TOP TEN HARDY PERENNIALS The Northeast especially New England is a tough area for plant material due to the inconsistent weather patterns we are famous for. How do I classify these as hardy? Well, no matter where I put them they are easy and low maintenance. These perennials can tolerate what is … [Read more...]
Keep up with Mountain Home
How to Fix Winter Kill on Rhododendrons
Winter Kill Image of Winter Kill on a Rhododendron After a long winter, maintenance in the landscape is crucial for a good season of growth. Especially when it comes to our garden beds. The snow melt reveals spring flowering bulbs and soon greener lawns. It reveals damage too and stately shady … [Read more...]
Gardening for Little Ones
Gardening for Little Ones Recently I was asked to design garden beds with a cottage feel. Great, one thing I knew about the clients they had a year and a half old. As a Mama myself, I know what my little one at that age did, everything EVERYTHING goes in the mouth. I know … [Read more...]
Big Leaf Hydrangeas and the Mysterious Blooms
Hydrangeas and the Mysterious Blooms Every season without fail I am asked; “My blue Hydrangea bloomed beautiful for the first two years and now it doesn’t; why?” Before I knew the science behind it, I would shrug and say it was the hybrid especially the Endless Summer Bloomer variety which I … [Read more...]
Pest Management: How to Rid of the Pests Enjoying our Gardens Flavor
Integrated Pest Management IPM: Integrated Pest Management, a systematic 4 step methodology that includes sustainable less toxic means of ridding one or more pests to crops. It’s a foundation that has been taught for years and is one of the first things to be learned once you take the leap to … [Read more...]
Tree Planting 101
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” –Warren Buffet To plant a tree is to invest into the future. With all the varieties of trees from gorgeous decorative specimen trees to common run of the mill woodland features, where you want to plant is … [Read more...]
Autumn Decorations
A gorgeous display with dried Hydrangeas, Red Twig Dogwood, Gourds, Queen Anne's Lace, Gold Thread Leaf Cypress, Autumn Joy Sedum, and Goldenrod. … [Read more...]
Permaculture: What is it?
Permaculture, a new catch phrase in the Green Industry that has people asking: what is it? And/or how can I use it? By definition permaculture means ‘the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient’ (Wikipedia, 2017). It literally means permanent … [Read more...]
Bulbs
Bulbs! It’s that time of year to start thinking about planting bulbs because there is nothing like a garden bed filled with nodding Daffodils, stately Tulips, and swaying Crocuses after snow has melted and the muddy brown world becomes filled with color. But when do you plant? What do you … [Read more...]
Ponds
"Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness." Lao Tzu The sound of a babbling brook, the soft light reflecting off the water, a calm reaching you sitting next to your natural pond. Let Mountain Home … [Read more...]