Thursday Doors

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Judy@NewEnglandGardenAndThread

Photo Credit: UNH Macfarlane Greenhouse

Spring Arrives at the UNH Macfarlane Research Greenhouses April 1-2.

Really? Yes, it arrives along with a winter storm watch of 5-10″ of snow. Knock, knock, Mother Nature calling again. 🙂

I will be heading over there first thing tomorrow morning to see all the green displays and then get back home before the snow starts flying.

There will be pollinator gardens, water features, permaculture information, hydroponics, and perennials and houseplants for sale.

I always get excited to see a tomato plant with buds, but then reality sets in, and I have to acknowledge there isn’t any way I can keep that plant alive until Memorial Day. I have to temper my enthusiasm with realism.

Tuesday evening I listened to Kerry Mendez talk about The Right-Size Flower Garden. I came away with confirmation that plants are not children (who knew), and I can reassess location and size of my gardens without feeling guilty about it.

I always buy a few annuals each season to add a little pop of color, but I get tired of deadheading. Two of the annuals she shared with us were ‘Supertunia’ and ‘Superbena.’ They don’t require deadheading and fill up a basket, container, or landscape. They are on my shopping list for this year. If you’re looking for any of her other suggestions, just ask. I hated to bore the non-gardeners with all of her suggestions, but she had some good ones.

There is still a majority of white landscape out my windows, but there are actually a few bare spots where I can see Iris trying to poke through. We have a potting party in three weeks to dig up plants for the May 21st Master Gardener plant sale. That ought to be interesting. I hope I can see the plants and don’t break the shovel trying to dig them up.

I haven’t been out to take door photos in so long I can’t remember. I don’t want to take photos of houses surrounded by snow. I’m sick of snow. I want green. And, my normal sweet disposition is being negatively impacted by the white stuff. Well, maybe not that all that sweet. 🙂

For more of New England’s famous, Dave Granlund’s wicked sense of humor, check out his Facebook Page. 

Linked to Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors, March 30, 2017.

About Judy@NewEnglandGardenAndThread

Master Gardener who enjoys gardening, quilting, photography, and traveling.
This entry was posted in Gardening, Photography, Thursday Doors and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

47 Responses to Thursday Doors

  1. Laurie Graves says:
    March 30, 2017 at 8:53 am

    I laughed out loud when I saw that cartoon. Yes, we are all sick of that white stuff, but March marches on. Right into April, it seems. Sigh. On a happier subject…I am very interested in Superbenas, as they are reported to do well in part sun, which is the best this yard every get. The write-up warned about putting them in small pots. Do you plan on using a large container or putting them in your border?

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Dawn says:
    March 30, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Oh, Judy! Entering through the door into these amazing greenhouses will feel just like stepping into Springtime! Enjoy every minute as you wander, wish, and wonder inside!

    How wonderful that you could hear Kerry Mendez speak!! I have been using The Right-Size Flower Garden for the past year to help downsize my perennial gardens. There is so much wisdom in this easy-to-read book. Earlier this week, as I was digging and transplanting perennials to eliminate another flower bed, I repeated Kerry’s mantra aloud ~ “These are not children or pets.” It felt so empowering… and was most helpful! I would love, love, love to hear any other tips you learned from Kerry!

    Hope the snowfall will be much less than expected. It seems like Winter weather waited for you to return home this year! Now you have a little extra, unexpected time to work on cozy quilting projects. Enjoy! ♡

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
      March 30, 2017 at 10:01 am

      She’s writing a new book to be released next year about where and how to find those amazing plants at a more cost effective price! YEAH. Here were the topics. Just tell me which ones you want to hear about. colorful foliage, flowering shrubs, hydranges, perennials that don’t need dividing, erennials that don’t need deadheading, ground covers, fragrant shrubs, and dry shade.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Dawn says:
        March 30, 2017 at 12:46 pm

        Can’t wait to read her new book! 🙂 Kerry wrote that shrubs and trees are always less work in the garden than flower beds. So, I’m planning changes in that direction. I’m very interested in anything about Hydrangeas (my favorite flower), other flowering shrubs, fragrant shrubs, and ground covers. It’s pouring here today, so I’m thinking sunny thoughts! ♡

        Like

      • Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
        March 30, 2017 at 3:31 pm

        Happy Planning: Hydrangeas for tough love garden: ‘Pinky Winky,’ ‘Bobo,’ ‘Ruby Slippers, ‘Gatsby Gal,’ “Incredible,’ ‘Invincible Spirit.’ Flowering Shrub: ‘Blue Chip,’ ‘Tiny Wine,’ ‘Petit Blue.’ Fragrant Shrub: ‘Bloomerang,’ White Forsythia, ‘Vanilla Spice’ and ‘Ruby Spice.’ Ground Cover: Leptinella, Woods Phlox ‘Louisiana Blue,’ ‘Fire Spinner,’ Wooly Thyme, Epimedium ‘Bandit.’

        Liked by 1 person

      • Dawn says:
        March 30, 2017 at 6:08 pm

        Thank you so much, Judy!! 🌿🌸🌿💗💗

        Liked by 1 person

  3. JanetRimmington says:
    March 30, 2017 at 10:31 am

    Now THAT is one inviting door!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Norm 2.0 says:
    March 30, 2017 at 11:11 am

    Nice one with lots of green on the other side 🙂
    I’m more than done with the white stuff myself – hopefully it all melts soon.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Joyce says:
    March 30, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    I think one of many reasons why gardeners have so much success during the growing season is because they plan ahead so well. When the time comes to actually buy and plant, you know exactly what you want and where it will go since you’ve done the research all winter long. (And you don’t waste time and money buying plants for “full sun” to put in “full shade” like I do, and then wondering what went wrong!)

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Jean Reinhardt says:
    March 30, 2017 at 2:06 pm

    You must be so fed up waiting for that snow to clear, I hope it happens soon for you, Judy.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. jesh stg says:
    March 30, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    Love the atmosphere of a green house! Hope you’ll spend a lot of time in there – even if it’s later in the year! Yeah, even in subtropical California -there is still a road closed off close by, because of the snow!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Murphy's Law says:
    March 30, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    That greenhouse door seems to be saying, “C’mon in. It’s warm in here and I have beautiful plants to share with you.” Unfortunately, winter ain’t dead yet for a lot of us. You still think in terms of Mother Nature. I’m thinking Mother-in-law Nature!! Lol.

    Hope New Hampshire forecasts are wrong. Spring will sprout soon and then summer….and all will be well. In the meantime, enjoy planning where new plants will go. Are you gonna plant something around the base of Steve? 😜😜

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
      March 30, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      I’ve got to figure out how to get a photo of Steve. There is a garden very close to him including some red day lilies. When they bloom, I should take a photo. 🙂 I’m going to breathe in all that soil and plant smell tomorrow so I can make it through the storm. 🙂

      Like

  9. slfinnell says:
    March 30, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Now those plants may not be children, but it’s proven to talk to them is beneficial 😉
    Spring is coming. Heard geese this week flying North!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Oddment says:
    March 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    As I type this, we are under a tornado watch and the rain is coming in huge splats. Indiana and New England have little sense about how to welcome spring. I can’t believe they’ve upped your snow estimate to 10″ — how miserable! And, yes, how dismal for that normally sweet disposition!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Joanne Sisco says:
    March 30, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    Sigh. As I’m reading this, it is snowing outside and starting to accumulate on the ground. Yesterday was a beautiful 12C/54F and I a spent a good chunk of time outdoors cleaning the yard.

    Stupid snow.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Retirementallychallenged.com says:
    March 30, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    I’m so sorry that you are still experiencing snow! I guess it wouldn’t be nice to tell you that I was enjoying the sunshine on my deck today… no, that would be mean 🙂 . I hope spring arrives (really arrives, not just a date on the calendar) soon and you get to enjoy your garden and all its delights!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Annie says:
    March 30, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    Oh what a wonderful entry! I love the UNH greenhouses and, alas, I have succumbed to temptation and bought nice tomato plants there way too early. I hope the weather doesn’t impact the turn out this weekend. The only good thing about the snow is the (moderate now!) drought. We need six more weeks of wet weather to be back to normal. Amazing!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Eliza Waters says:
    March 30, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    A trip to the greenhouse is a temporary fix these days, but it’ll do. I hope you don’t get walloped. Stay safe and warm, Judy!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Rose says:
    March 30, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I love flower tips…I never have luck with petunias even if I dead head them…haven’t had any in years!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
      March 30, 2017 at 7:48 pm

      She showed photos of the Supertunia Vista Fuchsia in hangers and in the ground where three plants filled a huge space with beautiful blooms. They trail and spread but don’t need deadheading. I’m totally going to try a few of these this summer. It gets old deadheading the entire season so I’m going to spend a couple extra dollars and try these. Good luck with your gardens. 🙂

      Like

  16. the eternal traveller says:
    March 30, 2017 at 11:33 pm

    Oh dear, Judy. It sounds like the snow is getting to you. Is it unusual to have so much at this time of year? Our daughter is in Canada, working at a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains and they had a 30 cm snowfall overnight this week. Of course, coming from subtropical Queensland, snow is still a novelty for her and she was quite excited.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    March 31, 2017 at 12:03 am

    You know … it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I don’t think it’ll be more than sleet down this way, and if it is, we are LEAVING.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. germac4 says:
    March 31, 2017 at 2:08 am

    Great cartoon Judy!. I’ll be interested to see how you go with your flower garden re-size, we are considering one too…in the meanwhile, hope spring comes soon!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
      March 31, 2017 at 6:45 am

      She had a couple of common sense tips I’m taking to heart. Look at the gardens from the road and entrance area. Eliminate anything not necessary or desirable. Then look out your windows from the inside and keep and enhance the gardens that ‘you’ can see and enjoy. Her theory was if you or your guests can’t see it why maintain it. I have a large shade garden that no one can see, and I’m seriously looking at options including maybe a sitting area.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. KerryCan says:
    March 31, 2017 at 6:54 am

    Oh, Judy! I feel your pain! Thanks for the info, though, about the verbena that doesn’t need deadheading–I do love verbena!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. pbmgarden says:
    March 31, 2017 at 8:30 am

    The snow sounds like a burden but it’s good you’re finding garden-related activities to enjoy until your planting time arrives. Love that cartoon.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Grandma Kc says:
    March 31, 2017 at 10:01 am

    Sorry you are still getting all that white stuff. grrrrrrrrrr. It is warm and wonderful here this week and today Jenna and I are headed to the nursery to get tomato plants!!! Try and stay warm.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Mary says:
    March 31, 2017 at 11:32 am

    Thanks for all your tips, eventually you’ll be right into gardening and smiling as the sun warms the land. It’s time for Spring planting ~

    Liked by 1 person

  23. gardeninacity says:
    March 31, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    I like to mix a few annuals into the borders – my favorite being Tithonia, of course. I like any door that leads into a greenhouse.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says:
    April 1, 2017 at 9:32 am

    In my imagination I walked through that door and smelled the rich fertile greenhouse scent 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Brenda says:
    April 2, 2017 at 8:51 am

    I must keep telling myself that plants are not children or pets. I feel guilty thinning carrots, for goodness sake. I’m sorry to hear that your Tithonias didn’t take last year. Did you direct seed them outside or plant inside for transplanting? I am going to try them this year and any advice would be welcome.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
    April 2, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    I am always so envious of those gorgeous plants that Jason grows in Chicago, and they are so attractive to the pollinators. I tried to buy plants at our local greenhouse, and they kind of chuckled and showed me the seeds. I planted them indoors and tried to transplant. I wasn’t successful with one plant. It was downright humbling. 🙂

    Like

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