Organic gardener growing food and flowers, lovin' pollinators and birds.

Looking Back at 2014 and Resolutions for the 2015 Garden

Pansies grown from seed in 2014,
It seems everyone is already nostalgic on this New Year's Eve. One of the highlights of my year was my garden, where I sought refuge when life became too chaotic. The garden not only was a place for me to focus excess energy, but also a way to socialize with others. I ended up sharing 256 photos of my garden on my personal Facebook account (where my friends graciously humored my collection of photos of flowers). I also had the opportunity to be interviewed for the Back to My Garden podcast, which was awesome! As usual, I made more friends at garden centers and signed up for one of my town's garden clubs (apparently there are three). The front garden became my conversation piece as dog walkers and joggers went by. I shared (literally) the fruits of my labor, where people in the neighborhood were given pears from the trees or tomatoes from the grow beds. 

So many tulips! I hope they return this year.

This blog in itself headed into a new direction. Instead of only focusing on my personal perspectives of gardening, I used my journalism training and prior experience to make this blog a reporting platform for all things gardening. Beginning in February, I began attending local lectures and workshops to write up for Frau Zinnie. I covered a total of 26 gardening events in 2014, a number I hope to double in 2015. I love learning about gardening, and I love sharing what I learn with you. I also added a new page that lists all my reviews in one place. It's a short list right now, but one I plan on expanding in 2015.

One of the several hellebores added to the garden this year.

As for production, the garden produced the following food: 22 pounds of tomatoes, 3 pounds of beans, 1 pound of garlic and 57.5 pounds of pears. Just imagine what the totals would have been if I planted the garlic in a better location or if the squirrel hadn't stolen so many pears! (The totals were also reported to Go Grow It, a twitter handle where gardeners were encouraged to report their food pound totals with the aim of reaching a collective 5,000 pounds.)

The female butterfly I raised thanks to my friend, Diane St. John.

As for the garden itself, it held up pretty well, despite a drier than normal summer. I battled one main garden pest, the groundhog, that I learned to live with as the season went on. New paths were created in the front garden with mulch that took me until autumn frost to move from the driveway to its permanent home. There were lots of toads and butterflies in the garden, and the return of monarchs as well (and thanks to a friend I was able to raise one to release). I finally managed to photograph the hummingbirds on one sunny afternoon as well as the elusive Carolina wren, which proves that the key to attracting wildlife to your garden is by not using chemicals.

The first garden bed I chiseled out of the lawn in 2009.
Overall, the garden put on its best color show to date. It has grown dramatically from the first growing season in 2009, where the property consisted of only lawn. Not even a shrub. Looking back at one of my only photos from 2009 (at right), I can't believe how far it has come. Instead of lush green weeds (don't be fooled, it was never a pretty lawn), there are six trees, a garden path and two arbors, just to name a few changes. And thankfully I realized how tacky red mulch is. (Dyed? Yuck. No thank you anymore!) Some of those plants didn't make it (like the lilies that were decimated by the red lily beetle and the coreopsis that just doesn't like my garden, no matter where I try to plant it). Other plants, like the silver lamb's ear, have become a running theme in the front garden. Now the front garden is larger, and it's my (often out of control) oasis. 

So, as for gardening plans (or resolutions), here's what I hope 2015 will bring:

Alyssum in the fall.
1. Plant more alyssum. I've put post-it notes all over to remind myself to order more seeds to grow in the garden. This plant was a workhorse this year, acting as an understudy for all the dramatic flowers, gracefully subsiding in the heat of the summer and returning with full vengeance in the fall. Alyssum, where have you been all my life?

2. Grow more food. I challenge you to, also. Just imagine if we all used our parcels of land to grow just one food crop. It doesn't have to be a vegetable. Think of all the blueberries, basil or garlic you can grow. Find things that you love and are expensive to purchase at the farm stand or grocery store. 

3. Create a garden for the house rabbits. When the groundhog took out my first attempt this year of a garden for rabbits, I didn't put up a fight. This year, I plan to grow more herbs and vegetables to feed the needy little adorable beasties that live in our home. 

4. Provide better support for the black raspberries. Luckily, Pinterest is a wealth of inspiration.

5. Harvest and dry my own herbs this year for cooking. I have lovely oregano - I shouldn't be wasting it!

"The Fairy" may look dainty, but she has long thorns.
6. Move my rambling version of "The Fairy" rose away from the walkway so the mailman won't be attacked.

7. Find out why my rhododendrons are not blooming (is it that blasted black walnut or the moisture-sapping maple from the neighbor's yard?). If I can't fix it, I think it's time to say goodbye and plant something that will be happy. Life is too short to struggle with plants that are Debbie Downers. (That goes for you too, mountain laurel.)

8. Don't start as many pansies from seed. This will be a hard promise to keep. But I need to keep it in check because they take up too much room when I really need to be starting other plants under my grow lights.

9.  Try something new. Pumpkins? Corn? I think I might have the perfect experimental spot in the backyard to play with.

10. Make better use of interspersing my edible plants with my ornamentals in the front garden.

That's just a jumping off point, but I hope to make Frau Zinnie even better in 2015. Of course, thank you to my husband who copy edits my work and writes snazzier headlines than I can. (It helps being married to a great editor.)

Most importantly, thank you for following my blog this year.  Onward to 2015!
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Homeowners, Gardeners Must Be Smarter Than The Average Bear

Black bear - Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service.
GLASTONBURY, Conn. - Berries and grasses just can't compare to junk food like trash, birdseed, corn ... and even small livestock.

That is, if you are a black bear.

"They are like giant raccoons - they will eat whatever the can get," said Scott Reinhardt, seasonal Furbearer Technician for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, who tags, relocates and hazes nuisance bears. He is also a teacher for the Connecticut Audubon Society, where he recently lectured.

Black bears can be lured to homeowners' trash cans by the smell. To discourage this, Reinhardt said to keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store it in the garage or shed. Using a few capfuls of ammonia or bleach on top of trash bags can help mask the smell of food. Reinhardt said homeowners could put the trash out the morning of the collection as well.

But, if you store your trash cans inside, make sure it's a sturdy structure.

"We get thousands of calls every year of a bear tore through my shed, a bear went through my screen door, a bear went through my bird feeders or beehives - it happens all the time and it will happen more [as] they get pretty comfortable," Reinhardt said.

"They typically don't want to be around us," he said. But "they will come right up to your house if they are used to people enough."

Connecticut Landscape Suitable for Black Bears
Black bears love wooded and swamp areas, especially filled with mountain laurel. "They make the dens in laurel," he said. They can also use brush piles (such as the 400 pound male bear Reinhardt responded to in Goshen, Conn.) or in a rock cave (which is the least likely of the three, despite all the children's tales).

In the 1980s, black bears began to migrate into Connecticut from New York and Massachusetts. They are typically found in the northwestern section of the state.

"Bears are trying to survive in a much smaller area," said Reinhardt. "We're encroaching on their natural habitats."

Reinhardt is part of the team at the DEEP that ear tags both male and female bears, and collars females. (Their necks are smaller than their heads which makes collaring possible. This isn't possible with male black bears.)

"Tags help with sighting reports and nuisance reports," Reinhardt said. "It builds a resume for problem bears." Purple is the color often used for nuisance bears.

Be a Smart Homeowner
For Connecticut residents, waiting to fill bird feeders until after the first snowfall is a good way to deter black bears from dining in your garden. In areas where bear activity is high, bird feeders should be removed (or remain empty) from March through November to discourage bears from visiting (this is when they are typically the most active).

"Bears are pretty shy by nature - their first instinct is to run - like us," he said. "If it has a way out, it will take it." Typically black bears will climb trees to avoid threats.

While walking outside, keep dogs on a leash to avoid them running off after the bear. Keep rabbits in the home and not in outside hutches where bears will try to eat them.

"If you come out on your front porch and there is a bear going through your garbage, banging pots and pans is not going to help. It's like ringing the dinner bell. It's just ambient noise," said Reinhardt. "The bears really don't recognize it as you are directing it at them. It's like a car horn or traffic - they don't hear it. If you clap your hands and say, 'Hey bear! Get out of here!' - they're gone."

A loud noise, like a boat horn, will also spook bears and cause them to leave, said Reinhardt.

If gardeners are wary of being outdoors where black bears can be present, Reinhardt suggests carrying pepper spray* for "peace of mind."

"Lots of people like to have it when they are gardening - they feel safer having it because if a bear is coming up while they're digging up turnips in the yard and they're not looking ... they feel safer just being able to grab it and spray," he said.

"But if you are going to use pepper spray, you need to practice with it because it's not straight forward and there's lots of room for error," he said. "It sends out a cloud of hot pepper spray, and it can come back to you if you spray it into the wind ... you will mace yourself."

Reinhardt said pepper spray is an initial deterrent but not a solution. "If you spray, you want to get out of there as fast as possible," he said.

Most importantly, do not deliberately feed bears. This will make them less afraid of people and more likely to encourage problem behavior.

"If you give a bear a sandwich, he'll want a glass of milk," joked Reinhardt.

The DEEP encourages state residents to report bear sightings in Connecticut by using the Black Bear Sighting Report Form or by calling 860-424-3333. To view reported sightings in Connecticut by town, click here.

To learn more about black bears, click here.

* Pepper spray is illegal to have in most national parks because it is considered a weapon.
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Gardener's Gift Guide 2014

Need something special for the gardener in your life? Unless they've left a not-so subtle hint that they want a new piece of garden equipment, the standard choices can be a little monotonous.

I've compiled a list of unique gifts for every gardener on your list - women, men ... even children.

Used with permission from Georgianna Lane.

2015 Flower Photo Calendar  - $11.00/$19.00
If you haven't discovered the magical world of Georgianna Lane photography yet, this is the perfect excuse to visit. These 12 individual calendar pages (available in 4x6 or 5x7 sizes) can be used on a memo board or easel for display. The pages are also suitable for framing.

Used with permission from One Lane Road.

Vegetable Garden Men's/Unisex T-shirt - $26.00
Need something for the male gardener in your life? How about this super soft cotton t-shirt that is screen-printed by hand from One Lane Road. Available in multiple sizes, this t-shirt, along with other garden-inspired designs in the shop, are original illustrations. Holiday delivery is estimated for all orders placed by Dec. 7.

Crystalline Koi - $80.00 each
Another option for the man in your life are the many selections offered from Fish in the Garden. Friendly representatives from this Maine company are always present at the garden shows I attend in late winter. They also bring their schools of fish to accent the display gardens at the shows. The koi look really nice around water features in gardens, too.

Used with permission from The Forest Sleeps.

Bunny Garden Markers - $6.00 each
These garden markers made out of recycled spoons and embellished with rabbits is a whimsical way to keep track of what's growing in your herb garden. The spoons are hand-stamped by shop owner Linda. There is also a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Special on the markers. (If you are into fairies, there's a style for that, too!)

Used with permission from Metal Garden Art.

Celestial Moon Steel Garden Stake - $9.95
This original design is one of the many decorative garden stakes offered at Metal Garden Art. The stake will weather naturally to a rust color but can be coated in clear lacquer to protect it.

Used with permission from Precious Meshes.

Little Bird Nest Earrings - $64.00
These adorable earrings are also perfect for any bird lovers on your holiday shopping list. The nests are handmade with crochet wire that are woven together, just as a bird will gather little bits of nature to make its nest. The bird nest jewelry is also available as necklaces and rings as well. (I purchased one of her necklaces in 2008 and I still receive many compliments every time I wear it.) Emily of Precious Meshes is also offering Frau Zinnie followers a 10 percent discount: use code precious10 to activate. Order by Dec. 10 to guarantee Christmas delivery.

Used with permission from Juicy Crafts.

Cotton Bandana - $11.50
These bandanas are handmade and perfect for keeping hair out of your face when gardening. They are machine washable and come in a variety of different fabrics to choose from. If you buy three or more headbands, use discount code JUICY15off to receive 15 percent off your order. I own several and they come in handy not only when I'm gardening, but when I'm at work, too.

Used with permission from Just Hatched.

Wooden Leaf Puzzle - $42.00
Show a child how great gardening can be by introducing them to nature with this puzzle from Just Hatched. Handmade from birch and sanded smooth by hand, these puzzles are made with nontoxic paint and a natural beeswax polish.

Walk-in Greenhouse - $135.50
If you have a gardener who always wants a jump on the growing season, this greenhouse from Territorial Seed may be just what he or she is looking for. It measures 6 feet 3 inches deep, 4 feet 1 inch wide and 6 feet 3 inches high.

Windowsill Herb Collection, used with permission from Smart Seeds. Click to enlarge.

Assorted Seed Offerings from Smart Seeds - Prices Vary
If you are looking for unusual seeds to grow in 2015, check out Smart Seeds. Using resources on six continents, you will find options not available in commercial catalogs. According to shop owner Mia, the three most popular items purchased in the shop include the Glass Gem Corn, the Rainbow Carrot Mix and the Windowsill Herb Collection. Passionflower seeds and the Butterfly Garden Collection are also popular choices. I'm definitely going to try the non-GMO Blauwschokkers Purple Podded Peas next year!

Happy shopping!
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Five Annuals I Would Grow Again

"Yellow Cosmos" turns white as the flower ages.
I grow a lot of flowers, so when something grabs my attention, I view it as a keeper. Here are my top five flower picks that I will be growing again in 2015.

Seeds of Change - "Yellow Cosmos"
I have to be honest: I complained a lot about this plant throughout the growing season. It took forever to grow, it didn't like partial sun (only full sun), and it looked a little ugly without flowers. But then it bloomed in early fall when everything else was dying back ... and now I want to grow it again. The pale yellow flowers graced multiple stems that were 3 to 4 feet tall, and as the flowers aged, they turned white from the inside out. (It was so cool.) Seeds of Change unfortunately won't be offering them for sale in 2015 but will be in 2016. I saved some of my own seeds so here's hoping they are viable!
"Frances' Choice" marigold is large and in charge.

Seeds of Change - "Frances' Choice" Marigold
Get rid of whatever preconceived notions you have about marigolds being for amateur gardeners only. This marigold is a winner, and coincidentally another selection from Seeds of Change. I fell in love with this flower as it intermingled with my tomatoes this year. It's a tall variety that grows 4 to 5 feet tall (think a small shrub) by mid- to late- summer. It attracts bees and keeps blooming right until frost. I can't imagine my vegetable garden without it now. But maybe next year I won't plant it right on top of the driveway, since it liked to hug my husband when he got out of his truck.

Wild Garden Seeds - "Strawberry Blonde" Calendula
"Strawberry Blonde" calendula blossoms are pretty - and tasty.
Wild Garden Seeds has a huge selection of calendulas to choose from, but this remains one of my favorites. This calendula makes the prettiest flowers that are perfect for bouquets. They can be eaten, too. (My rabbits especially enjoy these as a treat!)

Select Seeds - Nicotiana "Cranberry Isle"
Pansy "Bolero See Me" reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.
It's been a couple of years since I've grown nicotiana in my garden, and it looks like 2015 will be the year they return with vengeance. I've missed this tall flowering tobacco which has beautiful flowers in purple and pink hues. It will self-seed in the garden if you let it. It likes sun and a little room, but it will intermingle with other plants nicely, too. This is one of the prettiest flowering tobaccos sold by Select Seeds, with "Bella" being a close second.

Swallowtail Garden Seeds - Pansy "Bolero See Me"
I love to start pansy seeds in late January and early February (right when you need a kick of spring the most), and Swallowtail Garden Seeds offers a huge (and what I think is the best) selection of pansy and viola seeds. I often go back to this variety due to the dark pink face the flower has. They are also edible flowers that look great as a garnish on a spring birthday cake.

What flowers will you be growing in 2015?
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