Seasonal Chores
& Observations
There are so many emerging green shoots and blossoms to admire, especially those of the various daffodils. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), blue Siberian Squills (Scilla siberica) and crocuses are popping up everywhere, and the hellebores are putting on quite a show, too.
Even the colorful stems and branches of our Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus alba 'Elegantissima') delight the eye....
Read More...
Snippets...
The Origins of April Fools' Day
Hybridizing vs. Genetic Altering
Replacing Potting Soil
in Containers
Thursday, April 24
in Boston
The Race for Spring: How Climate Change Alters Plant Communities - Free Lecture at Arnold Arboretum
Thursday, April 24
in Wellesley
Spring Care of Trees and Shrubs - Mass Horticultural Society - Lecture
Friday, April 25 - Monday, April 28
in Boston
Art in Bloom - Festival of Fine Art and Fresh Flowers - Museum of Fine Arts
Friday, April 25 - Saturday, April 26
in Westford
Spring Plant Sale - Middlesex Conservation District
Friday, April 25
in Lexington
Arbor Day Celebration & 25th Anniversary of Tree City USA
Saturday, April 26
in Hopkinton
Approaches to Controlling Pests and Diseases - Free Lecture
Sunday, April 27
in Hopkinton
Art in the Garden - Benefit Exhibition
Tuesday, April 29
in Norwood
Solutions to Common Weed Problems - Norwood Evening Garden Club - Lecture
Get Your Garden Ready for Planting
It's time to get started on the vegetable garden so we can grow our own healthy, organic food this year. Many of us have already started seedlings indoors to transplant out to the garden or the cold frames as soon as weather permits.
Authors David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth, of "What's Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?)," have graciously provided the following checklist to get our gardens off to a healthy start.
1. Sanitize. If you didn't get around to cleaning up old left-over garden debris last autumn, do it now. Pay special attention to any dead plant material from diseased or infested plants and get it out of your garden. Fungal spores, insect eggs, and bacteria lurking on old infected dead leaves lying on the ground can quickly infect your new plants and ruin your produce all summer long...