I'm all for a spring garden cleanup that saves me time and money. Toss in the added bonus of increased organic matter and improved soil health and I'm sold. Several years ago while working at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, I was chatting up my friend Scott Stewart who, at the time, was at the helm of Chicago's Lurie garden. It was mid-March and I mentioned that their compost bins must be overflowing with all the debris they were cutting back. What he said changed my approach to spring garden cleanup forever. You know the drill. Cut, rake, bag it, haul it to the curb, repeat. The curb in early spring used to look like a skirmish line of lawn bags waiting for the garbage truck to haul them away. It bothered me to think that all that garden goodness would benefit someone else. I ...
No Planting Yet, Get a Soil Test First!
I have a confession to make. My garden hasn't had a soil test in 10 years. There are plenty of things in the garden, like the chlorosis on the little lime hydrangea and the groundcovers that never seem to cover any ground, that have been telling me now's the time. I'm finally prepared to listen and only wish I'd done it a whole lot sooner. But with the new side yard bed I told you about last week, I'm determined to do things right. And while I'm at it, I'm going to sample the bed that used to contain my beautiful redbud. It bit the dust last year and nothing in that area, aside from the hosta and solomon seal which could probably survive Chernobyl, is thriving. So I'm double dipping, so to speak. Most states have a university extension office that you can call or look up online for ...
I Can’t Stop Thinking About That Side Yard
Sometimes I wish there weren't so many plant choices. It really complicates things. Just when I think I have it figured out and I'm forming a plan of attack, man this sounds like I'm waging war, I crack a new magazine or see someone's Instagram post and all hell breaks loose again in my mind. Now let me be clear, I don't need to build a garden in the side yard, but darn it I'm sick of seeing nothing but grass and my neighbor's white siding as I look out my laundry room window. This place is screaming for plants and I'm ready to dish it up. I've been saving since October and while it's not much, it's enough to fill this small area with some lovely plants. More on those later. But first, the grass. I considered the no-dig approach but decided against it because I know my soil is going to ...
Powder Room Redesign on a Budget
I've been thinking about the powder room for a few years and decided that it was now or never. Something had to be done about the most used room in the house. It's on the first floor and has seen plenty of kids as well as many a filthy gardener. It's directly across from the garage door and with no laundry room sink in which to scrub up, the powder room handles a lot of dirty hands and boots. With garden season just a few weeks away, I've pushed it into high-gear and I'm tickled with how it's all turned out. The beige walls were too beige, the painted white trim miserably scuffed and that red splotch behind the toilet tank hard to overlook. I still remember the color, Geranium. At the time it seemed right. I had a thing for red in the early 2000s and now all I can think about is The ...
February is for Figs and Frigid Forecasts
The "F" word is popular around here. Bet you were thinking the queen mother, and lately with the wicked cold and 36" of snow we've had for February, I've muttered it a few times. All kidding aside though, my favorite "F" word is "Fig." It's an amazing plant and one that announces like clockwork every February from the pitch black darkness of my husband's workshop that the end is near...the end of winter, that is. It feels so good to have such soft spoken reassurance. The fig thing started as an experiment which you can read about here. I didn't know the first thing about how to take care of figs. I just knew I had to have it and I'd figure it out along the way. That's how it usually goes. Fast forward four years and I'm happy to report things are going well. Every August, I have more ...
Coffee Tables Are Perfect for Terrariums
In February, my coffee table suddenly becomes incredibly interesting with the addition of several terrariums. It's a winter thing. Remotes, pretzel crumbs, and the everpresent hint of dust are still there, of course. But the table is situated such that the morning sun hits it so perfectly that I can't resist the urge to grow something under glass. Who am I kidding? I can't resist growing anywhere! I find that as I get older, I become more in tune with light. How it moves. Where it rests the longest. But really, I'm assessing what I can grow. The thought process is the same whether I'm gardening indoors or out. It's just that in winter, I prefer the simple pleasure of looking into a self-sustaining little world, moisture dripping down the inside of the glass. The occasional tip of the ...
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