Posted in Landscape, Lawn on Apr 30th, 2008 No Comments »
Check out this interesting article in the New York Times today about the worldwide shortage of fertilizer for agriculture.
“The Food Chain: Shortages threaten farmers’ key tool, fertilizer”
It’s strange to think that people in many parts of the world are facing malnutrition because crops are suddenly so expensive, in part because of fertilizer prices, and yet the annual spring ritual of fertilizing our lawns is underway in the U.S. … at least in my neighborhood.
Sure, … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden, Lawn on Apr 28th, 2008 No Comments »
One of the best things about being a lawn and garden geek is that you can appreciate a dismal rainy April day. Isn’t today gorgeous?
I enjoyed all that sun, but the tender new grass in my lawn was getting thirsty. Yesterday it was looking a little yellow. And my lettuce didn’t seem to be growing. It was just sitting there. Now it’s so green I can see it from the window — it’s almost glowing!
Love … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden on Apr 24th, 2008 2 Comments »
It’s been a great week for yard work. I’ve miraculously been able to get outside in short bursts — thanks to my mom’s visit and a baby monitor with good range — and it’s been enough to make real progress.
My big project right now is tidying up the gardens in the front of my house. I’ve had a curl of plastic edging getting in the way in the garage since last spring. Yesterday I finally … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Lawn on Oct 3rd, 2007 3 Comments »
I’ve been having an e-mail conversation this week with a Salem, Mass. reader that I just have to share. I thought my clover lawn was going to be controversial, but that’s nothing compared to this.
I keep everyday Fescue in my front yard (along with crabgrass, of course), but in the far back, where the terrain is a bit uneven, I would LOVE to plant some ornamental grasses, or even broomcorn. These would retain the soil, … continued »
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Posted in Landscape on Sep 4th, 2007 No Comments »
I’m not the only one who’s been startled by a giant wasp nest this summer. Here’s an e-mail I got from a reader named Scott in Newburyport, Mass.
Hi - I think it’s a good year for these guys. Last weekend I was sitting on a rock down by the ocean near Halibut Point State Park in Gloucester. After hours on my towel, I got ready to leave, and saw a huge wasps’ nest about … continued »
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Posted in Landscape on Aug 29th, 2007 No Comments »
As you’ll see in this week’s Yard Dirt column, “Stirring up a hornets’ nest in the backyard,” we’ve had a little adventure with wasps.
Here’s a visual retelling:
The good news is my sunflowers are blooming.
The bad news is there’s a giant hornet nest on the side of the house …
and it’s right at eye-level with the sunflowers.
… continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden on Aug 21st, 2007 No Comments »
My front yard flower garden is full of surprises.
This sunflower popped up out of nowhere among my nasturtium and calendula plants. It must have come from a seed in my homemade compost, which I used to mulch the flowers.
If that’s true, then this is a very significant sunflower. It would have come from the sunflower seeds I used to feed my pet hamster, Chainsaw II, who died about … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden on Aug 17th, 2007 No Comments »
One of the things I love about gardening is that everybody’s garden plot is unique … and yet somehow we end up having the same problems!
Here’s an e-mail I received this week that describes a problem remarkably similar to the one I had at my house last year.
My name is Arletta Fairfield, and I live in Wisconsin, near a little town called Adams Friendship. I have grown morning glories for several years now, plant them … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden on Aug 14th, 2007 No Comments »
I got a lovely phone call yesterday from a woman I used to chat with years ago, back when when I was covering politics in Peabody, Mass.
She wanted to share a tip with all of us. She has discovered, on her four acres in Peabody, that thistle — the prickly weed — is great for attracting goldfinches. In the spring the thistle produces a purple flower on top that the birds pick apart for the … continued »
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Posted in Landscape, Garden, Lawn on Aug 2nd, 2007 No Comments »
I just got a press release that I want to pass along.
I don’t know much about this conference but it looks interesting. If anybody has been before, leave a comment and let us know what you thought about it.
What: Northeast Organic Farming Association 33rd Annual Summer Conference
Where: Hampshire College, Amherst, Mass.
When: Friday, August 10 to Sunday, August 12
* Over 200 workshops, presentations, demonstrations, fun and fascinating activities and entertainment, an Old-Time Country Fair.
* Keynote Addresses … continued »
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