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breaking new ground
By greybeard | June 29, 2009 at 11:42 AM EDT | No Comments

Late June in the garden seems to be hit and miss.  The blackberries have been edible for a couple of weeks and so have some blueberries.  Small salad cukes are a godsend on hot days mixed with some dill and vinegar and the herbs seem to thrive in this heat.  


I have potted up some native trees and shrubs and will post a comprehensive list for those interested in know more and even purchasing some.  
I plan to set up at Pepper Place Market soon and will bring some plants and a few other things that Gabriela is working on.  

The most difficult thing about the heat for me is trying to stay motivated.  Mosquitoes nipping at ya, sweat curling off the brow, soil hardening to a nice firm crust, yet still the plants they grow.  I think of the cool rains earlier this summer when i almost built an ark.  The sweet blooms that followed and continue on through this heat. This morning the high temperature has abated some and it gives me new energy and purpose and it is these small glimpses within the larger hotter whole that carry me on to the Fall that soon will be.

Welcome to Stoneshovel!  My name is Arnold Rutkis and I am a Sculptor and Landscape Designer currently residing in Irondale Al.  In these pages I will document the gardens and artwork i have been working on and feature any unique projects I have been involved in.  I currently offer garden design and landscaping services in the Birmingham area.  The word 'sustainable' is thrown around these days and I have firmly grounded myself in good landscape practices, such as limited use of chemicals and maximum reliance on organic methods.  Edible gardening, native landscaping, habitat gardens and multi-seasonal floral displays are some of my favorite areas to explore.  I have been 'Green' before green became a buzzword.  Please explore the site and see examples of my projects and share in my gardening knowledge and experiences.  We are all in the same garden just tending our own patch.
A tough native like Rudbeckia Maxima or coneflower  can bring lasting beauty to any garden border and once established requires just a little maintenance.
 
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