mastering citrus as houseplants; trick-or-treat $10 coupon on my signed book
Published: Sun, 10/29/23
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mastering citrus as houseplants; plus trick-or-treat: $10 coupons on my signed books
Hello ,
Are any of your houseplants edible? A new book by the owners of the beloved rare-plant nursery called Logee’s Greenhouses suggests that we make room for delicious candidates among our potted indoor plants—including
some of the many choices of citrus that are well-adapted to growing in containers.
Their book is called “Edible Houseplants: Grow Your Own Citrus, Coffee, Vanilla, and 43 Other Tasty Tropical Plants.” The authors Byron Martin and Laurelynn Martin co-own and operate Logee’s in Danielson, Connecticut, a family business since 1892 that specializes in distinctive plants.
Byron and I talked about the best
citrus for indoor growers (perhaps treated to a summer vacation outside?), and how to care for them.
Why wait till year-end holiday shopping to
offer a deal on books? In support of my supportive local bookstore, Oblong Books and Music in Millerton and Rhinebeck, N.Y., I fund a coupon every year for $10 off signed copies of my book "A Way to Garden," which I totally redid in 2019 for an all-new 21st anniversary edition. Limited number; get them while they last! Use the coupon code: HOLIDAY23 at this link.
Reducing the footprint of our lawns has been a
key environmental message for gardeners in recent years, since lawns lack biodiversity and involve huge amounts of pollution between fertilizers, herbicides, and the gas used in mowing. But what to cultivate instead?
That is the subject of a nearly 15-year native
lawn research project at Cornell Botanic Gardens in Ithaca, New York (in spring, above), with some interesting insights, and unexpected plants.
Todd Bittner is a plant ecologist who, with his Cornell Botanic Gardens colleagues, began a quarter-acre research experiment back then known as the native lawn demonstration area.
“Please do walk on these plants,” a sign on a pedestal alongside it tells visitors, explaining that it’s a test of a
mix of low-growing natives as an alternative to traditional lawn. In a recent conversation, Todd shared what they’ve learned along the way.
As we all wind down our seasons and think ahead
to next year, I suggest dipping back into some key conversations about the topic of reducing lawn, or at least reducing the "inputs" of fuel and fertilizer and water it guzzles up. Here are some different perspectives, from experts who influence my own thinking:
The most recent in my "New York Times" series that began in April 2020: Milkweed has a following way beyond the famous one of monarch butterflies. There's loads to learn about this genus of powerful native plants.
Before that: I hate to complain, but ... do you mind
listening? The 2023 garden season was a struggle (jumping worms, spongy moth caterpillars, late freezes, torrential rainstorms, you name it). Blessedly, nature served up enough small miracles, too, to keep me in the game.
One column earlier: The celebrated poet and essayist's relationship to his garden is joyful, and he is grateful
for every bit of delight it offers.
A week earlier: Cornell Botanic Gardens has been experimenting with sustainable native lawn for nearly 15 years. The grass they rely on as the foundation? A genus you may never have heard of: Danthonia, or oatgrass.
The previous story: It's an old-fashioned practice that can bring contemporary gardeners a lot of late-winter joy. How to force flower bulbs (especially in a cold frame or cool garage or cellar), with Page Dickey.
For four garden seasons, I've interviewed gardening experts for my In the Garden column in the Times, and they interviewed me, too, in a Q&A on page A2 of the paper. The link is
here, with links to all my past columns as well.
