Barking Dog Gardens

Low Effort Garden Topics To Consider During This Heat

So the big Spring rush is over; Everything is settling in for the season. Of course our cooler, overcast Spring has been flipped upside down with two heatwaves in back to back weeks. I love the picture at the top of someone who decided, on the 102º day last week, to cover their exposed macrophyllaContinue reading “Low Effort Garden Topics To Consider During This Heat”

Interesting Nurseries To Buy Plants And Special Public Gardens To Visit In New England

I had a chance to visit Bedrock Gardens two weeks ago for a rare and unusual plant sale. I apologize for not listing it in the previous newsletter, but I only heard of it the day after publishing. Anyway, it’s not like any of you need more new and interesting plants for your garden! There were some great plant growersContinue reading “Interesting Nurseries To Buy Plants And Special Public Gardens To Visit In New England”

Importance Of Properly Watering Your Garden

I am going to apologize for doing this again, but it is critical to continue to have a discussion about ensuring our gardens receive the proper amount of water. Not too much and not too little. Despite my personal desires, and demands to the weather gods, it is clear that we just aren’t going to getContinue reading “Importance Of Properly Watering Your Garden”

Do Your Landscape Projects Right The First Time

There’s never enough time or money to do it right, but there’s always time and money to do it again. This is my interpretation of a favorite quote from the Biggest Little Farm, and it is the topic for an important discussion about performing work in the garden and landscape. One of the joys of myContinue reading “Do Your Landscape Projects Right The First Time”

New England Garden Topics for June

As we enter early Summer, here are some observations for the month. Rhododendrons and other Winter-burned plantsIf you had the patience and didn’t cut back or remove your winter-damaged evergreen plants, you have been rewarded with lots of new growth coming from stems you probably thought were dead. Now is the time we are startingContinue reading “New England Garden Topics for June”

Blue Stem Natives: A Native Only Plant Nursery

I finally had a chance to visit Blue Stem Natives, a native plant nursery in Norwell. I thought it was further away from me, but it took about 40 minutes, outside of rush hour to get there from north of Boston. It is absolutely worth the trip to visit this women-owned, native only nursery. I met Kristen,Continue reading “Blue Stem Natives: A Native Only Plant Nursery”

Perennial Trends and a Native Plant Discussion with Van Berkum Nursery

I had a chance last week to catch up with John Gedraitis, owner of Van Berkum Nursery (VBN) in Deerfield, NH. He was kind with his time during the busy period to talk about what is in demand (and not) and provide some insight into where his operation is going. For some more information about VanContinue reading “Perennial Trends and a Native Plant Discussion with Van Berkum Nursery”

Early Work in the New England Garden

Mulching{Reed places soap box on ground and steps up} It’s Spring again, except for that snow the other day, and it is time for my annual diatribe on Mulch. Here is a link to my comprehensive discussion from last year. I don’t need to repeat or rewrite what is in last year’s discussion, but I do wantContinue reading “Early Work in the New England Garden”

Impact of Weather in the Garden

At some point, if you spend enough time in the garden, you become a geek about something. Maybe you focus on Dahlias, white gardens, composting, propagation, lawn seed varieties, or one of my favorites… Weather. Anyone who has read this newsletter knows that I try to keep everyone up to speed on where we haveContinue reading “Impact of Weather in the Garden”

Damaged Plants After A Cold Winter

I am shocked and sympathizing with all of you over the challenges we are seeing with many plants from the cold weather this Winter, on top of the drought. You may have noticed that some Rhododendrons/Azaleas have not fully come back from their Winter form when the leaves curl up to protect from the cold. SeeContinue reading “Damaged Plants After A Cold Winter”