Want to garden organically for your health, for wildlife, clean water, and productive soil? You found the right blog! As a garden designer, consultant, author, and avid gardener, I share what works for both private and public gardens in cities and in the suburbs. As an historian and Whitetail deer expert, I use research and knowledge to create productive and meaningful gardens for homes, community gardens, museums, and parks.
As crocus fades and purple hyacinths scent fills the air, I planted the first window box flowers – 3 6-packs of pansies. Make such a difference!
But it is the vegetable, herb, and flower seeds that will soon be “chartered out” on paper for every planting bed, container, and raised bed.
Will I change my mind? Absolutely! “On paper planning” does help in making sure I have enough seeds and plants but shifting and adding a few more annuals… and then deciding to increase some succession planting to add to my bush bean and cilantro harvests…well, it is all part of gardening!
See where the snow has melted first? Is it against the south side of the house or west side of the garage?
Create an “Late Winter Map” of your outdoor spaces to pinpoint best places for planting future spring-flowering bulbs in the fall.
If you place a boulder or create or have a natural rock outcropping, this is where the soil will heat up and enable earlier snowdrops and crocus to emerge.
One of the largest and most unique urban gardens I designed was for the Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission on East 52nd Street. As fate would have it, had just moved from bustling West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan to a home an hour north on the Hudson River on a Revolutionary War dirt road in Garrison New York.
So… I commuted by train to Grand Central Station with, yes – my favorite garden tools. Since it was post-9/11 I did preemptively check in with MetroNorth security since I would be openly carrying objects that could have been taken as weapons. True story!
A colleague on the Woodland Landscape Council of Manitoga: The Russel Wright Design Center, had recommend me for the commission and, after meeting and seeing the site, was hired. The first photo, the “before” was even worse than it was since they had just started excavating a large hole at the other end to add an elevator.
As I walked the site, I asked the elevator crew if they had run into the natural bedrock called Manhattan Shist. They promised to keep an eye out for any large hunks of the shiny quartz-and-garnet shimmers as they dug. About three weeks later, I was back on-site accepting nursery deliveries and arguing with Consulate General of Hungary employees that they did not own the sidewalk. Was absolutely amazed to see that a selection of absolutely stunning pieces and long thick “seats and tables” of gorgeous shist were placed carefully at one end of the backyard! Now THAT was a great crew to work with!
Just in time for the official dedication of the garden, a perfectly bored-out 5′ tall piece of shist was placed and the fountain was turned on to add the last of the 5-senses for the staff and visitors to enjoy. The “wishing tree” was created by artist Mark Martini (1956-2010), foreman of R&G Wrought Iron in Cold Spring, NY and copper “leaf” wished were added by participants.
The amaryllis is such a beautiful and cheerful welcome to see during the winter! Watching the stem and flowers emerge a bit each day (while turning the planter near a direct light window to get “even sunlight”) is a treat for every gardener.
I have purchased them through the years from White Flower Farm, local garden nurseries, and from Home Depot and Lowes and have never had a failure. Frankly, I don’t think you can fail! From a bulb to gorgeous blooms in 7-to-10 weeks. And, if you purchase a few of them, start in early October and then plant the bulbs every 2 weeks.
The box they come in with usually has a growing medium that expands when added to warm water. If not, add to a few inches of soil or potting compost in a container that is wide and tall enough for the bulb. Push down on the soil to make sure it is solidly planted but leave the top of the bulb uncovered. I have only had to “steady the stem” by using marshmallow skewers a few times.
Ideally, keep the pot where it gets direct sun, but I have never had them in the “recommended temperature of 68 to 70 degrees F.” This 1890 house is kept at 60-61 degrees and all three photos prove they do just fine!
Add some warm water to keep the soil moist and as the stem, bud, and leaves grow, add some more. The flowers will appear when the stem and leaves finish growing. After the amaryllis flowers all fade, cut them off the stem them cut it at the base when it starts falling over. Keep in or by a window and water and fertilize it for about 6 months. When you see the leaves turning brown, cut them down to about an inch, pull the bulb out, brush off the soil, and store in a cool dark place for 6-7 weeks then plant again!
My Christmastime favorite – Red Lion.
A note on pots: amaryllises grow fine using decorative bowls and containers without drainage holes. I have used marbles, pebbles, and just nothing but soil – taking care not to let the planting medium get too wet. I fill the soil just up to the fattest part of the bulb. Some friends add houseplant fertilizer and swear that it increases flower size. I have never done it.
It’s that time of year! I chose the largest cloves from the garlic that I pulled and had dried out in July. Garlic is so versatile. I mince it into small pieces to use in salad dressings.
Just pulled these garlic bulbs out of the soil to dry in the shed for at least 3 weeks. Yes, just keep the soil on so you don’t pull away the skin of the garlic before they totally dry. Once they are, then gently scrape off the soil with a mushroom brush to get it all off.Overlap the cloves so they dry completely.Ah, a perfect size to gently pull apart for replanting and saving to eat all winter long.Pull the bulbs with the largest bulbs gently apart. I place the largest cloves in rows on the island to make sure there are enough to plant in the raised bed by the end of October. Just push down into the soil 3 times the height of each clove and tap the soil firmly. The garlic scapes in June were delicious in salads, omelettes, and soups.
When the tops start to curve into a circle is when they are perfect to cut off and chop up to add for a delicious to your recipes!
What are your favorites? It is time to make decisions to get them ordered and then into the ground before Halloween (my personal deadline).
Alliums must be my favorite “show stoppers” because they literally stand up and above the whole spring garden. Also on the must list are snowdrops, crocus, daffodils (white and King Alfred yellow), heavily scented purple hyacinths, and of course tulips!
Of course, there have been so many tomatoes (cherry and determinate), and dinners with green and purple bush and pole string beans that have been steamed (just 12 minutes!). But I must tell you, the “sow-eat-repeat” favorite has been Butterhead, Oak Leaf, and Romaine lettuce.
What are YOUR favorite vegetables and herbs to grow (or that you want to eat in 2025)! Any questions?
Chives, basil, Romaine lettuce, and tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil and Balsamic vinegar is all you need for the perfect summer salad!
A few hours ago, had to say goodbye to such a Good Boy. Angel De Vere, a loving and chatty Siberian Husky, would have been 12 years old on October 28th but his back legs and hip said that it was time to go to the hospital this morning. There was nothing they could do.
Just yesterday, he stood in the garden and just stared up at me with “that look” when I went up the back steps. I knew what that meant: “throw the balls for me!” And, of course, I did. He was so happy; he loved to catch them on the first bounce.
The next post will be for all who have pets. Knowing what NOT to plant is so important. I will tell you now that I will not mince words about the importance of gardening organically. A condo that I thought would be a forever home was using toxic sprays on the lawn, flower beds, and to keep bugs off the buildings and to stop birds from nesting. Goodbye!
For almost 10 years now, have been living in a home on less than half an acre that is a totally organic property. I have been able to grow delicious and healthy herbs and vegetables and plants that wildlife and Angel could freely eat. Sigh. He absolutely loved Romaine lettuce and would walk past the raised beds and just pull off some leaves! How I will miss him.
This photo of Angel with Santa Claus at the local SPCA really captured his joy! He was such a ham and just loved the camera. He never did anything wrong, bad, or mean…Angel truly was an Angel.
Well, it’s not that bad…but that was yesterday when I noticed a few 5-inch high white-flower-tipped thin plants.
Today? More and much taller!
Allistic petioles
They are biennial and flower the second year. It is easy to pull after it has rained. Grab near the base with one hand and pull straight up.
I walk around with a paper bag and then place it inside a black plastic bag in the garage. Once filled, then the spring weed bag is placed in the garbage can.
Do not compost this very invasive plant. The good news is that every year, I pull less and less!
BARBARA HOBENS 