The heat wave continues and some areas of Massachusetts are experiencing severe drought. Although I’ve tried to keep up with the watering, some plants (especially the hostas) don’t look so good. Many of the aforementioned hostas need dividing and if I get to it, some extra compost in the planting holes should help. Incredibly, the … Continue reading The August Garden
It’s the time of year we gardeners have been waiting for… harvesting and eating the fruits of our labor! But there are always questions: When exactly to harvest? What is the best way to pick that zucchini? What if I harvest too early? Which veggies can I pick that will produce again? Following are some … Continue reading Harvest Summer’s Bounty
Weeding… pruning… weeding… deadheading… and more weeding! It seems that’s all I’ve been doing lately. Although I don’t like the idea of using synthetic herbicides considered harmful to humans and the environment, I have been using an organic citrus oil-based spray that comes highly recommended, with good results. The garden smells like orange peels. Of … Continue reading The July Garden
Perennials are easy-to-grow, dependable and offer such a wealth of different colors, shapes, textures and sizes that they have become the backbone of many gardens. Unlike annuals, which need to be replanted each spring, in general, perennials return each year with a zest of new growth and beauty. Herbaceous perennials die back to the ground … Continue reading Gardening with Perennials
After this year’s terrible weather killed off many of our early spring blossoms, such as those of the forsythias and many azaleas, it’s wonderful to see that the clematis and digitalis purpurea (common foxglove) are glorious. Once the digitalis flowers fade, we cut off the elongated stems/spikes at their base and store them in a … Continue reading The June Garden