I visited the Flat Rock Sanctuary of Massachusetts Audubon recently, located in a woodsy corner of Fitchburg. The trail led up a hill loaded with large granite boulders among scrambling masses of mountain laurel glistening in the sun. This inviting path eventually evened out and was lined with a carpet of pine needles as I…
Rake off beds gradually while temperatures go back and forth, keeping some winter protection in place for a few more weeks Rake off lawns and step carefully to avoid leaving footprints in overly moist soil Prune out any damaged branches on shrubs or small trees from winter ice and snow Continue dormant pruning of fruit…
Here is an update from our friends at NOFA/Mass on the legislation to ban Glyphosate use that recently passed the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture at the State Level. There are informative links to the whys and the science behind this action in the attached article. We at Pumpkin Brook support this…
The PBOG office staff is hard at work preparing your Spring Letter, Plant Health Care Contracts, and Garden Maintenance Contracts for 2020. Watch your US mailbox for your letter. We have a target mailing date of March 2. In the meantime, if you have questions or just want to get started, please feel free to…
Plan design changes to the garden on paper Schedule a design meeting with Deanna now Fertilize houseplants with a weak solution of fish fertilizer every other week to support new growth Repot or divide overgrown houseplant specimens using fresh potting soil Monitor houseplants for signs of pests such as aphids, scale, spider mites and whiteflies…
I highly recommend a winter visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The Courtyard is always a horticultural wonder, with forced seasonal tropical plants in bloom among ancient statuary and antiquities. Even a short moment lingering at the edge of the area transports you to another world. Plan your visit here: www.gardnermuseum.org The Isabella Stewart Gardner…
Amaryllis bulbs are a popular holiday gift and are easy to care for. They should be in bloom around Valentine’s Day, just when we all need some cheer and color. I like to pot up each bulb in a 6″ round pot, with one third of its neck exposed, using regular organic potting soil. To help…
In late fall after leaf drop, we test the garden soil of our compost tea clients to determine the level of active soil biology. That means the quantity of microscopic organisms that do so much good all season long. We are looking for a minimum level of 600 parts per million on the microorganism count. We’re…
There are some wonderful garden lectures coming up in just a few weeks: Grow Native Massachusetts has a free lecture series in Cambridge that kicks off on Wednesday, February 5 with superstar speaker and scientist, Doug Tallamy. Doug’s new book will debut at this event. More info here! Groton Garden Club and Nashua River…
Kim, Deanna, Erica and Rick attended the four-day Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Organic Land Care Course at Hampshire College this month. We are expecting their certificates of completion in the mail soon, indicating that they passed their exams and have become Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals. Congratulations! In addition, Kyle and Rick are studying for the International…