All Entries in the "Henry Homeyer’s Notes from the Garden" Category
Henry Homeyer: warding against pests and diseases
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC My gardening grandfather came over from Germany around 1910. He was an organic gardener, perhaps because there were few chemicals sold to kill bugs and diseases back then. He gardened the old fashioned way: hen manure for fertilizer, hand picking to keep potato beetles under control, and a […]
Henry Homeyer: Tea at 10 feet, garden parties amid a pandemic
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC In these times, garden parties are few and far between. But if you practice social distancing (tea at 10 feet) and wear masks as needed, you can still share your garden with others. And despite all the hoopla about how people are gardening more, we all still have […]
Henry Homeyer: Everything’s coming up clovers
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Let’s face it: most of us do not have a lawn that looks like the grass on a major league infield, and I for one, don’t want one that does. Most professional ballfields are doctored weekly with chemicals: fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides. They are cut very short, and […]
Henry Homeyer: Dividing and conquering your flower garden
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC I spend a lot in plant nurseries. At $10 or more a pop, it is easy to spend a hundred dollars quick as a blink. But I’m also a firm believer in dividing my perennials so that I don’t have to spend so much. Once you have established […]
Henry Homeyer: Uncommon veggies to become acquainted with
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC I don’t mean to sound like I’m bragging, but if it will grow in Cornish Flat, N.H., I’ve probably tried it. Scorzonera? Sure, once, but I was not enthralled by this long, thin root. Peanuts? Once, didn’t get many. Gilfeather turnips? You bet. Many of the things I […]
Henry Homeyer: To plant or not to plant? That’s the timely question
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Some folks in my part of New England plant seeds in the ground on Mother’s Day and seedlings on Memorial Day weekend. Not me. Others use Mother Nature’s clues: plant spinach when the forsythia blooms, potatoes when the leaves of an oak are the size of a mouse’s […]
Henry Homeyer: Wildflowers for these wild times
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC I love wildflowers. Right now several species are blooming in my woods, and others are on their way. They are a demure smile before the serious romance of summer blossoms in the main gardens. But after winter, they are loved as much as the bodacious peonies and brilliant […]
Henry Homeyer: Let’s get the dirt, on dirt
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC As we move from dreaming to planting, we all want to offer our plants the perfect soil. This leads some gardeners to buy a big bag of 10-10-10 and sprinkle it heavily on everything. For others, manure or compost is the answer to increasing soil productivity and plant […]
Henry Homeyer: oh dear, we’ve got deer (and woodchucks)
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC I have never had much trouble with deer eating my vegetables or flowers. I know gardeners who have wept when they saw that their lovely tulips had been munched by deer just when they were achieving perfection. But I’ve always had dogs, and dogs leave scents that are […]
Henry Homeyer: Early edibles from the garden and woods
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC OK, you may not want to go to the grocery store so much anymore. Tired of eating canned beans? Want something new for your taste buds? Here are some early things I look forward to each spring. These plants are all perennials, so if you don’t have them, […]
Henry Homeyer: Inch by inch, row by row, let’s make these veggies grow
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC In uncertain times, one thing is certain: you can always depend on yourself. If you’re worried about having enough food, grow some vegetables that are nearly foolproof. Gardening is not rocket science. Here’s what you need to know: All vegetables do best in full sun. The minimum amount […]
Henry Homeyer: Planting bulbs soon for summer blooms
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Wf you’re home from work and champing at the bit to DO SOMETHING, planting some bulbs now for summer blossoms might be just your ticket. I recently got some calla lilies and sword lilies and planted them in pots. Calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) come in various colors and […]
Henry Homeyer: Feeling stuck in a room? Take to the trees and prune
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC We are lucky this March: no deep snow to keep us from approaching our fruit trees, ladder and clippers in hand. Some years we still have thigh-deep snow in March, which is the traditional time to prune our apples, pears, peaches and more. There is nothing magical about […]
Henry Homeyer: DIY spring decor to do at home
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC The world seems to be in turmoil, recent news is disconcerting at best. But I stay cheerful, and you can too, by being creative and/or by enjoying the outdoors. Being outside always perks me up. I love looking at my snowdrops, winter aconite and crocus. For creativity, I […]
Henry Homeyer: naturalistic landscaping, at a glance
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC I recently attended a lecture and slide show by Dan Jaffe, horticulturalist at Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary in Wales, Massachusetts. Dan Jaffe is a talented and passionate gardener who single handedly maintains 75 acres of woodland, meadow and bog garden. Although building self-sustaining gardens on 75 acres sounds like […]
Henry Homeyer: Bring it on! Spring flower edition
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC This year I went to my vegetable garden with a snow shovel, in late February. It was a warm, sunny day, and I was ready for spring. Now people say that old timers like me are more patient than young whipper-snappers, but I’m not sure that’s true. We […]
Henry Homeyer: Staying sane, starting your seedlings
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Winter is long, and for a gardening guy like me, winter can be oppressive. I keep sane, in part, by starting seeds indoors. I am just now getting ready to start a few plants that need a long head start before they go outside. Starting plants now means […]
Henry Homeyer: When you enjoy it so much, it doesn’t feel like work
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Ruth Stout, born in Topeka, Kansas in 1884, lived to the ripe old age of 96. She was an early proponent of organic gardening and was also (as seen from her writing) a sweet, funny, intelligent and common-sense person. I recently read her book, Gardening without Work, from cover […]
Henry Homeyer: the global impact of your green thumb
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC There is much talk these days about global warming. It’s easy to feel hopeless and to think there is nothing we can do, but a few small steps can add up to a big difference. A gardener can do a lot to help the environment. Start by growing […]
Henry Homeyer: Spring birds signal seed orders
By Henry Homeyer ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Ground Hog Day has come and gone. The big, fat rodent has made their proclamation about the arrival of spring, and of course, I paid no attention. I think the birds are better about announcing spring, but so far the cardinals are not singing their spring songs, and […]
