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Dove On Sustainable Landscaping

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Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States: The Guide to Creating a Sustainable Landscape [Book]
Tony Dove, Local Horticulturlist has written a guide that makes sustainable gardening educational and fun!
“Sustainable Landscaping with Tony Dove” should have been the title of a book I recently read. The Guide to Creating a Sustainable Landscape Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States by Tony Dove and Ginger Woolridge is a necessity for the bookshelf. Interested in selecting and growing the right tree or shrub for the Eastern Unites States? This book is a terrific resource to have on hand. I cannot fathom renovating my landscape without utilizing the knowledge and experience found in this book.

THE AUTHORS 

Who is this Tony Dove? A local gentleman inspired to garden at the side of his grandfather. One could say it all started with a seed. The curiosity of how things grow encouraged Tony to further his education. 60 years of growing in the Eastern United States has allowed Tony to create a rewarding career. With his experiences at London Town and Gardens, Tryon Palace, North Carolina and the Clark Botanical Garden in New York, Mr. Dove is currently the Chief Horticulturist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. He is also a member of The Association of Garden Communicators.

This book would not be complete without the expertise of Ginger Woolridge. With a solid background of many years in the industry, focusing on landscape design and editorial consulting, Ginger’s touch was added to every chapter.

This team of caring, sustainable landscaping inspired individuals created an easy to read and digest toolkit in book form. Focusing on trees and shrubs commonly and not so commonly found in natural settings.

A FEW DETAILS 

Written in a way that most people can understand, the book also has user-friendly sections. The art of understanding site and growing conditions of native trees and shrubs is the first Chapter. This book is written to encourage success in the landscape.

Do you understand the importance of Primary trees and shrubs? Do you know what they are or what their attributes are? If you had this book, I almost guarantee your forest bathing experience would have a different meaning.

THE HELP 

Recently a client shared with me that his Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) had yellowing leaves. I was able to share a bit of “Doveness” as I turned to pages 165 – 167.  Information like the attributes in the landscape, seasons of interest, form, color, USDA growing zone, texture, and culture was all there. Pictures of bloom, cultivated varieties and information on companion planting are available to the reader. This helps the reader to identify the tree or shrub.

The team of Tony Dove and Ginger Woolridge make creating a sustainable landscape a delightfully educational experience. This kind of expertise in book form is certainly a gift. When it is curated by a local horticulturist, it is even better.

 

 

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John O’Donohue – Words on Beauty Applied to The Garden

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John O’Donohue writes about Beauty – one of my favorite words. I heard a quote by Mr. O’Donohue one day which encouraged me to find out why his words touched my soul. The Invisible Embrace Beauty – Rediscovering The True Sources of Compassion, Serenity, and Hope. As I observe the beauty that surrounds us in the garden, hearing other perspectives on this topic interests me.

John O’Donohue is a philosophical theologian who has authored several books . Two of his books are International Best Sellers “Anam Cara” and “Eternal Echoes“. I will definitely find time to read these books as well.

At the beginning of this book “The Call of Beauty”, Chapter 1, Mr. O’Donohue writes, “When we devote some calm time to the heart and come off the treadmill of stress and distraction we can enter into the beauty within.  Each of us can prepare for that inner arrival: where ‘night holds sway” and the inner forest becomes “free of strangers”. Let this sink in a moment.

I embrace going into my garden or any garden when it is “free of strangers”. Early morning or at dusk is when I find the garden in its most beautiful state. Perhaps it is the quiet, still aura that envelopes the space. I can take my time and discover the phases of each and every bloom. There are sometimes when the finished bloom strikes me as an elegant version of the initial blossom. This word beauty has many definitions in life, just as in the garden.

Mr. O’Donohue’s words allowed me to see the garden in a different way. Observing the many phases of the artichoke’s beauty from beginning to the delicate aging process. Aging…never the ending..

Mr. O’Donohue goes on to write, “When we walk on the earth with reverence, beauty will decide to trust us. Beauty is mysterious, a slow presence who waits for the ready, expectant heart”. I have a hard time rushing through the garden – any garden. For when one pauses, the heart of the garden, the beauty of the garden will wrap its arms around and embrace you. The garden should never be rushed through. It should be savored so that an imprint sinks in and lingers in one’s soul.

I am sure that Mr. O’Donohue ha no idea of how his words can be applied to the Gardener. When words are really read for comprehension, it is amazing how they apply to our passions. I reach out to touch, smell and admire the garden, in its many stages of growth. It fills my heart and I tend to linger, to perhaps catch the ongoing evolution. Alas, it takes time…that I do not always have.

The Joy Of Shapes That Dance is the title of Chapter 5. “…the wisdom of a river has much to teach us”, Mr. O’Donohue writes. Have you ever paused beside a stream or a pond to watch how the water glides past protruding rocks? How the ripples dance throughout the pebbles in the river bed or fall over a waterfall? If you look at the path the water takes, the shapes formed in the water are a gentle act of grace….like a dance. Always different, never the same as in our life gardens.

To some, this would be a castaway. I see the beauty of an almost finished bloom, not willing to fall apart just yet. Mr. O’Donohue shares wisdom on The Beauty of The Flaw.

Chapter 8, The Beauty of the Flaw, I am sure was the reason I was led to this book. One segment in this chapter was called “To Create Beauty Out of Woundedness”. Mr. O’Donohue writes that when we explore our lives through creative expression we make discoveries.

When I lost my Dad, I was devastated. The garden reminded me that he was not on this earth to share news about the latest plant, book or tool.  Dad was no longer here pause after every gardening event to see him cling on my every word about my experience. Having that Father-Daughter relationship was gone…or so I thought. Mr. O’Donohue reminded ME  with these words, “Beauty is not all brightness”.

While this wound of loss was in the process of healing, I discovered a lot about who I am. I learned about the things I cherish and why I choose to linger when I encounter all things beautiful. Those moments are fleeting and beauty today, will be different tomorrow. Knowing my Dad is not in pain and is at rest is a different kind of beauty. It allows me to go into the garden and feel the presence of my Ancestors appreciating each and every bloom.

The perspective of Mr. O’Donohue’s thoughts should be read and interpreted on an individual basis. I recommend this book to any looking for a different perspective. The words just might creatively heal the spirit.

To find out more John O’Donohue

 

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Hydrangeas – Success With Hydrangeas

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Success With Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas come in many colors. I adore them in pink!

Hydrangeas are such beautiful shrubs and it is easier to understand them than we think. Success With Hydrangeas by Lorraine Ballato is by far THE necessary tool required for anyone who loves Hydrangeas. The task of having a successful garden season is easier with Hydrangeas that are cared for properly from start to finish.

Lorraine Ballato, a hydrangea lover, residing in Connecticut really knows her stuff! She has broken down the mystery of why certain hydrangeas are called macro, petiolaris, Querci, paniculate or serrata. Most people go to the store and are not quite sure what they are getting into. The longstanding and eternally asked question is simple – “Can I prune it now? I am certain that almost every garden center has had this question by now. SPOILER ALERT – If you are on the East Coast and know what type of Hydrangea you are growing…wait until May 15th to be safe.

The unopened but swelling buds, add to the intrigue of the beauty of a bodacious bloom.

As Lorraine points out in the chapter on pruning, the gardener must know the type and bloom time prior to pruning. Mindlessly pruning can be the cause of lack of blooms on older cultivars. There are many new options available that bloom on new wood prolifically. This is good news for many hydrangea fans. Usually, the greenhouse grown, bloom forced hydrangeas which are found in many stores are difficult to re-bloom. Sometimes with a lot of coaxing, this might happen.

I love bodacious hydrangea blooms. The kind of blooms that are larger than life. My Quercifolia “Alice” is the Queen f my hydrangea row. I only prune it so I can meander down the pathway. I keep her feet covered with shredded leaves and quench her thirst with grey water. Alice has withstood everything a harsh, zone 6b, dry winter has offered. In spite of this, her candelabra tips are signaling another year of bodacious 12-inch blooms. I cannot wait.

In chapter 3 – Troubleshooting Hydrangea problems was quite informative. Using the photos found in this book as a guide, Lorraine has made it quite easy to identify common hydrangea issues. With the photos, along with suggested methods of treatment, “Success With Hydrangeas – A Gardeners Guide” is a great book to have on hand. As in any garden, good garden hygiene goes a long way in preventing damage or loss of a favored shrub.

A clear leaf like this of the Oakleaf hydrangea means that there are no diseases present. This is a good thing.

Another favorite part of this book was Chapter 9. When it comes to propagating to make more of this garden gem, I am all ears. I have a hydrangea that my mother wanted me to have. By laying a stone on a low-lying branch of one of my favorite ‘, by the end of the summer, we had a new plant. This was one of the last things my mom did for me as a gift from her garden to mine.

Whether flanking a doorway, gracing the edge of a woodland walk or simply in a garden plot, Hydrangeas can be grown successfully…with a few tips from Lorraine Ballato.

I want to say Thank You to Lorraine for donating two signed copies of her book to a Seed Swap I co-sponsored in February. After really delving into her tips, I know that the recipients of her book are going to have absolutely beautiful this year. Thank you, Lorraine!

Success With Hydrangeas – A Gardener’s Guide – If you Love Hydrangeas.

The acidity of the soil can change the color of the bloom. Hydrangeas in any color make such a great bold statement in the garden!
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Book Review – The Budget-Wise Gardener

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The Budget-Wise Gardener by Kerry Ann Mendez is like having a best friend on the bookshelf!

“The Budget-Wise Gardener” With Hundreds Of Money Saving Buying & Design Tips for Planting the Best for Less by Kerry Ann Mendez is a mouthful – but worth having on your bookshelf.

Kerry Ann Mendez, I am asking, ‘Can we just be best friends?’ This book actually spells out how to have a beautiful garden on a budget. We can all use constructive tips to save money no matter if you are a professional or a homeowner with a big dream. When the official gardening season starts our ideas never seem to match up with our “in real life” budgets. The Budget-Wise Gardener teaches the reader how to have that dream garden without breaking the bank.

Starting in Chapter 1 – How to Score Great Plants For Less…or for Free, who would NOT want to find out how to do this???  The planting season can prove to be a costly proposition to some. Often we spring for the high dollar plant and try to patiently wait for a sale. Kerry Ann instructs the reader in the art of saving money and then breaks it down by plant class –  perennials, annuals, biennials, grasses, bulbs, trees and even shrubs. I am not going to give any of these tips away because, the money you will save is enough to buy this book. Kerry Ann’s tips are tested and proven, so there is a form a science in the at of Budget-Wise gardening.

Other chapters include “Plant Sources and Treasure Maps”, “Regal Containers on A Dollar Store Budget” and my favorite, “Design Secrets that Save Money and Time”. Why is this my favorite chapter??  I am busy working full-time, writing part-time and gardening part-time. I want my gardens to be self sustainable. The need for beautiful gardens all the time or as much as possible is real. I am a firm believer in Xeric landscaping and meadows. Kerry Ann discusses Xeric Gardens and The Right Size Meadow in the design chapter. For those that do not know, Xeric is a Greek word that means “dry”. Choosing the correct plants and considering natives can be the answer to seasonal beauty. Most native plants have the ability to withstand drought and less than perfect soil. The author also shares the secrets to the everlasting beauty in the gravel gardens at Chanticleer (mentioning Chanticleer is the quickest way to my heart!) Two categories of plants make this garden a perennial success – ‘re-seeders’ and ‘plants that stay in place’. Who knew that this was one of the secrets to a budget-wise garden?

The Right Size Meadow garden  – how can the average homeowner achieve a meadow like effect that is voluptuous in bloom??  Following the tried and true tips on page 128, you will be the talk of the neighborhood. Your neighbors will want to know what kind of budget it will take for them to create their dream garden. With a sustainable garden on a budget you can sit back and smile or take a walk to say ‘Hi Neighbor’ while they are weeding away.

Kerry Ann, seriously, ‘Can we just be friends?’  Suggesting creative planters and options for plant combinations to show off your budget-wise savvy is so smart. Offering criteria for planter success and end of season storage is the perfect way to end this book.

If you are looking for an easy to read, information over loaded book that will make you the envy of your neighborhood – this is the book for you!

St. Lynne’s Press you have done it again by publishing such an awesome book for gardeners of all levels.

 

 

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The Spirit of Stone by Jan Johnsen

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I consider it a privilege to review the words of those that I admire. One person that I truly admire, as her words speak to my core is Jan Johnsen. In her latest book, The Spirit of Stone – 101 Practical & Creative Stonescaping Ideas for Your Garden (St. Lynn’s Press), I found myself quite emotional at her use of pictures, words, logic, and lists. This little book is chock full of digestible, informative as well as practical information for the homeowner, as well as the landscape designer or visionary of personal green space.

As with any book, I have my favorite chapters. Chapter Five – Garden Steps Steal the Show, was truly an inspirational favorite.  From boulders to slabs, from round steps to invite to grass treads, Jan discusses, in a user-friendly way how to install, how to consider safety and how garden steps can enhance any landscape.   I am a fan of grass treads and from the photo’s Jan chose as examples of this application, I know why.

Using quotes throughout the book allows one to reflect while reading to consider the knowledge shared on previous pages and to look forward to more. With Jan Johnsen at the pen, the more is always something to further touch your soul.  Like in the beginning of Chapter 4, I got a bit choked up after reading this wonderful quote by Thich  Nhat Hanh…

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet”

In this Chapter, Jan discusses The Many Faces of a Stone Walk. I can say that two of the photos in this chapter are quite familiar to me.  The walkway at the unites States Botanic Gardens, as well as the walkway at Chanticleer.  Jan emphasizes that walkways, as well as the contents of the garden, speak to us. They affect the feel of the garden, our pace through the garden and welcomes us into the garden. The types of stone affect’s our spirit as we move through or pause in the garden.  Who would have thought that stone accents, borders or pathways, could compliment and affect a garden, depending on how it is used?

Jan Johnsen gifts the reader at the end of her book with an entire chapter on types of plants for specific applications when using stone. Plants that drape to caress, plants that can be used in cracks and crevices, plants that accent are included on this well-constructed list.  An additional gift is a listing of public places where one can see and experience, how stone can affect the spirit of a garden. As usual, Jan Johnsen did not disappoint but instead inspired this gardener to continue to experiment with stone on walkways, in the midst of the garden or as a temporary piece of art in the garden.

The Spirit of Stone by Jan Johnsen – Thank you St. Lynn’s Press for the opportunity to review another well written inspirational and informational book for gardeners of any level.

Click here to find out more about Jan Johnsen

Click here to find out more about St. Lynn’s Press

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