Get a jump on your spring garden

All right, I'll admit it: I'm getting antsy for Spring. I know we've still got a full month, here in the Northeast, until things start greening up, but I'm ready to begin gardening. The fact that it's going to be unseasonably warm today--temps are going to climb into the 60's--is all the more reason to start "thinking spring". I know I have to curb my enthusiasm. No reason to imitate my Magnolia 'Stellata' which is teased into bloom each March only to be hit by a killing frost--and see it's fluffy white flowers turn brown. I'll be a bit more cautious.

I'll get into the spirit with a few good old-fashioned bouquets scattered around the place. Even though the hothouse flowers aren't in season right now, a house full of flowers always jump-starts my imagination, and gets me ready to plan my best garden yet!

For those longing to get their green thumbs deep into the dirt, start now, with a few containers. For those of you with a heated greenhouse or plenty of room indoors, now is a great time to start potting annuals (if you can find them). If you're too early, you can start shopping for just the right containers and planning what plants you'd like them to contain. You can also start seedlings.

What to pot up? Depends on the amount of sun you get. In general, any area that receives fewer than 6 hours of sunlight each day calls for shade loving plants. Since that's my issue, I'll opt for the following:

*New Guinea impatiens
*Hosta
*Bacopa
*Oxalis
*Coleus
*Begonia
*Lobelia
*Sweet potato vine

If your landscape is drenched in sunshine, your container choices are virtually endless, but here are a few plants that I think do particularly well in pots that are prone to strong sun rays:

*Agave
*Angelonia
*Canna
*Petunia
*Lantana
*Salvia
*Pentas

As I always say, it's never too early to start planning a spectacular spring garden. The best thing about container gardening is that you can move plants to adjust the amount of light they receive, which ensures they'll look spectacular throughout the seasons.

A walk in the woods

After a cold spell and tons of snow, the weather in upstate New York has temporarily turned milder. In fact, it's going to be unseasonably warm for the next week. This, of course, is reason for celebration--for myself and my four-legged pals. Dog walks aplenty!

While the pooches and I wandered the roads, paths and snowy trails near my home, I realized winter is, in many ways, the best way to enjoy the wildlife in the area. Without the lush veil of leaves, the trees reveal their secrets. I can see exactly where the squirrels nest in the high crooks of branches; I can more fully enjoy the fluttering variety of birds, who may not sing as much--conserving their energy for keeping warm--but dodge and dive from snowy pillar to post. I've learned to identify tracks in the snow. It's how I know to keep an eye out for the skunk who enjoys the shelter of my front porch. His distinct gait (little footprints with that tail-dragging line between them) leads right to the front step.

There's a reason the great poets often chose nature as a theme in their writing. Perhaps Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best when he opined,

“Who looks upon a river in a meditative hour, and is not reminded of the flux of all things?”

We are intricately entwined with our surroundings, but so often fail to notice it. Luckily we can remedy this--by simply taking a walk on a lovely winter morning, and noticing the beauty that abounds.

Pebble mosaic stepping stones

Maybe it's because more than a foot of snow fell yesterday, but in the midst of a very white winter I'm dreaming of spring. Not in the traditional sense--thoughts of crocus and daffodils poking through the snow drifts--but in terms of the ground being covered in anything that's not white!

Anyone who has read previous posts through the years has discovered that I have an obsession with stones. Maybe I was a geologist in a previous life! More likely, as my interest in landscaping grows, I've started to understand how vital non-growing things are to beautiful garden designs. Rocks, stones, wood, soil, mulch. All play their part in the mixing and matching of a miraculous outdoor setting.

One interest I've always harbored, but is now bordering on the obsessive, is the idea of incorporating pebble-stone mosaics into my walkways and patios. My husband is skeptical. I'll have to do a lot of convincing because, let's face it, he'll be doing a lot of "helping out" in this creative endeavor. Creating stone or pebble mosaic patios are not for the weekend-project set, unless you plan on stringing a number of weekends together. It takes a good deal of stone gathering to create even a small patio, so I've decided to start small, focusing my energy on a mosaic stepping-stone walkway.

The first thing to do is collect stones. Since that won't be possible if the stream beds around you are frozen and snow-covered, I suggest checking out drain rock. I have a bulk-stone supplier in my town. He has handy sample boards of every stone he carries displayed in the office next to his desk and three Boston Terriers, who accompany him to work each day. I'm not gonna lie, I go there to visit with the dogs as much as to see what's new in stone style. The best thing about this setup is that he will bag any variety and amount of stones I want. This makes for easy transport as well as allows me to play around with different types of pebbles and stones. If you don't have a local stone supplier, there's always good ole Amazon, which offers bagged decorative stone in all shapes and sizes.

For beginners like me there's an even easier option: pre-laid pebbles and stones on mesh backings (see photo, above). For those experiencing a time-crunch, or are unsure of their creative abilities, the prepared 12"X12" tiles may be the way to go. They're available in a variety of stones and finishes and can be found at Lowe's, Home Depot, Amazon, Wayfair, and a number of other online stores. They're a bit more expensive, but the effect is guaranteed to be more uniform.

Why would anyone want to go mosaic? Like anything else, it's a matter of preference, and a chance to get creative. Stone and pebble mosaics have a long, rich history which, to me anyway, is charming. Dating back centuries to many areas of the world, some of the most impressive examples can be traced back to Portugal and Spain. Lisbon sidewalks boast swirling pebble patterns and the Plaza de Espana in Seville offers great examples of this art, in the form of acres of pebbles set to resemble undulating waves.

As for my efforts, I'm gathering the stones. I'll document the process as I prepare and lay the actual walkway. Stay tuned, more to come!

A tree for all seasons

If you've got a large space to fill, you might want to consider planting a horse chestnut tree, otherwise known as Aesculus hippocastanum. This deciduous beauty can grow up to 100 feet tall, boasts gorgeous bunches of flowers and a graceful growing habit that exudes old-world charm. Gazing at this magnificent specimen when it's in full bloom--from May to June--is truly inspiring. There is a fantastic horse chestnut at The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, New York. I urge everyone to make a trip to this wondrous place and see this--and many other lovely plants--for yourself.

Often referred to as a Buckeye, this tree can live up to 300 years! Talk about planting for posterity! Other fun facts:

--The nuts on the horse chestnut form inside a round, prickly pod which resembles a porcupine. Historically, European children gather the pods each autumn to use in a game called Conkers, which entails cracking open the pod, and placing each oversized seed on a string. Taking turns, each participant tries to crack his or her seed open by smashing it against a hard surface.

--The first beer-meisters in Germany stored their product underground and used horse chestnut trees to provide cooling shade from up above. The trees were ideal for this purpose--especially during summertime--as their canopy is large yet the tree roots are shallow, which didn't inhibit the tunnels.

--Horse chestnut is used as an herbal medicine in some cultures, mostly to treat circulation problems, fever and enlarged prostate. It is usually administered as an extract from the processed nuts and leaves; however, the medical community in the United States advises caution because of the toxicity factor. As always, I don't recommend using homeopathic concoctions without the supervision of a medical doctor.