I picked Sports, but my activity is birding. I love to sit out in the yard and watch the birds. Having native plants provides me with opportunities to see hummingbirds drinking nectar, mockingbirds eating berries, and warblers hunting bugs. Then there are woodpeckers drilling holes in the snag, Red-tailed hawks surveying the land from the tops of tall pines, Cooperās hawks keeping the songbirds on their toes, and the occasional Swallow-tailed kite gracing us with their beauty.
What draws my husband and me into the garden is the shaded seating area in a slightly raised deck in one of our wooded āgrottoesā. Thatās where we read, watch birds, play Spelling bee, remark on the season changes. The second (close second) draw is looking for insects and critters ā my husband is obsessed with Monarchs and is constantly investigating all the milkweed; and if either of us finds a turtle or snake or other interesting thing, we call the other person to see it, or photo it for later. As āhead gardenerā Iām in the garden all day, so every bit of it is a draw.
I wander out there intending to just walk through and come back but thereās always something that needs doing or some very cool bug doing something fascinating so I stay longer and return to the house relaxed, content.
I selected veg garden, but so many things draw me out - birds, critters, bugs, rain, sounds, walking, sitting. For my husband and adult kids, though, its mostly our dog that draws them out to walk or play.
Thanks, Amy. Good reminder to mention dogs! As for all the other rewards, your list is similar to what draws me outābut so hard to explain to someone with a mostly turf yard:)
I have over 200 pecan trees. I havenāt been able to get responses from my inquiries. Iāve been here 18 years. The trees have only had small harvests 2 of those years. Iāve fertilized, watered when rain is low, added zinc. These trees are supposed to be resistant to scale but I think that could be the problem. How can I treat scale or find out what is causing the nut drop every year. (Other than too much rain). My orchard is between Chattannooga and Knoxville, TN
Oh, Linda, how frustrating for you! Unfortunately, even though pecans are native, production growing is way out of my wheelhouse. Have you tried the pecan experts at University of Georgia extension: https://pecans.uga.edu/team.html? I hope you're able to find a soluton.
For me it's the veg garden but since it's at the back, I loop around (clockwise!) to see all the other beds as well.
[hold for a rant...]
Do we really need another garden clothing line of $150 aprons, $305 pants, and $495 work jackets? Okay, so it's fashion and kudos for custom making so there's less waste, but those ladies in tulle dresses are not hacking out bush honeysuckle.
I know there are people who want these - as opposed to spending their money on more plants (yes, that's always the correct answer!) - but it would be great if the celebrities (and I do love Bette Midler!) and fashionistas would donate a portion of the proceeds to climate action or ecology foundations, that would really be garden fashion, right?
Anyway Zoe looks super cool in her jumpsuits and I know she's out there attacking the invasives!
LOL! I agree, but I confess I ordered one of the washable blue velvet dresses to host a panel at an upcoming Widr Places symposium! :) Sure, there are better ways to spend our money (though I don't have much more room for plants here), but I appreciate it's not fast fashion.
I clicked child's play because that used to be true for my granddaughter, but not true now that she is an adult. We really don't need an activity to be drawn into the yard because we enjoy just taking garden walks and admiring the plants and trees. When we are sitting we love watching the birds do the dance of taking turns at the bird feeder or soaring overhead each evening to their roosting place.
Thank you, Julie. Yes, I'm getting the sense that strolling and sitting in and and tending our native gardens are sufficient and super rewarding. I was surprised, however, that child's play comes in 2nd after gardening... The poll and comments will be so helpful in prioritizing illustrations in the book.
Birding is my main non-gardening inducement to head outside too. But also outdoor dining. Since those weren't on the list, though, I picked "Outbuilding" since we have a detatched garage and go back and forth to that structure daily ā which then causes us to pause and enjoy the natural surroundings. Same with our compost bins which live beside the garage.
Re: Black eyed susans getting black spots on the leaves, leaves turning brown and withering awayā¦ certain cultivars are more susceptible, especially āGoldsturm.ā
Replacing them with more disease resistant varieties is one option. Otherwise, it will continue to happen year after year (especially if they are crowded with poor airflow).
I picked Sports, but my activity is birding. I love to sit out in the yard and watch the birds. Having native plants provides me with opportunities to see hummingbirds drinking nectar, mockingbirds eating berries, and warblers hunting bugs. Then there are woodpeckers drilling holes in the snag, Red-tailed hawks surveying the land from the tops of tall pines, Cooperās hawks keeping the songbirds on their toes, and the occasional Swallow-tailed kite gracing us with their beauty.
A beautiful description of the beauty and interest native plants bring to our yards!
What draws my husband and me into the garden is the shaded seating area in a slightly raised deck in one of our wooded āgrottoesā. Thatās where we read, watch birds, play Spelling bee, remark on the season changes. The second (close second) draw is looking for insects and critters ā my husband is obsessed with Monarchs and is constantly investigating all the milkweed; and if either of us finds a turtle or snake or other interesting thing, we call the other person to see it, or photo it for later. As āhead gardenerā Iām in the garden all day, so every bit of it is a draw.
Thatās what itās all about, right?! Well said.
I wander out there intending to just walk through and come back but thereās always something that needs doing or some very cool bug doing something fascinating so I stay longer and return to the house relaxed, content.
Me, too! :)
I selected veg garden, but so many things draw me out - birds, critters, bugs, rain, sounds, walking, sitting. For my husband and adult kids, though, its mostly our dog that draws them out to walk or play.
Thanks, Amy. Good reminder to mention dogs! As for all the other rewards, your list is similar to what draws me outābut so hard to explain to someone with a mostly turf yard:)
I have over 200 pecan trees. I havenāt been able to get responses from my inquiries. Iāve been here 18 years. The trees have only had small harvests 2 of those years. Iāve fertilized, watered when rain is low, added zinc. These trees are supposed to be resistant to scale but I think that could be the problem. How can I treat scale or find out what is causing the nut drop every year. (Other than too much rain). My orchard is between Chattannooga and Knoxville, TN
Linda.
Oh, Linda, how frustrating for you! Unfortunately, even though pecans are native, production growing is way out of my wheelhouse. Have you tried the pecan experts at University of Georgia extension: https://pecans.uga.edu/team.html? I hope you're able to find a soluton.
For me it's the veg garden but since it's at the back, I loop around (clockwise!) to see all the other beds as well.
[hold for a rant...]
Do we really need another garden clothing line of $150 aprons, $305 pants, and $495 work jackets? Okay, so it's fashion and kudos for custom making so there's less waste, but those ladies in tulle dresses are not hacking out bush honeysuckle.
I know there are people who want these - as opposed to spending their money on more plants (yes, that's always the correct answer!) - but it would be great if the celebrities (and I do love Bette Midler!) and fashionistas would donate a portion of the proceeds to climate action or ecology foundations, that would really be garden fashion, right?
Anyway Zoe looks super cool in her jumpsuits and I know she's out there attacking the invasives!
LOL! I agree, but I confess I ordered one of the washable blue velvet dresses to host a panel at an upcoming Widr Places symposium! :) Sure, there are better ways to spend our money (though I don't have much more room for plants here), but I appreciate it's not fast fashion.
I clicked child's play because that used to be true for my granddaughter, but not true now that she is an adult. We really don't need an activity to be drawn into the yard because we enjoy just taking garden walks and admiring the plants and trees. When we are sitting we love watching the birds do the dance of taking turns at the bird feeder or soaring overhead each evening to their roosting place.
Thank you, Julie. Yes, I'm getting the sense that strolling and sitting in and and tending our native gardens are sufficient and super rewarding. I was surprised, however, that child's play comes in 2nd after gardening... The poll and comments will be so helpful in prioritizing illustrations in the book.
Birding is my main non-gardening inducement to head outside too. But also outdoor dining. Since those weren't on the list, though, I picked "Outbuilding" since we have a detatched garage and go back and forth to that structure daily ā which then causes us to pause and enjoy the natural surroundings. Same with our compost bins which live beside the garage.
Thank you, Elaine! I expected more outbuilding interest---sheds being such a thing online. Garage and compost certainly count:)
Re: Black eyed susans getting black spots on the leaves, leaves turning brown and withering awayā¦ certain cultivars are more susceptible, especially āGoldsturm.ā
Replacing them with more disease resistant varieties is one option. Otherwise, it will continue to happen year after year (especially if they are crowded with poor airflow).
Thanks for your suggestions!