With all the activity going on at the farm, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time at my brother’s house. (The drive to the farm is only 35 minutes from his house compared to an hour from mine.) As a way of saying ‘thank you for letting me crash’ I try to do a little work in the gardens while I’m there. During a stay several weeks ago I trimmed the dogwoods along with various other shrubs and perennials. I could have sworn I’d put all of the trimmings and clippings in the compost bin, but a few choice bits didn’t quite make it that far.

Unknown to me at the time, my niece had pilfered from the pile meant for composting. A little later on she presented me with this bouquet and handmade card:

Where I saw garden refuse, she saw something pretty. It was an unexpected and wonderfully sweet surprise. Having another look at it through her eyes, I too could see the beauty. This simple compost bouquet of Russian Sage, Euonymous and Myrtle is still sitting on my kitchen counter and I smile whenever I look at it.

How to Keep the Sandbox Clean?

It’s quite simple really - put a lid on it!

Roaming neighborhood cats and other prowling critters will use a sandbox as their own personal litterbox. Unless you expect your child to wear gloves while playing in his/her sandbox, keep it covered when not in use. No child should have to play in a dirty sandbox when putting a lid on it is so easy to do.

To keep the sand in our sandbox clean, Connor and I cover it with a tarp. Bungee cords laced through grommets on the tarp are stretched over metal hooks along two sides of the sandbox. This holds the tarp firmly in place.

Metal brackets with lengths of 2″ lattice strips raise the tarp so rain water runs right off.

It sort of resembles a covered wagon.

We remove the tarp when it’s time to play and put it back on when we’re done.

Our sandbox is situated under a tree to take advantage of shade on a hot summer day. The birds in our backyard spend a lot of time in that tree. The tarp not only prevents cats and other critters from pooping in the sand, but it takes care of bird droppings too.

For the sake of your child’s health, I urge you to cover your sandbox too!

I’ve had this particular specimen for just under four years. With each passing year it grows taller and blooms more brightly, and I fall more and more in love with it. I don’t think there is any one practice that works better for helping it develop - it’s more likely a combination of many different techniques. Some things are logical and come naturally, others have evolved through some trial and error. Because it is a totally unique specimen and still relatively new to me, I am often surprised by its characteristics. I think you will be too!

continue reading "Propagation & Care of an Extra Special Garden Specimen"

Nothing brightens up a dreary day like seeing the bright red flash of a cardinal in the evergreen hedge or hearing a cheery “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” when you pick up the mail.

We can encourage our feathered friends to stick around for the winter or stop while they are passing through by helping out with their basic needs - shelter, water and food.

Shrubs, evergreen trees and bushes along with any perennials or grasses that were left standing in your garden, will provide food and also safe shelter from winter storms. If the winter birds can find their own food most of the time, they may need help only when there has been heavy snow or ice.

Keep in mind that if you start to feed the birds, they may expect you to continue.

There are some elaborate and expensive bird feeders available, as well as heated birdbaths, but the only feeders I have used are simple ones. They are easy to use and are fun for kids to try, too.

continue reading "Birds in Winter"