Lessons About Plants & Gardens
Soil Soul Test
I’ve been sitting inside all morning, a rare thing for me, trying to decide how to handle the disappointing results of our most recent soil test. Yeah, our great red organic soil failed. 60 points on a 100 point scale. I came up with a five step program to address the failings of my soil…
Read MoreRare Plants that Look Like Common Plants!
People say I’m not patient. But here is proof. Just this week, someone said to me, “oh no, we can’t plant a sago palm, my friend says it will get all brown and ugly in the winter.” What I didn’t say was, “How many species of Cycads does your friend grow?” See? The patience…
Read MoreAndy Cabe Pruning Morus
Curator of Riverbanks pruning contorted mulberry. You can take the cut branches, right now, and stick them in the ground and they’ll root. Cutting woody plants back to the ground is called coppicing.
Read MoreNative Plant Nursery in Beaufort
Naturescapes, Beaufort is a compact little town. Just across the bridge, out on Coosaw Island is a place that feels like old school coastal living. When I visit Naturescapes Beaufort, I feel like I’m going back to the 80’s, finding little nurseries hidden behind people’s houses, overflowing with cool plants, passion, and a bit…
Read MoreRoving Artist/ Local Wood
This is kind of an ad. A call for commissions? I’m not well versed in art world stuff, so I don’t know what to call it. I know that furniture, for parks, gardens and public spaces should reflect the space it’s in. That means, the local architecture but it means a whole lot more. Andy…
Read MoreShade Changes You Won’t Notice for a While
Morning after the hurricane party and the excitement. Green light, made by sun coming through massive oak trees leaves; they’re all in the wrong places. Turn your head sideways but the light is and air is, still different. I remember chainsawing with my Daddy on top of little old ladies house, a tiny tar-paper house…
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between Preservation & Conservation (on a Mountain Reservation)
Tom and I had the pleasure of going to this amazing, formerly private estate that’s been set up as a botanical garden. Elegant. Sublime. Designed with the spirit of the place. Fit into nature, Southern Highland Reserve is open once a month but you could see it on Nov. 12 for their very cool sounding…
Read MoreOn Recycling (which often means downcycling)
“Blindly adopting superficial environmental approaches without fully understanding their effects can be no better—and even worse—than doing nothing.” from Cradle to Cradle: Rethinking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough & Micheal Braungart
Read MoreThanks for Planting Pecan Trees
On this chilly, foggy Sunday morning, I’m making rounds, checking out what the fellows got planted, how many pounds of nuts got cleaned and making a mental list for Monday morning. Those working guys leave clothes everywhere this time of year; a hoodie over the fence and a flannel shirt pegged to a tree trunk.…
Read MorePlants without Plastic Pots
Worried about all those plastic water bottles? Think about your gardening life too and ask, why do new plants have to come in plastic pots? They don’t. Some plants don’t even like plastic pots — so you can’t even buy them in nurseries. I love potless-plants because they’re easy, cheap, they have stories and because…
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