Well, I just read the book and now feel like every time I eat any “animal based protein” I’m poisoning myself. Colin Campbell’s The China Study is full of testing evidence: on rats, mice and people. And it’s all spread out over more than 30 years. His story is compelling and really seems to make sense.
Think Centennial Ave. will be ready for the Horribles Parade?
Centennial Ave Gloucester MA
One of my favorite “vignettes” in the spring garden: False Indigo, also known as Baptisia (Amorpha fruticosa) is in the foreground with catmint (Nepeta × faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ ) in the background.
Five huge Lindens (large leaf, Tilia platyphyllos) came down on Centennial Ave. on Monday. North Shore Arborist (John Collins) did the work quickly and efficiently. What a huge crane they used! The operator was so skilled. One false move and he could have been electrocuted on the power lines 12 feet to his left! The operation had to begin after 8AM and be finished by 2PM to accommodate the high school traffic. I found it so fascinating to watch the coordination of the equipment and the skill of the arborist, John Collins. I could have watched for hours, but that wouldn’t pay the mortgage! The photo album will give you some idea of the magnitude of this operation. Looking forward it would be great to see these trees replaced with smaller species that don’t break up the sidewalks, garbage up the streets and still frame and soften the street landscape and waterscape. Two good reference’s for these choices can be found thanks to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston and the New York Parks Department.
I planted my canna lily plants about a month ago. Of course I’ve been looking only every (sometimes 2x a day) day (for 3 weeks at least) for evidence of their growth. Then one morning I saw it! However, I have never seen anything like this before. Don’t even know if this happened overnight or more gradually then that. I know the canna gets much larger then the salvia harmonium, it grew through. I think the canna lily is going to win this one, but who knows what will happen next? Stay tuned, I know it will be hard to sleep, but I will keep you updated 
The calendar says it is spring. Some days it is is the high forties. Sometimes, I even think all the snow is melted. The truth is I have to look really hard to see any evidence of spring. This weekend, I noticed the lilac buds greening up. Last week the crocuses were in full bloom and today the rain “smelled” a little warmer. However, my outdoor gardening or “yardening” activities are still pretty limited. I’ll tell you what activities are good to get out of the way now before the real fun begins! How are your privet hedges? Do they need to be shaped, cut back dramatically or pruned to thicken them up? Do it now, before leaf break so all the plants’ energy gets spent on the part of the plant that you really want. You could also fertilizes your privets, after a cutback with some organic fertilizer. Did a trench along the hedgerow as deep as you can, until the roots stop you. You can spread the fertilizer in your mini-trench, (about 2 inches wide. It is a great time to cut back ornamental grasses. I cut back until I reach the part of the plant where it is sprouting green. It is also a great time to seed bare patches of lawn. Do you see the ground cracking and splitting? sprinkle the seed heavily and the ground will actually “suck” the seeds into the frost heaves. I like to seed heavily, since I remember a turf professor at U Mass stating,”seed doesn’t grow on the shelf”. It makes sense to me. How ever if you use the same theory with fertilizer you will sadly regret it! So remember that the “seed heavily” advice applies to grass seed only! It is the right time of the year for soil tests in all your gardens and lawn area. The soil tests will tell you if you need any lime and how much fertilizer to spread according to the “crop” you are planning for a specific area. A soil test will cost you less then $15.00. There are not many bags of fertilizer that inexpensive! Rake out or use a blower to remove any debris from your beds where spring bulbs are planted.In summary: grass seed in the frost heaves, soil tests, cut back the privets and the ornamental grasses and clean out your spring bulb beds. See you out during the next sunny day! Patty
Also on our trip to NYC, we went to the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. It was cold and drisly in the Bronx, but the show was warm and tropical.
Just came in from a long walk. Actually saw 2 robins today. They’re really early though, aren’t they?
Gloucester’s a great place to live but it’s a little harder in the winter as it’s so wet and cold. But we’re lucky to be here.
Irises blooming in November?
It is said that potters and gardeners are alike, in that they both like to get their hands dirty. Come September, I abandon my gardens and head for Cynthia Curtis Pottery and Studio. Pottery is my “crossover” sport for gardening. My personal opinion is that gardening is way easier but on the other (dirty) hand pottery it self, is longer lasting. Here are some pictures from my latest adventures at the pottery studio. Patty
