautiful early spring blooms and fall berries for the birds, Cotinus ‘Grace’ and ‘Royal Purple’, two of my favorite Smokebush species, Spirea ‘Ogon’ with beautiful chartreuse summer color followed by a brilliant salmon-orange for fall, some native Virburnum, a few of my beloved lilacs, and of course a variety of grasses and perennials. The design will be incorporated over a period of years. This spring I plan to get started on a small section – the areas closest to the garage and front porch. I am so thankful for Judith’s help in making what was a source of uncertainty into something exciting. In my efforts to come up with a plan on my own, I had hesitations that my lack of design skills would result in my never really being satisfied with it. I longed for a garden that I could sit in and enjoy without thinking about what was wrong with it and what needed changing, and feeling unsure about how to change it. I am so looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt this spring…
A meadow inspired design for the front garden I have been inspired by many of you this year to begin a color journal, and I thought it appropriate to begin with my favorite color… green. It is not a primary color, but one which evolves from the mixing of yellow and blue. On the color wheel the complementary color to green is red. Many creatures including frogs, lizards, insects, fish, and birds appear green because of a mixture of layers of blue and green in their skin. And, many creatures have adapted to their green environment by taking on a green hue which acts as camouflage. By far the largest contributor to green in nature is chlorophyll, the chemical by which plants photosynthesize. The color green is used worldwide to represent safety. In Japan, it is regarded as the color of eternal life. And, green is the color of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Green ribbons have been used by a range of environmental groups to symbolize organ donation and transplant, solidarity with Chechnya, and support of farmers in America. And, we cannot help but love the muppet who uses green as his signature color, Kermit the Frog. Green evokes compassion, nurturance, fertility, rebirth, renewal, acceptance, growth, gratefulness, restoration, and meditation. It also makes us think about being kind to the environment. I am definitely feeling grateful for the color green this winter, as I am missing the lazy swaying of green leaves and the rhythmic movement of green grass. As I was browsing through my photographs, I was happy to find that there is definitely no shortage of green going on here.
Today we celebrate the birthday of the great Johnny Cash, what would have been his 78th. See him here, as he sings “40 Shades of Green.”
There are many streams that run near our property, and many creatures that depend on them for clean drinking water. The use of synthetic fertilizers is a major source of water pollution, not to mention the pollution that is created by trucking the stuff in from who knows where. Sustainable gardening requires us to use organic compost and mulch from local sources, if not compost made at home. I learned the hard way that in attempts to do good deeds by purchasing local compost, one must exercise caution. I purchased a few yards of compost from a local source, only to find that it had not been heated thoroughly to kill weeds. I soon had a garden with more weeds than I could keep up with. I have since come to rely on a local product called MooDoo, a compost made in Middlebury, VT. Their compost is weed-free, they make their own energy from cow manure, and their products are consistently tested for quality. Compost improves soil fertility and drainage, and composting at home can help to reduce the burden that garden waste adds to landfills. While I perfect my composting skills, I rely on MooDoo to help enrich my soil, though I am certain that there are several local resources in which to obtain quality compost. In Vermont we are blessed with frequent rain showers during the summer, though there are brief periods where we can experience drought. Mulch helps to reduce water evaporation and also helps to suppress weeds. Suppressing weeds eliminates the need to use herbicides and reduces the competition for water between weeds and desired plants. A mulch layer can also minimize fluctuations in soil temperature and reduce root damage from temperature extremes. As organic mulches such as bark chips and leaves decompose, they add organic matter to the soil and help to improve soil fertility. Pesticides kill beneficial insects, in addition to the birds and other wildlife that feed on these affected insects. Many pesticides that are still readily available today can potentially harm us in addition to our pets, and many of the long-term health effects are unknown. Pesticide residues get into the food chain, leach into groundwater and run off into our streams and rivers. For serious infestations, there are less toxic products available, and one must consider if a chemical is absolutely necessary to treat the problem. There are three products which I have used, primarily for indoor plants. A safe choice is that of sticky papers and sticky traps. BioNeem and Safer’s soap are considered less toxic, though I do not feel comfortable using them outdoors. For outdoor pests, the less toxic the better. I know of many gardeners who use Horticultural oil with an active ingredient of highly refined paraffinic oil or petroleum oil. While this is a chemical, it is considered less toxic than many other products available. Again, consideration of the severity of the infestation is necessary prior to applying any chemical. A better option is to begin by choosing plants that are more resistant to damaging insects. UVM has a lot of information available which lists various species of shrubs, plants, and trees noting those that are more resistant to infestation. If all gardeners, both new and experienced, continue to adopt and refine the principles of sustainable gardening they will enhance the environment for people, plants, and wildlife. I like to think that our efforts will help future generations enjoy the pleasures of gardening as much as we do. This post has been written as part of the Garden Bloggers Sustainable Living Project, hosted by Jan at Thanks for Today. It is in recognition of Earth Day, which is April 22, 2010. The project includes a Give Away, and submissions are due by March 1st. I hope you will join us!
I feel as though I must offer my sincere apologies for my lack of blog activity over the past couple weeks. While I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to return to school at this stage in my life, I am enrolled in a fairly rigorous program which at times does not afford the luxury of free time. I am looking forward to catching up with all of you over the next week, while I enjoy a winter break. May your hearts be filled with love this Valentine’s Day!!
I do not remember exactly how I was first introduced to blotanical, and the amazing gardening community it holds. But, after moving to our house, I do remember that I desperately wanted to begin a garden of my own, and I was really rather clueless as to how I should begin. I soon discovered the world of garden blogs, many of which contained beautiful writing, a wealth of information, advice, questions, and the most amazing photography. I was delighted by a community of gardeners that were supportive of one another, passionate about gardening, enjoyed writing, and grew some of the most amazing gardens I had ever seen. I became a member of blotanical in September of 2008. I felt a bit intimidated in the beginning, both as a new gardener and a new garden blogger. What could I possibly write about that others would find interesting? Well, surely some of those early posts left little to be desired, but yet I was met with encouragement, gracious comments, and there were a few that were kind enough to add my blog to their list of favorites.
This post is to show my appreciation to all of you, as this blog wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable if it weren’t for those of you that take the time to visit. I so enjoy each and every comment left and those who have gathered here to join me in my passion for gardening. You have helped me to become a better gardener, a better writer, and you fill me with enthusiasm and inspiration. I hope to enjoy many more years sharing in this adventure with you, and taking delight in my virtual visits to your gardens. To celebrate this time, and the wonderful people I have met, I would like to have a giveaway for a wonderful book which I recently discovered, Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History, by Diana Wells. Diana Wells has a gift for finding curious information about the naming of plants and creatures in the natural world. Here, she explores our love for trees, and those featured are in alphabetical order all the way from Acacia to Yew. Wells talks of our relationship with trees, investigating their names and meanings as well as their legends and lore. Beautiful illustrations by Heather Lovett grace the pages featuring the leaves, needles, flowers, nuts or fruit offered by each species. “Because they are larger and older than we can ever hope to be, because they give shade, wood, food, and shelter, and because they stretch from earth to heaven, trees have been our gods since before recorded time.” One tree featured, the Japanese Cedar, has the most interesting tradition that surrounds it, called forest bathing. Apparently, today in Japan it is still common for Japanese businessmen to enjoy this ritual:
If you would like a copy of this beautiful and inspiring book, I will be holding a drawing the old fashioned way – putting names into a hat and plucking out one lucky winner on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. If you would like to be included in the drawing, all that is required is to leave a comment requesting that your name be added to the hat. Deadline is February 13th at midnight. Rebecca at prefer to be In The Garden has invited us to take part in a Rainbow Challenge, displaying photos from our gardens that make up the colors of the rainbow. I have been inspired this year by many of you, and by a book titled Fearless Color Gardens by Keeyla Meadows, to begin a color journal. This is a great opportunity to dive right in. I am passionate about color, and will be exploring each color and the feelings or moods they evoke, as color can set the mood, feel, or tone of our entire garden, or an area of our garden. I would love it if you would join me in my exploration of each color, and perhaps find peace with a color you dislike. For the past couple of years, I have been working at making peace with the color red, and have been successful to some extent – I planted some things last year such as Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’ both of which have deep, blood red blooms. I look forward to exploring my hesitation with this color, as well as its attributes.  Red Raspberries  Red buds of Symphytum x uplandicum  Orange Aurelian hybrid lily 'Elise'  Orange salamander  Yellow Aquilegia x hybrida 'McKana's Giant'  Yellow Orienpet lily 'Conca d' Or'  Bright green leaves of Spirea 'Goldflame'  Handsome green frog  Lovely blue leaves of Hosta 'Love Pat'  Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'  Indigo... a lovely cross between blue and violet  Indigo Iris  Violet blooms of Allium 'Purple Sensation'  Violet splashed leaves of Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'
As winter releases it’s cold and bony grasp, and we look forward to warmth in the presence of May, I most look forward to, above all else, the return of the lilacs. Hundreds of cobs of bloom appear over smooth, gray trunks, signifying both rebirth and renewal. I do not know of any other flower with a scent more powerful or intoxicating. Their trusses make for the most glorious bouquets, and freshly cut lilacs are quickly becoming a much anticipated spring ritual for me. The genus Syringa contains twenty-three recognized species, and I could probably find good reason to grow every single one if I had the room. For it is difficult to choose between flowers that range from the softest of pinks, the bluest of skies, the richest and deepest of purples, or the palest of yellows. As with all lilacs, they can and will grow to produce impressive clumps that resemble a giant mass of stems and twigs. I prefer to single out three to five strong stems and remove the rest making for a more structural plant. I have learned that lilacs prefer my spring cleaning through bouquet-making, as they begin to produce flower buds from late summer through fall. Pruning too late will spoil the show for the following year. For a long-lasting indoor arrangement, pound the ends of the stems with a hammer or rubber mallet, which will improve their ability to take up water. Native to Europe and Asia, the oldest living lilacs in North America are thought to be those at the Governor Wentworth estate in Portsmouth, N.H., believed to have been planted around 1750. This makes me think about the hands of the person who planted them, and the eyes of those who have admired them. In pastures among ruins of homes long abandoned, there still stands lilacs marking the lives of those who shared happiness, sorrow, hope, and despair. I wonder about their adventures, and where they went. And, I wonder if they considered that the lilac they planted would still be standing, some three lifetimes later. For Bloom Day, I’d like to take you on a field trip to the greenhouses at the University of Vermont. During the cold winter months I take great pleasure in seeking out a greenhouse or two to get my fix of greenery and color. At 8,000 square feet, UVM’s Main Campus Greenhouse Complex is a relatively small facility used by faculty, staff, and students in teaching, research, and extension. It is the only greenhouse that is open to the public, and I was happy to find it well-stocked with an impressive variety of orchids, as well as a few other treasures.
 This last photo is an orchid of mine currently in bloom, Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance.' And, sweet it is, lightly scented with the smell of chocolate. To celebrate Bloom Day, and to see what is blooming in gardens from around the world visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Happy Bloom Day!!
Zonal denial is defined as attempts to grow plants which are normally limited to milder winter hardiness zones. As our gardening palettes grow, and we become more enthusiastic gardeners, desirable and “must-have” plants begin to become an obsession. After moving to Vermont from the Pacific Northwest and obtaining my empty landscape, I began to dream about the amazing plants and trees that would be filling it. As I set out to begin planting my garden, I paid particular attention to plant labels listing a plant as hardy to zone 4. I dreamt of plants and trees listed as hardy to zone 5 or even 6, but did not give them much more than a meaningful and wistful glance, figuring that they would never survive my climatically challenged garden. As I read various gardening books and resources hungry to learn anything and everything to do with gardening, I discovered that the hardiness maps are not set in stone, but merely a guide. There are many other variables such as micro climates, soil quality, drainage, mulch, and winter protection all of which would help me in pushing my zone to new heights. Although winters in Vermont are undeniably cold, there is reliable snow cover that insulates the ground protecting the roots and crowns of plants. I have posted before about my faithful use of a product called Wilt-Pruf that is sprayed on evergreens to prevent windburn and winter kill. It works by keeping moisture in the leaves. It is a wonderful product, and one that is totally organic and biodegradable. It is best applied after the first hard frost, when moisture has retreated to the plant’s root system. And best of all, if you are a complete procrastinator, as is the case for me this winter, you can also apply it during the January Thaw. When we discovered our property, it seemed to us nearly perfect as it is situated on the top of a ridge and tucked into many surrounding trees. The only thing I could find that we were lacking was a fabulous view. I later learned that this would prove to be beneficial because without a view, we get very little wind which is certainly an enemy to hardiness. I am convinced that the surrounding trees provide us with our own micro climate of zone 5, as frost happens later for us than for those living at the bottom of the ridge, and while it is snowing here, there is nothing happening just a few short miles from us. And, while there are certainly times that I balk at the biting and bitter cold winter days, our climate does afford us opportunities to grow some amazing plants such as Meconopsis betonicifolia, or Blue Himalayan Poppy, and Cypripedium, or Ladyslipper Orchids. Soon after we purchased our property, I found myself with ornamental grasses on my mind and paid visit to a couple of local nurseries. I found myself heartbroken after visiting the first when the employee offered to go out back and get their grass expert, who then came to me with a pot of blue fescue and informed me that this is the only grass that is hardy in Vermont. (How can you be a grass expert if you only sell one type of grass?) Thankfully, I wasn’t about to take her advice whole-heartedly. She could very well have been educated on a variety of grasses, but I think her zoning information was a bit batty. So, I will continue with my wish list containing dreams of Japanese Maples, Magnolias and Witch Hazels, some of which I hope to plant this spring. And, I will continue to take delight in my window shopping of magnificent mail order nurseries such as Seneca Hills Nursery, located in upstate New York. They are certainly not shy when it comes to pushing the zone. As is stated on their website: ”A good gardener experiments. A good gardener kills a lot of plants.”
Since determining that a meadow is just the thing for my front slope, I have been spending some time reading up on a new book, The American Meadow Garden by John Greenlee. Whether you want to create a small, intimate meadow, or are looking to abandon your traditional lawn, Greenlee’s newest book takes readers through the entire design process. In addition to guiding you in site preparation, Greenlee discusses the difference between warm and cool season grasses, and how they perform differently, depending on what part of the country you live in. In addition, there is extensive information given on a variety of grasses that will serve as base, filler, and accent grasses. Grasses are excellent for slopes, and many will give the effect of water cascading down a hill, as well as provide erosion control. Included in this book is a listing of many meadow sweeteners such as bulbs, annuals and perennials. An entire section is devoted to a portfolio of meadow gardens from California to Wisconsin. All are amazing and equally beautiful. Greenlee has been growing grasses as a nurseryman for more than two decades, and states:
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