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Articles from Francis Rosenfeld | Selfgrowth.com
- Perennial garden challenges - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldThe most important characteristic of perennial flower beds is tough soil. Their residents, once established, don't take kindly to being disturbed, and as much as you try to dig around their roots, the dirt tends to get much harder than it would in an annual border. This is both a good thing, ...
Views: 591 - Perennial Gardens - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldA perennial garden is an aggregate entity, not a discrete collection of plants. There is a surprising amount of inter-dependency that needs to develop between the neighboring plants, an adjustment that takes years and happens mostly underground. By the time a perennial garden gets fully ...
Views: 568 - Perennial ground covers - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldI can't figure out the precise point when a fast spreading plant becomes a ground cover. Some, like ivy, periwinkle and the beautiful blue flowering plumbago, are quite obvious, others, like lily of the valley and sweet violets, take you by surprise, starting with a shy little clump in spring ...
Views: 609 - Perennial Paradox - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldGrowing a perennial garden presents one with the weird predicament of having to work around the clock without actually planting anything. In a perennial garden, everything revolves around maintenance. Here are a few challenges. The perennial flower bed can’t be tilled, because most of its ...
Views: 873 - Perpetuals - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldSome annuals are such reliable self-seeders they can pretty much hold their own with their perennial counterparts. They are usually wild meadow flowers, a little rugged but relentless in the propagation of their species. I still find tall bell flowers from two years ago, blooming where I ...
Views: 400 - Planning for Spring - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldUsually by this time I’m already overtaken by cabin fever and dreaming of beautiful summer days, but this year, with the exception of a few days of brutal cold at the beginning of the month, it seems weather forgot winter exists. I hesitate to mention this because I don’t want to jinx it; ...
Views: 527 - Plant Based Dyes - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldLong before the dawn of synthetic dyes, the world of textiles was enchanting us with warm brick reds, stunning fuchsias, royal purples, electric blues, moss greens and bright yellows. The art of fiber, yarn and fabric dyeing has hundreds of years of history, much of which was abandoned since ...
Views: 612 - Plant Catalogs - by Submitted on Aug 16, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldIf you are a dedicated green thumb, all you do after winter begins is sit around and wait for it to be over. Two long months of dreary weather later, the sight of spring catalogs gracing your mailbox is a hopeful sign of better days to come. Some people go by the buds on the trees, others by the ...
Views: 552 - Planters - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldThe planters get a little tired and overgrown by the end of the summer, when the ideal combination of colors, heights and textures or their original design gives in to the whims of nature. There is beauty in that disarray, the beauty of the natural hierarchy that establishes itself outside of ...
Views: 468 - Planters - by Submitted on Aug 07, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldThe planters get a little tired and overgrown by the end of the summer, when the ideal combination of colors, heights and textures or their original design gives in to the whims of nature. There is beauty in that disarray, the beauty of the natural hierarchy that establishes itself outside of ...
Views: 527 - Planting fruit trees - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldI gingerly stepped out the door and a blast of cold air threw me back in. It's February. So much for my gardening enthusiasm, I guess I can stick to potpourri and fragrant sachets for now but since late winter is a good time for tree planting, let's talk about fruit trees. Children are ...
Views: 949 - Plants that Bring Luck - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldIt seems fitting, on Saint Patrick's Day, to make a list of plants that bring luck, you know, just in case. Let’s start with the classics: lavender and roses. No garden should be without them - lavender for luck, roses for love. Honesty and sage attract prosperity to the household. It is said ...
Views: 556 - Potted Basil - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldI always have a few pots of herbs on the balcony, which get to bask in the sunshine all summer long. Contrary to my expectations, herbs are not the kind of care free plants that will forgive you if you forget to water them, not even the drought friendly rosemary. They may require a little ...
Views: 587 - Preparing Vegetable Beds - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldMost vegetables are annual, which makes the gardener’s work to prepare their beds significantly easier. There are no roots to disturb, no bulbs to accidentally dig up. Early in spring, preferably before the vegetation starts reemerging, turn the soil to a spade’s depth, which is about twelve ...
Views: 486 - Pretty Wild Things - by Submitted on May 05, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldOk, I didn’t actually plant fleabane, but so what! It’s here, it’s blooming and it blends beautifully with the orange daylilies. There is a long list of wild flowers that earned their rightful spot into the flower border, many of which have been bequeathed to us as components of the vintage ...
Views: 482 - Propagating Plants from Cuttings - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldStem, root or leaf cuttings are the nursery standard for the propagation of perennials, especially those whose clumps grow woody with time. The benefit of this method is that the young plants are true clones of their parents. Leaf cutting is the simplest and most miraculous of the methods. It ...
Views: 520 - Pumpkin pie recipe - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldPumpkin pie lovers are spoiled beyond reason between the end of November and the end of the year. There are infinite variations of the delicious desert, all nutmeg, clove and cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar. I'd like to share my grandmother's recipe, which comes in strudel form. It is one ...
Views: 829 - Pumpkin, the big round fruit - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldMost suburban dwellers don't have the space and the sun exposure required to grow pumpkins, the big round fruit has a sprawling growth habit and an unruly disposition that doesn't endear it to its tamer vegetable companions. If you still want to grow pumpkins, here is how: pumpkins ...
Views: 590 - Purple Belles - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldYou would think that hostas, like the shade plants with broad foliage that they are, would love nothing more than a rainy summer, right? Partially. They developed luxurious foliage, and yes, the large fragrant ones did bloom, but not as abundantly as they usually do. You are looking at a picture ...
Views: 482 - Purple sophistication - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldIf you haven't grown eggplant before you probably don't know that the flowers boast the same unusual color as their glossy fruit. Eggplant flowers are the most beautiful of all bushy vegetables, deep lavender with a bright yellow middle. This vegetable is an acquired taste for many people, a ...
Views: 726 - Quince Jelly - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2021 from Francis RosenfeldAll fruits are suitable for preserves, especially if they come in vibrant colors, but some, like apples, quinces, pears, plums and grapes, are naturally high in pectin and will gel beautifully without additives. Jellies must be firm and transparent like colored glass, in brilliant jewel ...
Views: 390 - Roasting Marshmallows - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldMy son had to stay home from school. Since the reason was a tummy ache he was required to rest for the day and not engage in his regular activities, all of which involve some kind of computerized device. After a long drawn discussion about being unfairly deprived of the activities he had been ...
Views: 562 - Rose Care for the Winter - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldWhether rose pruning is best done in the fall or spring is a matter of preference. I usually leave it for spring, for some reason I feel the plants will fare better over the winter if they keep the growth from the previous year. If you do choose to prune before winter, do so, keeping in mind ...
Views: 593 - Rose Geranium Oil - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldRose geranium essential oil has been a staple ingredient for perfumery and skin care for a very long time. Just like its regular counterpart, the rose oil, it is very useful for mature skin, because it moisturizes it and helps restore its elasticity. There are many benefits associated with the ...
Views: 505 - Rosemary - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldWhen you start looking into its qualities, rosemary can be quite intimidating, it seems to be good for everything: it makes hair grow strong and shiny, rejuvenates skin, boosts memory and concentration, sharpens eyesight, thins the blood and helps lower the risk of cancer. This impressive resume ...
Views: 539 - Roses - by Submitted on May 28, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldOnce the rose enchants you you become a life time devotee. In all fairness who can deny this blossom anything, I mean anything, really? For what other flower would you suffer through the scratches and the winter protection and the constant fending off of beetles and blackspot and the capricious ...
Views: 478 - Roses for landscaping - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldIt is amazing what special status roses have in gardens! A gardener will move a tree, completely restructure a flower bed and change the location of a patio before they decide to touch an established rose. New homeowners who inherit roses plan their entire gardens in ways that feature and ...
Views: 610 - Roses for Landscaping - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldIt is amazing what special status roses have in gardens! A gardener will move a tree, completely restructure a flower bed and change the location of a patio before they decide to touch an established rose. New homeowners who inherit roses plan their entire gardens in ways that feature and ...
Views: 604 - Salves and creams - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldThe difference between a cream and a salve is that salves always contain beeswax and they are a lot firmer (think lip balm). A salve is a blend of oil and beeswax in proportion of five to one more or less. Salves are often made with infused oils that extract the medicinal qualities of herbs ...
Views: 1619 - Season's End - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldOne of the perks of keeping a garden is stumbling upon little joyful moments when time stands still and life flows softly through, peaceful and unhurried. Time slows down so we have enough of it to notice how bright the sunlight looks, reflected in the gold and orange leaves of the maple ...
Views: 408 - Second Wind - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldSomebody who is fated to live a linear life can’t easily grasp the cycles of nature; I’m envious, almost, of the way the garden gets to reshuffle the deck at the end of each year and start fresh in spring, one level up from where it was before. Sometimes this cycle skips like a record with a ...
Views: 530 - Second Wind - by Submitted on Aug 10, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldSomebody who is fated to live a linear life can’t easily grasp the cycles of nature; I’m envious, almost, of the way the garden gets to reshuffle the deck at the end of each year and start fresh in spring, one level up from where it was before. Sometimes this cycle skips like a record with a ...
Views: 386 - Skin Pampering - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldThere is nothing like a gentle facial to cleanse the skin and make it glow and there are plenty of ingredients in the kitchen cupboards for a nourishing face mask. Let’s go over a few classics. Honey - it works by itself as a gentle exfoliator or it can be mixed with other ingredients like ...
Views: 417 - Sleeping Garden - by Submitted on Dec 16, 2019 from Francis RosenfeldIf you were wondering what happens to your perennials during their winter hibernation, here goes. At the approach of winter they transform the sugars developed through photosynthesis into starch, which they can store inside their roots long term and use during the winter in the same way ...
Views: 529 - Soil Types - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldAt the most basic level there are three types of soil: sand, loam and clay. Most soils are a combination of the three, in various proportions. Every soil type has qualities and defects. Sandy soils drain very well, they are easily tilled and provide optimal conditions for the development of ...
Views: 604 - Solar Eclipse - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2018 from Francis RosenfeldLike so many people, I too stared at the sun for a couple of hours, to watch it turn from a ball of fire into a thin crescent of light. We were not in the total eclipse zone and because of that, sunlight shone through the entire time. I could only see the moon’s shadow through special glasses, ...
Views: 667 - Solomon's Seal - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldI am absolutely fascinated by this plant. I don't know what it is about it, its name, its relative scarcity, the unusual way the blossoms are aligned along the stems, unlike any flower I've ever seen. I waited a long time to get it, hesitating over mail-in orders and proper planting times, ...
Views: 605 - Special Hybrids - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldI know this is a task for October and not February, but since the weather turned sour and put the excitement for gardening activities on hold again, I thought I’d put together a list of interesting daffodil varieties to consider next fall. Flower Drift is a double daffodil with pure white ...
Views: 379 - Spring Bulbs - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldThe bulbs I plant in the fall sometimes don’t make it through the winter, but the potted bulbs I get from the grocery store in January always do. I finally figured out that happens because bulbs with fully grown foliage usually get planted at the required depth. Most of the hyacinths that ...
Views: 618 - Spring Care for Roses - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldBoth of the rose cuttings I started last fall have rooted, judging by the new growth, but I’m not taking the jars off of them until the weather turns really warm. The roses are usually the first to get attention in my garden, before the spring cleaning or tending to the grass, so let’s talk ...
Views: 393 - Spring Cleaning - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldIt doesn't really look like spring in the garden until the spring cleaning is done. I rushed through it for a few hours between rains, so I didn't have a chance to pay close attention to the perennials that were already out. The sprucing up attracted a few visitors from the wilderness - a ...
Views: 344 - Spring Cleaning - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2021 from Francis RosenfeldThe last week of March usually brings warm, almost summer like weather, perfect for the long-awaited spring cleaning. It felt strange this year to find a reliable pattern in the middle of emptiness and uncertainty. I put the favorable weather to good use and finished the garden cleaning ...
Views: 330 - Starting the Vegetable Garden - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldHere’s to this year’s crop! I decided to try Independence Day tomatoes, and learned that it has a much lower germination rate than other varieties. Let’s hope they make up for it with taste. The seedlings look sturdy and enthusiastic, and have grown large enough that I don’t have to worry ...
Views: 341 - Summer bulbs - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldIf you thought starting plants indoors worked for seed alone, think again. You can give your summer bulbs a good start by planting them inside in a pot four to six weeks before the last frost and transplanting them outdoors when weather permits. Tuberous begonias, callas and caladiums will ...
Views: 506 - Summer Night Rain - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldThe rain started right before midnight, with a soft, somewhat tentative thunder announcing it from afar, almost as if it was asking itself whether or not it had the right time. I listened to it for a while, reliving a memory. The sounds, the scents of rain, removed from sight, speak to the ...
Views: 582 - Summer Rain - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2017 from Francis RosenfeldI sometimes forget how much I love summer rain, even the subdued kind, like the one right now, the kind that lasts for days. The light shifts to green from bouncing off lush wet foliage under a murky sky. There is harmony in the dance of raindrops tapping on the roof, life itself feels softer, ...
Views: 624 - Summer's Door - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldSummer is knocking on the door a month early and it brought with it sweltering temperatures more suitable for the middle of July; it arrived so suddenly it gets difficult for us poor humans to adjust. Everything tripled in size in a matter of days, desperately springing into bloom as if not to ...
Views: 383 - Sun Exposure - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2016 from Francis RosenfeldEven though the three basic sun exposures are full sun, part sun and shade, the last one comes in so many variations, all with their own little quirks, that it deserves a full chapter all to itself. Full sun exposure means eight hours or more of direct sunlight a day, without any large elements ...
Views: 576 - Sun Exposure - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2020 from Francis RosenfeldEven though the three basic sun exposures are full sun, part sun and shade, the latter comes in so many variations, all with their own little quirks, that it deserves a full chapter all to itself. Full sun exposure means eight hours or more of direct sunlight a day, without any large elements ...
Views: 423 - Sun, shade and the caprices of the weather - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2015 from Francis RosenfeldWhat is good weather? That is a very good question for a gardener. Some places are blessed with conditions that make plants thrive despite complete lack of interest or effort. People who for years tried unsuccessfully to grow a garden watch with incredulous envy out of their car windows the ...
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