What induces a man to retrieve old cat litter from the garbage and then wander outside under a darkening sky in his bare feet to stuff the mix in a hole in the ground? Garden rage, my friends. Plain and simple. Allow me to back up. When my wife and I returned to New Hampshire […]
Gardens
Harry Harper grew perennials from the 1940s until 1965 in a windy spot in Eden, New York, where the climate can be tough on new transplants. His rules for transplanting perennials—shared by his granddaughter, garden writer Sally Cunningham, of East Aurora, New York—These three rules for transplanting perennials can help you grow a beautiful garden […]
Gardens
Tantalizing Tomato Tips
There’s something very satisfying about picking a perfectly ripe home-grown tomato from the vine to slice and eat while it’s still warm from the sun. When properly cared for, fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes may be enjoyed far into the fall—extending one of summertime’s simple delights for a few more precious weeks. Tomato Tips What kind and […]
Gardens
Farmers’ Markets
There’s something special about purchasing the food that nourishes and sustains our bodies and souls directly from the growers who have carefully coaxed it from the earth. Every person who works closely with the earth invests not only their own time and energy but also a bit of themselves into what they grow—somehow making the […]
Gardens
Soil Enhancement: Composting
Learn about the difference between “hot” and “cold” methods of composting. Composting is a method of recycling naturally decomposing matter. Ingredients, size of the pile, local weather conditions, and your maintenance habits will affect the outcome. Note that shredded leaves, chipped wood, and chopped food scraps generally decompose more quickly than whole or large pieces. […]
For more than 25 years, Tim Matson of Strafford, Vermont, has designed ponds for clients around northern New England. Tim Matson got his start designing ponds by building one for himself. That was 33 years ago. Since then, it has served him well. “It’s done just about everything,” says Matson, who’s authored four books (the […]
Gardens
What The Heck Is A Garden Hod?
An unusual-looking contraption with an equally odd-sounding name, the origins of the word “hod” are uncertain; however, I think it’s a translation for the term “workhorse.” Not necessarily a prize-winning beauty, but it reliably gets the job done day in, day out. (I have to admit, upon unpacking my first shipment of garden hods it […]
Want to add an interesting focal point to your garden area? Consider installing a backyard water garden. I installed my miniature backyard pond in one day with the help of a friend. Though we were both rookies at the time, we must have done something right, because eight years later my water sanctuary is not […]
Gardens
Grow Fresh Herbs in Your Garden
There is nothing like walking out to the garden on a summer day to snip fresh mint for iced tea or tender chives for a sautéed meal. Once you have used ultra-fresh herbs for your recipes you won’t want to go back to using the store bought variety. I grow an outdoor herb garden, and […]
Crop rotation may sound complicated, but this age-old practice is such a useful method for thwarting pest and disease problems that it’s worth gaining a basic understanding of why crop rotation is important and how to try it in your garden. In The American Gardener’s Assistant (1869), Thomas Bridgeman offers this reason for crop rotation: […]
Q. I am crazy for herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley and mint). How can I get a head start on a great herb garden indoors that I can move outside when the weather gets warmer. Any tips for a year-round indoor herb garden? Answer: Herbs may be grown indoors year round, though they won’t be as […]
Almost all native flowering trees can be forced to bloom indoors, ahead of nature’s schedule. As soon as buds are visible—usually by early April here in New England—branches of flowering and fruit trees such as forsythia, willow, apple, cherry, pear, peaches and honey suckle may be cut to be placed in containers of water inside […]