allium bulb sale, leaving the leaves, a wedding & japanese garden fun!
It’s suddenly October, which means it’s bulb season! For those who can’t get enough of spring-blooming allium, I’m offering three opportunities to add to your collection. Click here to see dates this week where I will have an ‘open garage’ sale of 17 different varieties of bulbs for sale. All profits will benefit the Community Hospice House garden fund. Bulbs are being offered at below retail prices, so come and get ‘em!
Many thanks to Nashua Farmers’ Exchange for inviting me to speak to their customers yesterday about all things bulbs. Be sure to check them out for all your bulb supply needs, including Bulb Tone, vole repellant and crushed oyster shells.
Shop allium bulbs of all shapes and sizes!
before your throw away those leaves!
Image: National Wildlife Federation
I urge everyone to read this informative post from our friends at National Wildlife Federation about the hidden jewels intending to overwinter in the fallen leaves. I’ve been calling attention to the dangers of fall raking and the damage done to invertebrates for years. This blog by NWF has additional stunning statistics about the destruction that occurs in our attempts to ‘clean up’ our landscapes. Essential wildlife is not only chopped and/or incinerated at the landfill, but the process contributes to the release of dangerous methane into the environment. Yikes.
If you think about it, it’s crazy what some of us do…we create ‘pollinator gardens’, with the intent of attracting beautiful butterflies and bees. Then, just as they are snuggling down to overwinter in our gardens, we unceremoniously rake and blow them out and cast them to the curb for certain destruction at the landfill. Then, the following year we wonder where all the butterflies and bees are… Get my point?
Ask yourself: are ‘clean’ garden beds really that important to me? Or can I do my part to better nurture the butterflies, moths, fireflies, bees and other beneficial insects that call my garden ‘home’?
a portland wedding & visit to an amazing japanese garden
September flew by with preparations and travel to Portland, OR for our daughter, Rachel’s wedding!!! The event was perfect with incredible weather, perfect venue on an urban farm, perfect food, family reunions & music performed by Rachel & Joe. We are on Cloud 9. Still waiting on the professional pix so sharing a couple candid shots here, including cute ceramic vases made by Rachel and filled with wildflowers for the guest table. What a talent!
As we ate our way through funky Portland, we enjoyed a visit to some waterfalls and to the Portland Japanese Garden. Joe’s brother, who is apprenticing to become a Bonsai Master, gave us a guided tour! This was our second time visiting this Portland gem, and once again our minds were blown.
Considered the most ‘authentic’ Japanese garden outside of Japan, it is a stunning tribute to the beauty of trees and nature. Gently sloping hills feature mossy woodlands and trickling streams that meander through the landscape. Their permanent bonsai display is not to be missed, featuring many specimens that are 60, 100, even 200+ years old!
Every (and I mean every ) tree and shrub has been artfully pruned and shaped to reveal each specimen’s true beauty. After touring, I had an irresistible urge to come home, grab my Japanese steel Okatsune pruners and start shaping everything on my property! If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit! (click an image for a larger view)
sincere thanks
I would like to extend my thanks to both the Tyngsboro Garden Club for inviting me to share my thoughts regarding Ecological Gardening and Stewardship and to the Milford Garden Club for the opportunity to introduce them to moss gardening and crafting fun moss ‘bonsai’. If your group is in need of a speaker, feel free to reach out to me here.
what’s next?
It’s only October 12th and the freezing temps from a couple nights ago only resulted in minor damage (mostly to annuals). Many dahlias did freeze (which is OK), and their blackened foliage signals it’s about time to carefully pitch fork them out of the ground for drying and preparation for winter storage. In the next issue, I will share tips from our own Yi-ling Shen, Community Hospice House garden volunteer and expert dahlia grower!
So, continue to enjoy the beauty of the fall garden and I’ll share more detailed ‘to-do’s’ next week!
Hope to see you at the bulb sale! Feel free to bring a friend or two!
~ Barb