Happy Holidays!! Mariella and I hope to see you in the Spring

We are heading out to Kelly, Wyoming to live in the national park for the winter.  I am looking forward to catching my breath in the mountains for a while.  Thank you all so much for making this possible.  See you next Spring!

Milly Moving On

My best friend Milly died last week.  She and I shared so many adventures.  From riding on the roof of a bus together in Ecuador, to mountaineering in Wyoming; Milly was with me all the way.  She was always ready for anything.  She faced adversity without fear.  She winced not once, when I stitched a machette gash on her head sustained during a brawl with armed bandits.

She died as she lived.  Ready for adventure.  She fought for her last breath;  let out one last groan, "I love you all...", and then she leaped from the roof of this worldly bus, and into the great unknown.

Milly will always be a part of Nature's Cradle.  She loved the nursery and the attention all of the wonderful customers gave her every day.  She greeted the world with a smile.  I will bury some of her ashes here at the nursery.  Some I will scatter in the mountains of Wyoming this winter.

I know Milly's spirit is with all of us, always.

à tout à l'heure, Nature's Cradle

"A garden requires patient labor & attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them."

This quote - from Liberty Bailey, co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science - is the best way to describe my time with Nature's Cradle. Endless Thank You's to Patrick Gasparro & Raffi Ishkanian, for introducing me to the team. I regard them all as my extended family, &the nursery, my extended home. While my decision to continue on with my journey was very difficult, it was also made possible with the encouragement and support from everyone here. I believe this step will further my reach as a landscape architect. Yes, I will be back to visit ..that's what you do when you grow to love a place.

Protecting Your Curbside Garden

Some may discourage planting by the road..

But sometimes a front entry, curbside planting is just what your property calls for,

..So you do it anyway!

People will be able to appreciate your beautiful plantings when they're strolling by..

But when the snow and ice come, watch out! Salt-spray damage during winter months can be detrimental to plantings in close proximity to roads and walkways..

Have no fear! Burlap is a quick, easy and effective way to sustain your curbside garden. Call Nature's Cradle, today and put your mind to rest this winter season!

 

CONTRAST: Color, Size, Texture!

 

Something to keep in mind:

Adding contrast to your container plantings

will help make them stand out!

Take these pots for instance:

planted with dramatic annuals: 

Penilla, Angelonia, Lobelia Vinca and Potato vine ;)

Get creative; make a statement! 

I may not have the finest lawn in the summer, but I sure do have a pretty one right now, filled with lovely violets !

Just in time for Easter!

..It's not too late.. 

Get your front foundation containers done now!

We'll help you pick what works best 
for your space;   and if you want, 
we'll plant it for you, too!

I decided to live in the moment and enjoy this last bit of winter today...mixed in with our Springtime, here at the nursery....

How lovely it was!

Say, "NO! [thank you]" to Mother Nature

A little rain never hurt a garden..

 

Thanks to our Nature's Cradle rain jackets, 

installing a starter veggie garden for kids, is still possible!

Voila! 

A custom cedar planter, 

ready for planting!

 

The show will go on, rain or shine!

(even if it means getting your hands a little dirty)

 

Remember, It's your garden; 

it is what you make it

..I mean, Nature's Cradle made it :)

ROSES.....for a long season of summer color !

If you haven't already pruned your roses, go out right now with your sharpened pruners and do so...no sense in letting the plant waste precious energy on making all those leaves that you will be cutting off! Try to make all cuts to just above an outward facing bud - keeps the shrub open and airy (which roses especially like!).  (Climbing roses are an exception - wait til after they bloom to prune). Cut close to, but not quite down to the bud. That said, some of the newer, easy-care roses claim to not need as much precision as this cutting method.  I just can't bear to "whack away" as they claim you can! 

And don't forget the fertilizer - roses are needy.

If you'd like help in selecting the right rose for you, just ask!

In spite of today's weather, I am reminded of the beginning of the explosion of color in the garden... some lovely finds this past week while gardening.. bold upright peony shoots, my first vinca flower of the season, and more!

Flower Power!

Last Sunday, 

Farmer John taught kid's

how to plant seeds..  

While Melissa painted peaceful,

 Spring-inspired face paint designs!

 

Say "Hi" to Raffi's kids,

Stefan & Ani!

They took part in the festivities, too!

 

  One thing's for sure..

Everyone left the nursery

 SMILING!

    

Stay tuned for more kid-friendly

 Nature's Cradle Events 2014!

Privet & Pansies, please!

A simple way to dress up a resale & define your property!

Cost-effective. Quick & easy to install. Attractive.

    

Healing flowers

 Our crew brought the healing power of colorful spring flowers to Greenwich Hospital last week!

They will bring the sun and warm weather -- we promise:)

Thanks for the great photos, Raffi!

Rough winter...

Freeze, ice melt, thaw . Freeze, ice melt, thaw. Freeze, ice melt, thaw. Repeat. You know how long that went on ...

This cycle led to a lot of stress on your hard scape. Time to get at it - let's fix it!

Baking Organic!

Raffi spent his free time this weekend making a delicious loaf with our 100% organic flour supplied by our farm cooperative.

Even the toughest critics liked it!!

Yum!

The flour is available for purchase at our store, or by signing up for one our Farmer's Cooperative fresh produce packages (flour would be a special request item). Call us at (914) 779-8723 to sign up -- or drop in to buy some today!

Landscape Design Team Member -- Mikenzie Norwood

All of us here at Nature's Cradle would like to welcome Mikenzie Norwood to our landscape design team! 

Here is her introduction:

Mikenzie on-site at an installation

A small backyard installation in Queens

Hi -- I moved to New York in 2008 and received a Master’s degree in Landscape Design from Columbia University in 2011. I have been designing rooftop gardens and brownstone backyards in Manhattan for the past several years, and am excited to be designing on a larger scale for Nature's Cradle clients.

In addition to my design degree, I have taken extensive classes in botany at the New York Botanical Garden and studied horticulture at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum in Boston. 

My designs center around the existing 'sense of place' of a landscape, and aim to enhance both its beauty and functionality. I love using a broad plant palette, with plant combinations highlighting the inspiring and enchanting qualities of the natural world. 

Working in Manhattan offered plenty of opportunities for container design

Mikenzie's fire escape garden

I share Nature's Cradle's green philosophy and incorporate native plants into my designs whenever possible. I hope my enthusiasm about plants and design is contagious and that, through working with me, my clients gain a new appreciation of their outdoor space.

I have fallen in love with southern Westchester county, and am in the process of purchasing an apartment in the area. In my free time I enjoy hiking, gardening, sketching, bad reality tv, and reading about plants:)

Rain Water Recycling

It is easy to think about harvesting your rainwater on a day like today.  Why let all that storm-water runoff  confound an already overwhelmed and outdated sewer system.  Collect, store and use that rainwater for your garden!  Your plants and the planet will love you for it.

Sometimes, during heavy rain and snow storms, combined sewers receive higher than normal flows. Treatment plants are unable to handle flows that are more than twice design capacity and when this occurs, a mix of excess storm water and untreated waste water discharges directly into the City’s waterways at certain outfalls. This is called a combined sewer overflow (CSO). We are concerned about CSOs because of their effect on water quality and recreational uses.   Do your part; use a rain-barrel or rainwater collection system.  

At Nature's Cradle we can capture up to 7000 gallons of rain water per rain event.  Of course we have loads more plants to water than you all, but even if you capture 50 or 100 gallons it will help.  And your flowers and will smile wonderful blooms in thanks for that sweet natural rain water.

 Benefits of Using a Rain Barrel

• Saves money. Some households devote almost 40% of their summer water consumption to irrigation needs. Using stored rainwater to water your lawn or garden can reduce your household water usage, which may help save you money on your water bill.
• Improves harbor water quality. By diverting stormwater from the sewer system during rainy days, a rain barrel decreases stormwater run-off which carries pollutants from paved surfaces into groundwater and rivers.
• Keeps your plants healthy. Plants prefer non-chlorinated organic rainwater—it is one of the best ways to keep your garden or lawn healthy all summer long.
• Free car washes. Use stored rainwater to keep your car clean at no cost.
• Eco-friendly and sustainable. Capturing and using your own rainwater is an easy step towards sustainability, lowers your carbon foot print, and teaches conservation. 

Many communities in the United States face serious threats to a safe,steady supply of water. These include a longstanding reliance on centralized water delivery systems that results in urban areas and agencies largely overlooking opportunities to integrate alternate local sources of water to meet their water supply needs; the unnecessary use of potable water for non-potable uses, such as outdoor landscape irrigation and indoor
toilet flushing; climate change; and continually increasing areas of impervious surfaces in our landscape that result in storm water runoff carrying pollution to our rivers, lakes, and beaches. Although the problems of water supply and water pollution can be complex, practical solutions for both are available now, such as
capturing and using rainwater from rooftops. Rooftop rainwater capture is a simple, cost-effective approach for supplying water that promotes sustainable water management. By using rainwater rather than allowing it to run off of paved surfaces to pick up pollutants and carry them to nearby surface waters. The practice provides numerous benefits: an Inexpensive, on-site supply of water that can be used for outdoor non-potable uses with little, if any, treatment, or for a variety of additional uses including potable supply with appropriately higher levels of treatment. Reduced (or no) energy and economic costs associated with treating and delivering potable water to end users because capture systems often use low-volume, non-pressurized, gravity fed systems or require only the use of a low power pump for supply. Reduced strain on existing water supply sources. Reduced runoff that would otherwise contribute to storm water
flows, a leading cause of surface water pollution and urban flooding

Water quality and its potential impact on human health is a consideration when using rooftop rainwater
capture. While rooftop runoff may contain pollutants, these pollutants are generally found in significantly lower concentrations and without many of the toxic contaminants that may be picked up by the rooftop runoff after it mobilizes off-site and flows over other impervious surfaces such as streets and parking lots. Overall, limiting rainwater use to non-potable applications such as toilet or urinal flushing, or hose bibs (or wall spigots) for irrigation water “presents little human health risk,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  With proper care, rooftop rainwater capture can be a useful part of a holistic 21st Century water policy.

http://www.nrdc.org/water/files/rooftoprainwatercapture.pdf

Please follow the above link to read the full article from the National Resources Defense Council for a more complete explanation of the need for rainwater recycling.

March Gardening Tips

March Gardening Tips:

 

Begin to clean out the debris in your garden beds. Be careful not to damage any emerging bulbs or perennials. To avoid spreading disease, be sure to bag all leaves and other debris and throw it away.

Plant pansies! Perfect pansy plants are arriving daily.

Give your lawn a good raking to remove winter's debris and thatch.  Heavy raking of a wet lawn will only tear the grass out of the soil, so do wait until it is dry.  We recommend a 24" Steel Leaf Rake for this job!
Test the pH of your lawn.  The pH is a measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The scale runs from 0 to 14, with lower numbers indicating more acidic soil. A pH of 7 is neutral. The ideal pH for lawn grasses is 6.5 to 7.0. It is within this range that the grass roots will absorb the important nutrients they need most efficiently. If needed, lime can be applied to raise the pH.  Stop by with the results of your pH test and we will help you determine how much lime you need for your lawn.

Believe it or not, it is already time to look for weeds!   Remove annual winter weeds like chickweed, bitter cress, and annual bluegrass before they go to seed.
 

Deer, rabbits and squirrels are hungry after a long winter, and your newly emerging bulbs and perennials look like candy to them!  Protect them with organic animal repellents.  We can help you choose the right product for your particular garden.
 

Bulbs are also hungry after a long winter! Feed them with an organic bulb food high in phosphorous to give them a healthy start to the season.

Use a Horticultural Spray Oil on insect eggs, and eliminate one problem before it starts!  This is a great product, but it does have some weather and plant restrictions, so please be sure to check with our garden experts for advice.

Finish pruning grapevines and fruit trees, except peaches and apricots, which are pruned after flowering. Raspberry canes that produced last year can be cut back and new canes can be topped off.
Fertilize rhubarb and asparagus with a general purpose organic fertilizer or cow manure.

Peas are traditionally planted in the middle of the month, but with our cold, wet weather the soil had not been ready. We hope conditions are ready soon, but be careful not to sow them if the soil is too wet and cold as they will rot. Other vegetables that can be planted directly from seed or plants outdoors now are: onions, kale, cabbage, beets, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, arugula, chives, parsley.  Spring vegetables are arriving daily, ready to plant in your garden!

Prune roses after bud break. Remove all dead wood and crossed branches rubbing against each other. Try to prune so the bush grows outward so as to allow for good air movement.
Start spraying roses as soon as the canes leaf out to prevent insect and disease problems.
 

Near the end of the month, begin feeding acid-loving evergreens (azaleas, rhododendrons, and holly) with Hollytone.
 

As the days continue to lengthen, begin pruning summer and fall blooming shrubs, such as buddleia, caryopteris, rose of Sharon, etc.

SPRING IDEAS FOR THAT SHADY CORNER IN YOUR YARD:

SPRING IDEAS FOR THAT SHADY CORNER IN YOUR YARD:

Polygonatum (Solomon Seal) is a lovely woodland plant to add to your shade garden. Its dainty flowers will bloom in spring and its airy leaf structure can be a pleasant backdrop  to your summer garden display; the variegated  variety will grab more attention. Its rhizomes slowly spread if the soil is sufficiently rich and moist.

Polemonium (Jacob’s Ladder) is a clumping plant that will brighten up your woodland garden when the variegated variety is used. It does need moisture to keep looking good.  It has lovely little blue flowers in the spring, but its foliage is definitely its selling point.

Pulmonaria (lungwort) is known for its large, spotted leaves from which spring pretty bright colored pink to blue and purple flowers in the spring.

Myosotis (Forget Me Nots) can take full sun if sufficiently moist; otherwise part shade will do. Moisture also extends the bloom time. Is technically a biennial that readily reseeds and will spread throughout the garden.  Forget-me-nots are a pleasing early season cover to your garden that will be overtaken by the summer perennials that will begin to push out and tower over these low plants. New plants will pop up here and there and if not disturbed, will return in full force next spring!