Frozen February and the big thaw
plus three more minutes a day starting in March!
As the days lengthen, it isn’t only the plants that are responding to the extra light, especially as it bounces off the snow cover, which from the inside makes it look a heck of a lot warmer than it actually is. The snow’s range of textures, from fluffy and powdery to plastic and shiny, has been a consistent feature over the past two months. A nice insulating blanket. Now the thawing and heaving happen.
With trees still in dormancy, this is the best time to get outside and start scouting for Spotted Lantern Fly eggs. Check out my post for more info on what the eggs look like.
Happily as March roars in, the first intrepid bulbs peek out..
And before you know it, the crazy rollercoaster ride of summer is here!
This year at the arboretum we will be hosting several fun classes, including a Mushroom class, Plant Dye-Making, Eco-printing, and Tree Identification, to name a few. Check out the calendar for more specifics and some of the other events we will be hosting this season.
Over the years, many folks have asked us to open up earlier than our traditional Mother’s Day opening, so we will have a “soft opening” starting mid-April, where we will open on 1 of the weekend days. Stay tuned for the exact opening weekend date.
Please consider becoming a member of the arboretum. Perks like reciprocal membership to other gardens and arboretums, discounts on classes and tours held at Hortus, plus knowing that your support as a member helps us to continue to grow. Enroll here. Memberships make great gifts too!
The Spring Art Residency opportunity is open now and currently taking applications. To learn more about the residency and to see the past residents that we have hosted since 2019 click here
In the meanwhile, we have started seeds (actually we never really stop with that), and I would imagine some of you have started too. I’ve been hearing from people saying it’s too soon, hold off. Personally I think that is silly. IF you are jonesing to get your hands dirty and begin the daily nurturing process of raising seedlings then I say go for it!
If you ordered some fruiting trees or shrubs to put in your garden this year or are considering purchasing something “new,” consider checking out our book Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts, which highlights 50 low-maintenance plants including Lingonberry, American Persimmon, and Honeyberry. All are fruits you just can’t purchase at your local farmers market, let alone grocery store.
Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts was named one of the best gardening books for 2023 by Gardens Illustrated and The Irish Times and turns 3 years old this March! It was reprinted last fall, a sign of how this “obscurish” subject on low-maintenance fruiting plants has resonated with many of you gardeners/growers trying to establish plants beyond Apples and Peaches.
The book is also full of concise, clearly written botanical and cultural information based on our years of growing experience. You can purchase your copy here, or at any independent bookstore.
In this newsletter I will be making content for subscribers only, so if you thought about supporting my work in the past, please become a subscribing member today to continue to read on.
Exotic fruits have always been a “thing”, and historically only the very wealthy could afford the indulgence, that is a lot less true today.
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