July/August 2010

Here's a quick excerpt -

What’s not to love about the seashore?  Soft breezes, the gentle crashing of the waves and the stunning views all combine to instantly melt away our cares and tensions.  The mild, moist seaside climate can be a remarkably favorable environment for plants. Many coastal gardeners claim the salt spray keeps insects and fungus off their roses and powdery mildew away from their lilacs and monarda.  But coastal gardening can also present some pretty big challenges.

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May/June 2010

Here's a quick excerpt -

Connecticut is home to a diverse system of fresh water ponds, streams and rivers.  If you are fortunate to garden near a fresh water source, you are already familiar with the magic water can bring to any garden.  Water inspires thoughtful meditation as well as superficial daydreaming.  It is home to a veritable parade of wildlife.

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May 2010

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A garden designed to attract birds can be beautiful and sustainable and will have many side benefits.  The same plants birds enjoy will also attract butterflies, bees and beneficial insects to your garden.  You’ll see better pollination of your flowers and vegetables and your garden will require less maintenance if you allow natural predator-prey relationships to develop.  Insects will feed on your plants and then birds will eat the insects.

September / October 2009

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Gardening with native plants may just be the height of sustainable landscaping.  Native plants use fewer resources than non-native plants.  Over thousands of years, native plants have adapted to not only tolerate but thrive in typical regional growing conditions.  When sited and planted correctly, native plants do not require much, if any, additional fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers or water.  Native plants are also a fundamental ingredient for any gardener interested in promoting bio-diversity or who simply hopes to attract local wildlife such as butterflies and birds to their garden.

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April 2009

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I have a confession to make – I love the look and feel of a lush green lawn.  It reminds me of lazy summer days as a child when my brother and I would spend hours outside playing on our lawn.  We’d gather dandelion bouquets for our mom, search for four-leaf cloves or play kickball with the neighbors.  We didn’t think about all the resources that constantly went into keeping our lawn a beautiful emerald green.  We just loved running around barefoot outside on the grass.

April 2009

Here's a quick excerpt -

Container gardening with edible plants is ideally suited for children of all ages.  They will learn the basics of gardening – the importance of site selection, regular watering and feeding and the joy of watching the plants they’ve pampered for weeks finally reward them with edible crops - all in a small, manageable space.

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March/April 2009 Edition

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Creating a border in your garden that is beautiful and interesting all year long can seem like a daunting task.  But, no matter how large or small your garden, if you choose each plant for at least two seasons of interest and also make sure each plant works in harmony with its neighbors, a border with year round interest will almost design itself.