Closing Our Borders

Posted on June 17, 2014 by shobha

Over the years, I’ve expressed my opinions and thoughts about increasing our usage of native plants, supporting native flora and fauna, being environmentally conscious in the garden and in general applying organic, ecologically responsible methods. I’ve often mentioned the name Douglas Tallamy as the authority on this subject. Having read his book Bringing Nature Home when it came out several years ago, followed his work and on occasion corresponded with him, it was with particular eagerness that I went to hear him speak at the Greenwich, CT Audubon Society a couple of weeks ago.

An unassuming, affable man, Tallamy is a powerhouse of knowledge and understanding of all things in the sphere of entomology and wildlife ecology. I’m summarizing his talk and I hope the information I give will make you sit up and do something.

Ecosystems perform locally. Biodiversity equals ecosystem services. We have degraded 60% of earth’s ecosystem services. Given that 80 – 90% of plants are propagated by animals not wind, we have effectively sterilized our neighborhoods. As Tallamy puts it, we have demonized it! We are living with ‘nature deficit disorder’. Plants literally allow all living things to eat sunlight. So when there are fewer plants, there is less to eat and therefore less support for all animals.

The United States is a human dominated ecosystem. We uphold our lawns as a major status symbol. To date, we boast 72, 500 square miles of suburban lawn. That is eight times the state of New Jersey! And growing. Given that lawns barely sustain any living creature, it stands to reason that we’re seriously impacting our local ecology. Simply thinking our parks and preserves can do the job is ridiculous. They are too small, fragmented and isolated. A contiguous space of diverse plantings is critical to support our birds and butterflies. With that will come all other valuable critters.

To do this, we must not only introduce many plants but we must select more native plants. This is because not all plants support the food web. Natives do. Whilst alien species aggressively replace natives, they support insects very poorly. Five times more insects (think caterpillars) can feed on native species. Native plants and insects share an evolutionary history. Indigenous insects are not adapted to eat alien plants. Take the Monarch butterfly for example – it depends on specific native plants and in a way, this specialization is its curse because with disappearing natural habitats, we are in danger of losing this valued butterfly. With fewer and fewer insects available, think what this will do to our native birds. 96 % of reproducing birds eat insects. Insects provide the high levels of protein and nutrients needed by these birds.

A world without insects is a world without biodiversity. Birds forage close to their nests. Alien plants will not provide them the local supply of the food web. We’ve come to view plants only for their beauty and not their ecological role. But if we understood the number of caterpillars or other insects supported by native trees and shrubs, we’d realize how imperative it is to plant them. We must create corridors connecting natural areas. This can be done easily if each of us filled our gardens with the right plants.

Lawns are biological deserts. They demand a high amount of fertilizers, weed and pest killers to keep our lawns pristine. Add to this the pollution created by gas powered mowers, water table contamination by use of aforementioned assorted chemicals and you have the ideal recipe for a green wasteland. Reduce the area of lawn and begin the transition from alien ornamentals to native ornamentals. Those all too familiar albeit pretty, Bradbury pears or crape myrtles lining our streets and dotting our front lawns do virtually nothing for sustaining the food web. How about replacing them with our own Amelanchiers or Cornus alternifolia? Create meadows, plant more native trees and shrubs, do away with as many ‘miracle’ products. ( To this I say –This is not hard people!)

With native plantings in place, we can set the calender by what is in bloom and what insects and birds are observed. We fill our lives with surprise, anticipation and entertainment. Just think, a mere fifteen minutes spent in nature each day has measurable medical benefits. It is within our power to make those minutes the most amazing ever.

Admittedly, it feels awfully good to have an authority such as Tallamy give credibility to my own all too frequent passionate calls to pay more attention and take more responsibility for protecting our natural environment. Lets just get to it shall we?

Please, please get yourself a copy of the recently updated and expanded Bringing Nature Home by Dr. Douglas Tallamy. I cannot recommend it enough.
This just in! I had alerted Dr. Tallamy on this post of mine and asked him for feedback. Here is his response “Hi Shobha,
Nice job! You were on the money complete. Nothing to add at this end. Thanks for your support.
Doug”

Swallowtail caterpillar

Red Admiral

Tiger Swallowtail

Great Spangled Fritiilary

White Admiral

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Go Tell It To The Birds!

Posted on June 10, 2014 by shobha

]I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir (1838–1914)

Have you noticed that there is much going on in the avian world these days? Early morning chatter, frequent worm hunting sorties, nests in all sorts of places, noisy cheeps of constantly hungry babies – its absolutely delightful to watch their antics. An “Ivy-Leaved” education for a naturalist awaits.

Whilst very occupied with non-gardening projects this past week, I’ve been getting my down time at the end of each day by just sitting in the garden and observing the goings on. Even a few minutes at this has been enough to restore and refresh my mind. So I thought I’d encourage you to do the same. We could all use some daily soothing of nerves and spirit. Enjoy the world around you and let it do its magic.

The Nest

The nest from last summer
survived the harsh winter
Couched now amidst
awakening limbs of rose
it sits patiently, purposefully.

In the clear light
of the mid-morning sun
the sparrow alights
to look over this time tested
weather-honed, empty cradle.

Are there signs that say
ready-made housing
immediate occupancy
solid construction
impeccable neighborhood?

It matters not to the sparrow
that the robins lived here before
nor is there avian concern
for blockbusting practices
An empty house waits ready
offering equal opportunity
Sans gates, sans pretension.

I’m hungry!

Cardinal checking out the neighborhood at Paul’s Himalayan Musk

Cardinal nest amidst the limbs of Paul's Himalayan Musk. I know its not a good picture but its the closest I could get to it without the thorns tearing into my skin.

Cardinal nest amidst the limbs of the rose Paul’s Himalayan Musk.
I know its not a good picture but its the closest I could get to it without the thorns tearing into my skin.

Wren’s nest with eggs

How Does My Garden Grow?

Posted on June 3, 2014 by shobha

Thus far its been a confusing spring. Late to start and lingeringly cold with the odd day of unseasonable heat, its been downright disorienting to me. It is not as though I’m averse to the new and unusual but, I do look forward to the reassuring rhythm of the seasons. The unfolding of the seasons is the backdrop to my activities. I like knowing what to expect when. Like lily-of-the-valley in early to mid May, early peonies and roses for Memorial Day, lilacs in bloom for Mothers Day, dogwoods for Fathers Day and so forth.

Not this year. Matters are a bit topsy-turvy. I didn’t mind that the tulips began a little late because they then lingered long enough to hangout with the alliums and camassias. But where were the baptisia and amsonia to bring their blues into the palette? The roses should be making their debut by now; so what happened? Meanwhile, the dogwoods in my neighborhood have long finished blooming. Its disconcerting to say the least. Even more bizarre was the firefly that flitted around inside my house last night. Out of place and time. This has me totally perplexed. As we confront climate change, there is certainly going to be much to adjust, discover and learn anew.

The one tree peony in my garden usually has top heavy flowers in early May. This year, its only just in bloom. Because they are weighty double petaled beauties, they hang down. The best way to gaze at their magnificence is to cut them and bring them indoors. The added bonus is that they have a spicy fragrance that greets me each time I pass them them by. Makes me pause and take notice which is just enough to remind me to breathe, relax my body and then carry on with the daily busy-ness. This plant , which I think is a Paeonia ‘Hakuo-Jisi or a ‘Souvenir de Maxime Cornu’, was a gift from Henriette Suhr of Rocky Hills. So its compelling call to literally “smell the peony” always reminds me of our cherished friendship.

A majority of the hydrangea did not leaf out on their stems as they normally do. Instead, leaves have emerged from the base of the shrub while the limbs have remained looking like dry sticks. I think the severe, long winter affected the stems but the roots were still strong. The new growth should come up nicely and all is not lost. I’ve cut back all the old, leafless stems. It’ll be interesting to see if these hydrangea bloom this year. I have sadly lost a few other shrubs that did not do as well as the hydrangea. If they will be replaced by the same type or something completely different is yet to be determined. I think a graceful period of mourning is in order.

The good news is that, for the most part, the plants are all coming up well. However slowly. The amsonia and baptisia are just beginning to display their moody blues. The roses have lots of buds so I’m guessing they will open in another week or so. The early peonies have begun their frothy show. And the clematis! They look particularly fetching this year. The alliums have lasted longer than usual in both the perennial beds as well as the meadow so, I cannot complain. There are even a couple of tulips still going strong – as though reluctant to leave the party.

The American wisteria is bud heavy and as always, I’m giddy with anticipation. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the weather does not heat up too soon. This would do in the buds and there’ll be a very sorry performance. No ticket reimbursement for this one.

I’m once again enjoying the pleasure of picking salad greens from the potager and serving up a delicious melange of lettuces, baby spinach, arugula and mustard greens with a sprinkling of chopped fennel and parsley. With toasted nuts, sliced strawberries, shavings of Parmesan and a balsamic dressing, its the perfect lunch to celebrate the season. Add a glass of crisp white and its a special event.

In the end, despite the not so normal pattern of growth in the garden, I’m learning to simply enjoy what unfolds. To be present for whatever reveals itself and learn to appreciate the new combinations of color that are really quite lovely. There is change afoot for sure. Perhaps its natures way of reminding me that She is the ultimate artist, gardener and teacher. I stand humbled.

Tulips with alliums

Camassias in the mix

Sea of blue in meadow

Clematis

Peony – Festiva maxima.
Unfolding itself.

Clematis #2

Buds in waiting. American wiisteria.

The frothy splendor of my tree peony.

Amsonia awakening

Baptisia just beginning to bloom

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To Be Or Not To Be

Posted on May 27, 2014 by shobha

It occurs to me that humans are quite possibly the only species that make deliberate decisions regarding the existence of other species. I’m not referring to self-survival associated decisions. Its the ones we make to suit our life styles I’m thinking about. We build houses to give ourselves good views and displace or dispose off whatever else lived there before. Land reclamation is casually achieved with no thought to effects on marine life close to shore or shoreline. “If a habitat does not suit, then its presence is moot.” We Homo sapiens do not easily compromise to coexist with other species. Control freaks – that what we are.

And so it came to be in my corner. I’d mentioned in a recent post that a bird was trying to settle into the chandelier above the dining table on the terrace. I was leaning towards letting it do so but other voices relevant in my life were leaning the other way. After all, with the weather warming up, dining outdoors is de rigueur. We wait all through the cold months dreaming of the many hours spent lingering at said terrace. Meals, poker games, painting, reading, rounds of Scrabble, writing and actual face to face conversations, this area is well used. A nest in the chandelier would preclude such happenings for the entire duration of its occupancy. Thus, it was decided that since the nest was not actually built, it would be okay to discourage all attempts to do so. Each evening, as I finished up in the garden, I’d remove the mess of twigs that lay strewn on the table as well as the ragged bits of paper that clung to the tole leafs of the chandelier. Judging from the sheer untidiness and obvious lack of architectural experience, I’d say this was the avian equivalence to a teenage pregnancy. It seemed like bird and I were playing a silly game. She tossed around stuff and I cleaned up. Each of us teasing/tormenting the other. I figured eventually she’d get tired and find another location well out of my reach and sight.

Then, it rained hard for two days straight. With no possibility of gardening, I happily went about my indoor chores. Come the first dry day after the deluge, and there it was – a sturdy nest solidly ensconced in the chandelier. I graciously conceded to the bird. Her determination and persistence to acquire this rather choice site for her future babies demanded and received my deep admiration. As far as I was concerned, Nature had spoken. It was no longer my place to deem where the bird was to build the nest.

The nest looked clearly to be that of a robin. Kind of blocky and functional. Not particularly tidy – fibers and twigs still hanging or sticking out. Robins build that way. I was right. Soon, as I passed by doing my garden tasks, I’d see a robin hover around making disapproving sounds and keeping a keen eye on me. After what had happened between us in the early days, I didn’t blame her.

With a very strong table right beneath, I now had a perfect way to peer into the nest. So clamber atop the table I did. I still fell short by a few inches. With a too-good-to-be-true viewing opportunity such as this, I was frustrated but not put off. I contorted my hands whilst holding the camera and tried to take a photograph of the interior. Since I couldn’t see what my camera was pointed at, I made numerous attempts till my arms and shoulders hurt. Finally, just when I was ready to concede once again, I got the shot I sought. All the while, I was aware of the distressed mama bird making annoyed and anxious sounds. She stayed near by and I half expected her to fly at my face and poke my eyes out. I kept thinking safety glasses were in order.

I’m terribly thrilled to have that photo of four exquisitely perfect, brilliant Robin’s blue eggs but I also have a deep sense of shame and guilt for having traumatized the bird. I had behaved like paparazzi.
Standing a respectful distance from the nest, I asked for forgiveness. From now till the time the eggs hatch, the babies grow and fly away, there will be no dining under the nest. We will move the table to a spot away from it if we want to eat outside. It’ll perforce be in semi-darkness as if to echo the state of human intelligence. C’est la vie.

Along similar lines, a second event occurred this week. My neighbor had a silver maple tree taken down. This tree was huge. At least eighty feet tall and from what a tree expert once told me, it was perhaps close to a hundred years old. Understandably, it was a real presence in our lives. Its branches hung over our back terrace and gave quiet shade in the heat of summer. In the fall, it was the last to shed its leaves and we did not mind our share of them. Small price to pay for its majestic beauty.

Concerned about rot and limbs falling in storms, the owners had the tree removed last week. It took the highly skilled tree guys all day to take it down. Thats how big this tree was. I was already sad when informed the tree was to go but the intensity of my sorrow upon hearing the start of the buzz-saw, surprised me. I hadn’t realized just how much trees mean to me. And this elderly specimen towering over us all had earned its stripes. With the loud, steady thrum in the background, I thought about life, death, loss, love, friendship and so many other things. I offered up my deep gratitude to the tree. I apologized for what was happening to it. I wished it well and hoped it understood why this was happening. Mostly, I asked pardon for all the atrocities committed by my species. The necessary, the excusable, not so excusable as well as the unforgivable.

Être ou pas être?

Today, May 27 is Rachel Carsons birthday. Celebrate by being kind to this amazing, fragile Earth of ours.

How gorgeous are these eggs?

Messy nest of the Robin family.

The big silver maple seen behind the gazebo (under which live the Robins)

Sans the majestic one. I wish I’d known to take more specific pictures of the tree.

Tree cutting in progress

No trace of the tree remains

Blurred Lines

Posted on May 20, 2014 by shobha

There is much chatter in the gardening community. Words like native, natural, informal, climate change, environment, jungle, ecology, organic are bandied about loudly. Even forcefully. As in all situations with many voices and opinions, it results in confusion. The voice that gets recognized and whose opinion might prevail is not necessarily the wisest. Politics ( yes, even in the garden world), public profile and personality all play strong roles in swaying the vote on what is responsible or modern gardening. Gardening is often a victim to trends and fashions which can do more damage than good. The gardener must stay alert so she does not fall prey to them. So, how does she sort out all the information and do the right thing for garden and self? How does she express herself without feeling overwhelmed or for that matter, without being judged in a negative light?

According to the Merriam- Webster dictionary, a garden is a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are cultivated. The Oxford English dictionary goes one step further in clarification – “A piece of ground, often near a house, used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables.” Are we clear on this? Straightforward and simple I should think.

With that said, lets just get comfortable with making a garden to suit our needs – be it for the sake of beauty or food or a combination thereof. This will run the gamut of extremely ornamental gardens that are tasteful and elegant and most often high maintenance to the untidy, charming cottage garden where the rules are very relaxed. The idea is to make a space that closely reflects the gardener’s personality and preferences. To do that in conjunction with values that support and nurture the environment is not difficult. Think organic practices and planting more native trees, shrubs and other plants than non-native representatives. Avoid anything that is invasive or fussy. Composting, using water judiciously, reducing the lawn area are additional factors to include in being a responsible, environmentally conscious gardener. All of this sounds familiar and doable right? Nothing new. I, myself have expounded often on this subject.

Now comes the confusing part. For the purpose of keeping it simple, I see it as two dominant factors to consider. One is the current buzz-phrase of bringing the jungle to suburbia. Several have written about their ‘successful’ experiment and how happy they are with it. I wish them well and if that is what floats their boat, so be it. But I’m not clear as to why exactly that is touted as a more intellectual or informed approach to what one does with their suburban land. Should I hang my head in shame or feel ignorant with my own efforts at creating an attractive, more orderly, organic garden that is quite un-jungle in design and that still supports plenty of birds, bees, butterflies, toads, bats, wasps, snakes, rabbits, occasional deer, surplus of squirrels, nocturnal prowlers like skunks, raccoons and sneaky rodents? Is a garden that looks like a garden suddenly not cool?

If a jungle is desired, wouldn’t it be simpler for the individual to move to the jungle? Exactly what type of jungle is being created? A true recreation of one that can be found in nature and that has arrived on its own to a state of balance? Where canopy, understorey and forest floor are in harmony as are the creatures that inhabit such a place? Or is this a melange of plants whose fruit offer sustenance planted together in a manner that resembles a jungle but would in nature not be found in such proximity to each other? And what of the diverse insects and small animals that reside in jungles – are we all to accept the very critters that forced humans to create their villages so we could live feeling safer not to mention live healthier lives?

For the record, Merriam-Webster defines jungle as -a : an impenetrable thicket or tangled mass of tropical vegetation
b : a tract overgrown with thickets or masses of vegetation

I don’t pretend to be an expert by any measure but I do know that I represent a large body of intelligent, responsible gardeners who go about cultivating their land to create beauty and produce. I definitely do not desire a jungle around my house. I like a sense of order and even my ‘meadow’ is an area of controlled chaos. The creation of said meadow has got rid of a wasteful lawn, is mowed but once a year, permits the growth of anything that wishes to be here and yet, what meadow in America is naturally full of daffodils, crocuses, alliums, scillas, frittalarias and other bulbs and the whole contained within a boundary of assorted shrubs? You see what I mean? I did it my way.

The other point that has come up is that of planting only natives. As I’ve said before, being scrupulous about this means we rid ourselves of old favorites like lilacs, Asian wisteria, peonies, many roses, hydrangea, most bulbs, innumerable fruit and ornamental trees and, countless more. My take is to plant more natives and include only non-invasive non-natives. Native plants help preserve natural diversity. A few years ago, when I asked about planting perennials in my garden, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology Dr. Douglas Tallamy told me that in planting natives, the emphasis should be on the bigger plants like trees and shrubs because these are the plants that support the native fauna and hence keep a natural equilibrium going. I recommend his book Bringing Nature Home.

Here comes the rub. With the changing climate, some natives are no longer growing where they used to and others from elsewhere ( non-natives) have been observed to be sources of nectar for native pollinators and seed dispersers. This is big. How does one reconcile ones principals of gardening with natives to the climactic changes going on?

There is no simple or immediate answer to this conundrum. For the moment, we must keep doing what is correct for the environment and our conscience. Just be prepared that a shift in what we plant is in the cards.

Keeping that in mind, go ahead and create a garden, enjoy the process as well as the space, take time to get in touch with your inner naturalist and finally, stay informed on developments in the fields of horticulture and environmental sciences. Fads and trends be damned. Follow your heart and the little voice that tells you right from wrong. Lets not kid ourselves and blur the lines between garden and jungle. Humans left the jungle for good reason.

The meadow with camassias in bloom

Daffodils in meadow

The orderly herb garden and potager

Part of the resident wildlife

Checkerboard garden

Walkway in pristine lawn? Not at all – its merely a green backdrop for that walkway – full of what many would shudder to have in their lawns!

Afterglow

Posted on May 13, 2014 by shobha

So Open Day has come and gone. Stepping down from the frenzied work pace feels a bit strange. Can it be that I am really able to afford to just sit in the garden?! Unbelievable but, I catch on fast. Spent a delightful Sunday simply sitting and taking in the garden’s glory. It had been a pretty good open day. A steady pace of very nice visitors – many friends stopped by and lots of others left as new friends. To all, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for not just coming but for the appreciation, support and kindness you expressed. Thank you. It was additionally satisfying to note that many of you had purchased my botanical notecards and bought up all the plants I had for sale. Merci encore mes amies.

It never ceases to amaze me that people come to see my humble garden. That I’m worthy of such an honor is always a wonder and for which I’m deeply gratified. In truth, to my own biased eyes, the garden looked its best. Judging from the number of visitors taking pictures galore, I do believe others approved as well. The long, severe winter has kept many perennials behind in bloom time but instead, the tulips were at their peak. Really spectacular. With the rest of the bulbs such as alliums and camassias and the baptisia, amsonia and columbines to follow, there is still much to look forward to in the unfolding of spring.

It feels rather luxurious to bask in the successful completion of the chores and the event itself. And I’m making sure I stay properly present in the moment. All too often, I am guilty of either dismissing a job well done and rushing on to the next pressing project. Not this time. I’m determined to enjoy the garden for what it is and give myself some kudos.

But you know what? This is mighty hard. It is all too easy to think of what comes next. The native wisteria, climbing hydrangea, lilacs, peonies, irises and roses are yet to make a splash. I’ve begun planning a soirée just so I can have friends over to enjoy the splendor of their blooms.

The more pressing and rather serious projects are already trying to sabotage my sense of satisfaction. Chiefly the espaliered trees. They are in need of urgent attention. About four trees have failed all together. The mice must have decimated the roots. They will need to be replaced. Still other trees might succumb to the summer heat – I have to discover if these too must be replaced or whether bridge-grafting will be the best and most viable option. To do all of this, I need to have discussions with tree experts and nurserymen very soon. Followed by recommended action. I am however looking forward to the learning. It is not just plants that need to grow.

There are some other plants that are also revealing that they have not survived the winter. I must decide if they will be replaced by the same type of plant or by something even more hardy. Who knows what future winters will be like.

There is evidence of real estate seeking birds eying the chandelier above the table in the terrace. Twigs are scattered all over its surface with a few sticking out of the chandelier ‘basket’. I’m conflicted – do I thwart the birds and prevent any nest building or do I let the birds take up residence and sacrifice all al fresco meals until the babies have flown away? That could be several weeks and also affect above mentioned soirée.. I hate such conundrums.

However, not right now. Not this minute. Everything can wait just a wee bit longer. For now, I’m going to linger in the afterglow. With a deep sense of gratitude.

In the meadow

See that chandelier? Prime avian real estate.

No Pressure, No Diamonds

Posted on May 6, 2014 by shobha

Thomas Carlyle said those title words. I repeat them to myself every time I’m faced with deadlines, burgeoning schedules or demanding responsibilities. Right now, I’m feeling the pressure of my impending Open Day. Its the final stretch and I’m hoping to deliver a diamond.

Nothing like getting galvanized into action when you know visitors are expected. I’m pretty sure that at some point everybody has scrambled to get the house looking decent before the arrival of guests. A less than presentable space is probably the number two reason why the unexpected knock on the door is not appreciated. Number one being a less than presentable self.

Unlike the house where clutter can be cleared and hidden in a closet or bedroom, there is no place to hide in a garden. Particularly a garden that will be thoroughly examined. For gardeners, as in every creative endeavor, it is exciting to be able to show their work. Like a parent, we have that burning need for our “child” to dazzle and amaze. A garden that impresses translates to a gardener who is brilliant. Who doesn’t want to be perceived as such?

Thankfully, all the tasks that need doing are those that would get done anyway. It is merely that instead of a pace like a long-distance run, one is now sprinting. So I’m working fast. I’m not saying I’m doing it better. Just faster. The upside to all this is that I will have some well earned leisure time later. Something that gardeners often do not get to indulge in.

The daffodils are almost done and the tulips are coming into their prime. A very disarming sight. Other bulbs are waiting in the wings. I am hoping they are in bloom for open day. The Amelanchier and the pears are in frothy white. Plenty of other perennials are getting ready to put on a show. I absolutely adore this moment in the garden. The thrill of anticipation gives me such a high.

Of course, preparing for a public opening involves some additional things but after several years of experience, one takes it in stride. The main factor to contend with is the weather. What the winter did to the garden, if the days leading to the open day are favorable for gardening and finally of course hoping for fair conditions on the big day itself. Weather is the double-edged knife that keeps the gardener company and the gardener has absolutely no influence on it. The relationship is completely one-sided.

Given good weather, I thoroughly enjoy open day. It is so much fun to meet friends who come to show support and wander around comfortably. New friendships get forged here as well. Questions are asked, discussions ensue, experiences are shared and before one knows it, kindred spirits are recognized and embraced. In general, those who visit gardens are doing so for pleasure and inspiration. They do not come with intent to criticize or look down. That said, it does behoove the gardener to do her part to have her garden look its best.

And so, back to the garden I go. A diamond in the rough will simply not do.

I’m not adding any photos this week because I want you to come and see my garden for yourself!

Addendum – Just in time for Mothers Day, graduation, summer party invites, hostess gifts, notes to campers … Notecards of my botanical watercolors will be for sale.
I might even have some young plants available.
The New Castle Chamber of Commerce is getting in on the day and several local businesses are offering special deals to those who visit my garden. Such fun!
Do please come!

For directions and other information go to www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays

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Perfectly Imperfect

Posted on April 29, 2014 by shobha

As I get my garden ready for my Open Day (May 10!), the drive is to show its beauty. I’m not running around plonking down new plants just for appearance. I’m acutely aware that as much as being drawn by the flowers in bloom, it is the design and plan of the garden that must shine. The juxtaposition of unlikely materials such as brick against slate, the unusual solution to a common problem, the provision for outdoor celebrations, applying sustainable gardening practices, being creative and so on. In essence, a garden must teach as much as it must impress. Personally, I want my visitors to leave enriched and inspired in a way that empowers them to approach their own gardens with fresh ideas and a can-do attitude.

With the thought to instruct, it is incumbent then to be honest about what goes on. While the garden gets tidied up and the mess put away, there is no pretending that it is more than what it is. For example, given the longer than usual winter, the emergence of certain plants is slow and it makes no sense to replace it with a new, more mature versions just to create a lush effect. To try and fool a visitor would also be insulting their intelligence. The very quality of the visit is diminished.

On the same vein, the gardener too must be honest with herself. No illusions of grandeur unless of course your garden is in Versailles. Similarly, a vast formal garden should not be declared to be humble or modest. Lets just keep it real. I recall having some neighbors taking offense when I called my home a cottage. Somehow, that implied it was less than good and by extrapolation, they were jostling with the not so affluent. But in truth, my home is indeed of modest proportions and is quite accurately a cottage. It is exactly what suits me and my family. Nothing more nothing less.

A formal garden to this house would be equally pretentious. No matter that copious amounts of time, money and energy go into creating and maintaining its informal style.

The biggest stumbling block for most gardeners is the unrealistic goal for perfection. To them and to everybody caring to listen, I say – allow for imperfection. Its okay. There will always be flaws in everything. You won’t get all the weeds, bugs will find a way to make holes in the leaves of roses, organically grown fruit will have blemishes, the dry shade under the trees will always be a problem area and will never look lush, where the dog likes to hangout will forever look like where the dog likes to hangout. Its all right – it shows that life happens here.

So do your very best to clean, tidy, care for and create beauty in your garden. But at the same time don’t obsess. Think about those gorgeous Persian carpets that all have a mistake deliberately woven in. Because after all, only God can achieve perfection.

I invite you to come to my imperfect but charming garden on May 10. www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays

The cottage and part of the front garden

Bulbs in bloom

Herb garden and terrace

Wood burning oven and checkerboard garden

The ‘meadow’ and treehouse

Know Thine Enemy

Posted on April 22, 2014 by shobha

Caution: the topic is important and this article is a bit long. So get yourself a drink of choice, settle into something comfortable and read.

As gardeners, we are in an age old battle with pests, marauders and acts of nature. Traps, sprays, baits, decoys and such have occupied the attention of every generation. Growers try to come up with hardier, disease resistant plants all the time. Inventors and scientists attempt to answer the besieged gardener’s prayers with new contraptions and devices while yet more scientists introduce new strains of bugs, genetically modified plants and compounds to do battle. Its always a case of trying to stay one step ahead of the enemy isn’t it?

Just as we treat our own ailments specifically, it behooves us to do the same with our gardens and crops. To truly understand the problem translates to going beyond addressing just the symptoms and targeting the causal agents themselves. General plant hygiene is a necessity. Regularly cleaned equipment and tools, uncontaminated compost, mulch, water and soil, proper air circulation are all part of good plant husbandry. Yet, despite our best efforts, disease and pests will appear. So its important to study up.

While it is beyond the scope of this site to enumerate all the problems and solutions, I want to emphasize that it is incumbent on each of us to take responsibility to learn about such matters and take the appropriate action. To that end, I’d like to summarize a talk I attended recently. Titled “Bees, Trees, and Berries: How global plant movement and change can affect our gardens” it was given by Dr. Margery Daughtery. Informative and interesting, Margery managed to convey a serious, heavy topic with humor and clarity.

To start with, the particularly hard and wild winter is some indication of the climate changes underway. It is up to us to adapt and cope. There has been the thought that the harsh winter might have helped in diminishing the presence of ‘stink bugs’ and other pests. Margery broke the news gently – not true. The pests will be slow to start but being rather well suited to the human lifestyle, they are fully capable of getting through rough times. Be warned and stay vigilant.

Microbes have the happy (for them) ability to mutate. So, as we introduce resistant plants and treatments, we can expect to see many of the pests mutate accordingly. This has been already observed in fungi that cause rust diseases. Meanwhile, something remarkable and alarming has been observed in Europe. The TRSV virus is a well recognized plant pathogen. Its genetic material is RNA. This has mutated and converted to get into the central nervous system of the honeybee. It is now thought of as a significant cause of colony collapse disorder in the European Apis mellifera. Scary right?

Regarding boxwood blight – first and foremost one must be certain the problem is indeed blight and not stress which can be due to the normal effects of winter or the heat of summer. There is a fungicide spray available to prevent the blight. Margery pointed out that it did not make ecological or economic sense to spray year round. Since spikes in the blight have been noted in certain months, it would be prudent to spray just before those periods. What is yet to be determined is exactly when would be those ideal times. Research has been slow. Stay tuned. On the up side, this disease is not wind borne and is slow to spread. Certain types of Korean boxwood appear to be more resistant. Many alternatives to boxwood exist. Let me know if any of you need more information.

Speaking of slow research, there is still no good news with the problem of powdery mildew in impatiens. For now, impatiens lovers are still advised to plant New Guinea impatiens.

The situation with the rose rosette nuisance, if a plant is affected, pull out the whole plant and dispose off with the garbage. Do not compost. Knock Out roses are observed to be more susceptible. Select hardier roses by looking up (Google) university sources whose research is the most reliable. Help steer Extension Centers like Cornell and botanical gardens by seeking and supporting their work. They really are our command central for all matters horticultural.

Planting native trees is one of the single most positive action we can take. Bringing balance to the ecology, maintaining equilibrium of the carbon-cycle and fostering the helpful fauna, forests cannot be beat. As I’ve said here many times, go forth and plant a native tree. Arbor is this Friday – observe it!

This talk was the third and final part of a series. The crux of it is that we must be vigilant about alien diseases and bugs that sneak in not only with plant material from other parts of the world but also hitch rides on palettes and crates for other imports. In my opinion, it is simple enough to say “Grow, make, buy, use American!” but much harder to implement. The world has shrunk and all countries are dependent on each other for so very much. Travel, commerce, tourism has grown. There is no turning back.But we can each do our part I should think?

In the garden, going native is much easier. These plants are naturally hardier, less fussy and more disease resistant. Plant non-invasive, well understood non-natives only. Obtain plants from reputable nurseries and growers – preferably local establishments. Keep in mind, the local places operate under the same conditions as you do. It stands to reason that their plants will do well in your garden.

It ultimately comes down to every gardener to familiarize him/herself with the problems, understand the causes and then act with intelligence and foresight. Know thine enemy indeed.

After such a serious piece, here are some cheery photos. This is why we garden! And remember – my garden is open May 10. Click on the Happenings page for details.

(c) 2014 Shobha Vanchiswar
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Coloring In Spring

Posted on April 15, 2014 by shobha

Spring is finally here. After the winter we’ve had, I’m particularly appreciative of every detail and nuance that this season brings to the landscape. Nothing out of the ordinary – just the simple changes that have such extraordinary impact on ones mood and spirits. Gratitude abounds as I go about my chores in the garden. While it is easy to get singularly focused on the tasks, pausing to observe and marvel at nature enriches the experience beyond measure. Such a privilege to be part of this beautiful, complex world. Enjoy your days in the garden!

Coloring In Spring

Entering the pale, cool amber
of the early vernal light
Greeted by avian chatter
half hidden in awakening arbors
Sensing the swell of the air
coming alive once more.

Shy hellebores blushing pink
mingle with virginal snowdrops
Gently illumine the garden
lifting the veil
Revealing youth reborn
still damp with dew.

Bulbs from beneath the rich brown
nose through in sap green
Testing, feeling
if the time is ripe
Cups in amethyst, alabaster and citrine
unabashedly await visitors.

Peony spears hued in burgundy
reach upwards in slow gestures
Quick darts of cardinal red
punctuate brightening skies
Sunshine lifts the iridescence
of purple grackle feathers.

Robins in vests of rust
house-hunt with blue coated jays
A truce of sorts reigns
every being with singular purpose
Distinct colors fresh and crisp
ancient rituals timeless yet new.

Reminder- My garden Open Day is May 10!
www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays

Quick darts of cardinal red

Blushing hellebores

Burgundy ‘spears of peony

Alabaster cups

And amethyst

Sap green noses

Seeds of Design

by Shobha Vanchiswar

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