photo

In The Garden Of Good Living - Getting A February Garden Fix
by Pat Hendrickson
Well it is February again and most gardeners have to sublimate their planting and pruning addiction in favor of vicarious gardening activities.

Sitting in the garden or on the patio can still be done this time of year. That is, of course, if you don't mind bundling when up it is covered in snow. Feeding the birds this time of year feels like a full time garden occupation. It is after all National Wild Bird-Feeding Month (http://www.birdfeeding.org). This is a good time to force bulbs and to start shopping the catalogs or online for seeds. At the end of the month you can start some seeds and the serious planning gets under way.

My garden planning is a little different this year. I am on a mission to discover and visit the public gardens of Delmarva. I have quite a list - but I am sure there are more. Some are well known. Some are small some are large. Some are rustic - some formal. Some I have been to and some I have not. Some I have been focused on the details and have not recorded how pretty they are, like the butterfly garden at the wildlife refuge in Cape Charles Virginia or the charming garden outside the Ocean Pines Library in Berlin.

They all have in common their beauty and their ability to connect us to nature - close up.
Here is my wish list:

photoUpper Shore
Winterthur - Wilmington, Delaware
Mount Harmon Plantation - Earleville, Maryland
Adkins Arboretum - Denton, Maryland
Harbor Circle - Chestertown, Maryland


photoCentral Delmarva
Dickinson Plantation - Kitts Hummock, Delaware
Lavender Fields Forever - Longneck, Delaware
Center For Inland Bays Garden - Indian River, Delaware
Burbage Memorial Garden - Berlin, Maryland
Golden Quarters - Berlin, Maryland
Salisbury University Arboretum - Salisbury, Maryland
Ward Museum Bird Feeding Garden - Salisbury, Maryland
Downtown Alley Garden - Easton, Maryland
Dune Entrance Gardens - Ocean City, Maryland


photoLower Shore
UMES Demonstration Garden - Princess Anne, Maryland
US Orchid Nursery - Princess Anne, Maryland
Boxwood Garden - Princess Anne, Maryland
Teackle Mansion - Princess Anne, Maryland
Snow Hill Library Garden - Snow Hill, Maryland
Furnacetown Garden - Snow Hill, Maryland
VWMA Butterfly Garden - Cape Charles, Virginia
Ker Place Herb Garden - Onancock, Virginia

If you have a favorite public garden to suggest, whether it is free or requires an admission fee, please email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)


ONLINE GARDEN PLANNERS
Thinking of starting or expanding your garden this year? Check out these sites for help and a look ahead at what you might have in store:

Maryland's Cooperative Extension Monthly Tips:
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/timelytips.cfm

Kent County Delaware's Cooperative Extension Monthly Checklist:
http://ag.udel.edu/extension/kent/Master%20Gardener/Master%20Gar%20Cal/garcal.htm

NOTE: This article is by Dana Kester-McCabe. Pat Hendrickson is on hiatus until March.


Comments To Date
Post A Comment Or Ask A Gardening Question
Please log in to post a comment.
New to Delmarva Almanac? Please register to use the commenting feature. It's free!
© Copyright 2009 - Pat Hendrickson - All rights reserved.
This site is a Moonshell Production.
Questions about this site? Email: info@moonshell.net

photo



photo

photo
Plant Recommendation:
Allium's are in the onion family. Bulbs are easy to plant. Flower cluster in globes & come in various shades of lavender & white. Some varieties are quite tall & very striking.