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Dear friend, how are you? I hope you are well and finding ways to stay cool. I love this poem by the word wizard John O’Donahue. His poetry is a crisp icy sip that brings me back into the moment. I want to immerse in the refreshing invitation to live like a river, and let life unfold before me. I envision myself floating along the James, bumping along the rocks and flowing downstream under a blue sky. In July, water is lovely teacher. Always enfolding, refreshing, and giving life when you feel parched and empty. In the garden, July brings the bounty of weeds, heat and the “Summer Shaggies.” Crabgrass makes me see red like Medusa, and I want to zap them with fire filled eyes of stone. I hunch over weed filled beds, gloved and hatted, with rivulets of sweat pouring down my face. I stand up looking for my pruners, swatting mosquitoes, knowing that yet again my Felcos are lost in the riot of growth. My discomfort makes me question the vision I held in Spring for my garden. What gives?!! When I am at my wits end, water is the antidote. My friend’s pool is a respite when the Summer Shaggies are sending me into a tailspin. Water invites me to let go of perfection and plans and embrace where I am now. As I immerse in the coolness, I reflect on what my garden is offering me. Mother Nature sprinkles seeds of discomfort into my garden to remind me to let go. To teach me I can allow myself the delight of shedding my expectations of what SHOULD be so that I can fully enjoy WHAT IS. In this month’s newsletter I will share tips to help us thrive despite the high temperatures, and an invitation to discover those inner reserves of strength found in flowing like a river. Your garden is a place for you to create curiosity and receive joy. The garden you are cultivating inspires hope in the future, and a place for you to receive even in challenging times. Wishing for you this July to feel the abundance that nature brings…even in the midst of discomfort. -See you in the Garden, Wendell WWLD IS IN BLOOM!
Last month we welcomed Sarah Brazil to our team. Sarah brings her expertise in creating harmonious landscapes that are beautiful and beneficial. She is open for Garden Assessments this Summer and will be assisting me on Immersive Design Projects to enhance our client experience. We are thrilled to have her extensive knowledge of native plants to create a fuller breadth of knowledge for our clients. We are excited to bring the fullness of WWLD to your garden. Welcome Sarah!
RVA IMMERSE Learn about ways to help Birds and Pollinators Beat the Heat. Learn about how to create a Lightning Bug (Firefly) Habitat. Celebrate Moth Week and check out magnificent moths that rival the Butterflies! Are your Hydrangea Leaves turning yellow? Learn more here how to help. The James River Association is celebrating their 50th anniversary, and invites you to explore the beauty of our watershed with a curated list of 50 top hikes. Curious about growing a more resilient garden? This Fall class looks great. The new native garden expansion is open at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Click here to learn more. River Water Quality Watch: Sign up here to get emailed water quality reports from the James River Association. the Best Bird App: If you would like a fun way to connect with the visitors in your garden, I love the Merlin Bird app that puts a face to birdsong. I take it out with me hiking and in the backyard. I love to see who stops by, and who stays all summer.
GARDEN GUIDANCE: This month, we are still in drought, and our gardens may need special care. Here are some strategies to employ to help see your gardens through the hottest months of the year. RETAIN MOISTURE WITH MULCH: When coping with drought, get the water into the ground, hold it there and keep it in the soil for as long as possible. DELIVER WATER TO ROOTS: Most plants love an inch of water per week. Without rain, you can help water with your garden hose or irrigation system. Aim your hose at the base of the plant rather than sprinkle the foliage. Give it a nice long drink. You can add soaker hoses (buried up to 3 inches deep in mulch ) to deliver moisture directly to the roots where it is needed. Or you can leave a dripping hose on the base of a vulnerable tree or shrub to deeply hydrate in the morning and turn off in a few hours. PRIORITIZE YOUR TREES! PROTECT YOUR TREES: At the Winter Symposium this Year at Lewis Ginter, the head of Bartletts Trees spoke about watering prevention being the number one strategy to prevent tree decline. If you have mature trees that are struggling, be sure to mulch around the base to cool the roots and add a method of soaking in water. Capital Trees uses tree diapers to protect and preserve new trees planted in public spaces. They come in different sizes, and are easy to use. Simply soak the mat in water to get it started, then place it around your plants. If you prefer a natural look, just add mulch on top of the mat.
JULY GARDEN CARE Watering: Summer plants may wilt and this is an indication they need more water. Stressed plants may look like they need a boost, but fertilizer is not the answer during extreme heat or drought. When soil moisture is low, fertilizer can injure roots and encourage tender new growth too late in the season. Water slowly so it soaks in instead of running off, aiming to moisten soil about 12 inches deep. Most gardens need about one inch of water per week, but sensitive plants may need more during extreme heat. During the hottest months, your trees, and new plantings are the most valuable assets to protect in your garden. Water early in the morning, deeply, at the base of your plants. Leaves don’t drink!! Roots take up water and they are under the earth. Make sure most of your water is directed here so you don’t lose it to evaporation. You can always top up your mulch around your plants to help prevent weeds and retain moisture for your established and newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials. Observation: Listen to the birds and consider adding a birdbath or fountain for them to cool off. Look at all the busy bees flitting about in the daytime and flickering lighting bugs at night. What a miracle! Pollinators are out and about, so please don’t use pesticides. Weeding: The Summer Shaggies are here, and your perennials may have grown a foot along with the weeds. Summer growth is rampant and every weed under the sun is having a heyday. Pull and compost your weeds, or put them in brown leaf bags for pick up. Watch out for Poison Ivy… Leaves of three, let them be. From experience I REALLY encourage you to read this article about identifying poison ivy. It looks a lot like Virginia Creeper and will really ruin your week if you are allergic to it. Be sure to never let your skin come into contact with it. If think you have, wash with Tecnu and this really works to remove the Urishol from your skin. Dawn soap and a good scrub will also help. Trees and Shrubs: Pause any pruning for now. For more blooms, remove spent flowers from flowering shrubs and perennials throughout the growing season. This simple step, known as deadheading, keeps plants looking tidy and encourages fresh flowers. For roses and other woody plants, stop around mid-August so they can prepare for winter. See any dead limbs or branches? Now is the time to remove dead wood above before a storm hits. Call your arborist if you spot dead limbs. You can prune out dead branches anytime, but wait until Fall to prune shrubs. Perennials: Deadhead or remove spent blooms to keep your perennials flowering this summer. Keep those beds weeded and empty spots covered with mulch. Your mulch can be shredded pine bark or green mulch (groundcover). Here is a fantastic article on the advantages of green mulch in the garden. You can plant now, but without a watering strategy in place, it’s a fool’s errand. I would love for you to plant native plants if you are thinking of adding some new friends to the garden. NATIVE PLANT LOVE: Instead of a plant recommendation, I would like to offer a fantastic resource for those of you seeking to create a garden that's both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound. Summer is not a great time to plant, but an excellent time to plan for Fall. The Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening, from The American Horticultural Society, shares insight on the many ways gardeners can embrace nature for a healthier, more vibrant home landscape. Here is a link to order your copy. You will learn to: Maintain your garden in a nature-friendly way Incorporate keystone plants in your garden that support a broad diversity of life Manage weeds and pests safely Conduct wildlife-friendly garden cleanups Foster pollinators, soil organisms, and other wildlife by focusing on native plants
PROJECT STORY Beautiful and beneficial gardens are rooted in gratitude. I am so thankful for the truly wonderful clients and friends who trust me to create gardens together. This month, I am reflecting on friends and clients who called on me to help create a new vision for the front aspect of their brick home. A new master addition necessitated addressing the front of their front foundation garden, and the friends and family entry often used by their garage. My clients desired a classic Virginia garden with flowering trees, shrubs, and perennials that flourished despite deer pressure. We worked together to create a brand new garden that linked old and new and was elegant despite frequent deer browsing. One of my favorite parts of the garden was adding a pierced brick wall and a new brick walkway to the front drive to welcome friends and family to the side entrance. One of the planting details that I loved was adding a sweet little flowering groundcover under the feet of the boxwood and hellebores (both deer-resistant!) Groundcover works overtime, reducing weeds and adding charm. Ongoing care from Landscaper and Garden Steward Michelle Simpson ensured the garden was shining in all seasons. Working together with friends and clients on this project was a dream come true. I love seeing them enjoy their new landscaping that functions so well for their family.
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