Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/grow/page/36/)
By the end of April, or earlier in warm years like this one, common wild blue violets provide early spring color, both in our yards and on the forest floor. The yellow violet is an uncommon treat, like a tiny ray of sunshine amid the brown leaves and winter duff.
Last fall, in addition to placing a permanent conservation easement on 277 of the 312 acres of Granby’s own Holcomb Farm, the Town updated and extended its relationship with the Friends of Holcomb Farm.
We all want our gardens to look lush and full of showy flowers. Pollinators want the same thing, but for a different reason. They need an ongoing buffet of food rather than a pleasingly beautiful garden.
Invasives are the opposite of rare. A third of all the vegetation in the northeast hails from Asia, according to native plant scientist Dr. Doug Tallamy.
Despite the damage from fallen trees, the March snowstorms brought a quiet beauty to Mcleans.
It doesn’t seem like it now but spring will be here before you know it. If you love to garden, but don’t have a garden spot at home, the Granby Community Garden might be just the place for you.
Back when we lived high up in the Vermont hills, one of the first signs of Spring was the chorus of spring peepers in March. The jingle-like sound of their mating calls echoed up from the marsh a mile below us.
In spring, summer, winter and fall Granby’s trails offer outdoor adventures galore. This mild winter has been a gift to hikers and horseback riders.
I believe that gardening is a great first step towards conservation. My parents and grandparents gardened when I was young, and that, plus backyard bird feeders, helped me to learn to observe the natural world. I tell anyone interested in gardening to give it a try. Plant something, eat it, and fall in love with the land.
The seed order is in and the Summer CSA shares are almost sold out (some still available at holcombfarm.org/join-our-csa). Plans for a full “Season of Celebrations” for the 30th anniversary of the Friends of Holcomb Farm, are well underway.