Corliss ClipsApril 2009..... Vol. 7, No. 4A monthly newsletter for fellow gardening
enthusiasts... offered with the hope that our Zone 5
garden experiences will prove useful, wherever on that
USDA map you garden. Presented by Corliss Bros.
Garden Center & Nursery / Authored by Deb Lambert
Freshly cut pussy willows
HAVE YOU FOUND
"THE CORLISS GARDEN SHOW"
WITH DEB LAMBERT?
What do you get when you combine an Ipswich Garden Center, Newburyport radio station and a Yankee gardener? “The Corliss Garden Show" with Deb Lambert, presented Sunday mornings from 8-10a, on WNBP, AM 1450. Yes, garden talk is alive and well and, starting on March 29th, local.
In uncertain times, folks take great comfort in hearth and home and, of course, in their gardens. Gardens provide sanctuary from the world’s cares, as well as a place to grow one’s own food. Always a popular topic, gardening is experiencing a phenomenal rise in popularity, once again. And here, on the North Shore, gardeners have long preferred to remain loyal to local merchants and services. Which is why, adding a local radio component makes perfect sense.
Call 978-462-WNBP (9627), on any given Sunday, and receive thorough, in-depth answers to your garden questions. Timely tips, product recommendations and general advice... all based on a shared concern for this North Shore environment. Garden conversation is not a lost art, as you’ll discover Sunday mornings, from 8-10a, when you tune in to “The Corliss Garden Show" with Deb Lambert on WNBP, 1450 on your AM dial.
My 'Diane' Witch Hazel, still sporting February's flowers.
Puschkinia libanotica ~ Striped Squill
My 'Bluebird' snow crocus
'Oregon' Violet... gift from a longtime Corliss client
Spring's happy face!
Precious Primrose.
Chionodoxa
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘ARNOLD’S PROMISE’ (Arnold’s Promise Witchhazel) 10-15’H x 10-15’W. Prolific bright yellow flowers in late winter. Very fragrant with a sweet scent. Great in a border.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘DIANE’ (Diane Witchhazel) 10-12’H x 10-12’W. Lightly scented copper-red flowers emerge in late winter. Yellow-orange-red fall foliage.
Leatherleaf Viburnum ~
Viburnum rhytidophyllum 10-15 feet in height and spread. Rounded, upright form. A medium fast growing multi-stemmed shrub. In mild climates, evergreen. In colder climates, may be evergreen if planted in a sheltered position. Needs shelter from wind and winter sun. Cream spring flowers are lightly fragrant. The small red fruit becomes black, with maturity, in autumn. Will accept fairly heavy shade. If freeze-damaged, cut down to the ground. Not particularly bothered by pests... a versatile plant.
Azalea mucronulatum (Manchurian Azalea) 6’H x 5-6’W. Bright lilac-pink flowers before foliage emerges.
Magnolia stellata ‘ROYAL STAR’ (Royal Star Magnolia) 10-20’H x 10-15’W. Light pink or white buds open to white, double flowers with 25-30 petals. Fragrant. Upright, densely branched. Shrubby when young. Rounded habit. Hardy.
Magnolia loebneri ‘LEONARD MESSEL’ (Leonard Messel Magnolia) 15-20’H x 20-25’W. Pink buds opening to showy fuschia pink star-like flowers. Upright branching, rounded outline.
Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia) 10-20’H x 10-15’W. Slow grower, broad, shrubby habit. Fragrant star-shaped white flowers. Long lasting blooms in early spring. Sun or part shade.
SUBHIRTELLA ‘PENDULA’ (Weeping Higan Cherry) 20-25’H x 15-20’W. Impressive in bloom with large double pink flowers arranged in clusters. Mounding pendulous branches. Can be maintained as a smaller tree with regular pruning of upright shoots. Does best in a fertile, well drained soil. Top grafted.
Pieris Dorothy Wycoff 5-6’H x 4-6’W. Deep pink buds during winter. Blush pink to white flowers in spring. Compact.
Pieris Cavantine 3-4’H x 3-4’W. Unusual upright green buds which open to a white explosion of blooms. A dense butterball of dark green foliage. Tough and hardy. Does well in full sun.
Pieris Valley Valentine 5-6’H x 5-6’W. Deep red flower buds turn to deep pink flowers. Shiny, dark green foliage.
Echinacea 'Virgin' combines a very compact habit, double row of petals, sweet fragrance, and long bloomtime. Perfect for garden or vase. Although it's showy, it is a coneflower so it will take poor soil and drought conditions. This may be the ultimate white coneflower.
FROM THE GARDEN SHED...
Organizing Your April Gardening• Time to clear away the ravages of winter and dive, head-first, into a brand new season of gardening. Hopefully, you’ve raked up last fall’s leaves and debris and swept up any lingering sand and road salt. Remember to apply garden gypsum (fall & spring) to these roadside areas (@10-15# per 100 sq.ft.) to mitigate salt damage.
• As soil dries sufficiently, rake lawns to remove thatch, make spring applications of lawn food, lime, gypsum and crabgrass preventatives, as needed. Choose from traditional “step” lawn programs and look into organic alternatives, as well. As soils warm, grass seed will readily germinate - try to establish early growth, before weeds start to compete. Be certain that any lawn products you apply will not disrupt germination. As always, consult the staff for recommendations. For large lawns, consider renting a power dethatcher, seed-slicer or aerator for optimum results. Lawn mowing should commence when blades are 2 1/2-3” high, removing 1/3 of the length with each cutting.
•Before new growth is initiated on large, overgrown rhododendrons or privet hedges, they can be pruned back into old wood, 1-2 feet from the ground. Always prune on a sharp diagonal angle, just above dormant buds. Combine this with an application of balanced organic fertilizer, such as Plant Tone®, and rock phosphate. These plants will respond with fresh, strong, new growth. Admittedly, patience is also necessary, while you wait for sizable plants; however, personal experience with such renewal pruning has made me unafraid to tackle such projects. Another option is the more measured approach of pruning back 1/3 of the growth, as soon as blooms have faded, over the course of three seasons. This allows a gradual renewal, the retention of some foliage and continued bloom. Be sure to feed these specimens also, to encourage re-growth.
•While tree wrap prevents winter sun-scald on tender, young trunks, leaving it on too long can be detrimental. Moisture becomes trapped beneath the wrap, leading to potential disease and borer problems.
•When pruning back dried perennial stems and cleaning the beds, pay special attention to iris. The eggs of iris borer overwinter in old foliage, so limit future infestation by proper disposal of this material.
•Do spread finished compost throughout the landscape, as an effective mulch or soil additive. Do recommence building and maintaining an active compost pile, for continued use during the growing season. (Never compost diseased plant portions.)Alternate layers of green, nitrogen-rich materials (such as grass clippings) with brown, carbon-rich items (like autumn leaves and perennial stalks). Sprinkle a little soil and lime between layers, employ a compost activator (I prefer Neptune’s Harvest Liquid Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer® - follow compost dilution) or sucrose-based activator. Add water, as needed, keeping in mind that sun, air and water are essential in the composting process. Periodically turning the pile, or installing perforated PVC pipe across the pile center, will keep your compost properly aerated. Do not compost diseased materials.
•Soil is the basic building block, the foundation upon which the successful landscape depends. Nourishing the soil with such additives as compost, leaf mold, peat humus, composted manure and organic fertilizers will introduce and help sustain healthy ratios of beneficial micro-organisms. The increased presence of earthworms is an indicator of your success in soil improvement. You should find a healthy population of worms wherever trowel meets soil...you’ll reap the further benefits of their castings and aeration. Professional or DIY soil tests will indicate where additional nutrients and lime are required. Garden gypsum and/or sand will help to improve soil drainage. Remember that cultivating or walking on overly-wet soil can destroy its structure.
•As soon as soil has dried sufficiently, till under winter rye planted last fall. In this way, there is time for it to break down as “green manure,” before this season’s vegetable crops are planted.
•Often, early to mid-April is ideal for planting garden peas and sweet peas - as long as soils have begun to warm and are not saturated. Usually, mid-April is also ideal for planting potato and onion sets... as before, use your judgement - this is New England!
•Seed starting continues, with fast-growing crops like tomatoes needing only 4-5 weeks before transplantation outdoors. May 30th is our traditional frost-free date, although hardiest vegetable and flower specimens are often planted around mid-May. Be sure to harden-off all seedlings by exposing them to increasing amounts of sun and wind, over the course of 7-10 days (watch night temperatures)... again, same advice as above! I still bear the scars of bedding plants, undergoing their hardening-off period one long-ago, mid-May, whose tops were severely nipped back by a late frost... beware!
•Plan a kitchen garden that includes a sampling of mixed greens, lettuce, cukes, tomatoes, herbs... it makes summer meal prep a breeze, with unsurpassable, just-picked flavor. If space permits, plan a formal herb garden... great visual impact, attractive to beneficial insects and a terrific culinary asset. If space doesn’t permit for either of these enterprises, a collection of attractive pots, located in full sun will serve. Use well-drained potting soil, feed every 10-14 days with liquid, organic fertilizer, water as needed and enjoy nature’s bounty well into the fall. Even decks, balconies, patios and hanging planters will expand the horizons of small-yard (or no-yard) gardeners. Many trailing or vining edibles and ornamentals will lend themselves to trellis culture, so don’t be afraid to “grow up!”
•Pruning - Cut back winter-killed tips and cut out any winter-killed canes from all roses. “Landscape” roses, including shrub and ground-covering, usually require only a little shaping each spring. Climbers flower most heavily on old wood, so no hard pruning until after this first flush of blooms. Tea (including many of the English roses, such as ‘David Austin’ - with tea rose heritage) and floribunda roses benefit from annual spring pruning, cutting back to 18 inches, just above dormant buds. As always, combine with granular rose food and rock or superphosphate for optimal growth and flower production. Many summer and fall flowering shrubs benefit from a spring pruning, without loss of flower buds. Spring bloomers are pruned immediately after flowering (within 4-6 weeks), or you risk losing next season’s blooms. Straggly yews and other needled evergreens can be tidied up, before new growth emerges.
•Spring feeding of the entire landscape, based on the individual needs of each specimen, is recommended... even if you fed late last fall - the results are well worth the effort. Stronger, healthier plants are better able to withstand such stresses as heat, insects and disease.
•Shop early for the best selection of fruit trees and small fruits, such as grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. The small fruits, especially, are relatively easy to establish and maintain. At harvest time, cover some plants with bird netting for family consumption and leave a few for the backyard birds.
•Shop early for the best selection of dahlias, gladioli, agapanthus, crocosmia, begonias, lilies and elephant ears. Bulbs are perishable and in somewhat limited supply, so buy them now, keep them in a cool, dark area and plant them out after danger of frost has passed. Begonias are best started indoors in 4-5" peat pots, then transplanted to containers or gardens in late May. Buy extra glad corms and make successive plantings, every two weeks, from mid-May to early summer to extend that season of color. Lily bulbs are especially perishable, due to their fleshy scales, and should be planted in full sun, as soon as soils dry sufficiently.
How can one resist the showy dinnerplate blooms, borne atop these stately dahlia plants? How marvelous, that with just a little effort, we can overwinter these tubers, enjoying them for years!
•Spring flowering bulbs should be fed with bulb food or a balanced, complete organic food, as flowers fade. As foliage dies back, nutrients are utilized in the formation of next season’s flower buds. This is the most important time to feed an established bulb bed. The next best time, is as bulb foliage first emerges in spring.
Eight seed racks - four seed companies represented! Choose from wide-ranging varieties... Botanical Interests, New England Seed Co., Chas. C. Hart Seed Company (and sponsor of "The Corliss Garden Show") and Burpee. Clearly, in uncertain times, folks are turning their attention to growing their own vegetables, herbs and flowers. The sharp rise in popularity of seed starting supplies, including heated seedling mats and grow lights, is matched only by the seed packets disappearing at breakneck speed from their individual pockets. Don't worry... we're keeping up with the demand, so you'll always find a great variety from which to choose.
YES, IT'S HERE! THE 2009 CORLISS BROS. CATALOG...
PACKED WITH TREASURED FAVORITES, NEW HYBRIDS
AND LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION!
Stop by for your copy, and while you're here, check out
our ever-expanding plant inventory. Our store is
brimming with everything a gardener could desire...
from the innately practical, to the extremely ornamental!
A copy of the 4-week spring semester, just completed at Corliss. Missed out on "Propagatio 101," "Your Spring Checklist," "Edible Landscaping" and "Your Spring Lawn?" There will be more
"Saturday Sessions"... we're planning to run a few this summer and a heavier schedule come fall. Roses, vegetables, bedding plants, container gardens, bird and butterfly gardens... just some of the upcoming topics.
All is quiet, just before a class of 15 students would file in for our "how-to" on spring gardens, or "Your Spring Checklist." It was a wonderful group of students, who stayed to chat and ask more questions, even after my one-hour time frame extended to an extra one-half hour longer. (I'm glad nobody seems to mind my excessively long workshops... it's so nice to share ideas with fellow gardeners, especially on such a wide-ranging topic.)
In the midst of the last workshop, "Your Spring Lawn," where we discussed the ins and outs of seeding, reseeding and coping with the various problems facing most New England lawns. We covered the traditional programs, but highlighted the organic options available.
This huge display of lawn care items is only part of the space devoted to the many products, through which home gardeners may browse, in pursuit of a healthy turf.
Espoma Organic® Lawn Food 7-2-2...All Natural Organic! Specially formulated from all natural ingredients and enhanced with Bio-tone®; a patented blend of beneficial microbes that help promote faster greening, deeper roots, and better soil structure(30 lbs. covers 2,500 sq. ft.).
Espoma Organic® Weed Preventer 9-0-0 Naturally Prevent Weeds! Made from corn gluten meal, an all natural by-product from the manufacturing of cornstarch. Children and pets safely can play on the lawn after the application. (25 lbs. covers 1,250 sq. ft.)
Ask about the 4-step all-natural Espoma lawn program... are you seeding or over-seeding this spring or fall? We can tailor a program to accommodate your specific lawn requirements.
Earth-tone® Natural Pesticides ~ Disease, insects, or weeds - Earth-tone natural gardening solutions are effective answers to the gardener's toughest problems.
Organically Balanced Tones ~ Complex blends of long lasting natural organic ingredients enhanced with Bio-tone® beneficial microbes to provide your garden with the balanced meal it deserves. Holly-tone and Plant-tone are must-haves for the all-natural landscape. To fine-tune that feeding program, consider adding Garden-tone, Flower-tone, Bulb-tone, Rose-tone, Tree-tone and Tomato-tone to your spring, summer and fall regimen.
We recommend
Bio-tone® Starter Plus 4-3-3 for enhanced root development. By now, you've probably learned about the benefits of introducing beneficial bacteria, humates and mycorrhizae, for enhanced root development... at planting time, as well as for established specimens. This bio-active plant food is an all-natural organic. Available in 4 and 25 lb. bags.
Rock Phosphate 0-3-0. All natural. Pelletized for easy application. Contains 3% available and 24% total phosphate. An outstanding supplement for enhanced rooting, as well as increased blooms and fruits. In 8 and 35 lb. bags.
Greensand 0-0-0.1 A mined mineral, rich in the soil conditioning element Glauconite. Long sought after by organic gardeners... conditions soil, aids with overall plant heath and strengthens plant plant defenses against stress (heat, cold, drought) and disease. Contains 6% total potash. 0.1% available immediately. Rich in trace elements. In 10 and 36 lb. bags.
Soil Perfector®
Successful plantings require a soil structure consisting of approximately 50% solids, 25% pore space for air, and 25% pore space for moisture. While this may be common in undisturbed forest areas, it is not the general rule for homeowners today, whose topsoil has often been stripped away.
Many homeowners have heavy clay soils, which lack adequate pore space for air and can lead to poor drainage, reduced root growth, and greater susceptibility to environmental stress. Others have dry sandy soils, which lack adequate pore space for water which can lead to excessive drainage, as well as a loss of nutrients from the root zone.
Soil Perfector is made from a naturally derived, ceramic mineral that is kiln-fired at temperatures in excess of 2000º F. This process creates a durable, lightweight granule containing thousands of tiny storage spaces that hold the perfect balance of water, air and nutrients for an improved soil structure.
All natural soil conditioner. •Permanently improves clay and sandy soils. •Add to all potting mixes and soils. •Prevents compaction and promotes root growth. •One time application. Won’t break down. In 27 lb. bags.
Directions ~ Preparing Flower & Vegetable Beds...One 27 lb. bag covers 10 sq. ft. Spread a 1” layer of Soil Perfector across the entire bed (2”
layer for severely compacted soils). Work into the top 6 inches of soil with a shovel, rake or
rototiller.
New Individual Plants... Dig a hole at least twice the diameter and slightly less deep than the root ball of the plant. Mix
1 part Soil Perfector to 3 parts removed soil. Follow planting directions and water thoroughly.
Container Gardens... Line the bottom of the container with 2 inches of Soil Perfector. Fill the container with 1 part
Soil Perfector to 3 parts potting mix for improved aeration and drainage.
Existing Plants... Using a spading fork around the drip line of the plant, rock and twist the fork to open cracks and crevices as deeply as possible. Fill the cracks with Soil Perfector. For large trees, dig narrow trenches 18 to 24 inches deep starting between the trunk and the drip line and extending out into the surrounding soil. Dig at least 5 trenches in a wheel spoke pattern. Fill the trenches with Soil Perfector.
Got Voles? While we're on the topic of "Soil Perfector," let's talk about a fairly common problem this spring. With the deep, constant snow cover of this past winter, both moles (feeding exclusively on soil insects, grubs and earthworms) and voles took advantage of the situation and tunneled extensively throughout lawn areas, but voles who are vegetarian, opted for invading beds and borders - causing much damage under cover of winter.
How to Identify Voles ~
Voles are small mammals that measure between 4-8.5” from head to tail. Often called field mice (look rather like mice, with stubby little tails), these creatures destroy trees, shrubs, and other plants by gnawing on their trunks or eating their root systems. To check if you have voles look for 1-2” wide burrows and quarter size holes around your plant. Also look for 1/8-3/8” gnaw marks around plant stems that are formed at various angles. Rabbits gnaw marks are much wider, smoother and occur at 45º angles. If your plant is leaning over and drooping, lift its root system from the ground to see if the roots have been eaten. If many of the above symptoms are present, then you probably have voles.
What is Soil Perfector? Soil Perfector provides a permanent physical barrier to voles. Soil Perfector is made
from a naturally derived, ceramic mineral that is kiln-fired at temperatures in excess
of 2000o F. This process creates a durable, lightweight, abrasive granule that voles
are naturally discouraged to dig through. Soil Perfector is non-toxic and will not
physically harm the voles. Furthermore, Soil Perfector will not break down or degrade
in the soil so one application is all you ever need.
Directions ~
New Plantings...
Dig a hole 6-8” wider and 1” deeper than root ball. Line bottom of hole with 2” of
Soil Perfector. Place plant into hole. Form 3-4” solid band of Soil Perfector around
plant. Fill remainder of hole with soil and mulch top with 1-2” layer of Soil Perfector
from drip-line to crown.
Existing Plants... Dig a 1’ deep, 3-4” wide trench around plant drip-line. Fill trench with Soil Perfector.
Replace existing mulch with 2” layer of Soil Perfector from dripline to plant stem.
Planting Bulbs... Dig a hole 2-3 inches deeper than specific depth recommended for bulb. Line the
bottom of the hole with 2-3” of Soil Perfector. Set bulb in hole. Fill remainder of hole
with a minimum of a 3” lining of Soil Perfector. Backfill the remainder of the hole with
a mix of 50% Soil Perfector and 50% previously removed soil.
Protect Your Plants From Vole Damage • Provides a permanent physical barrier to voles. • All natural, non-toxic. Safe to use around pets & children. • Won’t physically harm voles or other wildlife. • One easy application that won’t break down or degrade. • Also prevents compaction & promotes root growth so plants establish quickly.
Messenger – the science behind a beautiful garden.
Messenger is a gardening breakthrough that turns on your plants immune system! Your plants will not only be stronger and healthier, but produce more fruit, flowers and foliage.
The active ingredient in Messenger is from a family of naturally occurring proteins called harpins. In nature, harpin proteins are produced by bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plants have a special ability to “sense” harpin proteins. It’s like an early warning system that alerts the plant when it’s under attack from something that will cause a disease (because when a bacterial pathogen is around, so is a harpin protein). When a plant senses harpin proteins, it activates its own natural responses to help fight off the attack and stay healthy. Just as our bodies respond to an infection, you can think of this as the plants version of an immune response.
Messenger is an environmentally friendly product that has been awarded by the EPA, endorsed by the National Gardening Association, the American Rose Society, the National Chrysanthemum Society, and the National Home Gardening Club.
Defend From Within! ~
Messenger can be used on all types of plants growing indoors and outdoors, including edible fruits and vegetables right up to the day of harvest. As with any product, always read and follow label instructions before buying or using this product.
Follow these simple guidelines to get the most from your Messenger application:Begin applications early in the plants life. Just like a healthy lifestyle, beginning early and continuing through maturity yields the biggest benefits.
Apply every 3 weeks, or at least once a month. Applications at key events (bud formation, flowering, fruit set and sizing, ripening, etc.) are especially effective and magnify those plant processes.
Plants respond best if they are actively growing when treated. Applying Messenger in the morning before the hottest parts of the day is best. Plants treated when they are dormant or under severe stress from heat, cold, or drought may not respond as well.
Mix with water as directed on the packet instructions. If tank mixing with other products, always mix Messenger first. Fill sprayer at least 3/4 full of water, mix Messenger completely, mix other products, and finish filling with water.
Spray right away. Apply product within 4 hours of mixing for best effects. Reseal nused product in opened packets to minimize exposure to air and moisture and use within 3 weeks.
Apply as a fine mist to the leaves: A pump-up sprayer or garden mister is most efficient. Think "heavy dew" to get good coverage, but if Messenger is running off the plant, you're wasting material. 1 gallon of spray can treat up to 1000 square feet or 25-50 roses or tomato plants. A watering can will also work well, but you won’t be able to cover as many plants. Root drenching is effective, but it is the least efficient way to apply Messenger.
Never throw mixed leftover product away…it’s a waste! There is always a plant around that could benefit…apply leftover material as a root drench to your houseplants.
Don’t neglect the basics. Messenger is not a substitute for good gardening practices – maintain proper fertility, soil quality & vitality, watering, and the use of other control measures when needed.
"Persistance"...A quality essential to the survival of these poor little Croci, struggling up through forgotten twigs, cut up and left behind last fall, by some careless gardener (aka 'GardenAuthor'). Persistance... A quality much admired in tough, New England gardeners, preparing for a brand new season.
AND NOW, AS PROMISED ON SUNDAY'S
FIRST AIRING OF "THE CORLISS GARDEN SHOW" ...
A STEP BY STEP VISUAL PRESENTATION
OF BUILDING RAISED BEDS.
Longtime, experienced gardeners and regular students
of the "Saturday Sessions" workshops, Peter and Billie Anne,
have generously agreed to film this sequence and
have done so in time for our April issue.
Peter refrained from using pressure-treated wood, because of the safety implications, especially when cultivating edible crops. Box dimensions are 4 feet by 8 feet. Height is 20", or 22" with the mitered top edge, which is strong enough to lean on, while reaching across the bed.
These flexible PVC hoops are perfect for draping plastic, harvest fabric or bird netting over the beds... extending the growing season and protecting crops from various pests. One can only imagine the productivity of two such beds this summer... much success to Peter and Billie Anne during this brand new growing season! And thanks again for the hard work and photographic record! Feel free to follow Peter's plans for a sturdy, well-built raised bed of your own.
What's hot? Pots! New shapes, new colors... so much to look at, so little time! This is the latest color trend and I am an unabashed fan of this pearlized, glossy, changeable shade of aqua. While this would lend a cool touch to any summer garden or patio, can you imagine what a stunning accent this shade would provide in a seaside environment?
Spice things up, indoors or out,
with the striking colors of this new selection.
Spring has arrived inside the store, as well.
Birds are billing and cooing, right in plain sight.
And, they're shopping around
for some pretty upscale housing!
And just take a peek at the armloads of colorfrom these great silk imposters...
Before the buds swell and burst, take a little time
to enjoy the remainder of early spring's stark beauty,
when driving around these New England environs...
Like a shagbark hickory silhouetted
against the early morning light.
Or, a weeping beech tossing its head
'neath a sudden gust of spring wind.
Appreciate the beauty in what lies
beneath your treading foot.
And take time to marvel at the tiny moss carpet,
scoured clear of winter's debris.
Have a chuckle, at the squirrel's expense,
as he emerges from his food bin. Nobody told him
you're only supposed to remove the treats,
not dive in and hunker down.
Keep your eyes on the skies, as you walk the dog...
you may discover a turkey vulture floating on the
air currents above your home, with two others,
not in this particular shot.
Cherish a painted sky at day's end.
Elect yourself to the Gardening Hall of Fame
(can you say "hyperbole?") and wear proudly
the shirt that makes it so!
Enlist the assistance
of some roguish gardening rodents.
They wield trowels...
Axes...
And shovels, all in an effort to display their
willingness to try a hand at manual labor.
Ah - but some rodents are not so dedicated...
preferring a picnic lunch to all that gardening activity.
So, grab your Easter bonnet, or at least your
garden hat, and head for the garden!
[No, no! This is actually a birdhouse...
better take the one above.]
Invest in some forced Dutch bulbs to brighten up
your home for Easter, which reminds me...
From 'GardenAuthor' and all the staff of Corliss Bros. Garden Center & Nursery ~ A Happy Spring, Happy Growing Season and very Happy Easter! Consider a Corliss gift certificate for that special gardener... they'll remember your thoughtfulness for years to come!
~ finis ~
Raised Bed Photos: ©Peter 2009
Certain photos and text courtesy manufacturer's website.
Some photos courtesy ©CBI 2008
Tree & shrub text: 2009 Corliss catalog
All other photos & text ©Deb Lambert 2008/2009
Newsletter ©CBI/DJL 2009
"Tell us, Lucy-Maude, would you recommend that folks listen to WNBP on Sunday mornings, from 8-10:00a, for weekly garden updates and answers to all those knotty garden problems?"
