It's so important to keep up with the maintenance and care of the many trees and plants here at my farm.
Four years ago, I started creating a garden maze of interesting hedges, espaliers, and shrubs in the pasture across the carriage road from my Winter House terrace. I've planted hundreds of different specimens that add texture and interest - all according to a very detailed map I designed specifically for the space. To keep them healthy and looking their best, I make sure I prune and groom them regularly.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
A living garden maze is a puzzle of plantings – most will grow tall enough to prevent walkers from seeing the paths ahead. I designed the maze in this three acre pasture in front of my Winter House, so I could see it right from my window. This is a selection of Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ trees, also known as London planes, planted almost in the center of the space. On each side are planted rows that will branch off with various pathway options and dead ends – with only one correct route to this open field.
Here is a row of hydrangeas, still with their dried flower heads intact. I planted a variety of different hedges, espaliers, trees, and shrubs in this maze – hundreds of specimens that add texture and interest, and all according to a detailed map I created specifically for the area.
This is Japanese barberry with its deep burgundy colored foliage.
Paul’s Gold threadleaf false cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera, has year-round golden green foliage. The soft sprays of Paul’s Gold threadleaf false cypress emerges yellow in the spring and retains its gold color throughout the winter.
And this is holly with bright red berries combined with glossy, dark green foliage. Many varieties of holly, Ilex, have compact habits and glistening leaves that’s excellent for hedges, borders, and yes, mazes. Many of the evergreens in this maze are grown by Monrovia, a wholesale plant nursery specializing in well-nurtured shrubs, perennials, annuals, ferns, grasses, and conifers with several nursery locations across the country.
Completely bare now, but this is one of several Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ trees, American sweetgums. As these trees mature, they will maintain this erect, columnar form, growing up to 50 feet tall and only about four-feet wide.
When needed, the developing hedges are trimmed. Alex prunes the tops of the European beech that grow along the outermost edge of the maze. He makes sure they are all cut to the exact height by using the STIHL HLA 86 Powered Extended-Reach Hedge Trimmer.
For a maze, it’s best to use relatively fast-growing trees. Many will grow to be at least six feet tall and two feet wide at maturity. These have grown at least two feet since it was pruned last summer. Landscape twine provides a cutting guide.
One eld is tied to a sturdy yet temporary stake and then stretched down the row, to another pole. Good, thoughtful preparation is crucial to any pruning job.
Pasang and Alex also use hand tools including Japanese shears and the portable 24-inch handle loppers made by STIHL.
The Japanese Okatsune shears are specially made for trimming hedges. These shears are user friendly, and come in a range of sizes.
Proper and regular trimming promotes new growth, improves air circulation and light through the branches, and keeps them looking aesthetically pleasing.
Here is a section pruned, groomed, and trimmed precisely.
Pasang follows to rake all the cut branches and leaves. My crew works in teams of two for good team work and safety.
Any clippings and late season leaves are discarded in my giant compost yard.
Pasang moves onto the apple espalier, trimming any new growth and suckers. I grow a variety of wonderful apples. And, at the right time, those walking through can pick a fruit while they meander through this botanical puzzle.
An espalier refers to an ancient technique, resulting in trees that grow flat, either against a wall, or along a wire-strung framework. Many kinds of trees respond beautifully to the espalier treatment, but fruit trees, like apple and pear, were some of the earliest examples. Espaliered trees can grow between four and eight feet apart – enough to allow them room as they grow, but still be close enough for a proper espalier. Among the apples in my maze are Liberty apples, Gala apples, Braeburn apples, and Yellow Delicious apples.
Pasang and Alex also tended this row of boxwood – shaping and trimming every one square.
Each shrub or bush is planted appropriately with enough space to accommodate its full grown size. As these plantings mature, they close up the spaces in between making it a true maze, with only one correct route to the intended destination.
There is still a lot of pruning work to be done in the maze, but my team is getting through it quickly and so efficiently.
This time every year my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, starts the vegetable seeds indoors in preparation for the coming growing season. Among the first - the onions.
Starting onions from seed isn’t difficult. They can be planted closely together in seed starting trays and because they are shallow-rooted, they can be pulled apart easily when ready for transplanting outdoors. Many of our trays, supplies, and seeds are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds - I've been using Johnny's for years. Once planted, the onion seeds remain in the greenhouse until they’re moved to my vegetable garden. By mid-summer, I'll have bounties of beautiful, flavorful, fat onions to enjoy and share.
Enjoy these photos.
It’s not unusual to see all kinds of seed packets on my head house tables this time of year. It’s important to start vegetable seeds early, so they are ready in time to plant outdoors once the weather is right.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds catalog provides detailed seed variety information to help in choosing the best seeds for one’s garden.
Seed starting trays come in all different sizes and depths. I use trays with shallow compartments for planting onion seeds. These are 20-row seed flats from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They keep varieties separate and make the removal of seedlings easy for transplanting to larger celled trays or pots later.
Because I use a lot of onions for cooking and for sharing with my family, I plant many trays of onion seeds. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, fills the seed starting tray with an appropriate mix.
It’s best to use a pre-made seed starting mix that contains the proper amounts of vermiculite, perlite and peat moss. Seed starting mixes are available at garden supply stores. I use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix.
The soil should be level with the top of the tray. Ryan fills several trays first and works in a production line process.
Ryan uses the edge of a wooden ruler to make quarter-inch deep furrows.
Here, one can see the indentations in each cell.
Blackie sits nearby and watches Ryan working.
On one side of the marker Ryan writes the vegetable variety so we can keep track of what grows well and what doesn’t.
On the other side, Ryan indicates what color this particular onion variety is – R for red, W for white, and Y for yellow.
Ryan places a marker into one of the cells, so it is clear what variety is growing in what tray.
Onion seeds are very small, so be sure to take time dropping them into the tray cells.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds offers a Hand Seed Sower to help drop the seeds into the trays.
But one can also do this by hand – slowly and carefully, so they are evenly distributed along the rows.
The pellet coating on these seeds helps in seeing, handling, and sowing.
These are easier to drop by hand. The sprouts will be selectively thinned in a few weeks. This process eliminates the weaker sprouts and prevents overcrowding, so seedlings don’t have any competition for soil nutrients or room to mature.
Ryan also adds another thin layer of soil mix to this tray and tamps down lightly.
The trays are watered thoroughly next door in the greenhouse.
And then Ryan uses a kitchen flour sifter to drop a thin layer of fine vermiculite on the seeds. Vermiculite is a lightweight mineral that holds water, but prevents water logging.
Vermiculate will also aid germination, protecting the seeds and creating idea conditions for sprouting.
Once the seed trays are done he places them into our trusted commercial size Urban Cultivator growing system – it has water, temperature and humidity all set-up in the refrigerator like unit. Seeds are usually started about two months before the last frost. We will be planting seeds well into March. Follow along to see what other vegetables are started from seed right here in my greenhouse. I hope these blogs help remind you what you can do to get ready for the next gardening season.
What does it take to move a 1200 pound marble tabletop safely and efficiently? Here at my farm, it's the right tools, the right plan, and a whole lot of strength and teamwork.
Yesterday, I asked my outdoor grounds crew to move a large table from my Tenant House to my production guest house. The table, which was previously used in my daughter's kitchen, was extremely heavy and fragile, so Pete built a wooden frame to protect it during transport and recruited the power of five to help get the table to its destination.
Enjoy these photos.
Good teamwork certainly rings true when it comes to moving a very heavy piece of furniture across a farm. Here are some members of my outdoor grounds crew ready to take on the challenge – Pasang, Fernando, Adan, Pete, Phurba, and Alex.
This table belonged to my daughter Alexis. She used it as a kitchen table where she and her family ate meals. When she replaced it, it was brought here to my farm – I knew I could repurpose this beautiful piece of furniture.
The table has a very interesting gray marble top that weighs hundreds of pounds. Despite marble’s strength as a surface, it is very hard to move. Marble is prone to cracking if mishandled. The team had to have a good plan.
So Pete, who has worked with me for years, thoughtfully devised a step-by-step process for moving the marble table. Using plywood and some other wooden scraps, Pete made a frame to hold the top in place during transport.
The frame had to fit perfectly to keep it protected, so he made it to the exact measurements of the marble top.
Once the frame was ready, Pete gathered everyone together and explained the process.
The team turned the tabletop on its side and slowly carried it out of the Tenant House.
Here it is carefully carried out to the wooden frame.
Pete directed the entire operation. The tabletop was placed into the frame padded with blankets.
Another piece of covered plywood was placed on top to sandwich the marble.
Pete used screws to secure it.
And then industrial straps and ropes were used to support the bottom and give the team something to hold while moving.
And then one slow step at a time, the team carried the heavy marble to the forklift of my Hi-Lo.
The top was re-strapped and secured to the forklift and ready to move.
This forklift is attached to a long extendable arm that can be maneuvered efficiently over garden beds – nothing is disturbed during the move.
And Pete is off. Next, the team meets again down at my production guest house.
The table base was easier to move. I instructed the group to place it in the center of the room.
Here’s Pete driving up to the house – everything is intact.
And in the same careful fashion, the team unloads the top and carries it into the house.
Pete directed its positioning…
And then checks it from underneath to make sure it was placed exactly where it needs to be.
It looks great in this room – wait and see how it is used. Thanks guys!!
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