Mid-April Blooms
April had a rather wild mood swing during this past weekend. We transitioned abruptly from cold and surly to sunny warmth. Plants went from shivering in their foliage to galloping forward to catch up with the growing season.
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Notes from a wildlife-friendly cottage garden
Alliums of Lurie Garden – and a Giveaway!
Did you know that 2016 has been declared the Year of the Allium by the National Garden Bureau? I didn’t either, until I was contacted by someone working with the online retailer Longfield Gardens (that’s Longfield, not Longwood).
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Do I Still Have Garden Cred?
I almost couldn’t bring myself to write this post, because it’s kind of an embarrassing subject. But here it is: for the first time, I hired someone else to do spring cleanup in the garden.
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Backyard Makeover
John, a friend of mine, has asked me to help him remake his back yard, which lies in full sun between a Chicago-style bungalow and a detached garage. This is exciting, because it is an opportunity to play with more plants. Not as good as an expansion of my own garden, but perhaps the next best thing.
Of course, the downside is that I find it very challenging to suggest plants to other people. Not that I can’t think of options, it’s just that there are too many options.
In most cases, the person asking for plant suggestions just wants me to recommend one plant so they can buy it, plant it, and get on with their lives. However, I usually start listing so many possibilities that they end up wishing they had never asked.
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Forsythia and Spicebush Update
There are two shrubs in the garden that provide us with cheerful yellow flowers in early spring. First, there’s a single old Forsythia of unknown variety. Second, there are several Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) that I planted at least five years ago.
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Spring, Winter, Spring, Winter – Enough Already!
It’s time for spring to stop goofing around and get serious. Last weekend we had snow, and I really am not in the mood for any more winter wonderland. There wasn’t much accumulation and it melted pretty fast, but still.
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An Extra Early ‘Early Harvest’
Here it is only April 5th, and tulips are blooming in our garden. Fittingly, they are called ‘Early Harvest’ tulips.
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Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash
I haven’t done a food post in a really long time, so I thought I would write about one of Judy’s new favorite recipes. “New” being a relative concept – actually she’s been making this regularly for the last couple of months.
My enthusiasm for lentils is kept well under control, but I’ll admit that this stew is delicious. The recipe comes from the New York Times, and you can find it here. Judy has, of course, made many variations on the original.
The recipe posted by the NYT calls for lamb and pumpkin. Judy has made vegetarian versions and also substituted ground lamb. Instead of pumpkin, she uses butternut squash, and I’m sure any winter squash would do.
We also find that we like it when she adds a pinch of hot red pepper and doubles the amount of turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin called for. Also, I like to add a dollop of yogurt (or, if Judy isn’t watching, sour cream).
It’s a good warming meal for cool or cold weather. Give it a try, even if you are not a big fan of lentils.
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Ten Favorite Stars for Sunny Gardens
In my last post I wrote about an article in the current issue of Gardens Illustrated called ‘100 Plants Every Gardener Should Grow’. While I took issue with the title, it has inspired me to do a much more modest list of my own.
I want to stress up front that just because these plants are favorites of mine does not mean that they will perform satisfactorily (or even stay alive) in your garden. Cultural requirements are key, so look that stuff up before you buy. Otherwise, don’t come crying to me if you plant one of these puppies and it doesn’t work out.
Gardens have stars and supporting players, just like movies. Garden stars are plants that really stand out. For me, that means plants that are especially noticeable due to size or color – or both. Around these stars there must be supporting plants that provide background and context.
So here are ten favorite stars that stand out in our sunny front garden. (In writing this list I freely admit that I have so many more favorites, and those in greatest favor vary with the year, the season, and my mood.)
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A Schizophragma integrifolium in Every Garden, and Two Cars in Every Garage
The latest issue of Gardens Illustrated (a magazine I love), has a cover story entitled “Tom Stuart-Smith’s 100 Plants Every Gardener Should Grow”, by the English landscape designer Tom Stuart-Smith.
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