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

Take time to enjoy gardening's healing qualities

Dahlias, zinnias, and pink anemones - combined with
blackberry lily seed pods - make pretty fall bouquets.
On Sunday morning, I was surprised to see a female hummingbird visit my potted plants, because I had thought hummingbirds were long gone by now. I decided to hang my feeder back up to help any other migrants that may be traveling through.

When I entered the back garden, the blue jay and wren were both waiting for me, checking their empty feeder (which I had not filled this summer). It's as if they also know the season is changing, and that the food should be there.

Autumn appeared suddenly, bringing with it longer shadows, crisp cool mornings, and the advent of fall foliage. This is an especially busy time for me, because I volunteer on weekends, in addition to going to grad school and work during the week.

I'm still trying to figure out how to find a larger chunk of free time that can be spent in the garden. Long gone are the summer nights where the sun set close to 9 p.m. - leaving so much time for catch up work in the garden. Now the sun sets around 6:30 p.m. and by 7 p.m., the darkness makes it feel so much later than it really is.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I'm frustrated when life gets too busy for gardening.

If you are a subscriber to this blog, you may have noticed that my Floral Friday posts have been going up out of order since August - also known as the time my life became very busy. I have the photos from the garden, but it's been difficult to find the time to sit down and go through them and upload them here. So instead they arrive by piecemeal.

Floral Friday always has been a way of documenting what happens in the garden, but now it makes me sad to review the photos of the past two months. It makes me think of how much time I lost outside. My relationship with the garden is distant at the moment, but I know I will be welcomed back once life calms down a bit. Returning to nature is a way to recenter oneself in life. Considering this, is it any surprise that gardens can heal?

A 2012 article published on the Scientific American website cites past studies of "how three to five minutes spent looking at views dominated by trees, flowers or water can begin to reduce anger, anxiety, and pain and induce relaxation." Maybe that's why nature-oriented people - like myself - use garden scenes as desktop wallpaper on work computer stations. (My current choice is a lavender-covered field.)

The article goes on to include a checklist of what qualities must exist to makes a garden "healing." While it is intended for the implementation of a healing garden at a hospital or care facility, many of the suggestions listed are elements that gardeners seem to include naturally in their gardens often subconsciously, such as engaging multiple senses ("gardens that can be seen, touched, smelled and listened to").

Other research concluded that just being in contact with soil – technically with Mycobacterium vaccae – has been found to trigger the release of serotonin, which is attributed to elevating one's mood and decreasing anxiety.  Maybe that's why, in the middle of winter, that I turn my kitchen table into seed-starting headquarters, where I spend endless hours scooping soil into empty seed trays to start my late-winter ritual. 

Even though finding time for gardening has been difficult, the moments I can steal away to be in the garden or simply talk about gardening have been rewarding. I was so lucky to have been interviewed in August by Jennifer Ebeling of the "Still Growing" podcast, and was asked to return for her first annual Bulb Party which was recorded right after Labor Day. I've been planning my spring garden in bits and pieces this month, and I have taken time to go outside to cut flowers to bring inside to enjoy.

So, while I must return to writing papers and studying for exams, I think it's important to take a small slice of the day out and enjoy the garden. If you can't get outside, due to darkness for example, it can be time spent indoors tending houseplants. Or you could go outside and sit in a garden chair. Just 10 minutes walking about the garden can reground you. But in this time, set ground rules, such as "don't fret about the weeds." In fact, if an area is especially weedy, visit another portion of the garden. Find a spot where you like to sit and close your eyes. Breathe in the air, scented with the changing leaves. Listen to the wind's breeze or whisper. Touch the grass beneath you.

In my case with the hummingbird, if I hadn't gone outside I would have missed seeing her entirely. And even though the encounter only lasted about two minutes, seeing her at my flowers really brightened my day and made me stop and enjoy the moment. And isn't that what gardening is really supposed to be about?
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Bulb Crazy!

What happens when you are asked to spend two evenings flipping through bulb magazines and - at the same time - able to ask the company representative what he or she thinks about your choices?

Why, you say "Yes!" of course!

In early September, I was asked to participate in the First Annual Spring Bulb Party for the Still Growing Podcast. Jennifer Ebeling, the host, organized the event which included Julie Thompson-Adolf from Garden Delights, and Susan Vollenweider from The History Chicks Podcast and a Columnist at the Kansas City Star.


Featured in the first podcast is Tim Schipper of Colorblends and in the second podcast is Jo-Anne van den Berg-Ohms of Van Engelen and John Scheepers. In the past I have ordered from both companies because I have had great success growing their bulbs, so I knew that I could trust their advice when I asked for tips for growing spring bulbs in my New England garden.

Throughout the party, not only did we enjoy each other's company, but we all learned so much from the company's guests. You'll hear in both podcasts different reasons why spring bulbs don't do well in two spots in my garden (Hint: it was along the driveway and in a bed of hostas), along with suggestions to defy those nasty voles that live out in my garden. And that's just two specific areas concerning me. You'll hear Julie's, Susan's and Jen's bulb choices, too - which reflect all our different personalities. Throughout the episodes we all begin to align ourselves with Team Daffodil or Team Tulip - you'll have to listen to find out why.

As for my garden, I have started a new Pinterest board that keeps track of what I've ordered so far for spring planting. (You can see what I'm dreaming of color-wise this spring. Don't be surprised - I'm going for bright, bold color!) Half of my order is in, and I hope to place the remainder either tonight or tomorrow - before my choices sell out!

The podcasts are embedded below for you to listen to. 

I'd love to know what you are planning on planting for spring! Are you Team Tulip or Team Daffodil? Let me know in the comments below!





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Floral Friday: Sept. 16

Every year I tend to sow my zinnia seeds too late for a summer show. But I usually get my act together around July, which ensures blooming flowers now. This week, the dahlias (mainly Cafe au Lait), zinnias and asters are joining forces to bring color to the front garden.




What's blooming in your garden this week?
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Floral Friday: Sept. 9

We just past the Labor Day hurdle, which means autumn is only a few weeks away. This year I'm seeing a lot more monarch butterflies than in past years, such as this lovely male butterfly I photographed in the garden this week.  

Here are some highlights from my front garden this week:

Monarch close-up.

Zinnias blooming in front of black-eye Susans.

Monarch on Joe pye weed.

Monarch on butterfly weed.

Anemones in front of the birdbath.

Lespedeza beginning to bloom. 
What's blooming in your garden now?
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Featured perennial: Delphinium




When adding new perennials to your garden this fall, consider including delphiniums in your garden plan.

"There are the traditional tall, stately delphiniums that are perfect in the back of a cottage-type garden. Then there are the newer, shorter bushy types for smaller gardens," said Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections and the National Garden Bureau. "We recommend that home gardeners consult with their local garden center or extension office when deciding which varieties are best for their local area."

In fact, delphiniums were chosen to represent the perennial category of the National Garden Bureau's "Year of" highlights in 2016. "All of  our 'Year of' crops are chosen by our board of directors because they are easy-to-grow, popular and have many varieties available based on new breeding."

Personally, I've had success growing the Pacific Giant hybrids in my Connecticut garden, which feature two-foot long flower spikes. While I grow blue and purple varieties, there are also other flower colors available in the D. cardinale hybrids, such as red, orange and pink. And I'm considering giving the Millennium delphinium line a chance in my garden, because they are reported to do better in warmer, more humid climates than the Pacific hybrids (and the humidity of August was an absolute killer here in the Northeast!).

These perennials are hardy to Zone 4 and are easy to start from seed. (I grew some great colored ones this way.) The best time of year to start delphinium seeds is from September through March, but the key is using fresh seeds. (Delphiniums can lose viability after one year, resulting in poor germination.) To aid germination,  presoak the seeds before sowing.

Once the delphinium seedlings have grown and have two true sets of leaves, they can be transplanted into the garden. Adding compost will help these plants flourish, since they tend to be heavy feeders.



Hot humid climates (or weather) can test delphiniums. Because I didn't plant my newer, potted delphiniums from the town plant sale earlier this summer, I did lose a few due to the excessive (and oppressive) humidity conditions we endured while they lived in pots on the back patio. Not surprisingly, in southern climates, delphiniums can behave more like an annual than a perennial. Lesson learned: Get these plants into the ground as soon as possible when you get them home.

I grow my delphiniums in the front garden where slugs are not as much of an issue. This location is a little drier than my back garden and offers late morning and afternoon sun. After the flowers have bloomed, cutting off the flower stalk will encourage it to rebloom. (Sometimes I get delphiniums blooming again in the fall before frost!) It seems to do well with oriental poppies and monarda as companion plants.




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The Gardener's September Calendar ~ 2016



It's officially Labor Day weekend, the unofficial "end" of summer. How did your growing season go? I honestly lost ambition in August thanks to the sultry hot weather. But I'm hoping to whip the garden back into shape this fall so it closes out on a high note! So, let's keep our chores short and sweet this month:



  • Journal - This is an especially important time to write notes about what worked and didn't work in the garden this year. The notes that you take now will be useful when you experience spring fever in February. I find that if I am not specific about what worked and didn't work, or if I do not list the ideas that come to mind, I tend to overshoot my goals in the spring. So an example of notes I would take would look like this: Given how dry the last two summers has been, I think I really need to start investigating drought-tolerant plants for the garden. I learned that cleomes really don't like the front street border where it is very dry, so I need to stop trying to make them grow there.
  • Bulbs - It's time to place your orders. Break out the photos you took in the spring and figure out what parts of the garden are missing spring color. The trick is trying to get a continual cycle of bloom. This year I'm going to be focusing on more minor bulbs (think crocus, snowdrops and grape hyacinths) to create larger swatches of color. I'm also going to be teaming up with some other gardeners in the Twitter-universe to pick some fun additions to the garden. So stay tuned for that update!
  • Fall Cleanup - It seems as if it is never too early to start cleaning up the garden, and this year I think it's especially important in our area since everything has been suffering in the heat. In this previous blog entry, Sarah Bailey of UCONN master gardeners offers tips to make fall cleanup faster. Anything that is diseased should be chucked into the garbage can (think tomatoes showing blight, irises showing borer damage, etc.). Any spent flowers should be cut back.
  • Divide Perennials - This is a great time for dividing vigorous growers in the garden. But it's OK to put plants in the compost pile if they no longer have a home in the garden, as author Kristin Green explained at a lecture I previously covered for the blog. Also, for more ambition, check out Nancy DuBrule's late-summer garden design ideas, as covered in a previous story for the blog. 


  • Daylilies - Now is a good time to divide them and plant new ones in the garden. I've been watching daylily growers on Facebook sharing their wares daily and I'm super tempted to buy a new frilly one or two. Bonus: Plant daffodils underneath your dayliles and the emerging daylilies will hide the daffodil leaves as they yellow in the spring.
  • Lawn care - Now is a great time to reseed the lawn. Cooler temperatures in autumn help grass seed sprout faster than in the spring. In this previous blog entry, Diane St. John of Natureworks explains how certain weeds can act as clues for problems in the lawn. It's also a good time to take a soil test to see what nutrients your lawn needs.

  • Collecting seeds, prepping for fall - Start collecting spent flower seeds for use next year. Think cosmos, zinnias, calendulas, daylilies and snapdragons. This is also the time to get the cold frame ready to receive a fall crop that will last you into the winter.
To keep track of random garden musings, be sure to follow Frau Zinnie on Facebook!

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Floral Friday: Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge



Middletown, R.I.  Due to traveling, this week's Floral Friday features photos from a recent trip to Sachuest Point. This wildlife preserve offers walking trails with spectacular views of the ocean, in addition to glimpses of the wildlife that make this area their home. The main loop, measuring about 2.4 miles, is suitable for walking or light jogging. Observation decks can be found at various spots along the walking loop, which can be used by visitors seeking a higher vantage point of the surrounding scenery.

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1970 with land donated by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Over the years, the refuge has grown in size to 242 acres and is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. I've visited this area multiple times over the years, and have seen cottontail rabbits, deer, monarch butterflies and swallows make this area their home. It is home to more than 200 species of birds and also serves as an important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds.

Below are some of the photos I took during two visits to the preserve. The main plants in bloom during my visit were goldenrod and thistle. I also spied common milkweed, with large seed pods beginning to form on the plants. The area is relatively quiet, which is surprising considering how close it is to busy Newport beaches.

A young deer grazes on fallen berries along the path.

This photo was taken several feet away with a long lens.

One of the many spectacular ocean views.

There are numerous rocks along the shoreline here.



Fields of goldenrod and milkweed make up one of the wild areas for pollinators.

Goldenrod and milkweed.

Thistle.

When I visited, there were thousands of swallows all around the preserve.
Many of the swallows visiting the preserve in early September.

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