Read this article »

Incredible combination of Pieris japonica ‘Valentine’ and ‘Mountain Fire’

Weeping Cherry

My favorite Spring garden

White Bud ready to bloom

It’s beautiful, warm and sunny… and all botanically wrong.

Hellebore

Hellebores should not be blooming the same time as…

Pulmanaria

Or crocus

Crocus

And there is no such thing as Climate Change?

Last fall my overworked tree guy finally made it to my house to access the damage from the horrible fall storm. A bit of background: I have HUGE oak tree right next to my house. It dropped a massive branch many years ago (smashing a just poured foundation for a kitchen addition). A friend recommend her tree guy and thus began a wonderful and academically challenging relationship for me. Since I met Alex from Zeus Tree Experts, that tree has received an incredible amount of TLC.

Here it is:

Now, the Academic background: Alex has a PHD in Forestry from Rutgers and I met him when I was working on both my Landscape Design Degree and Horticultural Degree. Of course, I mentioned this to Alex and he went from the guy who was trimming my trees to my Tree Guru/Mentor. Every time Alex has come to look at my trees has been a power lesson in biology, botany, tree management and the love of trees.

Here’s Alex working:

Alex decided I needed to see my tree up close & personal, so he sent me up the tree in his bucket crane:

This is where my Raccoon Neighbors live:

Quite high up… and not even to the top of the tree. Alex was quizzing me the whole time about technical horticultural & arborist concerns with the tree.

Hard to see but there is a very thick metal cable securing this large branch. Alex installed it several years ago. Very reassuring.

Back down.

It was pretty amazing to see this beloved oak up close. And moving. It’s over 100 years old and, well, majestic. I feel very lucky to share our little part of the world with it.

Well… all good intentions aside: an incredibly busy work schedule and odd weather all summer has meant a very neglected garden, especially my vegetable bed. While I planted all my seedlings/seeds properly, I failed to secure the perimeter before my pals the groundhogs discovered the area, which took about 2 days. So there went the early peas and the cabbage. I got a fence up in time to keep the tomatoes and peppers safe and they were doing quite nicely until Irene came and toppled them all over. So, we are in the Michael Pollan “$50.00 Tomato” zone. Lessons learned. The only “crop” that has been zero hassle is the carrots. The are still happily doing their thing. And like everything in gardening, there is always next season to dream about.
Here are some photos:

My Seedlings

Prepping the Planting Bed

Bed Planted

Secure & Overgrown

Beautiful Peppers

Some Success!