Dirt Makes me Happy!

 Image by amoceptum

I came across a post on Facebook the other day which linked to an article explaining how microbes in the soil have been found to have a similar effect on the brain as antidepressants like Prozac, but without the side effects and chemical dependency potential.

You can read the article here:
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm

Yesterday I decided to test out the theory and headed out to the garden, to get up close and personal with the soil in our island beds.

OK - actually I was getting up close and personal with weeds and encroaching Bermuda grass, but it was very therapeutic and it really did put a smile on my face. I spent a pleasant afternoon pottering around, getting my hands dirty, listening to the birds all around, and smiling.

The weather yesterday was perfect for gardening -- the temperature was brisk but it was sunny and the humidity was very low. 
 I was working on the newest of our two island beds and didn't get finished yesterday.  The plan was to finish up today but it started storming during the night and has been raining steadily all day.  The garden is completely sodden, even flooded in one area (that's that drainage issue I mentioned before)

The island bed will have to wait until next weekend, but in the meantime, at least it does look like I accomplished something.

 


Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

Welcome 2014 -- A Plan of Action

It's hard to believe I've been blogging about the garden I'm creating since 2010.  And now here we are in 2014.

I have to admit I let it slip a bit in the past year.  In my first year of blogging I posted 90 times! That may have over achieving a bit, and the next two years I posted around once a week.

Last year I only posted 35 times!  As I said, I let things slip.  

I think I actually let the gardening slip a bit too.  There were things that probably should have been pruned back to encourage more growth etc. that just didn't get done. Weeds were allowed to take hold where they weren't wanted etc.

I've been lucky enough to have some time off work between Christmas and New Year's and was able to spend a little time doing some clean up in the garden.

I didn't want to completely rip everything out, because I wanted to leave some cover for the birds, and to leave some seed heads standing.  But I got some tasks done like trimming back the milkweed etc.

I find if I do a little bit at a time, those little bits add up and eventually things get done.  This year I'm going to apply that to my gardening too.

Instead of waiting until I have all day to take on a task, I'm going to take a few moments here and there and chip away at the task until it's done.  

I'm hoping that way, the garden will still look nice and I won't be a worn out. sweaty wreck.

It's not actually a New Year's Resolution, more a "Plan of Action" but I think the garden (and I) will benefit.

And along the way, I'll try and make a point of blogging about it on a more regular basis.

Starting with this short little post today.

The island bed looking frosty on Christmas Eve

I wish you all the best for you and your gardens for the coming year. I look forward to seeing your progress.

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

A little inspiration!

There's nothing like the annual deluge of garden-related magazines and catalogs in the mailbox to get the creative gardening juices flowing!

Which catalog or gardening magazine do you most look forward to

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

The Armchair Gardener

 This weekend has been quite mild and I had planned to get out in the garden today and do some cleanup.  But when I looked outside this morning, I was dismayed to see overcast skies and the sort of drizzle that the English weather I grew up with is famous for. The gardening will have to wait...


So what's a gardener to do when the weather outside isn't suitable for gardening?

One of my favorite things to do is sit and read gardening books, magazines, or any of the myriad seed and flower catalogs that show up in the mailbox at this time of year.

Garden Gate is a magazine I've subscribed to since last year.  I love the garden plans and in some cases they'll offer regional variations, so you can get the same "look" using plants that are suitable for your area of the country.  That's something that has frustrated me with other magazines and catalogs -- falling in love with a plant, only to find it's not suited to my zone.

Gardening Made Easy is an easy-to-browse book. It has a section on garden styles -- formal, romantic, modernist, cottage garden, cook's garden etc. as well as lots of lovely garden plans. There are also informative how-to sections, such as how to divide perennials, how to start vegetable seeds etc.  Experienced gardeners probably wouldn't get much out of the book, but for an enthusiastic beginner like myself, the book is a comfortable blend of inspiration and practical information.

One of my favorite books this winter has been Projects for the Birder's Garden.  My husband rolled his eyes when he saw the word "projects", thinking it would mean a list of honey-do's a mile long. But actually many of the projects are very simple - like making tray feeders and bird baths from clay plant saucers.

For sheer eye candy, it's hard to beat Birds and Blooms.  I get the magazine every other month and love browsing through the glorious photos (while all the time wishing I could take photos like those). The magazine combines two of my favorite topics, so it's a win-win for me!


What are your favorite gardening magazines or books?


Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.