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Scent of Winter – A Sweetness In The Air

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The scent of the season can be brought inside and enjoyed while nesting.

Scent during the cold months of winter are welcomed indoors and out. There are some fragrances that we anticipate and others we do not. Scents play such a role in our lives. As a gardener in the off season I seek out seasonal scents whenever I go outside.

Now that the holidays are over, the smell of balsam, fir and pine, still linger lightly in the landscape. In my yard, this fragrance comes from recycling wreaths with home-made edible ornaments for the birds.

Each flower looks like a ballerina. In my mind, the imaginary skirt twirls as it emits the sweet scent of winter.

As I wander down by the woods line, I lift my nose there is a faint sweet smelling scent. A scent that in some circles is known as “Sweet Breath of Spring” or “Kiss Me At The Gate”. In other circles it is known as January Jasmine or Chinese Honeysuckle. When I lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, we called it “Winter Honeysuckle”.

Botanically speaking, it is “Lonicera fragrantissima”. A honeysuckle with the sweetest scent in the middle of winter. This shrub has an expected height and girth of 6 – 10 feet. Great for those who have space, as every branch that touches the ground takes root. If you are considering a shrub that will create a thicket if left alone, the added value of this shrub is the scent.

This scent would waft through the air as I walked past the downtown train station in Fredericksburg. In a neglected corner, this shrub did not look like much. We often forgot to water it, yet the sweet scent it shared was one of forgiveness. We could see passersby looking around in wonderment as they tried to figure out where the scent was coming from.

Left on it’s own devices, Winter Honeysuckle can become gangly in appearance. Full or part sun, it will only require moderate water to survive. A decent pruning after bloom will keep this shrub happy and healthy as it flourishes in the landscape.

The pale pink, almost white sheath holds the subtly sweet scent of winter.

The delicate bulb like buds are held tight on each limb. Covered in a sheath of soft pink, a gentle squeeze of these buds, tickle your sense of smell. Perfect for cutting and placing in your vase of choice, Winter Honeysuckle branches add a sweet scent to the air. Although some consider this a thug shrub, placed properly it has value in the landscape.

When there is nothing else in bloom, try Winter Honeysuckle. Whether it is in the ground or in a vase, it is sure to brighten up any gray winter day!!

The scent of Winter Honeysuckle dances in the air on slippers of gold…only in my mind.

I hope you add a bit of fragrance to your world as we continue nesting til Spring!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

To find out more about this fragrant shrub, click here.

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MANTS50 – A Family Affair Continues To Grow

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MANTS50 – The Mid-Atlantic Nursery and Trade Show is fifty years young and is here to lead the industry into the future.

MANTS50 was the start of the 2020 garden season for many in the horticulture industry.

What is MANTS?

MANTS incorporated in 1970 and is known as the Mid-Atlantic Nursery and Trade Show. It is a tradeshow that brings the Horticultural Industry together in January for networking and sharing their products. Initially, there were only 64 exhibitors. Now there are 950+ exhibitors and over 11,000 paid registrants. This is an event where the attendees know MANTS means BUSINESS.

Valerie Akehurst Finney, daughter of Carville M. Akehurst, first Executive Vice President of MANTS.

I had the opportunity to speak with Valerie A. Finney, Executive Vice President. What an honor for this wonderful woman to take time to share a few memories with me.

Who sponsors MANTS?

Each of the states where MANTS has held a trade show sponsors MANTS. The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA), Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (VNLA)and the West Virginia Nursery & LandscapeAssociation (WVNLA).

How is the Akehurst family an integral part of MANTS?

Carville M. Akehurst was her father. He was a horticulturist and native of Baltimore. A partner in the family business, Akehurst Nurseries, Mr. Akehurst was active in many different horticulture associations and became the Executive Secretary of the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association. Becoming Executive Vice President of what is now known as the Mid-Atlantic Nursery and Trade Show, Mr. Akehurst was integral in the successful growth of the show.

What a way to honor the memory of her father, by staying involved.

What are the top reasons you feel people in the trade attend MANTS50?

Participants attend to see new products and services and engage in commerce by purchasing what is needed;

Network and forge new relationships;

Maintain and continue traditional business opportunities;

Convening in January, MANTS50 means Business!

What is the value of attending MANTS50?

Professional networking is key at MANTS. The social advantages are determined by each registrant. Remembering coming to MANTS as a child with her father, Valerie Finney has seen vendors come as first-timers and grow year by year. Familiar vendors who have aged over the years are like family. This tradeshow allows in-real-life connectivity of people to people.

Moving from Williamsburg, Cockeysville, Maryland, Hunt Valley, West Virginia and Norfolk, MANTS found a home in Maryland. MANTS has developed a commitment to the City of Baltimore that extends beyond the Show floor. There is a waiting list of vendors who would like to exhibit at MANTS. Currently, the show floor is at capacity. MANTS has vendors from the USA, Canada, Europe, and other global connections as well.

What changes have you noticed over the years?

MANTS50 in 2020 is a defining year for MANTS. Fifty years is a long time and being relevant is a big deal. MANTS is here for the longterm. Even with technology, it is hard to buy a plant or heavy equipment sight unseen. Meeting with the vendors in person provides an opportunity to cultivate a relationship. As the industry evolves, the bond grows and becomes a partnership over time.

A few MANTS banners over the years. Hard to believe it is MANTS50!

What is the most exciting thing you have noticed about the future of horticulture as it relates to MANTS50?

The emerging base. There is an increase of young professionals that are registering and attending each year. The current multigenerational groundswell of attendees means that the interest in horticulture is not waning. Interest in horticulture is growing. We have to harness that interest and make certain that it continues to grow. The future of MANTS will diversify as it embraces technology, new plants, and innovative horticultural services.

A MANTS50 phone holder was the perfect take away to remember another great year at MANTS!

Press Breakfast Nuggets

I listened to more memories at the MANTS50 Press Breakfast. Fletch Flemer, Ingleside Nurseries, Robin Rinaca, Eastern Shore Nursery of VA, Danny Shreckhise, Shreckhise Nurseries, and Ed Tankard, Tankard Nurseries each shared memories of MANTS.

The noticeable differences in how the show was and what the show has become, is amazing. One of the differences included less small private nurseries and more large corporations. There are more women decision-makers in the industry. Flowering products and technology have become integral components of a successful show as well.

The moderator, William Verbrugge, Nursery Sales Association collectively shared thoughts on what lies ahead. A few items he pointed out were the need to offer scholarships to encourage the next generation to pursue horticulture as a profession, and the need for public spaces to educate the consumer. Garden communicators can help do this and more. MANTS is a vehicle that helps us write the stories for the seasons ahead.

Why MANTS?

People in the horticulture industry value MANTS. It is like a winter family reunion. After a year filled with challenges and climate change, we can all use a break. As we anticipate the next season, this opportunity to network, grow your business and see what is new comes at the right time!

MANTS starts our year out right!!

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Stillness in Winter – A Gift to The Gardener

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Stillness in winter is perfect for autumnal tasks.

When the air is crisp and the leaves are falling leaf removal is on our mind. Which is why autumn in winter is a gift for this gardener. The stillness of winter beckoned me to see what I could get done on a warm December day.

My stool and the Women’s Work gauntlet gloves are today’s garden essentials.

I gathered the necessary tools to not work but linger in the garden on my own terms. None of my neighbors were outside enjoying the stillness of the day. The birds were chirping, dogs barking and I was alone to commune with nature. I reached into my curbside flowerbed and gently lifted the leaves. Away from the crowns, from in between the foliage, I tossed them to the curb. Tossing over my shoulder, the acorns which were trying to take root, landed softly on the growing pile. Noone heard this but me, in the stillness of a winter day.

GIFTS BENEATH THE LEAVES

The single dandelion boldly blooming, despite the season.

I chose to linger in certain spots because of the gifts that continually appeared as I sorted through the leaves. The bold bloom of a dandelion, with basal foliage peeking from beneath a clump of yarrow. Often under-appreciated, the dandelion brings so much to the garden. This gift, considered a weed to some, a plant many people abhor, desperately attempted to eradicate by others, is actually good for the pollinator community. Did you now that bees and birds love dandelions?? Dandelions are a terrific source of nectar and pollen for hungry bees and pollinators. Who knew that such a gift could be found when venturing outside in the stillness of a warm winter day.

Peony tips easing through the soil like a rocket preparing for launch.

Gently running my hands over the surface of the soil, I felt a bump that jarred my memory. A peony root, planted with a kiss for good luck, had survived. One stalk emerged and one leaf spoke to the strength of the root. There was no bloom, but this tip emerging from the chosen spot gives me hope. I hope that this year, I might get two leaves.

Tree peonies are such tough friends in the garden.

I paused and strolled over to my garden heroes. The tree peonies trampled by roofers last year were beginning to swell. My heart, melting in the stillness of this moment, was a bit overwhelmed. These ladies bring a bodacious bloom as they lift their heads and dance in the breezes of Spring. In African American folklore, peony seeds were given to those who are indecisive about something. In my garden, it offers a brief moment of bloom after a winter thaw.

The False Indigo pods have a beauty and music of their own.

What is that I hear? A subtle rattle disrupts the quiet in my garden as I brush past the Baptisia, also known as False Indigo. The blackened pods hold seeds that create music, which disrupts the stillness of the moment. I gather a handful of stems and shake them as I dance my way to the pile of garden debris. The joy of peace and quiet of the garden in the stillness of winter never ceases to amaze me.

The hosta stalks have a similar song…like a soft tap dance on the leaves below.

GARDEN LOSS

This Pieris Japonica will be missed next Spring.

Loss in the garden is an expected reality. We can appreciate this act of life and consider it an opportunity. To remember and replace with something different or similar. The Pieris Japonica will be a memory and instead of replacing it, I will allow the azaleas to spread in girth and close the gap.

Winter allows us to spend quality time in the garden. The quiet time which allows us to remember the summer garden party and embrace the absence of the same. The stillness found in winter is a special gift to the gardener.

Do you appreciate winter’s warm days? Is walking through the garden and assessing future changes a task you enjoy? Does the stillness of winter encourage you to go outside and embrace the beauty that surrounds you??

Celebrating finding stillness a gift,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Autumn Bliss in Delaware Gardens

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Autumn beauty at the Delaware Botanic Garden…a long-awaited visit to the latest botanic garden on the East Coast.

Autumn is a season I look forward to every year. The heat of this summer made me realize that some features of my garden need to be reconfigured. Autumn tells a special garden story. The success or failure of certain plants becomes quite visible. The gardens I recently visited in Delaware were inspirational and instilled a sense of hope for next year’s garden.

Members and friends of GardenComm – Region II recently ventured to Delaware and explored several select gardens. John Boggan, Region II member, curated a day in Delaware featuring various gardens for a taste of autumn near the shore. It was a beautiful day to escape and enjoy gardens anywhere. I missed the first garden filled with annuals and tropicals in a planned golf course community. The second stop of the day at the Delaware Botanic Garden at Pepper Creek is where I met the group.

AUTUMN AT DBG

The Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek have been the talk of the horticultural community. Located in Dagsboro, Delaware, the latest Botanic garden on the East coast offers five different garden rooms to inspire all who visit.

Raymond J. Sander, President of DBG Board of Directors welcomed us and answered as many inquiries as possible about the beginnings of the garden as well as the mission.

The mission of the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek is to create a world-class, inspirational, educational public garden in southern Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of all. One can only envision the future of this garden and the effect it will have on the landscapes of the future.

THE GARDEN ROOMS

Brian Trader was our official tour guide as we wandered about the property and embracing autumnal bliss.

Brian Trader escorted our group through the five gardens found at the Delaware Botanic Gardens. The Meadow Garden is a design of Piet Oudolf. He is known for his highly acclaimed naturalistic landscapes around the world. What an honor to visit this special place. This garden is beautiful in every season. Planted with 85% native and pollinator plants, the colors in autumn are just magnificent. A ribbon of soft-toned grasses and perennials danced in the middle of the field.

Autumn ribbons of color grace the landscape at the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.

We visited the Inland Garden which featured plantings that mimicked how the landscape would have appeared many years ago. Karen Steenhoudt explained to us the significance of an Inland garden. We were invited to visit often and see how it continues to evolve.

Signage helped us identify the different areas like the Inland Dune garden.
The Learning Garden, sponsored by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is considered an outdoor classroom. This compliments the Inland Dune garden and has a freshwater pond as well. The perfect demonstration of what the landscape would have looked like over 30,000 years ago.
When visiting the Learning Garden, guests will see nature up close and at the water’s edge so to speak.
The Folly Garden offered a sense of whimsy. A wrought-iron gate was left standing where it was used as an entrance years ago. The homestead is long gone. Bricks found on the property lined the walkways.
A crevice garden is also found in the folly Garden. Even in autumn, crevice gardens intrigue and excite me.

The Woodland Edge Garden featured a branch border. Branches from the trees along the way are used to define the pathways. There were benches along the way for pausing and just enjoying the view.

The views of Pepper Creek leaves visitors wanting to return. Membership, as well as donations, are needed to keep this vision alive. Funding will allow development to continue.

The Woodland Gardens offered the familiar sounds of nature. From the whisper of the wind to the chirping of the birds…serenity was all around us. Oversized manmade nests were tucked among the trees. Educational whimsy created smiles in our group. Imagine 12 acres in its native state. With vernal pools edged with ferns, tall native coastal trees and more. There is a lot to envision and explore.

One of the coolest things was the nest. It was HUGE!! The entire group gathered inside one for a photo. As the twigs breakdown and return to the soil, one could consider this a living earth science space to discover life in the garden. It was amazing!!!
Dotted along the woodland paths, these nests created a stirring in my heart. I could imagine incorporating a small scale nest in my garden. Public gardens are meant to intrigue and inspire!!!

REVISITING NEXT SEASON

This was just the start of a wonderful day in Delaware. Exploring new gardens for inspiration in autumn is refreshing. I highly suggest visiting the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek in any season. Embracing nature and imagining the possibilities of what this site will become is quite intriguing. One of the latest Public Gardens that will educate and inspire all who visit.

Find out more information about the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek by clicking here

Wondering how Piet Odoulf has designed and touched the world of horticulture and landscapes around the world, click here

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Paw Paws and Edible Landscaping

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Paw Paws and edible landscaping are quite popular. Paw Paws are also known as Asimina triloba, a small deciduous tree native to the eastern U.S. and Canada. They produce a large, yellowish-green to brown fruit. The fruit tastes amazing!!

Paws Paws and the book Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist is a necessity for gardeners everywhere. It is a good thing that I have no room (at the moment) to grow Paw Paw trees. I do have room to practice other things that Michael Judd writes about in this informative book.

WHO IS THIS MICHAEL JUDD?

Michael Judd is a 20+ year practitioner of the art of permaculture and ecological design. His projects demonstrate how we can include diversity in our landscapes naturally. Michael is the founder of Ecologia, Edible & Ecological Landscape Design and Project Bona Fide. This project is an international non-profit that supports agro-ecology research. Michael has brought attention to food security across the world.

Originally from the lower part of Appalachia, Michael grew up just outside of Washington, DC. Everyone had backyard gardens and native trees could be found in the wild. At 23 years of age and a bit of traveling, Michael realized his calling to teach permaculture far and wide. This man knows his stuff!

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING WITH A PERMACULTURE TWIST

Need guidance for creatively enhancing your landscape? Considering adding a bit of food to the garden? What about using your garden debris to enhance the existing soil? This IS the book for you. From start to finish, Michael manages to engage the reader and provide basic instruction for the DIY person.

The Chapter on Rainwater harvesting, Swales and Rain Gardens is very important. With the lack of rain, yellowing plants, and high water bills, we need these garden must-haves NOW. Other chapters include topics like Food Forests, Earthen Ovens, Fungi and more.

The Herb Spiral is aesthetically pleasing and is a great way to enhance the garden year-round.

One of my favorite chapters was the one on Herb Spiral, The Ultimate raised bed. This will be my first project from this book and I can’t wait! The benefits of creating a Herb Spiral are many. It is a space saver, easy to water, raised planting bed of sorts. Herb spirals create a micro-climate for growing and lessens the need to bend over.

As I am aging, the Herb spiral is an ideal idea for these reasons and more. Did you know you do NOT need a dedicated place in the garden for an herb spiral? You can build this on a patio or any solid surface. With some granite blocks, cardboard, and soil/compost mix, a spiral can be built. I dare say there is ALWAYS a creative way to garden. Michael Judd proves this with the Herb Spiral.

The other intriguing chapter features how to build a Hugelkultur. Considered to be mounds of fertility, they just make sense.

Hugelkultur. I bet you can’t say that ten times really fast, but I bet you can follow the easy instruction found in this book.

Hugelkultur benefits will outweigh the comments from your uninformed neighbors. Top-notch water retention, warm soil, and a creative way to build the soil are just a few benefits. Recycling organic matter in place (I LOVE THIS), and bending over less, just imagine!

By imitating the forest floor, a hugelkultur makes use of woody material found in the garden. The retention of moisture allows debris to decay, which feeds the nutrient cycle and any plants that are nearby. This just makes sense right?? The taller the hugelkultur, the better. A one-foot hugelkultur will turn a difficult area into a retreat for your plant material. Some of my plants that did not survive the drought will help start my first hugelkultur. What a great idea for anyone.

For those of us who are beyond the cutting and hauling away stage of life, what a dream project!

ABOUT THOSE PAW PAWS…

Signage the greeted attendees of the PawPaw Festival held at Ecologia in Frederick, Maryland. A perfect setting for Paw Paws and Edible landscaping.

After visiting one of the largest Paw Paw growers in Westminster, Maryland, Michael began growing Paw Paws locally. On September 21, 2019, I attended the Long Creek Annual Paw Paw Festival. I had the opportunity to taste the different cultivars of Paw Paw. One of the first things I took advantage of was sampling Susquehanna, Shenandoah, Alleghany, and Rappahannock Paw Paws. Each cultivar was served in chunks at the entrance to the festival. All of them were different in taste and soothing to the tongue. I cannot remember which one was more appealing to me. I was on a mission to find the Paw Paw ice cream. A little cream, little milk, and some sugar make this ice cream a delicious treat on a hot September day.

Believe me…the Paw Paw ice cream was delicious. I even shared it with my little friend!

There were many vendors at this Paw Paw Festival…

Swallowtail Forest Farm had some fresh-picked tomatoes, peppers, a few cuttings of Elderberry plants, and fresh flowers. He was sold out of Paw Paw seedlings.
In a child-friendly environment, the perfect playground had been arranged for the children to play safely and freely. This just warmed my heart.
Between tours of the site, Michael Judd donning sharp glasses and a distinctive hat. He answered questions on paw paws and edible landscaping.

I tasted two types of pureed paw paw with maple syrup on bread cooked in an on-site earthen oven. Instructions to build an earthen oven can be found in Michael Judd’s book. There was also a gourmet sampler from Acornucopia & Sylvan Canopy. I tasted Acorn shortbread, persimmon, roasted chestnuts, cheese, and sorghum. Some of the food was delicious, while others were a bit interesting. I should have tried the pizza as well.

I highly suggest reading this book. Consider Edible Landscaping With A Permaculture Twist, if you love paw paws, or if you want to surprise a gardener. This wonderful human called Michael Judd is sharing and showing us the way to creatively curated edible landscapes!

To find out more about Ecologia, Edible & Ecological Landscape Design, click here

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