Named for the amazing human being who just left us, the ‘Dolly Parton’ rose is a hybrid tea rose. But what does that mean? Roses come in three main categories, with hundreds of different varieties: Wild roses (or Species) are very fragrant, have only 5 petals, and bloom only once in the Spring. They are almost…
by Laetitia Won Spring is well under way, the plants are in the ground (or soon will be), now is the time to pay attention to watering. Freshly transplanted itty bitty seedlings need a lot of TLC, including watering once or twice daily. Water the soil rather than the leaves (it would mostly evaporate and…
offered by Laetitia This information is from an article written by Lydia Lee, a freelance writer who focuses on design and sustainability. So how does one remove more carbon dioxide than you are generating? One example is planting a large tree or even just creating a green landscape. An alternative to a high maintenance lawn…
(April 2026 Newsletter) Winter sowing, growing seedlings indoors, direct seeding, which method works best for which plants (and for which humans)? Valentine’s day is when I start seriously planting, starting with alliums and parsley indoors as they take forever to grow. But what works best? Winter sowing is the most hands-off way to grow perennials: throw…
By Joan Hoeckele (March 2026 Newsletter) What is Phenology? It is observing and studying seasonal events and their correlation to the life of animals, plants, and insects. Plants can predict, through their life cycle, reoccurring events in nature. The secret is temperature and the length of daylight. Farmers and gardeners used to watch the calendar to…
By Joan Hoeckele (January 2026 Newsletter) There was a response to declining soil health, and that being the first modern organic regenerative agricultural movement, starting in 1924. Following a series of lectures by Rudolf Steiner it was formulated by Bill Mollison and David Holmgreen. Biodynamic gardening focus is on enhancing the energetic quality and nutritional…
By Laetitia Won After the first frost, cut off the brown foliage and dig up your bulbs, labeling each one if you’re growing different varieties and want to keep track. Let them dry for a few days, and carefully brush off most of the dirt. Corms such as Calla Lily, Freesia and Gladiolus need to…
By Joan Hoeckele (November 2025 Newsletter) It is best not to cut your perennials down all the way to the ground in the fall. Cut the old stems to about 12 inches. The remaining stems will provide visual interest, insulation, and shelter for wildlife. Also, the plants can store energy in their roots if you…
by Laetitia Won (October 2025 Newsletter) Ah, the sweet-smelling cool Autumn days when trees rain an abundance of wealth onto our yards. Yes, wealth! Tree leaves hold a huge amount of minerals that you can harvest into your garden in different ways: 1 – Rake them around your trees. This litter will provide a “soft…
