August Surprise

Posted on August 5, 2025 by shobha

After a mostly brutal July, August has entered the building. A very uncharacteristically agreeable entrance at that. The weekend weather was nothing short of stellar. With a temperature high of just mid-70s, lows in the mid-60s, humidity that was barely perceptible and light breezes gently stirring up the air, it was exactly what was needed. I stayed out in the garden the entire time. Some work got done but honestly, I spent most of my time simply basking in the deliciousness of it all.

This week doesn’t look half bad either. Dare we expect this month to redefine our summer?

But before I put up the hammock and indulge in my tall stack of summer reads, there’s the monthly list of chores to consider. And consider I shall.

What To Do In August –

1. Harvest the vegetable patch regularly. If you’re overwhelmed with the bounty, offer them to food kitchens, friends and neighbors. Also, consider canning vegetables and fruit. They are mighty handy to have on those days in winter when you crave summer fare. Not to mention the crazy times when cooking is simply not possible.

2. Keep weeding. Even when it is hot, hot, hot, weeds continue to thrive. Early hours of the morning are most enjoyable – cooler and fewer biting bugs.

3. Water as required.

4. Mow as usual. Again, do the right thing and keep blades at 3 1/2 to 4 inches high. Let the clippings be as very soon they will disappear into the soil and enrich it.

5. Continue to deadhead and trim back. This keeps the garden tidy. Seeds that you wish to harvest can be left on the plants till they are ripe and ready.

6. Take cuttings of plants for rooting. Doing it now will provide enough time for growth before planting in the fall or bringing indoors in winter.

7. If you’re going away, arrange to have someone water the garden and keep an eye on things.

8. Prune wisteria and anything that is overgrown.

9. Watch for pests and/or disease. Use organic treatments.

10. Keep birdbaths filled with fresh water.

11. Spend as much time as possible in the garden – autumn approaches! Eat, read, snooze, throw parties, paint, write, meditate, pay bills, enjoy the garden.

If you haven’t as yet ordered your bulbs for fall planting, do it now!

Hummingbird gracing the Agapanthus

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Thugs, Slugs And Bugs

Posted on July 29, 2025 by shobha

It’s high summer and hence peak season for contending with all the trials and tribulations in the garden. Plants, pollinators and pests are going wild.

Lets begin with the thugs. The weeds are of course deliriously happy. I can’t seem to stay on top of this menace. Mostly because it has been way too hot to spend the vast amount of requisite time to vanquish them. Clearly they’re loving the respite from me as each time I return to this chore, they are bigger and even more plentiful than before. I’m seriously considering making them legitimate members of my garden.

Okay, I agree. It would be a horrifying sight.

But the real thugs are the deliberately chosen members who decide to show their gratitude by going rogue. I’m looking at you natives -woodland anemone, ornamental raspberry and common aster. Just because the pollinators smother you with attention does not in any way give you license to overrun your better behaved sisters. Behave! I’m really tired of having to keep reining them in.

When my friend Beth recently discovered leopard slugs in her garden, I urged her to kill them off. Not simply because they’re slugs and universally disliked but, because they are non-native. Don’t get me wrong – I willingly murder our own native American varieties when I find them chomping on prize ornamentals or decimating my $40 tomatoes (each). After all the hard work I’ve put in, how dare they!

But, let me take a moment to put in a good word for the indigenous slugs. Believe it or not, they actually have a valuable purpose. They help break down decaying plant material like leaf litter, old logs and such and return nutrients to the soil. Some types of slugs are also predatory and feed on other slugs, snails, worms and insect larvae thereby keeping their populations in check. Slugs aerate the soil which is important for plant growth. They are a good food source (protein!) for birds, frogs and other invertebrates. So, that’s my Public Service Announcement for the season.

(But, do get rid of the non-native varieties.)

Finally, I’m currently consumed by the full on invasion of the Spotted Lantern Flies (SLF). The mild winter and wet spring is the reason. Climate change is not a hoax or fake news. It’s really happening and really horrible. The SLF nymphs are crawling all over. They are hard to swat (or crush) and kill like one can the adults. They hop away so fast. Given that these pests are everywhere, it’s not prudent to spray the recommended organic products as that would affect all the beneficial creatures as well. On that same vein, I cannot limit the SLF food supplies by cutting back the perennial plants. What would the native bugs and birds eat then?So the decision has been made to focus on just the fruit trees, Concord grape vine which is a particular SLF favorite and, some important shrubs. These are all plants that would be much harder to replace.

Note: many non-native plants are sought after by SLF. Possibly because they’re from the same places as the offending bugs. So it’s a good incentive to get rid of plants one shouldn’t be encouraging anyway.

Neem spray has had no effect thus far. We will keep trying of course. Meanwhile, we’ve cut back some of the grapevine so the SLF nymphs and adults have less shade to hide under and we’ve also done some dedicated vacuuming along the main trunk and limbs of the grapevine. This has been quite effective in sucking in the nimble nymphs as well as the adults. So we’ll see. Might end up vacuuming more often in the garden than inside the house this summer. Adults seen anywhere else will be crushed with relish.

War has been declared.

NOTE; I’m not going to dignify the pests and thuggish plants by showing their images. Instead, here are some glimpses of the garden doing it’s best in this endless heat wave of a summer –

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Escape Artist

Posted on July 22, 2025 by shobha

I am not a summer person. This fact surprises many because how could an avid gardener not enjoy the season when the garden is at its peak? Well, this gardener can happily leap from spring right into fall. The high heat and humidity of summer really does me in. I wilt and wither almost immediately so how could I possibly like this season?

Certainly the garden is growing exuberantly right now and there is much satisfaction to derive from the success of the designs and plants I envisioned months, even years ago. But, given that I seek the cooler confines of the indoors as soon as temperatures spike, summer, in my opinion, can be very easily skipped. I have so much fun planning for this time that that in itself is all the pleasure I need. Yes, I dislike summer. There, I’ve said it.

And because I’m not in the garden weeding and tidying as much as I’m required to, matters get out of hand rather quickly. I’m not above shamelessly appealing to family and friends to help out. I bribe with food and drink. If that fails, I lay on the guilt. That works quite effectively. I advice everyone to give it a try.

I escape from the disapproving gaze of my garden by sneaking into spaces that don’t require any exertion on my part. It’s much nicer to visit other peoples gardens when it gets too hot (and humid) to be in my own. Inexplicably, summer feels kinda pleasant wandering around with a tall glass of something strong and cool in hand, admiring the not-my-garden, I generously reserve judgment on any mess or weeds left in place ( I’m only hard on myself) and cheerfully put up with weather conditions I typically find intolerable. Maybe it’s the work I resent doing. Indeed, I do have a lazy streak.

Last week, I escaped to Ithaca. For a whole week. Except for one amazingly cool, dry day, the weather was not very different from my own neck of the woods. But, I was not doing any work was I. So, it was all very agreeable. And I did visit a garden on the Cornell campus that I like immensely. Each time I’ve gone into this lovely space, it has been devoid of all other visitors. Even though it is almost directly across from their popular ice-cream place.

I have no idea what the story is about this garden – there’s never anyone around to ask. No doubt overseen by one the several plant-based departments of the university, It is well tended and clearly planted thoughtfully. Looking beautiful in all seasons, this garden offers lessons in color, texture, shape and design. Annuals and perennials are selected and mixed together by someone(s) who knows gardening well. Abuzz with all manner of pollinators, it still feels calm and quiet. My kind of garden.

Now that I’m back home, I’m studiously averting my eyes from my neglected piece of paradise. I’ll get to it tomorrow. Maybe.

All the photos below are from this unnamed Cornell garden. Enjoy!

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Future Tense

Posted on July 15, 2025 by shobha

Truth be told, gardeners live perpetually in the future. Even as we go about the work demanding our attention in the present, there is always a requisite need to be looking ahead. From sowing and planting to staking, pruning, feeding, deadheading, and so forth, we’re in constant service of what must come to pass later.

I was reminded of this universal truth as I stepped out to ‘simply soak in’ the summer splendors of my garden. It all started off very nicely. The birds were loquacious and actively foraging in the meadow. Fully occupied in feeding their young ones and themselves good protein rich worms and bugs no doubt. Meanwhile, butterflies entertained with balletic performances as they flirted and flitted amidst the flowers. The steady thrum of all manner of insects had an almost hypnotic effect on me – this was exactly why one gardens! I’d achieved my goal of glorious goings on in the garden. How immensely satisfying.

That should’ve been the moment I ought to have stepped back into the house. Instead, I lingered on to stay fully present to it. No sooner had I duly congratulated myself for doing a half-way decent job, when I noticed how unruly some of the perennials were poised to look. It would only get worse. Out came the trusty secateurs and I was giving haircuts all around. A spot of tidying can make quite a difference. When a simple trim proved inadequate as in the case of the summer phlox that seemed inclined to flop about, some staking was in order. Much better. The front beds should be in good shape through the rest of summer.

But, as I began to turn away, from the corner of my right eye, I couldn’t help noticing some distinctly bald spaces. I then looked from the corner of my left eye. More bare areas! This was not right. Clearly, certain plants introduced last fall had not made it through. Unable to recall which ones they might be, I immediately began to fantasize new plants to get. In time for planting this fall for next years summer show.

My critical eyes having been opened, I picked up on other to-do items. For instance – Relocate the climbing rose ‘Strawberry Hills’ being overrun by the sweet autumn clematis. It will do much better by itself on the trellis against the south corner in the front of the house. And so it went. Future projects for the fall, winter, spring and even next summer.

To that point, this week, I shall be putting together the list and ordering my bulbs for fall planting with the spring show already envisioned by my mind’s eye. My Big, Beautiful Bulb Bonanza.

So much for being in the moment. My mind is way ahead. Always.

Drawing from the past, I’m planning for the future. An extravaganza of earthy delights –

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Summer Wine, Whine, Vine

Posted on July 8, 2025 by shobha

July started so hot and humid that very little got done in the garden. Watering the plants that looked parched and miserable, cleaning and filling the hummingbird feeders with fresh sugar solution and topping the birdbath with fresh, cool water has been the extent of my labor. Even that limited time in the garden was enough to be devoured by greedy, vicious mosquitoes no doubt lying in wait for my forays.

BUT, the long weekend was simply gorgeous. The Fourth ushered in lower temperatures and even lower humidity. Hallelujah! A morning hike in a preserve nearby was glorious. Birds and bird songs abounded. After spending so much time in the cool of the indoors, it was liberating to move around. Feeling the gentle breeze, hearing the birds, inhaling the earthy smells of the lofty, green pillared cathedral was nothing short of being in a sacred space, My spirits soared. A reminder of how much we need to be in Nature.

Back home, it was pure bliss to simply sit in my garden and enjoy the sight of all the flowers that had been undaunted by the preceding days of heat. I delighted in watching the hummingbirds at the feeders, butterflies dancing in what appeared distinctly flirtatious and, a myriad happy pollinators in action. The Echinacea was a particular draw.

Later that evening, I was privileged to sit in a friend’s garden sipping wine, observing the brilliant sunset before the main attraction – fireworks of course! A very satisfactory day indeed.

Saturday was just as lovely. Between neighbors dropping in to see the garden and us driving over to friends for a garden party, I did exert myself to get a spot of weeding done.

At the aforementioned garden party, there was a brief period of grumbling about the pest du jour – the reviled spotted lanternfly. With no real control available, folks are resorting to neem oil. A good general, organic treatment but, not only must it be reapplied after every rainfall, it is important to remember that the good insects are also impacted by any general products. My own response is to crush the pests whenever I see them. The nymphs are more elusive. My Concord grapevine is a lanternfly favorite so, I’m watching the developing clusters of grapes with trepidation.

Sunday started out beautifully and I made the most of it by lingering outdoors but by noon the humidity rose as did the mercury. Sigh. Another week fraught with heat, humidity and thunder showers is forecast.

Why oh why must all good things come to end? And so quickly too.

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July Works

Posted on July 1, 2025 by shobha

Ah July! The promise of summer laze and leisure. The garden thinks otherwise – get to work it says. But even in the course of doing the chores, there is time to appreciate the joyful scenes everywhere one looks.

I’m particularly thrilled about the magnolia in bloom right now. I planted it four years ago and have trained it in a fan-shaped espalier. It seems to like the location and has been doing well. Every year since it has been supplying me with its gorgeous leaves for holiday decorating. However, the tree’s attempts at blooming have been consistently thwarted by the weather. Promising looking buds have emerged every spring only to be ambushed by a heatwave leaving me to stare at frizzled nubs. So disappointing.

This year too, just as the buds got bigger and plumped up along with my increasingly eager anticipation, a heat wave descended. Temperatures hit 100 degrees. I opened up the sun umbrella to protect them from the harshest impact of the sun. And I telepathically beseeched the tree to stay strong and on course. Well, one cannot say for sure if that worked but we now have large, creamy white beauties. I’m absolutely delighted.

Here is July’s To-Do list –

1. Weed, weed, weed! Remember, pouring boiling water over bricks and other stonework will kill weeds growing in-between. A good re-purposing of the water after cooking pasta, boiling eggs and such!

2. Deadhead often. Neatness matters.

3. Mulch, fertilize (organic only please), water as required.

4. Mow when needed but keep the mower blade high.

5. Watch out for pests and/or disease. Use organic control.

6. Plant out vegetable seedlings for fall harvest.

7. Keep birdbaths filled with fresh, clean water.

8. Order fall bulbs,

9. Take time to watch dragonflies by day and fireflies by night.

Happy Fourth one and all!

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Farewell June, Well Met

Posted on June 24, 2025 by shobha

I’m saying goodbye to June with some trepidation. This month has been confusing. Concerning even. It has vacillated from positively chilly temperatures to the current heat wave of unprecedented highs. Sunny, bone dry days to dark, relentlessly rain drenched ones. High winds to calm conditions. June has given us the full range. So, with summer’s official arrival, I wonder what is in store.

Taking care of routine garden chores has been less than pleasant. I can barely keep up with the weeds – with all the copious rain they seem to emerge anew even as I pull them up. And then, with the heat, I myself wilt to mirror the plants.

Thankfully, the necessary pruning of the espaliers got done in time. It’s really important to refrain from doing anything that can add to the stress when plants are already challenged by the heat. Similarly, do not feed the plants during a heat wave because it will stimulate new growth which not only adds to the strain on the plants but will also struggle to sustain itself. It’s tempting to water more frequently but instead, try to exercise constraint. Check if the top inch of soil is truly dry before you turn on the hose. And when you do, give a thorough soak. By being judicious with the water, not only are the plants hydrated correctly but it also helps to mitigate the development of conditions that lead to mildew and disease. Excess humidity is a scourge.

It is best to get the chores done in the early hours of the morning or towards the end of day when the temperatures are not quite so high. It doesn’t help to have the gardener succumbs to the heat does it now.

In preparation for the heat, I’ve pinched back the dahlias, deadheaded everywhere (no need for the plants to expending energy making seeds), severely cut back pansies with the hope they will revive in time for fall blooms etc.,. The hummingbird feeders are cleaned and refreshed daily on these very hot days – the sugar solution can ferment easily and/or develop microbial growth which can be deadly to the tiny birds. I fill the feeders only a fourth of the capacity each day – enough to feed the birds well for a day. Any more would be wasteful. The birdbath is monitored several times during the day – being appropriately shallow the water evaporates easily even on humid days.

Despite the weather, the heightened ‘bugginess’ and general lethargy that sets in, I’m enjoying the plants that are blooming their hearts out. The agapanthus, astilbe, acanthus and ornithogallum are having their moment and I’m here for it.

Being present is after all, the order of the day,

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A Case For Autocracy Or Tough Love?

Posted on June 17, 2025 by shobha

Did the title get your attention? Good. Allow me to spend the next few paragraphs making my case.

In trying to understand what we’re facing as a nation, my mind has been working overtime. As always, when faced with a life problem I turned to the garden for counse. The answers were not readily apparent. However, in going about the business of gardening, cogitating on what and how we humans readily behave badly whilst simultaneously declaring our goodness, I started becoming aware of just how explicitly the garden was informing me.

The very work of making and maintaining a garden is about Control. We act as boss and not so much partner with Nature. We apply our plans and designs to create our vision and in doing so, we often operate counter to Nature. What we plant and grow, the practices and methods we employ are for our own purpose – to make a beautiful, bountiful garden.. Even as we ‘welcome’ pollinators and beneficial creatures, we are doing so to our own advantage’.

Weeds? Pull ‘em by the roots and dispose. A plant (native or otherwise) gets thuggish and invades spaces not intended for them? Cut back ruthlessly or remove entirely. We cut, clear, coppice, confine and cage to suit. Train, tie and twist. Stake, suppress, spray. We do what we we want. You see? We’re a pretty bunch of horticultural autocrats!

Are we really this bad? Yes we are if all we focus on is getting our personal agenda fulfilled. The worst kind of gardener is one who uses methods and practices that damage/destroy indiscriminately and without consideration to the surroundings and those who live in it. Such gardeners do indeed exist but I’d like to think that there are more of us who are better than that. We make choices that do the least harm or none at all. On principals of coexistence, conservation and community, we create our gardens to be spaces that allow insects and other animals to visit. Pests are discouraged by encouraging their natural predators, companion plantings or the judicious use of organic applications.

Of course, we still prune, pull weeds and deal with invasives but we also compost to use as both fertilizer and mulch. Grow native and/or ecologically beneficial non-native plants that are resilient, hardy and less demanding of resources like water and labor. We keep in mind that we are but the privileged, temporary custodians of this, our precious piece of land for future generations to enjoy. As in parenting, we provide structure, boundaries and some discipline – with kindness, care, compassion, empathy and most all, with love. Tough love.

In the final analysis, it comes down to who we choose to be and how we choose to act. If we can look into the eyes of our children and grandchildren and justify our choices without reservation or excuse, with the full understanding that they led to better, healthier lives for them, then, and only then can we confirm that we chose right. From deep within our hearts.

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Pachyderms Pacing Purposefully

Posted on June 10, 2025 by shobha

There’s a new baby girl in my life. Please meet little Beejal – the Sanskrit word ‘Beeja’ means ‘seed’. The name Beejal is described as symbolizing creativity and adaptability, reflecting an innovative spirit. The connection to the word Beeja suggests themes of growth, potential and, new beginnings. Traditionally it is a name assigned to a male but, I’m applying it to my new baby girl from the Nilgiri Hills in southern India. Beejal is a member of a herd of elephants making its way across the globe and currently marching across the United States.

The Great Elephant Migration is a project with all the hallmarks of a message that transcends all geopolitical differences and unifies the world and all its residents to inform, educate and take positive action towards conservation, coexistence and community. You can read much more about it here.

Here’s a quick account. The Lantana plant, a member of the verbena family, is native to tropical regions of Central and South America. Vibrantly colored flowers attract pollinators, does well in a variety of climates, grows rapidly, drought tolerant and low maintenance, it has long been a garden favorite everywhere. Unfortunately, it has been way too happy in certain swathes of the world where the climate has encouraged it to thrive so well that it has become hugely invasive. To the point that it has completely out-competed other native plants. Lantana has literally taken over entire landscapes. Furthermore, it is completely toxic thus depriving animals of their typical native, nutrient rich plants. This problem cannot be overstated. An animal like the elephant, a keystone species, must consume a vast quantity of vegetation daily is dangerously impacted. Forced to seek food elsewhere, they must venture beyond their traditional terrain and this has often meant cultivated fields and consequently resulted in perilous conflicts with humans.

A story like this covers the importance of growing native plants, monitoring invasive and/or non-native species, the value of living in co-existence with all creatures respecting each others space and needs, conserving resources and, in the final analysis, each living member of this planet is an integral part of the global community.

The Great Elephant Migration was conceived to visually illustrate this overarching problem to the world, Using lantana stems, artisans of the indigenous people of the Nilgiris create sculptures of the elephants amongst whom they live. Each lantana elephant is created in the likeness of a real one. A herd of a 100 such pachyderms has been tasked with spreading this important message to the human world. All the monies raised goes not only towards paying the artisans but is also shared by numerous conservation organizations worldwide.

I first learned of this wonderful project about a year and a half ago. It is one that resonates with me deeply and at so many levels. And there’s one additional fact that strikes me very personally, right into my heart – my father grew up in the Nilgiris. The need to attach myself to this amazing effort was unquestionable. I’ve spent my whole life getting involved in many important causes but the pull of this particular one was as strong as well, a herd of elephants! I therefore made the decision to ‘adopt’ a baby elephant. Knowing the proceeds will achieve so much good gives me immense joy. Plus, I have myself one irresistible and adorably rotund baby elephant in my garden.

Win-win-win all around.

P.S. I hope you will be moved to support this wonderful cause in any way you can.

Introducing Beejal! –

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In Tune With June

Posted on June 3, 2025 by shobha

Right on time the roses, peonies, irises, geraniums, native wisteria and so much else are blooming wildly. Utterly thrilling when things go as anticipated. In these times when the weather is so erratic and flowers are often blooming too early or late, it is particularly nice to see June has arrived and the garden is festooned correctly.

Here’s the What To Do In June list –

1. Weed, weed, weed! Do it regularly and you’ll be less inundated.

2. Continue deadheading flowers after they’re done blooming. Let those that you want to go to seed remain.

3. As many plants take off this month, keep the garden looking tidy by staking and tying back.

4. Water only as needed. As summer heat and humidity increases, too much watering will encourage the proliferation of fungal diseases.

5. Keep close vigil for pests and disease. Take prompt action. Use only organic products.

6. Fertilize the vegetable beds and plants in pots every two weeks or so. Comfrey tea, Epsom salts and compost are my go to fertilizers.

7. Mow lawns regularly but keep the blades at a height of 4 inches. The slightly longer grass will retain moisture better. Leave clippings in place to enrich the soil.

8. Prune back lilacs by one-third their height. Do the same for other spring blooming plants – once flowers are done of course.

9. Net soft fruits to keep away the birds.

10. With the threat of frost over, plant out tender plants.

11. Harvest vegetables regularly.

12. Each evening, make a point of sitting still in the garden and observing the fireflies do their silent dance. Smell the roses. Gather peonies to bring indoors. This, is why you garden!