Did you know gardening may add years to your life? There may be a tie to long life and gardening - according to an article published on realage.com. The article references a book by Dan Buettner The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Apparently, people in Okinawa who actively garden have some of the longest lifespans in the world. Food for thought. (more…)...
Today the beautiful pear tree in my front yard cracked into three pieces. Very sad -it provided many hours of pleasure & shade. So far, in the backyard, one pear tree limb cracked off, but the rest of the tree looks okay. We will cut the branches as best we can today, wait until a thaw to remove the stump and most likely save the branches for firewood.
When the branches cracked under the weight, the sound was incredible. I thought there had been a major collision in front of my home! But no, it was the tree splintering. It was, to say the least, and impressive amount of noise. But the second and third time I knew what it meant, and it saddened me to hear the tree dying from the storm.
Here are some pictures of the tree throughout the day: (more…)...
Today means snow, ice & sleet. Ice storms coat the branches of trees and look very much like crystal. Beautiful, but often hard on the plants. The weight of the ice can break branches. Still, beautiful to look at. From inside a warm house. : )
This storm had snow first. Then sleet and rain which froze. Now we anticipate more snow. Like a winter sandwich of sorts. The snow protects the plants a bit - it actually has to be a little warmer to snow. And the snow is rich in nitrogen, meaning healthier soil for the spring thaw.
So for now, I plan my garden for next year....
Did you know that snow provides vital nitrogen to your soil? My cousin Mike tells me this is common wisdom among farmers. Not only does the snow protect the ground, provides water for birds and animals, it carries nutrients for the soil to repair itself and prepare for spring....
To gardeners in zones with winter frosts and freezes, fall means lots of work and preparation for a healthy and spectacular spring garden. The drier days and cooler nights give the ideal combination for your yards and gardens to rest up for growth in the spring. (Gardeners in more moderate climates prepare as well.)
Here are the top tasks for my backyard: (more…)...
