Work what you’re working with
From Rachel’s Desk | 2.17.25
There’s a get-to-know you phase with every new garden. It’s just the way it is. Like any relationship, the initial stages include a thrilling mix of high hopes, maybe a few delusions, some exciting discoveries. Then the real is realized, a little at a time. This is what I can do, this is what I can’t offer. Here are my strengths, here’s where I need support. With one of my gardens, I’m in the real stages.
I found that I was asking the garden to grow in ways it just isn’t laid out to do. I was ignoring the messages the plants were sending, and continuing to trudge ahead with my ideas of what “should work.” That is until I went to check on the tulip bed this week. I was happy to see my beautiful daffodils waking up nearby, but where were those blue-green shoots that should be poking through the soil right about now? I did some digging, literally, and it was not pretty. What should have been nicely rooted bulbs in fluffy black soil was a swampy, very stinky mess. That was my wake-up call: It’s time to listen.
I said a few words, then took a step back to look around. Once I got over myself and my disappointment at losing a crop, I could see clearly that what was before me was a rain garden. There is a distinct, snaking line going through the middle that holds (and holds) rain water. In the middle of summer, or in a super dry Fall like we had last year, this is not a bad thing. Well, maybe for tulips. But I digress.
Thankfully, there are so many flowering plants that thrive in wet soils. Louisiana Iris, Liatris, Summersweet, Hydrangeas and Willows of all kinds, the list goes on. If I were to try to grow these beautiful flowers in a typical, well-draining garden in the hot Alabama sun, I would be one frustrated gardener with a big, fat water bill. I bet you can guess what kind of plants I just ordered for late Spring planting.
Sometimes you have to step back, shut up, and listen. That was my Garden’s lesson for me this month. I’m sure the lessons will keep coming as we get to know each other better. I have to admit, it’s not bad relationship advice. Not the cutest or warm-and-fuzziest, but it’s real. And we could all use more of that.
I hope everyone had a chance to feel loved this Valentines Day weekend. Let’s keep it loving and keep it real. Thank you, as always, for following along while we grow this urban flower farm from the ground up.
Rachel Martz
Field Notes | 2.11.25
Native plants for the win
You’ve probably heard something about native plants by now, as they’ve become a buzzy topic in gardening. So what’s the big deal? In a nutshell, plants native to North America are ones that were here before colonization. They evolved on this continent along with all of the critters, and so they have symbiotic relationships with them. They are perfect food and shelter sources for North American wildlife.
The critters are the first reason that planting native plants in your garden is so cool. There’s no telling how they find their favorite plants, but they do and it’s amazing to watch. When you plant coneflowers, you get goldfinches. When you plant Caroline Jessamine, you get hummingbirds. Plant Black Walnut or American Persimmon and stay up late enough and you might see a Luna Moth. If you want to get really specific and look up what plants are native to your area, check out this website from Audubon: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants You just put in your zip code and it even tells you what bird species the plants attract. What better way to spend a rainy February afternoon than planning your Spring garden?
The second reason planting native plants is great is they are easier! If you plant them in the right spot, considering how much sun they need and how wet or dry they like their soil, they are usually good to go. They have been growing here for a long time and don’t need much of our help to thrive.
Several native plants are part of the crop plan this year, for the reasons listed above and also because they are just gorgeous! The hope is that showcasing the beauty of our Southeast native plants in floral design will inspire more folks to plant them in their own yards. Also, attracting more beneficial insects and birds to the growing area greatly improves the overall health of the gardens. The goal is always for the gardens to give back to our ecosystem more than they take. Including native plants is a simple way to love Mother Nature back.
