Tag Archives: spring

Please Call Me Old-Fashioned

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Thirty years ago, we, a young couple bought this property. Not having family to guide us in this milestone event, we were naive and pretty much flying blind. Well meaning friends had lots of advice most of which we found puzzling or confusing. Some referred to it as a ‘good starter house’. Starter house? An old house on a quarter acre within walking distance to the center of town, the library, post-office and train station seemed quite right for us. For us, it looked perfect. A well-built house with three bedrooms felt spacious and the space outside was just the ideal size for us to do all the work by ourselves. We really couldn’t ask for more. And we still don’t.

While the house was sound but needed some updating, the property had been vacant for more than a year. There was no garden to speak of – it was a mess. Weeds had quite literally become trees and the adjoining woods in the rear had started moving. After much clearing and tidying through the first year, what we had was a blank canvas. Realizing my dream of a garden could commence. My own garden. My first garden. A real garden – the handful of plants in pots that I’d nurtured in college did not count. The fact that until now I’d only lived in apartments in big cities did not daunt me. Having spent my childhood in India meant I was going to have to learn all about a whole new range of plants. That did not bother me either – after all, if nothing else, graduate school teaches one to research any topic very well. This was before Internet and search engines – the ‘old-fashioned’ way. I had always dreamed of creating a garden of my own and I was ready.

I applied common sense, techniques I’d observed in India, design ideas learned from visiting countless gardens across three continents, and the knowledge I’d acquired as a scientist. Simultaneously, I read up on American plants and gardening in the north-east. While the plants were new to me, how I went about creating my garden was pretty much based on the aforesaid facts. I knew that composting, collecting rain water and applying strictly organic methods were non-negotiable practices for my garden. All of which made several people call me quaint and downright old-fashioned. These were the heydays of Round Up, copious applications of chemical fertilizers and endless use of water. I was not offended by the adjectives. It actually amused me that time tested, sound ecological methods were being mocked.

Very early on, my husband and I were busy one weekend creating two beds for perennials in the front garden. We were placing bricks to delineate/edge the beds. At different times, passersby would stop to watch and make conversation and it was interesting how often we were told that they had very recently seen Martha Stewart demonstrate this same style of brick edging and how trendy it was. Hearing this made us laugh after the well-meaning person had moved on. We were actually emulating a very common and old style of edging done in India and in many other counties. There was absolutely nothing new about it. To be fair, when I later checked it out, Martha herself was not taking personal credit for it either.

After seeing the enormous waste of time, effort and resources like water, I determined that it was futile to try maintaining a lush grass lawn in the lower back garden. And that’s how the concept of a ‘meadow’ of bulbs and native plants was born. Similarly, the handkerchief sized lawn in front was happily permitted to include clover and such – all I wanted was a restful, green canvas to contrast with the exuberant flower beds. Pristine lawn was decidedly unwelcome. It simply felt healthier and correct this way.

Judicious application of organic pest control has been a mainstay – Neem, dormant oil, and baking soda are used only as needed. Compost acts as both fertilizer and mulch almost everywhere. In flower beds, layers of cardboard and/or layers of newspaper are first put down over the soil and around the plants and then topped with cedar bark chips to mulch and at the same time look attractive. As paper and chips degrade, they enrich the soil. Mulching works marvelously to suppress weeds and hold in moisture.

The very small bits of ‘lawn’ are mowed with a manual reel mower with the blade set at 4 inches. Clippings are left to revert back to the earth. Similarly, we’ve never used gas powered leaf blowers. An electric blower is used after good old-fashioned raking has done most of the job.

“Old-fashioned” methods they are all. I proudly garden on the shoulders of past generations of gardeners who knew better and did what was good for the earth and all her inhabitants. As I’ve mentioned many times, gardeners are stewards of the land. That is a responsibility I take very seriously. Call me old-fashioned. Please.

Note: Next week, I will share an urban garden that is also ‘old fashioned’ but blows my mind! Stay tuned.

Here are some ‘before’ and ‘at present’ images of my garden. It’s come a long and I’ve enjoyed the journey. The garden is still evolving as a garden must. I wish I had more of the ‘before’ photos but, in those days, the i-phone was but an idea.

Before –

Now –

The tiny ‘lawn’ in front. It’s actually full of insect friendly tiny plants.

Note the rain barrel

The path through the meadow is all the mowing that happens in the back.

Meadow in May

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Call To Action

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Snowdrops are up in the meadow. It is undoubtedly a joyous sight but, this year, it comes with a sense of unease. It is way too early to see them in my garden. About month early at best. What’s next?

With a mostly mild winter and no snow at all thus far, it looks ominous. I’d like to think there’s still time for winter to pick up its pace and sock us with polar vortices, blizzards and tundra like conditions but I’m also nervous that such extreme weather this late in the season could put paid to many plants and creatures already awakened.

This past weekend, the grapevine got pruned – a task that typically gets done further along in winter. With day time temperatures spiking consistently to the low-50’s, it seemed prudent to get the job done before any new growth could be detected. It’s quite disconcerting and I feel like I’m flying blind in figuring out the best way to address this abnormal weather pattern.

I’m not one to panic easily but in all honestly, I’m seriously worried. We are at an inflection point in the climate crisis. That change is happening is obvious but how much and what kind of change are the big questions. And what can we do about it? For now, there are no easy answers. However, it sure is time for each gardener and/or property owner to step up their roles as stewards of the land. Whatever we’re doing for the cause, lets do better. Much better.

It’s true, every single person is required to take action to mitigate climate change but I genuinely believe that gardeners are the first responders in this crisis. While governments, corporations and industry make new policies and implement and enforce better regulations, we gardeners ( farmers too) already have our boots on the ground. We see the what is going on in real time. Our actions matter.

So, I’m putting a call out for us all to review our current practices and resolve to do much more.

To get you started, here are a few things to consider –

1. Water. Reduce consumption, Redirect soap-free gray water, collect rain water, reuse cooking water (from boiling things like eggs, pasta, veggies) to water the garden. Choose less thirsty plants from now on. Remove the greediest ones.

2. Go entirely organic. Start composting and use the compost instead of chemical fertilizers and non-degradable mulch.

3. Go mostly native – the plants are less fussy, are hardy and resilient. Non-native selection should be non-invasive and ecologically supportive. 70% native plants to 30% non-native is a decent balance. But, make the extra effort to up the natives. Go on. You can do it.

4. Reduce lawn space. What lawn is there, set the mower at a height of at least 4 inches. Leave clippings to decay and enrich the soil.

5. Plant native trees. Choose an American oak if location and space permit. Amelanchier (shad blow) are great four season trees for small gardens.

6. Reduce plastic usage. Purchase bare-root plants or those in easily biodegradable pots. Urge your nurseries to stock up accordingly. I wish growers would take back plastic pots to reuse.

7. On the subject of nurseries – go local. Avoid big box stores. Support small, family owned businesses. Remember, regional farms grow plants best suited for your climate. Keep the carbon footprint down and raise the local economy. Everybody and the climate wins.

This is a broad list for all gardeners. There is plenty more depending on ones own location and circumstance. Lets get to it. There is absolutely no time to waste.

Meanwhile, I’m going to accept the weather such as it is. I intend to make the most of it by spending more time outdoors, basking in the sunshine, listening to birdsong and observe the unfolding of the season. While I cannot ignore the pit in my stomach, I must be intentional in how I choose to spend my days and be fully present for them. The snowdrops are here, one must indeed enjoy them.

Compare and Contrast –
Top – February 2022
Bottom – February 2023

Grapevine all pruned and tidy

Snowdrops

Crocus pushing through

Columbine

Climbing hydrangea in bud

Hellebore

Emerging herbaceous peony

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Keeping Calm And Carrying On

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January is a great time to catch up on that pile of books and magazines that go neglected when one is busy in the garden. I invariably have a clutch of garden magazines to peruse and because their corresponding month(s) have already passed, I generally take note of plants and advice to implement for next year. A sort of rough list of long term to-do items to consider when I finally make my grand plans and preparations for the gardening seasons to come. This is a pastime I really look forward to – it’s an activity filled with possibilities and dreams. So, there I am eager to take my time to reflect and regroup as mentioned last week when I’m rudely sent into panic mode – I’m way behind on schedule! My garden is simply not ready!

I’d observed that this January, my pile of magazines was kind of small as all of last year, I’d been fairly good about reading the periodicals soon after they arrived in the mail. Settling down to enjoy this modest stack, I quickly found myself drooling over images of swathes of snowdrops blanketing countryside gardens, bouquets worth of hellebores blooming in gardens small and large, pansies bravely showing their faces above snow laced earth and other plants stretching awake. All happening in real time. Looking around my own plot, I gazed upon a garden in hibernation. Like the night before Christmas, nothing was stirring. How could this be?!

I had yet to prune the grapevine and roses. For goodness sake, the holiday decorations had only been recently removed. How then could there possibly be signs of spring awakening? Scrolling quickly through Instagram, I came upon post after post depicting the same early spring flowers perking up gardens. Some even had daffodils ready to unfurl bright yellow petals. I could feel the growing pit in my stomach. And then, it hit me – I’d become so absorbed in my reading and salivating, that it’d completely escaped my mind that I was following/reading what was happening in England. Whew! What a big relief.

With milder winters than ours in the northeast, the UK enjoys winter blooms that we typically associate with early spring. However, even for them this is a bit earlier than usual to see daffodils readying to bloom. They too have had an odd winter thus far. From too cold to crazy rain the weather has been capricious. It has me wondering how our own strange winter to date will impact the seasons ahead. Will spring be early? I hope not! Anticipating it is a giddy thrill I do not want abbreviated. Besides, past experience has shown an early start generally means a short spring with summer arriving all too soon dragging with it deplorable heat and humidity. I hate that. I could live with spring forever.

But, this is conjecture. I cannot worry about what I cannot control. Time will reveal what is to be. For now, I’m just going to revel in the doings in England and dream about my spring garden to come. I’ll keep calm and carry on. Stiff upper lip and all that.

Note: Since we’re in dream mode, I’m sharing images of some of my watercolors instead of garden photos –

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Saying Grace

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Thanksgiving week has arrived and all the chatter is about where one will celebrates, what will be served and how much will be consumed. At some point, what we’re thankful for might be shared. Despite this being such a favorite holiday, the reason for it gets somewhat lost. I’ve learned that any lengthy discussion on gratitude is viewed as too sappy. I get it. What one person is grateful for is not that interesting to everyone else. But, surely, is it too much to ask of ourselves to give due consideration for our blessings? This is not about religion, commerce or God forbid, politics. It’s simply about life. In a world gone mad, pausing to appreciate what we have is an act of pure grace. That gives perspective to where we are and what we’re living through. This is a shared, sacred experience.

I’ve got my own private ritual at Thanksgiving. I take a walk during which I think about the year (almost) gone by. In doing so, the difficult or particularly challenging events come up right away. These are the things that seem to overshadow everything else and are not so pleasant to relive. However, I’ve noticed that as soon as I confront those memories, the people or circumstances that help(ed) in solving or coping with each challenge also show up. That’s not to say that things were not bad or to minimize the pain, Rather, it is acknowledging the truth, accepting the reality but also seeing the good that was exposed in helping us deal with the struggle. The helpers, the intangible shifts for the better, the solutions that came in unexpected guises are the blessings for which I’m grateful. The growth as a result of each such experience, the hindsight that instructs on the hows or whys, the strength and understanding that comes from it all cannot and should not be undervalued.

There are of course the clearly joyous moments and happenings that makes me feel very grateful. People and possessions, music and miracles, art and amity, the many celebrations and successes – the list is long because there are always things that are good. And cannot, must not be taken for grated.

In the midst of all the noise and chaos, there is one thing that has unfailingly kept me anchored and given me guidance, purpose, sanctuary, perspective and solace. My garden. The science of the positive impact of time spent in the great outdoors is in – it confirms what humans have always known – that Nature is the best counselor there is. And it is free for all and sundry. We just need to pay attention.

So, in essence, among all the many blessings I’ve been given, my own piece of Nature is a mainstay. My wellness of mind, body and spirit depends on it. I’m constantly learning and growing as a person because of it. The garden embodies all that is true and sacred. A space of Grace.

I wish each and everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving. I hope that you too will find your place of peace in a garden, park, lakeside or seaside, mountain top or woods somewhere.

Garden images spanning the year thus far –

January snow

January beauty indoors

February snow

February growth

March indoors

March

April flowers

Forsythia brought inside

May in the meadow

May flowers

June roses

June

July at the feeder

July promise

August exuberance

August aflutter

September exotica

October dahlia

October Diwali celebration

November in gold

November indoors

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Spring Forward

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Spring in the middle of a heatwave? Yes, I’m thinking about next spring. Regardless of the heat, now is the time to consider bulbs to order for Fall planting. It’s perfect timing when you think about it. Firstly, the intense heat is keeping one indoors so, might as well address the bulb order.

In picking up the bulb catalogs now, I have the luxury of time to peruse the pages to ensure my favorites are available and check out new introductions. It permits a thoughtful selection keeping in mind color schemes and bloom times to get the most of the spring bulb season.

This is particularly relevant when it comes to tulips. There are so many choices of color, forms and varieties – its such fun selecting. I generally think about a color scheme – nothing rigid. A loose blend of shades that go together or complement/counterpoint well with a bit of surprise thrown in. This year, I went with my regular mainstays and added several new ones. I cut out the pictures and laid them out randomly ( that’s how way they get planted anyway) to see the effect. Of course they will not all bloom at the same time but this visual gives me a rough idea that it’ll work. Anything jarring will be noticed and rejected right away. It’s a lovely activity of dreaming and planning in the cool comfort of air-conditioning.

It’s easier selecting daffodils, alliums, fritillaria and such. The biggest obstacle is my budget. I covet certain bulbs like F. imperialis both lutea and rubra maximus and would love to order a great many but can only permit myself a handful. So be it. A few of them will still look impressive. However, when it comes to the alliums, few will not do. A few hundreds are required in the meadow so I stick with Purple Sensation and Summer Drummer which are beautiful and less costly. One day, after I win the lottery, I’ll include Globemaster and others. I don’t have any complaints about having to compromise – there are so many great choices that one way or other, a suitable selection can always be made.

Bulb growing is not an easy industry. For that matter, growing anything is not easy. I’m quite content with what I can afford and careful to factor in all expenses when deciding a realistic budget. I’m always happy to forgo designer anything for plants. And art supplies.

This year, I’m not adding any more crocus, ornithogalum, hyscinthoide and other minor bulbs. I want to see how the ones already in place continue to perform. It’s necessary to make periodic assessments.

While I believe there’s no such thing as having too many bulbs, it’s just wasteful to keep adding bulbs without allowing those that naturalize easily to do their thing.

By ordering bulbs now, one has the best chance to ensure their choices are not sold out. It always surprises me how fast certain varieties get bought up. Even when I think I’m relatively early, I’ve sometimes been too late to grab popular choices.

In the process of selecting bulbs, the mind is wholeheartedly in spring season – a very pleasant place to be when its blazing hot outside, A little side bonus of advance planning.

Once ordered, I’m free to enjoy the summer without that pending task. The order gets charged only at the time of shipping which is scheduled according to the right planting time for your zone. Pretty convenient.

Happy spring planning!

Note: Ordering now means ordering from bulb houses – you get the largest selections and best prices. Large quantities can be ordered wholesale. Buying bulbs later on from local nurseries is just fine if you’re buying only a few bulbs and not looking for a big choice. I usually get my amaryllis and paperwhites for holiday decorations and hyacinths for forcing from my local nursery. Often, I go again towards the end of the season and snap up the remnants for potting up and getting an early start on the spring show.

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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This, That And The Other

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I can hardly keep abreast with the flowers exploding in the garden. I might be gazing adoringly at the alliums when from the corner of my eye I notice the irises gracefully unfurling themselves. The clematis on the arch tumbles in a cascade – its exuberance is contagious. In counterpoint to the rounded heads of allium, the camassia shoot up in tall cones of pale blues and cream.

The foxgloves are having their moment in the potager. Their speckled spires distract me no end. It’s hard to work in their towering presence. And just this past weekend, the native wisteria scrambling up the pergola nearby, decided to join the party. The tiny bell shaped flowers of both the common and the more unusual blue comfrey are supporting actors in this cast of performers. Their part is no less important in the tableaux. Indeed, the bees and other insects seem to prefer them to the more showy companions.

The first rose to bloom is the David Austin R.Boscobel but the others are getting ready to compete any day now. Surprisingly behind schedule, the Baptisia and Amsonia are adding their shades of blue to the late spring parade. It’s rather interesting to view them amidst a new cast of characters. They fit in rather well.

What has excited me the most is something diminutive and easy to escape notice amidst this floral carnival are the Cypripedium parviflorum – the yellow lady’s slipper. I’ve long coveted them and acquired two plants last summer at the plant sale held at Hollister House. Both were planted in two different parts of the meadow. One is currently in bloom and the other is in bud. I am so pleased.

On the other end of my excitement was the discovery of cutworms on a small, potted pine. They looked so creepy writhing around in a cluster. Already a branch had been totally denuded and the vandals were working on another. They were dealt with swiftly. Felt very satisfying.

Today, the temperatures are expected to rise to the low 90s. Just when the late spring garden is looking so glorious. Don’t you just hate that! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that no real damage is done. I went around late last evening harvesting the peonies in bloom and those just about to. The anticipated heat would burn them easily. So now, while I work in the cool indoors, I’m basking in peony perfume and beauty. That’s a pretty good upside.

Lady’s Slipper

Wisteria on the pergola

Wisteria viewed from above

Cutworm cluster

Rescued peonies before the heat wave.

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Garden Gazing

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May is a big party. Flowers bursting forth everywhere, birds furiously foraging to feed their babies, bees determinedly dive bombing the blooms while butterflies resort to flirting instead. The sort of reward I wait for all year. For all the work and attention I provide there’s got to be some reciprocity right?! And I’m here for it.

On waking up each spring morning, I peer outside eager to take in the beauty that awaits. With every new wave of blooms, there’s an overwhelming sense of joy that is hard to contain. I spend my time gazing and gloating, taking hundreds of photos, inviting friends to come and see and then taking pleasure watching their reactions. It’s reason to celebrate.

Now that the big tasks of the season are completed, it is important to make time to revel in the garden. Tomorrow, a few artist friends are coming up from NYC and we’re all going to paint in the garden. It’s been a while since we got together so I’m very excited. Friends drawing inspiration together. Hopefully, there will also be some gossiping amidst all the gazing.

After the very hot and humid weekend, we are back to cooler temperatures – I can’t tell you how I relieved I am. It means the flowers will linger around longer in the garden. And so shall I.

Making the most of this time is crucial. In the depths of winter, it’s those recollections that sustain the spirit. It’s not the work we remember but the sheer joy of reveling in the beauty of the garden. There’s much satisfaction to be had in knowing one did not let the opportunity go wasted.

Note: A few images from this past week –

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Opining On Open Day

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What a glorious Open Day it came to be! The weather was perfect – cloudy (colors show up better), cool and very pleasant. The sun peered out occasionally but mostly, it stayed hidden. The previous day had been so humid and muggy that I feared for what might be on the big day. Clearly, the weather Gods heard my plea and decided to be kind.

And the visitors arrived – a steady flow all day. In fact, it felt so comfortably paced that it was only at the end of the day that I realized that we’d had about 150 people explore my small garden. I’ve said it before and I say it again – gardeners and garden lovers are the nicest people. Curious, eager, observant and enthusiastic. They notice everything and are generous with compliments and good insight. It is such fun to share ideas, inspiration and experiences.

Visitors came from near and far. Whether local or from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut or Long Island, I an humbled and so very grateful that they took the time to come to my little patch of earth. What lovely conversations I had with so many. I shared, I learned and together we celebrated our passion for gardening. Could anything be better?

I remember the first time my garden was opened and how nervous I was. That was 14 years ago. I worried how a seasoned gardener would view my seat-of-the-pants gardening style. What I learned then and it has proven true is that nobody makes all the effort and time to visit with the intent to criticize or be judgmental. As a group, we gardeners understand the trials and tribulations of working with nature. So we know to appreciate it all. And we learn constantly – in the doing and in the sharing.

Over the years, I’ve grown eager for Open Day because it acts like a tonic to rejuvenate my gardening passion. By being privy to how others view my garden, I get to see it through fresh eyes. And always I’m struck by what and how they notice the various elements be it color, plants and the plantings, the overall design and solutions to universal problems. I gain so much from how others view my work.Truly, I am renewed and refreshed at the end of the day. The exhaustion from getting the garden ready is totally worth it!

I send out deep thanks to all who came this past Saturday. You may not be aware of how how much your visit and feedback means to me – it honestly helps me be a better gardener.

Now, for the rest of the growing season, I’m ready to do my share of visiting gardens near and far. No doubt I’ll be delighted, inspired and duly instructed. Perfect.

Note: The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program is invaluable. Do take advantage of it. Better yet, become a member – you’ll get informed on not just the gardens that are open but also the interesting talks, study tours and symposiums on tap. Members get discounts and first dibs.

Glimpses of Open Day 2022 –

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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When Old Is New Again

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The hummingbirds are back! The feeders were optimistically put up two week ago when it was still cold. It has remained pretty much below normal temperatures since but the sugar solution was duly refreshed. Yesterday morning, just as more seasonable weather arrived, the tiny birds showed up as well. I’m taking that as a good sign for the season.

Humans have always relied on signals and sightings in nature as guides for when to do things and what to expect. A glut of acorns in the the fall means a consequent increase in mice, squirrel and deer populations as well as an emergence of new oak trees. And vice versa.

A cold spring means reduced pollination and lower production of fruit and future plants.

The timing of when the leaves fall in autumn is recognized as a good predictor – too early means mild fall and winter, too late indicates a colder winter and if leave shrivel up on the branches before dropping, then expect a very severe winter. I’m going to pay attention more to this autumn!

Similarly, it’s said that the wider the woolly bear caterpillar’s brown band is, the milder the winter will be. When birds migrate or returns are foretellings. Dandelions, tulips, chickweed and such fold their petals prior to rain.

While there is some evidence that some of these signals are accurate, for the most part, they are anecdotal. On my part, I’m happy to know them and tend to believe only if they predict something I desire. Selective is what I am. Ha.

However, there are old gardening practices that are very sound and good for all of nature. When I began creating this garden about 25 years ago, I resolved to do my best to do no harm. That right away meant organic methods. This was in part driven by my own childhood where I watched gardeners do their work sans chemicals. As a scientist, I learned the harm chemicals can do – long lasting harm. So organic it was. What was good through time is good for the present and future. ( A word of caution – even organic pest control should be applied judiciously. They might knock off pests but they also kill the good bugs. They are not specific to pests.)

Compost was known to be beneficial but, it was not a general practice at the time I got started on this garden.I knew enough soil microbiology to understand how effective this natural product was. While one could buy bags of compost, people did not make their own compost. At least not in the cities and suburbs. I was hard pressed to find a company that sold composters suitable to suburban homes – something that offered protection from curious critters (think raccoon) unlike open compost bins often seen in large estates and rural properties. I did eventually find one that is ideal for kitchen waste. The woods that back my property take care of all garden waste.

Next came my quest to collect rain water. No water butts or barrels to be found. Why? Because most people were not thinking about water shortages at that time. Even though the evidence was already pointing to water becoming a global crisis in the not too distant future. Now, collecting rain water is a very old practice. Not just because of shortage concerns but also because it saved drawing it from the well water or fetching from the river. It simply made sense. We converted an old wine barrel to do the job.

Native plants encouraged native fauna and the ecosystem was kept in balance. Companion planting, crop rotation, diligent observation to thwart disease are all time tested methods for a healthy garden and gardener. Our ancestors learned the hard way and have passed on that wisdom. We strayed but now, we’re returning to those lessons. And that’s a very good thing. Admittedly, not everything our forebearers did was good but we know enough now to know the difference.

To think, my approach to gardening was called ‘quaint’ at the time. Now, 25 plus years on, I’m trendy. I’m having my moment!!

Note: Last call to pre-register for my Open Day!

The greening of the wall

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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May Flowers

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It’s finally looking and feeling like spring. After last week’s cool, windy days, the weekend arrived bright, sunny and warm. A gift! It’s now a mad dash to get the garden in ship-shape for its May 14 Open Day. Lots got done over the weekend – aching muscles bear testimony. Still more remains. Because of the unprecedentedly cold weather, we’re running behind schedule. But, that’s life in the garden. Nature is always in charge. However hard we gardeners work, we are not in control. Ever. That is a good lesson to take to heart – do your best, stay humble, be resilient and work with Nature not against.

Our relationship with Nature, whilst seemingly collaborative, is an unequal one. It is best to accept that. Leave the ego outside the garden or else it’ll be shredded ruthlessly in no time. And in the end, when the garden looks gorgeous, graciously accept your part in it but know in your heart who really had the last word.

So, I’m keeping my head down and focusing on getting the work done. I’m also beseeching the powers that be to be kind and generous to send good weather, get the plants blooming and bring in many happy visitors.

Here’s the general To-Do list for May –

Things To Do In May

  1. Weed regularly if you want to keep the thugs in check.

  2. Put stakes in place so as plants grow it’ll be easy to secure them.

  3. 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.

  4. Water as necessary. Add a splash of compost tea to fertilize – about every 2-3 weeks.

  5. Plant in summer vegetables, summer bulbs and tubers and, annuals.

  6. Keep bird baths filled with clean water. Use mosquito ‘dunks’ to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. The same goes for fountains.

  7. 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.

  8. Make sure all beds, shrubs and trees are mulched to retain moisture and keep weeds from proliferating.

  9. 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!

  10. Stay vigilant for pests or disease. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to treat them. Always employ organic methods.

  11. Stir the compost heap regularly. Keep adding in kitchen and garden waste.

  12. Take time every day to simply enjoy the garden.

  13. Visit other gardens through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. You will be vastly instructed and inspired. Www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays

Note: I’ll be at Teatown Lake Reservation’s eagerly awaited and hugely popular PlantFest May 6 &7. Look for my Seeds Of Design booth – items from my Printed Garden Collection will be available. Beautiful gifts for Mother’s Day, teachers, hostess, brides , birthdays and yourself. All profits donated.

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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