Here in the Northeast we are still in the grips of winter and although we have left January 18^th behind, which according to some mental health experts is “the bottom” in terms of the winter blues, there remain several long weeks until we can welcome spring.  So imagine my surprise the other afternoon when I looked out the window and saw 3-4 blue flashes go by and land in the small sugar maple near our house.  My Eastern Bluebirds had returned or had possibly just come out from their winter hiding spots long enough to find one of their favorite winter foods which include seeds/ berries from the dogwood, hawthorn, wild grape, sumac, hackberry, blackberry, bayberry, Eastern Juniper and pokeberry bushes. 

We were excited to finally welcome this species in our yard last summer, of whose colors it has been said carry the blue of heaven on their back and the rich brown of freshly turned earth on their breast.  They were named the “blue robin” by early settlers of the Plymouth Colony because the friendly, cheerful songster reminded them of their beloved English robin redbreast.  Unfortunately, the once common Eastern Bluebird suffered a decline in numbers from the late 1800s through the 1980s.  Significant factors contributing to this decline were changing land use patterns, loss of open field habitats and widespread pesticide use.  Competition from introduced European starlings and house sparrows also played a role in the decline of bluebird populations through the reduction of suitable and available nesting cavities.

Although I am happy to welcome my Bluebirds back, I have a concern with where they are going to nest.  Two dead trees on our property, one a large white birch which I knew they actively nested in last season, toppled over during late fall and winter storms.  I am going to employ the use of several nesting houses this coming season, such as this one crafted by Paul Anthony, in hopes I can encourage them to stay.  Other house designs and habitat information can be found at www.nabluebirdsociety.org and http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=325966 .

If you are fortunate enough to have these fine feathered friends as neighbors, consider yourself fortunate and be sure to make the effort to help them continue to call your yard home and if not, this could be the season to put out the welcome mat!

Well the last two months have certainly been busy ones in the garden!  We hope you have been able to take advantage of the pleasant days to get your little corner of the earth in fine shape.   

If you happen to find yourself in Nantucket, MA on the 24^th and 25th of July, please visit us in person at the 1^st Annual Nantucket Garden Show to benefit the Nantucket Lighthouse School.  We were honored to be invited to this event which is sure to offer something for the gardener in all of us.  Some of the folks joining the affair include Holly Shimizu the Executive Director of the US Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC and Russ Morash, the innovative TV producer and director of multiple award-winning PBS programs including “The Victory Garden,” “This Old House,” and “The New Yankee Workshop ”.

In addition to our online inventory, we will be offering a handful of vintage garden primitives as well as introducing several new products for your enjoyment.  They include robust, recycled rubber patio planters from Tade, vintage linen kitchen towels, beach bags and table runners hand stitched in Romania from Transylvania Images and an assortment of child friendly gardening kits from Potting Shed Creations ,that let kids create a fun filled garden spot all their own.

We hope to be adding these new arrivals to our online store in the near future so if your plans are already made for the end of July and we miss you at the show, be sure to check back with us soon to see them here.  Happy Gardening!

Barring any of those peculiar April snowstorms that can sneak in from time to time, it would seem we have “rounded the corner” and spring is at our doorstep.  In New England, this is referred to as Mud Season, due in part to the thawing ground and more frequent liquid versus frozen precipitation.  We found one way of the best ways to keep that mud and dirt outside is with a robust doormat, which can scrub away the caked on dirt from your boots. 

Now is a fine time to start taking stock of your garden, to see what needs to be mended, cleaned or replaced.  If your ceramic pots were used last year, be sure to give them a good cleaning with the hose and pot brush before planting any new arrivals.  And like us, if you own some that look a little worse for wear, these recycled rubber flower pots are a great replacement. 

As a child I grew up with a garden in my family’s backyard.  Twenty five years later my father faithfully tends to it and maintains a watchful eye for secrets it seems to dutifully keep. Although I didn’t fully appreciate them at the time, I distinctly recall many unique experiences that small plot of earth endowed on me through the passing seasons.

Whether it was first breaking the cold spring soil to awaken it from its winter slumber, inspecting new shoots of lettuce springing from freshly fertilized ground, waiting in anticipation for the ripening of summer’s first tomatoes, or watching the cold winds of autumn quietly put it to sleep, I now, with age, fondly recall time spent with my father in his garden. Today, in a new garden at our home I look forward to sharing some of those same experiences with my son. I am not an expert, licensed or otherwise, but a garden enthusiast never the less. This spot is your place to read about the goings on in our garden and, if you like, share a comment, suggestion or memory of a place special to you.

In dedication to my dad, who I thank for opening my eyes to nature, something much, much greater than myself.