Ferns

It's beautiful out today. Well, let me clarify, it's beautiful for the end of January. I had a lovely walk around the neighborhood where I looked at all kinds of winter plant material. Coming back to my porch I noticed how nice this fern looked. It will take some digging around but this spring when I go over my plant labels I will take note of what type of fern this is and try to find more for my garden.

Ferns have been catching my eye quite a bit the last few years. Surprising to me is the many different conditions where I have found them thriving. Two years ago we traveled through Northern Germany. One of the castles we visited had real life grotto. Be still my beating heart! This combination of ferns and Wisteria is just stunning.

One of the first ferns I grew (back at Old Country Gardens) was the variety "Ghost". It grows well here in Centerport too, this last spring I learned that it's super easy to divide and hardly missed a step when replanted. I have not had the other ferns here grow as fast.

Here's "Ghost" with a purple Heuchera. I took this photo at the Peconic River Herb Farm, one of my must visit places here on Long Island. 

This nice green fern came without a name. That's because I dug it up in a field at our friends house in upstate New York. It's been happy for three or four years so I'd like to see some more come along. Maybe I have to go dig a few more...

One of my new experiments this past season was this perennial shade pot. I'm hoping these babies make it through the winter, in about 8 weeks I'll know for sure.

Another go around

So here I am again, trying to find a way to get back to my garden blogs. So much has happened since I last posted here. I married my wonderful Andy, making me Melanie Chopay. 

Thankfully Andy loves the outdoors too and we’ve hiked and walked through many a garden or nature preserve. Not only has my name changed but I also manage a bank, who would have guessed that? By the way this photo was taken in Hamburg Germany. 

I have two years of pent up photos and ideas to share, can’t wait to get them out to the world again. 

Love

Melanie

Peconic River Herb Farm

It's finally here! It's Spring!!

If only I could rush outside and see dew drops on my ladies mantle. Unfortunately most of our beds are still covered in snow or dusty leaves. It will be two more weeks before I uncover everything so right now I'm still living in anticipation mode.

Alchemilla mollis (Ladies mantle) is one of my "can't live without" perennials. I always explain it by saying it's like adding crown molding to a bare painted wall. Ladies mantle makes all of it's companions look fabulous. It's the ultimate tapestry plant.

There are no visions of sugarplums dancing in my head right now. The only visions are of the garden centers and nurseries that I will be visiting in a very short time. Luckily we have so many of them available to us here on Long Island. This year I hope to adventure out and try a few north and west of New York city too.

Peconic River Herb farm is a must visit nursery for any gardener on Long Island. Pack a picnic lunch and a chilled bottle of champagne, there's plenty of places to sit and have lunch.

I love all their quirky garden art like this planted wheelbarrow.

Last year it was cold and rainy when I visited the herb farm but it didn't stop me from taking photos and buying plants too. They have a fabulous selections of herbs (of course) but also a surprisingly large selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs and small trees. The staff there is super helpful too.

If you get to visit, save time to walk the large grounds. You'll find all kinds of plant combinations and ideas every which way you turn. There's many mature trees so you'll get lots of ideas for semi-shade areas if that's your style. I love this combination of Epemedium, Dicentra spectablis (bleeding hearts) and Podophyllum (May apples).

The rustic charm and sounds of nature will whisk you away to a place far far away from home. 

I can't wait to go back again this May. Maybe I'll see some of you there...