FIG, Ficus carica—Kind, Culture, Care, and Comments

Welcome to my Food Forest where I grow an number of fruits in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. Information in this fruit series is based on knowledge I’ve gained growing in hardiness zone 7b, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Helen Yoest

Kind:

Latin Name: Ficus carica 

Common Name: Figs

Type: Deciduous shrub

Height: 10 to 15 feet

Spread: 10 to 15 feet

Pollination: The common fig tree does not need another tree for pollination, but you should be pesticide free, as with anything you grow! See what’s next below.

You can’t make this stuff up. Fig pollination is something out of a SiFi movie! You might not think of figs as nature’s most amazing creation, but you need only look inside to start to understand their awesome complexity. The fruit is actually an inward-blooming flower, or rather, bundle of flowers—and its survival depends on a wasps that gives its life in service of the Ficus carica.

Every single one of the 750-plus species of fig plants have its own fig wasp, and together, the figs and wasps have been evolving together for more than 60 million years.

In order to pollinate the plant, a female wasp enters an unripened, male fig (not the ones we eat) and lays her eggs. Once the newborns hatch, they all mate, and the wingless males chew a tunnel out of the fig. Then they die, and the females escape the male fig through the escape hole, where they take flight in search of another fig tree in which to lay their respective eggs.

Once the females pick a plant, she crawls inside, drops some pollen from their birthfig, as well as their future babies, and the whole thing starts anew.

Fruit Health Benefits: Figs are high in natural sugars, minerals, and soluble fiber. Figs are rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper, and are a good source of antioxidant vitamins A and K that contribute to health and wellness.

Figs are today's featured superfood because, overall, their nutritional value is impressive. Figs have the highest mineral and fiber content of all common fruits, nuts, or vegetables. One serving of figs (fresh or dried) provides 6% of the Daily Value for calcium and iron, and 7% of the Daily Value for potassium.

Wildlife Benefits: Food for many species of birds, bats, opossum, and other wildlife.

Origin of species: Indigenous to western Asia and southeastern Europe.

Cultivars:

In the Bee Better Teaching Garden we grow ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’, and F. carica ‘Celeste’. With these two varieties, we have figs most of the summer.

We also grow Ficus carica ‘LSU Purple’. It was first grown in a container, then transplanted to the ground. It hasn’t fruited for us yet, but the plant is only acquired in 2014.

‘Brown Turkey’ produces abundant medium to large figs. This type works best in warm climates, but is fairly tolerant of cooler temperatures, too.

‘Celeste’ produces small, sweet, purplish figs. It is one of the more winter-hardy varieties.

Culture Information:

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium

Zone: 6 to 9

Years to bear fruit: 2 to 6 years.

Harvest Time: Depending on the variety. With the cultivars we grow, we have coverage all summer. ‘Brown Turkey’ has two crops, a small, light crop before ‘Celeste’ and a heavy crop of med-sized fruit 2 to 3 weeks after ‘Celeste’. Between the two, you’ll have good coverage during the summer.’

Care:

Plant: Locate it in part shade. The plant will perform best in evenly moist, fertile, well-drained soil.

Fertilizer/pH: Fig trees are so easy to grow is that they rarely need fertilizer. In fact, giving a fig tree fertilizer when it doesn’t need it can harm the tree. A fig tree that gets too much nitrogen produces less fruit and is more susceptible to cold weather damage. Figs are naturally slow-growing trees, and giving them fertilizer can cause growth spurts that result in splits and cracks in trunks and branches. We at Bee Better Naturally don’t fertilizer our figs. So far, we haven’t needed too.

Mulch: Keep the area around the fig tree covered with an organic mulched.

Groom/Prune: Pruning is primarily performed to manage the size of the tree, and thus harvesting height.

The first winter period of dormancy, prune fig tree in half. This severe pruning will allow the plant to remain a compact, and allowing the fig tree to direct its energy to root development rather than to getting bigger. 

The second winter period of dormancy, continue this training process. Promote just a few of the strongest, newest branches., and are considered fruiting wood. These branches will become your mainstays for fruit production. But they will need room, so make sure the ones that you choose to promote are evenly distributed around the plant.

At maturity, prune back the length of the branches of fruiting wood by a third. This will keep the plant compact and more accessible for picking.

Anytime grooming, remove damaged, dead, or diseased limbs .

OR YOU CAN DO NOTHING. But you’ll have a huge plant and not likely to pick as many fruit as you wish. But the wildlife will be happier!

Pest/disease Control: Very few pests. Scale can be a problem, but doesn’t need treatment. We overthink these kinds of problems. If the plant isn’t affected, let nature take its course.

Root-knot nematodes can be a problem. Nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil. They enter plant roots and feed on plants much like leeches do on animals. Nematodes rarely kill fig plants but do cause them to drop fruit and stunt their growth. This pest is more common in sandy soils.

There is no way to eradicate nematodes from the soil, though amending soils heavily with compost before planting, mulching, and watering will help plants cope with the stress they cause.

The only other problem figs sometimes experience in our area is cold damage. This is more common in particularly cold winters or when extremely cold temperatures follow a stretch of unseasonably mild weather in late winter. It is very rare for figs to be killed completely, though they may have to be cut back to the ground and allowed to re-grow if heavily damaged. Cold damage can be minimized by planting fig bushes against a south-facing wall.

The cultivars grown in the Bee Better Naturally Teaching garden has never had a pest problem.

Propagation: Coming soon!

Comments:

With all my heart, I think every homeowner who loves the sweet taste of a ripe figs, would grow a fig tree. The shelf life is limited, and the cost of a fresh fig at the market is $1.00 or more. If you love figs, and who doesn’t, it’s best to grow your own. They do well in containers too, so there is no excuse!

PAW PAW, Asimina triloba—Kind, Culture, Care, and Comments

Welcome to my Food Forest where I grow an number of fruits in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. Information in this fruit series is based on knowledge I’ve gained growing in hardiness zone 7b, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Helen Yoest

Kind:

Latin Name: Asimina triloba

Common Name: Pawpaw

Type: Deciduous tree

Height: 15 to 25 feet

Spread: 15 to 25 feet

Pollination: Pawpaw trees can be fickle with regards to what sex the flowers are. Pawpaw flowers are termed trioecious (subdioecious), which means they have separate male, female as well as hermaphroditic plants. Pawpaws need a friend. It takes two to tango. To fruit, plant at least two.

When planting pawpaw trees, leave about 15 to 25 feet of space between trees and other structures.

Pawpaw blossoms are designed by their color (purplish red) and odor (fetid) to attract their primary pollinators, various species of flies and beetles. Bees rarely, if ever, visit pawpaw flowers.

Fruit Health Benefits: Only some research exits, and we didn’t feel like it would be adequate for us to provide other people’s findings here; not until it is science-based.

Wildlife Benefits: Fly and beetle pollen plant. Host butterfly plant of the Zebra butterfly, Heliconius charithonia

Origin of species: Native to Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States and adjacent southernmost Ontario, Canada, from New York west to southeastern Nebraska, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas

Cultivars: We grow the straight species, but cultivars include: ‘Mango’, ‘NC-1, ‘Pennsylvania Golden’, ‘Prolific’, ‘Overleese’ and ‘Sunflower’. We have never see these for sale, but they do exist.

Culture Information:

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Zone: 5 to 9

Years to bear fruit: A long time. We planted two, one gallon sized plants, and it took seven years to fruit. It was worth it, though.

Harvest Time: Early August.

Containers: Though the pawpaw tree can reach a mature height of 25 feet, it can be container-planted for a more manageable size.

Care:

Plant: Dig hole 2x the width of the nursery pot, and no deeper than level with the growing point in the pot. Pawpaws prefer a moist, fertile soil. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral and well-drained. Prepare a soil that is rich in organic matter by working a thick layer of compost deep into the soil.

Fertilizer/pH: Ideal pH is 5.5 to 7. The literature says, “Help young seedlings and saplings establish themselves by fertilizing pawpaw trees with a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks for the first growing season.” We did nothing other than adding a layer of compost in spring.

Mulch: Add a layer of compost in the spring.

Groom/Prune: As pawpaws age, corrective pruning may be necessary. The best time to prune is late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant. Corrective pruning consists of removing broken, crossing, dead, or diseased branches. Since pawpaw’s fruit is produced on new growth, annual pruning will stimulate new growth on older trees.

Pest/disease Control: No serious insect or disease problems.

Propagation: Coming soon!

Comments:

Ok, pawpaws are a funky fruit, but oh, so delicious! Their taste is similar to both a mango and a banana. They are super easy to eat—you can either choose to eat the fruit raw, or mix it into recipes to create exotic dishes. Simply cut the pawpaw in half lengthwise, remove the seeds (they are toxic), and eat with a spoon.

It should be noted, some people can’t tolerate pawpaw, making the sick, vomiting, and hives. When first tasting a pawpaw, eat no more than a half of one to see how your body reacts!

BLUEBERRIES, Vaccinium spp.—Kind, Culture, Care, and Comments

Welcome to my Food Forest where I grow an number of fruits in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. Information in this fruit series is based on knowledge I’ve gained growing in hardiness zone 7b, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Helen Yoest

Kind: Rabbiteye

Latin Name: Vaccinium ashei

Common Name: Blueberry 

Type: Deciduous shrub

Height: 15 feet

Spread: 10 feet

Pollination: Many blueberry species are considered self-fertile, yet all blueberry bushes benefit from cross-pollination, producing larger and more flavorful harvests.

Successful cross-pollination requires pollination partners to share the same bloom period or have overlapping bloom periods.

‘Tifblue’ makes a good pollinator for other rabbiteye varieties because it blooms for an extended period, from mid to late season. ‘Bluebelle’ and ‘Southland’ are both midseason blueberries. "Powderblue" is a mid-season flower pollinator.

To ensure bees carry pollen from one bush to another, space blueberry bushes within 5 feet of each other.

Fruit Health Benefits: Edible, providing fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and phytonutrient content in blueberries supports heart health. The absence of cholesterol from blueberries is also beneficial to the heart. Fiber content helps to reduce the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease.

Wildlife Benefits: Bees pollinate; birds feed; and foliage is a host plant for the Brown Elfin butterfly, Callophrys augustinus.

Origin of species: Native to the East coast of the United States.

Cultivars:

Early season

• ‘Climax’—Large, medium-dark blue and good flavor. A relatively new early ripening rabbiteye blueberry. Most of the fruit ripens in a short period of time. The crop load is moderate to high.

• ‘Premier’ —Large berries with good flavor. Vigorous and productive shrubs.

• ‘Titan’ —Largest berries

Mid-season

• ‘Powderblue’—Disease-resistant, and productive, similar to Tifblue but more leafy plant, holds up to rainy periods better

• ‘Tifblue’—Large, round, light blue, sweet, very firm, stays good on the plant for days (if the birds don’t get to them first!) Most productive of all rabbiteye varieties. ‘Tifblue’ is the most productive and outstanding rabbiteye blueberry grown to date. The bush is vigorous and very productive. ‘Tifblue’ is more cold hardy than other rabbiteye blueberries varieties. Bee Better Naturally recommends it as the predominant variety in any planting.

Late season

• There are late season cultivars, but at this time, I’m not personally growing any of them.

Culture Information:

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet. Deep sandy soils require drip irrigation. Heavy clay soils need to be amended with organic matter.

Zone: 7to 9

Years to bear fruit: 2nd year

Harvest Time: Depending on cultivar. Early summer through July. Rabbiteye blueberries are a non-climacteric fruit, meaning once harvested, the berries never ripen further. Pick once the fruit is fully ripened. The fruit of most varieties will ripen over a 4 to 6 week period. Once the berries begin to ripen, they should be picked every 5 to 7 days. A mature bush can produce 15 lbs of berries.

Propagation: Coming soon!

Care:

Plant: Test to soil for pH confirmation. Amend accordingly. See pH above. Plant in mid-fall to give plants time to adjust during the dormant season. Blueberry plants feeder roots are very close to the surface and do not have root hairs; therefore, good soil moisture management and heavy mulches will be needed. Dig hole 2x the width of the nursery pot, and no deeper than level with the growing point in the pot. Blueberries can also be planted higher with a heavy application of organic mulch surrounding it.

Fertilizer/pH: Rabbiteye blueberries require a pH of 4.0 to 5.0 for good plant growth. It’s important to do a soil test if your shrub isn’t productive. To adjust the soil’s pH, use only ammonium sulfate or special azalea or camellia fertilizers, such as organic Osmocote. Apply fertilizer frequently during the productive season in very small applications rather than one heavy application.

Apply 1 oz. of ammonium sulfate the second year. The rate can then be increased 1 oz. per year but shouldn't exceed 1/2 lb per plant. Broadcast the fertilizer evenly around the plant before applying mulch in late winter.

Mulch: Mulch is very important for growing blueberries. It is required for acidifying and cooling the soil, conserving soil mositure, and controlling weeds.

Provide a deep mulch (approximately 3 to 4 inches deep) and extend it at least 2 feet from the crown of the plant. This is extremely important the first 2 years while the plants are establishing. Various organic materials such as pine straw, pine bark, leaves and grass clippings can be used.

Groom/Prune: Pruning blueberry bushes each year will keep plants shorter, healthier, and more productive. Remove all flower buds and cut stems back by 50% the first year plants are set out. We know this sounds strange, but we learned it the hard way. In doing so, this will allow plants to direct energy into root and stem growth, resulting in healthier, more productive plants in future years.

Keep 2-3 year old plants healthy by removing any broken, diseased, crossing or spindly growth.

Once plants reach 4-5 years old, prune each winter by removing out 3 to 4 of the largest, oldest canes; as well as crossing, diseased, and low hanging branches. Prune after the plants have shed their leaves but before flower buds begin to open December through March.

Pest/disease Control: No major pests. And no, birds feeding in your home garden are NOT pests!

Comments:

Because of the pH requirements, it’s most convenient to grow blueberries in a bed together.

Bee Better Naturally DOES NOT recommend covering blueberry shrubs with bird netting. Yes, the birds will enjoy your blueberries as much as you do. Plant extra for the birds, but if you really want to keep as much of your harvest as you can, consider building a Fruit House! Add PHOTO

Example of a Fruit House to protect blueberries from birds feeding on your harvest.

Along our Eastern coast, there are Rabbiteyes, as discussed here, and in colder climates, there are also lowbush and highbush varieties. Did you know rabbiteyes are named such because supposedly, the berries turn pink before turning blue, reminiscent of the eye color of a white rabbit. Now that’s creative. But when it came to creativity, it was lost on highbush and lowbush varieties. They are named highbush, because they are higher/taller than the lowbush. BTW, rabbiteyes are taller than both high and lowbush. Great conversation at your next party where blueberries are discussed. What? Blueberries are never brought up! Now is your chance to change the conversation!!!

Highbush blueberries, V. corymbosum are found in the wild in northeastern North America.

Lowbush blueberries, V.  angustifolium, grow in cooler climates, commonly known as the wild lowbush blueberry, is a species of blueberry native to eastern and central Canada (from Manitoba to Newfoundland) and the northeastern United States, growing as far south as the Great Smoky Mountains and west to the Great Lakes region.

Naturally, Helen

Food Forest and Other Edible Foods in the Bee Better Teaching Garden with Helen Yoest

FOOD FOREST:

‘Honey Crisp’ apple—Malus domestica ‘Honey Crisp’—Moved from south-side whiskey barrel to newly revised front Red Bed, which is now called The Food Forest. Acquired in 2015. No fruit yet, but it was young when purchased. Culture information —Link

‘North Sentinel’ apple—Malus pumila ‘North Sentinel’—Moved from the Mixed Border to the Rock Garden. Acquired in 2013. She fruited within two years. Funny to see such big fruit on such a small plant. It was tasty. I move this apple in 2017, so I’ll have to see how it does this year. Culture information —Link

‘Transcendent’ crabapple —Malus domestica ‘Transcendent’. ‘Transcendent was an apple highly recommend by J. C. Raulston. While a crabapple, it is a large fruit, almost as big as a ‘Gala’. The flavor is an old fashioned taste, that reminds you of a pure apple taste. Acquired in 2013. Fruited the third year. Culture information —Link

Banana—Musa basjoo. Culture information—I took this patch down. 2022 While they don’t spread fast, they did spread beyond what I was willing to maintain each year given what I got in return. They looked awesome, though!

Blueberries—Vaccinium ashei  ‘‘Climax’, Premier’, ‘Powder Blue’, Titan, and Tifblue.

Cherry—Prunus avium ‘Stella’. I have yet to get fruit. I’m not sure why, the tree is about ten years old.

Chokeberry—Aronia melanocarpa Posted on December 9, 2022

Chokecherry—Prunus virginiana

Cornelian cherry—Cornus Mas

Dogwood—Cornus kousa

Brown Turkey Fig

Fig — Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’, Ficus carica ‘LSU Purple’, & F. carica ‘Celeste’.

Guava ‘Pineapple’—Acca sellowiana syn. Feijoa sellowiana

Goji Berry—Lyceum barbarum

Goumi Berry—Elaeagnus multiflora

Grapes—’Catawba’ and Muscadines—Vitis rotundifolia. This past lockdown, I built better arbors.

Kiwi, Hardy—Actinidia arguta—still has not fruited

Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica—Every year beautiful flowers, but no fruit. Click through to see why!

Passion Vine, edible—Passiflora edulis.

Pawpaw—Asimina triloba

Pear, Kieffer—Pyrus communis x P. pyrifolia

Pear, Asian—Pyrus pyrifolia

Persimmon, Japanese —Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’—

Plum ‘Santa Rosa’—Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’

Plum Prunus ‘ Corinthian’ from Denny Werner. Small fruit, but very tasty, extremely tasty!

Quince—Cydonia oblonga ‘Pineapple’

Raspberries—Ever-bearing, Rubus idaeus, ever-bearing, Rubus idaeus—probably ‘Southland’

Serviceberry—Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’

Strawberries—Fragaria × ananassa

HERBS:

Basil, Ocimum basilicum.  As an edible, don’t let your basil go to seed or even flower. The stems become woody, and the leaves lose their flavor. Prune basil regularly. However, having said that, as a wildlife plant, let them go to flower! The bees love this! You can do a little of both!

Bronze fennel, Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum,

Dill, Anethum graveolens

Mint, Mentha

Parley, Petroselinum crispum

Rue, Ruta graveolens

Thyme, Thymus vulgaris

Oregano, Origanum vulgare

Rose, Rosa spp.

Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus, formally Rosmarinus officinalis

Lavender, Lavandula intermedia 'Phenomenal' PP24193) is a French hybrid lavender notable for its outstanding cold hardiness and tolerance to heat and high humidity. The plants grow into a beautiful mounded shape, with purple flowers on tall stems in mid-summer.

Harvest lavender blooms before it gets too hot. The lavender flowers are at their peak when the bottom of the bloom is just opening. Cut the stem down to the foliage. Gather the stems and tie them together. Suspend upside down in a hot, dry, dark location, such as an attic.. Within 10 to 14 days, the lavender will be ready to use.

VEGTABLES:

Thinking ahead. Harvest vegetables as needed. Most of what’s growing in your vegetable garden are annuals–tomatoes, beens, peppers, etc.  Soon, they’ll soon be looking a little wrung out. As plants end their production cycle, remove them from the garden; otherwise, they may attract insects and disease to the plants that are still productive. At this time, we have no veggies ready for harvest.

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus

Cantaloupe, Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Aster, my son, picked this one out.

Squash, Cucurbita A gift from my friend Abby and flowering but no fruit yet.

Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum ‘Mortgage Lifter’,

Harvest tomatoes when they are ripe. There is nothing better than sinking your teeth into a ripe tomato, warmed from the summer sun.

Didn’t plant tomatoes? Visit your local farmers market for a selection of fresh, field-grown varieties.

Did you know you can plant a second (or first) crop of tomatoes now? Yes, you will have tomatoes through first frost!

In your home garden, keep an eye out for early blight. Blight is a fungal disease that will cause spots to develop on the foliage. The leaves begin to yellow and then drop. Pinch off foliage at first indication. If too severe, there are several fungicides that can be used to reduce the symptoms.

This from Craig LeHoullier:  “There are two types of common fungus, Alternaria (early blight) and Septoria cause leaf splotching, with brown spots or lesions, sometimes showing yellowing as well….it can splash up onto lower foliage – so mulching is important to delay this inevitable occurrence, especially where its really muggy and hot. Even with mulching, it does start low and move up the plant–removing blemished foliage slows the progression, and the plants continue with top growth to keep them going. I examine my plants and remove the blemished foliage every few days. Check this resource for common (and uncommon) tomato issues – it is really useful.”

We have a bumper crop of tomatoes right now. Loving them! Yet, I still haven’t had a BLT. I need to fix that soon! Click HERE to learn five common tomato myths from my friend, Joe L’ampl’

MUSHROOMS:

Working on a piece for Triangle Gardener on growing oyster mushrooms at home.

CHICKENS:

CAMELLIAS—Care and Types

CAMELLIAS: There are two types of camellias commonly used in eastern North Carolina. The Japanese camellia is a large plant that gets 15 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. Japanese camellias have large leaves and flowers that are 4 to 8 inches in diameter. Blooms may open from early winter to spring.

Sasanqua camellias have smaller leaves on a plant that is normally 6 to 10 feet high and about 3 to 5 feet wide (there are some dwarf types). Flowers are only 2 to 3 inches in diameter and open in the fall or early winter.

Both types come with flower colors of pink, red, and white and form a broad, densely branched evergreen pyramid.

Camellias like acidic (pH 5 to 6.5), well-drained soils. It is best to plant them on the north side of a house or in semi-shade. Container plants can be planted at any time of the year. Spacing of camellias is important as it is with all plants. Based on their size, research has shown that sasanqua camellias should be planted at least 4 feet from a wall to allow access for maintenance and good air circulation.

If camellias are to be used in a hedge, plant them 5 to 6 feet on center. To keep sasanqua camellias individual, plant at least 8 feet on center. Plant Japanese camellias 6 to 8 feet from a wall, 8 feet on center for a hedge, and at least 12 feet on center to keep plants individual.

Groom: Tidy camellia blooms. Spent camellia blooms, particularly with C. japonicas, are susceptible to petal blight. Remove fallen blooms — and those ready to fall — to prevent the spread of disease and insect problems.

Pruning camellias should be done following flowering; prune each type of camellia accordingly.

Fertilize: Apply about one pound of fertilizer per 1000 square feet in March, May, and July. Don’t fertilize after August since it may promote new growth that could be damaged by cold temperatures later.

Mulch: Most of my yearly mulching is complete. I’m still adding hardwood chips to paths as they degrade and get smashed into the ground. I love the look of a freshly laid path.

Pest Control: If you suspect your faded flowers have blight, don’t put them in the compost pile. Instead, place them in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.

LAWNS—Care and Types—SuperSod

LAWNS:

WHEN TO FERTILIZE WARM SEASON LAWNS—From SuperSod.

 BERMUDAS AND ZOYSIAS

Early Spring - February through Early April. Omit fertilizer for these months. Your grass will be dormant, and you don’t want to promote growth during this time.

Pre-emergent exception: You may apply a low nitrogen weed & feed fertilizer from late February to early March to prevent weed seeds from germinating.

Limestone: During early spring, conduct a soil test to determine if the pH of your soil is too acidic. If the results of your soil test pH are too low, apply lime to your lawn. We recommend Pelletized Dolomitic Limestone. 

Spring- Late April through May. Apply 16-4-8 + Iron when all of your grass is green and completely out of dormancy.

Organic Lawn Care Alternative:  Instead of applying fertilizer, topdress your lawn with Soil3 organic humus compost. This will act as one application of fertilizer for the year and cut down on your chemical use.

Mid- Summer-  June through August. Apply 16-4-8 + Iron as your final application of fertilizer for the year. 

Fall and Winter- September through January. Omit fertilizer, as your grass will start to go dormant and temperatures decrease. You don’t want to disturb your grass as it prepares for winter dormancy.

WHEN TO FERTILIZE COOL SEASON LAWNS—From SuperSod.

TALL FESCUE

Winter- December through Early February- Apply one application of 16-4-8 + Iron before the spring.

Early Spring- Late February through March- Apply a low nitrogen weed and feed fertilizer during these months to prevent the germination of weed seeds. We recommend 0-0-7 with .25% Barricade.

Limestone: During early spring, conduct a soil test to determine if the pH of your soil is too acidic. If the results of your soil test pH are too low, apply lime to your lawn. We recommend Pelletized Dolomitic Limestone.

Late Spring- April- Apply 16-4-8 + Iron 

Summer- May through August –Do not fertilize fescue at this time. To control fungus during this time, apply fungicide once the nighttime low temperatures are 60 degrees F or above.

Fall- Late September through November- Apply 16-4-8 + Iron once the temperatures begin to cool down. We know the timing of cool temperatures can be uncertain in the South, but play this one by ear.

Organic Lawn Care Alternative: In October, rather than applying 16-4-8, topdress your lawn with Soil3 organic humus compost. This will act as your fall fertilizer application and cut down on your chemical use.

Overseeding exception: If you’re seeding a new Fescue lawn or overseeding some problem areas, apply 5-10-30 + Iron to your newly seeded areas. 

Naturally, Helen

58 Days Lockdown During 2020 Pandemic--The garden never looked better!

DAY 1 Trimmed & cleaned up the boxwood hedges, front and back. The cuttings went into the back 40 (ft.) compost area. Weed front and back beds, mostly of chickweed that will be fed to the chickens. BTW, the baby chicks can fly up to roost now!

Cleaned out chicken run.

In the fall when I added cuttings to the back 40 (feet) compost area, I didn’t cut them up. Today, I crawled around that back area and made every stick six inches or smaller.

My son Aster started cleaning out the shed and building a lean-to next to it so I have extended coverage.

Cleaned up kitchen!

Pot up ‘Black and Blue’ Salvia.

DAY 2 Run vine support wire for the grapevine posts. Bring the last of the indoor plants outdoors. It is so warm, I doubt we will see another frost this month, but you never know! Weed Mixed Border.

Transplant gardenia.

Ordered Cercis ‘Flame Thrower’.

Essential trip to Big Bloomers Flower Farm… The parking lot was full, but everyone kept a good six-foot social distance.

Make today a lopper day—prune oakleaf hydrangeas. They need it. Looking gangly with a lot of dead stems.

My daughter was using crates as book cases. She is out of that room now (and into another), so I plant to redo that room. With some rain ahead, I plan to paint the crates black. I bought the paint in anticipation of a shutdown when nonessentials could/ should still be bought.

Day 3 Has it only been three days? And not that, yet. So far it was just a weekend. Mind you, I didn't do as much on a pre-COVID-19 weekend. Why? B/c I have a least 14 days to spread all this out! But in the end, I will have my garden ( house) in top top shape, and just may invite everyone over!

My knees need a break today, so I will be doing upright chores. Clean chicken coop.

Transplant gardenia.

Essential trip to Big Bloomers Flower Farm.

Make today a lopper day—prune oakleaf hydrangeas. They need it. Looking gangly.

My daughter was using crates as book cases. She is out of that room now (and into another), so I plan to redo that room. With some rain ahead, I plan to paint the crates black. I bought the paint in anticipation of a shutdown when non essentials could/ should still be bought. All this started when my dear friend, Elizabeth Galecke decided to move to another state!!! In prepping her house, she gave me photos from 2004 when we did a Day in the Life of my family. I'm having these black and white fabo photos framed and hung in the room which will also be black and white. An added bonus, I can remove some dust bunnies just in time for Easter!

Day 4 I guess I shouldn't be surprised lockdown isn't affecting me to much, at least for now. I very, very, rarely go out for lunch or dinner. I never just GO shopping. But I do miss visiting arboretum; but still so much to do at home, I probably won't feel those effects until next week.

Today is pond duty. It’s time I figure out how to fix my edges. Such a first-world problem! No wait, I think we now know we aren’t immune all-word problems! Still, it has to be done.

Finish painting boxes.

Direct sow zinnias in Mixed Border.

With the shed lean-to finished, I can put stuff back. This will clear up the garden house, so I can clean up in there too.

The Mixed Border is looking mighty fine…so says I!

Day 5 Never in my life have I had five days to work in my garden, and will need another five days. At least I will have it. Not happy our world is suffering from the COVID-19, but at least I’m making my quarantine time productive.

After all this, my goal is to have a garden that only needs maintenance. I’ve tried to get to this point for at least five year, and now I have the time to make this happen. Truly, I’m patting myself on my back!

Weed Rock Garden. Within Rock Garden, moved two little boxwoods, an autumn sedum, and planted Christmas amaryllis. Clear out weeds.

Burn bush collected throughout the garden.

Clean up Potting Bench area out front.

Watering recent pot-ups.

Potted up crinums that were getting to big for their location.

Named a garden that somehow was never named. It is near the pond, so I’m calling it the ParaPond Bed. Since were are all over medical terms,  para is a medical term as in parathyroid glands. These glands are are called "para-thyroid" because they are adjacent to the thyroid. All this took 9.5 hours. I don’t need to rush, but it was kinda nice since it wasn’t too hot. Not like Monday and Tuesday. Or was it Sunday. I’m loosing track of the days.

Day 6 Moving of from the garden, but still outside. The back porch, where I live, is looking grungy. It has for a while, but now I have time to take care of it. I bought mildew removal spray and I plan to hit the ceiling of the porch plus windows, doorways, and anywhere else I see grunge. I also bought paint to freshen up the paint blue. It was last painted in 2005. This project should take most of the day, and I don’t anticipate finishing the painting. It may flow into Day 7.

Watering recent pot-ups.

Day 7 From yesterday, some of the mildew was lessened all the way around, but none of it all gone. And there is still one angry spot that I will tackle by hand. Anyhoo, I’ll spray again this morning and work on the other area once it’s dry. I ended up spraying again, and them using a roller on a stick to treat with one cup chlorine in a gallon of water. I painted the top trim of the porch and with that done, I painted the edges of the ceiling so when when arms are rested I car roll paint on the ceiling.

The garden is looking pretty good. On Day 9, Sunday, it will be my regular day in the garden. I’ll weed then. In the meantime, I’ll work on inside projects. Of course, this won’t be nearly as much fun, unless…

Unless, you get rid of things!!! At this point, no child has his/her childhood room. They have either moved out or just changed rooms. What’s a Mom to do other than get rid of that unwanted crap. I’ll save what I think might be important to them, and ask them as well since of the three here and the third took everything she owned. She’s like that haha.

The house is cluttered and there are others in need. I’ll tackle one room at a time. This should be fun—just kidding.

My son, Aster, finished the lean-to and I have officially occupied it. Things are getting taken care of that would have not otherwise happened. At least some good is coming from COVID-19.

Send me pictures of your garden!!! Please!!!!.

Day 7 revisited. Well, I made great progress in my daughters' room, and even got some mementoes in the attic. But while I was up there, I dropped one of the very sweet ornaments my SIL, Melissa Parker Philbrook, made for the family from dried flowers from my MIL's funeral. All that to say, I forgot about it, and when my son, Aster, gets up, he slices his foot. Screams and says some naughty words. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, he needs stitches, but refuses to go. Instead, we wrapped it with gauze and duct tape. I better stay outside for a while! Yup, that is the Eagle Scout in him

Day 8 I’m not sure what I’ve become. I’m home. I’m not sick. No-one in my family is sick. So I am going through my house now, room by room. After Day 7’s accident with Aster’s slicing his foot, I went outside to paint the back porch. It was such a beautiful day, especially to paint.

Today, I’ll roll the ceiling with Haint blue paint, aka, Carolina Blue. Even thought my arms are sore from Day 7, I want this done more than anything; the porch is my favorite place in the house and it’s outside! I can’t enjoy it when it’s not put together!

Yesterday, my son was cut; today, when I was painting the edges of the porch, the overhead fans were on, and I HEARD then FELT, thump, thump, and one of the fans hit my head twice. As such, I have two nice sized goose eggs.

Days 9 Today, Sunday, and Palm Sunday at that, is my regular day in the garden. I will start in the Family Room. Oh what a collector I am. I decided I have too much stuff. I need a simpler life. I need to breathe in this house of quarantine! I’m very happy with the results. Here is a before and after.

Just think, our kids will be telling their kids about the COVID-19 which was really in 2020 for us. Can we see clearly now? Things are gonna be different. They have to be. IMHO. Decluttering and cleaning the Family Room took three hours. I don’t typically spend that much time on the whole house lol!

When I finished, I thought I was heading outdoors to do my weekly maintenance—weeding in the garden, cubs, pruning, etc. My intent was to pretend like it’s just another day. I started in the front, and then remembered while I got most of the front ready for regular maintenance, the Fruit Bed and River Bid were not groomed. That took 2.5 hours. Since it’s Sunday, I decided to knock off early.

Day 10 The best advice my father ever gave me was, “Do the hardest job first.” I tried to teach my kids the same, but to no avail. But I do it. The next big job is the girls bathroom, but I’m starting with the downstairs. As such, I’ll start in the Dining Room. It’s really a tie between the Kitchen and the Dining Room, but I want the Dining Room looking good for Easter next Sunday. This wasn’t as bad, it only took

Day 11 Shoot me! I've been up since 4:30, couldn't sleep thinking of more cleaning I need to. Dining room china cabinet, purged, washed, rearranged! Now for a hot cup of tea, After the dining room, I'll go back to painting outside. 

Each morning, I get the INDY Week Primer. Here is one of the items they report:

20 days until the coronavirus is projected to peak in North Carolina.

24 days until the state’s stay-at-home order expires.

52 days until kids (might) go back to school.

210 days until the November election.Finish grooming the front gardens—The Food Forest, The Herb Garden, and The Parterre. This only took

Day 12 Monday.

Day 13 Tuesday. Apparantly, my math skills are slipping. I thought I was under a 14 day quaratine, but it turns it was only 12 days. Tomorrow I work for a day, so my quarantine will only be these 12 days, not 14. It will start again on Thursday through the the 22nd, if at that. I'll learn more tomorrow. After the garden and house is rocking, I can move on to some writing.

What has amazed me the most in all of this is how I've spent an average of 9 hours a day, cleaning and gardening, or to regain some math skills, 99 hours, and it's still not all done. No wonder I don't have any friends....

Day 14 Wednesday—A work day. I work for the City of Raleigh caring for the Historic Parks downtown. During this slow down, we were broken up from a gardeners group with eight of us to a mow crew with another eight. During this slow down, we became two teams, four from each group, only working on Wednesdays, every other week each.

Last evening, I did the strangest thing...I made a dinner. I'm mean a proper dinner, one that took chopping veggies, even. I can't remember how long it's been since I took the time to cook--and enjoy it!

Back to work for a day. It's with mixed feelings as I prepare to see how how our downtown is bearing through all this.

Oops, let's hope this is nothing, but I had to leave work at 845 this morning with a symptom. (I started at 6 and feeling just fine!) I hope I don't have COVID-19, but for everyone's sake, it was best that I went home. I needed to take a shower anyway.

Day 15 Yesterday's mishap must have been something I ate. Will take it easy today. 

We had a half inch of rain last night. Glad about that since I wasn't able to water my pot-ups and seedlings. 'Flame Thrower' Cercis arrived bare root. Hope to get that in the ground. Today, I'll finish the Reading Room--other people may call this the formal living room; but for me, it is where I go to read. I love that room! It was decluttered last year, so it is only a matter of deep cleaning. That leaves the downstair's bathroom before I head upstairs tomorrow. I got this!!!

Oh and after the fact or is it during? I'm reading MARIE KONDO decluttering book. She was as crazy about home stuff as I was about gardening!!! So far, I agree with everything except folding. My closet is always purged, so no decluttering needed there. Seriously, how many clothes do I need to garden in and that is about all I do!!! Beside, I wear a uniform for work!!!

Helen Yoest’s Reading Room

Day 16 Just so you know I'm a mere mortal, I slept until 8 this morning! I needed it.

It has been two weeks since the City of Raleigh limited the days their workers will be in the field. A lot has happened since then. I’m not actually running out of things yet, which is even a surprise to me…or maybe it shouldn’t be!

Today I’m reflecting on how things will be different. Forget New Year’s resolutions. Now is time for New Life Habits! Mine is to SIMPLIFY. I don’t want any clutter in my life. I want clarity. 

Happy Easter and Passover

After I’ve mulled over my New Life Habits, I’ll move on to some writing. Up first is getting the April Newsletter out. This would have already been posted, but somehow I erased last years', post, from which I update each month. Now I have to start from scratch. This monthly newsletter is important to me. I hope it is useful for you. Then I’m on to hollies. I’ll post when it is live. 

Oh and, I cooked again last night. This time a pork lion, broccoli, and brown rice. Let’s hope I don’t get sick again!

Today is Good Friday. I hope it is good for you!

What have you learned from this COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

I learned there is a COVID-10 with the COVID-19. Those extra 10 pounds gained while in lockdown!

Day 17. With Easter tomorrow, and even though only my at-home family will be here, I'll clean out the refrigerator today.

Yesterday, we celebrated my middle child's 20th birthday. Again just us, but is was a wonderful time together.

I'll continue to work on the holly piece today. It's hard! lol. The hardest part was to figure out how I wanted to organize it. I got that part down. Now, I need to figure out just how many varieties to include. Whoa! Figures I would choose a difficult topic. I choose it b/c I don't believe the info out there is good enough with regards to the need of a male pollinator. So, yes, that will be included with each species I address. I'l just take may good ole time. The pay isn't much, so there is not reason to "watch the clock." I'm not making any money anyway. lol. At this point I'm doing it for myself as a pride thing and to be shared with others. 

Day 18 Easter Sunday I will celebrate in the Garden which already is my house of worship. Just the four of us home will celebrate Easter together. You will find me in the Garden!

Happy Passover and Easter

Day 19 Lying in bed this morning, with no hurry to start my day. I was 16 again, in my bedroom at home in Norfolk, VA, with the windows opened, listening to the wind, rain, and a rumble of thunder. The rain is light now, but the winds fierce. The birds are sining their morning mating calls. Today, I’m glued to the mattress, just listening and thinking of my younger self. It must have been a weekend morning, back in 1972, since I wasn’t racing off to school. Today is Monday, and still I’m not rushing to go anywhere. I’m in lockdown.

These two accounts are so rare that I was able to bridge them together.

After a good reunion with my teenage self, I’ll do some writing about hollies, then painting the new guest room, which use to me the girl’s room, but then my last girl home moved into the guest room, which doubles as my studio. Anyhoo, It will be my office now and a guest bedroom, completely redone. I’m being bold. The room will be painted in black and white. Absent of color—so unlike me. But hey, I’m in the simple stage of my life!

Day 20 Today, I'm starting with a question. When the lockdown restrictions of COVID-19 is over, what will you do first. What do you miss most? Is it eating out, going to the movies, shopping for a new outfit? Maybe it's travel, or just safely walking down the greenways. For me, it wil be going to the Rialto Theatre to see a movie and meeting friends for a drink or a meal. I miss my seeing my friends.

What I'm most curious about is what you are missing the most, and what have you learned you can do without. What do you value most?

It’s not that I haven’t worked 20 days in row. In fact, I’ve worked many more consecutive days. The difference is I can do this at a slow, relaxing pace. For example painting the girls’ room, If it were a weekend project, I would have felt COMPELLED to finish in 2 days. I’d do it faster, but it’s best for the paint to dry between coats. ;)

While I’m getting closer to finishing, and the room is looking mighty fine, I need to be outside. Today looks like an excellent day to garden—67ºF and partly cloudy. Nothing special is planned, just weeding and grooming. I’ll start in the front and work my way around back.

I ordered peanuts on line, I wonder when they will get here. Probably too early to plant, they like it ward, but I’d still like to have them in hand.

Day 21. Yikes. I've still not run out of things to do. This really makes me think just how much I've needed to do, and the burden that weighted on me so I was always, ALWAYS, rushing to the next thing. If I'm in lockdown and actually finished all that I want to complete, I plan to stay in slomo for as long as I can.

For today's important question. I know toilet paper is on everyone's mind. My questions how what is your hanging preference?

Do you hang your toilet paper with the roll pulling from the top or bottom?

Mine is an obsession. I hang mine from the top. So much so, if one of my kids hangs it to roll under. No, wait, let me start again, my kids NEVER replace a roll of toilet paper. If my husband hangs it that way, I change it. And I've been known to change the rolls when visiting friend's bathrooms. So if you are wondering, THAT is what happened so long ago!

Day 22 Sadly, It’ my turn. A good, good friend has COVID-19, and she has underlying conditions, so she isn’t like going to survive this. She is one in a million people, so you just never know. <3

Today is a Wagman’s shopping day. I must go out. I’m truing to count in the last three weeks that I’ve been out. I think three times. If I wasn’t on lockdown, I would have done that much three times in a day not counting going to and from work.

After that, you will find me in the garden…

Bee Better Teaching Garden with Helen Yoest

Day 23 My work isn’t necessarily opening up, but next week, I work two days instead of one. I need to transplant two blackberry bushes, plant an elephant ear, Plant tomatoes—the cold evening are behind us now, transplant four Inkberry hollies. The baby chicks seem to have a way to escape. I can’t for the life of me figure how how they are getting out. I need to find out!!! Potted up daffodils, I should finish in the front today…maybe so I can move to the North Side., then the back. This will most likely take me through Friday. I need to figure out a way to make the raspberries upright. They are dangling over the lawn. I should have done something in the early winter. I’ll get there. So much to. What would I have done if I wasn’t in lockdown?!?

The North Side only needs weeding. It shouldn’t take me long. The South Side needs weeding too and I also need to tame the hardy kiwi vine.

I still want to spread some ferns around that I planted in an area that it LOVES. This area is in the front, so I guess there is more to do.

I wish everyone lived close by, b/c I’m sharing white rain lilies. I put them on the JCRA listserv, but there are still some left. If you are near by and want some, please let me know.

Day 24 Let me get back to work already!!! I’m tired of doing things in the house, although there is still a lot to do. Dare I say, I’m tired of being in the garden on sunny 70ish days. Well I am! I’m almost done out front.

Today, I’m working on my website. I will do that until I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE, then I’ll finish the front, and this time I mean it!

If the rain continues, I may do a little, and I mean a LITTLE painting in the girls old room. I cooked again last night, and the night before. I remember I use to LOVE cooking, and COVID-19 brought that back for me. Cooking feels so good. Heck, I have this garden with herbs, fruits, and veggies, I might as well make something with it all!!! I served the chicken with potato salad and green beans.

Day 25 Nice rain yesterday, about 1/2 inch. Nice to sleep in to, and the garden is so happy!

Soon the garden and house painting will be done, then I can move on to more things, like filling in the culture information gap for edibles in the Bee Better Teaching Garden Food Forest.

COVID-19 is also giving me the time to learn about Medicare options. I have through December to figure all this stuff out. Looking for recommendations for online seminars. It all seems so complicated. To my wise 65 and older friends, what are you doing about it?

My goal is to have the garden done by Monday, since I’m going to work on Tuesday and Wednesday. I need to start treating every day as one that will end Lock down. Who knew there was so much to do! But there was, and I’m happy I’m moving along!

Last nights dinner was Paula Dean’s White Chicken Chili. So, so good. I once served this at an arboretum dinner help in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. for 30. Everyone loved it!!! I only used 2 cups of chicken stock. And at my daughter’s request, we served it over brown rice.

Day 26: It is with great sadness, my dear, dear friend, Nancy Simonsen passed away from COVID-19. She was fiercely independent, and a very loyal friend. For many years, Nancy was one of my volunteers in the Winter Garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum Volunteers. Her son mentioned that if anyone wanted to remember her, donations could be made to the JC Raulston Arboretum. 

BTW, when she volunteered, she wore white from top to toe, and even her nail polish was white. I’m not sure how she stayed cleaned, but she did. Nancy was one of the best gardeners I've every had the pleasure of working with, and great travel companion, too. She will be missed. God, I loved that women!

For my COVID-19 Daily to-dos, I will lay low to mourn Nancy, and just do some writing and cooking at home.

Nancy Simonsen

Day 27 & 28: These two days have me back at work. As part of my gardening job for the City of Raleigh, we keep the parks cleared of trash. So with so many homeless now congregating in our parks, the trash has mounted. This will be our focus. I can keep my Hori Hori knife in my pocket. Day 27 has us picking up trash Moore Sqare, until we couldn’t get back due to the protestors.

Day 27 update: Well, well, our annex bldg is now a hotspot. We all gathered for lunch, after navigating out way back to the office through blocked streets to make room for the protesters. All comfy, we see men in tyvek suits wiping everything down. That was when we learned we were being evacuated! So glad I went to the bathroom, I think, since there is nowhere else to go!!

Day 28—Earth Day— has us back to Moore Square picking up limbs from last Monday’s storm, and then off to Nash Square. Looking forward to normalcy! The City is really taking a hit in taking care of the bare necessities.

Our bosses boss greeted us this morning with a pep talk to to see if we passed the test for working today. Are we ill now? Have you traveled? Have you been with anyone known to have COVID-19? Seems like there was another question I may have forgotten. We we had a gun to our foreheads to get our temperature. I passed.

Day 29: Not sure about today. Taking it easy. A little painting. A little gardening. A little writing. A little reading. And maybe, a little Netflix.

DAY 30: Today is a garden day. This and that.

Transplanted a couple of ferns to spread ut. Weeded Food Forest.Watered. Organized the holding area. Bought mulch, Laid mulch on paths. Genya sipped by, even if it was only for a couple of minutes and keeping six feet away, it was nice to see her lovely self.

Day 31: I found this interesting, and thought you would to..

Watered the blueberries, muscadines, blackberries and The day wasn’t as nice a predicted. Overcat with a slight chill in the air. It maybe reached 65ºF. I had a nice fire and worked first to clean out the garden house. It got so bad, I didn’t even enjoy going in there. Can’t let that happen.

I don’t typically store the lawn mower in the Garden House but on one of the few occasions my son mowed, that was where he left it. I guess he saw an empty space. I typically store firewood three.

Before Cleaning

After Cleaning

Day 32: Working on a date to reschedule the #BeeBetterNaturally Forum. NC may be lifting the lockdown period for playgrounds, and that's us, by May 23rd. Still, we will be seated such that we are six feet apart. The topic is dragonflies

I think I'll go out and take some pics of the garden, fresh after the rain.

I have two rooms left to clean. This shall get done! Then I guess I need to start over with the cleaning! Ha! Aww, it won't be so bad. Now that I've purged, life is so much easier!!!

My friend Abby has be best stand of Dutchman's pipe plant, Aristolochia macrophylla. This vigorous native is the host plant for the Dutchman's pipe butterfly. One of the blue beauties. Anyhoo, we were expecting a frost (yes, it was that soon, early April, and it was the easiest we have seen thee eggs.) Abby worried that the eggs wouldn't make it so we experimented by me taking foliage cuttings with eggs to bring inside, and she leaving them outside. Both egg groups survived, and I get a bounty of butterfly eggs <3

After about seven days, the hatched into larvae!

Days 33-38 Finally, I can move on to something even more enjoyable than working around the house! Oh, wait, isn’t that pretty much anything? The garden is looking good, and I’m at a point where I can go back to weekly maintenance, so this means I can begin writing again! For YEARS, and I mean years, I have wanted to add so much to the #beebetternaturally website, and now I have the time to do so. I’m starting with writing an individual post of all the fruits I grow in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. I have about 30 of them. I’m often asked what to do to care for them, and now instead of repeating myself, I can send them to a link. Yay!!!

https://www.beebetternaturally.com/blog/2020/4/13/the-food-forest-in-the-bee-better-teaching-garden-with-helen-yoest

Day 34 I'm in my happy place. I'm writing again. I'm in my zone to put thoughts and knowledge on paper. So far, I've covered:

blueberries https://www.beebetternaturally.com/…/blueberry-vaccinium-spp

pawpaws  https://www.beebetternaturally.com/…/…/pawpaw-asimina-trioba

figs. 

Today, I'll focus on hardy kiwi, quince, and passion fruit.

I'm on a mission to do as many as I can from the fruits grown in our Food Forest.

Day 35

Day 35. Hardy Kiwi is done, Quince pretty much done, Passion vine is done.

Day 36 Raspberries done!, and started Blackberries, and Serviceberry

Day 37 Will be working on more fruits I grow. Bartzella Itoh Peony photo. Ok peonies aren't fruits, but did you know they were edible? The roots (as if anyone would really want to know, the the petals make a nice tea.

Just got notice my bunch grapes will arrive soon. I've never grown them, but have an arbor waiting for them so I can try

!Day 38 Garden Day. I thought I would write through today, the garden is speaking to me. Yesterday we had ~2 inches of rain, and I was inside all day. I need a, um, a breath of fresh air! 

I will also continue to dream about what my blueberry fruit house will look like. Here is a local one, but I need mine to be a little more refined. Any suggestions?

Day 39 Deep thoughts day. Today, I'll be in the garden.

Highs 75ºF, sunny. So why wouldn't I be outside? 

But the question, how is it I have so much to do today and these past 38 days when I was in the garden, when before I only spent Sundays there? Did the garden always look like crap before? Or does it just look fantastic now? Or neither? 

Have I gotten too picky? Do I like being this new person? 

What will happen next week when I'm back to work for four days? Things to consider. 

The poppies are starting to bloom! Should I include these poppies in my edible write ups? Poppy seed bagel anyone?

Today was one of the best days in since quarantine. With all the changes I’m made as well as maintenance, today I finally feel like I accomplished what I needed to be where I needed to be.

The Food Forest is weeded and mulched.

The Parterre is weeded and mulched.

The Herb Garden is weeded and mulched.

The Berry Bed already was looking good.

North Side weeded!

Mixed Border planted with Pentas. Pruned Prunus mume ‘Bridal Veil’.

Finished planting veggies—more tomatoes, cantaloupe, cucumber, and blue basil.

Water fruits.

Day 40 Last day of quarantine this week. Tomorrow, I work four days starting Monday, and have a doc apton the sixth.. Even though I’m not going anywhere afterwards, I can’t count next week as quarantine. Maybe semi-quarantine! So today, the garden will get her final grooming. As I mentioned yesterday, I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. I need to finish pruning the flowering apricot.

Day 41-42 Semi-Quarantine. Work days. And I sorta finished ‘Fuyu’ Persimmon

Day 43

Day 44 Another day in lockdown--at Work. Next week, I'm off, so I need to make it a good one today. The weeds were outrageous in the City parks yesterday, but I fought the battle and the girl won!!! Hopefully I can finish what I started today. 

There was so much thistle, at night when I closed my eyes, that was all I could see!Day 45

Day 45 Lockdown. Starting yesterday evening at 5 PM, phase 1 of our lockdown was lifted. Parks are open (but not playgrounds), we can gather with up to 10 people. 

I plan to work in the garden. It's a beautiful day. How about you?

Day 46 Mother’s Day. I woke to cards, flowers, and candy. I’d say that was a great way to start Mother’s Day. As a gift to myself, I turned the toilet paper roll that was backwards in hay husband's bathroom!

Perhaps my family has plans for me. I don’t know. We will likely cook out. 

I will do a few things in the garden, and just enjoy this wonderful gift of a beautiful spring day.

Happy Mother’s Day. What’s going on in your world today!

Day 47 Today was pruning day. The weeping cherry was covering my Cornus mas. The pomegranate and the ‘Snowball’ Viburnum were blocking light in the Mixed Border. I’m happy with the open space.

Day 48 and I'm nowhere near where I want to be in my updating my monthly newsletter. Who knows, maybe I'll have another week off before we reopen 

Day 49 Pruning the weeping cherry, 'Popcorn' Viburnum, and the pomegranate in the back, is complete and composted. It's amazing how much the area opened up!

I even found time to create a surprise art piece. Well, this is what I consider art, and I have special pieces, made by real artist lol. all around the garden. 

The Crow was made by Cote Fine Sculpture. I have his praying mantis as well. His prices have gone up, so I'm cherishing the ones I have

Art in the Bee Better Naturally Teaching Garden. Crow by Josh Cotè

The BIG 5-0 Days! I know why this time has gone by so quickly--I like being home and working in the garden.

But 50 days? Even that is a lot for me.Still, I'm not bored, I'm thrilled actually. I've never been finished with everything in my life! My day today and will be to continue to write--updating the Bee Better Naturally with Helen Yoest Newsletter and writing about the fruits I grow. 

The thing I miss the most is visiting with my friends, but then I think of how much fun it will be when this is all over so we can catch up!

What are you up to today?

Here's a section of my back perimeter garden. Privacy has always been important to me.

Day 51 I guess that coop isn't going to clean itself! Oh, I don't mind. It always fees so good to see a fresh coop; I know my girls love it too!

Remember those tine pipevine swallowtail caterpillars? Well they have grown. 

BTW, I'm sure you are not inclined to eat one, but here is some advice: "Don't eat 'em; they're quite poisonous." Both the caterpillar and the adult are poisonous. The caterpillars of the Pipevine Swallowtail feed on the poisonous host plant, Aristolochia, also known as the pipevine, Dutchman's pipe or birthwort. It contains the lethal toxin aristolochic acid.

Day 52 Whose with me in enjoying bed linens hung to dry outside. I feel for those with allergies, and this is a big no-no, but I do it whenever possible. I particularly like the dried in on a crisp, cold winter's morning.

It was a good day in the garden yesterday. Most of the day was sent on the coop and taking care of the wildlife in the area. There are birds everywhere!!! I'm loving it. 

Today, I get to tour my friend's garden. Social distancing and all, it will just be me.

Day 53 I work again next week, and I think we are still on every other week again the following week. With the governor slowly opening up, I'm thinking the gardening staff will be full force by June 1st. I'm just taking it as we go. 

From the size of the plant bills, plus other garden related items, I need to be back at work! And would you believe I still have gardening to be done. But not much. I'm laying pinestraw over the yard waste compost pile which is currently in the back 40 (ft). Plus other piddly stuff. It's all fun though.

Oh yes, and I do need to clean up the rock garden

Day 54 Back to work for four days this week, but heading straight home afterwards. I’m otherwise in lockdown. Yesterday in the garden was a true putter day. When weeding the rock garden, I found my missing John Contè dragonfly, which was rusted. Panted the dragonfly, covered the last of the compost pile. Finished limbing some large limbs (my husband helped) that were hanging over on our side, blocking too much light. With more light, I transplanted a small Sassafras tree. It wasn’t thriving in too much shade. Hoe killed weeds. And more of this and that. It was a good day!

What are you up to today?

Trimming trees in the Bee Better Teaching Garden

Day 55 Rainy work day. I really not sure what we’ll do! I’ve been looking back at our history. As a baby boomer, all during my youth I would listen to my parents about the depression and wars. They instilled in me the power of having no debt, growing your own food, and sharing with others in need. My mom would often say, soap is cheap, people can at least be clean. My mom did without so my brothers and I can have the minimum needed so we didn’t look poor. My dad was an enlisted man man in the Navy. So during those years, it was hand to mouth. My mother never complained. After he retired after 34 years, my dad taught at the Merchant Marine Academy in Maryland, and then became an Able Body on Exxon tanker ships. As empty nesters, they were finally able to travel, and they did. Never overseas, but along the East coast. With the rest of my dad’s earnings, they saved. No boat, better house, or new car. Never forgetting, they saved. When they passed, as I was getting my mom’s will through probate, (Dad was the first to go.) The attorney said, they were the Greatest Generation, and the money they saved is not likely to be seen again.

I learned a lot from my parents. Even though I made a good living in environmental work, I still keep at car for 15 years or more, I don’t hire decorators, or have someone to maintain my garden. I believe in hard work. I love the ratification of a good day’s work. My dad’s wisest words to me were, “do your hardest work first.” I must repeat that to myself as I go about my daily business at least twice a day. It takes the burden off your day so the rest of the day can ease up as it goes, not build up.

I probably should have saved this post for Father’s Day, but it is really about learning from hardships.

What have you learned?

Day 56 More rain. Rainy work day. I'm really not sure what we’ll do! 

I’ve been looking back at our history. As a baby boomer, all during my youth I would listen to my parents talking about the depression and wars. They instilled in me the power of having no debt, growing your own food, and sharing with others in need. 

My mom would often say, soap is cheap, people can at least be clean. My mom did without so my brothers and I can have the minimum needed so we didn’t look poor. 

My dad was an enlisted man man in the Navy. So during those years, it was hand to mouth. My mother never complained. After he retired after 34 years, my dad taught at the Merchant Marine Academy in Maryland, and then became an Able Body on Exxon tanker ships. 

As empty nesters, they were finally able to travel, and they did. Never overseas, but along the East coast. With the rest of my dad’s earnings, they saved. No boat, better house, or new car. Never forgetting, they saved. 

When they passed, as I put my mom’s will through probate, (Dad was the first to go.) The attorney said, they were the Greatest Generation, and the money they saved, as a group, is not likely to be seen again. 

I learned a lot from my parents. Even though I made a good living in environmental work, I still keep at car for 15 years or more, I don’t hire decorators, or have someone to maintain my garden. I believe in hard work. I love the satisfaction of a good day’s work. 

My dad’s wisest words to me were, “do your hardest work first.” I must repeat that to myself as I go about my daily business at least twice a day. It takes the burden off your day so the rest of the day can ease up as it goes, not build up.

I probably should have saved this post for Father’s Day, but it is really about learning from hardships.

What have you learned?

Day 57 On Friday the 22nd, #NC will enter a partial Phase 2. Playgrounds will remain closed as will bars and movie theaters. Starting June 9th, I will not longer have every other week off. 

But that's OK. I truly believe I was one of the VERY lucky ones, and I don't take that lightly!

So while I CAN go out more, I don't think I will. If public gardens are open, I will amend my self stay-at-home order to visit them.

Who about you? Where does you state lie?

Day 58 May 22, 2020 Starting today, at 5 PM, we are partial reopened. This is my last diary entry of my COVID-19 daily experience events. Of course, this is not over yet! The virus is still there. The virus is still real. We still need to practice social distancing, wash our hands and wear a mask. And to be kind to one another.

I like how our Governor is phrasing it: Safer at Home. That’s how I’ll be.

See you on the other side! Stay safe!

If you want to see this diary in its full glory, click HERE!

How-To Grow Your Own Mushrooms

Naturally, Helen Yoest

How-To Grow Privacy Fast

Naturally, Helen Yoest

How-To Find Your Level Best Garden

How-To Find Your Level Best

Naturally, Helen Yoest