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Take the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge

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Here’s a challenge from the National Wildlife Federation.  If this matters to you, Garden-911 can help you get certified.

MPGC_Logo_219X219You can participate the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge by turning your yard or garden into a Certified Wildlife Habitat via National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program.  It’s as simple as providing food, water, cover and places to raise young for pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Then visit our website to certify your yard.

When you certify, you’ll get a personalized certificate, a special garden flag designating your yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, a one-year membership to National Wildlife Federation, six digital issues of National Wildlife magazine, a subscription to the monthly Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter, and a discount on wildlife gardening products from National Wildlife Catalog.

Most importantly, you’ll also start attracting beautiful pollinators and get the satisfaction of knowing that you’re making a difference. Each Certified Wildlife Habitat counts towards the ultimate goal of creating one million pollinator-friendly gardens by the end of 2016.

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Garden-911: March Showers Bring March Flowers

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Garden-911 pollinator garden; fritillary butterfly on Echinacae flower.

Native plants attract native pollinators. This spangled fritillary butterfly lingered quite a while on this pink Echinacae in my front yard butterfly garden last fall.

75 degrees today in North Easton, and I’m soaked with spring fever, even now, after dark.  Tree frogs are croaking it up, salamanders getting ready for a big night tomorrow (I hope), and I got to spread leaf mold on a clients’ heirloom perennial garden today.  Hurray!

Leaf mold is about the best medicine ever for improving soil health, but let’s not leave out compost.  Leaf mold is decayed leaves, preferably chopped with a mower or shredder, that have been watered to dampness (like a wrung out sponge), piled up, and left to sit a good while to be broken down by members of the tiny microbes and insects society.  You know it’s about ready to use when you can no longer recognize the leaves as leaves and it’s all nice and fluffy.  A bit about using compost as a soil amendment later.

I’ll be spreading leaf mold on my own garden tomorrow.  It sounds gross, I know, but soon enough the Echinaca plant pictured in the photo will be again attracting fritillary butterflies and hummingbirds to my front yard, in part thanks to the natural magic that happens from feeding soil with leaf mold.

I love spring fever, and we have a nice steady rain coming tomorrow, so drink it in!

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The Dirt on Seedings, Resilience, and Diversity

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Before I left for New Zealand at the very end of January, I started a tray of Viola seeds in an old egg carton, hoping for the best.  Many germinated before my departure, many didn’t, and this time around, the laggards are the winners! While the first to sprout are long done for this world, the next round of sprouters are alive and well and growing fast, most of them having put out their first true leaves with a second one on the way.  This reminds me of the value of diversity in all living things.   Next step is to start fertilizing them lightly, as I planted the seeds in soil-less mix, and now that the true leaves are forming they need some feedl.  I’ll be potting them up soon, and as I do I’ll add a dollop of compost to each pot, disturbing the thread-frail roots as little as possible.

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New Zealand: Wellington Botanic Garden Visit

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The Bee Keeper by Alison Clouster

Artist (and beekeeper) Alison Clouster created this piece from a Eucalyptus tree that had come down in a big wind. The piece welcomes visitors at the Wellington Botanic Garden in New Zealand.

While the snow is blowing back in Easton, I have the delightful pleasure of visiting New Zealand this winter.  Actually, it’s summer in New Zealand, all the better for a visit to the Wellington Botanic Garden.  Love this sculpture by Alison Clouster.  The subject is depicted in her beekeeper’s suit, and she’s looking out through the mask, where a bee has come to rest.

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Warm Winter Wishes from Carol’s Garden

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Carol's home garden ornaments in snow

A dusting of snow on Carol’s garden ornaments

I love winter.  I love how snow scrunches under my boots, the hint of wood smoke,  going out my backdoor directly into the Easton woods, making fresh snowshoe tracks.  I love how the trees and shrubs and perennials and annuals know what to do: looking dead but being very much alive, including the seeds, and how they all know what to do in the spring as the cold recedes.

Please join me in celebrating this season of rest and renewal!

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Easton Garden Club Festival of Trees at Governor Ames Estate – Nov 28 – Dec 14

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Last year at Country Gardens (shown above), this year at the Governor Ames Estate, the spectacular display of beautifully decorated trees has become one of the most popular holiday events in Easton! Bring the family and enjoy a leisurely stroll through dozens of trees decorated in traditional, contemporary, and whimsical styles.  Enter the raffle to win – and take home – your favorite tree while supporting the many Garden Club activities that support the town.  Visit the Easton Garden Club for more info.

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