Dargan Landscape Architects

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Dovecote

New Pollinators Garden Installed at Dovecote

I am so happy that the sun is shining, birds a’singing and my new greenhouse has electricity! Lights, Action, Spring! Come see Dovecote this summer! “The Pickery” is our new pollinators garden and you can pick your own bouquet once the summer puts on the flowers. A male eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus Linnaeus,1758) just flitted by on April 4…so beautiful! His caterpillar loves wild cherry and tulip poplar leaves which surround us. Stop by and watch the progress of our pollinators gardens.

pickering-Dovecote-April 2015
Pollinators Garden at Dovecote Porch & Gardens

Fear not the SEED! Simple Seed Starting for Successful Spring Planting

Fear Not The SEED!

Until I get my hands in the dirt each spring, I’m not living. This year spring fever hit early. I wanted inexpensive, sturdy, beautiful vegetables and flowers that would hit the ground running. What was the best technique?

soil blocking 3Enter soil-blocking.

This 100 year English technique that was just up my alley. I love gadgets of all types and this one rocks! It is a little press that ejects the 3/4″ blocks into sets of cakes that resemble chocolate brownies.

I can put 120 on a garden flat ( those long trays nurseries use) and set up a light.

 

Now, we’re cookin’! Lights, action…fire. Well, maybe not fire…how about, WATER!

soil blocking 2How old is too old in the life of a seed packet?  Well, my workshop participants asked this on Saturday.

A little seed goes on top of each soil block. Your choice of 120 different ones, or planted in blocks. Thus,  soil blocking to organize your future offspring and help get rid of those pesky plant packets you’ve been hoarding for several years.

 

So, enjoy this soil-blocking mini-course on our GTS video page !  

soil blocking video coverPlease join us LIVE at the next Garden Talk Salon to be held at The Mother Earth News Fair on April 11-12. Win 1 of 4 chance to do a quickie sustainable workshop with me LIVE at  the show. Booth 1600 in the Expo Building at the very front right side…look for the mossed planters and Dargan Landscape Architects banner!  www.dargan.com/dovecote-events

To view the full 4 Parts…click here !

 https://dargan.com/talk-salon/video-categories/garden-talk-salon-videos/organic-gardening/#soilblock