After a slow start, gardening on Martha’s Vineyard gets rolling
It is past time to get busy outside, despite whatever weather April has in store for Island gardeners.
Rain barrels and apple trees
Funny thing about apple trees: they captivate people, leading the enchanted on a lifelong quest.
Time for camellias, planting and appreciating
With a preponderance of sandy, acidic soils, the Vineyard is a great place to trial camellias.
Martha’s Vineyard gardeners are seeing the light
Resume watering and begin regular liquid feed of houseplants that have resumed active growth.
February activates plants and those who tend them
Islanders are able to enjoy a much more intimate connection with nature than most, and we are appreciative.
Wolf Moon conditions may prove benficial
The general warming trends have led to planting formerly tender plants unknown in these parts a few short years ago.
Martha’s Vineyard gardeners can get good results in poor soil
The more poor and pebbly the soil, the drier and faster draining it is, and the best home it makes for agaves and other succulents
New Year hopes for health, happiness on Martha’s Vineyard
We can practice the lesson of Epiphany: seeking and searching to fan the small flame of hope and mercy, and turning to the Light.
Preparing plants for winter, and as gifts
Before snow arrives, remove the leaf muddles from bushes and shrubs, especially the broad-leaved evergreens.
Upkeep to keep up with the changing season on Martha’s Vineyard
Are we ever fortunate to live on Martha's Vineyard, where many of us know a thing or two about growing, catching, cooking, and enjoying!
Without compost, sand dunes would rule on Martha’s Vineyard
Each autumn, an infinity of leaves drifts down and blankets land and gardens, creating a habitable place for us.
Choosing a tree that fits in on Martha’s Vineyard
In the face of widespread loss of a single species, the only certain defense is supporting tree diversity.
Mushrooms, bulbs draw attention of Martha’s Vineyard gardeners
Fungi break down and digest hospitable materials, forming ever-deeper and more nutritious soils.
Fall on Martha’s Vineyard is fine for starting some plants
A survey of one thousand gardeners showed that only six percent bought plants in fall, compared with 68 percent who did so in spring and summer.
Seasonal changes next up for Martha’s Vineyard gardeners
As summer matures, so do caterpillars; butterfly time is here in gardens, meadows, and woodland edges.
Gardeners face a challenge as blooms cycle earlier
One strategy for extending blooms, where practical, is to include flowering shrubs in your garden planning.
In midsummer heat, Martha’s Vineyard gardeners try to stay cool
There is always more that can be done to yield results, although sometimes the prospect is daunting. Get me to my hammock!
When food and water run out, resourcefulness can save the day
If you are new to growing some of your food, you are discovering that success requires a daily commitment of time, observation, and close inspection.
International horticultural ideas apply on Martha’s Vineyard
Exposure to horticultural techniques employed far away can reap rewards in local gardens.
Dutch growers are efficient, dedicated, and creative
Never have I seen so much grown, so carefully, in spaces of approximately 50 by 50 feet.