Fall Chores, Plain Busy

Monday, September 27, 2010

52° here on the mountain above Peacham Pond. Windless but rain pours off the roof, first as cats and dogs and then as drip-drip-drips. We are sort of in between right now with a gentle cadence of the drops by my office window. We needed rain and I like it more when it comes at night like this. A glance at the weather maps and there's little hope that we'll see sun until Wednesday so tomorrow's plans will need a little rearranging.

As fall arrives and our nursery is pretty much closed for the season, you can quite often find us on our hands and knees planting, weeding, moving--all in preparation for the next season. In today's world, many folks don't know what goes on behind the scenes of any business. Today it was more daylily work. Gail had new areas ready to plant based on varieties that were almost sold out or those which we must double and triple up on for next year. We probably planted 8 varieties today and prepared a similar number for later this week and yet the only one I can remember tonight is Vanilla Fluff. Tired!

With fall comes a self imposed mandate to do some things we want to do after a season that started April 1st and continued seven days a week until Labor Day. These are fun things that might not be too impressive to some but to us they are family oriented, educational, laughter generating, just-plain-fun things.

Last week we got to Burtt's Apple Orchard on Cabot Plains Road, Cabot Vermont. Cabot is the home of Cabot Creamery and some of the best cheese in the world. It's also the Burtt's home and their days of dairy farming have changed to beef cattle and pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, nice winter squash and great sweet corn. We go for their apples. Here are some pictures starting up top with secret (see white) beehives (honey, folks!) behind Macintosh apple trees.

Freedom Apples

Honeycrisp Apples

If you haven't seen state-of-the-art Vermont apple growing, it's worth a visit. Trees are planted 4 foot on center and are tied to 8 foot electrical conduit which floats off a ten foot wire rope kept taut with tensioners that are cranked tight to hold the weight. The tree leaders (think "Trunk") are encouraged to grow tall and the side limbs are trimmed at 3-4 feet wide. The fruit looks burdensome to the branches it is so abundant but this modern growing arrangement really works. Seeing it is easier than trying to figure out my description but eating a Honeycrisp apple is something you have to do personally.

In the next couple weeks things will draw to a close and Columbus Day will be the last day we'll entertain customers or visitors except by special arrangement. We're spending a day up north at the Old Stone House Museum and at a couple historical societies. Another day we'll scoot down to Proctor to see the Marble Museum and quarry, and before the end of October we'll visit Shelburne Museum and see theAnsel Adams and Edward Burtynsky visiting exhibit. Before the snow begins to fly we'll cover a few more back roads as we relax from a busy season. Nothing special, just getting out and seeing part of what makes Vermont so special.

Writing from the mountain where I think I heard thunder over Karl the Wonder Dog's snoring. I think.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter many mornings as vtflowerfarm

Two Men I Met

Saturday, September 18, 2010

34° this morning, windless and dark as a pocket. A week ago today I was standing in front of the hotel deck door looking out at the Atlantic, watching the sun pull itself above the ocean. Less than half a dozen people walked the beach in front of me as the tide went out exposing rocks for the first time in my +25 year visits. Winter had been cruel to the once sandy beach and the ocean's wrath had sucked the sand out to sea and repositioned it somewhere else.

Going to Maine each year is something I have to do. It's as if Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and The Sea rings in my ear and makes strong suggestion to get packing for the ocean. And I do it, but now I lock in the same time every year as it's easier than dealing with reservations and forgetfulness.

People who know me know I am a talker. Gail just laughs, thinking perhaps of the bazillion times she has waited in the car or at a store or place of visit waiting for me to finish a tale and shake hands goodbye. And as difficult as that may be for others, it has always been part of me and has allowed me to meet people and learn their stories as opposed to seeing and forgetting just another passing face. Here are a couple stories of two men I met in Maine. In neither case was I speaking with a gardener but instead I was gardening for new friendships.

As we entered our destination town, we pulled up to a four way stop light in queue. Before I knew it, a man approached the driver's window and suggested I better get off the road as I had a tire in distress. The light changed and I thump-thump-thumped into the first parking lot. For the first time in well over 25 years I was looking at a flatter than flat back tire with a piece of metal protruding from the sidewall. No fix to that one.

In earlier years when tires weren't so strong I had plenty of experience changing flat tires but this was different. The spare and jack were hidden under a trunk full of vacation needs but just the same, within half an hour and a few cuss words we were on on way. I left Gail and Alex at the hotel and left to find a garage. Starting a vacation "spareless" was not my idea of good thinking.

A very nice man, probably a Road Specialist or Tire Technician or Vehicle Movement Director by today's jargon, took my keys and said I was number three as he directed me to the waiting room. It was nice and bright with plenty of windows, a gigantic wall mounted TV and Eddie.

Eddie was a little man, sitting in a chair, half cocked on one arm, with his oxygen tank on his lap and his glassed eyes glued to the TVs story of 9-11. "The country's in bad shape, the worst in my life, and we have to have jobs for people, have to have change." He breathed slowly to let the oxygen work and clearly this was part of his life now. His introduction was not a typical "Hi, how are you doing today? intro but I could tell I would like the man a lot.

As our conversation progressed I found that Eddie had worked the first twenty years of his work life in a tannery. He was certain that the chemicals in the factory dissolved much of his lungs and were responsible for his current condition. Over the next forty minutes we talked about his post-tannery work as a fisherman, the demise of the Maine sardine industry, the impact of foreign fisherman at the 200 mile limit grabbing every fish with a tail, the American fishing quota system, the death of small boat fishermen, fish farms for mussels, a screwed up sea urchin industry, the absence of razor clams, what to do with 200 dogfish in your nets, the warm water temperatures at 30 miles out and his new "job" working for a friend shucking lobsters and picking meat. His friend let him work any hours he felt strong enough to work even if that meant 3 o'clock in the morning. Eddie said he'd clean 25-30 pounds of cooked lobsters and then go home. He was proud to still be working and it was clear that part of what kept him going was lung treatments and picking lobster meat.

When Eddie's car was ready he rose unsteadily from his chair and shook my hand. "This has been a fine conversation. Nice to meet you.", he said. His handshake was not firm but his smile and his thank you will be with me forever. Eddie is part of America.



A couple days later I was sitting outside a fish shack waiting for a take-out order to be cooked. Alex and his autism have difficult sensory issues with eating at restaurants during crowded times so take-out on the deck of the hotel room looking at the ocean and listening to the waves is a therapy that works for all of us. I heard a car door close behind me and an older man, thin and tired looking, right hand and forearm in a red cast, shuffled to the window. "I'll have one scallop dinner--the big one you know--and you do sell with ketchup don't you--"to go" please. His voice was pleasant as he asked the girl to sign his credit card slip. "Fell down and broke my arm and wrist, nothing moves, can't write, please help me, can you?" He finalized the order and sat at a table beside me.

"How you getting along?" I inquired. I quickly got the details of the injury and the fact that he has escaped for a few minutes from home to get some dinner. He is 85 and his wife who is 89 and has Alzheimer's was home with an attendant so he felt he had to rush. Cooking, like signing his name, had become an instant chore with the break but he was in the mood for seafood. I told him I understood that feeling very well.

Our conversation bunny hopped from topic to topic, local stuff, careers, no politics. I mentioned the importance of taking care of his eyesight and keeping his mind active. He responded that his kids had bought him a computer a couple years back and he wrote a book that was now for sale. He was from Drakes Island, just down the road a few miles, and he did a historical sketch of the homes of the area. He was abundantly proud of his accomplishment.

As our orders were ready and we headed to our cars, he showed me a box full of his new book, just available from the printer. He was proud of his accomplishment. We did not shake hands but he thanked me for good conversation. I thanked him for taking good care of his wife and complimented him on how important documenting history is. He smiled and raised his right hand to wave goodbye but his hand did not move far. I'll remember his smile and his story. He too, is part of America. Just remembering these two men and their stories brings a little tear to my eyes.



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where 34° is still damp and cold. The fog is shifting through the trees but I know it will lift in a couple hours. I'm off to the nursery soon to build a sedum display garden. Come see or help if you have some time today. Great day to climb Owl's Head, walk around Osmore Pond or go to Burtt's and pick Honey Crisp apples.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

"Urn" for Fall Color

Friday, September 17, 2010

The outside temperature has fallen another couple degrees as bad weather is forced out by good weather. Reports this morning about drought in the south as well as serious water use restrictions on greenhouses and other floral, fruit and vegetable producers are some contrast to the water that dropped on us last night. I haven't purchased a new Farmer's Almanac yet but I always like to read other gardener's predictions about what fall and winter weather will bring. I saw a woolly bear yesterday that was "all middle" but now I can't remember what that wives tale represents??? "wide middle" means mild winter?? Truly, we watch satellites, Asian and west coast weather, NOAA and the Fairbanks Museum's Eye on the Sky for our weather.

Gail and I continue to try to show gardeners that color in the garden doesn't need to stop when kids go back to school or Labor Day comes and passes. There are many very nice sedums on the market now that can be combined with late flowering daylilies, rudbeckias, heleniums, mums and decorative kales and cabbages, and some less commonly known plants. Up top is a picture of turtlehead/chelone which also is native to Vermont in dark purples and white. This works very well with sedums like 'Carl' and 'Matrona' as shown here or with any of the dark, red stemmed varieties. Try Google Images for a sedum I really like, 'Jose Aubergine' and you'll see many other opportunities to reach your goal of "garden color in October".

Although we yearn for good garden color well past Labor Day, Gail and I have started to yearn for more garden antiquities. On the way back from Maine the other day we left a business card with an antique shop that sported this urn on the front lawn. We are waiting for the price. If anyone out there has experience pricing items like this, I'd be interested in a private email to bizplanr@hughes.net. There are three people interested in it so far and the price hasn't been set yet--one of those typical "get the price up" things.

Upon inspection of the reverse side it appeared to me that a couple bullet holes had been patched as the filler had cracked. This is not to be confused with the rusted something or other in the maiden's hand which also rusted out.

The man tending the store had a few years on me but I thought he should remember that in today's world everyone is a potential customer and a stragley beard and yesterday's clothes doesn't mean the urn couldn't end up in Marshfield, Vermont. I'm guessing that this piece has some value on the stolen garden art market too. Also figure a few zeros in the price will place it in someone else's yard but you just never know without asking. Thoughts?


Still writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the wind is coming up and Karl the Wonder Dog wants to go for another walk. Me too!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

Portland, Maine

Friday, September 17, 2010

48° here on the mountain, wet and quiet. Three deer are feeding not 100 feet from my office window but that won't last long as I hear Karl the Wonder Dog stirring. The weather is supposed to change to the positive by noon and I am in hopes that Alex and I can get away to the Tunbridge Fair. If you know that fair you know that it is synonymous with "wet" and "interesting". We'll see.

Gardeners always have different ways of expanding their knowledge of gardening and for Gail and me it has always been a ton of reading, lots of trade journals, a few trade and flower shows, discussions with plant brokers and an annual trip to the Maine coast to see what is happening a couple hundred miles away. We stop at New Hampshire gardens and garden centers along the route and always come away with new ideas. If you cannot make the trip yourself, Lynn Karlin and Rebecca Sawyer-Fay produced a book maybe ten years ago named Gardens Maine Style. It was published by Down East Books and was the first of what became popular pictorial summaries of Maine gardens. There is a sequel to it now that is also interesting and other authors have produced in similar styles.

Alex has always been interested in history and it was his autism and his interest in military history that led us one summer when he was about eight or nine to South Portland Maine, the Portland Head Lighthouse, Fort Williams and Goddard Mansion. Part of gardening includes history and these three sites are part of one park in South Portland, Maine. Last week I had a chance to go back and see what changes had taken place. For the sake of time, I've included some websites to provide the background. Click on any images for a better view.

Certain places draw me like a magnet and the Goddard Mansion is a place I'd like history to rewind for me. Sadly the building crumbles away and what began by the local selectmen as filling in the basement led to outside fencing and at some point the building will be taken down. It is a monument to summer homes of bygone years and encyclopedic stories could be documented of events that took place there. It is a fabulous structure that must have had incredible gardens at some point.

I love stone and as my mind walks through the vacant rooms via these pictures, what incredible gardens these stones could make. In reality, my vision is far distant from others and the costs alone of razing this size building get scary.

Both sides of the walls could be a classroom for teaching invasive species as bittersweet climbs to the sky covering sections with thick vines. The blue of wild chicory around the building's base is the only color of interest and as I walked the circumference I really was surprised that all I could find were a few rugosa roses, typical of the coast, and the crunch-crunch-crunch of acorns under a minor number of oaks that set seed this year.

Goddard Mansion is probably like many similar buildings throughout America. Devoted non profits work diligently to secure funding for rehabilitation but interest often cannot be jump started and building decay is all that's left. For me, Goddard Mansion remains a place to visit--a ruin for sure, gardenless, hidden on three sides by overgrowth that even prevents ocean views, but a place with a spirit from the past. If any readers have historical insight into the gardens I suppose existed, I am interested. When I get a chance, I will put a few more pictures on our Facebook Page, Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens for those who are interested.

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the temperature is dropping as what I hope is some high pressure begins to move in. Animals of the wood, birds and courageous gardens will be moving soon.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

Reminder of Fall

Thursday, September 16, 2010

39° here on the mountain above Peacham Pond. The sun is breaking through the clouds, the grass is heavy with yesterday's raindrops, and the morning is quiet as if the wild things don't want to stir yet. These are reminders that fall is approaching. Even the hydrangeas by the back walk have taken on a rosy-pink color to their happy faces as reminder of impending seasonal change.

Two feet of light fog wanders across the trout pond this morning but the glass finish on the water doesn't move. Karl the Wonder Dog, just back from a quick walk, has renestled by the now-cold wood stove as if continuing where he left off last night. Life is good for some dogs!

I have always promised those who follow The Vermont Gardener that I would try to talk gardening interspersed with people stories, Vermont, my family and friends. We have just returned from our annual Maine vacation and as such I would like to write a couple stories here about people I met and places I went. Hold tight and I'll get back to garden talk very soon. First up, two men I met in Maine....check tomorrow morning, as for now I have to get into the woods and get some wood worked up before the heavy rains of this afternoon chase me inside.


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where goldenrod yellow prevails, fooling people that they are allergic to it (not so) while providing a food source for insects galore.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

We're Ba-a-a-a-ck!

Portland Head Lighthouse
South Portland, Maine

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

41° and cloudy here on the mountain. Last night's heavy rains drip-drip-drip off everything and there's a quiet about the morning suggesting that the animals are sleeping in. Two deer just awoke with my coaxing from beds in the middle of the field below my office window. A doe looked straight at me and gave a big snort in deer talk, probably expressing dissatisfaction with the interruption. I only offered a wake up call because I wanted to see the full set of antlers that I thought I saw but didn't. Vermont is good!

Just returned yesterday afternoon from a vacation in Maine. The Vermont Gardener has been silent and private e-mails have inquired about my absence. Everyone needs a change of pace once in a while and after working 7 days a week since April 1st, change was due.

I'll get unpacked today and tend to domestic chores, email, go for a walk, talk to neighbors, check our nursery. By tomorrow I should be back to full swing and have a post. In the meantime thanks for missing us and we hope our time away was a great time for you too!

Writing again from the mountain above Peacham Pond where Karl the Wonder Dog waits with impatience for a long walk.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

Nursery is open by chance or appointment now through Columbus Day. Fall is a great time for planting perennials, shrubs and trees.

Rugosa rose hips at circular entrance garden
Portland Head Lighthouse

Heat Wave

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Just in from an extended morning walk with Karl the Wonder Dog. He is not my favorite dog again this morning. It's not his fault. This is the third night in a row the local bears decided to visit the house and although there is not so much as a nibble left by we humans, there are just enough blackberries left to keep bringing them back. Karl runs bear control all night which means about the time both eyes are shut and I'm back into some sort of dreaminess, the howling, barking, running from window to window continues. Gotta love the great protector!

We went far out back on the woods road this morning seeking night time revenge and hoping to wake something up like we had been disrupted repeatedly. No luck at all--a few song birds singing and one distant hawk. As we got to the end of our property about a half mile from the house, there's quite a colony of wild roses. This time of year they are covered with orange-turning-red hips full of fattening seeds and vitamin C. It was obvious that the bears had made this one of their stops in recent days as the thorny bushes, over 6 feet in height, were heavily mauled and flattened and most all the hips were missing. The grass underneath the shrubs was well matted too. With a limited wild apple crop here this year, bears will be traveling wide for field corn, domestic apples, berries and any other scraps they can find.

I'm trying to get to the nursery soon as there is lots to do before it gets too hot to work much. This is the third day in the 90s so by weather standards this is an official heat wave. It feels to us as if this has been going on since last Friday. Gail and I just flipped through all the channels for the latest updates on the hurricane and I am also using a good tracker. I always park all my equipment on the highest point along the river which is convenient for me but not too smart if there's a chance of a major weather event. If you ever visit us, you'll understand the method to my madness.



Last week I wanted to mention peonies as the east was going through lots of heat. New Englanders love their peonies and they are a flower that was always found at every farm, planted around the house and also by the barn's milk house. Peonies are special to me and I have over 150 in my collection. Gail loves them too and sells a fair number potted for summer and fall sales. They are selling now and there are probably 18 left if you have any interest. No shipping on these as they are in two and three gallon pots. What I have neglected to remind folks is that it's very important to water peonies well in mid August as that is when they are setting buds on the rootstock for next June's flowers. Although we have some amount of rain inland from the coast coming by this weekend, recent dry weather suggests getting some water to your peonies now. No fertilizer, just lots of water. You'll notice a difference in next year's bloom.

I have to scoot. Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where Karl just gave me a kiss as if suggesting a reciprocal thank you for his "hard work" last night. Yeh, right!


George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm

Where's Austin?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Another hot day headed this way. 72° right now, already a reminder to yesterday's heat. I have been out and about with Karl the Wonder Dog twice this morning and both times encountered deer and fawns having breakfast before it gets too hot.

Yesterday Gail and I got to the nursery early as we wanted to get going on a project along the Winooski River. I started this project in June but never had a chance to get back to it. Essentially we want big waves of color that are visible all summer for Route 2 traffic. Garden color is better than any other form of advertising as it stops people who can't stand not knowing what the garden color is all about. When finished, this piece will be a garden 180 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Any soil near a river is not that good and this soil is really gravel with big stones and no organic material. Just digging the holes and removing the stones is a chore. I seem to be the chief digger now. For two years we were fortunate to have Austin work for us but this year Gail recommended him for job in Burlington where he attends UVM. Boy do we miss our digger! Austin seemed to enjoy digging and in fact dug hundreds of holes for us--something like 180 holes for mature hostas alone, hundreds more for daylilies and other flowers.

At the bottom of each hole we add composted maple leaves shredded last year. These act as a sponge and eventually provide minor elements that plants need. Then we add composted manure, lime and 10-10-10. This gets all mixed up, thoroughly watered and then the plants are installed.



Yesterday we added hydrangeas, coneflowers, anenomes, various daylilies in 4's, 5's and 6's, helianthus, a few more liatris and some more crocosmia. The heat caught up with us and we have a little more to plant this weekend and then I'll mulch the entire garden with an inch of last year's maple leaves. If you are visionary you can picture what this garden will look like next year. Painting in flowers is great fun!



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where I notice the songbirds of summer are quieting their songs as fall approaches. Maples and birches in the mountains are showing what I would call premature color. This has been an unusual summer for sure! Come visit!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm