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In the Garden

On gardening with Bill Cary

Bill Cary

Bill CaryBill Cary’s idea of a good weekend is to dig in a few dozen bulbs, turn the compost pile, pull weeds for a couple of hours and fill the car twice with new annuals from the nursery. He grew up in Louisville, Ky. His gardening was limited to growing parsley and impatiens on the windowsill of Manhattan walkups until the mid-1990s when he bought a rundown old chicken farm on 8 acres in the Hudson Valley. Now he spends his weekends chasing deer, hacking away at invasive shrubs and vines and wondering why he doesn’t have more meadow and less lawn.

E-mail Bill Cary at wcary@lohud.com

Entries written by Bill Cary

Evening Primroses

July
3

I’ve got evening primrose growing in a few untamed parts of my yard. The plants are low growing and insignificant all spring, and then suddenly the whole area bursts into yellow blooms in mid-June.

The dish-shaped flowers last just a day or two, but the plants are so covered with buds that the bloom cycle goes [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on July 3rd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

What to Do This Week

July
2

Perennials: Plants growing in shade may need water in spite of rain showers. Trees act as umbrellas, keeping the moisture from reaching the plants under them. Check the soil to make sure it has not dried out. Tuberous begonias provide a colorful display either hanging in baskets from low tree limbs or planted under them. [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on July 2nd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Deer Repellents on Vegetables

July
2

Ask the master gardeners

Q: I am having trouble with deer in my vegetable garden. Can I use deer repellents on my vegetable crops or must I use a fence?

A: Controlling deer in a vegetable garden can be challenging. A fence at least 8 feet high is the only sure way to exclude deer from an [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on July 2nd, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Forum on Ecology

July
1

From Pam Freeman at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies:

“A FORUM ON
OPPORTUNITIES
IN ECOLOGY

“Tuesday, July 7, 2009
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
at the Cary Institute Auditorium

“This forum provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to hear firsthand about a wide range of career paths in ecology, including:

·        Media
·        Education
·        Museum Science
·        Academic Ecology
·        Environmental Law

·        Advocacy
·        Governmental [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on July 1st, 2009 | Post a Comment »

How to Prune Tomato Plants

June
30

Here’s a link to an excellent article in Fine Gardening on pruning tomatoes for maximum fruit.

Posted by Bill Cary on June 30th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Hanging Baskets

June
29

Proven Winners’ Project Manager, Kerry Meyer, has a great article called “Hope for Hanging Baskets” on their Web site. —click here to read it.  Every month, Kerry writes a new article for their Winner’s Circle consumer newsletter, I’m told.

Posted by Bill Cary on June 29th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Plants for a Bog Garden

June
28

Ask the master gardeners

Q: One corner of my property is shady and tends to become boggy. What are the best perennials for wet shade?

A: Before planting, first test your soil to make sure that it is appropriate for bog plants, as most prefer acidic soil. Use tall plants for the back of your planting area.

Black [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on June 28th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Time Off

June
27

I’ve got a few things coming out on time delay over the next week, but I’ll be away unil July 6.

A little more sun would be nice, but here’s to no watering. My new shrubs are very happy.

Happy gardening (and weeding).

Posted by Bill Cary on June 27th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Another New Nursery

June
27

A note from Ed Impara:

“Add to your new nursery list, Sundial Farm Perennials on Route 134, (Croton Dam Road) just west of the Taconic Parkway.

Owned and operated by Penny and Bill Hawkey, they can be reached at 914-329-7498”

Posted by Bill Cary on June 27th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Daisies and Sweet William

June
26

It’s been a good year for my daisies.

They self-seed and move around the yard, in and out of the lawn, field and garden beds. I like that about them.

Like so many other self-sowers, they like to plant themselves in open pathways. I can’t bear to mow them down till they finish blooming.

A clump just outside [...]

Posted by Bill Cary on June 26th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

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Features writer Bill Cary writes about gardening in the Hudson Valley.
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About the author
Katie Bill Cary grew up in Louisville, Ky. His gardening was limited to growing parsley and impatiens on the windowsill of Manhattan walkups until the mid-1990s when he bought a rundown old chicken farm on 8 acres in the Hudson Valley. Now he spends his weekends chasing deer, hacking away at invasive shrubs and vines and wondering why he doesn`t have more meadow and less lawn.


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