Tag Archives: garden events

Sunny Hill Side Gardening – Our Next Walk n Talk Hour – This Saturday!

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Hi Everyone,

Our next Walk and Talk Garden Event is scheduled for this Saturday, August 16th, at 10:00 am to 11:00 am in East Granby, Connecticut.  It will showcase a sunny hill side garden area facing an amazing view of the mountains beyond, and includes a discussion on what has thrived on a difficult hill facing the afternoon sun and wind during both the summer and winter months.

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There are many plants which this homeowner has grown in these harsh conditions, and her style is very informal and meadow like.  She also has an amazing curly willow on her property you must see.  She collects the branches in the winter for decorations.

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Other interesting activities she deals with are bears!  They roam through her gardens from time to time, and her dog was a watcher of these, but sadly her beloved pet passed two years ago.

A View Tax

The most amazing thing of all is the view from her gardens and home – it is breathtaking, in fact, she has to pay a “view tax” which she debated with the town in the past.  Seems unfair to be taxed on a view – doesn’t it? LOL.

Let’s learn about how she deals with all this during our Walk and Talk on Saturday, August 16th at 10 am.

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After the Tour – Visit Some Local Nurseries

After our one hour Walk and Talk, there are two nurseries close by you may opt to visit.  One is Bosco’s Garden Center in Simsbury, located only a couple miles from our Walk and Talk address.  Bosco’s is open from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. It is a small nursery with a little area to the side of its main building and a back area but it has great plants.  Their adjoining shop has some adorable garden decor and other various plant products.

If you still want to adventure on after Bosco’s, another choice is O’Brien Nursery in Granby, CT which is located about 3-4 miles from Bosco’s.  This nursery features “Open Garden Days” and lucky for us – this weekend is one of them.  They are offering a ‘Hosta Dividing Demo’ at noon, so if you time this right – you can go see the demo after our Walk and Talk, or just visit their nursery packed with various hosta plants, and other interesting plants.

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Directions

To receive directions to the Walk and Talk location, respond in the “comments” section on this blog post (see RED Box on top right), or email containercathy@gmail.com, or sign up via the Facebook posted event.  Feel free to text if you prefer to 860-977-9473.  Only signed-up attendees receive the home address of the event.  Oh, another way to sign up is to complete the Contact Form below.

The directions to both nearby nurseries will be handed out at our Walk and Talk and we will give you some recommendations of local restaurants as well.  Documentation on heat tolerant and drought tolerant plants will be furnished to attendees.

All Walk and Talks are free to attend.  See ground rules here.

ePub on Designing Hills

To see an article written back in 2010 on Designing Hills, check out Cathy T’s website here.  But, let me just say, the hostess of our Walk and Talk Event doesn’t always follow “design” rules, but follows her gut and individual style.  She has several plants to talk about which have tolerated her tough conditions and she will let us know what she has done to help with the dry and windy situations.

Gardens at this time of year may be stressed from summer heat – but her situation is even more intense due to the hill side and how it faces the landscape – so if you have similar challenges and wish to compare notes – this is a Walk and Talk you don’t want to miss – and it is last one scheduled for the 2014 season.

2015 Walk and Talk Dates

We have several 2015 Walk and Talk Events already scheduled. To receive notifications of them, be sure to “follow” this blog. Also, don’t be shy – if you would like to share your gardening experience in a very informal yet informative way – be sure to let us know – we love meeting new gardeners and walk away every time with something new to try as we learn practiced techniques from homeowners.

Lucky for us – the weather is again predicted to be very nice on Saturday – so don’t miss out – you never know what kind of “goodies” you will walk away with at this event!

Thank you – Cathy Testa
http://www.cathytesta.com
ContainerCrazyCT

Visit Cathy T’s Pinboards on Pinterest

To see many examples of Hill Side Gardens, visit http://www.pinterest.com/cathytesta/slopes-n-hill-n-terraces.  Click the Pinterest icon on the right side bar of this blog to get there quick.

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5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Ready for Spring!

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#1 Go to the Flower and Garden Show this week in Hartford, CT

Go to the flower and garden show in Hartford, CT being held this week starting Thursday, Feb. 20th. Just walking into the building will get your senses thinking about spring and less about snow as you see, hear, smell, and experience the plants and plant offerings by the many exhibitors.  I plan to go – probably on Friday.  Got the day off?  Want to join me, just email me at containercathy@gmail.com.  There is parking adjacent to the convention center.  After parking, find your way through the parking garage to the main entrance and take the escalators up to the show floor. Don’t forget to visit the seminar speakers on the floor above the show floor too.  Food and wine is available at the show each year, and check in with your local nurseries before you go for tickets – they often offer discounted tickets by a couple bucks.  If you can’t make it during a week day, no worries – it runs through the weekend, and the weather is looking warmer by Friday.

#2 Visit Cathy T’s new Pinboards on Succulents and Tropicals

Why?  Because in May, Cathy T is offering a fun class on how to make container gardens with succulents, and will be having a Tropical Talk too.  To get inspired about this first annual BIG CONTAINER GARDEN PARTY to be held on Broad Brook, CT, visit her new pinboards right now, note the date on your calendar, and register today.  These pinboards will get you at least thinking about upcoming fun of creating beautiful containers for your outdoor spaces in the spring and summer. The possibilities are endless in the style and ways you can mix up plants for the season.

To learn more details about this class, see the pages listed under Cathy T’s Classes or under Container Gardens on the menu of this blog.  Share the information too with any local friends interested.

#3 Scout Containers for the Upcoming Season

Now could be a very good time indeed to think about containers or patio pots for not, only Cathy T’s BIG CONTAINER GARDEN PARTY (class) in May, but in general for your container gardening coming up in a matter of a month of so!  We may have snow right now, but it will begin to melt as soon as temps warm up – so why not rummage your own stock of goodies, or start looking for unique containers at the flower show this weekend?? – and of course, the tag sales that kick off in the spring. It is when you least expect it that you find a vintage item, a repurposed pot, or something sitting in your garage or basement right now that can be a container in spring and summer – old fancy shoes or pumps – heck, before tossing them, think – could this be a great container for succulents at Cathy T’s class?  I think yes!

#4 Think about Attending Other Garden Related Conferences

Did you know there is a great ELA conference next week in downtown Springfield, MA for plant enthusiasts and ground huggers?  Well, I say ground huggers in a very loving way – the focus at this conference is usually on natural horticultural practices and sustainability.  Is there any other kind?!!   The speakers at this conference are highly educated and the attendees inspiring for many are hort people in the business, but this doesn’t mean an avid gardener expanding their knowledge base and horizons can not attend too. If interested, visit their website for all the details. There is parking near the conference location, and places in downtown to eat if you want to adventure beyond the cafe onsite at this conference.  Do something different, and give this conference a try, or don’t forget other flower shows going on, such as the Rhode Island show (held same time as Hartford’s) or Boston show in March or UCONN’s Garden Conference in Storrs, CT.  You will be amazed how inspiring it can feel to attend a conference you haven’t tried before – you may not know what’s out there – but if you go – it surely makes you more ready for spring!  And many are in locations where you can adventure into the city and enjoy other places of interest if you make a weekend out of it, or stay overnight.

#5 Start some Seeds indoors, or Force some Pretty Bulbs:

Herb Seeds (Photo by Cathy Testa)

Herb Seeds (Photo by Cathy Testa)

It may feel too early to start seeds, but heck if you pot up a few herb seeds in your home or grow an Amaryllis bulb, like I did recently inside the home – you start to feel inspired for the growing days of spring ahead when you see the bulb’s flowers open, or see the seeds popping up in the soil.  So go to your local supply shop, get some seed starting potting mix and a couple packets of seeds, put them in some pots, place by a sunny window sill, and watch it grow.

Photo by Cathy Testa, Panical Hydrangea Covered in Snow

Photo by Cathy Testa, Hydrangea Covered in Snow

Or if that doesn’t suit your fancy, get bundled up, walk your property and take some photos of plants in the snow covered with icicles, fluffy snow, and enjoy the shadows against the snow cast by branches.  This cheers me up and hopefully will do so for you.  By the way, if any of your shrubs are toppling over due to the weight of sticky snow, it is a good idea to gently shake the excess snow off the branches so they don’t break or bend too harshly.

Happy Monday Everyone,

Cathy Testa