This is not a forsythia; they bloom in April. This is a witch hazel and one of the first signs of spring. There are several species of witch hazel — including one that blooms in the fall — but this is likely Chinese witch hazel, or Hamamelis mollis. Whether you call it a large shrub […]
(6.22) The West Broadway Neighbors Association (WBNA) will be holding their annual self-guided Garden Stroll this Saturday. I recently stopped by to visit with my friend Karen on Harrison Avenue for some photos. Unfortunately, the daylilies had just passed, while the rest of the garden has been timed to wait for Saturday’s event, but this
Not everybody will be going to barbecues and beach parties this weekend; serious gardeners have other plans. Homegrown owner Russell Stafford was out in the sales yard today when I dropped in to survey the rare and unusual plants on offer this spring, and everything was lush and healthy. Russell propagates many hard-to-find plants, mostly
(5.19) Time to get planting. The Southside Community Land Trust will be holding its 32nd annual Rare & Unusual Plant Sale this weekend. And it’s not just vegetables. Your eyes will be bigger than your yard when you see the variety of fruit, herbs, edible flowers, perennials, natives, and ornamentals for sale. And there really
Registration starts today for the RIDEM Energy-Savings Trees program. [Note: They are already out of trees.] This season, participants in the program will have the option to reserve one tree that can be picked up at one of four tree pickup events as well as one tree that will be mailed directly to their home.
(9.30) The Davis Park Community Garden will be hosting a Pollinator Party this Saturday. Come connect with nature in the city and learn how to encourage pollinators around your home. All ages welcome. What to expect: Explore the pollinator meadow and community garden with URI Master Gardeners Learn how to grow native plants from seed
(9.15) The Roger Williams Park Gateway Center will be showing the 1994 comedy “The Little Rascals” starring Travis Tedford, Bug Hall, and Ross Bagley, this Friday; the screening will be held outside in the landscaped area on one of those inflatable screens. You may remember director Penelope Spheeris from the three “The Decline of Western
Welcome to the flower farm! I promise I will take an ‘after’ photo of this exact spot at some point in the future. Locals familiar with the miracles already achieved by this organization know that a ‘flower farm’ will happen here. Unfortunately, this summer, the popular August Flower Festival can not. What Cheer Flower Farm
(5.21) Rain or shine. Head over to City Farm this Saturday and Sunday for Southside Community Land Trust‘s 31st annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale. How rare and unusual? Well last year they had stinging nettle for sale and I’ve never seen that anywhere ever. Organizers want to help you up your gardening game: “You’ve
Homegrown owner Russell Stafford was busy organizing the sales yard today when I dropped in to survey the rare and unusual plants on offer this spring. Russell propagates many hard-to-find plants, mostly from seed, mostly native, many shade-lovers. Here are some of his favorites this year: Aquilegia canadensis ‘Corbett’ a columbine with yellow flowers, grown
I love that they call this a seed “catalog.” The Louise and Larry Moulton seed catalog at the Providence Public Library is stocked with unopened packets of seeds — vegetables, herbs, and flowers — courtesy of the URI Master Garden seed program and a Vermont concern, High Mowing Organic Seeds. This is just one of
(9.18) Head over to the RISD Museum this Sunday for “Work in Progress: Painting Intuitively” and watch as artist Yukyung Chung turns the Radeke Garden and the adjacent Danforth Hall into her studio. Watch as artist Yukyung Chung (RISD MFA, Digital + Media, 2023) responds to her composed soundscape through live painting. Chung’s artistic practice
Russell Stafford, owner of the specialty nursery Homegrown, will be the first to admit that conditions are not currently ideal for planting, but you can always start planning for the cooler weather coming up, “Fall is the best time for planting perennials.” And he has plenty of advice for those wishing to transition into more
Say hello to The Lilac of the South. Maybe these spectacular summer blooms will help take the sting out of climate change. We don’t usually see crepe myrtle trees in these parts, but the one pictured here has survived on the East Side for a few winters anyway. Traditionally planted in hardiness zones 7-10 (and
(5.15) It’s back! The Southside Community Land Trust’s Rare & Unusual Plant Sale returns in-person this weekend at City Farm, featuring live music and thousands of rare and unusual plants. Unusual and hard-to-find varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits are offered as well as crowd-pleasing favorites to increase local biodiversity. Prices are kept low to
Here’s another way urbanites can give nature an assist, bee hotels. From Almanac we learn about native, solitary bees. Unlike honey bees, these solitary bees are extremely docile and up to three times more effective as pollinators. No, you won’t get any honey, but you will enjoy better flowers, thriving plants, and healthier vegetables in your garden!