An Ornamental Grass Story

A story about ornamental grasses. Years ago, a dear friend of mine, Dr. Marc Cathey, took me on a tour of the National Arboretum in Washington DC. We stopped at the New American Garden (long time ago – probably a different name by now). This was when grasses were just beginning to come into vogue in landscapes. He asked me what I thought of them. My honest opinion was I thought they looked rather unkempt. He said we’d sit on the bench overlooking the planting until I developed a better appreciation of them. Miss that man! And I do appreciate them these days – just look around the farm. They’re great for fall and winter interest. Relatively carefree. Drought tolerant. Make great hedges. Birds love the seed heads.

Here’s how we take care of them come spring: Some people use duct tape, but string (baler twine) will do. Just tie or tape the stems together into a bundle, grab your hedge trimmers and cut about 4-6 inches above the ground. Easy clean up. Dr. Cathey would be proud.

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Gardener Gifts

Folks are always asking me about gift ideas for gardeners. Here are some of our must-haves while working in the Greenhouse.

Find a nice durable tote, bucket, or basket that has a handle. Even better if it is mesh or has drainage.
Shop for a set of measuring spoons – plastic works best for measuring fertilizers, etc.
Find some garden twine. I like the kind that comes in a can with a cutter on the top. Can’t get tangled up. Or plastic plant ties. Again…. The kind with a cutter on the package.
Grab a roll of duct tape. Yep, even for gardeners, it’s true. Duct tape fixes a LOT of things.
Find a putty knife. It removes weeds between pavers; gets mud off boots.
Pliers. Cheap ones. They are great for pulling out stubborn weeds. They’re my “go to” for walnut seedlings that appear EVERYWHERE when our resident squirrels can’t remember where they put their winter stash.
Rooting hormone. I can NEVER find that little bottle when I need it.
Insect repellent – one with sunscreen preferably.
Hose washers (at Gary’s request).
Pruners. I like small ones around here. They’re great for deadheading or minor pruning.

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Peanut Butter Bird Feeder

Summer is a great time of year for getting the little ones out of the house and enjoying nature! Here’s a fun cheap and easy project for inviting nature to your backyard.

What you’ll need:

Empty toilet paper rolls
Peanut butter
Bird seed
Butter knife

To make:

Using a butter knife, spread the peanut butter on the outside of the toilet paper rolls. Roll the tubes in the bird seed. Place the tube over a branch on a tree and enjoy watching the birds munch!

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Come visit us this Summer at the farm! We have 30+ family-friendly activities, adorable farm animals, and lots of tasty things to eat.

Rosemary-Infused Housecleaner

Vinegar has been used as a household cleaner for ages. Created by the fermentation of diluted alcohol products, vinegar features an acidity that makes it an amazing cleaner and disinfectant. However, it doesn’t smell that great. Use a few sprigs of rosemary from the garden and some lemon to create a lovely scented homemade cleaner!

You’ll need:

2 sprigs rosemary
Peels of 2 lemons
2 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1 quart jar

To make:

Add all ingredients to your jar and let them rest for 10-14 days in a cool location to let the oils infuse. Once infusion is done, strain your ingredients and put the liquid into a spray bottle. If you prefer, you can keep the lemon and rosemary in the spray bottle.

Note: As with any acidic product, avoid using this cleaner on porous surfaces.

Need rosemary? Pick up a few plants here at the Greenhouse!

Clematis

You know you’re in trouble with a plant right off the bat when you don’t know what to call it! Do you pronounce it Clem-a-tis or Clem-a-tis? Whatever…we all know which plant we’re talking about. Here’s one time tested piece of advice: Keep their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade.

The truth is that clematis like their roots cool and moist, but they grow best in a sunny location. You can accomplish that a number of ways. Place mulch at the base of the plant or plant other perennials that don’t compete (ex. iris aren’t deep rooted). Decorative rocks also help shade the soil.

There are lots of cool varieties in many different colors these days. Heck ,they are even bush cultivars now! No old-fashioned garden is complete without them.

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