by Paula D.
on May 19, 2020 8:21 am in Gardening
With the help of Matt’s cousin Lesley Conroy, who is a landscape architect, we designed our front garden in 2016. Lesley and I both agreed on choosing plants that would be fitting for a coastal landscape.
Since then, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about coastal gardens and the effect of salt on plants. I’ve found that there’s a vast difference that salt has on plants and trees on the beach block, versus inner blocks on the peninsula. I see my neighbors between Holland Ave. and the boulevard growing apple trees, basil, hibiscus, and other non-natives in their front gardens!
Even though my house is only 100 yards closer to the ocean, the situation is very different. With heavy rain or wind, saltwater is brought up from the ocean. It’s basically raining salt. The plants, shrubs, and trees in my garden are damaged, despite carefully selecting salt-tolerant plants.
That brings me to the question, what does salt-tolerant actually mean? I’ve learned, It’s the degree at which a plant can withstand salt without significant adverse effects. This is salt from the air and salt that is deposited in the soil. It doesn’t mean that these plants are immune to salt. And each species has a varying tolerance.
I’ve come to terms with the salt issue in my garden. It’s a challenge that has made me a better gardener. A few tricks I learned are as follows:
- Use a hose to wash your plants of salt residue right after a storm
- Prune damaged stems. This is key for a fast bounce back.
- Modify the soil, meaning, each spring add compost/soil to combat salt deposits.
One tree that couldn’t withstand the salt in my front yard is our Canada Red Chokecherry. Matt and I choose this tree for its beautiful purple foliage, white flowers, and its tolerance to salt. The tree, when we planted it two years ago, was very young, only 18 inches tall. We thought at first we weren’t watering it enough but later learned it was the salt. After every rain, all the leaves would singe away. As a last-ditch effort, we moved the tree in early March to the backyard. We didn’t even know if it was still alive.
I’m happy to report the chokecherry did sprout and is thriving in a large pot in the backyard, now protected from the salty environment in the front of the house. This little bit of protection seems to make a world of difference.
If you’re having salt problems in your garden there’s a link to the plants in my garden.
Remember, all plants will sustain damage from salt but the ones listed in the link are hearty and are your best chance for a beautiful coastal garden.
The brick porch in past years had protected our serviceberry tree from the salt during heavy rains. Now that it’s grown past the brick protection, it’s subjected to the elements. Notice the top half is all brown. That happened a few weeks ago after a heavy rainstorm.
After transplanting the chokecherry into a large pot in the backyard, the tree is thriving!
The salt tolerance of a plant is often defined as the degree to which the plant can withstand, without significant adverse effects, moderate or high concentrations of saltwater on its leaves or in the soil within reach of its roots.
April is holding up its end of the bargain – rain, rain, and more rain. It’s needed to jump-start our gardens and the growing season. I’ve been outside whenever the weather permits, weeding, cleaning up leaves, and dividing/moving plants to new locations.
Normally I start my veggie seedlings in the Beach 91st Street Community Garden greenhouse. I’ve been a member for several years now. A greenhouse is typically 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. The average temperature this month in Rockaway has been about 55 degrees. So the greenhouse is cooking at a toasty 75 degrees! Perfect for germination. But alas, this year, the garden leadership committee has understandably delayed the opening as a safety measure because of… you know what.
Without the luxury of a greenhouse this year, I had to adapt. I was about to buy seed starter kits on Amazon when I thought better of it. Why spend money on that when I can use what I have at home? I took eggs out of their container and put them back in the fridge in a bowl. Egg cartons are perfect for planting seeds. With cardboard cartons, you can put the plant directly in the ground. If you’re using a plastic egg carton, just use a spoon to loosen up the roots and soil before planting. Small plastic or paper cups, eggshells, avocado skins, cardboard toilet paper rolls housed in a cardboard box, and plastic food containers all work very well.
I have a few pro tips for growing seedlings inside. If you follow these guidelines, I’m sure you’ll have success!
Moisture – Never, ever let the soil dry out! Check on them daily. Since seedlings are so delicate, a spray bottle is a great way to water as well as keeping the environment humid. Have some type of cover so the seeds are enclosed (like a mini greenhouse). A small plastic storage bin works great.
Lots of light – A sunny southeast-facing window is ideal for your seedlings to grow. Use a grow light for even better results or to supplement light if you don’t have good exposure in your home.
Soil – A light seed-starting mix works best. This always causes tiny growth to easily push through the soil to sunlight. But don’t stress this. I’ve used soil from my yard and I’ve never had a problem with that.
Plant appropriately – I plant three more seeds than the number of plants I want. Just in case some don’t germinate. It’s easy to forget and plant 10 tomato seeds and 10 cucumber seeds and so on. Then as they grow, you begin to realize you’ve over planted and you have no space for them! Most seeds can last a few years in a dry environment. So save what you don’t need.
Label everything – I’ve made this mistake so many times, thinking “I’ll remember what’s what”. And then of course, I forget. Ultimately you figure it out but I suggest labeling so you can be prepared and plan out your garden. Write on the container itself or use wooden cutlery.
Acclimate for strength. About 6-10 days after the seeds have sprouted, you should bring them outside from time to time, to acclimate and get stronger. Do this on sunny warmer days. My father always told me never plant your garden before Mother’s Day. After May 15, it’s time to put the baby plants in the ground and once you do, they’ll really take off.
For more on gardening follow mw on Instagram.
Since my column last week “Inspiration Online And Art At Home,” I’ve noticed even more creativity (and weirdness) on the web. We’ve adapted so quickly to our new social world and work lives, now held virtually… it’s pretty amazing.
One of the best examples of this is what my friend Ed McKenna is doing. He’s a Breezy guy. I met Ed through my husband. They’ve played in some great bands together over the years.
Ed, better known to his students as Mr. Ed, is a special education music teacher. A month ago, I stumbled upon his Youtube teaching lessons posted to Facebook. I couldn’t stop laughing and I learned a little something about music theory and intervals.
Mr. Ed, he’s a stand up guy
Ed creates unique online classes – sometimes they take place in Paris, other times on his living room couch. In some videos, the phone rings, and what do you know, it’s “Alanis Morissette, Denis Hopper or Billy Joel, who helps explain the material. In other videos, his dog Fiona (so popular with the kids) participates… and yet another, Ed teaches music through magic. “That’s right folks, move over Mr. Magic, It’s Mr. Ed here, to dazzle the eye and boggle the mind.”
I don’t know how he comes up with this stuff. It’s hilarious and a fun, creative way to learn. Some videos are 12 minutes! I asked Ed how long it takes to edit these, “A long time, but I got a lot of that, outside is canceled.” For clarification, he says, “About 6 hours.”
If you have children interested in music, they can learn and laugh along with Mr. Ed. Find Ed’s channel here. And if you’re an adult, watch them too, for the hilarity.
hen there’s DJ Paddy Tubz…
Uncle Tubz reading, Shark Kiss, Octopus Hug by Lynn Rowe Reed with beautiful ocean Illustrations by Kevin Cornell.
Correction, Uncle Tubz, of Uncle Tubz’ Teeny Tiny House Book Club. Yes, our favorite Rockaway DJ has started a Youtube channel where he reads bedtime stories to the Rockaway kiddies! Paddy is in full character as a leprechaun … of course. Also on camera are his animal friends like Jancie the macaw and Clucky the resident chicken. He reads the books using different voices for each character! At the end of the story, there are little morals that relate to our current quarantine circumstances. Whether that be, staying at home if you’re sick or give your family a kiss!
Find Uncle Tubz videos here.
Rob Bryn
Over the weekend my friend Rob Bryn, singer of the Wild Yaks performed for his Birthday. We couldn’t get together physically but we all embraced the music in the wild virtual realm. What a beautiful thing… to give a gift on your birthday rather than to receive one. I enjoyed several glasses of wine during the cosmic performance and also participated in the community Zoom, dancing along with my friends digital bodies on screen. If you’re into theatrics and stream of consciousness writings, follow Rob on Instagram – @rob_bryn.
We got some weird, wonderful misfits in our community and I’m so thankful for them and the online creativity they’re sharing with us – to cope, to laugh, and to get through this darn thing.
by Paula D.
on April 17, 2020 11:33 am in Instagram
Social media has a whole new meaning to us now. It’s our only source of socializing during this long moment of “PAUSE”. The silver lining for many of us during this crisis is more free time. As the weeks pass, I’m noticing more and more creativity on our social platforms. We’re adapting and communicating in new ways.
For me, with this freedom, I’ve started drawing again. I’ve been inspired by artwork on my friends’ Instagram feeds. My Saturday nights are now spent at the dining room table, drawing and painting, drinking a glass of wine. (As opposed to being somewhere else drinking wine and not drawing.) I’ll tune in to some live music played by my friends on Facebook. It’s been surprisingly fun!
I wanted to share some of the cool art I’ve come across lately. My friend Mary Ann has been posting art way before this whole virus thing hit. She’s an art teacher. Lately on her Instagram she’s been sharing collages with typography. When I told her I was writing an art column, I asked if she could take a high resolution photo of one of my recent favorites (pictured above). Instead, she left the original on my porch (thank you!) For inspiration, follow Mary Ann on Instagram – @maryannparedesart.
Beth Perkins is a professional photographer living in Rockaway Beach. We’ve been friends for several years now and we’re also “CROM buddies”. I’ve always admired her photography but never realized she can draw too! She posted on instagram, “Started drawing again after about 20 years, decided to start with my money cat.” Her second in the
series was shared a few days ago and her caption resonated with me, “Peaches” is my second drawing/watercolor. I struggled with the perspective and almost started completely over. However, I learned a lot from this one, and there are elements I really like about it. So, I figured I’d post it. Like life, sometimes things fall into place and feel easy and other times it’s a struggle. Usually those struggles are what make us better, stronger, and wiser. Plus the prizes obtained from the struggle seem more meaningful. This one was done on the back of a cereal box.”
For more from Beth’s cat series follow her on IG – @bethperkins70
I’ve been a long time fan of my friend Clare Hilger’s artwork. A Pratt grad like me and middle school teacher, Clare is always coming up with inventive projects for her students, which seems to spill over into her own work. Recently she posted a piece that caught my attention, it’s called “Spring in the City”. See what Clare creates next on IG – @swimmonstersandwich
There’s more online creatively I want to share with you. Next week I’ll focus on other art forms, like video and writing. In the meantime, I hope this has spurred the creativity within you.
