Flooded Bees

Friday, May 27, 2011

The sun is trying to break through this morning and although it's only 9:30, I feel as if I have been up for a full day. Last night at 7 PM the National Weather Forecast made an emergency announcement for parts of Vermont. It included a tornado warning and indicated that the storm was currently in Roxbury and was traveling east at 40 mph. Roxbury is 10 miles from Northfield which is 12 miles from Montpelier which is 20 miles from Vermont Flower Farm. Even though these are "crow flies" distances, I figured the storm would be here between 7:45 and 8 PM. The storm arrived in full fury at 8:10 and continued with pouring rain. When you see rain coming off your standing seam roof and shooting out 12 feek away from the "V", you know it's raining. I nodded off at midnight, three hours after the electricity went off. At 1 and 3 AM when I awoke, the storm was still pounding but the high winds never materialized.

This morning at 5 I headed for the nursery. Traveling down Route 232 suggested things would not be good at the nursery. The road was covered in places with gravel, running water and tree limbs and logs. Still no electricity. Around the corner at Creamery Street the traffic was stopped as trucks challenged water crossing Route 2. My neighbors Gerry and Duane were walking down Rt 2 looking at the water and the damage and as I rolled down the window, Gerry commented that things were not looking good for my bees. Duane, a beekeeper for years thought they were history since the hive had almost been under water. I moved on.

As I stopped to open the gate, the nursery looked different. To my left looking towards the village I saw our port-a-potty floating in a pond that was 6 feet deep. The daylily field, the hosta display garden, one rototiller--all were under water. As I walked the "shore" I could see that the water had dropped 4-5 feet since the rain had stopped and that was a good sign. Then I noticed the snowmobile bridge from the village. It now bordered what used to be my fence line.

Everyone is not fortunate to have good neighbors but Gail and I are really lucky at our house and at our nursery. Gerry pulled off his boots and walked into the water to help save the toilet as we both joked about the new vocational prospects we shared. I tied the port-a-potty to an apple tree and got on to the next chore. My neighbors were there to help.

Out back my pump house was 2 feet from the roaring river. I gathered my tools and for the sake of time, sawed off the pipes, disconnected the 220 electric and dragged the pump and tank up the bank to the tractor. Another problem averted for the moment at least. Then I moved all my equipment higher up the hill and headed to check the bees.

The water mark on the hive gave no hope that the bees were alive. The only hope was that they got into the second story and somehow by miracle the queen had climbed as the water in the hive rose. Not a good sign for a beekeeper in his second day. I lifted the top and found an angry mass of bees that had either climbed or floated to the top. I replaced the top and headed for home. Maybe, just maybe there was hope. I needed to find them a new location.

My neighbor Kim was on the road as I pulled in our drive. I asked if he could help me move the hive. He headed for tools and I grabbed a flashlight and headed down stairs for strapping material to screw the hive together for transport. Thankfully, our cellar was dry. Back at the nursery we blocked the entrance and then screwed strapping to each side of the hive to keep the supers from shifting. The sound of bees was noticeable and they were no more pleased with the day than me. As we loaded the hive on the truck, one bee nailed Kim on the leg as we left for home.

10 AM now. A helicopter just flew over surveying damage. The phone is working and people are calling for reports and whether the road is open and does the store have coffee ready yet. Some folks amaze me. Gail is packing the truck to head to the nursery and begin putting things back in place. I'm going to rest for a while and go down later when the water drops. The hosta garden I have worked on for 4 years will be missing some plants as the water cut a new course and I suspect all my latest plantings--almost a hundred this week, are probably gone. But here's the news about this all. Yes, we may have lost our bees and some flowers. The tiller will have to be drained and cleaned up but it will run again. The pump house will need to be restored but for now, there is no need for water anyway. Our retail area is in great shape and all other equipment is fine. Route 2 will probably reopen by late today or tomorrow and things will get back to normal. Like some in the area, we didn't loose that much. Admittedly I hate doing fencing and there is at least 400 feet that is missing and needs replacement. But there was no loss of housing or property or life like in other parts of the US. Karl the Wonder Dog was up all night during the storm but he is fine now and is sleeping soundly. As I have heard some Vermonters say "We done good." There's a ton of work to do but farmers are resilient. They have no choice, they have to be.



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where it's 67° and calm. Another storm is approaching for tonight but for now, we are ok. Hope you are too.

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

Honey Bees

Wednesday, May 26, 2011

A beautiful day here on the mountain. It's already up to 68.4° with a mild wind that barely ripples the tree leaves. As much as I want to jump into the list of things to do, I'm a little tired after a six hour round trip to Orwell, Vermont yesterday with friend Michelle to pick up a joint project--our first hive of honey bees.

Honey and honey bees have been an interest of mine since I was perhaps 5 or 6 and saw bees tended by Harold, a local beekeeper who was known for his skills as well as his reputation of being a hermit. When people had trouble with their bees or when hives swarmed or were found, Harold was always called to come remedy the problem.

Being a farmer or gardener makes one more tuned to insects including bees. It's an interesting symbiosis. Trouble is that wild bees are almost nonexistent any more and mite and virus problems exist now that never prevailed when I was a kid. Local author Rowan Jacobsen wrote a good book on the demise of bees titled Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis. It's a good read and it sure wakes you up to the trouble we are in. When he wrote the book there was no definitive cause of colony collapse but now there are strong theories and additional challenges to all theories.

So part because I wanted to and part because I felt obligated to and mostly because my friend Mike came up with a free hive, frames, hats, gloves, and smoker, I located a beekeeper named Roland Smith, owner of Singing Cedars Apiaries, and I ordered up one-five frame nucleus, a laying queen and bees like you can't count. The purpose of our trip to Orwell was to place the frames, queen bee and other bees into our hive and begin an exciting hobby.

It's an interesting affair to pull into someone's driveway in the middle of nowhere and find yourself surround first by people you have never seen in your life all donning once-white beekeeper suits..... and then being surrounded by flying honey bees in numbers that aren't even imaginable. Many people had been into beekeeping before as contrasted by our hospital-clean suits. To say that Michelle and I were standouts as beekeeping novices doesn't tell the story. Everyone we met was helpful and shared their experiences and advice freely even though we were the cleanest dressed people there. So much so that we decided on the way home that we needed to roll around a little and dirty-up the suits before returning next year so we looked like the more experienced keepers we will be by then.


The property is packed deep in little brooder boxes, each a small hive in itself. Each contains a queen bee and 5 frames of unborn bees and also a little honey. There are live bees already contributing to the health of the little colony and it is this entire collection that you swap out into your hive. You need a hand held smoker to quiet the bees and a hive tool to pry apart the frames and dig them apart for inspection as you decide what boxful you want to transfer and take home. I had prepared torn up newspaper and pine needles in my smoker and peers deemed this acceptable. Never got to use it myself though as I begged for help from the owner's helper--who by the way was the only person to be stung in the crowd of +20 customers standing in the midst of a bazillion bees. Michelle and I had no problem with any of the bees--not even one colony that was aggressive from the minute the top of the box was popped. We left those there for someone else.

All the customers wanted to know how many hives we were picking up. Having a spanky clean suit on was as bad perhaps as saying "One" when others were picking up 2, 3, 5, "lots". One was quite fine for us as we journey into beekeeping.

If you get a chance, read the book I cite and see what a dilemma we are in. And if you are out and about and close by Vermont Flower Farm, stop for a visit, but please don't go near the bees. They are working all day long, just like me!


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the apples are in full bloom and the lilacs are finally breaking. Shad bushes are in bloom which means the trout are finally biting.

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

New picture album on the trip will be posted to the VFF and Gardens FB page in the next day. Take a look!

Primrose Majesty!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

3 mph wind on the mountain and 54°. A ten degree contrast to Burlington at 64° but with mutual promise for the seventies today. There's also chance for another t-storm to add excitement to my long list of chores. I'm excited that tonight I pick up my first-ever honey bees and commence what I hope will be a successful journey. Gail is less than optimistic about what she sees as my latest expense but there aren't a lot of things I fail at so we'll see. She is optimistic about my bulldozer purchase and I expect over time this endeavor will receive smiles too. This is a mutual project with friends Mike and Michelle who have helped get things ready. More on that tomorrow.

Last night Gail and "the girls", Tracey, Diana, and Elizabeth visited primrose heaven in East Montpelier, Vermont. I couldn't make it. Arlene Perkins and her husband live at the top of a mountain off Gould Hill Road and they grow a magnificent garden of primroses as well as many, many interesting perennials and also peonies. Gail and I went last year and I am still telling people about it. This is a picture up top of one of the gardens at the Perkins residence that is situated at the top of the Winooski River Valley above the North Branch Nature Center.

This is the kind of garden that you walk around and around, each time seeing things you missed before. You can't avoid questions and comments and many, many "I can't believe how beautiful this is" statements. It really is breathtaking.

Arlene is a hybridizer and a collector and I doubt you will find a garden or a host and hostess like you'll experience at the Perkins. If you aren't interested in primulas yet, you will be before you leave. This is "the" flower for May in Vermont because of abundant and diverse bloom just when you really need to a jump start to forget about winter and mud season.

The mixed varieties are like a painter's palette and they go on and on. Last year I walked the little paths 3-4-5 times, each time seeing things I missed before. The mixed flowers are treasures to find and from the unusual trilliums to the pink bloodroot to the miniature 1.5" primrose, you will be well entertained.

There is something about the beauty of these gardens that makes it difficult to leave. Kind of like going to a great party when you know it's time to leave but you're in such great company you cannot make yourself say goodbye. The primroses hold you tight and make you want to stay.
Their enthusiasm makes you want to start a collection of your own but you already know you can never create what you are standing in the middle of and enjoying!


Couple things to consider. Purchases and spring in Vermont. Arlene always has some primroses and other plants potted for sale. Like many collectors, sales help purchase new flowers and expand the collection you get to see in future years. The opportunities are not something you'll see at other nurseries in Vermont so don't miss the potted plants. Secondly, remember it's spring in Vermont and the insidious black flies sometimes prevail and at other times they overlook the invitation. Be prepared for them just in case. And if you get to meet Arlene, tell her George recommended her gardens. Like any visit to a private collection, call first and make an appointment. 802-223-6245. Show consideration for the gardens and the gardeners and you'll take away memories like I did!



Writing from "our" mountain above Peacham Pond where just now the sun is poking through the clouds. I have to get busy. Be well!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and on my personal page, George Africa
On twitter as vtflowerfarm
At Vermont Flower Farm we'll help you grow your green thumb!

Yellow-gold Richness Rises!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Just 6 AM here on the mountain above Peacham Pond. 54.3°. The heavy rains have quieted the birds and animals and so far, nothing is moving about. I suspect if I walked towards the pond I would begin to see deer and other bigger animals but for now everything mimics the anemometer--motionless, apprehensive, waiting for the opportunity to bound and spin into a sunny day.

This spring's New England rains have been well documented as farmers and gardeners share depressed days over saturated fields and flower beds. I would like to grab my fields and gardens like a giant wash cloth and wring out excess water but that cannot be. Three days of sun and wind would make a big difference but for this weekend the best we can expect is a half day of sun and then more showers. Customers at the nursery have been sparse as no one can consider planting at a time when the results will be so poor. Hosta admirers have been the exception. I notice one greenhouse advertising on television has repeated its ads with notes that the rain and sales continue. Sadly they will have to run those ads again as the weather lady says more rain most of next week.

Yesterday Michael completed his 4th day working with us. The work is some different than his studies at Castleton but he tells me that he feels fine and will be back Monday for another week. He would have worked through the weekend but with more rain coming, he'll visit friends and get a chance to dry out clothes and boots. In the past couple days we patched fences that were opened by errant moose and then put 3600 square feet of shade cloth on the three shade houses. That means a lot of up and down the ladders and pulling and tugging on shade fabric and bungie cords.

As bad as the rain has been, certain flowers prevail in their glory. You could not want a better spring to jump start hostas and ours are fabulous. Those in pots have unfurled and those in the display garden I am building are ready to open as soon as we get a little heat. I still wonder where the slugs and snails are as most of the leaves look clean so far.

A great plant to pick up where your daffodil yellows and creams have left off is trollius, the cultivated buttercup you know from the wild. Trollius come in various heights and flower sizes and whether you call them by their correct names or just call out "double buttercups", you'll find a plant that loves damp feet, flowers now for a good month, and then again in September if you deadhead after the early flower production.

I like the smaller flowered varieties but admit that Pritchard's Giant (last image at bottom), a little later to bloom here, is an eye catcher. Gail has not had the best luck with Alabaster, a creamy white, but that could be the luck of the draw and involve repeated plantings in areas too wet or too shady.

Trollius make a great cut flower and hold up well with other spring flowers. Give them some thought. You'll find ours potted for sale and located in front of the shed/office as you enter the nursery. Let us know if you have questions. Orange Princess is pictured up top, and here are two examples of typical bud count after a couple years. The +2" diameter flowers of Pritchard's Giant are at the bottom.







Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where fog is rolling in like a Maine morning. Have to get going. Stop by and see us if you're out and about today.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens & also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Even if it keeps raining, we'll help you GROW your GREEN THUMB @Vermont Flower Farm!

Gingers

Monday, May 16, 2011

Just in after a second walk with Karl the Wonder Dog. Yesterday's rain kept him inside more than he wanted and since the rain has subsided for a bit, he is eager to enjoy the smells of spring and moving wildlife. I have to get going here as I need to get to Guys Farm and Yard in Montpelier and pick up some supplies.

I walked the old hosta garden here at the house last night after returning from the nursery. It rained so hard yesterday that even with complete rain gear, I got soaked over time. I spent much of the day on my knees weeding and planting hostas so it was fitting to come back to the house and view a garden that has become a reminder of what you can build. There is hardly a day that goes by but what a customer reminds us how beautiful the garden was and how much they miss it. I have to offer agreement and a constant reminder that I am working hard on a fitting replacement. I know it will be a nice garden but it sure will not be built within an old barn foundation with a history dating from the 1800s.

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The old garden had two Asurums I like. One is our native ginger, Asurum canadense plucked from our back woods. Here's a picture of it just coming out of the ground a couple weeks back. It is not that easy to find here but is in good supply along the Winooski River. Few like it because the color is dull and the flowers are hidden under the leaves and unexciting. I still like it. Up top is Asurum european, the shiny, smooth leafed European Ginger that everyone wants even though they question the price. There are lots of other good gingers out there although many will not hold up to zone 3 or 4 Vermont climates. Search around and you'll find some that have a place in your garden too! Nice groundcovers that encourage nice comments from your gardening friends!



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the rain just started again and walking this morning is an exercise in swosh-swosh-swosh-splash! I hope the Winooski River is not as high as I fear it is this morning.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
Social Networking Works!©
Let Us Help You Grow Your Green Thumb!
Visit Us On Facebook at Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

Quick garden Thoughts

Saturday, May 14, 2011

48° with a 3 mph breeze greets gardeners here on the mountain this morning. The weather folks are depressing us again with what will apparently be 7 consecutive days of rain. Have to get to the nursery right away and make the best of the morning for planting and then probably inside for paperwork this afternoon as the rain starts.

If you're out and about today, the pansies and violas look nice and make little children smile with thoughts of becoming real gardeners. They will. Gail has an assortment of hanging baskets that are very nice. Although I am not that keen on red, the large flowered geraniums are drawing in the very busy male hummingbirds in interesting numbers. Hummers are real competitors and stake out a plant they like and defend it from their bird friends.

The bergenias are opening. I should know the name of the red leafed variety that is coming into bloom but a short night is interfering with my morning memory. Maybe another cup of coffee with help.

Hostas by the thousands are beginning to unfurl. Hosta 'First Frost' is showing its early spring edge of yellow as we remind people this will turn to cream as summer approaches. Gail is planting 3-4 hostas of the same variety in 20 gallon pots so those who don't want to walk down the hill to the hosta display garden can get an idea idea of mature size.

Various epimedium are beginning to flower. The heat has held them back a little but they are growing well now and are a good ground cover type plant for dry, "under-that-tree" type locations.

My new honey bees should be available to pick up next week and already I am leery of this endeavor. I have never cared for a hive and I don't fear the bees or the challenge. I fear the possible interaction of the 3 year old black bear my friend Gerry, across the road, had looking in his window last Sunday morning at 5 . I'll keep you posted. But for now, it's off the the nursery. Log onto 2263 US Route 2 or Vermont Flower Farm on your GPS today, find us and stop by--rain or not, we'll be there.

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where buds are forming on the beautiful yellow leafed bleeding heart, Gold Heart. Some available at the nursery, small but nice.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Remember: At VFF, we help you GROW your GREEN THUMB!

Alabama Jubilee

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

48° and a steady rain this morning. Windless which is nice but still it feels colder than I wish for. The trees are more heavily budded today and poplars, birches and maples are offering pollen challenges to those with allergies. The fields around the house are finally snow free and the grasses are greening through winter packed thatch. Much to do!

Yesterday we planted all day and despite warnings of heavy rain, it wasn't bad. Gail and I were going full bore by 6:30 AM when she called Steve and asked him if he could come down. When Gail gets something in her mind, she moves ahead. The fact that someone else may still be looking for their first cup of coffee has no bearing on her plans. Steve is a great guy and a hard worker. He always works at 2-3 jobs and he learns the first time through which is why Gail likes to work with him. He appeared before 8 and we cranked out pot after pot for hours. By noon Diana from the Marshfield Inn arrived, and like Steve, there's no need to train and retrain as she starts right in and potted plants begin flowing. I had some afternoon business to tend to with Alex and when I returned they had potted 200 more daylilies as well as some other plants.

Spring is a good time to divide daylilies. Here in Marshfield the plants are just beginning to green up so digging and dividing is easier. Saturday we did +300 including Yellow Mammoth, Yellow Monster, Ruby Spider, Ruby Throat, Rooten Tooten Red, Red Volunteer, Red Sentinel and Orange Vols. Jason helped me dig and crate them and the crew finished the dividing and planting. These are robust plants that will be good additions to anyone's spring garden.

Today has the appearance of a day to catch up on web work and paperwork. The rain is pouring down right now and since we do all our potting outside, even good rain gear makes for long days. I'm heading out in a few minutes but Gail will stay here for the day. If you have any gardening questions, give her a call. We will open for the season this Saturday at 9 and have some very nice potted daffodils we did ourselves last fall as well as some hanging baskets from our friends at Claussen's Florist and Greenhouses in Colchester. Mothers Day is a day to remember and it arrives this weekend. And don't forget--at Vermont Flower Farm we'll help you grow your green thumb!!

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where 6 very wet turkeys just went past the office window.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Social Networking Works©

May Day

Sunday May 1, 2011

Bright sunshine is everywhere and the crisp, wind-free morning made it difficult to get Karl the Wonder Dog to return to the house. I have a ton of things to do before our crew shows up at the nursery but the overwhelming cheerfulness of the morning makes me wish I could stay here on the mountain and enjoy the new sights and sounds of spring. All manner of birds are singing this morning with mourning doves adding their part and pileated woodpeckers drumming on sugar maples.

In just a couple days the spring flowers have really advanced. Daffodils are popping out, drumstick and common primroses are adding spots of color, and the hellebores, heads hanging, offer contrasting whites and purples. The Trillium grandiflorum I seeded in four summers ago are up 6 inches and looking good but the larger clumps have hardly started to break ground. The Trillium luteum that will offer yellow later on are up two inches and Trillium erectum, the odoriferous "stinking benjamins" are coming along nicely . Someplace here I planted some bloodroot but in contrast to along the Winooski River at our nursery where they are in bloom, I cannot even find them here.

Walk your gardens today and get a final look at your layout before the leaves really pop. Make mental notes of spaces that need attention with another plant or shrub and keep your friends in mind for a shovelful of extra plants that need to be divided. Your friends will smile like the spring flowers knowing your gift will add to next spring's beauty.

I have to get going here. We open the nursery next weekend for the season but if you're passing through today, stop and say hello. We're plating madly but we always have time to help you grow a greener thumb!

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where loons are calling.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
Helping you grow a greener thumb!
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Daffodil Days

Thursday, April 29, 2011

A dark morning here on the mountain, 62° and a steady 5 mph wind bringing another rain storm that crossed Lake Champlain 3 hours ago. I estimate we'll see rain here in about an hour, perhaps a little less. A year ago yesterday we awoke to 18" of heavy wet snow after a start to April that no one could complain about. The weather certainly keeps all farmers busy!

Before I head to the nursery I want to recommend a garden visit for this Saturday or Sunday. Our friends Harold and Leila at Crossview Gardens, 1801 Lower Elmore Mountain Road, Morrisville are hosting their first daffodil open house. The Crosses are well known for an incredible selection of flowers but few know of Harold's interest in daffodils. I can't tell you how many varieties he has now but the total bulb count reaches well into the thousands so if you haven't seen 2-3-4000 bulbs, (my guess, maybe more), you should pack up the car and head out this weekend. Many growers have thousands of bulbs and I'll never criticize someone with such an offering. But when you can walk these gardens and see labeled varieties, some of which you have never even seen in a catalog, it's quite an event.

Leila has directions on their website and once you get to their place you'll get an incredible view of Vermont too. Give it a try--you'll be happy you found another great Vermont garden! And tell them George sent you!


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where sprinkles just started.

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

And remember: At Vermont Flower Farm we'll help you GROW your GREEN THUMB!

Amphibian Migrations

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Just back from checking the nursery after last night's storm. Heavy rains pounded us and at about 3 AM there was lights and noise from a giant t-storm that sent Karl the Wonder Dog into serious dog frenzy. The Winooski River is up four feet since last night and the small brooks are all over their banks and into farm fields. I knew it was wet this morning when I opened the back door and there was a woods frog sitting on the top step and the ground was covered with night crawlers and worms.

We have been waiting for spring rains to arrive and melt the snow that remains +6 feet deep on Mt Mansfield and 3-4 feet deep here in Marshfield. This has been an unusual spring and the temperatures have been colder than in previous years. The sight of the frog this morning reminded me of the year 2007 when Gail and I attended a program at the community center on amphibian monitoring for salamanders and frogs. I wrote about it on the Vermont Gardens blog that I used to write parallel to The Vermont Gardener. Take a look at what I wrote back then as we first learned about spotted salamanders like the one pictured above. Maybe tonight we can get out on a couple back roads and get a sense of how healthy the amphibian population is this year. Check out the North Branch Nature Center and view the pictures under the Nature News section. The "Big Night" in Central Vermont was Monday night for the lower elevations around Montpelier but I'll put my money on tonight in this part of Vermont as snow pack is still heavy in the woods and some amphibians are probably in that suspended state that only a woods frog with a personal supply of frog anti-freeze experiences. Very interesting animals!

Gotta scoot! Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where Karl the Wonder Dog wants to go for yet another walk. He loves the smells and sounds of spring!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm: Opening May 7th.
On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and also as George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
Remember that we will help you GROW your GREEN THUMB!

Happy Easter from Vermont!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

34° here on the mountain. Easter morning and the sky looks as if it has been painted in horizontal pastel pinks and blues interspersed with thin lines of grey-white clouds. The rain and wind have stopped and the fog that was obvious as the moon went back to bed half an hour ago has now dispersed. Robins talk to each other along the road looking for worms and other breakfast foods and a lone pileated woodpecker pounds hard on a dieing sugar maple over by the mailbox along the road. It looks like the start to a nice day.

Yesterday Gail and friends went to Montpelier for an illustrated talk by Dr. Leonard Perry. He is the Greenhouse and Nursery Extension Specialist at the University of Vermont and if you know flower folks in Vermont, you have probably already met Leonard. He spoke about new or underused perennials and provided everyone with a very informative program.

Dr Perry offered a handout where he broke down topic plants according to growing conditions, so "Shade", "Part Shade" and "Sun"--over 8 hours per day. I'll scan the list sometime but for now, here are the newer plants on the "Sun" list for your review.

1. Achillea millefolium-Tutti Fruitti Series
2. Baptisia australis 'Purple Smoke', 'Screaming Yellow', 'Twilight Prairie Blues'
3. Echinacea purpurea 'Green Envy', 'Coconut Lime', 'Tiki Torch'
4. Geranium x 'Rozanne--perennial geranium
5. Geum 'Totally Tangerine'
6. Leucanthemum x superbum 'Broadway Lights'
7. Phlox paniculata 'Peppermint Twist'--a tall garden phlox
8. Panicum virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons'--a switchgrass

The only one on this list I am not so sure about is #8. I shouldn't speak with doubt about something I know nothing about but I have this thing about grasses. One time a friend of Gail's gave her a "you must have this" grass and she planted it by the back door. It's not there any more because I spent three years getting rid of it. BUT------If you walk down the George Jewett Road from our house towards the backside of the pond and look, you'll see some that got away. I'm just not enamored with grasses because I have yet to be introduced to varieties that stay in place and don't over seed the world. If you know grasses and can help me, I'd like to learn. Please.


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the moose tracks in the snow from a couple days ago have melted bigger and Sasquatch-like. I have to get out of here now and get down to my friend Mike's and do morning chores for him. Bucky the bantie rooster will be greeting me with a morning melody and I expect there is a fresh little egg from his friend Becky who pecked me twice yesterday afternoon when I tried to slide my hand under her during egg collection time. The other girls were more friendly.

Happy Easter wishes!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm

Dialing in the Weather

Friday, April 22, 2011

A bright morning here on the mountain. 30° in the sun but 24.9° on the shady side of the house. A beautiful day is on the way so we have to work hard and quick as rain returns by late afternoon and continues all day tomorrow.The woodpeckers are the noisiest they have been so far and and as I walked Karl out the door I noticed fresh-from-last-night moose tracks exiting the woods and leading up the little valley to our neighbors. Deer and moose are very mobile now and they are visible as they search for fresh food.

Gail and I are heading to the nursery in an hour to begin preparing for planting. After two years of better understanding the weather at the nursery, Gail is exchanging the miniature and small hostas and the astilbes for places that better accommodate their sunshine needs. The shade cloth we cover the houses with is 80% which some question or criticize but as the warm, direct suns of July and August come straight down, it's important to have good cover. In their new locations the astilbes will receive a little more sun and the hostas a little less. They should all smile nicely.

The little sundial in the yard, pictured above, reflects the time of about 7 AM and the crystals of snow that fell last night. I guess it is a weather dial too. It does not tell how much work gardeners expend in the spring to get their gardens ready but it reminds Vermonters that spring takes a while to work its way through and then summer leaps forward, beautiful but too short. Get out and enjoy at least part of today.


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where juncos are abundant under the unfilled bird feeders. Two doves search for the last pieces of cracked corn and a tom turkey calls loudly from the field asking his girlfriends to join him for breakfast.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
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Berry-ilicious!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

With Winnie-the-Pooh "blustery" in mind this morning, Mr. Weather has brought us swirling, blowing clumps of snowflakes the size of quarters that instantly give the impression you're in the middle of a giant snow globe and someone is shaking hard. This is just another spring day in Vermont but I do not like it.

There is something neat about the first snowstorm of the year and snow for the holidays is something you really want. But at the end of the season such as April, everyone is ready for green grass, spring bulbs, new born lambs and pancakes with fresh maple syrup. It's been so "different" this year that there are still some syrup producers making syrup of very good quality because their sugar bushes are so snow packed, the trees haven't even thought of budding out.

Days like today and yesterday force all gardeners to stay inside and make final preparations for when they can get out and plant. A lot of gardeners are good cooks too and sometimes they take advantage of a day like today and cook. That's what happened here yesterday. I was looking through our two recipe boxes Saturday trying to find my recipe for olive stuffed cheese balls and I came upon a misfiled recipe my mother wrote for me over thirty years ago. Sadly as her health failed in the late 90's, her love for and mastery at cooking ceased. She could still write out recipes from her old cookbooks and share guidance and recipes on things from her mother's and grandmother's collections. One of those recipes is labeled Berry-Marble Cobbler.

My mom made this cobbler a bazillion times and I'm sure she hand-wrote the recipe dozens of times. I know she used to always make one (among many other things) for the St James Church Fair and there were always requests for the recipe as a result. This is a very easy recipe and one she usually made with blueberries but often with an assortment of seasonal or frozen blackberries and raspberries. Gail made it yesterday with half cranberries and half blueberries. . Gail says just follow the recipe and you'll be delighted....even the part about the boiled water that is really critical. The berries start on the top but end up on the bottom of the dish as a custardy mix that makes the dish empty way too soon. And while you're eating, think about spring. I'm remembering my mom and what a special cook she was.

Berry-Marble Cobbler

1 c. granulated sugar
2 c. flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla
1tbsp melted butter

Sift together the dry ingredients. Add milk, vanilla and melted butter and spread in greased
9 X13 pan.

Scatter 2 cups of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or other berries over the batter. Sprinkle 1 cup of granulated sugar over the berries and pour 1 1/2 cups of boiling water over all. Bake in a 375° oven for 1/2 hour or until well browned and done. Serve with cream or ice cream.



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where Karl the Wonder Dog snores by the fire as the snow has changed to smaller flakes, breezing horizontally by my office window from the north at 4 mph. I may be cooking some more today.....

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm--where we will help you GROW your GREEN THUMB!©
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Containers of Coleus

Saturday, April 17, 2011

Almost 9 PM and the wind is still blowing. Just returned from a brief walk with Karl the Wonder Dog...his choice. He is not enamored with thunder storms or wind. He demonstrated this dislike with a beeline for the house that straightened the leash and my arm like a shot of the lightning he dislikes. I thought for a minute he/we had just encountered our first bear of spring but he was trembling as I patted him and pushed him into the house. I do need to get back into "thinking bear" as they are programmed to tour houses at night when they awake in the spring and I know our house is on their "must visit" list.

I belong to the Garden Writers Association and do enough additional writing to receive promotional materials from hort companies. I have never been bothered by the mail and products we receive and sometimes am surprised that it arrives just because people know I like to garden. As 2010 ended, I received a CD from Ball Horticultural Company in Chicago. This is one of the largest seed companies in the world and marketing is something they have well planned. The CD provided plenty of marketing examples as well as photos that can be integrated with a growers own marketing endeavor. None of these are my personal pictures and their use is permitted by Ball. I like seeing the new offerings and perhaps you will too.

My eye caught the new-to-me pictures of coleus. This is a plant that has been given new life by several hybridizers who respect it for its diverse use. Gardeners often thought this was strictly a shade plant but modern varieties tolerate more sun, less shade, and when proper watering is considered, its potential grows too. Here are some new examples starting with Lava Rose up top and Chocolate Mint just below. Click to enlarge.

Chocolate Mint

Henna

Kong

Electric Lime

Mint Mocha

Watermelon

Dark Chocolate

Coleus make great plants to add to your containers. They do require pinching as the season progresses to keep them in shape but this is an easy operation. Actually you can root all the larger pieces you pinch off if you need extra plants. As summer moves along they will begin to flower. The flowers are not attractive and I think are best removed when they start. Kind of one of those hosta type analogies--do you leave the flower scapes or take them off? I'm a leave-them-on-hostas and a take-them-off-coleus person. Regardless, keep an eye out when you visit your favorite garden centers and give the new coleus varieties a try.


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where warmer weather, melting snow and a now-clear back field will bring out the wildlife tonight. Have to remind Gail and Alex that the bears will be back. You remember too!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
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Remember: We'll help you GROW your GREEN THUMB!

Shivering: A Spring Cautionary

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Gray sky, sun peaking through two ominous clouds, winds at 7, bursting to 11 mph and back. It's spring! Yesterday's heavy rain raised streams and rivers and moved Lake Champlain to flood stage. Dirt roads like ours that last week held promise of drying out have returned to ruts and runoff. They remind me of my youth on Church Hill Road, Woodstock. Seemed to me that age six was too young to learn about building temporary corduroy roads to get the old Chevy home for the night. There was no choice and we all pitched in to find old tree limbs along the roadway to fill in ruts and get the car, equipped with tire chains and already well muddied, home again.

Spring looks different around New England today. In Burlington along Lake Champlain, the hellebores slow significant bloom and draw many "What is that?"s from still unfamiliar gardeners. Ours here on the mountain are still buried under a couple feet of snow and are weeks away from bloom. And it's this disparity of garden images that's important to remember as gardeners, with pent up energies, want to get busy in their gardens.

Like the hellebores in some gardens, hosta pips rise from still-cold soil and give encouragement of luxuriant growth soon to come. Garden lovers often get a little hasty in the spring and on that first warm day rake leaves and want to begin to fertilize. This is not good thinking as fertilizers spread before the last threat of frost has past encourage quick leaf growth of weak, thin, susceptible leaves that will get nailed day after day by subsequent frosts. Here on the mountain I make myself hold back on the leaf raking in the hosta gardens for this very reason. The tree leaves blanket the emerging growth and offer some protection until we get closer to the first week in June. Where you live it may well be a different world but to stave off disappointment here, we have to be patient. Give this reminder some thought and temper it with your knowledge of your last frost date.

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the winds have blown every last seed off the platform bird feeder. The ground is covered with finches, some bullied back and forth by mourning doves scratching for millet seed. Karl the Wonder Dog is begging for a second opportunity to sniff spring.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
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Iris Pseudacorus

Saturday, April 9, 2010

Just in from a nice walk with Karl the Wonder Dog. The sky is clear, temperature 24.3° and windless. A tom turkey calls out this morning from the mountain towards RT 232 and doves and jays fight over the bird seed. One hairy and one downy woodpecker, possible friends, peck away on the remaining onion sack of suet. They seem to know I will not replace it when its gone.

Gail is in the kitchen making kitchen noise as she prepares to leave for a program at Vermont Technical College. The New England Wild Flower Society uses that site for an annual presentation and it always pleases. I say "always"but that's not quite true. Gail returned last year with flowery comments about lunch that included some concoction of pizza that was covered with scrambled eggs she was convinced were left over from the breakfast line. That was apparently one of the more interesting offerings to the point that she wrote a couple thoughts to the current college president. Gail's dad was a professor at VTC for many years and she maintains his integrity in always presenting a good product. The pizza was not that good.

As spring has already arrived in many parts of America, listservs begin to discuss plants still buried under snow here in Vermont. My favorite hellebores are receiving plenty of review now and the volume of comments and advertisements confirms the growing popularity of this flower. From Florida came a comment about Iris pseudacorus, the yellow flag iris. This is a bright yellow iris, with 3-4 foot sword-like leaves and vibrant yellow blooms. It's also a problem as it spreads quickly by rhizomes or seeds and its thick mass chokes out native flowers and has a tremendous impact on wetlands over time.

When gardeners post pictures, I try to recall when I first saw yellow flag in Vermont. It seems as if it's a more recent thing in the past 25 years but truly I cannot remember. Gail brought me home a couple wild flower books from the library giveaway last month so curiosity led me to the pages on pseudacorus. Old flower books with black line sketches and no color images have lost the popularity for many modern gardeners but Gail knows I like history and reference and I don't mind the drawings. The 1923 book mentions blue flag but not yellow flag and the 1948 book described the range from mid-south up the coast to Massachusetts. So now, +60 years later, (my lifetime, folks) yellow flag has made it to Canada.

We have a big plant of pseudacorus by the side of the house next to and half under a Thundercloud crab apple. That crab barely survived the ice storm of 1998 and still looks terrible despite a number of prunings. Gail bought the iris from a local nursery and planted it next to the artesian well casing, hoping it would cover it. Now I hope I don't need to get the well driller back for repairs as the plant has overtaken the area. It's a dry area and as such the iris is not as big a clump as it would be near water but just the same I'd hate to have the job of removing it.

Pseudacorus is a nice yellow iris but I cannot recommend it. Its invasive character should be a concern and factually there are many beautiful Siberian irises that are yellow. They are not as tall but they don't create problems. If you have other plants that serve as a replacement to yellow flag's height, color and abundance of bloom, drop me a line. I'm sure other's will be interested too!

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where I notice neighbors and visitors to the pond are out for morning dog walks. The smells of spring and the sweetness of sugar shacks boiling sap for maple syrup today will bring on smiles too. Hope yours is one of them!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
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Spring Spinach

Friday, April 8, 2011

17° here on the mountain and clear as a bell. The only wind this morning is from the wings of flock after flock of birds arriving and leaving the feeders. I am enjoying the movement and the voices I can hear through my office window but I realize that very soon the feeding will have to end. We share Vermont with black bears and raccoons and within a couple weeks, both animals will be wide awake and searching for food. By Monday it is supposed to reach 65° and despite the deep snow in the forests, the bears will all be awake. We have already seen raccoons and although they have not arrived at the feeders yet, it's an "anyday" experience. The Department of Wildlife has already put out reminders to stop feeding birds, hoping of course that people will listen and problems, complaints and tickets involving bears can be avoided. In Vermont, feeding bears and then calling in complaints about their behavior will get you a headache and a ticket.

Seeds don't germinate outside when it's 17° but that doesn't mean that I don't think about one of my favorite spring vegetables, spinach. I broke down and bought some the other day---''$5.99 for one of those terrible clear plastic, Ft Knox boxes you cannot easily get into. It was baby spinach and ever so tasty, but really just a teaser.

As I booted up this morning, my email contained the latest blog from High Mowing Organic Seeds and the lead article was about spinach. I really like High Mowing and today's piece on spinach includes a section on diseases and the pesky spinach leaf miner too. If you enjoy vegetables, consider signing up for their blog and their newsletter and get back to their website once in a while. Two spinach they sell that I really like are Corvair and Samish. Try them! High Mowing maintains friendships with all the organic growers including my other favorite, Johnny's Selected Seeds. Johnny's sent a notice today on items they have in big supply and they offered another spinach favorite, Space. This one was overwintered at High Mowing and Gail and I ate some fresh from the high tunnel a few weeks back. Great flavor!

So as snow is still too deep here to consider anything, think about spinach if your ground is open and you want a nice vegetable crop that's easy to grow and good to eat. In salads is fine, stir fried in olive oil with a few other vegetables is quick and easy and included in a quiche with farm fresh eggs like Gail did yesterday--can't beat it!


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the Davey Tree Expert Company crew has been clearing our power lines for well over an hour. A very good company if you need some serious tree work done!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
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Garden Phlox

Thursday, April 7, 2011

A bright, sunny morning here on the mountain. 13° seems a tad cold when I am trying to convince myself that it really is spring but the latest forecasts promise highs of 65 by Monday with lots of rain and melting snows. Today will warm quickly and maple syrup producers around Vermont should be smiling by tonight. At some point today I need to get to Montpelier and purchase another bale of seed planting mix so I can finish up the tomatoes. Some friends laugh at me for waiting so long to plant tomato seeds but I always hope for plants that aren't leggy.

Last night I started work on a web page on the garden phlox that we grow. Over the years we tried and tried to do a good job planting phlox for sale in 1 gallon pots but we were never happy with the outcome no matter how we tempered the potting mix. Last year I think we figured out the cultivation of this plant and in late spring we will plant a number of varieties directly into the garden. By August these should be ready for digging on demand. The new plantings will be an addition to everything Gail and I lined out last fall.

Phlox are a useful garden flower that is regaining in popularity as gardeners learn how to use it better. The native varieties common to New England were probably the ones that typically ended up in farm and home gardens. They were often transplanted from along riverbeds, roadways or wood lines. Their traditional growing areas often showed some amount of shade and their popularity rose from the masses that caught people's attention.

Ask a gardener their sentiment on phlox and do not be surprised to hear "They get mildewy don't they?" This is one of the difficulties with the plant although modern hybridizing is making some headway on the problem. Back in 1999, Dr. Leonard Perry, University of Vermont Plant and Soil Science, released some research on mildew controls for phlox. I remember hearing him speak a couple years after the research and he commented that New Englanders love phlox and dislike mildew but fact is, baking soda didn't provide a bunch more change than modern chemical
controls. I recall him adding that if you continued to use the baking soda, you would create another problem for yourself--soil pH. Over twenty years later I think we are in about the same shape. I don't want to rule out more recently released chemical treatments but safely gardening the way we like to in Vermont looks like it will leave us with some mildew problems on phlox.

During our time trying to learn to make ourselves happy with this plant, we arrived at a couple pointers that may be helpful. Some of these things may work in your gardens too. The first pointer is air circulation. There are a couple conflicts involved with recommendations for planting phlox and they seem to involve good air flow. Gardeners like to see large clumps of well flowered phlox which means that one or more varieties have been growing in close proximity for some time. That means that air flow is impeded and mildew on one clump translates to mildew on the adjacent clump. To mediate this, initially try to plant phlox three feet apart. Some gardeners even say to insure that you have planted other flowers between the phlox so the mildew cannot spread. We aren't that sure about the usefulness of that suggestion although that typically happens anyway by the manner in which we lay out our gardens.

Siting phlox in a shady area is not that good in a place like Vermont where shade is commonly manifested by everyday weather, not just adjacent trees and shrubs. We recommend you bring your plantings out and away from wood lines and anything that will create more shade than you'll see on a cloudy day. At the same time, consider air flow and try to plant where air will get in and around the phlox anytime there is wind in your area. The wood line pointer is probably more important than you think because the roots of trees and shrubs extend into adjacent gardens and interfere with water availability and retention in the phlox. Top watering encourages mildew but allowing phlox roots to go completely dry for periods also stimulates mildew. This is why we recommend morning watering so the plants can be assured of drying off before late afternoon temperature changes.

As we have found, phlox will grow in clay soil but they will not be the glorious plants we wish for. Try a soil that is more friable and has more organic matter and chances are you will be happier too. Since the height range in available plants is 15" to 42", you can experiment with all parts of your garden, front to back, and hopefully find a combination of these variables that will work best in your gardens. Remember air circulation, shade, sun, soil, root competition, and plant spacing and my guess is you will be happier with your phlox. Continue to read about new varieties that express more mildew resistance and spread the word about your success instead of sharing plants that display problems.



Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where Karl the Wonder Dog does not care about mildew but he does want to go for a walk. Phlox success! Woof! Woof!!

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