Hello Fellow Readers, I am thrilled to report the robin mentioned last week did indeed nest in the Doublefile Viburnum outside our kitchen window. Perhaps the same robin that nested there last year. They say they can return to a spot if they’ve had successful broods prior. It turns ou

Hello Fellow Readers, There’s lots of spring building going on. We’ve had a robin flittering from here to there outside the kitchen window making a nest in the viburnum. What a joy it will be to watch the miracle. We sure don’t feel the same way about other critters making nests thoug

Hello Fellow Readers, How about all the carpenters buzzing about – eastern carpenter bees, that is. Xylocopa virginica, the most common species, is wreaking havoc on my neighbor’s deck which is not inspired by their yen to eat wood. Rather, they’re nesting. Please don’t hold the

Hello Fellow Readers, Last week’s column about removing moss from retaining walls (an idea I don’t favor as stark walls softened by mossy volunteers is magnificent) inspired questions about removing moss and lichen from tree trunks. More in worry over the health of the trees rather th

Hello Fellow Readers, Last week I received a text from Chris of Blairstown, “Look what we’re doing today, getting the moss off the retaining wall.” He shared pictures to boot. “Nooooo,” I wrote back with the big-eyed emoji, then added a wink and a smile. You see Chris is my dear Curt’

Hello Fellow Readers, Saturday night, after a long day exhibiting at a Home & Garden event, I did what I rarely do. I settled down in front of the TV to veg out. Legs elevated on pillows to lessen my foot fatigue, clicker in hand, I stumbled upon a movie based on a true story titl

Hello Fellow Readers, Last week we spoke about Early Spring Transplants and the question of root pruning came up from Brian of Stone Church PA. Great question Brian. Transplanting is always stressful for plants especially for the feeder roots; those most responsible for bringing nutri

Hello Fellow Readers, Early spring, after the ground thaws, is an ideal time for transplanting many deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs before they break dormancy. It’s the second-best time in my book. The first best time is after the leaves drop or when they go dormant. That way

Hello Fellow Readers, It’s the official the start of spring and I don’t feel ready. The ending of this winter, more than most, came much too fast. Partly because I didn’t have my fill of cross-country skiing; not to complain because the times we did have were glorious. It’s more becau

Hello Fellow Readers, Last week we spoke about starting annual seeds indoors. John from Hope NJ asked if he could start perennial seeds indoors too. “Or should I start them directly in the ground?” For the benefit of gardening newbies, perennials are herbaceous (non-woody) plants that