“Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying” continues to inspire and inform all those who flip through its pages. I hope you have your copy!
This week, Kevin Sharkey and I participated in a garden discussion and book signing at the exquisite Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. More than 1450-guests attended the talk in the historic Open Air Theater. The book signing was also held outdoors at the Garden’s Dogwood Plaza. It was such a gorgeous and sunny spring day - just perfect for the event. Afterwards, Kevin and I had the opportunity to walk through some of the gardens filled with spectacular plantings and stunning water fountain displays. Longwood has a rich and varied history. There is always something new to see and learn every time I visit. If you’re ever in the area, I encourage you to stop by - it is a magical place.
Here are some photos.
Kevin and I posed with the moderator of our garden talk, Longwood’s President and Chief Executive Officer Paul B. Redman. (Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens)
Here is the stage set and decorated with Boston ferns, Musa ‘Thai Black’, and Canna ‘Toucan Yellow’. Surrounding the stage is a hedge of meticulously clipped arborvitae.
The Open Air Theater holds 1500-guests – it was almost completely filled. The Theater has hosted countless performances and concerts since its 1914 debut, including those by John Philip Sousa and Martha Graham. (Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens)
Paul, Kevin and I had such a lovely discussion about our book, “Martha’s flowers”, about how we developed it and what inspired us to create it. (Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens)
After the discussion, we were treated to a lovely breakfast buffet in the underground dressing rooms under the Open Air Theatre stage.
Constructed in 1927, the underground dressing rooms have remained largely intact. Many of the fixtures are original and so well maintained.
Here are the bathroom pedestal sinks – still the same after 91-years.
Here is the long line of guests waiting to have their books signed in the garden adjacent to the Open Air Theater. It was so exciting to see so many visitors.
More than 1500 copies of “Martha’s Flowers” were ordered for the event. Any remaining books will be sold in the Garden’s store.
This garden, with its pretty fountain, was a beautiful space for our book signing.
Kevin and I signed more than 250-books. (Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens)
Whenever I can, I like to stop and pose for photos with guests during these book signing events. It takes a bit longer for those in line, but it is a personal touch I enjoy doing for visitors. (Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens)
This is the Canopy Cathedral Treehouse, one of three treehouses scattered throughout Longwood. It is a two-story structure inspired by Norwegian stave churches. All three treehouses were built in 2008.
The treehouses were built using mostly reclaimed materials and are supported by a pin foundation system so the surrounding tree limbs and roots are unharmed and untouched.
Longwood added the candles along the treehouse ledge in 2012 as part of a Bruce Munro light exhibition.
As we toured some of the gardens we saw a gorgeous view across the Cow Lot lined with white oak, Quercus alba.
This is Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa, in the foreground and copper beech, Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea, in the background of the Cow Lot.
It’s hard to miss this massive copper beech, Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea, tree trunk. It is stunning. Copper beech is among my favorite trees – I have many at my Bedford, New York farm.
This is the Flower Garden Walk. It is lined with stately bald cypress, Taxodium distichum. I also have these at my farm – a stand of bald cypress line the carriage road across from my long and winding clematis pergola.
This is Longwood’s wisteria arbor, Wisteria floribunda. It is filled with decades-old vines. This wisteria is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to Japan. It is a woody, deciduous twining climber that can grow 30-feet long.
The Blue Atlas cedar, Cedrus atlantica, provides a pretty backdrop behind Longwood’s Small Lake. The Blue Atlas cedar, the most popular of all Atlas cedars, is a majestic evergreen tree, with limbs covered with patches of green or blue-green needles. It maintains a narrow conical form before widening into a pyramidal form after about 20-years.
Here is a giant specimen of a kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa, in bloom. It is a deciduous flowering tree or multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 15 to 30 feet tall, with a vase-shaped habit in the early years, eventually maturing to a more rounded form.
Here, water tumbles down the Italian Water Garden’s stairs, backed by a hedge of boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Myrtifolia’.
We loved the fountains at Longwood. This one was designed by Pierre S. du Pont. It opened in 1925 in the Italian Water Garden, which is flanked by two matching allées of pollarded little-leaf linden, Tilia cordata.
I took this photo looking up from the base of a giant tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera – another massive and stunning tree here at Longwood.
Part of the Peirce-du Pont House Heritage Exhibit, this signage gives a peek into Longwood’s rich history. Dating from 1730, the Peirce-du Pont House is the oldest building at Longwood. The Federal-style home served as the Peirce family homestead until 1905 and then became the weekend residence of Pierre S. du Pont from 1906 until his death in 1954.
Our walk through the Heritage Exhibit continued with Pierre S. du Pont’s den.
And some of the original artifacts and correspondence on the breakfast table belonging to Alice du Pont, the first lady of Longwood.
A Longwood milk bottle and cap sit atop the Peirce-du Pont House kitchen table as a nod to the dairy operation at Longwood from 1916 to 1951. The wind-up fly fan next to the milk bottle and cap was a way of keeping flies from landing on the food.
This square Steinway piano with a rosewood case and pillar legs originally graced Goodstay, the home of Pierre S. du Pont’s grandmother, Margaretta Elizabeth Lammot du Pont before it was brought to Longwood.
Built in 1914, the Pierce-du Pont House conservatory served as the property’s first “winter garden.” Many of the plant species displayed in the conservatory today were also there during Pierre S. du Pont’s lifetime.
Outside in full bloom, we saw the Rose Arbor. Roses are just exploding everywhere this season. This arbor is filled with the climbing rose, Rosa ‘American Pillar’, a very striking rose with almost single flowers of deep carmine-pink and white eyes.
Here are more copper beech trees, Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea in the Cow Lot. They look so beautiful in the landscape with their deep copper color.
And here is the newly revitalized Main Fountain Garden, which features 1719 fountain jets that dance to shows every day at Longwood. The Garden showcases Illuminated fountain performances set to music Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday evenings throughout the summer. Conical boxwood, Buxus ‘Green Mountain’ are displayed in Versailles boxes in the foreground. Longwood is a spectacular place to visit. Please go to their web site by clicking on the highlighted link above for more information on their gardens and events.
My dogs are groomed and checked for ticks and fleas every day. I have always been a firm believer in regular brushing and bathing - every couple weeks for the dogs, and about once a month for my cats. Just the other day was bath time for my French Bulldogs, Creme Brûlée and Bête Noire. I actually love to do this task myself when I am home, but since I was busy with other commitments at our New York City office, Carlos was happy to do the job. When bathing pets, it’s important to always use lukewarm water and only mild pet shampoos - we use my own Martha Stewart shampoos and conditioners from my collection on Amazon. If you haven’t checked out this new grooming line, just click on the highlighted link.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
My new line of Fetch for Pets Shampoos and Conditioners are all natural, hypoallergenic and gentle enough for regular bathing. The formulas are also paraben and sulfate free. My collection includes an all-purpose formula, an itch relief formula, a special moisturizing formula and a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner formula.
My All-Purpose Natural Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner cleanses and moisturizes both the skin and coat. The natural oatmeal and aloe are very gentle and effective on both dogs and puppies.
My dogs are very accustomed to being bathed. They have had many baths, but always keep a close eye on them – some are very quick to move.
Once she feels the lukewarm water, Creme Brulee starts to relax.
Apply the shampoo from the back of the ears to the tail and always be very careful around the face, ears and eyes.
Be sure to apply shampoo to the dog’s stomach as well. My shampoo formulas are all pH balanced for dogs and great for pets with sensitive skin.
After applying the shampoo and letting it soak into the coat a few minutes, rinse well with lukewarm water.
Carlos then rubs a small amount of conditioner on Creme Brulee.
And then rinses it off thoroughly.
Creme is really enjoying her “spa” treatments.
And then Carlos dries Creme Brulee very, very well. Here she is getting wiped down with her large terry towel.
My moisturizing shampoo
and conditioner cleanse and intensely moisturize the dog’s skin and coat. This formula is made with vanilla and almond.
Carlos applies a small amount of shampoo to Bete Noire’s coat – it lathers pretty quickly.
Despite this expression, the French Bulldog is comical, entertaining, and dependably amiable. My Frenchies make everyone laugh here at the farm.
Carlos gives her a good rinse all over the top and rear of her body. Bete Noire is a good girl and stays very still for the rinsing process.
Carlos then rinses underneath – be sure to get all the soap out of the dog’s coat.
Here she is getting toweled dry.
I also love these Martha Stewart natural wipes. They are great for gently removing dirt and odors from your pet’s skin and coat.
We use them to clean around the dogs’ faces every day. Creme Brulee is a very good girl. These wipes are also great for cats.
Meanwhile, here is the young Emperor Han back in the courtyard behind my Winter House playing with his Martha Stewart Rope Dog Toy with Ball and Squeaker. This toy is made from 100-percent natural heavy-duty cotton rope. It can be dipped in water and frozen for teething puppies.
Creme Brulee looks a little tired after her bath.
Here is my beautiful Empress Qin watching over all the activity in the courtyard.
It wasn’t long before Bete Noire returned to her bed for a little nap.
Here is Creme Brulee resting nearby.
The two Frenchies are now clean and comfy – it won’t be long before they are up and ready to play some more.
As you may know, pumpkins grow on vines, which means they take up a lot of space. I always plant my pumpkin patches in roomy beds that can accommodate large crops of big, colorful fruits. We have two expansive areas where we like to plant our pumpkins - one is next to the chicken coops and the vegetable gardens, and the other is up behind my main greenhouse. Over the last few days, we planted lots and lots of seeds, and some of the varieties should be ready to harvest in about 100-days.
Enjoy these photos.
Ryan prepared all the seeds and markers for our pumpkin patches. We always use seeds from various seed companies, and seeds I save from interesting or tasty pumpkins I’ve enjoyed. This year, most of our pumpkin seeds are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
The area behind my greenhouse was cleared and prepared for planting. The soil must be thoroughly warmed to at least 70-degrees Fahrenheit – pumpkins are very sensitive to the cold.
This year, we put down long sheets of weed cloth in between the rows where the pumpkin seeds will be planted. The weed cloth will hopefully cut down on a lot of time spent weeding this summer.
Ryan places markers in each of the rows to mark where seeds will go. It is easier to work in an assembly line process – it is faster and more efficient, especially if you’re planting a lot of different varieties.
Pumpkins do best when the seeds are planted directly into the ground. Pumpkins prefer rich soil that is well-drained and not soggy.
These seeds are treated and colored. In agriculture and horticulture, seed treatment is also known as seed dressing. They are coated with an antimicrobial. The added color makes the seeds less attractive to birds and easier to see in case of accidental spillage.
Most of our seeds are not treated. Here, Ryan drops the seeds into the planting area and checks that they are not hollow or old – they should be firm and evenly colored without blotches or discolored patches that could indicate disease. Choose seeds that have also been air dried instead of oven dried, which could remove too much of the seed’s natural moisture.
Ryan plants about five or six seeds in each spot, with each seed about an inch to an inch and a half deep into the soil.
Planting pumpkin seeds is very easy, but they do need a lot of room to grow.
Some of the pumpkins we are planting here include ‘Rival’. ‘Rival’ pumpkins are big, round, medium-sized jack-o’-lanterns with intermediate resistance to powdery mildew. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Wolf’ pumpkins have massive handles and can weigh up to 24-pounds. They are distinctive, round pumpkins with a deep orange color and moderate ribs. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Kakai’ is an eye-catching, medium to small, black-striped pumpkin. After displaying the pumpkins in the fall, it’s nice to scoop out the large, dark-green, hull-less seeds – they’re delicious roasted. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Porcelain Doll’ is a popular favorite. It is a pink pumpkin with sweet flesh that can be used for pies, soups, and other gourmet delights. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
And Valenciano has snow-white skin – it is among the whitest of pumpkins. It makes a unique for doorstep decoration. Valenciano pumpkins are slightly ribbed, medium-sized and flatter in appearance. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
One field is all planted. We should have wheelbarrows full of pumpkins come October.
Weed cloth is also put down in the pumpkin patch down by the chicken coops. This weed cloth is available at any garden supply shop.
Here, Ryan tills the soil using the Tillie V2 Articulating Tiller Head from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. He tills every row where the seeds will be planted.
This electric tiller is perfect for smaller scale gardens. A hub motor drives the tool which can be used to till beds and cultivate pathways. Best of all, because it uses a battery, there are no fumes and it is very quiet.
Once all the rows are tilled, Dawa follows behind with the compost. These pumpkins will be planted in “hills” to allow the soil to warm more quickly, while encouraging the seeds to germinate faster.
These “hills” are the perfect size for planting the pumpkin seeds.
Our new summer intern, Kayley Presby-Gaines, sweeps any extra compost off the weed cloth and onto the ‘hills’ making the beds look neat and tidy.
These mounds are now ready for planting. Each ‘hill’ will be a separate pumpkin variety.
Ryan prepares all the seeds and markers for this pumpkin patch. We get all our wooden markers from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They are made of natural birchwood and are about four-inches long – perfect for the garden or for pots.
Ryan then places one marker on each ‘hill’, so the pumpkins can be identified during the growing process.
And then begins placing the pumpkin seeds down as he did in the other field, discarding any that are old or in bad condition.
Seed orientation makes no difference to germination or growth. The important thing is to keep them consistently moist. Pumpkins are 80 to 90-percent water depending on the variety, and adequate moisture is crucial for healthy, productive plants.
Here he is pushing each seed down into the soil. Pumpkin seeds should sprout within seven to 10-days from planting.
Other pumpkins we are planting in this area include ‘Racer’ – highly uniform 12 to 16-pound fruits with slightly-flattened shapes, great-looking ribs, and strong dark-green handles. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Winter Luxury’ pumpkins have a silky textured flesh that’s perfect for pies. This small pumpkin also has a unique, netted skin that makes it not only a gorgeous ornamental, but tasty too. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Flatso’ pumpkins are small, flat oval shaped, dark orange pumpkins with medium ribs and thin, dark handles. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Knuckle Head’ pumpkins are unusual, orange, and warted. They are spectacular for Halloween. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Cargo’ pumpkins are robust hybrid fruits with strong handles and beautiful rich orange color.
And ‘Tom Fox’ was developed by New Hampshire farmer, Tom Fox. The well-ribbed, medium large pumpkins have a deep orange color and good handles: fat, long, dark green, and strong.
Both fields will also be covered in hay. Hay mulch enhances the look of the garden, avoids muddiness in the paths, keeps the pumpkins off the earth. This patch will soon be full of colorful pumpkins. What pumpkins are you planting this season?
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