Okay, hopefully a good Labor Day weekend was enjoyed by all. And now, one must get back to tending September’s list of garden chores. Happily, this month helps one ease into the work. Come October, we’ll be mighty busy!
September Chores –
1. Continue weeding.
2. Deadhead. Cut back anything that looks ragged or done for.
3. Mow the lawn less frequently.
4. Water judiciously.
5. Get leaf rakes, leaf bags and keep ready. Fall cometh!
At last it’s feeling like a normal August. Warm but not insanely so. Humid but not soupy. After weeks and weeks of awful conditions, I spent this past weekend deliriously happy to be in the garden. Mosquitoes notwithstanding, it was sheer joy to be taking care of a myriad chores.
The weeds had gone to town – clearly they thoroughly appreciated the fact that they could thrived unfettered whilst the gardener took refuge from the high temperatures and/or heavy rains. A good number of hours were spent at this task. Many areas got divested of the opportunists and you could almost hear those spaces breathe with relief. Things are now looking cared for so the Horticultural Social Services will not find reason to take away my custody of this piece of paradise.
I cut back plants both in beds and in pots giving them the chance to rest a bit before putting out fresh growth. They should do well till the fall weather arrives. A few plants will even put out a second flush of flowers.
Some of the younger espaliers were in desperate need of pruning – in order to keep their assigned patterns, all wayward limbs were removed. The persimmon candelabra, quince cordon and magnolia fan look so much better now. Espalier is all about training plants to grow in a specific design and oversight is necessary to train and maintain them accordingly.
After cutting several branches of the magnolia, it seemed too much of a shame to simply toss them on the compost heap. They deserved to be made into a wreath or garland. But I knew the leaves needed a treatment of sorts to keep their fresh look. A quick search online gave me the method to use – Submerge the magnolia leaves in a solution of glycerin and hot water (1:2 ratio) for 4 days, then let them dry off fully before using them. Simple right? Certainly worth a shot.
Our local pharmacies do not carry glycerin so it was ordered online and by weeks end the treatment should be underway. If all goes well, a nice homegrown magnolia wreath will be adorning the front door this holiday season. Fingers crossed.
It wasn’t all work in the garden. Al fresco meals were enjoyed. I observed the hummingbirds jockey for first dibs at the feeder while they also made their rounds of the hibiscus, agapanthus and the charming red trumpets of the cardinal vine. The goldfinches seem to have made claim of the coneflowers growing madly at the base of the Concord grape arbor. In the meadow, the Monarchs have discovered a myriad of treats.
Does this gardener’s heart good to see the garden being graced by them all.
After too long I am at last thoroughly enjoying puttering around the garden. May August make up for the disappointment of June and July.
Sharing more photographs taken by @brosnahan_arts –
It’s certainly been a particularly hot summer so far but, this week, we expect to get a bit of a break. For at least a few days, temperatures will drop somewhat. However, there’s a chance of rain throughout. Having just returned from powerful monsoon rains in Mumbai, I’m less than pleased. Every cell in my body feels quite water-logged. I crave cool, dry weather.
That said, I’m immensely pleased to be back at home. Seeing that the garden was in good hands in my absence gives me time to simply appreciate what’s blooming while I shed the fatigue of a very long flight and the inevitable impact of jet lag. I have already noted that the mosquitoes missed me dearly. Between getting out of the car, unloading the luggage and making it to the front door, I was greeted very enthusiastically. Every exposed part of my limbs was savagely bitten. What a welcome!
So here we are in August and it is imperative that one makes the most of it. Whatever be the weather. In addition to the August To-Do list, I must prepare for the drainage project that is scheduled to start next Monday. Just when the summer phlox are blooming brightly and the Joe Pye are poised to join in, they, along with several other plants must be uprooted and kept happy and safe. Fingers crossed they will not be too upset.
August To-Do
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 though 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 4 inches high.
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.
Note: I’m sharing some beautiful images taken by my nephew and artist @Brosnahan_arts I love his keen eye and artistry. I will share more of his photos next week.
This is proving to be a challenging summer. Thus far it’s been or at least feels like one continuous heatwave. As such I don’t do well in the heat but when it gets unseasonably hot, I tend to wither up. Needless to say, I’m struggling! Going over the work still pending in the garden does not help at all. But, after days of frustration and whining, I’m learning to accept the situation for what it is.
Acceptance does not in any way mean I’m okay with the circumstances. It simply means I’m not going to let it keep me in a bad mood. That bad mood was making matters worse. By stepping back and taking a few deep breaths has allowed me to gain perspective. I really am seeing things with a cooler head.
Until now, I’d been grumpy. Looking at my to-do list got me worked up as the heat and humidity was simply too much to do any substantive work. And, when I did do something, it was with a bad attitude because I was not working at my best. Naturally, it did not leave me satisfied as there was none of the endorphin high that typically comes from being outdoors in Nature. Pausing to reconsider the state of things was exactly the antidote to my foul attitude.
Having been on top of chores until the temperatures soared meant the garden was in decent health and condition. Stuff like trimming the espaliers to keep the shapes/patterns, cutting back overgrown plants, editing overly exuberant members in the meadow were for me just too arduous in the heat and humidity. Even watering the myriad pots, a task I really enjoy doing was unpleasant because armies of alert mosquitoes struck in unison. I’ve never been so attacked within a matter of minutes. Slathering bug repellent is effective armor but it meant adding to my discomfort as my skin felt smothered and sweated even more. Totally vile and miserable. But what’s the alternative? Automated watering would work. However, that also means complete lack of oversight. To start, in this weather, different plants require different amounts of water. Over or under watering can destroy plants. Then, I’d fail to notice any disease from fungus and such which are very likely when humidity is so high. Finally, I would be depriving myself the pleasure of seeing what is flowering and/or fruiting.
Note: the rest of the garden is hardly ever watered as the plants are expected to adapt and cope on their own. Mulching really helps. Having mostly native plants and ecologically beneficial non-natives translates to tough and hardy.
So what have I resolved? For one thing, having appreciated that the garden is as well as it can be, I’m not going to sweat the small stuff. Both literally and figuratively! Doing only the essential is enough for now. That means watering as required – for which I will be wearing bug repellent. The other chore is weeding. A little at a time and only when I’m able. I will not berate myself when I fail to get to it. Everything else will have to wait till conditions improve. That’s just the way it must be. It will be okay, the plants are more resilient than I.
So the garden will look wilder than usual. Possibly a bit haggered too. These days, that pretty much describes me as well. No worries, we will match!
Having a tempered, realistic attitude goes a long way to keeping ones cool.
Note: I make it a point to keep the birdbath frequently refreshed with cool fresh water and, the hummingbird feeders are replenished daily as the sugar water can easily start fermenting in high temperatures and that would be toxic to the tiny birds.
What’s happening in the garden right now –
ClematisPhloxWild bergamotMilkweedWhite liatrisOakleaf hydrangea blushingJoe Pye holding court in the meadowAgapanthusGreen okraBurgundy okraEchinacea exuberance The wallTropical vibesGiving some shade for the hummingbirds when they belly up to the bar!I’m anticipating this one – fingers crossed!The magnolia bloomed and promptly got toasted by the heatSecond flush of blooms on the native wisteria
Ah! The month of pure Summer. Fireworks, fireflies and freedom from routine. Heat, humidity and bad hair days too. It is a time to slow down and savor the season. Simplify the days. I think, if we do summer correctly, we can then keep that sensibility through the other seasons. An ideal recipe for living mindfully. This year, I’m going to give Summer my best shot. Really.
In order to do that, July’s garden chores are whittled down to the essential minimum.
Things To Do In July –
1. Weed, weed, weed! Do a half hour each day and stop. It’ll all add up. Remember, pouring boiling water over bricks and other stonework will kill weeds growing in-between. Hot water from cooking pasta, boiling eggs and such can be used.
2. Deadhead often ( unless you’re going to collect seeds from certain plants). Neatness matters and keeps the garden looking cared for. Deadheading encourages several plants to put out a second round of blooms.
3. Mulch all beds once, fertilize plants in pots weekly, water as necessary ( collect rain water and use that).
4. Mow regularly but keep the mower blade high. Leave grass clippings in place to act as mulch first and then enrich the soil as it breaks down.
5. Watch out for pests and/or disease. Use organic treatments.
6. Plant out vegetable seedlings for fall harvest. Harvest summer vegetables regularly.
7. Keep birdbaths filled with fresh, clean water.
8. Order fall bulbs
9. Take time to watch dragonflies by day and fireflies by night.
And while we’re happily easing into the slow pace of summer, let’s not forget that the garden still needs tending!
Here’s the list:
Things To Do This Month –
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 methods.
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 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.
A few glimpses of what’s doing in the garden right now –
Native wisteria looking gloriousA little rabbit proofing
It’s the final stretch – Open Day is this Saturday! All the last minute frenzy is happening. Fussing and faffing, mowing and moving, planting and panting. Since the weather forecast has a chance of rain for Wednesday through Friday ( fingers crossed for Saturday), the deadline to get ready is really sunset today. Madness!
I know it’ll all get done but there’s always that final push and panic. The adrenaline is high and truthfully, I’m super excited to welcome the visitors so we can gossip and commiserate on all things garden. I hope you are planning on dropping by?
If the race to get the chores for May haven’t been addressed as yet, here is the list –
Weed regularly if you want to keep the thugs in check.
Put stakes in place so as plants grow it’ll be easy to secure them.
Deadhead spent blooms for a neat look. Some plants will reward you with a second wave of blooms. Of course, if you want to collect seeds, do not deadhead.
Water as necessary. Add a splash of compost tea to fertilize – about every 3 weeks.
Plant in summer vegetables, summer bulbs and tubers and, annuals.
Keep bird baths filled with clean water. Use mosquito ‘dunks’ to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. The same goes for fountains.
Start mowing lawns but do the right thing by keeping the mower blade high at about four inches. Leave clippings in place to replenish the soil.
Make sure all beds, shrubs and trees are mulched to retain moisture and keep weeds from proliferating.
To take care of weeds in areas that are paved or bricked, pour boiling hot water over them. The weeds will be killed and no chemicals were used!
Stay vigilant for pests or disease. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to treat them. Always employ organic methods.
Stir the compost heap regularly. Keep adding in kitchen and garden waste.
Take time every day to simply enjoy the garden.
Visit other gardens through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. You will be vastly instructed and inspired. Www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays
Get cracking!
In the garden right now – tulips are having their moment!
The pace in the garden has picked up by leaps and bounds. It feels as though the plants are all coming up at the same time. I sincerely hope not! The temperatures this week are projected to be unseasonably high so there’s no telling what will happen. The tulips are at their peak prettiness and I’m keeping my fingers crossed they will not succumb to the heat. I desperately want to enjoy them for a while longer.
The apple blossoms have joined the pears at the espalier fence. Their frothy exuberance is irresistible to the bees and I can’t be more pleased. In the meadow, just as the daffodils are waning, the ornithogalum have stepped forward. The white bells nodding sweetly are such good place holders for the drama of the alliums coming up soon.
With flowers unfurling everywhere, the birds have been busy. It sounds as though they’re mostly busy chattering but I know they’re focused on nest building and raising their young. The chandelier in the pergola has been comandeered once again by robins. Three turquoise blue eggs repose in a nest built from material found in the bin that holds garden waste headed for the compost heap. I notice dried leaves of brugamansia and papery flowers of hydrangea. All no doubt carefully selected by the discerning robins. I’m impressed.
This past weekend, as I went about our gardening chores, I was made acutely aware that my presence anywhere within a 3 foot radius of said nest was highly disapproved. I did my best to give space but the table under the chandelier is key to doing the potting up of small to medium plants, shaping the small topiaries and such. If only there was a way to assure the robins that I’d never harm their babies and would instead do my best to protect them.
Until eggs are hatched and babies are grown and flown, we will not be using this area for al fresco meals and gatherings. The birds have no idea how much they’ve inconvenienced us and nor do they care. We can empathize.
Sitting well away from the pergola and sipping a much needed cup of coffee I was given the pleasure of seeing my first hummingbird of the season. Only just a bit earlier I’d wondered if these tiny treasures had returned and if it was time to put up the feeders they enjoy so much. They have and it is.
I’m almost breathless keeping up with all the garden goings on. May begins tomorrow and the flowers are here. Lets hope Open Day on May 11 will be abundant with all the blessings for everyone to enjoy.
Working on two deadlines at the same time is anything but dull. The pressure is on full throttle – final stretch toLyndhurst In Bloom which happens this weekend and less than a month to my garden’sOpen Day. Both are very personal to me as they speak of my philosophy, my creativity and skills. In both cases, I’m aiming to share whats important to me – the natural world that deserves to be appreciated, admired and protected at all costs. Along the way, we find joy, laughter and comfort.
In the garden, given the vagaries of the weather, it’s been slower than I’d like. Between cold and rain, I’ve had to be cautious about bringing out plants from the greenhouse and/or planting too soon. This past week, I focused on replacing groundcovers that had simply run their course. In the garden, perennial doesn’t mean forever. They come back every year but many will eventually run their course and peter out over time.
This was the case with a favorite of mine – Mazus reptans. Originally planted along the side path that connects the front and back of the garden, it had faithfully performed spectacularly. But over the last couple of years, it started losing momentum and finally, very little showed up last spring. This is a very pretty garden stalwart. Undemanding, requiring no direct sunlight it carries on. Diminutive leaves delicately scalloped around the edges form fresh mats that knit together to beautifully cover the earth. The flowers come up a bit later in spring and look like small moths charmingly speckled in purple and white. So very pretty. After the flowers, the green carpet remains and serves for rest of the growing season.
It was a joy to find them in my local nursery and plant them in on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the creeping phlox in the checkerboard garden had been challenged by moss that wanted to take over. Last years wet summer had clearly favored the moss. So much of the moss got removed and new phlox was added to the ones that remained. This garden will have to be reexamined as it is entirely possible that conditions have changed more permanently with surrounding trees and shrubs casting more shade along with all the rain we seem to be getting lately. For now, the new phlox will do. I must research some other interesting yet suitable alternatives.
Opposite from attending to spring chores, is my project on seedpods for Lyndhurst In Bloom. A wholly different season and still so very interdependent. The diversity, sheer beauty and genius designs in packaging so well suited to how the seeds are dispersed is breathtaking. I’ve learned so much through my efforts at painting them. But as I created some arrangements this past weekend, I found myself learning more about how exactly those designs functioned. Quickly meshing into a network or snagging a hold on a neighbor just to get a bit of leverage, quivering at the slightest disturbance, using its sticky seed coat to attach firmly till its safe to open and send its seeds out into the world. They all wait patiently for the rain, wind or critters to help them. Some, do it on their own via ballistic action or gravity. And in each, the circle of life carries on. Just brilliant.
In all the busyness, I’ve been mindful about taking the time to enjoy the process. Giving each task due attention is imperative. Because to have a garden to work in is a privilege. To have the opportunity to show my art is a gift. To share both garden and art is a blessing. I’m aiming to deliver with Grace.
Mazus reptansPhlox in the checkerboard gardenPear blossomPeony supports installedCreating the ceiling featureArrangements of seedpodsInstallation in progressSeeded paper prayer flags
What a week that was. From Monday through Thursday it rained continually. The brief breaks permitted only quick walks to get the blood flowing. No garden work was possible. Then, come Friday, the sun shone bright and we were surprised by that earthquake – no damages but it was certainly scary to feel the house and all its contents shake and shudder. And funnily enough, a solitary snakeshead Fritillaria popped up. I’m convincing myself that the tremors jolted it awake. An after shock was felt in the early evening. All very unsettling.
Still on the subject of out of the ordinary happenings, the much anticipated North American Solar Eclipse happened yesterday. We got up to 90% of totality in our area. Unlike other prime viewing locations, we were not hindered by clouds until after. There’s something special about the shared experience of entire groups/communities gathered to experience an event well beyond their control and devoid of all the differences so rampant these days. Together we acknowledged not only our humanity but also our humble place in the mighty, magical, wondrous and ever-expanding cosmic universe. That’s extraordinary.
The past weekend was thankfully dry and even had periods of sunshine. But it was cold and windy. Felt more like March of the old days. There is no new normal as yet. However, some garden work got down. New plants to replace lost ones got planted, the watering system for the vertical garden was turned on after the whole apparatus was cleaned and serviced and, the peony rings were put in placed. Other tasks that were on my agenda had to be tabled as it was simply too cold. Inevitably, when chores get delayed, I start feeling the pressure of falling behind. Especially with Open Day less than a month away. There’s plenty to do. At the same time, I’m working on my installation for Lyndhurst In Bloom coming up in less than 2 weeks. Exciting and anxiety ridden.
The poem below, written some years ago, sums up what the gardener experiences every year –
Spring Cleaning
Sweep away detritus
Winter’s wild remnants
Prune roses
June’s dress code
Straighten borders
Summer edges to spill
Outside order
Inside peace
Clearing, cutting
Room to breathe deep
Opening, widening
Minds broaden fast
Plants get bigger
Spirits grow higher
Colors multiply
Senses infused
Days lengthen
Smiles brighten
Outdoor classroom
Paradise within.
-Shobha Vanchiswar
Note: While I’ve been very focused on meeting project deadlines, it has been wonderful to take walking breaks in my neighborhood. The images below are from this morning –
