May 11th, 2012
Late yesterday afternoon we received our shipment of pots and garden ornaments from Campo di Fiori. And a surprise in one box.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
It’s Ruth Ann. Ruth Ann Keister is working with us in the nursery this spring. When she’s not climbing out of boxes.
We received a number of interesting pots including these very large mossy ones.
Should be fun to open the rest of the boxes. — A. C.
May 11th, 2012
This year we are experimenting with growing ginger in one of the hoop houses. Yes, we hope to have fresh ginger in a few months.
For six weeks the tubers have been “pre-sprouting” in the greenhouse.
I had to wait for the soil temperature to be above 55 degrees, and yesterday morning it was at about 58, so I went for it, especially given the forecast for warmer weather ahead.
Ginger starts off in trenches, with some fertilizer as it is a heavy feeder. (We use Ocean Organics seaweed based fertilizer here). As it grows we will hill the plants, much as with potatoes or asparagus.
Some of the sprouts are shooting up already; others are little white nubs. The ginger root, when ready for harvest, will be pink like the base of the sprout here.
The rows are about three feet apart and the sprouted tubers are around 5 inches from each other.
Hopefully everyone will be happy in their new home and grow, grow, grow.
Thanks to Betsy Welch for bringing us a piece of fresh ginger last year and Growing for Market and MOFGA newsletters for articles about growing ginger in northern climates (it normally grows in places like Hawaii). Stay tuned for progress. — A. C.
May 6th, 2012
One challenge this spring has been to clean up many many years of dead and downed trees to make an accessible path through the woods, along fern and moss draped ledge, down to a marsh. It’s a magical area that has been practically impenetrable.
The way these cedars find purchase among the rocks is amazing. Feels ancient.
The first task has been to simply clean up the woods. Which has had its challenges, given much of what needed to be cut and chipped or carted away was down a very steep embankment. Enter Doug Gammon and associates, chainsaws, tractors, chippers, wood winches.
A bundle of trees and brush comes up the hill,
and heads for the chipper.
Now that most of the large clearing work is done, we are beginning to work on the paths. Adam built a set of steps to negotiate one of the steepest parts of the route. In the rain, he built them.
The next step is to limb up branches in the way of the path and drag downed branches up the slope for one final day of chipping and finishing up. The end result should be lovely, with a path that goes between two areas of ledge, crosses the upper edge of the marsh, and reaches from Glenmere Rd. to Horsepoint Rd. — A. C.
May 3rd, 2012
Slowly, slowly the spring plants are blooming.
In a shaded garden the early plants are taking advantage of what sunlight there is before the trees overhead leaf out.
The hellebores.
Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’ is blooming and fragrant.
Many of the viburnums are opening up and just starting to bloom. I think this is a doublefile viburnum.
Glaucidium. That’s the only name it has as far as I know. A great woodland plant.
And then once we get out of the shade, the bold ornamental rhubarb leaves are magnificent once again. They’re huge. And the colors are delicious.
The advantage of a slow spring (though I could do without the sub-freezing temperatures just about now) is that one gets to enjoy the minute changes as plants wake up with long slow stretches. — A. C.
May 3rd, 2012
We added a few raised beds for a family in Rockport. Adam put the beds together. He’s getting quite experienced at making raised beds out of hemlock.
We staggered the beds with a central one a bit higher at the elevated corner of this property. Then we planted blueberries behind them.
The last step was to slip back and put pea stone over filter fabric on the apron between the beds. (No picture of the finished product yet.) — A. C.
May 3rd, 2012
The last bunch of the tulips we grew in one of the hoop houses is on its last legs. Still quite lovely.
It’s still wool sock weather, though. — A. C.
April 23rd, 2012
Things are growing. Tomorrow’s project is a lot of up-potting and more seeding. How about that rice! I know where my paddies are today.
Artichokes, cardoons and tomatoes in the distance.
And the great fig.
Even on a grey day, it’s nice in here. — A. C.
April 23rd, 2012
Is this what is meant by “rain gardens”? At least four inches so far today, I’m sure.
Poodle girls like the canal. Well, the edge.
And then inside the woods. Little wonder not much grows in here, with the wet-dry extremes.
Glad to be inside most of the day today. — A. C.
April 22nd, 2012
Which came first, the striped cat with a propensity for sitting on the electronics equipment or the striped gourd vessels?
Actually, it was the cat, Albert. He likes that we’ve accessorized one of his favorite places.
What a guy. — A. C.
April 22nd, 2012
Yesterday, driving on Rackliff Island, movement on the side of the road caught my eye. A fox kit. No, four of them gamboling along the road side. Quick. Camera. Stay still. I got a shot of one of them.
Spring! — A. C.