let’s talk tomatoes; great dogwoods; spring water-garden care (goodbye, algae)

Published: Wed, 04/22/15

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let’s talk tomatoes; great dogwoods; spring water-garden care (goodbye, algae!)
talking tomatoes, seed to harvest

Hello ,


From the first seed sown to the last fruit stashed in the freezer, homegrown tomatoes are a labor of love.

Whether it’s tomato-sowing time (as it is in my Northeastern Zone 5B garden), or maybe already transplanting or even staking time in yours, it’s a good moment to review what goes into tomato-growing success.
16 things i know about growing tomatoes (click!)
cornus mas, first dogwood to bloom
slideshow: dogwoods, or cornus, i rely on

Cornus mas, the so-called Cornelian “cherry” that’s actually a dogwood, beat even Forsythia to the flowering punch last week. Its show made me think of all the dogwood relatives I rely on for their multi-season beauty and wildlife value. 
enjoy the dogwood slideshow
spring cleaning of the water garden
springtime water-garden care (fight algae naturally!)

Algae can quickly turn a water garden into a battleground. I have been enjoying, and managing, two in-ground, rubber-lined garden pools for 25 years, and you know what?

It’s not that hard. And most important: There is no other garden feature that brings more joy—or sustains more wildlife, from birds to dragonflies, salamanders to frogs—than a pool or pond.
my essential spring water-garden care tips
Sincerely,
Margaret Roach
may 9: come visit the garden (plus plus tree events and plant sale)

I'm raking as fast as I can, so I hope you're able to visit. May 9, my first 2015 Open Day, includes not just a chance to say hello and walk around the garden, but also a lecture by a fascinating forest ecologist, an afternoon tree I.D. workshop, and a big rare plant sale. Make plans and get tickets now.