This spring should have been so richly deserved.

So perfect.

We struggled through blizzards. Shoulder-high snow banks where sidewalks should have been. And storms that tore and dug away at our beaches and coastline, flooded roads and pitched homes into the ocean.

Then this spring. Cool. Fairly dry as springs go — in fact we’re in a slight rain deficit for the year. And slow. The way spring is supposed to be. So unlike it usually is up here on the northeast nub of the Bay State, where we usually go from snow to 80 degrees in a matter of a week.

Spring?

Blink and you miss it.

Not this year. This year we have been treated to seeing the world reborn in stages. Given the chance to see each element of spring bloom and burst before giving way to the next. The snowdrops, white on the brown leaves and yellow grass. Then the daffodils. Their yellow faces bolder than the snowdrop and firmer in their hope. Then the forsythia. Bright yellow splotches and hedge ribbons weaving through the landscape. Tulips spiked the world with myriad colors red, yellow, purple. Those at the top of Market Street were particularly spectacular against the steady flow of skies, cloudless and brilliant blue.

A tree at the intersection of Turkey Shore and Labor in Vain is always one of my favorite spring spots in town. The April sun sets at a cross angle to the tree, some two stories tall, weeping down with branches drenched in pale purple to pink flowers. The long, angled rays set the trunk dark against the colored blossoms, themselves back lit, with the Ipswich River shimmering behind. The whole tree looks as if it were dipped in a shimmering silver glaze.

And now other trees have filled in their colors. The pink and white of the dogwoods. The apple blossoms. The cherry trees. The dwarf pears. Their petals flowing down in a stiff spring breeze, momentarily mimicking the blizzard’s snow and covering me in sweet fragrance and color.

And through it all the booms echo, the puffs of white smoke flash and the screams reverberate.

The contrast between God’s gifts and the reality of what we are capable of doing to one another, inescapable.

Our anger first blocking the burial of the older bombing suspect and then forcing him to be buried in secret. I refuse to name him. He deserves to fade into anonymity. Forgotten.

But he should have been buried.

At some point we need to focus on this world. On our actions. And surrender what is beyond us to God’s judgment, which only the most hubristic could even claim to begin to understand.

At such times of inexplicable pain, we need to rely on faith to see and work toward the best we can be. To see those who run to the puffs of smoke. To see those run to the nearest hospital after finishing a marathon to give blood. We need faith to give back to the earth the worst of what we are and raise up our heads and see the multiple hues of green — the sages, the green yellows, the sharp greens — of leafing trees.

Dan Mac Alpine is senior editor of the Ipswich Chronicle.

Article source: http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x372822600/GUEST-OPINION-Putting-our-faith-in-spring

Article source: http://www.hebdenbridgetimes.co.uk/news/local/no-slack-and-still-top-for-alpine-displays-1-5665367

RAYMOND BLANC visited Watlington to support the town’s entry in the Britain in Bloom competition.

The chef planted thyme and strawberries in Mansle Gardens and a blackcurrant tree in the grounds of Watlington and District Care home.

Blanc, who had asked to be put in touch with his local Britain in Bloom group after launching the competition’s “incredible edibles” theme, said he was impressed with the town’s sense of community.

He said: “It’s wonderful to see a community really gathering together, really connecting with food, connecting with planting and connecting with blossoms.

“We in Great Britain have lost this simple connection with food and now we are connecting with that and it’s marvellous to see that happening in Watlington.”

Blanc also wished the town luck in the large village category of the national final during his visit on Wednesday.

“I must be totally impartial but let the best win and I hope that all the efforts that this community has done will bring its own fruits of success,” he said.

Tim Horton, chairman of Watlington in Bloom, said Blanc’s visit was inspirational.

“What Raymond brings to us is a fantastic expertise,” he said.

“He, at Le Manoir, has his own garden, his own orchard, and we are looking to extend the facilities that we have, the public garden, as well as private gardens and allotments, to do even more than we are doing at the moment.”

Blanc met members of Watlington in Bloom and Peter Thompson, who is a regional judge for Thames and Chiltern in Bloom and is mentoring Watlington in the upcoming finals, at the town hall before taking a tour of the high street. He then visited Calnan Brothers butchers, where he was shown some local venison, and the Granary delicatessen, where he tasted some quince jam and cheese produced by Quince Products, of Ingham Lane.

He then visited the Paddock where he was asked for his suggestions for improving the area. His ideas included planting fruit trees and hedges and a children’s garden.

Blanc also visited Mansle Gardens where he was met by members of the It’s Your Neighbourhood group who look after the area.

He was shown grapevines which were given to the town by their French counterparts four years ago to mark the 20th anniversary of the towns being twinned.

Aherb garden was recently created in a planter which was made from larch wood grown and sawn locally and put together by Tom Bindoff, a member of the Watlington in Bloom committee.

Blanc planted thyme and alpine strawberries, which he confessed were his favourite variety, in a second planter.

Kate Dew, of Church Meadow, helped plant the herb garden and was among the group who met Blanc.

She said: “It’s really exciting because this is a really important part of my environment and it’s such a lovely open space. With something like this we hope people will come along and do a bit of weeding and take some herbs.”

Blanc’s final stop was the care home in Hill Road where he looked around the gardening club’s greenhouse. Produce grown in the home’s garden is used in the kitchen.

The chef planted a blackcurrant tree, assisted by head gardener Peter Hemmins, and met some residents who were potting lavender, rosemary, basil and hot peppers inside the home.

Julie Cooper, manager of the home, said it was “wonderful” to welcome their special visitor.

“Many of our residents enjoy gardening as they like to get outside in the fresh air and feel the wind on their faces,” she added.

Published 20/05/13

Article source: http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1286748

MONTREAL — The seasonal garden party at the Montreal Botanical Garden is in full bloom.

GARDENING WEEKEND 

Need some gardening-season inspiration? The green ideas start here.

The Montreal Botanical Garden presents the 16th edition of its Great Gardening Weekend Friday, May 24, through Sunday, May 26. This year’s theme is “Setting up Your Gardening Area.”

The weekend features talks with horticulturists and growers; garden-inspired workshops; sales of unique plants and one-of-a-kind gardening supplies; and tips on organic gardening, floral arranging and food-producing horticulture. In all, more than 100 growers, craftspeople and horticultural experts will be on hand. While most lectures and workshops are held in French, many exhibitors are bilingual and can answer a variety of gardening questions. Topics cover advice for vegetables and roses, pruning- and training-technique demonstrations, and bonsai care and cultivation.

A number of the botanical garden’s partner organizations will also be on hand to share their love, passion and expertise for specific plant species such as lilacs, orchids, gladiolus, dahlias, hostas, daylilies, bonsai, roses and alpine plants.

LIVING SCULPTURES

The Botanical Garden also hosts one of Montreal’s major summer events.

Making its return is International Mosaicultures, a collection of 50 outdoor large-format living sculptures that each use hundreds of colorful plants to create shape, color and texture. The horticultural artists hail from 25 countries.

The event, last seen in Old Montreal a decade ago, is a natural to be hosted at the Botanical Garden. The sculptures will adorn a pathway that’s about 1.3 miles long. The event is held Saturday, June 22, through Saturday, Sept. 29. 

GUIDED TOURS

While there’s definitely a lot of ground to cover at the Botanical Garden, a free garden tour led by volunteer guides can make the experience more manageable and insightful.

The official daily tour season began last week and continues through Thursday, Oct. 31, with tours departing at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The tour lasts from 90 minutes to two hours; wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes.

Stops along the way include any number of the Botanical Garden’s signature outdoor-garden spaces. There are 30 thematic gardens in all, including the Garden of Innovations, an outdoor space that highlights the latest annuals, perennials, ornamental trees and shrubs, and ground coverings available on the home and gardening market.

In addition, the First Nations Garden offers a contemporary take on an ages-old gardening sentiment and is one of the more popular summer visits. The space offers a look at hardwood and conifer forests; an actual indigenous longhouse; and the “Three Sisters” dietary staple of squash, beans and corn. The ongoing “Knowledge and Know-How” series offers woodworking examples and arts and crafts demonstrations throughout the year.

EXHIBITIONS

The Tree House, an indoor-exhibition space devoted to trees, features “Romans des Bois,” an exhibition of 30 unique wood sculptures created by artist Alain Stanke. It’s presented through Thursday, Oct. 31. 

The Chlorophyll Room in the main greenhouses offers “Your Garden,” a look at the 80-year history of the Montreal Botanical Garden. It continues through the end of the year.

BLOOMS OF THE WEEK

Check out the Botanical Garden’s website for its “Blooms of the Week” calendar. Currently on the late May springtime docket: magnolias in the Japanese Garden, spring flowering bulbs in the Alpine Garden, and primroses and rhododendrons in the Leslie Hancock Garden.

Steven Howell is the author of Montreal Essential Guide, a Sutro Media iPhone travel app available at iTunes.com.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Montreal Botanical Garden.
WHERE: 4101 Sherbrooke St. E. (Metro station Pie-IX), Montreal.
HOURS: Great Gardening Weekend hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
ADMISSION: Non-Montreal resident adult admission costs $18.75. International Mosaiccultures adult admission costs $29.50. Discounts are available for students, seniors, youths and families.
CONTACT: Call (514) 872-1400, or visit www.espacepourlavie.ca.

Article source: http://pressrepublican.com/0800_special_sections/x701047828/Find-inspiration-at-Great-Gardening-Weekend

One of my favorite moments from this season of Mad Men is when Bert Cooper is celebrating their (too-early) plan to go public. Pete offers to pour him a drink and Bert asks if Pete has any “spirits of elderflower”. It’s a fantastic and decidedly European request, hilariously placed for a strange man of the world like Bert Cooper. So what is a spirit of elderflower? It’s a liquer made from the flowers of the elderberry plant. The most well-known is St. Germain, a French liquer (/another France Hamdam reference) that is traditionally drunk straight or mixed with champagne. It’s also traditionally used in several old-timey cocktails if you ever go to one of those fancy cocktail bars that have lately become the rage.

But liquers of elderflower are not easy to make. The flowers do not grow well in nurseries, every known bottler picks them from the wild in the Alps. They only flower for a 4-6 week period. They’re very fragile, having to be picked by hand, and lose a lot of flavor soon after picking*. After they’re picked by hand, they’re moved only by bicycle, not truck (yes, really) to be macerated right in the alpine fields. Exact recipes for the commercial brands are all a secret, but in general they all boast of how careful their picking and bottling process is to maintain the flavor of the flowers. So next time you’re in a liquor store, maybe seek out some spirits of elderflower. It’s a tasty liquer that is delicately hand-made and shipped around the world for your consumptive tastes. It’s a beautiful world sometimes.

*Ever notice that fresh store-bought blueberries suck compared to frozen ones? Same problem of losing flavor immediately after picking. Frozen blueberries are flash-frozen in the field on special trucks, it’s why they’re so much tastier than ones you buy “fresh” at the store. Every decent bakery and restaurant uses frozen blueberries, it’s the key to good flavor in your muffin/pancake/etc.

Article source: http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2013/5/17/4342166/hamsterdam-is-drinking-with-bert-cooper

PUBLISHED:

16:31 EST, 17 May 2013

|

UPDATED:

16:31 EST, 17 May 2013

Green roofs have been popping up everywhere at the Chelsea Flower Show in recent years. The idea is simple: instead of using hard materials such as concrete, why not grow plants on that surface?

Green roofs also help keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter, and they have great aesthetic appeal.

The RBC New Wild Garden, winner of a Silver-Gilt medal at 2011’s Chelsea Flower Show, attracted a lot of attention for its roof planted with a mixture of wildflowers, sedums, herbs and flowering perennials, all selected to enhance biodiversity.

A green roof planted with sedum

Nigel Dunnett, one of the designers, says that any plot, whatever its size, can accommodate a green roof. ‘Garden sheds, porches, summerhouses, balconies, garages and small extensions all offer great potential for planting green roofs.’

Before embarking on a green roof, it’s important to consider whether your roof can take the weight of soil or compost and plants.

You will need a minimum soil depth of 7.5cm (3in) for planting, and damp earth is heavy stuff. Normal garden compost is fine for a green roof.

Nigel Dunnett, one of the designers, says that any plot, whatever its size, can accommodate a green roof.

Always check the structural soundness of a building before planting anything on it: if in any doubt, get professional advice.

The existing roof must also be waterproof – pond liner is ideal for this.

Green roofs can be positioned in full sun or partial shade, although you will have to vary your planting depending on the conditions.

Sedums are a popular planting choice, and you can create a simple green roof by securing a pregrown mat of sedums, which are widely available from specialist suppliers like www.enviromat.co.uk, onto the surface of your roof.

Or you could create a colourful wildflower meadow, or recreate an alpine field.

‘Many typical alpines such as dianthus are excellent for green roofs, as are low-growing species of tulips,’ says Nigel Dunnett.

‘Native wildflowers such as cowslips will increase the wildlife value of the roof.’

And if your roof is in partial shade, you could grow alpine strawberries and ferns.

All green roofs will need watering for the first month or so, but after that should be left to their own devices.

Take Chelsea Home by Chris Young is published by Mitchell Beazley, price £20.

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Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2326240/Grow-roof-As-years-Chelsea-Flower-Show-opens-RHS-expert-Chris-Young-key-looks.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Fish plants

Fish and Game had trout plants scheduled for Alpine Lake, Angels Creek, Beaver Creek, White Pines Lake and the North Fork of the Stanislaus River this week. For a complete listing of plants throughout the state, go to dfg.ca.gov/ fish/ hatcheries/fishplanting.

Highway 4 corridor

By Bill Reynolds, Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods

Ebbetts Pass is now open. The high country lakes are still partially frozen, but some of creeks are fish-able. The road to Spicer Reservoir is now completely open and the dock is in the water. Top lining seemed to work the best as the fish are still toward the top. The last we heard about Lake Alpine, the new dock is still not in.

Ebbetts Pass is now open. The high country lakes are still partially frozen, but some of creeks are fish-able. This week’s trout plants include White Pines Lake, Beaver Creek, North Fork of the Stanislaus, Angels Creek, and Lake Alpine.

White Pines Lake: White Pines Lake located near Arnold will be planted this week. Bait casters should try using Berkley Gulp Eggs, Galic Power Eggs, Garlic Power Bait, Power Bait, Salmon Peach Power Bait, Grape Nymph Power Bait, Berkley Mice Tails, Berkley Gulp Worms, salmon eggs, and Nightcrawlers with a sliding sinker rig or with a cast-a-bubble rig with 30″-36″ leader. Lure casters should try Kastmasters, Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps, Blue Fox spinners, Berkley Splinter Spoons, and Thomas Bouyants. Fly fishermen should try woolly buggers, sparrow nymphs, adams, female adams, humpy’s, blue wing olive, pale morning dun, caddis flies, ants, and bead head nymphs.

North Fork of the Stanislaus: You can check the flows for The North Fork of the Stanislaus by going to dreamflows.com. The North Fork of the Stanislaus will be planted this week. Lure fishermen should try Rapala’s, Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps, Blue Fox spinners, Daiwa Lures, Kastmasters, Berkley Splinter Spoons, and Thomas Bouyants. Bait casters should try using salmon eggs, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Garlic Power Eggs, Berkley Mice Tails, Berkley Gulp Woms, Nightcrawlers, and crickets with a split shot rig. Fly fishermen should try wooly buggers, caddis flies, adams, ants, para light cahill, royal wulff, and bead head nymphs. Camping at the Sourgrass area will be limited to disperse camping only. Remember you will need a campfire permit.

Big Trees State will be open for camping on a first come, first serve basis in the North Grove only. The Oak Hollow campground will be open for Memorial Day. You can contact Big Trees State Park at 209 795–3840 for more information regarding the Park.

Beaver Creek: . Beaver Creek will be planted this week. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps,and Blue Fox spinners. Bait fishermen should try nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, crickets, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Garlic Power Eggs, and Berkley Gulp Worms. Fly fishermen should try adams, pale morning dun, female para adams, blue wing olive, humpy’s, ants, and bead head nymphs.

Spicer Res.: The road to Spicer is now completely open and the dock is in the water.Fly fishermen should try ants, woolly buggers, sparrow nymphs, stone flies, caddis, bead head nymphs, mayflies, adams, femmale adams, blue wing olive, gnats, and PMD. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin’s, Rooster Tails, Vibrax Bullet’s, Mepps, and Kastmasters. Bait casters should try Berkley Salmon Peach, Garlic Power Bait, Garlic Power Bait, Gulp Eggs, New Gulp Hollow Worms, Berkley Mice Tails, Gulp Garlic Power Bait, salmon eggs, crickets, and nightcrawlers on a sliding sinker rig or with a cast-a-buble rig. Trollers should try using Apex, Wedding Rings, Glitter Bugs, Needlefish, Cripplure, Humdinger, Berkley Atomic Teazer behind your favoorite flasher or dodger tipped with either a nightcrawler or berkley maggots. Try using scent on your bait to leave a scent trail. It does work. Top lining seemed to work the best as the fish are still toward the top. HOBART CREEK IS NOT OPEN TO FISHING AS IS THE LAKE LEVEL FLOW UNTIL JULY 1ST. 2013. Avoid a ticket and stay away from Hobart Creek and the flow into the lake.

Lake Alpine: Lake Alpine is due to be planted this week Try using Berkley Garlic Power Eggs, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Berkley Garlic Gulp, Gulp Garlic Eggs, and Salmon Peach, Grape Nymph Power Bait, Mice Tails, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers, using a sliding sinker rig with a 30″ leader. Fly fishermen should try sparrow nymphs, woolly buggers, stone flies, and bead head nymphs. Fish slow with a intermediate sinking line for the best results. Lure fishermen should try using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Kastmasters, Vibrax Bulletts, Thomas Bouyants, and Mepps. The last we heard the new dock is still not in.

New Melones

By Melanie Lewis, Glory Hole Sports

New Melones Lake is currently 990 feet above sea level and 97 feet from full. Water temperature is warming daily with the average being 68-72 degrees. The lake is slightly stained with mud lines forming near the shore in the afternoon.

Trout: Fair. The trout are feeding in the main lake and near the mouths of major creek arms. There is a large population of shad in the lake, and the trout are targeting them as their primary forage. The shad vary in size from 2-5 inches. Also, there is a short period of time in the mornings and evenings where the trout will be feeding on the surface. Trolling anglers try using your electronics to find large balls of shad. The trout will be near them waiting for a few to stray away from the school. Use shad patterned Needlefish, Excel spoons, and Rapalas, to target these fish. The brown trout bite has been good for a few weeks now. The browns are feeding on large shad and small kokanee. To target these fish try trolling in 30-50 feet of water with a J11 Rapala or a small boot tail swim bait. Bank anglers have been catching a few trout using a Power Egg/crawler combo or fan casting a Kastmaster.

Kokanee: Good. Most anglers are finding their limits in a few hours of fishing. Main lake near the spillway, and the dam have been the most productive areas to locate schools. The fish will be closer to the surface in the morning. Try trolling 20-30 feet until the sun comes up, then drop down to 40-50 feet throughout the afternoon. Pink has been the hot color with orange coming in a close second. Uncle Larry’s spinners have been working well, and come in many different fish catching colors. Also, small micro hoochies, and bugs have been getting bites. Often times when the fish aren’t biting it is a good idea to put on a large sling blade. The larger blade swinging violently through the school will aggravate the fish into biting. Be sure to tip your baits with dyed and scented shoe peg corn. Pro Cure scents that work are garlic, anise, carp spit, and kokanee special.

Bass: Fair. The fish are finishing up with the spawn and are in a post-spawn mode. The majority of fish have pulled off the bank due to dropping water levels. They will move up in the morning and evenings to feed and then head out to deeper water midday. Early morning top water bite has been good. Try using a walk the dog type bait such as a Spook, Rover, or Sammy. Or, twitch a popper near the shoreline. Add a feather tail to your bait to improve the action and get a few more blow-ups. Once the top water bite dies, switch to a soft plastic presentation. A Carolina rig with a brush hog is a great way to cover water and fish at various depths. Also, try fishing a wacky rig Senko on main lake structure. Natural crawdad colors are working well and brighter colors will stand out better in stained water.

Catfish: Good. The larger catfish are moving to shallow water to spawn a feed. Melones catfish tend to be fish-eaters rather than bottom foragers, so use live minnows, frozen shad, mackerel, or anchovies for best success. Also while bait fishing, it is a good idea to drag your bait across the bottom every few minutes to attract nearby fish. Use a sliding sinker with a bead to create a ticking noise as your bait is moving.

Crappie: Good. Try using a crappie jig with live minnow, fished under a slip-float. The crappie will suspend in standing timber and brush. Try casting past the cover and fishing your presentation into it. The night fishing bite has started to pick up. Anglers using a drop light in the backs of coves have been catching some nice crappie, bass, and trout.

Lake Pardee

By Fred Dorman

The northern cove behind the marina continues to produce some trout. Bank fishing has been better since the last plant around the usual good spots, the “Mud Hole” at the rear of the EBMUD boathouse, Rainbow and Blue Herron Points. Baits and set ups remain unchanged; anglers are using chartreuse, white or rainbow Power Bait (eggs or worms) with garlic and glitter. Pistol Pete’s and Mouse (mice) Tails, in addition pink Power Worms on a water bobber have been successful lately. Blue/silver Kastmasters are also hot right after the plant. Wooly Buggers behind a clear plastic float have also been working well. There has also been some crappie spotted along the front side of the Marina and the adjacent coves.

Trollers continue to concentrate in the South end of the Lake adjacent to the intake tower. Boaters continue to land some nice in this area. Kokanee have been elusive throughout the week. The fish have gone a bit deeper with the warming surface temperatures, most have dropped down to 40 to 60 feet. The winning combos have been Uncle Larry’s and Apex lures with night crawlers or scented corn behind medium flashers or medium size dodgers in red, blue, and chrome. Check at the Marina for all your fishing supplies, snacks, updated fishing information and hot spots.

Bass fishermen have found better luck in the river arm lately near exposed rock edges all along the shore, some activity continues at the south end and around the River mouth. White spinner baits and drop shots are still the ticket. Catfish are showing up in increasing numbers as well in the river arm.

Water level has risen since last report and is now about 10-12 feet below the spillway and is inching upward. Water temperatures are still in the mid-60s at the marina. Water clarity is good to about 15-feet plus in the marina.

Article source: http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/sports/article_fdef6b54-be73-11e2-98e4-001a4bcf887a.html

By LINDSEY TAYLOR

Enlarge Image

Meredith Heuer for The Wall Street Journal

MICROBEAUTIES | Petite landscapes of alpine plants, sedums, thyme, dwarf ice plant and a tiny spruce thrive in hypertufa troughs from Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn.

I’VE NEVER THOUGHT of myself as someone who’s into miniature worlds, but, looking back, I was admittedly obsessed with my dollhouse. Then came my late-’90s terrarium phase, when I coaxed tiny tropical ferns and mosses to grow inside glass containers of all ilks for indoor enjoyment. More recently, my unofficial passion for the minuscule has shifted outdoors, to what’s known as trough gardening—the cultivation of Lilliputian landscapes in pseudo-stone containers called hypertufa troughs.

Enlarge Image

Meredith Heuer for The Wall Street Journal

Trough gardening was born in England in the late 1800s.

I’m not alone, judging from the swarms of poker-faced gardeners I’ve spotted at some nurseries loading up their cars with almost laughably small plants, especially the alpines that flourish in hypertufa. Lori Chips from Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn., who’s been making troughs for 18 years, has observed a burgeoning interest in the trend among her customers. “The troughs are little worlds where you can play,” she said, “changing your style from trough to trough if you choose—a monoculture [limited to a single plant type] in one, a tapestry garden in another, or a Zen effect with moss and stones.”

Trough gardening was born in England in the late 1800s, when the wealthy were madly collecting flora from all over the world, and adapting the stone basins from which horses drank to show off their collections of alpine plants. The rough-hewed basins not only mimicked the rocky environs in which alpines typically grow, they were porous, allowing for the quick drainage such plants require. These days, authentic stone basins are scarcer than bustles, so trough- planting zealots have taken to making their own equally porous (and much lighter) containers out of hypertufa—a mixture of portland cement, peat moss, perlite and fibermesh.

Not all plants are suited to trough culture. Pansies, for instance, said Ms. Chips, would be “a waste of a great vessel and opportunity. Troughs are designed for diminutive plants. Start with the easier ones to grow, like sedums and sempervivums, then work up to an expanded palette,” including dwarf evergreens no taller than 3 inches, dwarf iris or cushions of the shrimpiest dianthus you’ve ever seen. You need to factor in the depth of your vessel. While shallow-rooting plants, like succulents, can thrive in a low trough, the roots of dwarf evergreens need a container at least 9 inches deep. Another key to success is the right soil; places that sell troughs often sell the soil mix, too.

Troughs, effective as single showpieces, are even better as a collection staged on a stone wall. Their size also makes them a strategic choice for city terraces and rooftops. My hunch is that trough gardening might just displace the now-ubiquitous terrarium in the hierarchy of green trends. Or at least give it a run for its money as a discipline that lets closet miniaturists like me garden at a manageable scale and price.

To learn more about trough gardening, to order plants or to take a class in hypertufa trough-making, explore these resources: Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn.,
olivernurseries.com

; Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, N.Y.,
stonecrop.org

; Wrightman Alpine Nurseries, Adelaide Metcalfe, Ont.,
wrightmanalpines.com
.

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A version of this article appeared May 18, 2013, on page D10 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Ta-Ta, Terrariums…Hello, Troughs.

Article source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323716304578482942872414974.html

There are plenty of opportunities to encounter such stillness in the far-flung American wilds. The key, said Dan Austin, founder of Austin-Lehman Adventures, is to look for destinations with limited access. “The tougher the access, the fewer visitors, the more wildlife, and the better the fishing,” he told me. Thanks in large part to the conservation ethos that is particularly American, one can still find the wild corners of a state or national park, a secluded section of United States Forest Service land, or a remote river canyon — “one that is everything but tame.” Here is a handful of guided trips to help you find yours.

HAVASU FALLS, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

Outfitter Austin-Lehman Adventures, austinlehman.com. A five-day journey takes hikers far from the Grand Canyon’s main rim, traveling through labyrinthine red-sandstone canyons and stands of cottonwood and lush fern gardens. The destination: 100-foot Havasu Falls and the Havasupai village of Supai, one of the country’s most remote towns, where food, mail and supplies still arrive by America’s last “pony express.” Two miles farther is your base camp, from which you can go fossil-hunting, explore underwater grottoes and trek across pristine streams, meadows of wild grapevine and up spectacular 1,000-foot canyons. The backcountry’s bubbling blue-green mineral waters are natural Jacuzzis — perfect for a tranquil end-of-day soak.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging.

Cost $1,548, including lodging, base camp accommodations, gear, meals, packhorses.

UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN

Outfitter Keweenaw Adventure, keweenawadventure.com. Miles of logging roads and rolling single-track mountain bike trails wend through wilderness on the sparsely populated tip of Michigan. The daylong guided “To the Point” tour takes cyclists along Lake Superior’s farthest shores, venturing through towering old-growth white pine and through the Nature Conservancy preserve at Horseshoe Harbor, where the dramatic, rippling rock ridges of the ancient bedrock beach protect the interior boreal forest against the powerful wind and wave erosion of the lake. You’ll climb and roll under stands of balsam fir, white cedar and white spruce, home to black bears, peregrine falcons, snowshoe hares and all kinds of warblers. The reward for all that hard work: a land’s end view of the vast lake and Manitou Island from atop a 700-foot bluff.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging.

Cost $125, including dual-suspension mountain bike rental.

LANAI, HAWAII

Outfitter Trilogy Excursions, sailtrilogy.com. Quiet Lanai, a 141-square-mile island, has no traffic lights and a population of just over 3,000. Its lovely southern coastline, lined with empty, flour-sand beaches, was the onetime playground for King Kamehameha I and other Hawaiian royalty. On the Lanai Seafari you will spend a day retracing the royals’ wanderings with Trilogy’s rigged sailing catamaran and snorkel alongside moray eels, spiny lobsters and one of the region’s largest pods of spinner dolphins, accompanied by a naturalist guide. You’ll also explore the pristine waters around Kaunolu, a favorite fishing retreat for Kamehameha I and a sacred spot for Hawaiians, and Kaumalapau Harbor, and see striking views of spiny sea cliffs, tumbling down to secluded beaches.

Skill Level Easy (provided you know how to swim).

Cost $199, including snorkel equipment, eco-tour, breakfast and lunch.

GLACIER BAY, ALASKA

Outfitter REI Adventures, rei.com/adventures. An eight-day Glacier Bay and Inside Passage itinerary takes travelers into the distant corners and coves of Glacier Bay National Park on a small 76-passenger ship. Excursions by kayak, skiff and on foot give guests the chance to watch the ebb and flow of the World Heritage site’s tidewater glaciers. The sheer range of ways to experience the stunning environment sets this trip apart; active travelers can paddleboard a fjord, hike far-off trails or do a polar bear swim in chilly waters, while onboard viewing decks and glacier walks cater to those who want to take in the sights at a more leisurely pace. Trip highlights: Icy Strait, one of the state’s best whale-viewing spots, and Chichagof Island, home to the one of the densest brown bear populations in the world.

Skill Level Easy to moderate (abundant activity options are a plus).

Cost From $2,795, including airport transfers, meals, gear, guides. Departures are scheduled between May 18 and Aug. 31.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Outfitter Appalachian Mountain Club, outdoors.org/lodging/whitemountains/custom-adventures.cfm. You don’t have to be a hard-core hiker on the Appalachian Trail to appreciate the region’s magnificent high-altitude wilderness. The Appalachian Mountain Club leads customized hiking adventures with experienced guides; book a weekend lodge-to-hut trip that starts at one of the club’s two New Hampshire lodges, traversing hardwood forests, beaver ponds and mountain ridgelines and overnighting at backcountry huts. One recommended stop is Zealand Falls Hut, a four-season spot near cascading waterfalls and the eastern edge of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, one of the most isolated wild areas in the state. Guides are trained in wilderness medicine and natural history, so you can work on perfecting outdoor skills and learn about the moose, stars or alpine flowers you spot along the way. In the summer, hearty breakfasts and dinners are served at lodges and huts.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging (trips are customized).

Cost $350 per guide per night for four to six people, including use of equipment and outdoor clothing (not lodging and meals).

MARQUESAS KEYS, FLORIDA

Outfitter Adventure Watersports Charters, adventurewatersportcharters.com. For the past four years, the wildlife biologists and ecologists Ryan and Rebecca Means have been identifying and documenting the remotest place in each of the 50 states for their continuing Project Remote (remotefootprints.org). In Florida, they’ve homed in on the Marquesas Keys, a ring of uninhabited islands formed by a meteorite and protected as part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (25 miles from the nearest road, the Marquesas are also the Means’s preliminary pick for remotest spot in the lower 48). Take a full-day boat charter to explore the atoll’s mangroves, lagoons and rich underwater life; hammerhead sharks, loggerhead turtles, eagle rays, sailfish and yellowtail snapper make for outstanding diving and fishing.

Skill Level Easy to moderate.

Cost $249, including four dives and lunch.

Article source: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/travel/seeking-solitude-with-a-guide.html?pagewanted=all

View full size PHOTO OF THE WEEK: “Iris in late afternoon sun.” In the weekly calendar we are featuring a photo that was an entry in our 2012 photo contest. The winners ran in the Dec. 22 weekend edition of Homes Gardens of the Northwest.

Diane Krueger, Corvallis
Events are free unless noted. Fees usually include materials; call to confirm. All area codes are 503 unless noted.

TOURS

Eastside Garden Tour
Tour gardens in the west Columbia River Gorge.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19
Tickets: $20
Details: 492-2900 or 866-367-4667 or eastsidegardentour.com
Benefits: West Columbia Gorge Consortium

Oswego Heritage Council Historic Home Tour
Tour five historic homes and gardens in Lake Oswego.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 18
Tickets: $30
Details: 635-6373 or www.oswegoheritage.org/events/hometour.html

Sellwood Garden Tour
Tour gardens in Garthwick, Sellwood and Moreland neighborhoods.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 19
Tickets: $25
Details: www.facebook.com/SellwoodGardenTour
Benefits: Sellwood Middle School

Inviting Vines VI
Tour five private gardens in Southwest Portland and the Rogerson Clematis Collection Garden at Luscher Farm in West Linn. Presented by the Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Tickets: $20
Details: 231-0025 or lucyflora@comcast.net or rogersonclematiscollection.org

EVENTS

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Elk Rock Garden Plant Sale: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. Vines, unusual perennials, shrubs, rock garden specimens and more. Elk Rock Garden at the Bishop’s Close, 11800 S.W. Military Lane; elkrockgarden.org or 971-207-4379

Community Garden Club of Camas/Washougal Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Camas United Methodist Church, 706 14th St., Camas, Wash.; 360-834-2976

Schreiner’s Iris Gardens Bloom Season: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, through June 9. Iris display gardens, plant sale, live music and more. See website for schedule. Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, 3625 Quinaby Road N.E., Salem; www.schreinersgardens.com or 800-525-2367

SW Portland Fuchsia Club Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Unusual upright varieties, trailing varieties and baskets. Lamb’s Thriftway on Scholls, 12220 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard; 644-1966

Beaverton Garden Club Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Perennials, succulents, shrubs from members’ gardens and small trees. Beaverton Resource Center, 12500 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton; 267-7649

Herb, Vegetable and Sustainable Living Fair: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 18-19. The 33rd annual festival features vendors, information booths, presentations on sustainable living practices, tours of the historic Pomeroy log house and more. Pomeroy Living History Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt, Wash.; pomeroyfarm.org or 360-686-3537

Peony and Iris Farm in Bloom: View more than 250 varieties of old-fashioned and new peony varieties and 1,000 varieties of bearded iris. Stroll the peony fields and the iris garden/arboretum. Potted plants, cut flowers, peony bouquets and iris plants for sale; or order bare-root peonies for fall planting. Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through June 16. Brooks Gardens, 6219 Topaz St. N.E., Brooks; www.brooksgardens.com or 393-7999

Spring Fever Open House: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 18-19. Several specialty nurseries along the Cascade Nursery Trail in the north Willamette Valley open their doors to the public. See website for details. cascadenurserytrail.com or 651-2006

Rare Plant Research: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. Three nurseries and a garden open to the public during the weekend; wine tastings offered by King’s Raven Winery. Call or see website for updated details on participating nurseries. Rare Plant Research, 11900 S. Criteser Road, Oregon City; www.rareplantresearch.com

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Sunset Bonsai Club: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Demonstrations and lectures. Bring your tree to prune and learn how to maintain its shape. Beaverton City Library, 12375 S.W. Fifth St., Beaverton; www.sunsetbonsaiclub.com

MONDAY, MAY 20

Morning Bird-song Walks: Guided walks led by Audubon/Tryon volunteers Rick and Stephanie Wagner. Weekly 7 a.m. Mondays, through May 27 (including Memorial Day). Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.; www.tryonfriends.org or 636-9886, ext. 225

TUESDAY, MAY 21

Therapeutic Garden Volunteer Information Sessions: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Get information on how to help with garden maintenance, planting projects, clerical work and other volunteer opportunities in the Legacy Health System Horticultural Therapy Program. Registration required; meeting details given at that time. Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, 1015 N.W. 22nd Ave.; www.legacyhealth.org/gardens or 413-7012

Paradise on Earth — the Beautiful Flowers of Kashmir: 7:30 p.m. Chris Chadwell gives a presentation on alpine and perennial treasures of Kashmir in this program of the Columbia-Willamette Rock Garden Society. Smile Station, 8210 S.E. 13th Ave.; cwnargs.org or 232-2346

THURSDAY, MAY 23

Clark County Master Gardeners on the Road Tour: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. See how four gardeners transformed their properties. Register by May 20; meeting details given at that time. $30; ocrs.wsu.edu/signup/?eventid=893  or 360-397-6060, ext. 5738

SATURDAY, MAY 25

Invasive Species: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Snacks and tools provided. Registration required by email. Columbia Grove, 3412 S.E. Riverwood Court, Vancouver; www.columbiasprings.org or 360-882-0936 or volunteer@columbiasprings.org

The Greater Portland Iris Society Floral Show: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Showcasing the early, middle- and late-season blooms of the iris genus. On the second floor near Sears and Marshalls. Lloyd Center, 2201 Lloyd Center; greaterportlandirissociety.org or 360-835-1016 or 503-668-9230

CLASSES + DEMONSTRATIONS

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Greenhouse Building and Growing: 9 a.m. Learn about building a custom greenhouse, setting up a greenhouse kit, and summer greenhouse management. Registration required. Greenhouse Catalog Co., 3740 Brooklake Road N.E., Salem; www.greenhousecatalog.com/clinic or 393-3973 or Michael@GreenhouseCatalog.com

Naturescaping Basics: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn how to design a low-maintenance, chemical-free landscape that conserves water and minimizes pollution while saving time, money and energy. Offered through East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. Registration required at the website. Troutdale City Conference Building, 223 S. Buxton Ave., Troutdale; emswcd.org or 222-7645

Children’s Garden Club — Flower Containers: 10-11 a.m. Children learn about annual flowers and design and plant a container to take home. Registration required at the website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Growing and Arranging Peonies: 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. 1:30 p.m.: Walking educational field tour with Carol Adelman. 2:30 p.m.: Floral arranging with peonies. Adelman Peony Gardens, 5690 Brooklake Road N.E., Brooks; www.peonyparadise.com or 393-6185

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Make Your Own Mixed-herb Container: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Make and take home a container full of culinary herbs to harvest throughout the fall and winter. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; $25, includes all plants and materials; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Fine Foliage: 1 p.m. Learn to create eye-catching combinations and vignettes, plus how to use old favorites. Joy Creek Nursery, 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Scappoose; www.joycreek.com or 543-7474

Make Your Own Vegetable Container: 1-2:30 p.m. Make and take home a container full of vegetables. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; $25, includes all plants and materials; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

TUESDAY, MAY 21

Tomato Planting 101: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Vern Vanderzanden on getting the most out of the growing season. Hosted by the Washington County Master Gardeners. Demonstration Garden at Washington County Fair Complex, 882 N.E. 28th Ave., Hillsboro; metromastergardeners.org/washington

SATURDAY, MAY 25

The Buzz About Bees: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Beekeeper Glen Andresen on mason bees, bumblebees and honeybees. Learn how to help them thrive in your yard and how to build a mason bee block. Then visit the garden’s honeybee hives for an inside look and search for the queen. For age 12 and older. Registration required. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave.; $8; leachgarden.org or 823-1671

Gardening on the Move: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Practical skills with container gardening, creating movable planting areas, transplanting and proper plant care, as well as how to address some of the more emotional challenges of caring for a garden that goes with you wherever you go. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes: 1 p.m. Planting times, cultural requirements, fertilizing needs, watering systems and more. Portland Nursery, 5050 S.E. Stark St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 231-5050

Click for public gardens.

Calendar items run on a space-available basis. Please submit notices at least one month before the event to Homes Gardens Listings Desk, The Oregonian, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201; or by email (send as a plain text file, with Homes Gardens in the subject line) to listings@oregonian.com. Except for cancellations and corrections, notices cannot be accepted by phone.

Article source: http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2013/05/homes_gardens_events_in_oregon_40.html