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Alan Titchmarsh tips to get garden ready for summer

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New planting

When it comes to planting new trees, shrubs, woody climbers and fruit, a lot of people leave it until Easter is approaching, since that’s their first real opportunity to get to grips with the garden. Although autumn is the traditional time for planting anything with bare roots, now is perfect for pot-grown plants. Two groups in particular benefit from being planted at this time of year: evergreens and perennials. Evergreens always take best when planted at the start of their growing season, and perennials die down in winter, so it’s only now that they’re making new growth – which means you can see what you’re getting with no risk of buying a “dead pot”. Plant now and they will become established in time to put on a good show, even though it’s their first season. 

To get new pot-grown plants off to a flying start, dig a planting hole that’s roughly twice the size of the pot, then work plenty of well-rotted compost (or bought soil improver) into the base of the planting hole, along with half a handful of general fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone. If you are planting roses, or you’ve just bought a rare, unusual or expensive shrub and want to give it the best possible start, it’s worth using a product containing mycorrhizal fungi when you plant it. These products are sold in garden centres, in sachets or packets, and the contents act in partnership with the roots in exactly the same way as trees and fungi work together in woodlands. Treated plants become established quickly and the fungus helps them take up nutrients from the soil more efficiently, so they grow better and stronger. For best results, don’t stir the stuff into the soil. Sprinkle the dose on top of improved soil in the base of the planting hole, then tip the plant out of its pot and sit it on top so the base of the root ball is in direct contact with the product. 

Make sure the plant is at the right depth: as a general rule, the top of the root ball should end up just buried (especially if you’ll be surrounding the plant with mulch afterwards). But in the case of clematis, plant so the surface of the root ball is two or three inches below the surface of the soil, so it can recover if the above-ground stems are killed off by careless hoeing or clematis wilt.

Fill the gap between the root ball and the edge of the planting hole with some of the soil you originally dug out, mixed with more organic matter. Next firm and (if needed) stake, then finally water it well in. A couple of pieces of broken paving laid around the stem will give a clematis the cool root-run it loves.

Judi Lloyd: Problem-solving tips and tricks in the garden

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I’ve compiled a list of my favorite tips to keep you growing in the right direction. And, thank you to my friend, Vincie, in Denver for some of them.

• Use a plant pot or pail and dry sand to store your trowels and other small tools in. The sand will keep them standing up and free of rust.

• If you’re constantly making trips back to the spot where you keep your garden tools (although that’s good exercise), get an old mailbox and decorate it. Put it on the opposite side of your yard from where you store most of your tools. Then store small tools, gloves, hand cream, etc. in it; so now you have two spots for your stuff.

• If you have some old leaky buckets, don’t toss them in the trash, as they make great slow waterers for trees and shrubs.  Set a filled bucket near a plant and leave it there.  The water will leak out of the holes slowly into the soil, where it will help the plants instead of running off the top.

• When planting seedlings, it is difficult to water the roots without dousing the tiny plant. You can make a reusable collar for them by cutting up short sections from corrugated plastic drain tile. When placed around the plant, it will act as a small reservoir and deter some critters. It can be left on the plant all season, so no need to remove it.

• Use an old salt shaker to sow small seeds. It will distribute them more evenly.

• Save the string sacks that onions, oranges and potatoes come in to dry and store flower bulbs at the end of the season. Never store them in plastic bags as they will rot.

• Never transplant a seedling until it has at least four leaves. This second set (called true leaves) is needed to help withstand transplant shock. Never transplant on a sunny day.

• Remove the flowers from lilies as soon as they begin to fade. This not only makes the plant more attractive, but also prevents seed formation, and allows the plant to concentrate its energy on renewing the bulb. You should cut off the flowers, but leave the foliage because the leaves are important for efficient photosynthesis. Wait until the leaves turn yellow before you cut them.

On another note: The Cooperative Extension’s third Saturday workshop is scheduled for April 19 at 10 a.m. The program will focus on centipede grass maintenance and problem solving. As always, we’ll meet in Craven County Agricultural Building. This event is free and open to the public and no pre-registration is needed. Also, don’t forget about the one-hour third Monday plant discussion on April 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.

 

Judi Lloyd lives in River Bend and can be contacted at judilloyd@yahoo.com.

 

Restaurant horror stories; garden planning tips

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ASHLAND —
In my couponing classes, I always had fun with everyone by telling them gross restaurant stories. In encouraging them to eat at home more and save their money, I was also teaching them how much cleaner it is. According to a source, who is a food service inspector (not here in Ashland), there are many things you simply don’t want to know about eating out.

Soft-drink machines are often cleaned inside about once a year. In the filter can be dead mice, roaches and filth you can’t imagine.

Gas-station coffee depends on the heat of the coffee to kill germs. Ever wonder why it’s so hot you can’t drink it for 20 minutes? I always ask people who have worked in the food-service industry what happens behind the scenes with the food. My favorite question is: “Do they really spit in food if they don’t like the patron?” Well, little evil smiles abound in the room.

Things to notice: Does the waitress/waiter have fingers on the plate during serving? Does he or she handle money or debit cards? There are lots of germs on money and credit cards to get on a plate. Does your fork or knife have a fingerprint on it? How about fingers on the rim of a glass when serving? This is where your mouth will be.

Many items are reheated over and over again. Most foods are microwaved and employees simply heat and stir. Food at most “chain” restaurants is trucked in and microwaved onsite to keep the taste consistent with other restaurants. You can microwave a meal at home much cheaper.

Movie-theater popcorn usually is delivered in huge bags. You don’t really know how old it is or what it has come into contact with.

In the South, including North and South Carolina, restaurants must post their cleanliness ratings on the drive-through window. They have good incentive to keep ratings high.

If a restaurant restroom is dirty, I believe the kitchen probably is, too. Other things to look for: filth under appliances and dirty counters, tables and floors. Also look for food set out, flies, roaches, bread dough in containers on the floor white worms in the salad.

By cooking at home in large quantities, you can freeze meals to fix quickly. We know if it was handled in a safe, clean manner. Demand better from the restaurant where you dine. We all have to eat out sometimes, either on vacation or because things are hectic. Hospital cafeterias rate as some of the cleanest places.

Read the food-service inspection reports in The Independent, and then decide whether or not to eat at a particular business.

Plan a garden

Eat something healthy! Some are planting sugar snap peas and kale now. If you have a problem with deer eating your plants, think of investing in an electric fence. Lowe’s has them. This is not a cruel thing. The fence simply snaps and scares the deer away.

Blood meal also works, but it has to be put down every time it rains. If a deer smells the blood meal, it thinks it isn’t safe, believing something was killed there. This also works for rabbits. Simply line the perimeter of your yard or garden with the meal.

Garden tilling is a needed job in the area. It would be a lucrative business in the spring. Lots of people want a garden, but are unable to till soil, or they don’t have the money for a machine tiller. A backyard garden is a real money saver, and it allows your family to eat quality food.

Kohl’s

Since we are getting a Kohl’s next year, we need to research how to shop the store. Kohl’s Cash is earned on the amount of purchases after discounts.

You can “stack” at Kohls, just like you can at CVS. Imagine a clothing and housewares store that stacks! My friend, Nancy, bought a red Kitchenaid mixer for $120. It normally would be in the $350 range. By using a 30-percent-off coupon and Kohl’s cash, she got a great deal.

The Kohl’s Reward Card adds up your points. Be sure and save your coupons from the newspaper when Kohl’s starts running ads. Every month, if you have a Kohl’s charge card, you will get coupons of 15 percent to 30 percent. Birthday time will net you a $10 Kohl’s Buck. You can earn Kohl’s Bucks on limited-time promos. You can stack a percent off and Kohl’s Cash. You can earn Kohl’s Cash by shopping online, too. If you shop Ebates, you’ll earn even more.

New products

Oxi has new line, including New Oxi Clean with White Revive, and  a $1 coupon. It’s advertised to work on dirty socks, old vintage linens, quilts and lace.

Oxi Clean Detergent: $2 coupon

Tide with Oxi

Gain with Oxi Boost

Oxi Clean Baby Stain Soaker with a pink lid

Oxi Clean Dishwasher Booster: 75-cent coupon

Clorox Disinfecting Spray, which reduces allergens

Oxi is great for more than laundry. Put your oven racks in the tub and soak them in Oxi. You can clean tubs, grout and charcoal grills. It removes rust stains, stains from coffee pots, tea stains in mugs or china, kitchen sinks and mildew.

Ice Imports targets men with swords, dragon statues, ‘Magic’ card competitions

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One piece of advice, offered by a woman wise in the way of flea markets, always stuck with Eric Meyer: “Always stay until the end.” And, sure enough, one day a few years back while tending a booth at the Jewett City Flea Market, he doubled his day’s sales by being one of the last to close up shop.

Meyer has since parlayed his flea market experience into one of the Crystal Mall’s most well-established independent stores, Ice Imports, which since 2006 has offered a collection of male-oriented gifts – swords and pocket knives, dragon statues and mineral specimens – not to mention an area in the back for “Magic: The Gathering” competitions.

He opened another Ice Imports store in 2011 with similar merchandise at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor and has been contemplating a possible foray into franchising the concept.

“It just took off,” Meyer said. “I just kept chasing the money.”

Meyer, who grew up in Montville and Norwich but lives in Colchester, had been selling at fairs and flea markets since 2001. It wasn’t paying the bills so he also worked a side job doing landscaping.

With family encouragement, he had been pursuing a cart at the mall when a 700-square-foot store became available at almost the same price. He and his wife, Danielle, worked 12 hours a day to launch the store. They joke that Sunday’s eight-hour schedule constitutes a day off.

“I don’t know what got into my head about money, but I always had to pursue it,” Meyer said.

The pursuit sometimes has led him astray, he said, such as a four-year nightmare of helping out relatives with Meyer Deli at the mall’s food court, a venture he calls an expensive learning experience. He has since decided to stick with the market he knows: cool stuff for the 16-to-35-year-old crowd.

“‘Mom wouldn’t let me have this stuff when I was young’ – that’s what drives the business,” he said.

Another side of the business is “Magic: The Gathering,” which in some ways is a complete departure from the gift shop. In the back of the store, a group – comprised largely of young men – work their Magic cards in a competition, which players say offers mental stimulation and a sense of community.

“We’re all just one Magic-playing family,” Zack Lemmon of East Lyme said as he play with friends Tanner Hall of Norwich and Cain Rianhard of East Lyme. “I just like having all my friends in one place.”

Magic, which dates back to the 1990s and at last count was played by about 12 million people worldwide, is described as easy to learn but with strategic complexities.

“It’s like poker meets chess,” said Hall, who used to play in world poker tournaments.

Meyer added the card game to the mix at his now 1,400-square-foot store – he has been at three different mall locations through the years – after partnering with a former employee in a Magic store and then bailing out when relationships soured, he said. After a two-year noncompete agreement, he decided to add the game to his mix, and the result has seen increased sales from players seeking new Magic cards.

“Nerd is the new cool,” Meyer said.

Just to prove it, he travels the world, mixing fun with a search for interesting new imports. Morocco, Rome and Istanbul are a few of the cities he has visited to check out hot new items and develop ideas for the store.

“From my mom, I inherited an ability to see what’s hot and what’s cool,” Meyer said. “I have the blessed ability to see a little ahead of the curve.”

Key, too, are some excellent employees, who are eligible for monthly bonuses when the individual stores hit sales targets, he said.

“Without the support of these people, I would never have been able to find my way through some of the darker times,” he said.

The recession years were particularly tough, he added, a time when he had to learn a lot about debt and inventory management.

“I love business,” Meyer said. “I like the hustle.”

The Crystal Mall store works well because it is conducive to impulse purchases from people just walking by, he said. His other store near Hartford is in an outdoor mall where impulse buys are less likely and “Magic: The Gathering” is a larger part of the equation.

Meyer also has developed a strong online presence, shipping items as far away as Japan, Spain and Italy. He recently returned from a trip to Montreal where he was part of a big Magic tournament, spending two days selling, buying and trading cards.

But as he recalls his retail beginnings, he always harkens back to those days at the Jewett City Flea Market when he kept experimenting with different product lines until he got it right.

“Flea markets are incubators for businesses,” he said. “You can grow out of them.”

l.howard@theday.com

Fine Design Living, One of the GTAs Leading Boutique Design and Build Firms …

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April 11, 2014 —

Fine Design Living, One of the GTAs Leading Boutique Design and Build Firms, Reminds Consumers That Spring is Not Just for Outdoor Renovations

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

Fine Design Living (http://www.FineDesignLiving.com), one of the Greater Toronto Areas leading boutique design and build firms, specializing in high-quality exterior and interior custom renovations for residential and commercial clients, is advising consumers to keep in mind the benefits of indoor spring renovation projects.

The warm spring weather brings with it the allure of planning artistic landscaping design ideas. However, its important to acknowledge the benefits of having designers and general contractors work on the inside of ones home as well.

As soon as spring hits, its easy for homeowners to get caught up with backyard landscaping and front yard landscaping ideas, says Braden White, owner of Fine Design Living. However, upgrading the interior of the home can add personal and monetary value.

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The kitchen and bathroom still add the most monetary value to homes, and a recent poll shows that Canadians appear to be following this trend by allocating most of their funds toward these areas. But White notes that personal spaces should not be ignored; while taking the time to design a bedroom or living room may not be as lucrative, it goes a long way to adding comfort to any home, particularly those homes with young children. (Source: CIBC Poll: Renovation Nation? Canadians say they’ll spend almost 30 per cent more on home renos in 2014, Yahoo! Finance, March 27, 2014; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cibc-poll-renovation-nation-canadians-080000148.html.)

According to White, one of the ways homeowners can add value and comfort to their house is by conducting an artistic interior design project on the basement. While a finished basement can yield a return of up to 75%, homeowners can also add an immediate personal touch by having it double as a game room for the kids, an extra living area, or a home office. (Source: Ducas, I., Return on renovation costs: How much will you get back?” Style at Home web site; http://www.styleathome.com/homes/renovating/return-on-renovation-costs-how-much-will-you-get-back/a/882.)

Homeowners often misjudge just how beneficial it can be to have a finished basement, White observes. That space can be utilized in so many different ways and have multiple functions. And when or if it comes time to sell, the return on the investment can be substantial.

Beautifying a home with a new deck, swimming pool, or some other intricate landscaping design is certainly a great idea, especially for the spring and summer season, when more time will be spent outdoors, in backyards and sitting on the patio, soaking up the suns rays, White concludes. Thats why homeowners should hire a landscaping company like Fine Design Living. We will put the same amount of attention to detail to the inside of a home as we will to the outside.

Fine Design Living is a boutique design and build firm that specializes in high-quality exterior and interior custom renovations for both residential and commercial clients. From unique landscape designs and landscape construction to custom interior renovations, Fine Design Living is committed to providing the highest-quality workmanship and is backed by a personalized approach to service excellence. Based out of Markham, Fine Design Living serves customers in Toronto and the GTA, including Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan, Newmarket, Unionville, Aurora, and Stouffville. More information about Fine Design Living is available by visiting the firm’s web site at http://www.FineDesignLiving.com or by calling 416-817-6128.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/spring-is-not-just/for-outdoor-renovations/prweb11756308.htm.


Southview Design Offers Easy Landscaping Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal

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Southview Design Offers Easy Landscaping Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal

PRWEB.COM Newswire

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) March 31, 2014

With spring-like weather on its way, Southview Design has several easy landscaping ideas for homeowners who want to increase their home’s curb appeal.

“Whether you’re planning on selling a home or staying put, putting time and money into the front landscaping is a great investment,” said Karen Filloon, a landscape designer with Southview Design. “First impressions are everything, especially if you’re thinking about selling. It can determine whether your home is a drive-by or a must-see.”

According to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR), the Twin Cities is in a seller’s market, because the demand for homes far outstrips the supply of homes currently for sale. In fact, MAAR reports that the inventory of homes for sale is at an 11-year low. Although the average sale price of a home in the Twin Cities area is up 12.6 percent over last year, homes that are in “move-in” condition tend to sell faster and for more than those that need a lot of work, according to real estate professionals.

Filloon said that early spring is the best time to take a good look at your front yard from across the street to see the big picture. Do the exterior and/or front door need to be painted? Are the driveway, front walk and steps in good repair? Are the front walkway and doorway well lit and inviting?

After you take care of the hardscape basics, it’s time to address your home’s front landscaping. Filloon has three key tips for using landscaping to increase the curb appeal of your home:

1. Replace overgrown or badly pruned shrubs and small ornamental trees.

2. Top-dress the plant beds with a fresh inch of hardwood mulch.

3. Add ‘pops’ of seasonal color in the front beds or container gardens near the front door.

“Of course, taking care of your lawn is a must,” Filloon said. “Avoid the temptation to irrigate in the spring just to get the grass growing. Allow it to green up naturally. Mow frequently but avoid scalping, and don’t start to irrigate until the dry conditions of early summer cause turf wilt.”

Filloon also said that if the lawn is beyond repair, the fastest way to fix it is to start over again with fresh sod. However, she said that fresh sod or a freshly seeded lawn may take several weeks of special care before it’s well established, so it’s important to get that started well before putting the home on the market.

For photos and front yard landscaping ideas, visit http://www.SouthviewDesign.com and the section on how to enhance the curb appeal of your home.

One of the largest and fastest growing landscaping companies in MN, Southview Design is expert in residential and commercial landscape planning, construction and design. Founded in 1978, Southview has completed over 5,000 landscaping projects. Listed among the top 25 fastest growing landscape firms in the U.S., Southview’s landscape designs have garnered awards from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and the Minnesota Chapter of NARI. For more information, visit http://www.southviewdesign.com.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11717591.htm

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Garden calendar: Gardening events for the week of April 13-26

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Michigan Orchid Society’s 60th Annual Palm Sunday Orchid Show: Display of orchids, plus orchids and orchid supplies available for purchase. Speakers will discuss repotting and growing orchids. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. United Food and Commercial Workers Union Hall, 876 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights. Free. Carolyn Butcher: 248-417-1024. www.miorchids.com.

Northville Novi Garden Club Meeting: “Ponds” presented by Joe Barson, Barson’s Greenhouse. 6:30 p.m. social, 7 p.m. meeting Mon. Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady, Northville. Membership: $25 single, $35 couple. Connie: 248-380-0500. gardenersnorthville-novi.org.

Yardeners of St. Clair Shores: “Landscaping to Preserve Water Quality” with Mary Gerstenberger, consumer horticulture coordinator at Macomb MSU Extension. 7 p.m. Mon. St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 E. Eleven Mile, St. Clair Shores. Free. 586-415-7110. There also will be an opportunity to pre-order rain barrels ($55, $60) to be delivered on May 10 at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse.

Mt. Clemens Garden Club: Presentation by Telly’s Greenhouse on new plants and flowers for 2014. Noon Wed. Mt. Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass, Mt. Clemens. $3 nonmember free. RSVP. Marge: 586-228-8921.

Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association (SEMBA): “Garden Design” with Carolyn Sohoza. Discuss ways to begin, expand and enhance your garden to attract wildlife, especially butterflies. 7 p.m. Wed. Nankin Mills Nature Center, 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland. $3 for nonmembers. 734-223-5510. www.sembabutterfly.com.

Heirloom Vegetables: Organic gardener, Jean Smith, will share her passion for growing and cooking with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce and more. 6:30 p.m. Thu. Telly’s Greenhouse, 3301 John R, Troy. $5. Register. 248-689-8735. www.tellys.com.

Night Hike at Heritage Park: Listen for nocturnal animals and observe a full moon in the night sky. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Fri. Farmington Hills Nature Center at Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington , Farmington Hills. $3. Register or pay the night of program, but space is limited. 248-477-1135. https://recreg.fhgov.com.

Signs of Spring Hike: See the tree buds opening, new bird arrivals and more. Dress for the weather. 1 p.m. Sat., Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Twp. $3. Register. 586-463-4332.

Next week

Invasive Plant Workday: Removing garlic mustard is a great opportunity for community service hours and master gardener hours. Bring gloves and water. 1 p.m. April 20. Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford, Dryden. 810-796-3200. www.sevenponds.org.

Ann Arbor Bonsai Society Meeting: With Greg Afman discussing his experiences in Japan, his bonsai apprenticeship, and the American/Japanese perspective on bonsai. 7 p.m. April 23. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro, Ann Arbor. Free. 734-647-7600. www.annarborbonsaisociety.org.

Meadow Brook Hall Garden Club: “Not Just Another Pretty Plant: Using Plants for Improving Water Resources,” With Tom Fernandez, PhD, MSU. Coffee and refreshments at 9:15 a.m., program starts at 10 a.m. April 25. Coach House adjacent to Meadow Brook Hall, Oakland University, 280 S. Adams, Rochester Hills. Guests, $5 donation. Membership fee is $30 a year, $45 for couple. 248-364-6210. www.meadowbrookhall.org/join/volunteering.

Detroit River Cleanup: Cleanup of the shores and small islands in the lower Detroit River. Sponsored by Friends of the Detroit River. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26. Trenton Rotary Park, 1 Harrison, Trenton. Call for more information. 734-676-4626. www.detroitriver.org.

International Herb Day Celebration: Herbs bring joy and well-being and are used in food, beverages, medicine, beauty products, crafts and more. There will be cooking demonstrations, gardening tips, seminars, activities and a wide variety of plants and products for sale. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 26. MSU Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 W. Monroe (M-50), Tipton. $5, free for HLG members. 517-431-2060. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

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E-mail: events@freepress.com

These 11 Incredible Backyard Gardens Are What Dreams Are Made Of (PHOTOS)

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Not only does springtime signal the start of chirping birds and blossoming buds, but it marks the time that we can finally escape to the outdoors without getting slapped with a polar vortex. And, as these 11 gorgeous gardens from our friends at Porch.com prove, a backyard can be just the retreat you need from the daily grind. While we’d be content with a deck chair and a patch of green grass, these stunning spaces boast incredible landscaping, views and even a few water features. To see even more photos, click on the project name under each picture.

Which one would you like to call your warm weather retreat?

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

  • Porch.com

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New Mount Vernon exhibit introduces George Washington the landscaper

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As a young surveyor and before serving as our country’s first president, George Washington developed the ability to measure up a landscape and to take advantage of its natural features. He also had an eye for spatial awareness. Washington learned by observation, by reading, and by the study of new styles of landscape design.

Later, he put those skills to use creating a landscape plant for his now-historic home, Mount Vernon in Fairfax, along the banks of the Potomac River, according to Mount Vernon curators.

The public can see Washington’s vision and purpose for the estate’s grounds in a new exhibit “Gardens Groves: George Washington’s Landscape and Mount Vernon.” The exhibit includes five 18th-century views of Mount Vernon – oil paintings of the river and land fronts of the mansion. Two special drawings that detail the layout of the grounds will be on view through Sunday, Aug. 17, while the entire exhibit can be seen until January 2016.

“These artwork records record details of the landscape we would not otherwise know, information that continues to inform our ongoing research and restoration efforts,” says exhibit curator Adam Erby.

Built in stages 1758-1778, Washington’s estate and its gardens are owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, which was founded as a preservation group in 1853.

When George Washington returned to Mount Vernon after the American Revolution, 1775-1783, he found the estate needed extensive repairs and improvements. The buildings and grounds surrounding the mansion lacked a cohesive design because they had happened over time out of necessity rather than beauty, according to curators. Instead, he wanted a plan for “pleasure grounds” that enhanced the site’s natural beauty, which featured the crest of a hill overlooking the Potomac River.

The landscape

Three of the four primary gardens — the upper or pleasure garden; the fruit garden and nursery; and the botanical garden — have all been restored to their 18th-century appearance, using recent research and archaeological evidence as guidelines.

“The lower or kitchen garden remains as it was implemented in 1937, based on research at the time and its design is reflective of the Colonial Revival landscape movement,” says Dean Norton, director of horticulture

Washington included a modern greenhouse in the upper garden, according to curators.

Completed in 1789, the building housed his semi-tropical and tropical plants during winter months. In the spring, container plants were put out in the garden. Tall triple-hung windows allowed beneficial southern light, and could be opened to allow good air flow. A heating system with a stove room on the north side of the greenhouse attached to a series of flues that ran under the stone floor, heating the floor of the greenhouse.

Original gardens

The lower or kitchen garden was the first space created in 1760. It was a garden of necessity, benefiting survival and good health. For 254 years, vegetables, fruits and berries have been cultivated within those garden walls.

The upper garden began in 1763 as a fruit and nut garden but became a pleasure place when Washington began his new landscape plan. Pleasure gardens — plots of flowers were grown for beauty and not for use — were not that common in the 18th century. Even in Washington’s pleasure garden, flowers were only grown in borders that surrounded larger beds of edibles.

The botanical garden was Washington’s own experimental space. He fondly called this small space his little garden and kept detailed records as to what he planted and where, according to curators. The space was intended to try out different types of plants that might be “Virginia-proof,” or could survive the harsh conditions of both winter and the summer.

The area known as the fruit garden and nursery began as a failed attempt at a vineyard, according to curators. Today, fruit trees are planted in the arrangement that Washington recorded in his diaries. The nursery area was where plants that required more space were planted: grasses, vegetables and ornamentals.

Diary notes

At age 16, in his “Journal of my Journey over the Mountains” he wrote “… about 4 miles higher up the river we went through the most beautiful Groves of Sugar trees spent the best part of the Day admiring the Trees and the richness of the land.”

Washington loved nature and upon return from the Revolutionary War he decided to mimic nature by creating a naturalistic garden. He spent 18 months on the design. Once it was completed, he returned to his passion — farming — and let the gardeners he hired take care of day-to-day maintenance.

Through his letters and diary entries, Washington left a great deal of information about his plans for Mount Vernon Estate. And there are a few drawings, for example, the arrangement of greenhouse spaces and the ha-ha wall (a landscape barrier that keeps grazing animals from entering turf spaces) on the east lawn.

Gardening Tips: Magic wand solutions for fairy rings in lawns

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Posted: Friday, April 11, 2014 11:29 am

Gardening Tips: Magic wand solutions for fairy rings in lawns

By Matthew Stevens

The Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids, NC

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In early to mid April each year, Bermuda grass that has laid dormant for months begins to emerge from its winter sleep. Often this can be an ideal time to notice potential problems with Bermuda lawns. One such problem that often becomes quite apparent at this time is known as fairy rings.

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Friday, April 11, 2014 11:29 am.