Cait's Garden

One of my first garden projects in my new home was planting lilac bushes. I knew I wanted a couple of the traditional French lilacs, but for the third lilac, I indulged in a different variety. Shown in the photo above is my Katherine Havemeyer lilac tree. It’s more commonly called a tree than a bush because it maintains a more tree-like form than your traditional lilac bushes. It can reach up to 10 feet tall and wide, and like other lilacs, it can be carefully trimmed as needed to maintain shape. But it still blooms on old wood, so one must be careful about pruning to avoid flower disruption. And what flowers they are! Amazing, giant cones of tightly packed, large, rosey-lilac flowers. They are like traditional lilac flowers on serious steroids. Gorgeous! You have to see them to believe them. And the scent, I think, is even headier than traditional lilacs. Much stronger and spicier.

These days, there are a ton of varieties of lilacs to choose from, in colors as varied as pink, yellow, and white. There are even reblooming shrubs now. (While I like that idea, there’s something to be said for the old school way of thinking…everything to its season.) But space in my yard is limited, so although I’d love one of each variety, I just can’t indulge. Still, I’m glad to have the old standards, and I’m positively thrilled to have the Katherine Havemeyer.

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Do you have a viburnum? Do you know how to pronounce “viburnum”? (I looked it up years ago…the stress is on the Vye at the beginning of the word.) This is a phenomenal landscape plant. There are many varieties to choose from, but I can personally recommend Judd.  Judd Viburnum is a round and bushy little tree-like shrub that grows to about 5 feet tall and wide. It is hardy, it is easy to prune if you want to shape it, and it makes a wonderful focal point in any garden. I have this particular viburnum smack dab in the center of the landscaping along the front of my house. It is my anchor. And in Spring, it is covered in the most phenomenal-smelling pom poms of blush pink flowers. The smell is like a carnation on steroids. Intense warm vanilla and spicy cinnamon. Definitely one of the most incredible spring flower smells you can experience. When the flowers are gone, I’m left with an attractive, full tree with dark green leaves that turns pretty purples and reds in the fall. It is rare when a plant gives you so much enjoyment and reliability in exchange for so little care. Judd’s my man…er, shrub!

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Can’t completely banish dandelions from your yard? Don’t blame your chosen brand of weed and feed. Look at how these things are engineered! These things can survive fires with roots like that.

I use corn gluten on my lawn to fertilize and prevent weeds. It’s the green choice, especially if you have lots of wildlife in your yard. And it works great overall. Certainly as well as your traditional chemicals. But chemicals or corn, you will never ever banish dandelions completely.

On the bright side, think of all the fun, dangerous-looking garden tools you can buy to fight them!

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What began as a typically awkward spring is slowly shaping up. Plants are becoming recognizable, the lawn is green, trees and shrubs are leafing out. And my dear garden friends, the toads, are back.

I have come to adore these little guys, even though they prompt me to scream several times a summer by popping out at me unexpectedly from under a plant when I’m weeding. The toads aren’t scary…they just surprise you! Did you know that you are a lucky, lucky gardener if you have toads in your yard? Each toad can consume thousands of insects that would otherwise damage our plants. They are nature’s pest control.

A few caveats to making your yard a toad refuge. Avoid chemical sprays and pesticides, which can poison the little guys. And be VERY careful when you weed or cut the grass. Baby toads especially can hop out unexpectedly into the path of a sharp object. You don’t want the guilt of having maimed one of these little cuties. Live and let live!

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