Looking back at garden notes, everything seems pretty on track. The Witch hazel tree faded last week and Bleeding Hearts are emerging.
But although I see some Skunk Cabbage up along the stream, it is COLD…down to high 20’s!
But- enjoying every new bud and flower this year. My garden is my place to try to switch off the reality of such negative news.
Hoping that your garden is bringing you joy, too!
I love sharing what has worked for me in gardens I have had in the past and now. Not only a great tip such as “when you remove a weed, place some compost, another plant, or a handful of mulch in its place” but tools, plants, and products.
Ever since I was a toddler, I loved to just be barefoot and the best places in my experience have been the lawn and the sand just past the breaking ocean waves. I love to walk out the backdoor and around the entire yard to check on garden beds connected by an organic cushy grass and Dutch white clover lawn. The springtime show of beautiful crocus is now followed by violets, and later on – I mow around a patch of some spreading purple ajuga.
The noise and smell of a gas-powered lawn mower, and especially having to pull that damn cord umpteen times to get it going was not my idea of enjoying my garden so…. after I did use a push-mower for a small lawn in a wooded lot at a past house, I decided to purchase a battery-operated lawn mower for my “new” 1890 home.
Photo provided by STIHL
No, I am NOT an affiliate with Stihl (maybe in the future) but I really do love this mower. I just pop the battery into the charger in the kitchen before I start making coffee and by the time I’m ready to head out to the garage, I just place it in at the top and go! Just one battery charge is all it takes me to keep the height I want – 3 inches. It is easy to adjust if you want to make a visual shorter “path” but the 3″ setting keeps the lawn green, lush, and healthy.
I only user the leaf catcher (easy just to place on the back) in the fall since I let some clippings stay on the lawn as mulch. BUT, once the leaves start coming down, it turns into a compost-maker for me! It grinds up oak, maple and other leaves with clippings and it’s a breeze to tip over into my compost pile.
To say you have to “push it” is a misnomer…since it just glides without much effort at all and is…. ahh…surprisingly quieter than any other I have ever heard. The bluebirds just glance over at me. Even the gentle slope at the north end of the lawn is an ease with this mower.
So, I absolutely love it! Having done my homework comparing features and reading reviews, the choice was easy and now I’m going into my third year of “loving my mower.” Here is how you can find a dealer near you.
Look for a future “here is how easy it is” post. Once I get in all the flower, vegetable, and herb seeds in!
https://lp.stihldealer.net/lp/dealers/?gclid=2054e2702586158c882c846db2d68ebb&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=2054e2702586158c882c846db2d68ebb&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NES%20Core%20Search%20High%20Intent-B%20%28hr5-6lx%29&utm_term=stihl%20dealer&utm_content=STIHL%20Dealers
Ever since I started growing vegetables by seed, I concentrated on finding companies that offered only those that were not chemically treated or genetically engineered. It just made sense!
As an affiliate, I suggest products I have used for many years, love, and/or have researched and earn a commission from qualifying purchases you order.
All of the seed packets from Renee’s Garden Seeds truly explain everything you “need to know to grow.” Not only will you know when you will be able to harvest that pepper, but when to plant it, how, where (best sunlight conditions), and the height and special information about that particular variety. Their focus is on the true pleasure of growing from seed and the selections offered and cookbooks are sure to please both the new and seasoned gardener.
Her selections of organic and Non-GMO seeds make it difficult to narrow the choices down! Why add organic compost to your soil, plant to enjoy special varieties not available in stores or local nurseries, and then grow chemically treated seeds? That said, I have ordered many packets of flower and vegetable seeds from Renee’s Garden Seeds for over two decades and have had great harvests. A years-long favorite are her Jericho Romaine lettuce seeds which also happens to be my Siberian Husky’s absolute favorite!
I had the pleasure of meeting Renee Shepherd when we were both speakers at the Philadelphia Flower Show! What a powerhouse of a woman and what a selection of annual and perennial seeds from her quality-focused seed company.
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As an Amazon, BestNest, and Plough & Hearth affiliate I suggest products that I love and/or have researched and I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases you order by clicking on the highlighted and underlined links.
Not only gardeners have noticed that this winter has been the warmest one on record and that snowfall has declined all around the planet due to climate change. And we also know that “Mother Nature” sends unexpected surprises that have caused many a magnolia tree to have all blossoms drop and early attempts of planting vegetables to fail.
What can we do? Try one or two. Never plant ALL of your lettuce seeds or ALL hardened tomato or pepper plants ahead of your usual/normal/tried-and-true time. For me, mid-or the end of May has been the earliest time for the soil to really warm up and the night temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit/10 Celsius. Why? Because I once lost EVERY pepper and tomato plant I had so carefully nurtured indoors and hardened off so patiently. Ever since, I hold off and wait. An attractive and accurate outdoor thermometer, placed so that you can easily read it from inside, is such a help.
TIME FOR THE BIRDS
In the meantime, I am making sure that all of my garden tools and supplies are ready – easily seen, clean, sharpened, and in their designated place in the garage. My outdoor focus is on the birds now and just refilled the feeder this morning with sunflower seeds. Until they have more to eat in the garden, I do make a point of making sure the feeder is kept full.
Both woodpeckers and birds really enjoy swooping in for some suet. I have never bothered with “Hi-Energy” branded ones since the regular berry and peanut butter suet cakes have been the favorites for “my” birds. It is so much easier to fill when you hang up easy-to-replace suet holders.
Of course, birds also need clean water and both a stream and pond are here for the birds where I live now, but my favorite birdbath was one I had on my deck that was viewed from the kitchen and dining room window. It was so easy to refresh and clean. This is perfect for birdwatching on porches, balconies or decks, the wrought iron bracket has C-type clamp that holds the bracket to the railing without need for drilling or permanent mounting.
A word about buying quality. Although I have had large dinner plates, pretty glass saucers, and cement birdbaths, there is one material that I must suggest. I have owned the same copper birdbath bowl for over 20 years. It is so easy just to blast water from a hose to clean and fill and is loved by the birds since I place a flat blue rock in the center for the birds to easily land and perch on. You must make sure it doesn’t easily tip over and this birdbath certainly fits the bill.
Can not help but share this adorable bench to add to your garden. I will be doing a post on bench placement soon since I have used feng shui principals in every garden I have designed. There always seems to be another place to be able to sit and enjoy a view of your bird feeder, flower garden, sunset, or for stargazing.
There was one VERY obvious must-do after coming inside the back door from the garden this afternoon and that was tracking in the damp soil. It is past time to replace the backdoor rug that will trap all the mug and rain.
Photo of crocus and snowdrops.
BARBARA HOBENS 